The Release

Scene: TNP Confinement

Enkoth sat in front of the kid's cell, the dim light casting shadows across her face as she observed him through the bars. The kid, his guard still up, questioned her presence.

"What do you want?" he asked, his voice tinged with caution.

Enkoth leaned back in her chair, studying the kid with a thoughtful expression. She found something intriguing about him, something that set him apart.

"You're quite a special kid, aren't you?" she mused, her tone a mix of curiosity and admiration.

The kid glanced at her, his skepticism evident.

"What's so special about me?" he retorted, a hint of defiance in his voice.

Undeterred, Enkoth crossed her arms and began to explain her perspective.

"You've managed to elude capture for years," she began, her gaze unwavering. "Skilled operatives have tried to bring you down, yet you've evaded them time and again. You've faced danger head-on and emerged stronger. There's a resilience and determination in you that's hard to come by."

The kid remained silent, his eyes locked with Enkoth's. He seemed wary, but her words piqued his curiosity.

"Not really, I've been captured in the past," he muttered, his tone carrying a trace of vulnerability.

Enkoth pressed on, recognizing something deeper within him.

"But beyond that," she continued, her voice softer, "there's a glimpse of vulnerability in you. It's the pain of someone who has been hurt, someone who has faced betrayal. That's what caught my attention, what made me want to understand your story."

A mixture of surprise and curiosity flickered across the kid's face.

"You're not like the others," he murmured, almost to himself. "Or did you hear our conversation in the interrogation room?"

Enkoth nodded, a small smile playing on her lips.

"No, I'm not like them," she confirmed. "I believe in second chances, in the power of redemption. And deep down, I think you do too."

A brief silence settled between them, the weight of Enkoth's words hanging in the air. The kid seemed lost in thought, contemplating her perspective.

Finally, he spoke, his voice softer and more vulnerable than before.

"Why do you care?" he asked, his guard momentarily lowered.

Enkoth's gaze softened, filled with empathy.

"Because everyone deserves a chance to make things right," she answered earnestly. "And I believe that even someone like you can find a way to channel your skills and strength towards something we couldn't achieve."

Enkoth unlocked the cell, allowing the door to swing open with a creak. She gestured for the kid to step out, her gaze steady and unwavering.

"Heinrich said to let you go," she informed him, her voice calm and matter-of-fact.

The kid stood still for a moment, assessing the corridor outside the cell. With cautious steps, he moved forward, his eyes meeting Enkoth's briefly.

Enkoth motioned towards a nearby storage room, her voice guiding him.

"Your belongings are inside there," she directed, her tone steady.

The kid nodded silently, his face devoid of emotion, and walked towards the storage room. Enkoth followed closely behind, her presence offering a sense of support in this unfamiliar environment.

They reached the dimly lit storage room, shelves filled with an array of items and equipment. Enkoth unlocked the door and stepped back, allowing the kid to enter. She watched as he moved through the room, searching for his belongings.

"Take your time," Enkoth said gently, her voice a comforting presence.

After a moment, the kid located a bag tucked away on one of the shelves. He retrieved it, slinging it over his shoulder with a hint of relief.

Enkoth's gaze shifted to the kid's weapon, a unique firearm that caught her attention.

"Quite a nice gun you've got there," she remarked. "We haven't seen anything like it. What's it called?"

The kid's response was short and concise.

"Malinnov M2P," he replied, his tone devoid of any inflection.

Leaving the storage room behind, Enkoth and the kid made their way towards the vehicle station. Operatives were waiting, their eyes curious and filled with intrigue as they glanced at the enigmatic youngster.

They climbed into an armored personnel carrier, settling in for the journey back to town. Inside the confined space, the operatives initiated a conversation with the kid.

Amelie, the leader of the team, spoke up first.

"So, your name is Aceffiy?" she asked, seeking confirmation.

The kid's response was swift and concise.

"Call me 'Ace'," he stated, his voice devoid of emotion.

Scene: Schattenheim Town

The town lay in ruins, a stark testament to the devastating consequences of the operatives' actions. As they stepped out of the armored personnel carrier, their eyes were met with scenes of destruction and despair. Ace, his expression unchanged, confronted the operatives with a mixture of anger and disappointment.

"Do you see what you have caused?" he questioned, his voice filled with frustration.

Andorra, one of the operatives, looked around in shock.

"What happened here?" she asked, her voice trembling with disbelief.

Ace's response was cold and straightforward.

"You caused our defenses to fall," he stated, his tone accusatory. "By eliminating Der Strum, the group that protected this town, you allowed them to cause all of this."

Kelly, a young operative, spoke up, her voice filled with confusion.

"We thought they were just bandits," she explained. "We were trying to keep everyone safe."

Ace's gaze hardened, his disappointment evident.

"There are no bandits here," he clarified. "The men you saved were captured members of Lumen Veritas, the same one that you're looking for that had fired an RPG at you."

Marie, a seasoned operative, stepped forward, her face etched with remorse.

"We didn't know," she admitted, her voice heavy with regret.

Rebecca, her guilt evident in her voice, added her own words of remorse.

"We never intended for this to happen," she said, her voice filled with remorse. "We were focused on protecting our own."

Ace's words cut through the air, his tone laced with a mix of frustration and resignation.

"It's a good thing that some resistance fighters remained to defend the gate," he stated, his voice tinged with bitterness. "But our air defenses and trophy systems were destroyed by your mortar attacks."

As the operatives took in the devastating scene before them, their eyes shifted towards the civilians who now held weapons, their determination evident. The once peaceful residents had been forced to take up arms in the face of diminished resistance forces. The consequences of the operatives' actions were not just physical destruction but also the loss of innocent lives and the desperation of a community pushed to the brink.

"You wanted to be heroes," he continued, his words laced with a mix of frustration and disappointment. "But have you stopped to consider the lives shattered, the innocent people caught in the crossfire? Do you feel like heroes now?"

Ace's words pierced through the silence, his voice filled with bitterness and a hint of sarcasm. The operatives stood before him, confronted with the harsh truth of their actions. They exchanged glances, their expressions heavy with remorse and a newfound understanding.

The operatives stood in silence, their guilt and regret forming an impenetrable cloud around them. The gravity of their actions weighed heavily upon their shoulders, and the realization of the irreparable damage caused left them speechless.

Ace's gaze softened slightly as he surveyed the remorseful operatives before him. He understood the burden they now carried, but his anger remained palpable.

"You have a chance to make things right," he said, his voice filled with a mix of bitterness and a glimmer of hope. "But remember, true heroism lies not in the pursuit of personal gain or blind loyalty, but in taking responsibility for one's mistakes and striving to correct them."

Ace's question hung in the air, creating a palpable tension within the group of operatives. Amelie, her eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and guilt, leaned forward, her voice trembling with a genuine desire to understand.

"Why? Why was The Nachtwache Projekt founded?" she asked, her tone carrying a sense of urgency.

Ace's gaze shifted from one operative to another, his eyes piercing through their remorseful expressions. He took a moment to gather his thoughts, the weight of history and pain evident in his voice as he began to speak.

"The Nachtwache Projekt was founded to ensure that the remnants of the enemy, those who still posed a threat to peace and stability, would be eliminated," he explained, his voice filled with a mixture of sorrow and determination. "It was born out of the necessity to protect and rebuild a war-torn world, to prevent the rise of new conflicts and atrocities."

As Ace's words echoed in the air, a somber silence settled over the group. The operatives listened intently, their hearts heavy with the realization that their actions had inadvertently caused more harm than good.

Amidst the silence, Kelly, her voice quivering with a mix of apprehension and curiosity, spoke up, voicing the question that lingered in their minds.

"But why you? Why did they target you specifically?" she asked, her eyes searching for answers.

Ace's gaze hardened, his jaw clenching as he recalled the painful memories that haunted him.

The weight of Ace's words settled upon the operatives, their faces reflecting a mix of shock and realization.

"I give you a second chance, you don't have to fight. Just help, anyway you can."

Ace's gaze shifted from one operative to another, his voice filled with a blend of determination and expectation.

"So, what say you, Nightwatchers?"

They were ready for this moment. It's hard for them to spit the words out, but they have to. Enkoth stepped up.

"We can't. We got our orders to just drop you off here. But if you managed to get M200 back, maybe we would reconsider.

Amelie was silent as she witnessed her comrades leaving, deep in thought. Ace's words had made a strong impression on her, and she was still processing what he had told her.

As the vehicle started to move, Amelie took one final look at Ace, her eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and regret.

She didn't know if she would ever see him again, but she hoped that one day, she would get the chance to apologize for everything that had happened.