Got a new chapter for you guys, hope you enjoy.

Btw if there is anything bothering you about the Story feel free to tell me, probably already said it enough of times, but I'm always open to critisism.

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I woke up without problems. Even though the day before had been exhausting I felt no consequences and my body worked quite normally. I didn't care that I had slept with my clothes on and simply headed to the cafeteria to get something to eat.

Inside I was greeted by Liam, Rose and the last member I didn't know Christian sitting at one table. The burns that had covered his face where now bandaged and his arm had been exchanged. Liam too had gotten some repairs. Where they had found the time I did not know.

The others were nowhere in sight. Liam pointed at me and motioned me to come to them.

With a worried look I sat down next to Rose.

"So... what exactly is going to happen now?"

Asking the three of them I noticed that Christian instantly looked at Rose with worry in his eyes. She herself showed no emotion except her normal smile.

"Well, we don't know the details as of now and I'm sure Karen can handle it. But just in case we need you to remember some stuff in case they call you in for questioning."

Questioning? Confused I interrupted her.

"What do you mean with questioning?"

If I fazed her with my interruption she didn't show it and simply answered me.

"Well, the higher ups probably aren't too happy with what happened yesterday. Too many casualties and we attracted too much attention."

Christian motions her to stop and keeps talking in her stead with a soothing voice. Seems like he's been told everything, which did not really surprise me.

"Here are the facts:

A3 took part in a mission that was, at least in the beginning not sanctioned by the high command.

Secondly A3 lost 4 high value operatives during the mission. Loyal high ranking espers, whatever their power might be are very important. As such we're responsible for their deaths.

Thirdly."

he pauses once and sighs.

"Thirdly, A3 had the chance of backing out after it was pretty clear that you had been compromised. Or at least that information was missing. If you had gotten "Child's play" nobody would have cared but now that is something entirely different.

Which brings me to number four. A3 lost their target. "Child's play" got away. Command doesn't care about all the small fry surrounding him. To be honest, even "Overheat" wasn't that important. All of them where probably simple foot soldiers, cannon fodder if you will.

And finally. This mission was everything but stealthy. Yes, you guys probably went in quite silently but the problem lies with the police and civilians that saw you during the mission and the entire cleanup procedure that had to take place."

He shakes his head with a tired expression.

"All in all the entire affair is a huge mess. If Karen was anyone else BUT the Captain of A3 she'd face a court sentence. As of now the most probable thing is that command will call everyone in to get a detailed report of the entire mission. I'm honestly surprised that they haven't already done so... Probably because of something Karen did."

Rose nods to his explanation.

"Couldn't have put it any better. To put it bluntly, we took a risk and we lost, now we have to face the consequences. Luckily we have some information about the two espers that we don't know and about what "Child's play" said about the Fallen. It won't do much but it's a start. The most important thing for you to know - if they take you in that is - is, do not hesitate to tell them everything. They have way's of figuring out if you're lying trust me. Because you're the newest member they probably will not ask you too much. But of the things they ask you, just be honest with them."

I wasn't convinced by this, there was still a certain risk involved.

"What if they ask me about my power, or about my past, what should I tell them?"

Rose seemed to think about my question for a moment, then Christian answered for her.

"Quite easy. Tell them something that is actually the truth. If they ask you what your power is, simply tell them the control of gravity. This is considered true, it's not all of it but that will not matter. Just give them something genuine to hide a something else. You just shouldn't lie."

I nod, I had understood. A truth told with bad intend will work better than all the lies you can invent.

"I understand. What about Karen though. Have you heard anything from her?"

I seemed to have hit the nail on its head. The three of them looked around uncomfortably before Rose answers with a sad smile.

"We're always saying she'll manage but to speak the truth, we're worried. We're by far not a perfect team and we've failed missions before. But yesterday was the first self ordered mission that we absolutely butchered. To answer your question, no we haven't heard of her. But as of now we can't do much except sit it out."

Then she throws me another smile.

"Look at it this way though, we are too important for them to simply get rid of. They've put too much effort into us, so at least we cannot be disbanded that easily. And Karen still has quite an amount of allies with the higher ups."

A voice from the entrance interrupts our conversation.

"The Captain can handle this. We should follow her example and show command that we shouldn't be considered a hazard for other missions. Right now we're officially on house arrest. Nobody of us is allowed to leave the area without clearance. Pretty sure they think we let "Child's play" go on purpose. They think someone has defected..."

I recognized the voice to be Ignars. We turn around to face him as he seems to have new information. He seemed quite angry and his expression did not hide it.

"We've got a huge problem at our hands... Like I said, they think someone of us is working for the Fallen. Right now the ones the most suspicious are probably me, Chris and Alex here.

Me because I did not kill "Child's play" when I had the chance. Chris because he survived the first mission..."

He hesitated for one second before continuing. Then he looked at me.

"Alex, you're the newest member of A3, as such you're also the most suspicious of us. We and the others saw what you did, we know that you're not part of the fallen, the problem is that command doesn't share this feeling. I'm absolutely positive that they're going to call us three in."

He laughed once.

"I don't even know how much time we have before they decide to come for us. They want someone to take the blame and they can't put it on Karen because she's highly respected. I know Rose already told you the gist of what you need to do to get through this. But to be honest, I do not know what more will happen now.

Just be careful and if anything really threatening comes up try to reach Liam for help. As long as it's only for a short amount of time they will not notice it."

Confused Rose looked at him, then Christian answered him with disbelieve in his voice.

"You're kidding right? They think WE defected? A member of A3? I lost the entirety of my squadron during our first fight and they don't say a word but now they think that we're traitors?"

His fist slams down on the table as he shouts the last words towards Ignar. Trying to conciliate him Rose puts her hands on his arms.

"Calm down Chris. They just need someone to take the blame, I'm sure that not one of them really thinks this way about us."

Facing her he spits back.

"It doesn't make it better. It's nothing short of a humiliation. We've all had questionings about missions but those were mostly simple reports. THIS."

He waves his grey arms around before finally dropping them on the table with a loud thud.

"This is stupid."

Rose pats him on his back.

"We know it is but we cannot change it. Just tell them what they want to know and be done with it."

"Will you manage Alex?"

Startled I look towards Ignar. I had thought about the whole thing in silence and had to admit I understood the commands way of thinking. Though I did not like it.

Sighing I look face the rest.

"I'll be honest here, I don't know. There's too much I am unaware of. The only thing I can say is that I'll do my best. I won't let them put the blame on me or A3. We did everything we could and I regret nothing. I promise they will not get anything out of me to burden A3 with."

Holding my gaze for a split second the four of them nodded in union. Rose even leaned to the side and gave me a quick hug.

"I'm sure you'll do fine. Eve-"

Suddenly the doors to the cafeteria burst open and interrupt Rose. A slightly out of breath Songe rushes in.

"The Captain's back and they want you three Ignar. You were right. The re-"

"That is enough Corporal Parker."

He instantly stops takes a step to the side and salutes. Behind him Karen walked in dressed in a decorated uniform and a face as blank as a sheet of paper. We quickly follow Songe's example, jumping up and saluting towards her.

Behind her a couple of soldiers walk in two lines with a young man with short black hair in the middle. A small insignia on his jacked tell us that he is with the military police, though nothing shows any information about his rank.

Karen doesn't seem to have any familiarity in mind right now as she practically shouts through the room.

"Sergeant Wright, Sergeant Solis and Ms. Mercer! All of you will now follow Commissioner Ostrid for questioning concerning the mission that has taken place yesterday!"

Nodding towards the commissioner she takes a step back.

He himself barely acknowledges her making us quite angry. If he noticed it he didn't show it and simply opened his mouth stating with a clear voice.

"First of all, A3 is now officially on house arrest. While the three individuals are being questioned the others may not leave this compound. This also goes for you Captain. Does everyone understand this?"

Still saluting motionless all of us answer in union.

"Yes SIR!"

He then points towards me and Christian.

"Good good. I am sorry to inform you that you will be stripped of any ranks you hold during this investigation."

Instantly I can feel Christian cramping up to my left but he remains calm on the outside.

"Mr. Solis, Mr. Wright, Ms. Mercer, if you would now follow me. These men will be your escort until we have reached command. Everything you need will be provided to you, you will not need any personal belongings."

With that he turns around and leaves the room. The soldiers move to the side making a small corridor for us to walk through. The three of us slightly look towards Karen who slightly nods and form the word "go" with her mouth.

"Let's go then."

Ignar speaks up once and takes the first step forward. Me and Chris quickly follow. The soldiers quietly surround us while we walk through the hallways of our home compound. Ignar seemed like a statue in front of us walking without being intimidated by the force surrounding us. Chris on the other hand clenched his hands in rapid succession. He still seemed mad about what the commissioner had said...

And then there was me. I would lie if I said I wasn't nervous. But it was not because I felt threatened, it was because I did not know what would happen now. I only knew that I would not be able to win this fight with my power alone...

I would have to rely a little bit on my wits.

A laugh escapes my throat as we step outside and towards a black transport helicopter that would take us towards an unknown location.

Relying on my wits?

Fuck I am so screwed.