Corridor — Lardes vs Sagoya

  Lardes charges forward.

  From deeper inside the stronghold he hears gunfire erupt — Jeff initiating Blue.

  Fuck. I’m late.

  He looks back at Sagoya.

  They collide.

  Both punch each other in the face at the same time.

  Sagoya spins into a rotating elbow—

  Lardes ducks.

  Right hook to Sagoya’s ribs.

  Then a fast one-two to the face.

  Sagoya staggers back a step.

  They circle again.

  Breathing heavy.

  Lardes shouts:

  “Why abuse our trust like this?!”

  Sagoya smirks.

  Says nothing.

  That silence clicks something in Lardes’ head.

  His eyes widen slightly.

  “…You eliminated Julian, didn’t you?”

  Sagoya lunges instantly.

  Lardes sidesteps, grabs his wrist, and drives an elbow into Sagoya’s elbow joint.

  The arm nearly snaps.

  Sagoya’s face tightens —

  But he makes no sound.

  Lardes continues:

  “You also didn’t initiate when we flanked Blue at the tower.”

  Sagoya rushes again.

  Punches flying.

  Lardes parries clean.

  Sagoya suddenly fakes a strike.

  Lardes bites the feint—

  Sagoya slams a punch into his jaw.

  Lardes stumbles back.

  Sagoya drives a knee into his stomach.

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  Air explodes out of Lardes’ lungs.

  Sagoya grabs his neck and slams him into the metal wall.

  Lardes’ head cracks hard.

  Vision blurs.

  He slides down.

  Sagoya drives a knee into his face.

  Everything goes white.

  Lardes drops half-conscious to the floor.

  Sagoya’s Moment

  Sagoya stands over him.

  Breathing steady.

  Cold.

  “you talk too much” he says quietly.

  He walks toward the fallen pistol.

  Behind him—

  Lardes’ vision flickers.

  Sound muffled.

  His thoughts scream:

  Get up.

  Get up.

  GET THE FUCK UP!!

  Sagoya turns back, pistol raised.

  “This is going to be way too easy now.”

  He steps closer.

  Lardes Watches Sagoya′s Right Leg get Closer.

  That moment of talking—

  That’s the mistake.

  Counterattack

  Lardes Wakes up.

  His elbow smashes into Sagoya’s shin.

  Sagoya fires.

  Lardes throws his arm up.

  Freeze round hits his arm.

  The limb locks partially.

  But he keeps moving.

  Lardes kicks Sagoya’s knee.

  Hard.

  Snap.

  Sagoya collapses.

  The pistol drops.

  Lardes spins off his shoulder into a heel kick across Sagoya’s face.

  Sagoya crashes to the floor.

  Lardes stands up, breathing like an animal.

  He picks up the pistol.

  He fires.

  “Now who’s talking.”

  Sagoya locks up instantly.

  Frozen.

  Silence.

  Lardes stares at him.

  “Who sent you?” he says quietly, to himself.

  Aftermath — Lardes

  Lardes grabs his AR and slings it back on.

  Picks up his phone.

  Starts heading toward the battlefield.

  His arm is stiff.

  Pain everywhere.

  Thoughts racing.

  Is Jeff okay?

  I need to fix my arm.

  I’m exhausted as fuck.

  Call Jeff.

  “…Yeah,” he mutters.

  He dials.

  Control Room — Jeff POV

  Jeff answers mid-fight.

  “What?!” he shouts.

  Lardes breathes hard into the phone.

  “Sagoya was the traitor.”

  Jeff freezes for a second.

  “What?”

  “He tried to frame Aladin,” Lardes says.

  “Made Blue call his number.”

  Jeff’s eyes flick toward Jason getting his shoulder unfrozen.

  He hears more fire from the doorway.

  “I can’t talk right now!” Jeff snaps.

  “Get back to us — we’ll talk later!”

  He hangs up.

  Jeff scans the room.

  Seven Red cadets frozen near the entry.

  Then—

  A shout from outside.

  “Fuck — we’re getting flanked!”

  Louis voice.

  Jeff exhales in relief.

  “Finally.”

  He turns to Jason.

  “You good?”

  Jason nods.

  Jeff points.

  “Jason — you and three push the right hard.”

  Jason moves instantly.

  Jeff continues:

  “I’m getting to Vale.”

  “You three stay here and suppress so I can move.”

  They nod.

  The suppression team peeks—

  One gets clipped instantly.

  The other two keep firing.

  Jeff moves.

  Peripheral vision catches Jason flanking right and dropping two Blue cadets.

  Jeff reaches Vale.

  Vale looks pinned.

  Jeff leans close.

  “I’ve got a plan.”

  CUT.

  Stronghold — Orange Collapse

  Jawson’s Red squad crashes into Orange from the Left.

  Orange is now fighting on three fronts.

  Green on the right.

  Blue and Red in front.

  Red on the left.

  Wall behind them.

  No escape.

  Orange starts dropping fast.

  Louis shouts in panic:

  “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! FUCK! Where did everyone come from?!”

  Then—

  He sees someone descending the stairs.

  Tobi.

  The Green Maniac.

  Louis’ voice drops in defeat.

  “…Fuck.”

  Tobi’s eyes burn.

  “Who took my brother out?” he demands.

  He looks at Orange.

  “…You.”

  He charges.

  Three Orange cadets drop instantly.

  Like nothing.

  He moves toward Louis.

  Instructor Observation Room

  The instructors watch the chaos unfold on holographic displays.

  One leans back, laughing.

  “Wow. I love this job.”

  “I wish I could stay here forever instead of real battles.”

  Another nods.

  “I feel you. Just chill, watch them pull off crazy shit, no need to act tough.”

  A third grins.

  “And the money is insane.”

  “I’m twelve million Stellars up.”

  The others stare.

  “Shut up,” one says.

  “You’re placing safe bets.”

  He shrugs.

  “Winning’s what matters.”

  They laugh.

  Hallway — Jackson

  Jackson walks calmly down a corridor.

  Two Green cadets appear.

  Two shots.

  Both freeze.

  Jackson doesn’t even slow down.

  He hears the distant chaos ahead.

  Gunfire.

  Explosions.

  Shouting.

  His smile grows slightly.

  He turns toward the sound.

  And keeps walking.