The Cardinal Directive: Mission Log #47

Burning Questions

[Start of Season 2]
[Previous]

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>> ...
>> Supplemental Audio #^& -- This file includes transmissions on a ?MK2 ??-/?? /??/ 01000001 01010010 01001110 01000101 01001110/ ??/
>> Due to PRIOR CATASTROPHIC SYSTEM FAILURE, this file has suffered some amount of CORRUPTION, including supplemental audio #???? and its contents.
>> It is recommended that any audio disturbances are time stamped and sent for review
>> Now playing Mission Log #47...

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The camera’s view flickers once or twice, bouncing unsteadily between two feeds.

One is Solena’s, the outline of a door becoming clearer and clearer through the dust as she approaches it.

The other is somewhere in Olympica, burning sunlight streaming down into the compound. The camera is strategically placed, sitting well above a crowd that’s gathered around a hole dug into the floor. The hole is several feet across, with soft sand on the bottom and scrap metal lining the walls that gleam in the light.

Outside the hole, the crowd gathers thickly around it, some sitting, some standing, and a few more in the back craning to see over the ones in front or standing on something to get a better look. Wendy and her team are amongst them — but not as casual observers.

It’s clear from their posture that they’ve been assigned as guards or peacekeepers for the arena today, stiffly spaced at intervals around the rim of the arena and keeping eyes on both the interior and the crowd. Wendy snaps at another operative as they get too close, forcing them to back up.

Within the arena are two combatants. At one end stands Cassidy. The top half of her suit is tied around her waist, and she wears a long sleeve with white boxing tape wrapped tightly around her hands. It’s hard to tell from here, but the color of her hands beneath indicate she must be wearing some sort of thin black glove over both hands and wrapped the tape over top of it. The apparent officiant seems dissatisfied with her attire, but allows it anyway, going over to check on the man in the ring with her.

Becquerel’s stature is unmistakable. Despite being shorter than Cassidy, he’s much wider and bulkier, with a heavy brow and flared nose as he stares her down. His cauliflower ears tell a rich history that Cassidy’s smoother features don’t. This is his stomping ground, not hers, and it’s clear in every muscle both of them possess.

As the officiant clears him, they both prepare themselves for the fight ahead. Instinctively, Cassidy seems to ready herself in a right-handed position, but quickly switches, shifting to pin her right arm closer to her side and ready her left.

Becquerel doesn’t seem to register a difference. He cracks his neck and puts up his hands.