He entered through the city gates, strolling past houses and shops whose windows were reduced to dark, vacant holes, their panes of glass now shards that lay scattered across roads and footpaths. Where doors still hung to hinges, they were warped and cracked, no longer fit for their original purpose.
Further on, he passed a church with a sagging roof. There was a gaping crack on its bell, clearly visible from the road below as it hung silently from the crumbling remains of a steeple.
Finally, he reached the central plaza, and stood before an immense fountain. Whatever idyllic scenery it had once boasted was now almost completely erased; shattered remains of cherubs, the leg of a horse, a broken flag and the butt of a musket were all that was left.
Kepa gazed at it for a minute or two, his face revealing nothing. Then, in brief, swift movements, he swung the bag from one shoulder, the violin case from the other, and rolled up his sleeves. Gingerly, he drew two fingers across his smooth forearm, lifted a section of skin, and removed a flat, square object from underneath. It was no bigger than a fingernail, and just as opaque. He pressed it to his temple, holding it for a second with his forefinger.
He looked back at the fountain, and blinked. Nothing seemed to have changed. He turned and gazed around the entire plaza, taking in everything before heading back towards the church. His movements, now, changed perceptibly. He was still relaxed but appeared more alert, his eyes darting from side to side as he walked down the centre of the street.
There was nothing to mark the church as anything other than one more of the mass of ravaged buildings. The stonework, position of the doors, shape of the bell, the shape of the room, all seemed to fit. The sun moved away from the centre of the sky as he entered the building. Walking down the aisle, he kept looking about, as if trying to find something. As he approached the back of the room, he caught sight of a soft red glow coming from around the corner. He made his way towards it and discovered a stained glass window.
He paused and looked back. A large, bulky silhouette stood at the church entrance. Kepa could not make out any features, but he could see what it had in its hands: a bag and a violin case.
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Termination of 79:20:NZ
Disposal of unit to commence immediately.