During the drive back, Sam was once again mesmerized by the view passing by. The sheer difference in architecture and the layout of the city was something she likely would never get adjusted to, especially with how hectic traffic got when no one was following the lane markers. She eased back once more in her seat, checking the bandage on her arm to see the bleeding had stopped. She felt the heat blasting from outside even though the wind coming in from the open windows had been steadily flowing by. She felt the sweat from her back soaking into the upholstery of the seat cushion, causing her to readjust her posture. Seeing that the others in the truck weren’t in anything like her pilot suit, she casually zipped her collar open and pulled it further down towards her abdomen, letting some of the trapped heat out of her suit but also exposing her undershirt. She remembered how uncomfortable the other guys made her earlier, causing her to awkwardly put the zipper back up. She then heard Dani over her communicator with someone but couldn’t make out the words as the noise drowned most of it out. She then started having flashbacks of the massacre earlier and what news was brought about the bailing out of her rescue team on her. Once again, the feelings of terrifying isolation and vulnerability kicked in.

After a few lines were exchanged, Dani turned to her. “Hey, your team left Bosa. No more camp.”

“What?” Sam thought, just as she thought it couldn’t get worse.

“They got told that they had to leave because, ahn, it was too dangerous to look for missing pilots. You. The helicopter crew. Sorry. Your team left Bosa and is on a train to Medellin to get to safety.”

“What the hell?!” Sam tried to stay calm, knowing she at least was being cared for. “OK, OK, Sebastian said he would let me talk to my crew when we get wherever it is we are going. I can get them to come get me, right?”

Dani could only shake her head. “I don’t know. But I feel sorry for you.”

▽　▽　▽

Reaper was watching a large cargo train head out from the city and northwest from a different camp set up in the mountains overlooking Bogota. He zoomed in to spot Hexa officers at the back of the personnel car. “That leaves one left unaccounted for.”

“I already marked the escaped Ai20 pilot and that heli crew as KIA or MIA,” Requiem spoke from a seat behind him, “so I assume you are speaking of her.”

Reaper was then approached from behind by Director Channing, who was now dressed down in the same camo pattern pilot gear. “Cable” was written on the name patch over the left chest pocket. He looked to her and spoke: “You still expect Vrey to send the rest of the package on time?”

“Well,” she said, “you know, since I had to ditch a week sooner than expected, all I can give you is my best guess. That man is who we know him to be. Expect the delivery not only on time but might even be bigger.” She then turned to the view of the city below. “Destabilizing this place wasn’t as hard as I originally calculated. Do you really think we need one more go? You might not like the numbers next time.”

“No. We aren’t done until we see the other Familias’ citizen contingents start to rebel. The Vera, Benitez, and Galeano sympathizers are still too much in control. We actually just might need a large-scale mess to really have them question their state of being. Let Hexa send their groups. Round up more locals. The Rocha’s like their pay.”

Requiem stood up from his chair and headed the other direction. “Already ahead of you, Reap’. Me and Rev’ will go talk to Boss Boy and see who can be rounded up by tomorrow.”

When Requiem’s footsteps couldn’t be heard anymore, Cable turned to Reaper again. “Isaiah, you know your sister is still not exactly in the best shape to call safe or sound. You risked exposure just to hope she’s sent home scared shitless and never to return. Don’t tell me you are going to do the same if we don’t see an extraction by tomorrow.”

“Marian, stop,” Reaper (Isaiah) sighed. “I really appreciate everything you yourself risked in bringing her and everyone off course to safe landings, and I did get to in fact see her completely freeze up. She had three chances in specific to shoot one of us down. She is in over her head like I knew, and now she knows it, too. It’s unfortunate that Galeano kid ran in messing up her rescue. I didn’t plan on having that heli shot down, you know. That was just after the fact.”

“So?” she flatly replied, arms crossed. “Answer my question.”

“About next time?” he said with a frustrated chuckle. He was never able to talk as he wanted to about his sister he had abandoned, always feeling some responsibility for whatever fate she would meet. “Sam is resourceful. Either she uses that and finds a way to get out and back home where I know she will stay, or she gets a stupid idea and uses it to get herself killed. I did my part. She just has to do her part now and go home.”

“Well, I can’t chastise you for valuing your family. But we have to expect much more than simple anti-riot packages next. That tank and you three guy’s appearance means the Ai-25 and 30 models also make theirs, along with their own tanks and attack craft. And don’t forget they might break out the Ap-50 prototype.”

“You overestimate Vrey’s carelessness with the public eye. He worries more about his stockholders-”

“No. He worries about his personal success and his pride. That will always trump everything else, just like always. Remember, he lost his son for the sake of his invention succeeding. He will send an army.” And to think of the extent he will go to… gives me chills.

“Well, let’s hope for our sake I’m right. I need to get my ears closer to Kennedy East so I can at least see what’s going on with Sam. I’m like you, Marian. I want this to be over much sooner and with much less fighting than not.” He picked up his viewfinder once more, this time focusing over the central part of town. “Something says little Galeano might give Sam the wrong sense of confidence. I might need to get him silenced.”

“Do you want his information? Sebastian or Renzo Navarre. Not sure which it was, but one was there, one was at the lake.”

What was I thinking? Marian will only get carried away. I need to just keep my mouth shut and pray Sam sticks to course. “Nevermind, it’s time and resources not worth spending,” he said, letting his arms rest again. All I can do for now is hope. Please don’t get that damn stubborn confidence up, Sam.

▽　▽　▽

“Yes, please, sir!” Sam begged the older man at the Galeano Compound gathering room. “I can make sure you get paid. I just want direct communication capabilities.”

[She wants direct comm link to her place of choice. Will pay, she says,] Sebastian told the man. [She made contact earlier with her dispatch and warned them of the attackers. But of course they only told her what we already knew, and aren’t going to come, so she’s pretty scared. I think letting her make a call home would be the humane thing to do.]

[Very well. Take her to the terminal. We can collect after she gets what she wants,] he said to Sebastian, gesturing them to the room behind them.

“Thank you thank you!” Sam elatedly replied as she let herself be led into the communications room. “Excuse me,” she whispered as they made their way around several men sat at their stations. “So, is this the access screen?”

“Yes. Go ahead and make your call. Akkadian code, right?” Sebastian asked as he pulled up the input selector.

“Yes. 3389 Joseph Block A. Line 0098-1228.” She then stood in front of the screen, putting herself centered in the call screen. The other line picked up, with her mother showing up.

“Sam!?”

“Mom!” she burst out, this time unable to hold back a small trail of tears. “I’m OK before you ask anything! I’m totally fine, and I’m so sorry for my outburst this morning. I just needed to let you know I kind of don’t have any way out of here! I really, really need you to tell dad and see if he knows a chain to pull or something.”

“Sam, hold on!” she said with a breath of relief. “I am so glad you are OK, though of course you are, you are Samantha Knight. But at the very same time I still can’t believe you just…”

Is she rolling her eyes?!

“…Just ran off like you did! Hopefully you realize now is not the time to start asking for favors to cover for you! Why isn’t Hexa getting you!?”

Sam realized she should’ve known her mother would more likely be angrier than relieved as she wiped her eyes, clearing her throat. “Mom, Hexa can’t. They ruled the area too dangerous for extraction. I need another route out. I promise, mom, just help get me home. Forget my years I said I’d do this- I’m already done with them. I get it, this is not what I was meant to do.”

Amelie crossed her arms, leaning back with visible intent to scold. “Now do you see what I meant all this time?”

“Yes, mom, please, just please,” she continued in a defeated tone.

“I will talk with him once I hang up and call his office directly. But if he can’t pull strings, I’d bet I still have plenty of options.”

Sam still couldn’t help feel the pressure of defeat even after everything she had been through. She was aware of all the chances she had to listen to her mother and avoid the situation. “Thanks, mom, and sorry for everything. I realize everything up to this point was my choice and I am taking the consequences.”

“Sam, maybe this was just what was required in growing up. Everyone needs different challenges to face in order to finally grow up and make necessary discoveries and changes.” She then unfolded her arms and softened up her expression. “Alright. Look, you know I will be waiting by the phone until you are home.”

“The people here have been nice for the most part, and I feel safe with them. I will be fine in the meantime. Thanks again.”

“Bye Sam. Please stay put.”

“Yes, definitely will do. Bye.”

The call ended as Sam let out a huge, heavy sigh, and Sebastian returned a confounded look. “You two… don’t seem to like each other much. I didn’t think even Akkadians were so distant to each other in one family.”

“Well, first, thanks for letting me call. I could transfer the money now if you want. How much?”

“I don’t think they will collect. If they do, worry about it when they ask.”

“So, what did you mean? When you said distant?” She asked as they left the room with Sebastian leading them to what looked to be a break room for the pilots.

“Distant. Like, if that was me and my mother talking, she would be going crazy, all worried and scared… and crying. Your mother was only angry at you, and you had to say sorry?” He motioned her to take a seat at the table nearby with a few empty chairs remaining. “I don’t think I could live in such a world.” He pushed in her chair as she took a seat. “Coffee? Smoke? Drink?”

“I don’t smoke or drink, maybe a coffee.”

“Oh, ha! You don’t drink!?” [Cruella here says she doesn’t drink!] Dani exclaimed, who was sitting across the table with a cigarette. Laughs poured in. “I know how people like you dress! You party. You drink. Right?” [Get her a shot. She could use one and settle down some.]

“No, please! Last thing I need is a damn hang over,” she fussed, slouching over in her chair. “I hurt enough as it is.” I just want to go home. I don’t know where I am or what the fuck I am even doing anymore.

“No, no,” Dani continued to push the invitation as she motioned to a chuckling Sebastian. “We need to welcome you to El Barrio Kennedy! Best places in the city are here. You had a bad day. Hurt a lot. You can let us help you feel better!”

[Do you expect her here long? I don’t like foreigners here, to be honest,] the man from earlier said to Renzo who was standing next to him.

[Bas said we ought to, and normally he’s not like this. Let him have his way this one time. He took down a good number of Rocha bastards today all on his own. Let him see what this girl wants to do with her sorry self. We are here waiting for the next security package delivery anyway, right?]

[Right. It’s settled. She can stay until Friday when they deliver. If they can’t get her back then, she has to find her own way. Tell that to your brother for me.]

●　● Akkadia One, Eden Space Territories

Al stormed the Hexa central office building in a manner similar to the way he stormed the dance club the other night. “He’s expecting me,” he growled to the secretary, showing him his Retired Navy badge, allowing it to be scanned.

“Yes, sir, Mr. Knight, top floor.”

He was a bit more polite with how he opened the fancier, expensive wooden doors to Vincent’s office but was sure to walk in with the same enraged aura. “What did you lead Sam into? You thought this was just a security tour for real? Tanks? Cloaked LTAC technology!? Downed helicopters?! Vrey, have you gone mad?! How did you not see this coming with all the insane amount of intel at your fingertips?!”

“Mr. Knight, please hold your emotions, I have an explanation for all of this,” he said as he stood with a hand up. “Listen.” Al was now almost a foot away from his face. “None of this was expected. The losses are devastating as it is, but to make things worse, our director of drop missions over Northern SAU defected. A girl I loved as my own daughter just pulled a turn coat and I find this out moments ago. She set us up. She set Sam up.”

“What?! Marian?! And why should I believe that of all things.”

“I’m afraid Marian might be acting like this as a way of exacting revenge. She still blames me for Lance’s death. I tried, tried so hard to make it up for her, giving her the stable life she needed, and now she is with the opposition.”

“But she is taking away my Sam! Nothing to do with you! Other than the fact you are going to get her back for me no matter the cost.” Al tried to calm down, thinking a suggestion would work more than a threat. “How many survivors need picking up?”

“Just her.”

“One… one survivor? Of the twelve pilots… well, of course Sam survived she’s one of your best pilots and seems to be able to fight her way out of anything thrown at her. But her as the lone survivor?” Al paced the room for a moment before arriving to a new thought. “Even if Marian was responsible for the setup everyone walked into- wait, that’s it. Let me see the last five minutes of the squad leader’s recorded feed.”

Vincent changed screens, allowing Al to watch the final few skirmishes. “You put the worst possible people in charge.” He then thumbed over to the part where the escaping Ai20 pilot was able to get free after Sebastian’s MI-r covered him from behind. “This must be a local.” He then fast forwarded to where he ran off to cut Sam free. “That’s who has her. That’s who was with her on the phone call. This guy. These… that’s it!”

“What is it?”

“Who’s in charge of Infinity’s logistics?”

“Mr. Jarro. Why?”

“Stockholders are livid, I assume? Right. Of course, they are. You just cost them a billion by trusting such a sensitive drop op to a lady you knew might have a serious grudge. Look, if you want to see the recovery op succeed and wipe out whatever screwups you all had in this first attempt, you are going to put me in his position. Effective immediately.” He saw the look in Vincent’s eyes, knowing he wouldn’t be able to refuse. “You know what I have been capable of in the past. You’re not going to tell me no, because you need this victory and image clear up almost as much as I want my daughter back. And trust me, you don’t want me violating international code stepping foot back into a mech if I have to.”