Theodore was awake and there to greet Decha when he got back to the Agency. He was rubbing his neck, still sore from the dart that sedated him.

"You look like crap," Decha announced and stopped in front of him. He was still concerned for his father's well-being, despite his standoffish posture.

"Yeah, well, I feel like it too." Theodore groaned and rolled his neck around. "Whoever broke in somehow managed to turn off our cameras. The Agents are trying to lift the lockdown and trace steps back to the hacker. We need to find that dastard at all costs and arrest him."

"You've got bigger things to worry about," Decha gestured to all the council members who were recovering from their sedation. "We need to get them to a safer place. The person who hacked our computers was most likely looking up information about the council, you, or any other high-ranked Generals. Any of us could have a target on our backs."

"You speak like you've encountered the culprit." Theodore raised a brow, wondering why Decha seemed like he knew more about the situation.

"That's what I wanted to speak to you about. Privately."

"Let's head up to my office, I guess," Theodore sighed.

"We can talk here, just keep your voice down." Decha shifted his gaze to the commotion behind them. Over Theodore's shoulder, Jax and the council members were talking amongst each other. It was enough to keep them out of their private conversation.

"The culprit shouldn't have been able to enter unless you have someone in the Agency sneaking around. But my theory is that this person must have trained with other Generals. This guy is no joke, he's not bad when it comes to his abilities. He's very agile, not lacking."

"Have you seen their face?"

"I was able to identify them."

"Great! ...So?"

Decha brushed his hair back and clenched his jaw. "His name is Jamison Clarke. He's a Bracketer and works at a Butchershop right on the border. Somehow, during the collapse or before it, he infiltrated Sector A. I don't know how he's been able to roam around Astell freely, but since I know what he looks like, it won't be hard to track him down."

"N96, why are you fidgeting?"

"I am?" Decha relaxed his shoulders.

"You look like you're about to explode. Did something happen between you and the culprit?"

"He's someone I'm familiar with."

"Nepotism with the enemy? What other facts can you give that we don't have to search for?" Theodore was proud of his son. Decha was always ten steps ahead of them. Never had he been grateful to have a genius for a son.

"He's... Rory's father."

"I'm sorry, what?" Theodore laughed and punched his ear lobe. He thought he heard Decha wrong. "It sounded like you said the culprit was Rory's father."

"I did."

"Which Rory?"

"Chen," Decha groaned, allowing Theodore to accept his statement. Theodore Chen wasn't going to take it lightly. He looked around quickly.

Decha knew that Theodore's reaction was going to be worse. "So... what are you going to do about it?"

"I'm going to find him, and kill him, as the law allows me to."

"I assume you'll also remove Rory out of your care."

"No." Decha refused.

"I want her out of my house, Decha! She built the machine that killed dozens of Generals! Now her father hacked into our systems and we have targets on our backs!"

"Rory isn't the enemy. Her father is." Decha explained or tried his best to. "She's not dangerous—"

"How do you know she didn't trade information with her father while we were distracted!"

"I don't. But I trust her enough not to do that."

"Oh, do you trust a Bracketer now? When did you start trusting them?"

"Rory is dying. She's not in a position to hurt anyone!"

"We should've left her and let nature take its course when we had the chance back when the walls collapsed."

Decha felt something within him snap. He was being pushed over a dangerous limit. If Theodore kept talking, there was no telling what Decha would do. Usually, he was reserved and didn't care much, but to see so many around him want to hurt Rory only let the guilt in him sink further.

"Do you understand how much danger that woman has brought to our home? The machine she built attacked your mother!"

"It attacked her too." Decha heaved.

"Your mother is more important!"

"EVERYONE is important."

"Be honest, N96, do you only want to keep her around because you pity her? You know how Bracket women are, they lure you in with sob stories and trap you into doing things for them. It's common knowledge amongst Astellians!"

"Rory isn't like that."

"How so?"

"She's dying willingly." Decha felt bile rise in his throat. "She tries to hide her sickness, from me, even from your wife. And I doubt her father knows. She knows that her body is rejecting all treatment, and she refuses to ask us for help. Every time she smiles she's masking her pain."

"How observant of you." Theodore snorted. "I don't care how sick she is, I want her out. I'll have her removed by the end of the—"

"If you touch one hair on her head, you, the agency and the council will have an entire problem. I'll drop the case, and go back to the Outside, where I was originally."

"Stupid, if you drop the case and return to your station, who's going to care for Rory?"

"You think I don't have enough money to keep her in a Hospital?" Decha snickered.

"The council will not adhere—"

"I don't give a shite. My job is to the law. I don't answer to the Council. If they get in my way, I'm legally allowed to move them even if it means ending a life. The law protects Bracketers too, not just Astellians. And if the council is trying to look its best, how do you think the other countries will react when they find out that all of you shite on Bracketers all the time?" Decha spat. "The walls represent the unification of both Sectors. Do you think the countries Outside will be lenient with you people when they find out how Astellians treat Bracketers?"

Theodore kept his mouth shut. Decha was one of Astell's representatives for the Outside. He knew some of the leaders in other countries. Theodore knew that they would side with Decha because of familiarity. Sector A couldn't afford another War.

The lack of response from Chen only made Decha more furious. He whipped around and punched the wall. The slamming sound caught everyone's attention.

When Decha breathed, he already punched a hole through the metal. He swore under his breath. Now he had both a headache and bruised knuckles. Decha yanked his fist out of the wall and shook it off as if nothing happened.

"N96–"

"Not now." Decha shook his head as Jax approached him. "Give me a day." He was already over his limit. He didn't want to hurt Jax out of anger.

"You're dismissed for the day." Theodore sighed and walked away. Decha left the Agency in a hurry. He planned on going home and taking a cold shower. A quick cool-off and time to think would help him.

When he walked into his house, he saw Rory sitting in the living room with her phone in her hands. Theodore's words came up in his mind, but Decha quickly dismissed them.

He trusted her. There was no way she was in contact with her father. Rory wasn't that type of person.

"Your gloves worked." He walked around the couch and sat on the coffee table in front of her. Rory was startled at first, but upon hearing his statement a smile appeared on her face.

"They did!?" She gasped excitedly. "You used them!"

"You gave them to me." Decha rolled his eyes.

"Wow! I wish I'd seen it. Do you have any questions? Were there any problems you encountered? Is there anything I need to modify?" Rory was bubbling over with joy.

"They worked just fine. They saved my life, actually."

Rory blushed and looked at her feet. She felt flustered, and Decha noticed the change in her posture.

"What's wrong?" He frowned.

"... I've never heard anyone compliment my inventions like that before. It means a lot coming from an Astellian General, like you."

Decha wasn't too fond of that comment. Being a General was just a job with perks. He wasn't an immortal being like everyone made him out to be.

"It doesn't matter if I'm a General or not. Your wacky ideas are something special."

Decha's response made Rory melt on the inside. She couldn't stop cheesing at him like a child. The fact that he called her inventions special was enough for her to die happy.

"Your hand looks hurt," Rory pointed at the bruise forming on his hand.

"It's nothing,"

"You always say that, I bet it hurts a lot." Rory grabbed onto the hand that kissed Metal earlier and observed it closely.

"I could say the same about you," Decha hinted at the fact that she was hiding her condition from him.

"Huh?"

"Nothing," Decha shook his head. He was going to take a cold shower but seeing Rory's smile calmed him a lot more than he was expecting. He felt relaxed with her, and he wasn't sure why.

"When you used the gloves, did you somersault into the air or something? I think it is so cool to see you in action."

"I'll leave that up to your imagination," He smirked at her.

"I envy you."

"Me?" Decha snorted.

"Yeah, you're just... I wish I could run around and learn hand-to-hand combat. And you have this scary glare all the time, it makes you mysterious. When I first met you, I thought I should avoid you. Actually, I didn't like you at all. You were so disrespectful."

Decha allowed her to ramble. He was enjoying it. "What changed your mind?"

"When I found out you were a General. Back at Grandell, I thought, if I stayed behind you, no one would touch me. Somehow, you became cooler. And then I researched you. Forums on the web all talk about how smart you are. You have a high IQ. I read that you can memorize anything after seeing it once."

Decha wasn't sure how to feel. She researched him, and it was the first time he had anyone encounter him about it.

"And you're a hard worker. Overall, you're just a cool person."

"So, do you trust me enough to scan?"

"No." Rory quickly huffed. She shut down immediately.

"Rory—"

"I'll scan for the paperwork you have to fill out. But I don't want to do it if you and Mrs. Chen are going to treat me."

"Why are you so against scanning? Just tell me." He knew why, but he wanted Rory to explain herself.

"I can't." Rory frowned. "I've been locked away in a hospital most of my life. I'm trying my best to endure everything. I'll be out of your way soon, so don't worry about it."

"Don't speak like that. You'll piss me off further." Decha sneered at her.

"I didn't say anything wrong—"

"You said enough."

Rory didn't understand him. They were just getting along well, however, the moment she refused his offer, he was back to being commanding and rude.

"Why do you act like this every time I don't want to scan? Why are you so angry?"

"I have every right to be. You're being very selfish."

"If I was selfish, I wouldn't have made gloves that saved your life,"

"This isn't about the gloves. Keep on this topic, Rory."

"Heavens, you sound just like my father. Just stop." Rory pushed herself off the couch, not wanting to continue the conversation anymore.

"I'm not your father, but I think we know each other well enough that I can say this,"

"You don't know that much about me, okay?" Rory scoffed.

"Don't walk away from me while I talk to you,"

"I don't want to talk about it anymore!" Rory felt her voice crack and she began to cough.

"You don't hear how selfish you sound! At the end of the day, it's always about what you want."

"Decha, I'm not allowed to go back to Sector B. I can't go out and find my father. Astell restricts me because I am a Bracketer. I'm not allowed to choose any of my meals, I'm constantly followed by the Generals stationed around this house. I can't even go to the bathroom without you always after my tail. How the heck am I selfish when I don't have any rights? The only thing I have left is to refuse to scan." Rory was holding back a sob.

"The issue itself is your condition and how you're handling it."

"You don't even care. You said that before."

"I did."

"So why the heck are you so persistent?"

"Because it's my job to be."

"So you're doing it because it's your job? Your job is to watch over the Sectors! Not to keep me here for the fun of it!"

"You were the one that wanted me to protect you." Decha fired at her.

"Well, I don't want you to anymore!" Rory shot back.

"That's too bad." Decha narrowed his eyes. "I don't want you to die, so I guess you're stuck here."

A tear slid down her cheek when Decha revealed her secret. He knew. She was trying all she could to hide it, but he already knew. She wondered if Jessica was aware too, no doubt she was.

Rory whined and broke down into tears. Her body reacted before her mind did and she embraced him. Her tears got onto his suit, but he allowed the hug because he knew it was best for her.

"I'm sorry..." Rory huffed and quickly jerked away. "I don't know what to do—"

Decha grabbed the back of her head and yanked her forward.

"Decha—" Rory gasped when he pulled her back into a hug.

"I'm going to be honest, Rory," Decha grumbled. "I hate your hugs. They make me uncomfortable and I can't think straight."

"Then let go of me—"

"But I'll allow this one because you're an idiot."

"Why are you—"

"Because idiots like you deserve moments like this sometimes." Decha couldn't figure out why she was so openly touchy with him, but at this point, he didn't care.

Rory took in his warmth. Her heart was pounding, and she silently prayed that he wasn't able to feel it. She would die if he found out that she liked him. "Um, Decha? It hurts a bit." She didn't want to be too close to him.

Every time he did things like this, her feelings for him would only grow. She couldn't afford to let that happen. Decha released her and she wiped the rest of her tears away. "If the hugging makes you uncomfortable I won't do them anymore. It's a bad habit. In the Brackets we usually—"

"Shut up," Decha tapped her forehead. "You ramble and you think too much. If it's what makes you comfortable, then do whatever you want."

"It's not like that!" Rory panicked. "It's not that I'm comfortable when I hug you—"

"Then...what is it?"

"Listen, I'm not trying anything. I want to be upfront. I don't like you."

"... What?"

"I mean, you're a nice guy. Not nice, you're cool. I won't get in your way if you find someone you like—"

"Rory, what are you rambling about?"

"I honestly don't know anymore." Rory sighed, feeling defeated. She made it obvious she liked him by saying she didn't like him.

Decha laughed, catching her by surprise. "We'll talk more after I take a shower."

"You didn't have to tell me that," Rory grumbled as he walked away.

~~~

"Decha, how did you find out about my condition?"

"Jessica explained the results of your blood samples." Decha just finished showering. He was drying his hair with a towel. The moment he walked out of his bedroom, Rory was there to greet him with a bunch of questions.

"So you knew this entire time?" Rory frowned. "Is that why you kept confronting me about scanning?

"I wanted you to trust me and tell me you needed help." Decha walked down the staircase that led to the living room. He was headed for the kitchen. "Jessica suggested we get you to trust us so we could treat you. At the time, I didn't know how you felt about Astellians. I never thought you were planning on keeping quiet about it until you eventually left this world. You're very stubborn."

"You and I are no different," Rory grimaced. "You get hurt all the time but the moment anyone checks on you, you act as if everything is okay."

"We are not the same. I get hurt, but I'm trained for that kind of thing. I have a higher tolerance for injuries. Every cut, bruise, burn, or scar is not much compared to what I've dealt with before Outside of the Sectors." Decha walked toward the fridge with Rory on his tail.

He grabbed a can of Astell's famous soft drinks. The bitter kind. It was refreshing to him, although others didn't like the taste.

"Can I have one?" Rory asked.

"No."

"Huh? Why not?"

"Because it's not good for you." Decha popped the top of the can and took a nice long sip.

"You act like I'm some rare piece of furniture that can't take a little dirt."

"Rare? No. Fragile? Yes." Decha corrected her. "I've already had Jessica plan your diet out for you."

"Wow, you sure know how to have fun," Rory spat sarcastically.

"Fun can be dangerous. When you get better, I'll change your diet. But for now, it stays the same."

"Can't I just have a small sip? Just a tiny bit." Rory pleaded with her eyes. "I need something other than veggies and poultry all the time. And I'm about tired of water."

Decha downed the rest of the can in front of her before tossing it in the trash.

"Decha!"

"We need to talk about your treatment going forward." Decha changed the subject and continued to dry his damp hair. The action was driving Rory insane because it was the first time she saw him with his hair this way. She thought he looked handsome.

"Treatment? What more can be done? The Doctors in Sector B told me I had a few months left. I won't be able to graduate, but if I finish this project—"

"There is a cure."

"Decha, there is no cure for IDS."

"There is. Astell's technology is advanced. Jessica already found a way for you to get better."

"She did?" Rory's mouth widened.

"Yes,"

"What's the cure? Do I need to take a shot? A pill? Or does it work like the tea you've been giving me? Multiple tries at a time?"

"...You're going to have to have surgery."

Rory stopped to process his words. Surgery was very serious. Especially for her condition. It could either heal her or quicken her fate. She didn't feel right about it. "... I don't think I can do it."

"Hey, you may be lacking physical abilities, but mentally you're strong. You can do it. Jessica is one of the best surgeons in Astell. So you can't trust her too."

"It's not that I don't trust her. It's just... I've never had surgery before. The thought of being cut open gives me a bad feeling."

"It's actually thrilling."

"Of course, you would say that," Rory rolled her eyes. "You've been stabbed 10 times already, I bet. Mr. Outsider."

"I'm joking with you." Decha smiled at her. "And I've been stabbed about 15 times, you had a good guess though."

"How the heck are you still alive?"

"I had someone to motivate me." Decha immediately thought of Chai. Before she disappeared, Chai was a woman who made everything worth fighting for on the Outside. The two were very reserved, but she was very inspiring. Decha had always been quiet, but Chai was the one who always made him talk.

Despite her crying on the battlefield, she always kept a good attitude and worked hard. That motivated him to keep going to protect her. In a way, he felt the same about Rory.