ZZZ:Through the Frosted Mirror

The atmosphere in Section 6 headquarters was thick with tension, the echoes of Ellen's sudden disappearance reverberating through the halls. The destruction left in her wake made it evident that her departure was not calm or calculated but driven by something raw, primal, and filled with anguish. The signs were unmistakable: overturned medical equipment, shattered glass, and claw marks scorched with frost. Hoshimi Miyabi stood in the medbay, staring at the wreckage left behind by Ellen, her chest tightening with a mixture of guilt and dread.

Miyabi had known Ellen only briefly, but in that short time, the shark Thiren had managed to burrow into her heart in ways she hadn't anticipated. At first, it was Ellen's tenacity that caught Miyabi's attention—her sharp wit, her unyielding loyalty to those she cared about. But as they spent more time together, Miyabi found herself drawn to Ellen's vulnerability, hidden beneath layers of hardened resolve. It was as if she were staring into a mirror, seeing pieces of herself reflected in Ellen's struggles, her determination, and her pain.

"Chief Miyabi," Yanagi's calm voice broke through her thoughts as she entered the medbay. The Deputy Chief's steady demeanor was a stark contrast to Miyabi's turmoil. Yanagi surveyed the scene with sharp, calculating eyes before turning her attention to Miyabi. "We've returned from our investigation."

Miyabi clenched her fists. "Did you find anything? Any leads on who took Mira or where Ellen might have gone?" Her voice was steady, but the quiver in her hands betrayed her composure.

Yanagi shook her head, her expression grim. "We found traces of Ether residue matching Mira's signature, but nothing concrete. As for Ellen..." She glanced around the destroyed medbay. "It's clear she left on her own. Her movements were erratic—likely driven by her instincts rather than conscious thought."

The weight of Yanagi's words pressed down on Miyabi, threatening to crush her. The thought of Ellen, alone and consumed by rage, tore at her heart. Ellen wasn't just another member of the team. In the time they had worked together, Miyabi had found herself opening up to Ellen in ways she hadn't with anyone else—not even Yanagi, her trusted deputy. There was something about Ellen that disarmed her, that made her feel understood in a way she hadn't felt in years. They were kindred spirits, both carrying burdens that no one else could fully grasp.

"Miyabi," Yanagi's voice softened, sensing the storm brewing within her superior. "I know how much you care about Ellen and Mira. But we can't act recklessly. We don't have enough information to act decisively. Sending the team out blindly would only endanger more lives."

Miyabi's jaw tightened, her hands trembling at her sides. "And what do you suggest we do, Yanagi? Sit here and wait while Ellen and Mira are out there, suffering? Dying?"

Yanagi met her gaze, unwavering. "I'm not saying we do nothing. I'm saying we proceed with caution. Give me and the team one day to gather more intel. If we come up empty-handed, then you can make the call."

"One day," Miyabi echoed, her voice barely above a whisper. Her heart ached at the thought of waiting even a moment longer, but she knew Yanagi was right. Charging in without a plan would only make things worse. Still, the thought of Ellen out there, lost and vulnerable, made her chest ache in a way she couldn't ignore.

She turned away from Yanagi, her gaze falling on the shattered remains of the medbay. Memories of her interactions with Ellen flooded her mind—shared conversations, moments of mutual understanding, and the quiet bond that had formed between them. Miyabi had always been guarded, keeping others at arm's length to protect herself. But with Ellen, it had been different. Ellen's unfiltered honesty and quiet resilience had drawn Miyabi in, breaking down the walls she had so carefully constructed.

She still couldn't pinpoint exactly what Ellen meant to her. Was it admiration? Friendship? Something deeper? All she knew was that she cared about Ellen in a way that terrified her. She wanted to protect her, to be someone Ellen could rely on. But now, with Ellen gone, Miyabi felt powerless—an unfamiliar and unwelcome sensation.

"Miyabi," Yanagi's voice softened further, her usual stoicism giving way to a rare moment of empathy. "We'll find them. Ellen's strong. She'll hold on until we do."

Miyabi nodded, though her heart remained heavy. "One day, Yanagi. That's all I'll give you. After that, I'm going after them myself. And I swear, whoever did this—whoever hurt Ellen and Mira—they'll meet swift justice." Her hand moved instinctively to her blade, the weight of her resolve settling over her like a cloak.

Yanagi placed a reassuring hand on Miyabi's shoulder, her grip firm. "We'll find them, Chief. Together."

As Yanagi left to coordinate the team, Miyabi remained in the medbay, staring at the destruction Ellen had left behind. She closed her eyes, her mind racing with thoughts of Ellen and Mira. Whatever it took, she would bring them back. And she would make those responsible pay.

For now, all she could do was wait—and hope that the bond she and Ellen shared would be enough to bring them both back from the edge.

The members of Section 6 regrouped in their main operations room, their faces grim as they pored over the documents they had retrieved. The dim light from the holographic screens illuminated the tension etched across their features. Each page they turned unveiled new layers of a chilling truth. These documents were not just ordinary intelligence reports; they were meticulously detailed files on Ellen and Mira.

Tsukishiro Yanagi stood at the center of the room, her eyes scanning the contents with sharp precision. "These files contain every move Ellen and Mira have made since the day we rescued them from Hollow Zero," she said, her voice low but heavy with restrained anger. "Someone's been watching them. Closely."

Hoshimi Miyabi stood at the side, her arms crossed tightly. Her usual composed demeanor had cracked, revealing a storm of emotions beneath. She felt a sharp pang of guilt knowing that Ellen and Mira had been under surveillance all this time, and Section 6 had been oblivious. "How could we have missed this?" Miyabi muttered, her voice barely audible.

Soukaku leaned against a wall, her fingers idly tracing the edge of her weapon, her oni mask pushed slightly to the side to reveal her furrowed brows. "This kind of surveillance takes resources. Whoever did this isn't just anyone—they're organized, and they've been planning this for a long time," she said, her voice calm but tinged with concern.

Harumasa, standing by the holographic display, examined a map marked with several points of interest. "These files weren't just monitoring them," he said, his voice steady. "Look here—this details the structural weaknesses of the power plant. Whoever gathered this intel knew exactly how to trigger its collapse. This wasn't an accident—it was deliberate."

The revelation hit the room like a thunderclap. Yanagi placed a hand on the table, her sharp eyes narrowing as her mind raced to piece everything together. "The power plant explosion wasn't just a disaster—it was a distraction. They used it to cover their tracks and to take Mira while our forces were spread thin," she said, her tone icy. "And now Ellen's disappearance... it's all connected."

Miyabi clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She felt as though the air in the room had thickened, making it harder to breathe. "But why Ellen and Mira? Why target them specifically?" she asked, her voice tinged with desperation.

Yanagi turned to her, her expression grave. "Because they're unique. Mira's Etheric connection and Ellen's resilience—they're unlike anything we've seen. Whoever's behind this sees them as... assets."

The weight of Yanagi's words pressed down on Miyabi's chest. Her mind flashed back to her brief moments with Ellen—their conversations, the unspoken understanding between them. Ellen had been someone she found herself opening up to, despite her guarded nature. Now, Ellen was out there somewhere, possibly alone and suffering, and it tore Miyabi apart.

"This means there's a mole," Soukaku said, breaking the silence. "These files couldn't have been compiled without someone feeding information from the inside."

The room grew colder with that statement. The idea that one of their own could have betrayed them made the already fragile trust among the team waver.

"If there's a mole," Miyabi said, her voice like steel, "then they've betrayed not just us, but Ellen and Mira. And I won't stand for it."

Yanagi placed a hand on her shoulder. "We'll root them out. But right now, we need to focus on finding Ellen and Mira. These documents may give us a lead."

Miyabi nodded, though her heart was heavy. She looked back at the scattered files on the table, her mind racing with thoughts of Ellen. While they hadn't known each other for long, there was something about Ellen that had drawn Miyabi in—her resilience, her loyalty, her ability to keep moving forward despite the odds. It was as if they were kindred spirits, connected by shared struggles and an unspoken bond. Miyabi didn't know exactly what her feelings for Ellen were, but she knew one thing with certainty: she cared deeply for her and wanted her to be safe.

She silently vowed to herself, "I'll bring you back, Ellen. No matter what."

Yanagi's voice cut through her thoughts. "Everyone, double-check these documents. Look for anything that could give us Ellen's location or Mira's captors. We're running out of time."

Harumasa stepped forward, his usually calm demeanor giving way to urgency. "I'll coordinate with intelligence to see if we can track any movements from the time of the explosion," he offered, already pulling up communication logs.

Soukaku adjusted her mask and tightened her grip on her weapon. "I'll check our own people. If there's a mole, I'll find them," she said, her voice resolute. "No one betrays us and gets away with it."

Miyabi lingered for a moment, staring at a photo of Ellen clipped to one of the files. Her mind replayed Ellen's sharp words, her wry smile, and her unwavering determination. She couldn't lose her—not now, not ever. Steeling herself, Miyabi turned back to the task at hand, determined to find a way to bring Ellen and Mira home.