Unclassified; Zero and Still Standing

They met each other’s gaze evenly.

Neither blinked. Neither looked away. Both blank, unreadable.

Commander Valecrest’s eyes shifted between them. General Vorne’s eyes never left Apollo.

Silence settled over the room for several long seconds.

At length, the High Regent turned to General Vorne.

"I shall take my leave now."

The General inclined his head. "Your Excellency."

They exchanged a brief handshake.

Then the High Regent looked toward Apollo.

And gave a single curt nod.

Nothing more.

He turned and strode toward the exit.

The secretary, who had ushered Apollo inside earlier, hurried to the door and swiped an access card through the panel.

With a quiet mechanical hiss, the metal door slid open.

The High Regent reached into his coat pocket, unfolded a pair of dark glasses and slipped them on before stepping through.

The door closed behind him.

Apollo’s eyes remained fixed on it. Only when it sealed shut did he look away.

It was strange.

The room itself had seemed to pause the instant the High Regent began moving.

Only now did the air feel alive again.

"Apollo." General Vorne’s voice broke the silence. "Good to see you finally made time to pay a visit."

His tone wasn’t welcoming nor was it hostile.

It was simply... General Vorne.

He gestured toward the elegant sofas arranged at the centre of the spacious suite.

"Take a seat."

Apollo walked over then stopped.

He remained standing.

Commander Valecrest noticed immediately. He glanced at the General. Seeing no reaction, he stepped forward instead.

"We’ve met before." He extended a hand. "But just in case, Commander Valecrest. Civic Control Division."

Apollo stared blankly at the offered hand.

Of course he remembered. It had barely been two months. Even if it had been years, he still would’ve remembered.

How could he forget such an experience?

Besides, Commander Valecrest was someone people didn’t easily forget.

Ruthless, efficient, uncompromising.

Then again, the Commander had merely carried out his orders.

Just as Apollo had carried out his own.

He accepted the handshake. The Commander’s grip was firm.

"I must say," Valecrest began, genuine approval colouring his voice, "I was impressed by how you handled the incident."

Apollo said nothing.

"Based on the records, General Vorne had me preparing for an absolute catastrophe."

A faint smile appeared on the Commander’s face.

"You exceeded expectations."

Apollo’s eyes drifted toward General Vorne.

So we’re spreading word now, are we?

The General stood exactly as before. Hands clasped behind his back. Looking every bit like the decorated officer receiving praise himself.

"I should commend your efforts." Valecrest continued. "Although..." His expression flattened. "The District’s rail line has yet to recover."

Apollo was quiet for a moment. Then he asked,

"How many casualties?"

Valecrest blinked.

"...Casualties?"

He sounded puzzled. Of all the questions, this was certainly not the one he had expected.

He looked briefly toward General Vorne.

The General gave the slightest nod. Answer him.

Valecrest turned back.

"Nothing significant." His smile returned, though it looked practiced rather than reassuring. "I assure you."

Apollo simply looked at him. He obviously didn’t buy it.

Silence settled over them once more.

The two officials exchanged a brief glance.

Valecrest cleared his throat.

"I’ve been informed you still attend high school."

Apollo remained expressionless.

"Considering the nature of your work," the Commander continued, "I’d say you’d be better suited serving in the field full-time."

He turned toward General Vorne.

"What do you think, General?"

General Vorne gave a short laugh.

"I’ve tried." His eyes shifted to Apollo. "The kid refuses to budge."

Valecrest regarded Apollo thoughtfully.

"One can only wonder why." He said carefully.

Apollo looked from one man to the other. And instantly perceived the conversation had been arranged long before he’d entered the room.

"I only act when necessary," he said evenly. "Constant deployment isn’t something I’m interested in."

His voice remained flat, not bothering to frame interest in the conversation.

"Not to mention the fact that I’m undertrained. I’d only be dead weight to the soldiers who know what they’re doing."

The General let out a snort. It carried the faintest hint of a grudge.

Valecrest studied the boy before him.

Apollo Viremont looked thoroughly bored in the presence of two of the nation’s highest-ranking officials.

"That’s unfortunate," the Commander said. "Though I hear you’re applying for the Aegis Program."

Apollo’s gaze shifted to General Vorne before returning to Valecrest.

"Maybe." He said, eyes slightly narrowed.

Commander Valecrest seemed pleased.

Which came across strangely on his permanently dissatisfied features.

Then he turned to The General.

"I shall take my leave."

The two men exchanged another firm handshake before the Commander strode out of the suite.

The door slid shut behind him.

Silence settled.

General Vorne looked at Apollo for a long moment before walking over to one of the elegant sofas.

Apollo remained standing.

"Are you waiting for another invitation?" the General asked.

Straight to business then, Apollo thought as he took the seat opposite.

General Vorne rested both forearms on his knees.

"Now," he said, his gaze sharpening. "Could you explain the reason you ignored the summons last weekend?"

Apollo met his eyes evenly.

"School Trials began."

The General frowned. "Trials?"

"Yes."

The frown deepened. He leaned forward slowly.

"You mean to tell me..." His voice hardened. "...that you ignored a State emergency just to play a school game?"

At that exact moment, the shadow of an enormous bird swept across the room.

Apollo’s attention drifted instinctively toward the glass wall.

Far above the city, a magnificent eagle rode the morning currents effortlessly, disappearing into the brilliant white clouds.

Apollo quietly fixed the image in his mind. Then he looked back at the General.

"Yes," he answered. "I’m a student. I had to play the game."

General Vorne pinched the bridge beneath his eyes and released a long, restrained groan.

Apollo simply watched.

The General lowered his hand.

"The Northern troops are getting stronger." His voice had become noticeably colder. "Do you know how many casualties we suffered at the frontline because you failed to appear?"

Apollo held his stare.

"Nothing significant, I’m sure."

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

The irony landed perfectly.

General Vorne’s face flushed.

"I’ve spoken with the High Regent." His words were clipped now. "From this point onward, you will answer every summons. No exceptions."

He waited.

Apollo didn’t nod, didn’t object. Didn’t even blink. He merely looked back at him.

The doorbell chimed.

Right on cue, the secretary appeared, slid her access card through the panel and stepped aside.

The door opened.

Bertram Corvane entered.

Xenon followed a respectful step behind.

The General immediately rose to his feet.

"Bertram." He extended a hand. "What brings you by?"

They shook hands.

Xenon had become completely stone faced.

Apollo watched the familiar exchange begin.

An Assemblyman paying a visit to the General.

The morning was certainly full of surprises.

Something moved outside. A small shadow drifted past the glass.

Apollo’s eyes shifted.

A black tarp.

It fluttered downward before disappearing below the window.

His brows lifted.

What—

Another shape followed.

Not fabric.

Someone.

Dropping like stone.

His mind caught everything in a single instant.

A motionless body.

Arms suspended helplessly.

Dark hair whipping wildly through the air.

Same clothes.

Same clothes from...

Elevator.

Yesuin Kaelitha.

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