●　● Kennedy District, Bogota, Colombia

“So, what were those riots really all about in the end, anyway? You know, the ones from last summer?” Sam asked, leaning over the balcony rail with a beer in hand, staring out over the stores, houses, and smaller apartment complexes nearby. She had forgotten how tense the air felt all those months back, faltering in comparison to the relative quiet she could sense beyond the drone of moving traffic and music playing from who knew where. She knew the riots were under the surface a paid operation, but there had to be something on the surface the locals wanted or it would have all fallen through with ease.

[Securing more SAU money. I thought you knew that already?] Renzo remarked with a wry chuckle of disappointment. [But yeah, all everyone talks about these days is bringing us back into the full umbrella of the damn ‘Union’ like we don’t want our independence anymore.] He was seated next to Sebastian, kicked back with his legs up on the small coffee table. [But you see how quiet it is. I guess I can’t complain. Right, Bas?] he continued with the back of his hand playfully smacking the back of Sebastian’s shoulder.

“He’s saying it’s because everyone here wants the government to steer them back into full SAU control, mostly for getting more money,” Kaylen loosely translated for Sam, also while staring out over the balcony, beer in hand. “But also said, why complain if it’s finally quieted down.”

“Good point, I guess,” Sam thought aloud. I forget that unlike the NAU, the SAU isn’t a governing body but just a single military and peacekeeping cooperative. She took a swig mid-thought before looking back over at Kaylen. After finally settling down, she now noticed Kaylen had at some point slipped into a pair of jeans and partially fixed her hair. “And what’s your real story? I know kind of what it feels like to keep getting called something you hate being associated with.”

“Hey,” she answered back in rare form, letting out a smile and a loose shrug of her shoulders. “I’m just another person trying to find herself somewhere else… working, drinking, or fighting her past away. Kinda’ like you, right?”

“But no, real talk- why the SAU? Why… why Argentina?” Sam continued through her curiosity, tuning out the conversation behind her between the two brothers. She had no translation as it was, making it much easier to do so as it blended in with the background noise.

“It’s the same thing I tell everyone who asks me about my old identity. It’s a story for another day when I feel like it. Like why you just dodged explaining to me why you ended up in Colombia of all places.”

Sam would have initially thought that to be a rude way to put someone off, but recent experiences quickly told her the opposite before she could process a response. “Yeah. It’s a path you don’t like mentally going down. I get it. My bad.” Kaylen then snickered, now drawing Sam’s less positive attention. “What?”

“That’s twice in a minute. ‘Real talk’? ‘My bad’? Who sent the sardine to the NAU and back?” Kaylen joked with the sardine remark, which was how most NAU residents colloquially referred to those from the space nations.

“Oh, right, I got long stories, too,” Sam chuckled back after realizing why. She forgot how much Kerry crossed her mind from time to time, and in times like this when what had rubbed off on her was more apparent, the feelings would come back even stronger. “But it’s probably just something I got from someone I knew.”

[Fish? Why are you talking about fish?!] Sebastian joined in on their conversation from behind with a laugh Sam hadn’t heard in quite a while.

[You’re asking me about fish? Says the guy who uses old kids movies references for nicknames,] Kaylen shot back with heavy sarcasm, then laughed at the finger he pointed toward Renzo as to deflect the accusation.

Sam continued to watch the ensuing laughter-laden exchanges between the three with slowly accumulated envy. She felt it several times before, but it was more noticeable now. I used to get so mad when I was here back before, and everyone sped off without me like this speaking shit I don’t understand. But now it’s like… I wish I could do like Kaylen does. She then held back a laugh but cracked a smile. Maybe I just need to revisit those e-texts I still have from school… get Sebastian to help me out. Who was I kidding… Remembering more of how she acted before became humiliating on the spot as her smile faded away. I was so ready to run away from home last night, but then act like everyone here will just automatically inconvenience themselves for me.

“Hey, Cruella!” Renzo caught her attention as she jumped, especially being in English. “Be happy! Drink!”

“Pft!” Sam burst out as her smile flashed back that instant. She looked back at her bottle and remembered they were out there to relax for once.

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Over and hour had passed, and Kaylen made it clear she had to leave but would see them later once their next training would begin over on the other side of the globe. And as Renzo retired for the evening, Sam and Sebastian remained outside, seated side by side.

“You know, Sebastian,” Sam started, feeling like now was the time to mention a thought that strongly crossed her mind, but was likely a product of the alcohol. “When I left here back in June, I didn’t hate this place, surprisingly at that time. But now? I wanna keep coming back here with you.”

“Really? You like this dump?” he answered jokingly yet seriously.

“I’m for real, and it’s not a dump! I mean, I feel like I have normal feelings here. Normal emotions. I don’t like the noise yet, and I don’t speak the language yet, either, but I feel like I get to experience things in life I missed out on, you know?”

Sebastian returned an even stronger sarcastic glare. “You can live anywhere on Earth. You can do the things you say at any country you choose, right?” But then he realized her intent a quiet moment later. “I understand. You are… also talking about family, I think.”

“That, too,” Sam replied with some hesitation despite her desire to remain openly honest. Her stomach then started to knot up even more. It wasn’t just the horrible memories brought about by her last trip home she was trying to avoid, but it was also out of fear and excitement of the unknown she was about to plunge into. And with the feeling like so many options in her life had suddenly opened up, she couldn’t contain herself anymore as she gently squeezed his hand. “I really want to find a new home, Sebastian.”

“I will be honest,” he started his answer with a smile that got Sam’s heart speeding up suddenly, fearing that by how he began he might be headed towards something along the lines of rejection. “I would like to join together with your new goal,” he continued as suspense built up inside her by the second. “But I really think we need new phones and watches, first.”

Really?!

“What?!” He felt the sigh of disappointment quickly leave her body as he laughed. “I am serious! How do we choose where to find your home if we can’t find a place to enjoy on our vacation!?”

Well, damn. He does have a point. And as she continued resetting her mental footing, she then thought aloud: “That does remind me. Dad may be wondering why I’m not responding if he already answered back.”

“Oh! No!!” Sebastian blurted out as he started to panic. “Mr. Vrey gave me his number! I didn’t write it on something!”

“Wait, what?! He gave YOU his private number?!” She blasted back in greater astonishment. “And you LOST it!?”

“It’s not MY fault!” He belted back in defense, not having elected to have it smashed to pieces. “Maybe it has, what is it, auto save?”

A moment passed before a collective calm was achieved, and both settled back into their seats comfortably. “Let’s go stop by the member services building tomorrow morning. I bet they can help us out, don’t you think?”

“Yes. Good idea.” He then looked back up at the full moon that had come into view as the passing clouds gave way. A few calmer breaths later, he remembered the last time he stared at the moon in such a way. “It’s so nice to enjoy a night sky here. I don’t remember a time when I did.”

Sam remembered similar events as well, especially seeing how last time she sat on a patio outside, it was against the wall, half-exasperated and sleep-deprived. “Life really has changed in these few months, hasn’t it,” she added softly as she found his hand again and looked up at the same moon. They could only live one day at a time as long as their upcoming mission remained in a fog, but at least they had some direction as far as how to spend their next two days.

It is odd to have a chance to plan out a day’s activities together for the first time in so long, too. Infinity visit, shopping, a little evening hike… And as her mind wandered to how her father may have responded, she shrugged off the next thoughts that had moved to her mother. No, not tonight.

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●　● Hexa Central HQ, Akkadia One, Eden Space Territories

Al had stepped out of the spaceport arrivals gate and into the passenger pickup area where he saw a car pull up just in front of him. A window rolled down, allowing him to confirm the driver as he waved, walking to the rear of the car as the driver opened the trunk. Placing his bags inside, he briskly walked back to the front and took a seat on the passenger side. “Thanks for making time for me,” he spoke up, buckling his seatbelt.

“If only you were still with the board,” Lucian answered as he carefully drove off. “So, what’s the news?” he continued, noting Al’s visible exhaustion and seeming complete lack of sleep.

“Still can’t find Amelie, of course, but I did find out a few things,” Al replied as he placed a small container in the cupholder between them. “Read through them as you please. Logs of communications I bartered for, all are between Sam and several of Tyrus’ contacts.”

“Knight, you do realize this won’t help me out in our upcoming board meeting with Vrey. If anything, this vilifies your daughter.”

“But you’re the one trying to get my help in convincing Vrey to allow Sam to utilize the Underground. Or do you really think there is a better way to get information on Reaper more quickly?”

“I don’t reject the notion using the recent tensions between feuding Underground factions to our advantage, Knight, I reject the notion using your daughter as the point of contact from this point. But either way, you and I both know Vrey is ready to shoot our idea down as is. So, do you have anything else?”

“What,” Al huffed as the car turned onto the main connector corridor, joining traffic. “Do you really think he’ll have better ideas?”

“No, damn it, I’m asking if you have anything else to help solidify our motion here,” Lucian continued with matching stubbornness, keeping his overall cool intact.

“Yeah, I actually do,” Al quietly answered as he pulled out his mobile and brought up a file he had saved. “Sam asked me to look up someone. A, uh, Matias Morel, some supposed Infinity pilot that ran into her. I did some checking and found out it’s a guy serving as a sitting reserve in Sao Paolo. He never left the country, yet he ran into Sam in Bogota.”

“Shit,” Lucian mumbled as he tried to keep his focus on the road. “What’d Sam say about that?”

“She hasn’t answered. Message I sent is still unread- she’s still fine since she’s with both of the Navarre brothers, but for some dumbass reason she’s not looking at her mobile.”

“That’s more reason to get her off the case, isn’t it?”

“Think about what you just said,” Al retorted, looking directly back at him.

After a moment passed, Lucian connected the dots. “Little Knight and the Colombiano being there has them tipped off. Okay, so, their next target isn’t the Pacific… it’s the SAU…” he thought aloud, calculating further what Al hinted. But something still didn’t register. “But why the SAU? That whole continent has ceased to be a topic since the whole EMP mess in Colombia!”

“Hell if I know, but who better to have ask those who know the most?” Al shrugged.

“You’re suggesting we push your daughter into making live contact with the local Underground there instead of with that Tyrus faction?”

“No, not directly, of course. Tyrus is our only shot, but don’t you think there’s a good chance they would know something key here? I mean, as much as it unsettles me, you knew from the start this is our best route.”

“Can you confirm anything on that before our meeting starts in the next couple of hours? It’s not like I can bring you in to join us, you know.”

“Let me ring her up some more and I’ll send you the go sign once I finally get a hold of her.”

Lucian pulled up to the same retirement center Sam had visited before as he let Al step out. “How long you in?”

“Enough to visit for a bit, heard he’s doing much better. And, sleep, I guess.”

He gave Al a parting nod before driving off. “He’d better, or I’m about to look quite the fool,” he mumbled to himself. “Maybe if he doesn’t follow through I can think of some way to keep it headed that way. Al’s right, little Knight and that boy might be our only realistic way of keeping us in the game from multiple perspectives.”

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●　● Bogota Outskirts, Colombia

A well-visibly marked Hexa cargo liner had been brought to a stop on the railway headed out of town at the final checkpoint station. The cargo containers were beyond oversized, requiring special clearances to guarantee safe passage without incident, forcing any such freight to be brought to a full stop, which also allowed for thorough inspections during its downtime.

And such an event seemed to take place that night as silent alarms set off were met with a quick response from the security outfits on duty. As several armed PMC units waited with rifles up at the rearmost container, several shouts and signals shouted from within cleared the men to lower their weapons as several detained emerged. Four men with their wrists bound wore plain fatigues with no clear markings whatsoever, not even attempting to cover their faces.

[That’s all four of the suspects in custody!] the security director shouted from behind the armed security outfit over his communicator upon confirming the capture of the targets. [No doubt they were intent on hijacking this shipment!]

As the detained were led out by other armed security details, what was behind them became better visible: the load-bearing wheels, tires, and alloy compression padding found unique to the bottom leg units of an Ap50 model LTAC. Production had been on the rise as they saw more and more success and demand for them in the field. And it wasn’t a surprise to the station crew that someone had intent to thieve.

[Sir, with your permission we’ll run one more scan before it departs,] the head of the detail asked the director as he passed by.

[Train departs in twenty minutes.]

[We only need five to ten, sir.]

[Go ahead, I’ll get these likely Underground bastards tended to,] the director nodded as he walked behind those with the detained.

And with that, the security detail commander and his remaining men marched back up into the container, and as they hit the opposite end of the car, they found two men standing by the connector door. He nodded with a hand signal, now looking at the one on his right, whose face was revealed to be Adrian’s.

[Already got the sound disabled. Ready to move on schedule,] Adrian quietly spoke as they all turned for the next connecting car.

[I’ll have my cover men exit in five,] the director answered in the same volume and tone. [You should’ve offed those two pilots when you had the chance. Now we have to have someone else do it.]

Adrian nodded once more as he checked over a checklist from Reaper he held in hand. [Speak of me what you wish. As incredibly short lived as it was, with this, none of us work for Rex anymore.]