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"Everyone wants to be honest but no one wants to tell the truth."
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"COMMANDER!"

His eyes widen staring at Adam who laid unconscious beside him, a deep gash extending from his shoulder and across his torso, blood soaking his shirt, making it shades darker as he could see the Commander's struggled breathing. He felt rage, his hands balling into tight fists against the ground as his teeth gritted together.

"General! Behind you!" He heard a voice shout before he grabbed his sword, pushing through his pain to get himself up and strike out blindly behind him. His sword striking into flesh, cutting upwards and kicking them backward. He took a few steps forward till he heard crying behind him snapping his rage out and looking behind him seeing recruits besides the fallen Commander.

"Stay with us! Come on! Open your eyes, Commander!" They shouted. His eyes looked at Adam, his skin shades paler, lying motionless as recruits try their best to stop the bleeding. He almost went to them but heard a voice speak that brought back his anger.

"Oh, how the mighty have fallen just to save a weakling from the same fate. You Sky Army fight for a cause that has outgrown your age, your Commander will die a meaningless death just like the rest of you." A voice spoke making him look out in front of him, gripping his sword handle in his hand. A dark chuckle filled the air before the voice continued, the voice belonging to a cloaked figure. "I can sense that rage, General Ellis, be careful...your kind doesn't do well when you are that angry." Ty was about to speak until a recruit grabbed his arm, making him look at them, seeing their hands coated in blood.

"G-General, we can't s-stop the bleeding. What do w-we do, the Commander's gonna die." The recruit shakily said. Ty stood frozen, staring at Adam making the figure laughed.

"And it seems like without him, you all are useless, don't worry I'll make your deaths quick." The figure said before Ty felt his instincts take over and pushed the recruit down and feeling pain spark and pulsate through him before the voice spoke again.

"The Sky Army will fall."

"The Sky Army will fall." He mumbled quietly to himself staring at the fire in the fireplace. He gritted his fangs together, in his claws holding a cracked purple amethyst amulet with a golden trim and a black cord, a dark color rash spread up their arm, hardening in some place creating a layer of skin that is almost as hard as dragon scales, a scar extending from over their right eye and down their cheek and chest, their right eye a dark purple color along with a cracked headset that hung around his neck. The rash extended up and onto their half, covering almost half their face and body. The left side of their body remained untouched, the right side wasn't so lucky. Soft footsteps coming up behind him broke him from his thoughts, a woman looking worried sat down beside him on the floor, staring at them for a moment before speaking.

"Did...Did you take your medicine yet, Ty?" They asked making Ty tense up, his eyes looking at the woman.

"And why should I? It's just delaying fate, Elise." Ty said before she bit her bottom lip at him.

"Seto said he would find a cure, you just need to keep taking the medicine he made for you until he comes back." She said to him.

"And what makes you think Seto is coming back? He's been gone for two years..." Ty said to her before his eyes looked back at the fire. She stared at him, not speaking. Ty has given up hope a long time ago, but she remained hopeful to this day that Seto would fix Ty. She looked at Ty's headphones that hung around his neck.

"Seto said not to let your cursed form out for so long." She said. Ty hesitated for a moment before he took his headphones from around his neck and back on his head, his appearance shifting to look like a normal man, he looked at her. The only real thing different was the scar, the scar remained to make his once green eyes mismatched to red and green.

"Happy?" Ty asked her. She gets up, walking around him and out of the room, Ty looked back at the fire, staring at it before she came back, sitting back down, holding a small brown pouch.

"I'll be happy once you take this." She said. Ty looked at it, staring at it for a moment before looking at her in the eyes.

"Why are you still here? I told you to leave a long time ago...I already attacked you once...you need to leave--"

"If I leave you...you'll commit suicide and I know you will. Why do you think I have stayed for so long? I don't...I don't want you to die. I can protect myself, I'm General Azdel's apprentice for notch sake, General. I can handle myself, and it isn't your fault you attacked me. This curse clouds your reason and sight, it clouds your judgment making everyone look like an enemy to you...like Seto said, you need help--"

"And I don't want help...Y-You and...and Seto and J-Jason have tried everything to fix me and nothing has worked. And I'm getting tired of just delaying what is--"

"--I'm not letting you die--"

"Do you know how much pain I am in, Elise?" Ty asked her as he looked at her making her stop talking. "D-Do you realize how m-much it hurts? B-Because I don't know how much longer I can endure it. Do you know much nicer I feel when I let it control me? The pain stops when it is..." Ty's eyes looked at the floor, she touched his arm, feeling his body shaking slightly. "I-It wasn't until you came along that...that I stayed in control but I just...I c-can't take it anymore."

"I'm not letting you die...I'm not. You're gonna be okay, you are." She said to him before Ty rested his head on her shoulder, letting out a shaky breath, her hands touching both his arms before going up into his hair for a moment. "Can you please...take the medicine? You'll feel a bit better if you do." Ty picked his head up, taking the pouch and opening it, and watched him tip the pouch over his mouth and taking the medicine inside. Ty shook his head for a moment, closing his eyes as he touched his head, groaning. She gently grabbed his arms. "C-Come on," She helped Ty up but she could tell he was really out of it, so she helped him lay on the couch, taking the package and put it on the coffee table, picking up a blanket from the chair and resting it on Ty as he passed out. She gets up, sitting on the chair, staring at Ty for a few moments before she stared at the floor, biting her bottom lip back.

'I can't let him die, he might think he is good as dead but I still have hope that he will make it through this.' She thought to herself. She looked back at Ty. 'He means a lot to me...I can't lose him like I lost Seto.'

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Jason woke up with a start, he took a sharp breath and waiting a few moments before his eyes cracked open, touching his head as it pounded in pain. He closed his eyes, trying to collect himself. 'Relax, calm down.' He told himself and after a few moments, he calmed down. He sat up slowly, feeling pain in his torso from every movement, with the injuries he has had to endure over the years, he's gotten used to being in pain after he cracked three of his ribs, the pain was just normal for him. His friends were always trying to help him but nothing ever ease his pain, but even he will admit that right now, his pain isn't as bad as it usually is. His eyes connected with a nurse's, she looked nervous, Jason stared at her for a moment and noticed the restraints on him, making him confused.

"W-Why am I restraint?" Jason mumbled. The nurse stared at him.

"Because you got out of bed and were panicking...do you not remember that, General?" The nurse asked. Jason stared at the nurse for a second and looked away. 'Oh...that...' Jason thought to himself.

"No." Jason lied. The nurse looked away from him, but she came up to him, feeling his forehead, she smiled a bit.

"Your fever broke, good, you had a low fever for a few hours. How are you feeling?" She asked him before she started removing the restraints. Jason shrugged his shoulders.

"Tired...exhausted," Jason mumbled making her crack a smile.

"Well, you've been through a lot, General. I think you have a right to be exhausted." She said making Jason smile a bit. 'Okay...maybe I missed the Sky Army a little bit...but I can't be here.' Jason thought to himself losing his smile. His eyes looked at the nurse.

"Is Mitch okay?" Jason asked. She looked at him, confused.

"Did the Lieutenant hurt himself again?" She asked confused.

"Nevermind, w-where's Ian?" Jason mumbled. She shakes her head.

"No, no. Dr. Alister wants you to rest for a few more hours, General." She said. Jason looked away from her, not speaking making her eyes soften a bit. "I can have someone fetch him if you need to talk to him, I'm sorry, I just don't want you to hurt yourself. We can't fix your broken ribs since they are old injuries, so...we don't want you getting hurt--"

"I-I've lived with two broken ribs for four months so far...I think I'm fine." Jason said.  She stared at him.

"You broke three of your ribs, General." She corrected making Jason pause for a moment. 'T-Three...no, it was two. Damnit, it's worsening but I don't have time to worry about it right now. I need to get back to Simone and fast.' Jason thought to himself before speaking again.

"H-How long have I been here?" Jason asked her.

"Three days." She said shocking Jason.

"W-Wha..." Jason trailed off. Jason looked away from her, staring down at his lap for a few moments, thinking. 'No, no, no, no. Three days, three days I have been asleep, I need to get back now! I can't stay here any longer!' Jason thought to himself panicking. Jason was gonna get up but his pain stopped him, knocking the air out of his lungs making him gasp and clutch his chest, the nurse grabbing him.

"Easy! Easy, General!" She said alarmed. Jason stared at the floor as the curtains were pulled back, revealing Alister, Alister looked at Jason.

"Where do you think you are going?" Alister asked him. Jason gripped his shirt, panting as he tried to catch his breath back. Alister picked up the clipboard off the footboard, looking at it. "So, General, would you like to hear your rap sheet?" Alister looked at Jason, starting to say them anyway. "Three broken ribs, influenza, two poorly treated stab wounds, exhaustion, deliriousness, cuts on your hands, and I'm gonna stop there because honestly, I'm shocked you were able to run and fight as you did. How long have you been sick and never took the time to treat it or give yourself--" Jason gripped the edge of the bed, he snapped his attention to Alister.

"Oh, I'm sorry that I gave you so much work to do, Alister! But I don't have the luxury of waiting for my wounds to heal or sicknesses to pass as you guys do, I don't have someone to go to that I can trust to treat my injuries." Jason snapped at Alister. Jason's expression softens a bit, he looked at the floor. "I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean to snap at you...but when you are used to being in so much pain, you tend to go numb to it and forget that it's there, sure that helps me forget about the broken ribs but then you go numb to other injuries and illnesses." Alister set the clipboard down.

"It's alright, General, but I want you to remain under observation for a few more hours. You still look pale and weak." He said before looking at the nurse. "Did his fever break?" She nods helping Jason to sit back down on the bed.

"It did but it could still come back, he isn't exactly in good shape right now." She said. Alister nods a bit and looks at Jason.

"I know this might not sit well with you, but you look horrible and probably feel just as horrible as well. Captain Noah is getting you medicine right now, he should be back soon, it will make you feel better. And I'll get you something for your pain." Alister said. Jason looked at Alister. 'I have to leave...I need to...but...' Jason thought to himself before really thinking about how he felt. He felt like sh*t, his legs were weak and heavy and his arms sore as well as his stomach and chest feeling like they are on fire from his broken ribs. His skin is pale and sweaty as well, when he stood up he had a dizzy spell, but hid it from the two and now he is feeling it again. He touched his head, looking at the floor. 'Simone needs me...she needs me...' Jason thought to himself. The nurse stepped back, replacing with someone else who grabbed both of his arms, his eyes flickered up, meeting with a familiar face.

"I-Ian." Jason stammered. Ian's eyes soften, concern crossing his face.

"You're pale...Alister." Ian said before looking at the doctor. Alister touches Jason's forehead, feeling the warmth.

"His fever is coming back," Alister said before Jason coughed, pain sharpening in his gut making him dizzy and subconsciously step towards Ian for balance, Ian's arms encompassing around Jason as his knees get weak.

"Jason," Ian said. Jason coughed again, starting to pant heavily. Alister grabbed Jason.

"Easy, easy, now," Alister said to them. Alister and Ian get Jason on the bed, laying down, Alister pushed up Jason's shirt, removing the bandages to check his skin color. Alister bit his bottom lip back, seeing discolored skin starting to appear on Jason's torso. Ian looked at Jason before looking at Alister.

"That's not good, right?" Ian asked making Alister shake his head.

"No, no it isn't," Alister said.

"Well, what can you do?" Ian asked him.

"I don't want to operate, but I may have to," Alister said making Ian tense up, hesitating for a few moments.

"We don't have Seto here to resuscitate...if Jason dies on the table...we don't have a way to bring him back. A-And besides, Quentin said operations are the last option. " Ian said.

"I know," Alister responded. Alister looked at Ian. "But he's bleeding internally, he's gonna die anyway if I don't do something. I rather have him die knowing I tried to save him than to have him die knowing I did nothing." Ian stared at Alister before Alister looked at the nurse. "Prep for operation," The nurse nods and leaves. Alister looked at Ian, seeing the doubt in his eyes. "I'm not gonna let him die—"

"Don't promise me something like that, you don't know what could happen," Ian said before the curtain was pulled back, a recruit looked at Ian.

"Lieutenant, the Major General wants to talk to you." The recruit said. Ian glanced at the recruit and nods.

"Alright, I'm coming," Ian said before the recruit leaves. Ian looks at Alister. "Don't let him die, Alister." Alister nods.

"I'll keep you updated, now go," Alister said before Ian leaves.

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Ian walked into a room, seeing Quentin stood at the table, looking down at the map.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Ian asked him. Quentin looked at Ian, standing up straight as Ian stopped, facing him. Quentin sighed, his eyes looking at the table.

"Ian, what the nether are you doing? I didn't give you the all clear order that Master Withers was out of Zacan, why did you send Mitch in? He could have been killed!" Quentin snapped at Ian. Ian's gaze hardens a bit.

"You did give me an all clear! You said that Master Joyce was out of Zacan and to send Mitch in. Don't go pointing the blame at me, you said t--" Quentin's eyes flickered up to Ian.

"I did give you an all clear, but I took it back once we found out that she was in the empire, I had to send Captain Ashley in after Mitch. I sent you a message and you had plenty of time to receive that message, so why did you ignore me?" Quentin snapped making Ian confused.

"I never got a recall message. If I did, I wouldn't have sent Mitch in." Ian said.

"You're lying."

"I am not! Do you think I would do that to Mitch?! Really, Quentin?! Do you really think I would send anyone in like that knowing that they might not make it back?! Is your opinion of me that low now!" Ian shouted at Quentin as he pointed at Quentin. "Are you done babying Colonel Jordan?" Quentin scoffed.

"Don't change the subject! He--"

"Quentin! You need to realize the reality of the situation we are in, Adam is dead, he is not coming back. Ty, Seto, and Jerome are missing, Mitch is out of commission for a while and Jason would much rather not have anything to do with the Sky Army. Colonel Lachlan is missing, my guess is that he is looking for Captain Vikk, I don't know, I don't care. And Colonel Jordan was severely injured, but he recovered from his injuries months ago, you need to stop babying him! He should have gone back into the field weeks ago, but no! You are keeping him in bed because you are afraid of losing him meanwhile I need him and I'm deadly serious when I say that. I can't send Ant in to break Dan out, that's a job for an Advanced Captain and he is not an Advanced Captain, Ant isn't skilled enough to go through with that type of job and succeed, but Jordan is. I can't lose any more Captains, I only have about three Captains available to me right now, and they aren't skilled Captains either like Max and Noah are, who both are unavailable. We need Jordan and we need him now, Quentin." Ian snapped. Quentin stared at Ian for a few moments, Ian taking a deep breath to calm himself, he leaned into the table. "Sorry, but I'm getting tired of getting yelled at by you for not doing enough or doing something wrong when you are the one who is backing me into a corner by not letting me do what needs to be done. We don't have the people's favor anymore, we lost that once Adam died and the Sky Army fell. Things were much easier when we had the favor and Adam here to basically tell us what to do, I never realized how much we pressured him until I was put into the Commander role--" Quentin's eyes looked away from him, interrupting him.

"--And you fill that role well, Ian. That's why you are the leader here and I'm not. You need that heartless capability in order to be a leader, god knows Adam definitely had mastered that capability. I don't have that capability clearly." Quentin said cutting Ian off. Ian stared at him for a few moments, changing the subject.

"How soon can Jordan get back into the field? We need him and we need him desperately. The morale fell once word spread about Jason and Max. The recruits love Jordan." Ian said. Quentin hesitated, thinking to himself. He bit his bottom lip back, his eyes looking back at Ian.

"I'll talk to Jordan, figure it out. It's up to him, physically, he may not be able to fight as well, but--"

"Talk to him, Quentin, do it now." Ian snapped at him. Quentin tensed up a bit, relaxing a few moments later.

"Break Dan out...You guys found out where he is?" He questioned. Ian nods.

"Michael found him, which is why I need Jordan," Ian said. Quentin hesitated for a second and then nodded.

"Okay, I'll go talk to him."