Seven | Truth |

10:00 AM WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 4865

[Zemira's POV]

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I sat at my desk, which was almost always scattered with some form of paperwork or another. Iain had pestered me about the disorganization given how meticulous I am with Arachnid or the small trinkets I've made Artemisa. Although, it seems he eventually gave up, knowing that it's a fight he won't win. My office overlooks the Outlands' tree line, a choice I made for the sake of memories there. However, as time went on, it just hurt to think about, which prompted the installation of curtains.

I was looking over the security report Iain left on the top of a disheveled stack of reports or schematics. I had to get out my tablet to project a hologram of the feed. I'm not sure what I'd thought was going to great me on the screen, but I was still stricken in shock at the sheer amount of scouts that have been picked up in the past week.

I heard a small knock on the door and still processing what's in the lined projection I'd distantly told whoever knocked to enter. The door slowly opened to reveal Iris on the other side. I paused the feed from earlier this week to give her my attention. "Sølv, what ya need," I asked her presence snapping me out of my stupor. To be honest it's strange to see Iris out of the Weapons Lab with a welding torch. What's more, her already fair skin looks even lighter against the dark interior of my office.

"Well, We're running low on veskar, magnesium, and a few other resources," she sounded nervous as if the depletion of metal found in the Outlands would upset me. If so, she couldn't be more wrong.

While I didn't like to think back to the days in which I lived there, the feeling of all the metal, like a hum of the earth. The only other reason I can think of for why Iris would be nervous about going to the Outlands would be because of the loved one I've had to bury out there, but I've never told her that.

"Alright, I'll just go out with a small squad to get more," I responded, and the pure shock on her face had me more confused. "Alright, What with the look," I asked my voice hard, stern.

"It's just...you seemed so tired, and you just got back so," Iris said clearly concerned with my willingness to leave so soon.

"I didn't mean now," I replied my voice softening, "God, I'm not that desperate to get away from this paperwork," that comment earned me a laugh from her. 'Speak for yourself ' Insanire chimed in. Although I know she didn't mean paperwork, she hates most of The Dawn. She hates almost everything, in fact.

"Welp, Let me know when we leave," Iris said as she left, already knowing I'll ask her to be on the squad as my second in command. I couldn't help but laugh a little in response.

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[Derrick's POV]

I paced the floor waiting for news on the whereabouts of my daughter, How could this have happened, I thought. The security system she made is supposed to be flawless, and yet so how someone got in.

Shortly after I'd given the announcement, I heard my second daughter scream. I was ready to run in the general direction I gaged from the scream until I realized that it was brought about by the announcement of her sister's abduction.

"Derrick, calm down," my second wife Sola said, "Your daughter isn't a child, she can handle her self," I sighed, calming my nerves was something my first wife and Zemira's mother, Ontari, struggled to do.

"I know...but I worry for her safety," I responded, "She's always been too impulsive for her own good," I resumed my pacing, which was temporarily put on hold.

"She wasn't abducted, Derrick, so why make such a dangerous report," Sola asked, "Why put the thought of Zemira being in danger into our daughter's head. For God's sake Derrick Artemisa worships the ground your daughter walks on."

"THAT'SNOT YOUR CALL TO MAKE!" I snapped, "SHE'S MY DAUGHTER NOT YOURS, YOU DON'T GET TELL ME HOW TO RAISE HER"

"Raise her, Derrick, wake up she's almost 18, and, if I may be so bold, you did a pretty shity job raising her."

I was shocked at came from my wife's mouth. Questioning my parenting, after all Sola's the reason Zemira's mother is dead.

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[Zemira's POV]

It's been about an hour since Iris informed me of our depleted metallic resources, and by this point, I've had enough of Insanire's complaining. I got up, grabbed Arachnid, and began my short walk to the Weapons Lab to get Iris. Hopefully, she wasn't in the middle of a project, I thought. 'Who the hell are you kidding, Z, mechanic engineers are always working on something.' Insanire commented caustically. 'Once again, shut up,' I thought in response.

I arrived at the doorway to the Weapons Lab I was greeted with the usual, familiar smell of searing metal and the sound of blowtorches. I leaned against the door frame, arms crossed over my chest, watching the small amber sparks fly and washed in a light seafoam hue by the neon blue underlighting that surrounds the worktables and perimeter of the room. A figure wearing a welding shield looked up from where they'd been working on some kind of prototype gun and lifted the shield to the top of their head.

Iris's steel eyes met mine and the blue flame receded as she switched off the blowtorch.

"You look awfully calm for someone who's about to break the law," Iris said sarcastically.

"Well, when you do it enough, the law may as well not exist," I said a slight smile tugging at my lips. "Besides, if the Anopoly's gonna ban going to The Outlands, then why isn't there any enforcement?"

"She's got a point," Jeza Remirez, Iris' blue-haired, assistant commented.

"Whatever Jez, go get ready," Iris replied adding, "I assume you want to leave fairly quick, Pheonix,"

"Right, have everyone meet in the Transport Bay for briefing in 15 minutes," I said as I pushed off the wall to make my way there.

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We had supplies packed and were ready to move out within the hour. We'd be taking three transport trucks, two for the metal, one for the squad. Iris did a great job with recruitment, as always, the squad consisted of me, Iris, Jeza, and her twin sister Yrenea, a tall girl with purple-dyed hair, and unnaturally caustic green eyes, a man I know only as Holland, and few others.

We divide up for departure as only a select few people know how to drive and operate a motorized vehicle. I'm not having supply runs go south because of incompetent drivers. I, myself being among those few that can drive, opted to drive the squad transport. And of course, no one dares to object, mostly given any who would are either not on the mission or can't drive.

"Everyone secured down back there?" I asked, idly adjusting the rear view mirror, "And more importantly are all weapons secure with safeties on," I added sternly. I also refuse to have to bring anyone back in a bag because of a misfire. The was a mix of confirmations floated to me from the back. "Good," I said.

I turned my attention to informing the drivers of the other two transport trucks that it was time to go before putting the key in the ignition, starting the truck, and leading the way out of Ragonor's Haven, to The Outlands, back home.

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