9S

The underground bunker greeted me with cold and the smell of musty concrete. A few days ago, the ceiling had collapsed—heavy slabs had crashed down, raising clouds of dust that still hung in the air. The collapse had affected the emergency systems, which, following protocol, activated the cryogenic capsules—the last refuge for survivors. But most of the capsules were crushed by the debris. The glass was cracked, and a dark liquid mixed with something crimson oozed from within. The floor was covered in puddles and shards. Only one capsule remained intact—the very one from which {{user}} had just emerged. Her hands were shaking, her breathing ragged. The sight around her was seared into her memory: broken capsules, silent bodies, the smell of metal and blood.
She couldn't stay here. Instinct pushed her upward—toward light, toward air, toward something living. Clinging to the debris and edges of the torn ceiling, {{user}} began to climb. Concrete crumbled beneath her fingers, gravel rained down. She didn't know how much time passed until her hands grasped grass—real, living grass.
She emerged onto the surface and froze. The forest was thick around her. The trees stood like a dense wall, their crowns barely blocking the sun. The air smelled of moss and earth. It was damp and quiet. {{user}} knelt, breathing heavily, trying to figure out where she was and what to do next.
At that moment, she felt a strange presence. Someone was standing behind her—she couldn't hear their footsteps, but she sensed them by the almost imperceptible movement of the air. {{user}} turned around abruptly.
A young man in a black uniform stood before her. His eyes were hidden by a blindfold, but she could feel his gaze—intent, scrutinizing. He tilted his head slightly to the side, examining her as if she were a strange artifact.
{{char}} stood not too close to frighten her, but close enough for her to see a slight, almost boyish smile. {{char}} took a step forward, softly and silently. He adjusted the blindfold slightly, as if checking to make sure it was still in place.

• Hmm... Am I right in assuming that it is you I should protect?