21 August, 0028 A.V

21:40 (9:40pm)

The control room was buzzing with the flurries of conversation, spreading throughout the enclosed room. Hundreds of computer screens flashed different rooms from security camera footage, seeming like an endless race for who can reach the end.

Orders were being given out quickly and sharply from the General's comm. The General's shaking fingers and the constant beat of his foot against the floor concluded that he was unprepared.

So very unprepared.

There hadn't been a delay in the Delivery for more than a decade. Everything was always right on time, right to the second. Some rumored it was the room they had chosen; it hadn't been used for a few months, so it may not be properly sterilized, and it would have been useless to try anything.

Others rumored that it was the new Known that were brought in; they may have fought back. But that too was impossible, as some of the most qualified Allied officers escorted the Known to the rooms they were needed in.

But the General thought differently.

He knew for a fact that the room was sterile today, and that the Known hadn't been in any way rebellious. In fact, the only element that was in any way different for this occasion was the doctor.

She was young, bright, and intelligent. She had passed all the tests needed, and even excelled in the class of her Alliance classmates.

However, she was a former Known. A very selfish one, in the General's eyes. She had traded her family for her life, showing the Alliance her skills right from the start, impressing both her peers and the officer in charge of her. And her first Delivery was today. She was potentially dangerous, as she was rumored to have a grudge against many an officer.

Her name was Sena Oda, and the General knew she had spared three Known.

The General strode across the control room. It was a vast room, but it didn't seem so with all of the people stationed to monitor each Hallway. In the front, a tremendous screen stretched from one end of the room to the other, making it impossible not to see. Other than all of the computers and some other various technology, there was hardly any light, save a few moth-infested florescent lights on the ceiling.

The General ceased his pacing at the front of the room, standing in the middle so that everyone could see and hear what he could say.

"Our Tower has been compromised," The General began, repeating what everyone had already known and were rumoring about. "There is significant evidence that Dr. Sena Oda has been sparing multiple Known. This is a crime, and it can damage the entire system of this Tower. As one of the most successful Towers in all of the Virus Zone, I am supposed to ensure successful quarantine and reassure the other nations of the world that the United States is safely enclosed, and help maintain the Alliance's rule.

"But this is a serious violation of what was decided upon this country nearly fifteen years ago. This... infraction of the law will not go unpunished. Once we find Dr. Oda, I am accusing her of treason, and her execution warrant will be issued immediately. I'm on my way to contact the Alliance of this new development. But for now, station soldiers near the bottom level stairwells. That'll block off any sign of escape from Dr. Oda."

The silence of the room hung in the air for a few more seconds, like a dying ghost, before being pulled back into the regular of the room; the noise from each vocal chord intertwining with the typing on each touch pad of the computers.

The General scanned the uniformed Alliance officers manned at each computer. Seeing as they weren't paying attention to him any longer, he left the room silently, slipping past the guards in the main corridor to the Command Center and turning a corner.

His quarters weren't very far away from the Command Center, as he was an on-call officer. His dwelling was quite simple- a cot to the side, a table with a comm and a computer, and a hallway leading to the small kitchen on the left and decrepit bathroom to the right. The General hadn't wasted his little income on anything but the basics.

It's a wonder why the I.A.P complains that they waste too much money on the Virus Zone. They claim to have no money anymore, and yet they rule the entire civilized world with an iron fist, and have enough for lavish international parties and other 'important' things, He chuckled to himself. Just because he was employed by the political rulers of the entire world didn't mean he couldn't disagree with them- at least in his head. He took a seat at his small, multipurpose table, bringing his hand up below his chin and resting his elbow on the table, making him look a bit childish. It's been a long day, He internally agreed with all of his coworkers who had been complaining earlier.

A knock came upon his door, echoing throughout the room. "Yes? Who is it?" The General said lazily, not even looking up.

"Cassidy, sir. Just Cassidy. You told me I should see you at 9:45?" A female voice responded, a little hesitant.

"Yes, yes I did. Come on in." He straightened his uniform, and cleared his throat. Sitting a bit higher now in his chair, he looked vaguely more like the major Penance leader he was supposed to be.

Cassidy turned the doorknob into the dwelling, shutting the door behind her and taking a seat in front of the General.

"You haven't called me in five weeks, dad." Her voice was shaky, and she was messing with her dirty blonde hair a little bit more than usual.

"Work's been hectic," The General replied quickly, not looking at her. His eyes darted to other parts of the room.

"That's no excuse."

"It can be one if I allow it to be," The General's icy tone surprised even him, but he kept himself composed.

"Dad, I just passed my twentieth birthday two days ago. You never even texted," Cassidy's voice caused waves of guilt to pour over the General.

"We don't have service," He lied smoothly, trying to pull the best sincere face he could manage. But his face was a bit scrunched up, and his smile was a bit too persuasive. Cassidy raised an eyebrow skeptically. She pulled out her phone, and smirked to herself as she turned the bright screen to her father, as if to show off. "Five bars. You have the best service for miles," She chuckled. The General looked closer, squinting his eyes at the screen. Cassidy wasn't lying. Five bars in the corner of her phone.

"Well. Now that that's all covered," Cassidy put her phone back in her pocket. She leaned forward in her chair, looming over her side of the table. "What have you been working on that kept you so preoccupied?" She wore a sly grin, enough to make a fox spill its lies.

The General cleared his throat. "My most current case is a compromise of the Tower's system. It shouldn't be a problem. The suspect will be apprehended shortly," He ended curtly, trying not to include any details.

"And... who is this suspected lawbreaker?" Cassidy asked, a genuine expression played across her face.

"Dr. Sena Oda. She was a doctor here, in charge of the Known's Delivery." The General sighed.

"And what are you going to do with her?"

"I've sent Alliance soldiers down to the lower stairwells to intercept them. We'll have her within an hour or so." The General replied, starting to tire of the conversation. What does any of this have to do with anything?

"Thanks, Dad. That's all for today," Cassidy stood from her chair, making it slide across the floor with a screech. "See you later."

The General stood after her, following her as she walked to the door. "Wait, but... is that all?"

"Yup." Cassidy waved to her father. "Bye." She seemed hurried as she opened the door, and left. The door slammed shut behind her.

If the General had stayed by the door for a few more seconds, listening to the noise just past it, he would have heard Cassidy's phone ring, and her ominous reply.

"Yeah, this is Cass. Yes, I got some info on Sena. Meet me in the front in ten minutes. Make no mistake this time- the Known will get their revenge." She paused, and waited for the caller to reply. Then she whispered back.

"Alliance blood will be spilled tonight."