(Leopold’s P.O.V.)I play with the food on my tray distractedly. I feel restless. The doctors from the Ministry of Health are clueless as to how to fight this new virus the Eels have created and that leaves my men in a very vulnerable position. Maybe it would be wise to cancel any future raids until the Ministry of Health develops a cure for this new disease, but I can’t afford to do that right now, not when my promotion is so close. I have to show results and I have to do it soon: I must find the traitor inside the Sharks and I have to arrest Xander Norton once and for all. I know General Schubert promised to make me Major if I changed Aubrey into a faithful Bearer but I also want to prove to everybody that I deserve this promotion. The problem is, I would hate to lose one of my men because of this virus… Sharks from other Units have already died from it because they got infected. I don’t want that happ

(Leopold’s POV)I check that my gun is loaded for the fifth time while we wait for Wilson’s signal hiding behind an excavator. I don't even know why I'm focusing so much on checking my revolver when I have my sniper rifle on my back. Sabrina snorts once more to let me know that she is against what we are doing. I ignore her, I need to focus and to calm down, this plan is dangerous, but I think it can work. Besides, I have no choice, I can’t just let those Eels kill Aubrey’s father. What kind of coward would I be if I did that? I know my relationship with Aubrey is a mess, but that doesn’t mean I want her to suffer any more than she has. As much as this mission seems like a lost cause, I must at least try."Is there anything I can say to change your mind, Commander?" Jareth asks standing behind my back."No, boy, I made my decision,” I reply coldly.

After hours of uncertainty, Mother Addison receives a phone call. She says nothing, she just nods and mutters humming sounds. She then hangs up and looks at me. “Your father is safe, Aubrey. Commander Mortensen rescued him along with the urban development official. Apparently it was quite a deed, he went in and confronted the Eels by himself, he had no support from any of his Sharks,” she informs me. I’m perplexed. I can’t believe Commander Mortensen risked his own life to save my father.“What an extraordinary man!” Comments Matron Mary Ann. Relief washes over me, my dad is safe.“Indeed, Matron Mary Ann, Commander Mortensen outdid himself this time. You ought to be immensely thankful to him, Aubr

When Leopold finally arrives home I notice he looks concerned about something. For a moment, I fear the Matrons called him to share with him their suspicions about me putting Eel ideas inside Eliza’s head. But after careful observation, I realize he is not angry at me, he is just restless. He takes a seat on the living room couch and looks ahead with a troubled expression on his face.“Is there something wrong?” I ask him after a while.“Please, take a seat, Aubrey,” he says pointing to the spot next to him. I do as he says, feeling concerned, I can’t imagine what is wrong. The moment I take a seat I notice the black backpack that Leopold has next to him, I’ve never seen it before. I look at him awaiting for an explanation for his unusual behavior, he takes a deep breath and then he gently takes my hand and squeezes it lightly.

I walk out of her hospital room, Leopold is waiting for me outside. My eyes are reddened and swollen from all the crying. He puts his arm around me and kisses my forehead gently without saying a word. We then start to walk to the elevators. When we cross the lobby, the nurses try to get a good look at me but Leopold holds me even closer to his body to block the view from them. We walk rapidly towards the car and then drive away. I can see now that Leopold was nervous too, he was just pretending to be chill. “Are you all right?” He asks me once we are far from the hospital and he seems to relax again. I nod with my head. “Aubrey, I’m driving, I can’t look at you, so I’m going to need a verbal response,” he says without taking his eyes