3

“Ace looks at us like we’re some kind of kids. It’s so obvious that he doesn’t want us in their team,” Josaiah complained and sulked on the table. We were now gathered at one table here in camp, waiting for the others to arrive. One cool thing about food here in camp is that they serve us an appetizer, the main course and a dessert. Today, they served us salad that Josaiah is currently nipping on.

“I guess they’re okay with just being a three-person squad,” Xy reasoned out but his brows were furrowed. I continued eating the salad while they talk about their disappointments. A few minutes later, Gabriella and her squad arrived. Captain Hiragi greeted them then they walked towards our table to join us.

“Good evening, fellas,” Ace greeted. He seems to be in a good mood. Ace sat beside Marco, Snow sat beside Xy and Gabriella sat beside me. I raised my eyes at her and she just smiled and patted my shoulders.

“Wow, you’re in a good mood,” Josaiah said. I massaged my temples, sure be sarcastic to your superior, idiot.

Ace surprisingly didn’t take it the wrong way and laughed. “Of course, I am. We’re having food. We should never frown in front of blessings,” he replied. I smirked with my head down and Josaiah nodded with an annoying expression. Marco held a laugh and Xy pinched his waist.

“Say, uh, let’s skip the annoying remarks and focus on dinner, yeah?” Gabriella suddenly said just before the food arrived. Dinner was grilled chicken and mashed potato.  At first, we all ate silently with Snow humming while cutting the chicken. It wasn’t annoying at all, her voice was calming, almost like it was hypnotizing. She has such a chilling voice that even humming affects the people who hear her.

“Snow, you know people get wobbly with your voice. How can they eat then?” Gabriella asked while eating. I shook my head, shaking the sleepy thought and looked around. Xy already had his head down and Josaiah was laying on Marco’s shoulder. Marco rubbed his temples, cleared his throat then nodded at me.

Snow giggled and covered her mouth. “My apologies, Red and your squad. I couldn’t help but see how you’ll react.” Was that some kind of ability? How did she do that? I looked at Gabriella and she was calm, like it was a normal thing to happen to them. Ace didn’t seem to react at all and was just eating. Are they immune to it?

“Snow is from a family of clerics. It’s their trademark- their skill,” Ace explained. Xy and Josaiah then got up and wiped their faces. They both immediately looked at me, trying to see if I’m okay. I showed them my hand, indicating that everything’s fine. How come Marco and I didn’t get too affected?

“It seems that you and Marco have the strongest of will in your squad. Commendable,” Gabriella explained, somehow answering my question in my mind. The fact that Snow is capable of things like that, opens the possibility of us bearing other skills and abilities as well. Human beings are such complex beings that we do not know how to comprehend and visualize our capabilities, that’s why we still can’t use the most of our brain and body.

After our meal, I stood and fixed my uniform. I turned to Gabriella. “Can we talk? Major general?” I made sure to add her title just so she won’t get offended or think that I’m rude.

She stood and smiled. “Drop the formality, Red. You can call me Gabriella.” She then led the way to one of the tents far from the table like she was the one who wanted to talk. Marco looked at me with a smirk and even winked at me. I raised him my fist and he laughed. I immediately followed Gabriella who was already a few meters away from us.

“What’s the matter, sergeant?” She asked with her eyebrows raised at me. I thought we were going to drop the formality?

I cleared my throat. “Major general, I have a concern. Are we-“ I was cut by Gabriella laughing. She playfully slapped my shoulder and I stood there stiff and confused.  

“I’m just joking, Red. So, what’s the matter?” she finally calmed down and asked. This is a whole new attitude I’m seeing from her. I didn’t expect her to be the first to joke around especially with soldiers. She seemed so intimidating and all business-like. This was also the first time I heard her laugh my whole life. Well, not that I was so close to her before, it’s just that when I was a kid, I looked up to her as our hero. Gabriella and General Alon were the ones who made the impossible, possible.

“As I was saying, how can Snow do that? Is she a meta-human?” I asked. It’s not that I’m meddling with their business, but if ever I’m correct, Aleris will finally have the upper hand. We can develop this, we can enhance this. With the proper equipment and the right people-

“Snow was from one of the experimental camps of  Causan Industries. We do not intend to make people suffer like that again. Aleris will not choose to experiment on people,” she explained. I inhaled. I didn’t imagine Snow being from one of Causan Industries’ captives. She was so jolly and friendly, no one would mistake her as someone who was taken and controlled.

“I’m sorry. I-uh, I didn’t know,” I silently apologized. I was so eager to try a new path for us, a new path that might set us on the right direction to overthrow Causan Industries, but I was too blinded by my ambitions.

“What were you trying to propose?” she asked.

I shook my head. “No, it was a selfish idea. I didn’t even realize what the others would feel.” I intended to try ancient practices or experiments similar to Causan Industries that would at least give us the upper hand on troops. It’s not that our army is weak or has the disadvantage, but to be able to bring down the enemy for good, we have to take extra measures.

“We have tried mutant experiments before. There were volunteers who wanted to prove their purpose in life by participating in our experiments. Some lost their senses, some lost control. We do not hold them by their necks and let them go on their own, but we do not repeat the same mistake twice,” she explained.

I closed my eyes and nodded. “Yes, I understand. I didn’t really think of it that way. I’m sorry,” I apologized.

“No, I get your point. This is a rare opportunity for us that might be the key to save our land, but there are other appropriate options. We can discuss it with a team later on,” she said then walked back. When we were going back, Captain Hiragi was standing beside our table and he was talking to Ace. Ace and Snow suddenly stood and looked at us and Captain Hiragi motioned for us to hurry back. We then jogged back at the same time Marco and the rest stood as well. When we reached them, they were already marching to General Alon’s tent.

“Captain Hiragi, what’s the matter?” Gabriella asked as we follow them.

“We spotted scouts from Causan Industries inside the city camping. We need to make sure they don’t reach the camp alive. General Alon will be dispatching your squad and Quinscity’s,” Captain Hiragi explained. We immediately headed back to our tents to gear up. We met back at the north part of the forest- the closest route to the city. Gabriella, Snow, and Ace were already there and Snow was making something in her hands. When we arrived, she had a small tube in her hand that had something blue inside. She then poured some on two of her fingers and wiped it on our stomach. Well, that was sudden. We didn’t even have the time to react.

“It’s to make sure we don’t end up with appendicitis. We do need an average three hours after meals for proper digestion before doing activities,” she explained then put the tube back on her back. The thing is, we don’t actually carry bags. It’s like a nano transforming technology tattooed on our back. How many things can one person carry? Depends on how large the tattoo is.

“I, together with Red and Josaiah, stay in front. Xy and Snow will be behind us beside Ace. Marco, hit the trees,” Gabriella ordered. Marco immediately hopped to the trees silently, and then he was out of our sight. We started moving slowly, with Xy marking our way back and scanning the ground for any chemical trace or leads. The moon was shining brightly and the trees were not even rustling, there was no wind or sound of the animals. The north forest was awfully silent today, but it was bright enough for us to see the surroundings.

After approximately 34 minutes, Gabriella suddenly stopped and raised her hand. We remained quiet as she scanned the area in front of her. She carefully grabbed a stick from the ground and threw it sideways to the front. A few pebbles knocked over to the trees, but there was no trap. Gabriella walked over to the tree and picked up a pebble.

She then showed us the pebble with her brows furrowed. “It’s marked. Someone was here,” she said in a low tone. Damn it, someone got this close to the camp? Suddenly, a slight and harmonic whistle was heard from the trees, it was Marco’s signal. A signal that meant there was something ahead of us. We slowly walked forward, observing the close trees for any sign of people. When we reached the end of the forest, there was a small cabin that had light inside. We immediately split up, with me and Josaiah at the right side, Gabriella and Snow on the left side, Ace and Xy in front and Marco at the back.

Marco swiftly and silently made his way to the back of the house where there was an open window. He carefully peeked and motioned for us to continue moving. Xy set up a small rectangle device in front of the front door, a few inches thinner than the door step. Marco showed us six fingers, indicating that there were six people inside, Gabriella and I nodded. Marco then crossed his arms, indicating that they were indeed from Causan Industries. People from Causan Industries have a part of their lips lasered and surgically removed. It was one of their horrifying ways to keep their location a secret. They’re not able to fully open their mouths to talk properly, but wide enough for cut sized food. However, trained assassins are injected with nano-infection devices that can poison the person’s cells and blood with just a click.

I looked at Gabriella and she showed me her palm, wait.  I looked at Josaiah, Marco, and Xy and they all nodded at me. I turned back to Gabriella and nodded at her. She then closed her hand to a fist, signaling us to strike.