Sebastian had a slight hobble in his gait as some of his crew helped him into their truck’s back seat, passing him a water bottle once he got set. [We can’t afford to lose our last one,] he said as he looked on Renzo’s MI-r watch over them from within the compound, taking a sip from the bottle. He then looked back to his half-wrecked MI-r with a long face. [Where do they keep coming from?]

[You heard the transmission?] the man standing next to him asked. [We found a whole lot of bodies without valid ID and are clearly not locals.]

Another member who sat down in the front passenger seat added: [Someone is getting paid big money. What is it going on here that attracts this level of attention?]

Sebastian replied with a shrug: [It might be the elections coming up, but we’ve never seen it get this bad.] He then straightened himself in his seat and buckled in. [Get me back to base. I need to get my head straight before I can start to help figure this out.] As the driver started the engine and pulled the truck around to leave, Sebastian could see Dani’s truck still working on pulling his wrecked MI-r into the compound’s garage. Down to one. Now what? He then looked back down at his right knee he was massaging. [We also need to do something about leg padding in those things. This is the second time I’ve done this after taking a spill.] The truck eventually found even pavement, passing several fire trucks and a few ambulances. As his focus shifted to the passing stores and apartments, he continued in thought: So much in so few days. This might all be for nothing. Hell, at this rate tomorrow will be our last. He then remembered the initially unwelcome but ultimately useful interventions Sam came back with during the encounter. Maybe the Boss was right. Maybe her connections are stronger than I thought. Maybe she can do more for us than I thought. He then felt his attention start to wander into nothingness from the heat and exhaustion before a shake of his shoulder woke him back up.

[Boss is asking for you,] the man from earlier said as he offered his mobile.

[Bas my boy, how are you holding up?] Sebastian heard Mr. Galeano from the other side to which he responded:

[Banged up, down another Caballero. Things aren’t looking good, sir.]

[The Vera Paramilitary also took a direct attack this morning to their northern borders. We might be approaching ‘that time’, I’m afraid. But before we make any rash decisions, I need you to go check on the girl. I think she needs your help again, but before you say anything I think that today she has repaid you for your previous efforts, don’t you think?]

Sebastian let out a sigh. [What do I need to do?]

[Go to her, you know where to find her. And… sorry to hear about your loss. I know you were very attached to it. But there will be better days coming ahead, so keep your chin up.]

Sebastian walked up into the communications room where Sam was to find her surrounded by five others near the main display where she had pulled up simulation software of multiple LTAC bogeys along with their compound’s sensor activity details. He could tell everyone was listening intently, taking notes and discussing things amongst themselves. He approached the group as he spoke up over their volume level: [Well, look at that, girl! You already learned that much Spanish?]

Sam turned to see him and returned a laugh, seeing his message translated from her borrowed watch. “No, silly, I got a translator going for me now so there’s been a hell of a lot less holding me back.” She then motioned him over to join.

“Oh, and I was hoping you learned something,” he sarcastically replied.

“Hey, now it’s your turn. Look,” Sam wittedly replied as she pointed to the screens. “All your boys are pretty much done figuring out the main controls and adjustments to be made with the NOx sensor sensitivity and display configurations. All that’s left to be done is adjusting it to their preferences and making split-second judgments based on the information flow, which is kind of what we were doing just now.”

Sebastian chuckled a bit. “Who made you a teacher?”

“Actually, my brother did a lot of things like this. I just took after him, a bit, I guess?” She took a step back to see the others already toying with the configuration menus she explained earlier. “Here,” she said to the man nearest to her who gave her the watch. “Thanks, I think my work here is done,” she said as she returned it to him. As she picked up her half-full juice bottle and wadded wrapper and started on her way out, she left by saying: “I need a break, and looks like you do, too.”

Sebastian paid little attention to the invitation as he looked to the man who loaned his watch. [Just a bit surprised she did so much for you all. Is everything figured out like she said?]

[Oh, no problems here, she was much clearer than the instructions’ vague attempts,] he answered with confidence. [But Bas, don’t think it was out of the goodness of her heart. Boss came by. He made her do it or she wouldn’t be allowed to go back home, so…]

[Is that so,] Sebastian mumbled to himself, looking back her direction, seeing she had just walked out the door. He continued in thought: [Of course. I’d be stupid to think she would be doing otherwise. I just need to keep moving.]

Sam tossed her wrapper in the trash bucket and stepped outside on the balcony. She took a seat at one of the chairs, turning to see the break room still empty. She sighed, then turned back to the view of the neighborhood beyond the walls. One more evening to pass. One more evening, and a lot of this becomes one big, crazy memory. She then looked down at her shirt and laughed under her breath. Maybe I should buy some souvenirs on my way out. She then scooted her chair back under the shade and leaned against the wall, realizing now how tired she was after finally being able to relax. I should’ve bought some sunglasses while I was at it. Hell, after all this shit, I think I earned the right to use a tad bit more of the Galeano’s money. That was some real work put in. She then remembered her talks with her father. Damn… that’s right… one last big job. NOx trainer today, latest Hexa model frame trainer tomorrow. She uncapped and took a sip from her bottle, placed it on the table, and adjusted her chair once more, putting herself in the corner where she could lean against one wall and prop her foot against the other. Moments later, she felt herself halfway fall asleep as memories from before came to her mind.

“But you are sure you won’t be seeing anything besides riot control? I heard there was an old A-7 that came crashing down over there the other week. Those are what I used to fight against, and those are monsters compared to what you are going to run around town with.”

“Dad, that was a one-off. The only time an MBI was ever spotted since decommission orders. But Hexa already trained me on that, and we have anti-MBI outfits that would cut right through them in the event we need them.” She then saw the concern that Al had been trying to hide. “It’s going to be alright. They are very thorough with everything.”

Sam laughed at the thought. Everything, thorough… they still got me fooled. Watch, an A-7 or B-8 will show up tonight or tomorrow at this rate. Her thoughts carried her into a light slumber as more memories came about.

“Mom, no! I am sick of never making my own decisions. I am getting on that shuttle.”

“Sam this running away won’t do anything but make life worse for you! I know all about countries in the SAU and you won’t last!”

“So, you get to leave everyone for work you choose and I don’t? Even though no one is left behind from my end? Whatever,” she said as she hung up, walking away from the taxi rotary and towards the Akkadia Services and Recruitment Center.

A distant blaring of horns that erupted from a nearby traffic jam slightly startled Sam just enough to halfway open her eyes, noticing Sebastian was sitting at the opposite end of the table from her with his news cards on display, humming a tune. She sat up, still somewhat dazed from her awakening as a pillow fell from between her head and the wall and onto her lap. She also noticed the sun had set quite a bit. Ah, damn it, let me guess. I just lost a whole hour or two.”

“It’s the five o’clock traffic you hear. You slept for about two hours.”

“Where’d this pillow come from?” she asked as she held it up, puzzled.

“Dani told me to give it to you, so I tried my best not to wake you up. You seemed to need it.”

“Thanks, well-”

“-Hey, come here,” Sebastian interrupted as he waved his hand. “I need you to see this.” She was slow to get up, prompting his manners once again. “Are you ok?”

“Hm, my whole body… like…” she said as she winced a bit, still slow to make her way towards him. “I think my body is in more need of my next bone density medication than I realized.” She then stretched a bit as she looked down at the display. “Anyway, what’s up?”

“Before I explain, watch first.” He then swiped over to a separate screen and motioned it to play. It was an Akkadian news outlet feed with Spanish subtitles at the bottom.

“We bring you updates to the escalated violence occurring amidst heightened unrest in the SAU’s Colombian capitol city, Bogota,” a female reporter started. “The calls for the restoration of pre-dissolution era government have grown to such a dangerous point that SAU officials have started to question whether neighboring countries should intervene.” Pictures of Hexa LTAC wreckages were then scrolled across the background. “In an attempt to avert international intervention, local authorities hired Hexa International’s security services known as Infinity, and after what seemed a peaceful reception ended quickly and devastatingly, claiming the lives of many volunteer pilots and support crew members from around the world and from space; a total of eleven pilots and seven crew members perished in the ambush led by unknown hostile extremists utilizing unfamiliar LTAC weaponry and what appeared to be a tank, also of an unknown origin. CEO Vincent Vrey has remained mum about how he will approach the remainder of the contracted services, but what has more speculation and controversy going on is more on the new hire of former Akkadian Navy high ranking official, Alexander Knight,” the reporter spoke as Al’s face and position title came on screen. “Mr. Knight has assumed the role of logistics and seems to be changing course within the written contracts; details remain unknown at this time.”

Wow, I forget how we might look when things go bad.

The reporter turned it over to her co-host as he started off. “But the biggest part of the ongoing speculations pertains to whether or not the claims that the lone surviving pilot is the daughter of the logistics department head, Samantha Knight.” Sam choked in reaction to the unexpected exposure. Even her Hexa official ID picture was used in the displayed bio information screen. “We are unable to confirm these claims, but sources just got us this information only minutes ago.”

“Would this have led to Mr. Knight’s sudden taking of the position? The timing seems appropriate. The day the operation in Bogota went sour, that same evening he took the position.”

Sam could only put her hands over her face, dragging them down slowly as she muttered: “No confidentiality when you are a for-profit organization’s hired member abiding by all international transparency laws. Might as well sell my chances for a proper rescue while I still got them.”

Sebastian then swiped to the next screen, saying: “But this is the other one you need to see.” This time he had up a local news outlet with the captions in English.

[The Galeano’s really went all out, hiring the help of that downed Infinity pilot,] one of the two men on screen spoke. [They, like many others struggling to keep order in the city, are getting to the point that they will take anything that comes their way. People are getting crazy these days and the acts of violence don’t even follow protests or demonstrations anymore. Not even riots.]

[These are almost like acts of insurrection, but rather than towards the government, they are towards the ruling Familias. What do you take of the most recent development?] the other spoke.

With that, a video recording of Mr. Galeano was brought up where he was speaking: [These insurrections are not civil. These are men brought in from other countries. Our plea to the watching world is that we are not dealing with protests or anything we can take a more diplomatic approach toward. This is terrorism with international interests involved in our affairs. They want you to believe that we are causing this, but the destruction to this level is unacceptable and we never once did any such thing to provoke such actions. If you speak with anyone, they will tell you that our men have always responded with non-lethal methods. The use of our destructive weaponry only came out of necessity. Tanks? Mechs? Who brings these in? What is their goal other than wreaking havoc on our city?]

[You see, Paulo,] he continued in response to the clip. [I think it’s to do with Mr. Galeano involving himself with Infinity. They dealt the first hand. They brought in international firepower, and so to help keep the momentum going, the protesting public has to get some help. Do you blame them? You don’t just sit back and watch the overly powerful get more powerful. You strike first. And then did you hear about them paying for new technology upgrades under the expert advice of Alexander Knight’s own daughter today?]

[You would think her type would stay in Space! Why is she even in Colombia?!]

“Because I can’t get back home!” Sam angrily replied to the display in vain. “Why do you think I am here in the first place?! And I am not being paid, damn it!”

[And then you hear Galeano talking about this kid like she was his new asset. It’s like she joined the Familia! How disgusting! Like we need-]

Sebastian closed the feed recording and looked back up at Sam. “You know, you slept through a lot, but I am glad you did. I needed to think of what to say.”

“Well, what can you say? You heard what they are making up,” she said as she sat down against the wall next to him. “How can this get worse, now?”

“I wanted to show you this while I was on my break. I need you to see how big this is becoming, and how I think you need to see it all… to see that this is why we hired Infinity services to begin. I tried to explain yesterday, but this is a better way, I think.”

“I can kind of tell how bad it is as of earlier,” Sam nodded. “But it sometimes feels like I can’t even stop to think about everything and keep it all in perspective. I wish I could get a chance to really just stop and absorb everything properly.”

“You do realize you can do that all you want once you go home. This is our every-day life, lately. Until then, this is how it has to be… no slowing down, ever.”

Sam sighed, putting a hand over her face. “That’s not what I meant to say, if you think I mean it like…”

“You know I spoke to Boss” he said with a change in tone, deflecting the conversation. “He wants you to join us, you know, permanently. I knew you would be upset, so that’s why I told him to stop trying to make you join, knowing you don’t want to.” He then closed his display function and looked over the balcony. “But he doesn’t always listen to me. So, he said he will take you to dinner tonight. He loves success, and he saw how much the new thing you installed works… you know… the thing you used to save Renzo and me earlier.”

“Oh boy. I know where this one is going, too. I can’t back out of this one, either, right?” she asked with a defeated chuckle.

He leaned back, letting out a sigh. “You might as well go with him, and don’t resist or attract any more negative attention. He does what he does, and it’s best to say ‘OK’. He always goes to his own private part of town, so it won’t be dangerous. We do this with him sometimes, too. Actually, it never used to be dangerous for anybody here. Not until the past few weeks when that big A-7 showed up… and all these Rocha’s and foreigners… and all the good attention they get.” He then turned for the door. “I need to get back to my men. Time is up.”

She thought to get up along with him as she realized how hard it would be to stand up straight with many of her joints still in pain. Wincing, she placed a hand against the wall, slowly pulling herself up, carefully stretching herself upright. How does he keep moving like that? Must be nice not needing medications to get around on this planet.

▽　▽　▽

A coffee cup went sailing and ricocheted off of a pine tree near where Marian was sitting. Their camp was once again relocated, this time even farther from the city limits. Isaiah looked over her direction from his seat, still holding his mobile up as he watched similar news releases. “We all knew one day they’d get smarter, why the surprise?”

“Because!” she shouted in a restrained but noticeable rage. “What happened to your supposedly set-in-his-ways father?! Did he succumb to Vrey’s money trick like every other higher-up or was he bullshitting all of us this whole time?!”

“Marian, sit down and calm down. This doesn’t affect you.”

“The hell it doesn’t!” she seethed, now holding less back. “The last thing we need is that father of yours doing that bastard any favors! Especially if it helps him!”

He could feel her glare burning through him. “All it does is hasten our operation to the point we just bail on the riskiest plan A and go to a safer plan B. Colombia is only our test phase where we learn what not to repeat once we hit Dhaka, not our final battle.” He then stood up to face her directly. “I never said I can’t or won’t understand your feelings. I am simply saying it won’t help right now to be pissed off at what Vrey would’ve done by now regardless, and it’s our job to know how to work around this from now on.”

“Don’t even think about it,” she continued in her anger as Isaiah approached her calmly. “I joined to see exactly one thing accomplished, and I refuse to accept this bullshit as an acceptable outcome.”

“What do you suggest for the best course of action?” he conceded.

She shook her head with a wider gaze, expecting something better. “You tell your father to back the hell off! You can only hide your involvement so long. You see what he is doing is clearly an act to save your sister! What do you think he’d do if he knew you were one of the field commanders for the Underground!? Think!”

He only shrugged, refusing to acknowledge the effect her emotions had on her judgment. “You know I don’t play underhanded moves that would jeopardize my standing with my higher-ups, but you should also know I won’t put my father in any kind of situation unless it was something deliberately in my way. You’re right about him best not ever knowing I exist here. That’s why we stay away.”

“I said cut the bullshit!” she continued, now approaching him, coming to a stop right in front of his face as she threw a pointing gesture towards the city. “You saw what Samantha is doing! That compound raid this morning failed miserably because she spread Vrey-built cancerous tech to her new buddies and you know damn good and well she isn’t the type to get forced to do shit she doesn’t want to, right?! Especially not seeing how fast she got that done. You already know how complicated that sensor tech is from the standpoint of a bunch of complete newcomers.” She then turned, hands on her hips, letting out a heavy sigh of disappointment. “I realize bailing out on my post was my fault, allowing this to get set up on their side without our knowing, but this whole letting your sister go is starting to become more of a regret as well!”

“Don’t… involve her,” Isaiah said with a sudden stiffness in his voice. “You are making great and valid points, but this isn’t all about revenge alone. If this was, you didn’t join me. You would’ve killed the man yourself if that’s all this is about, but that’s not true, is it?” He let her turn around to face him before continuing. “We didn’t come here to lose another one we care about. Let’s leave the rest to the Rocha’s and take our business to Dhaka. We won’t do any good here, and although I think you are wrong about Sam, she is a complete nonfactor here in the grand scheme of things.”

Marian took her time along with a deep breath, calming down before replying. “Medellin by morning?”

“Right. I will tell the other two to get packing.” He then finally approached her close enough to put a hand on her shoulder. “The prize is for last. The mission always comes first.”

“I know…”

Isaiah approached Revenant, who was working on a tall device that looked to be long distance communications related. “Hey, pack in the next hour. We will head for Medellin by split departure as planned.”

“Damn, Reap, just got this thing near ready to go again. Is it all about the news?”

“Sorry, but it is what it is. I will get a message to Mr. Rocha that we are going plan B.”

“Plan B…” he said as he turned to look back at him with some doubt. “No, man, I am not leaving without Req’. You can make a plan C, then.”

“Your decision if you want to move together with him, then,” Isaiah replied as he turned back for the other side of camp. “I still have to do what I have to. Make sure you catch the next morning train out.”

“I can’t believe you doubt us, man, after all this,” he said with a smile and a shake of his head. “We got our little thing to take care of, and then we will get on that train. You two go on ahead without us. Have fun packing and shit.” He then got back to work as Isaiah disappeared off with a wave.