Oracle was still crouched below the window, hand on her rifle. A patrol of Necron soldiers had just passed by the building they were hiding in.

Her heart still pounded from the close encounter, her mind replaying the scene, imagining alternate endings that wouldn't have been good for them.

They had all ducked under windows and hidden in the upper rooms of the building in hopes that the light of a soldier's flashlight wouldn't glint off a piece of armor or illuminate one of them as they tried to hide.

Oracle couldn't remember a time when she had been that scared, waiting for an end that never came.

Now she stood by the window, watching raindrops slide down the glass, lost in thought.

Bear walked up to her, tapping her on the shoulder. She jumped and her hand went to her pistol out of habit and Bear raised his hands in surrender.

"I didn't mean to startle you." He said, putting his hands down.

"You're fine." She said, giving him a half-smile.

"Mirage needs you." Bear said, handing her the small radio device he carried.

"I don't know what news he has, but I hope it's at least somewhat positive."

Oracle nodded, hoping for the exact same thing.

She nodded when she was in and Bear left, giving her space.

"Oracle," said a familiar voice in her helmet.

"Yes?" She answered, hoping that he had an answer to their seemingly hopeless situation.

"Paragon is here, as you know," he started.

"Yes, where were they? We needed them. We still do." Oracle said, looking at where an aerial battle was just beginning.

"They've given us four days to withdraw our troops from the cities." He said.

"That includes you. That's why they aren't reinforcing you. If you don't find a way out they're coming in, and you will be in their way."

"We need more time." Said Oracle, her panic beginning to build.

"Our force isn't strong enough to fight the soldiers holding this section of city. The remains of the  buildings block our only exit out that's not controlled by Reclaimer.

"It seems as though every available troop transport is being used to evacuate the remaining civilians and wounded. We need more time to find an escape without being killed."

"I can't give you more time," said Mirage, his voice both weary and frustrated.

"I tried to get them to realize they can work with us, but they wouldn't listen. They want to have control over the entire operation, but if we withdraw troops we're going to be right back where we were before. They don't even know half of what's happening."

Oracle sighed, hearing Mirage's frustration through the tightness in his voice. Their men were being told they had fought and died for nothing. They were being told to withdraw their forces and the ones in charge were refusing to listen to them.

"This whole thing is a clusterfuck." Oracle said.

"Agreed," Said Mirage.

"But there's nothing I can do. They won't reason with me."

"Reclaimer will have enough to time to gather more men to take them on." Said Oracle, the realization hitting her like a blow to the stomach.

"He delayed their arrival, giving him enough time to reinforce his army in case we got a signal through, and with us fighting our allies he can slip past our defenses."

"And if we pull our forces out Reclaimer will fill the holes, successfully taking back what we fought to control.

"Instead of helping us they're screwing us all over."

All Oracle wanted to do in that moment was cry out in frustration, but she had to keep it together for the few of them still fighting for their lives.

"If I die because our 'allies' decided to make a stupid decision I'm coming back to haunt them all." She said.

On the other end of the radio she heard Mirage chuckle.

"We'll figure it out, I promise."

"Don't make a promise you can't keep." Oracle said, walking out into the cool air.

The words felt like shards of glass in her mouth, sharp and painful. Mirage was silent, and Oracle thought she had lost connection until he spoke.

"I'm not making a promise I can't keep. I will find a way, I have to."

"Mirage," she said, her voice a soft, pained whisper.

"Sometimes part of loving someone is letting go."

"No, there has to be another way. I'm not leaving you behind." He said vehemently.

"I can't."

The pain in his voice shattered her heart, she wanted to wrap her arms around him and reassure him, but she couldn't.

"This fight isn't about me. It isn't about the men here. It's about this planet, our home, the thousands of people who need your help. The lives of seven aren't worth the lives of seven thousand."

"Oracle-"

"No," she said, cutting him off, "you know as well as I do that you can't risk the lives of those men to rescue seven wayward soldiers.

"We will do all we can, but you need to think about about the Rogues as a whole. You need to figure out how to talk some sense into Paragon, and you need to do it quickly.

"Those men need a strong leader. They need someone they trust, not a military force that just came in and is telling them to give up and go home when the work isn't finished. They need you."

Oracle took a deep breath, the next words taking all she had to say.

"This fight is more important then just a single person, no matter how much they matter to you."

"I can't let you go." Mirage said, his voice adament.

"I love you far too much."

Oracle was silent, tears gathering in of her eyes, threatening to fall. She took a deep breath, collecting herself enough to speak, her heart aching.

"We each have different paths now, paths that lead to different ends." She said. "It's time to let go."

Mirage didn't answer, all she heard was the thunder echo through the night. Her eyes burned as she held back tears, a painful lump forming in her throat. When he finally answered his voice was soft, pain and grief lacing his words.

"I love you Mirage." She said, her voice hitching as tears began to fall.

"I love you too Oracle," Mirage answered her.

"Always and forever."

Then she heard him disconnect, leaving her alone. She looked up at the roiling grey clouds, the wind clawing at her face.

Tears slid down her cheeks, the wind snatching them away as quickly as they fell. Her longing to see Mirage was so strong it hurt.

She wanted to see him again, wanted to feel his arms around her, find comfort in his stormy grey eyes.

But she couldn't, and now she was fairly certain she wouldn't see him again. She might have just said goodbye to Mirage for good, but she needed to do her part and he needed to do his.

Oracle felt anger begin mix with her grief, leaving behind a confusing jumble of emotions.

This fight had taken Moonshine from her side and now she could lose Mirage and the men here with her now. She could lose Bear whom she had come to know throughout this seemingly hopeless situation.

Every emotion warred within her and she fell to her knees, a cry of grief and rage escaping her lips, sobs racking her body.

It seemed as though everyone she cared for had been hurt, had been killed and there was nothing she could do.

She heard someone come outside as it began to rain but didn't look up. They came up to her, kneeling beside her.

"Oracle?" Asked Bear, putting a hand on her shoulder.

Oracle didn't answer as rain began to fall, unable to speak through the tears. Bear simply kept her company as she released her emotions, all the pent-up anger, pain and grief pouring out in a waterfall. He didn't say a word, keeping a comforting hand on her back.

"I'm sorry," she said minutes later, her voice soft.

"You have nothing to be sorry about," Bear said gently, looking her in the eyes.

"This war has taken a lot from all of us. Everyone needs to let it escape at some point, you just found your breaking point, we all have one."

Oracle nodded, not saying anything in response. Bear stayed by her side for awhile, making sure she was okay.

"Thank you," she said, looking up at him.

He flashed her a tired smile, choosing not to say anything in response. She could see the fatigue bleeding through the mask he wore, she could hear it in his voice, see it in the lines creasing his face.

They all knew they weren't getting saved. They would just have to find the will to survive beneath the pain and fatigue.

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Hey y'all, another emotional chapter. Hope you liked it, it may not be the cleanest of chapters but I'm happy with it. Stay safe during the Holiday season!

~~Nightfury107