Arknights - Echoes Of The Unfound Dawn

A/N: Want some candies everyone? Also please read the missing arcs to fill the missing gaps. Well then Merry Christmas Everyone and enjoy your day❤️✨.

Swire jolted awake, gasping for air as her eyes snapped open. Her heart pounded in her chest as she sat upright, looking around with confusion. She blinked a few times, her mind racing as she tried to piece together where she was and what had happened. The pain in her body—the searing agony of the infection—it was gone.

She placed a hand on her arm, then her torso, inspecting her body carefully. There were no signs of the jagged crystals that once marked her flesh. Her skin was clear, smooth, as if the infection had never been there. It was nothing short of a miracle.

Swire stared at her hands in disbelief, flexing her fingers as she whispered to herself, "How…?"

Then, a memory flashed in her mind—Xian's desperate expression, his voice urging her to hold on. Her eyes widened.

"Xian!"

She whipped her head around, searching frantically. Her gaze finally landed on him, lying on the ground a few feet away. His body was unnaturally still, his face pale, and—her breath hitched—the jagged black crystals of originium were spread across his arm, chest, and back. It was far worse than what she had endured.

Swire froze, her hands trembling as the weight of the situation sank in. "No… no, no, no," she whispered, her voice cracking. She took a hesitant step toward him, but stopped just centimeters away.

The infection was horrifying. It radiated a dark energy, its crystalline growths pulsing faintly. The sight made her stomach churn.

Her thoughts spiraled. "What did he do?" she murmured, her voice barely audible. Then, as if a switch flipped, the realization hit her.

"He took it…" Tears welled in her eyes. "He… he transferred it to himself to save me."

But in the next moment, something shifted inside her. Fear and guilt melted away, replaced by a fierce resolve. She didn't care anymore.

Without hesitation, she lunged forward, wrapping her arms around him and pulling his head into her chest. Tears streamed down her face, dripping onto his infected skin.

"You stupid… stubborn… idiot!" she sobbed, her voice filled with anger and worry. "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you stop? You act like you can do everything on your own!"

"Why?!" she cried, her voice shaking with anguish. "Why would you do something so stupid?! We barely even know each other!"

Her grip tightened as she buried her face into his shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably. "You didn't have to do this! You didn't—" She choked on her words, gasping for breath.

Swire froze, her sobbing hitching to a stop. She leaned closer, her ear near his mouth, and felt the faint rise and fall of his chest.

"He's alive," she whispered in relief, her tears returning, this time out of gratitude. She wiped her face hastily and reached for her phone.

A hospital. I need to get him to a hospital. she muttered, dialing quickly. Her hands were shaking so badly she nearly dropped the device.

The moment the call connected, Swire barked orders with the commanding tone she was known for. "Prepare a private room. I'm bringing someone in—urgent. No arguments."

The person on the other end tried to ask questions, but Swire cut them off. "Just do it!" she snapped before hanging up.

Sighing heavily, she set the phone aside and looked down at Xian again. Her mind raced as she thought about her next move. She needed to cover his infection before anyone saw him.

Swire stood, determination hardening her expression. She grabbed Xian's unconscious body and, with surprising strength, hoisted him onto her back. "Don't you dare die on me, you idiot," she muttered through gritted teeth.

She stumbled her way to the second floor, entering room after room to gather whatever she could find—jackets, towels, anything to cover his infected areas. Once she had enough, she gently laid him down and began wrapping the infection-ridden parts of his body.

When she was done, Swire carefully laid his head on her thighs. Her fingers trembled as she brushed stray hairs from his face, her worry etched deeply in her features.

Her thoughts drifted to the kiss—the moment that had shocked her to her core. Her cheeks flushed, and she shook her head violently, trying to dispel the memory. "This is not the time," she muttered to herself.

But as she looked at him, unconscious and vulnerable, her mind wandered back.

Swire thought about Ch'en and the times she had spoken of Xian. She thought about their first encounter at the mall, how they had bantered and argued like childhood friends despite barely knowing each other. Then there was the auction, where their clashing personalities had somehow felt oddly complementary.

Her lips trembled as she whispered, "How did it come to this?"

She looked down at him again, her emotions a whirlwind. "It's like we skipped so many steps…" she murmured. The development between them had been so sudden, so intense. But now, she understood why.

The way he looked at her, the way he interacted with her, the way he had sacrificed himself without hesitation—it all pointed to one thing.

Swire clenched her fists, a new resolve burning in her chest. "You idiot," she said softly, her voice quivering. "You're not allowed to die on me. Not now, not ever."

She leaned down, pressing her forehead gently to his. "Because I… I love you too."

Arknights: Echoes of the unfound dawn

Not soon after saying those words,

Swire's ears caught the distant sound of an approaching siren. The sharp wail of the ambulance grew louder, slicing through the quiet night like a beacon of hope. She exhaled shakily, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face, and adjusted Xian's weight on her back.

"Hang in there," she whispered to him, even though she knew he couldn't hear her. Her voice was thick with worry, a mix of anger at his recklessness and desperation to save him.

She staggered toward the front door of the restaurant, every step feeling heavier than the last. Just as she reached the threshold, the ambulance screeched to a halt in front of her.

The ambulance doors flung open, and two medics rushed out, equipment in hand. They stopped short when they saw her—disheveled, pale, with a determined fire burning in her eyes.

"Help me!" she barked, her voice firm despite the tremble beneath it. She adjusted Xian's position on her back, his unconscious body sagging limply. "This is an emergency. I'm LGD—Deputy Chief Swire!" She fumbled briefly with her badge, flashing it at them.

The medics exchanged a glance, startled but quick to respond. "Understood, ma'am!" one of them said, snapping into action.

They gently lifted Xian from her, their movements careful as they noticed how heavily he was wrapped in jackets and towels. "What happened?" one of them asked, his tone professional but concerned.

Swire's expression darkened. "No questions. Just get him inside and stabilize him. That's an order," she said, her voice sharp enough to cut steel.

The medics nodded, carrying Xian into the ambulance. Swire climbed in after them, her movements stiff but purposeful. The vehicle jerked into motion, the siren blaring once more as it sped down the road.

Inside, the fluorescent lighting cast a harsh glow over Xian's pale, sweat-drenched face. Swire sat beside him, gripping his uninfected left arm tightly. Her thumb traced small circles over his skin, a futile attempt to ground herself as her mind raced with possibilities.

One of the medics reached for the layers of cloth covering Xian's body. "We need to check for injuries—"

"Don't!" Swire snapped, her voice a whip crack of authority. The medic froze, startled.

"But, ma'am, we—"

"I said don't!" she repeated, her tone icy. She leaned forward, her sharp gaze locking onto the medic. "If you touch those, you'll only make things worse. Leave them as they are. That's an order."

The medic hesitated but ultimately nodded. "Understood, ma'am."

Swire leaned back, her hand still clutching Xian's arm. Her jaw tightened, and her nails bit into her palm as she suppressed the urge to scream. She hated this—hated the lies, the secrecy, the helplessness.

Her mind replayed the sight of Xian's body, riddled with infection, his determination to save her at the cost of his own life. A pang of guilt struck her chest, nearly knocking the breath out of her.

"Why did you have to go and do something so stupid?" she muttered under her breath repeaing those same words again, her voice barely audible over the ambulance's wailing siren. "You didn't have to… I didn't ask for…" Her words trailed off, her throat tightening.

One of the medics glanced at her, concern etched across his face. "We'll do our best to stabilize him, ma'am," he offered.

Swire nodded curtly, unable to muster a response. Her focus remained solely on Xian, her grip on his arm unyielding.

Later the ambulance screeched to a halt in front of the hospital, the doors flying open as the medics prepared to unload Xian. Swire climbed out first, barking orders to the hospital staff waiting outside.

"This man is under my jurisdiction. Treat him like he's one of your own, or I'll make sure every one of you regrets it," she snapped, her tone leaving no room for argument.

The staff nodded, rushing to assist. As they wheeled Xian inside, Swire followed closely, her hand never leaving his arm.

Arknights Echoes of the unfound dawn

As the group hurried through the hospital's halls, they were intercepted by a woman with striking features and an air of authority. Her skin had a faint shimmer, her hair a cascade of deep violet, and her long, angular ears marked her as a Zalak. Her bright teal eyes radiated intelligence, though they were now filled with urgency as they darted between Swire and the unconscious Xian.

Swire's eyes widened in recognition. "Dr. Aelita!" she called out, relief tinged with desperation in her voice.

The Zalak, dressed in a pristine lab coat that barely hid her athletic build, rushed toward them, her long legs eating up the distance in seconds. "Swire?" she exclaimed, clearly surprised but wasting no time. "What's the situation?"

"No time to explain!" Swire barked, gesturing toward Xian's limp form. "He's critical. Private room—now!"

Dr. Aelita's gaze sharpened as she took in Xian's pale, sweat-soaked complexion and the hurried wrapping of cloth around his body. Without missing a beat, she turned to the nurses accompanying her. "You heard her! Private room, stat! Prep the equipment, and I'll handle the rest. Be on standby for further instructions."

The nurses nodded, their movements brisk as they maneuvered the gurney down the hall.

As they moved, Aelita fell into step beside Swire, her teal eyes narrowing in concern. "Swire, what the hell happened to him? This looks… worse than anything I've seen."

"I'll explain everything once we're inside the room," Swire replied tersely, her tone brooking no argument.

Aelita's gaze lingered on her for a moment before she nodded. Her focus shifted back to Xian, and she frowned. "He's deteriorating. Faster pacing, everyone—now! If you can't sprint, get out of the way!"

The urgency in her voice was enough to spur everyone into action. The group moved like a blur through the hospital, the gurney wheels screeching against the floor as they maneuvered sharp turns.

The private room was a flurry of activity as they arrived. Nurses moved swiftly, setting up monitors, IV drips, and other medical equipment while Aelita barked orders with precision.

"Swire, suit up!" Aelita commanded, already donning her surgical gloves and mask. "We're going in immediately. This won't wait another second."

Swire grabbed the protective gear without hesitation, slipping into a sterile gown and gloves as Aelita turned to the nurses. "You, wait outside by the counter. I don't want anyone but Swire and me in this room for now."

One of the younger nurses hesitated, looking confused. "Why by the counter? Wouldn't the hall be—"

"Because I said so," Aelita snapped, her tone brooking no argument. Another nurse stepped in, nudging the younger one along. "Just listen. Let's go."

Once the room was clear, Aelita leaned over Xian, her skilled hands moving methodically as she checked his vitals. She pulled back the layers of cloth cautiously, revealing the extent of his condition. Her teal eyes widened in horror.

"This… This isn't possible," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Swire, this is late-stage Originium infection. He's practically a walking explosive!"

Before she could react further, Swire stepped forward, clamping a hand over her mouth. "Shut up!" Swire hissed, her sharp glare cutting through Aelita's panic. "I know what it looks like, but I don't need you screaming about it."

Aelita pushed Swire's hand away, her composure quickly returning though her voice was tight with frustration. "Do you realize how dangerous this is? He's past saving, Swire. If this infection spreads any further—"

"He isn't past saving!" Swire shot back, her voice fierce. "You can slow it down. Buy him time. That's all I'm asking."

Aelita stared at her for a long moment before sighing heavily. "Fine. But don't expect miracles, Swire. I can't reverse this. I can only delay the inevitable."

Swire's shoulders sagged slightly in relief. "Thank you," she murmured, stepping aside to let Aelita work.

Aelita moved with precision, her hands steady as she checked Xian's vitals again and began administering injections to stabilize him. Swire stood off to the side, her sharp eyes following every movement. Occasionally, she stepped forward to assist, handing over tools or holding Xian steady as needed.

Aelita extracted a vial of Xian's blood, carefully inserting it into a machine designed to analyze Originium concentration levels. "We'll know more once this processes," she muttered. "In the meantime…"

She leaned closer to Xian, examining the infection spreading across his chest and arms. Her hands hovered over the area, her frown deepening. "The infection rate is… accelerating. This isn't normal."

Swire's jaw tightened. "It's because of me," she admitted quietly. "He took it on himself to save me."

Aelita paused, her teal eyes flicking up to meet Swire's. "You mean he absorbed it?"

Swire nodded, her voice breaking slightly. "He… he sacrificed himself for me. And now he's like this."

Aelita exhaled sharply, shaking her head. She wanted answers but she dismissed them as she goes back and focus.

The machine beeped, signaling the completion of the blood analysis. Aelita strode over to check the results, her expression growing graver with each passing second.

"This… isn't good," she muttered. "The Originium saturation is off the charts. If we don't stabilize him soon, his internal systems will…" She trailed off, glancing at Swire.

Swire didn't need her to finish the sentence. "Just do what you can," she said firmly.

Aelita nodded, her determination hardening. "I'll do everything I can."

Swire stepped back, her fists clenching at her sides. Her eyes remained fixed on Xian's pale face, her mind racing with thoughts of what she would say to him when he woke up—if he woke up. She wouldn't let herself think otherwise.

Her heart ached as she whispered, "Don't you dare leave me, you idiot. Not after all this."

Outside the room at the hall way.

The tension thickened as Ch'en's heels clicked sharply against the tiled floor, each step echoing in the sterile hallway, a rhythmic countdown to the inevitable confrontation. Nurses paused in their tracks, casting hesitant glances toward her, their eyes wide with uncertainty. Some moved as though to intercept her, but a single glance from Ch'en, fierce and unwavering, froze them where they stood. One nurse, voice barely audible, spoke up, "Ma'am, this is private—" But Ch'en's response was swift, low, and commanding.

"Stay where you are. I'll handle this myself."

Her words cut through the air like a blade, and none dared to challenge her. She stormed past, her coat trailing behind her like a dark cloud, each stride more determined than the last. The sound of her boots on the floor, fast and purposeful, was the only thing that filled the silence as she made her way down the hallway.

Inside the operating room, the pressure was of a different nature. The sterile, cold air seemed to vibrate with the tension in the room. Doctor Aelita's delicate fingers danced over the instruments, her movements fluid and precise, yet her feline ears twitched with the slightest hint of unease. The monitors beside her displayed unstable readings, their relentless beeping a constant reminder of the fragile state of things. At the side, Swire stood rigid, her hands clenched into tight fists, her gaze fixed on Xian's motionless form on the operating table.

Without warning, the door slammed open with a resounding crash, the noise cutting through the tension like a thunderclap. Ch'en stood in the doorway, eyes blazing, her presence as commanding as ever.

"What the hell is going on in here?!" she barked, her gaze sweeping from Swire to Aelita, before finally landing on Xian's pale, unmoving body.

Swire, already teetering on the edge of composure, shot back, her voice sharp and accusing. "What are you doing here? You can't just barge in like this!"

Ch'en's response was immediate, her voice rising in volume, each word dripping with accusation. "This is serious! You're hiding something!"

Their voices clashed in the air, sharp and jagged, like two forces of nature at odds. They traded barbs, each accusing the other of negligence, of withholding crucial information. The tension between them built, the atmosphere charged with anger and fear, until it seemed as though the room might implode.

Meanwhile, Doctor Aelita remained an island of calm amidst the storm. Her focus never wavered from the monitors, her hands moving with practiced ease as she adjusted the equipment. The cacophony of raised voices barely registered in her mind, but it gnawed at her, pulling her attention. Her tail flicked in irritation, the only outward sign of her agitation, but she chose to remain silent. She would intervene only if necessary.

And then, a crash—a sound so sudden and jarring that it pierced through the chaos like a dagger. Both Ch'en and Swire froze, their argument momentarily forgotten as their eyes turned to the source of the noise. A set of empty test tubes had fallen from the counter, shattering into a glittering shower of shards.

The disruption brought all attention back to Aelita, whose wide eyes were fixed on the monitor in front of her. Her expression shifted rapidly—first disbelief, then confusion, and finally, astonishment—as she leaned closer, her gaze fixed on the screen.

"What is it?" Swire demanded, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and hope, her earlier anger now replaced with something else, something fragile.

Aelita's voice trembled as she spoke, her words barely audible. "The... the originium levels. They're decreasing."

A stunned silence followed, as though time itself had stopped.

"What?" Ch'en's voice came out quieter than usual, the sharpness replaced by genuine disbelief.

Aelita nodded slowly, her hands gripping the edge of the table for support as she tried to comprehend what she was seeing. "They're... decreasing," she repeated, her voice soft and unsure. "The originium in his system—it's breaking down on its own. This shouldn't be possible…"

Swire's legs wavered beneath her, and she leaned against the wall for support. Her wide eyes never left Xian's still form, the words catching in her throat as she struggled to make sense of what was happening. "I-Is he... recovering?"

Ch'en, though not as visibly shaken, crossed her arms, her brow furrowed in thought. The room seemed to shrink around her as her mind raced, memories of Xian's strange behavior, his abilities—things she didn't fully understand—suddenly surged to the forefront of her mind, like pieces of a puzzle coming together. "This doesn't make sense," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.

Aelita shook her head slowly, still staring at the monitor, her voice quiet and almost fearful. "This isn't natural. This kind of regression... it's as if the originium is being purged. But by what means…"

The air grew even heavier, thick with confusion and unanswered questions. The faint hum of the medical equipment was the only sound, a stark contrast to the earlier chaos. Ch'en's eyes flickered back to Xian's prone form, her suspicion growing, gnawing at her with a sense of urgency she couldn't quite explain.

As if in response, the door clicked shut behind them, the soft click of the lock settling into place, further sealing the room's tense atmosphere.