Pondbell: Coldblooded (Ongoing)

Caput Tredecim

Naira slobs profusely in her sleep from the almost too-effective pain pill. As she stretches her legs and attempts to open her eyes, she hears faint voices, and a muffled conversation fills the room. Unable to tell if it's due to her waking up or its nature, the discussion seems to grow into an argument.

"Ge- ... ell... out of our room." A clearly bothered Credence commands.

"Drag... Her!" she hears the other voice exclaim, not worrying about keeping it down. Her eyebrows furrow as she squints, trying to see through the dark.

"Pixi, medium light on," she orders her virtual assistant.

As the room grows illuminated, she sees Credence's back turned to her as he faces the figure he was confronting.

"You figured that Pixi thing out quicker than I did," a figure says while peering over Credence's shoulder.

"Creed? Raul?" she asks, recognizing the man to be the one who came along with Raks to pick Credence up in the med bay. As she looks back and forth between the both, she studies Raul, a tall Latino man with wild black hair slicked back, his golden eyes focused on her, and paying Credence no mind.

"Yeah," she continues, "I just looked up some of the commands and stuff... What's going on? You guys okay?" she asks sleepily as she turns over on her side and rests on her elbow.

"He was just leaving; they had a little mix-up," Credence explains through gritted teeth.

"Oh, that's cool. Just keep it down," Naira says, her voice noticeably groggy. She checks her phone, and the time reads 6:15 a.m. She mutters and complains, but Credence can't make it out as she pulls the cover over her head to shield her eyes from the light.

"No, I don't think I'm going anywhere, General, and there was no mix-up," he turns away from him and looks at Naira. "We need you to sign some documents, so wake up," Raul says.

Naira catches Credence's posture toughening as he steps closer to Raul, practically stepping on his toes. Raul, unfazed by this, licks his lips and returns a troublesome smile. Naira sits back and sees an awake Denali growling low on the edge of the bed.

"Yeah... sure, put them on my desk. I'll sign them later," Naira says, hoping to get the scenario sorted out quickly, so she can return to her slumber.

"Listen, I would do that for you, but this needs your immediate attention," he replicates, making Credence look at him daringly. Despite this, he continues. "It's your application to SCU. After you sign this, you'll need to get dressed and come downstairs to attend your orientation. We got one opening in a cohort that has its graduation lined up with the time you gotta be turned. So, it's either you sign them now, or you can just pack up and go back to Pondbell to die in some hospital," he shrugs. "You know, surrounded by the feeders and shit," he grins. "If all this seems too scary for you, then it's not too late to just give up. Not everyone can be as 'talented' as our rookie General here, but nobody wants to waste their time with someone that won't even try. No offense, of course, I'm just being honest," he finishes, laughing.

"The fuck is wrong with you, nigga?!" Credence shouts. "Don't fucking joke like that; we just got her back! I told you if anyone stands in my way, I will fucking end them, and that goes for you too. You had your chance to oppose me, and you didn't, so unless you trynna run it back, I suggest you shut your fucking mouth and accept that what I say goes," he threatens as he grabs hold of Raul's shirt, ripping it open, and sending buttons flying. In an instant, Raul's hand is tangled in Credence's hair while the other rests gently on his throat.

"I'm ready when you are, papi. We can always find a new Major General. And for the record, the only reason I didn't oppose you is because I didn't think Charlotte would be dumb enough to replace Holt with a jackass like you," Raul says with a half-smile, earning a dry and cold look from Credence, and the loudest barks from Denali that Naira could ever imagine.