[OPENING SCENE — DREAMSCAPE / RIFT MEMORY ECHO]
A pulse of red. We drift through a surreal corridor of mirrors and fractured symbols. A faint voice echoes...
Unknown Voice (male, distorted):
"Break the illusion, little dagger. The chain tightens."
We see a glimpse — Crimsa kneeling before a tall man in a scarlet cloak of shifting code. His face is never seen, only eyes burning like molten circuitry. He holds a mechanical spear curved like a scorpion tail.
Commander (calmly):
"Have you forgotten the contract? Serve the Vanguard... until you break them."
Crimsa wakes up in a cold sweat.
[SCENE — VAN HQ MEDBAY]
Morning. The team is recovering. Echo-7 rolls diagnostics. Irion meditates beside a Rift shard. Yuna and Kael drink tea in silence.
Aurix (entering):
"Today, we rebuild."
Jax (bruised):
"Great. First I rebuild my ribs. Then maybe the skyline."
Tari (checking her sniper):
"Xerai's attack wasn't just a strike. It was a test."
Veya (quietly):
"To see how far we'd bend before we break."
[SCENE — CRIMSA'S ROOM, NIGHTFALL]
Crimsa stands before a locked panel in her quarters. A hidden interface slides open. A hologram flares — the Crimson Chain insignia pulses. A transmission comes through.
Commander (hologram, voice synthetic and elegant):
"Report."
Crimsa:
"The Vanguard's stronger than anticipated. Kael won't fracture so easily."
Commander:
"Good. Keep playing the role. Your extraction point has changed. Phase 2 begins at dusk."
Crimsa (hesitates):
"...and if I refuse?"
Commander:
"Then the blood you owe... will be collected." (static pulse)
[SCENE — SKYVAULT OUTSKIRTS, ABANDONED POWER STATION]
Crimsa sneaks out under the guise of "recon." Irion follows — quietly, suspicious. He observes from a distance as Crimsa meets with a rogue figure clad in a red visor, escorting a metal briefcase.
Red Operative:
"Crimson Chain sends its gift. Inside: the coordinates to the next Rift spike. And a toxin that will make Kael... pliable."
Irion activates a recording orb. But it crackles, disrupted by interference. Suddenly — he's spotted. A brief scuffle. Crimsa pretends to attack the operative, saving Irion. The operative escapes.
Irion (narrowed eyes):
"That was a clean act. Almost too clean."
Crimsa (deflecting):
"You're welcome."
[SCENE — VAN HQ WAR ROOM]
Irion studies the broken recording with Echo-7.
Irion:
"There's more to Crimsa. She's hiding something — or someone."
Echo-7:
"Signal distortion aligns with stealth-grade military spectrums. Whoever she met… isn't small-time."
Kael (entering):
"Then we keep watching. But for now... we trust her. Until she proves otherwise."
[SCENE — SUNSET ON THE SKYBRIDGE]
Crimsa sits alone, watching the Rift scar pulse on the horizon. Yuna joins her.
Yuna (gently):
"Everyone here has a past. What matters is what you do now."
Crimsa (softly):
"And if the past catches up?"
Yuna:
"Then we fight. Together."
[POST-CREDIT SCENE — UNKNOWN LOCATION]
The Commander stands before a wall of shifting sigils — projections of Vanguard members rotate.
Commander (to someone unseen):
"She is performing better than expected. When the time comes... she'll open the gate."
He steps aside, revealing a massive vault door embedded with Rift runes. The seal glows — faint, but growing stronger.
[TO BE CONTINUED...]