Lungmen Type Things

VIII: Rearrangements

"A fucking pencil. Can you believe that? That poor guard."

"I know, right? I can't believe we're actually hiring her."

"Do you think the superintendent has a few loose screws? One Sarkaz for spying in the enemy team, I understand. But another one to join an actual team? I have no idea what she is thinking."

"Shh! She might hear you!"

Those were the whispers that Seha heard as he and Lamina walked past the office area to the meeting room assigned to his 'team.' There were many stares from the other officers of the LGD, some even giving a look of disgust and disappointment. It was already looking like his future team wasn't going to be very popular amongst the LGD forces. He had expected that, of course. First, he was promoted to a squad leader within a few weeks. Then, there was Seth, a Sarkaz. After that, Ignis, the Operator-in-training. And now, the squad had Lamina, another Sarkaz. 

That was four of them. It made Seha wonder who the fifth member of this squad would be, since most squads usually consisted of five or more people for efficiency. He wasn't particularly hopeful that it would be someone that would make the squad look more redeeming, but it really couldn't get worse from here, right?

"So... I take it that Sarkaz aren't very welcome here? Or at least me?" The question snapped Seha from his thoughts, causing him to take in what Lamina had said. It seemed that she had noticed, though it was a pretty common fact. Her questioning this only made him wonder how much she knew about politics and publicity. Or maybe she was simply just making conversation. Nonetheless, he took the chance to speak with a hint of sarcasm towards her.

"Naaah, I'm sure they love you. After all, it's not every day a guard gets attacked with a pencil and is sent to the emergency room for an injury check." 

The reply resulted in a smile from the corner of her lips, but it quickly disappeared. Once they both made it into the meeting room, she spoke with a threatening tone with a hint of humor just to let him know she wasn't serious, "Keep that up and you'll be sent to the emergency room as well. So, what is the actual answer?"

Sighing, Seha sat down and leaned back on a chair, putting a hand under his chin. How could he really explain it to Lamina without really offending her? It was more of a public view than his own, but that would make it sound like an excuse if he worded it like that. He took a look at Lamina before deciding to seriously answer her.

"As you already may know, Lungmen generally is extremely prejudiced against the Infected. If you've been to the slums, the difference between there and the city here is as clear as day and night. The Infected aren't tolerated here and are kept at the edge of the city. What that has to do with Sarkaz is that Sarkaz are supposedly more prone to Infection. I'm not sure if that's actually true or not, but that's what people believe. So even if you're not Infected, they might still see you just as an Infected."

That was the best answer Seha could give. Any other answer to let her down easy would probably be figured out by her anyway. She wasn't that dumb to know what people really thought or meant by their words and actions. If anything, this was most likely a test from her to him to see how honest he would be to her.

Lamina frowned but nodded at his reply. She seemed satisfied with his answer, though not too pleased about the truth. 

Seha felt a bit bad for her but doubted that she would appreciate the pity. It was tough for her to be one of the few races to be disliked. Lungmen was one of the many countries that discriminated harshly against the Infected, casting them out of the main city out into the slums. Even though Lamina wasn't Infected, she would be treated as if she were one. It was barely following the rules having her work here.