S a l e t é I V

XLIII - Décoloration - Douze

Saying goodbye to Sabine that afternoon had instilled Cassia with a heavy sensation that she struggled to shift, even as they'd shared a hug at the door to Bastion.

"Make sure you take care of yourselves. If anything happens, you know where to find me." The young woman had said, returning that hold with an equal desire for comfort.

"Thanks, Sabi. I mean it. You've done us good today." Chief had told her as he'd observed that last gesture, their former supervisor appearing at least somewhat content as she heard him echo his earlier sentiments. 

Hopefully, even in the wake of everything that had rocked the underground, that knowledge could continue to provide her with a sense of peace.

Sabine watched from that doorway as they'd taken their leave after saying their farewells, Cassia often looking back until they had to round a corner and slip back into one of the old alleyways, at which point she finally disappeared from view, her absence only stirring that heaviness within her further.

Her feelings aside, they had to get back to the factory. 

With a haul in tow, and all of the crippling uncertainty surrounding whatever the event at the depot was, any other course of action seemed foolish, and there was nothing to stop them from heading right back out after they'd dropped everything off. The old street was always worth investigating, however unlikely finding Honey there might have been nowadays.

Sleeves had been watching from the second floor's broken windows alongside Gunner - possibly ever since the four of them had departed - meaning that she was quick to spot them when they emerged from the housing sector again, the journey through which had proven quietly tense. 

There was almost a vibe of things being too quiet again, an aura of unease that jumped from place to place and person to person. As much as she'd never felt like she and her friends were in any kind of immediate danger, Cassie had still wanted to get through as soon as possible, the often cramped pathways feeling even more stifling that day.

With Sleeves rushing to greet them as they scaled the wall, Shipshape and Swoopy following not far behind, Cassia soon had her work cut out for her as the questions came pouring in.

"Cassie! Did everything go okay? Is anyone hurt?" Sleeves had asked frantically as she'd ran to her.

"Everyone's fine! We didn't go to the depot, but - "

She was cut off by a short moment of respite as Sleeves gave her a rather hefty hug, the hold one that Cassie was glad to be able to return. 

It gave the others a chance to catch up whilst Monet and Connie descended from the wall, the girl in red giving a single instruction as she walked by.

"Wait here. I'll help Chief and then assist the others."

"Mmh, okay."

Monet proceeded to follow Chief back to Captain's door, whilst Connie hung back, her hands slipping into her pockets as she sat on the edge of the stacked pallets they'd always used as a budget staircase up to the gap in the wall. It was a break she looked deeply appreciative of, more so because they were back in territory she must have deemed familiar by now.

"Did you find any Honey?" Swoopy asked as she and Shipshape joined up with them, Sleeves barely stepping back after letting Cassie go.

"No, just things for you guys. Sabine helped us out." She replied, her initial answer cutting away Swoopy's optimism, the latter one not enough to restore it.

"Sabi's still down here? How's she doing?" Shipshape asked.

She wasn't sure as to how much of a good job she would do, but from there, Cassia began to explain all.