“That’s not standard,” I push back. My blood spikes. “There’s no threat here.”
He turns slowly, cybernetic fingers twitching, jaw tight. “Are you questioning my command, Sergeant?”
My teeth grind.
Don’t do it.
“No, sir.”
“Then clear the outpost.”
The orders come down like ash.
Brask torches the first shelter. It goes up fast—accelerant in the walls. A woman runs out screaming. Another soldier drops her with a stun round. Kids scatter like roaches.
Idon’tmove.
My feet are planted. My rifle’s down.
Amy’s still behind us, camera raised, hand trembling.
And I see him.
A boy. Maybe five. Tiny. Big eyes, the wrong kind of scared. He’s standing in the rubble of what used to be a porch, tears streaking through the soot on his cheeks.
He looks just like the enemy posters say he shouldn’t. No snarls. No guns. Just a child.
The moment slices something open in me.
I can’t breathe.
That night, I skip mess. Can’t eat. Can’t think.
The base feels quieter than usual—like it’s trying to pretend none of it happened. Like if we don’t talk about it, the fire didn’t spread. The screams weren’t real.
I find myself standing outside her quarters.
Amy’s inside, probably editing. Or not. Who knows. I don’t knock. I just sit.
She opens the door eventually. Doesn’t say anything at first. Doesn’t look surprised to see me.
“They weren’t supposed to be there,” I say. My voice comes out like gravel. Like it’s been scraped raw.
Amy leans against the frame, arms crossed. No anger. Just… tired.
“Maybe the war isn’t what it’s supposed to be,” she says.
That hits harder than I expect.
And somehow, it's the truest thing I’ve heard in weeks.
CHAPTER 7
AMY
The air in the medic tent is sour with antiseptic and sweat. It sticks to my throat like cord. The overhead light hums low and steady, flickering as if uncertain. The medic sits across from me—young, fatigued, eyes hollow like dried blossoms. He glances around before speaking.
“Captain Kanapa sometimes changes the rules mid-mission,” he says quietly, voice taut. “We were told to evacuate the wounded, but halfway through he called off the pickup and left them. Said they’d slow the advance.”
