ODYSSEY (Punishing: Gray Raven X Arknights X OC Characters)

Vol. 2/ Chapter 1: Parallels

Kazdel, Rhodes Island Landship

The low hum and the distinct whirring of the ventilation system filled the room, while the occasional tapping of fingers can be heard from time to time. The office was dimly lit, and with the absence of light, the projector is consistently flashing multiple pictures taken somewhere in Victoria.

At the end of a rather long, oval shaped table was a man wearing a long black hooded overcoat, which had blue exterior linings on the sides. Beside the plethora of paperworks and reports scattered on top of the wooden table was a thick, metal helmet designed to cover his face the entirety of his life.

However, he doesn't bother wearing it every time, since this was the most well guarded place inside the landship.

Minutes passed by, and the value of Originium rocks stayed the same. The landslide of reports from the latest, and rather disastrous events last week in Victoria was now coming to a close, with only minor missing details from an elite operator named Blaze. He underlined words of interest to further add in on his latest research.

The sliding door leading to his office swung to the side, followed by the sounds of footsteps. The man stops tapping his fingers on the table and sighs, before glancing up at the visitors. A beautiful and very attractive woman, somewhere in her late twenties was striding towards him with that same expression she always have.

"Kal'tsit, I told you, not now. I'm still reviewing the reports from the teams and personnel involved."

Kal'tsit shakes her head, followed by a heavy sigh. "(Y/n), that's the least of our concerns right now. Growing death rates have been plaguing our soldiers as we speak. You didn't even attend the burial of the dead mercenaries yesterday! What the hell is wrong with you?" she hissed, her voice laced, no, filled with frustration.

(Y/n), better known by the moniker "The Doctor" from his co-workers and subordinates, stands up and distances himself away from Kal'tsit. He subtly twists and turns the ring in his ring finger, before facing the woman behind him.

"They're dead Kal'tsit. The operation failed because of poor squad cohesion. Nothing needs to be said and done other than burying them in the ground." The Doctor responds coldly, earning a glare from the feline.

"Tch... Even though you recruited them..." Kal'tsit muttered under her breath, but it didn't go unnoticed from the veteran field commander.

"Hah, mercenaries Kal, mercenaries. You live by the sword, you die by the sword. And they were paid, that's all there is. As long as Theresa achieves her goals, you, me, and everybody else here are all pawns in the board." He turns around and stares straight at her.

Kal'tsit thought she knew (Y/n) more than anyone else, yet this side of his seems to be growing more and more out of hand as the war ravages on. He is a decorated doctor in the medical field, and a master field tactician when it comes to commanding whole armies of soldiers.

Yet despite those achievements, his value for human life goes beyond the scope of her eyes. Not only does he treat the operators and mercenaries under his command as mere tools to be used and disposed, he cares not if someone gets killed or captured by the opposing side.

And it angers her everyday to see him like this.

"Sacrifices are needed Kal. No powerful empire or kingdom that has survived to this day didn't go down the virtuous path. That's the reality, and as much as it's hard for...any of you to accept, it's the only way towards victory." The Doctor said before rewinding the contents of the projector backwards.

Kal'tsit was rendered speechless by what he said, mostly because it contained truth. But it was still unacceptable, to say the least. She watches as (Y/n) plays a video feed from one of the body cameras in the events that transpired in Victoria.