━━Calamity¹

four.

chapter four
long way off

Soldiers were a special breed — better than a mercenary, worse than a preacher — always capable of discerning what was right, yet always preaching it to a willing ear.

Alina hadn't had trouble reading Simone Lee, for the soldier had an air of expectancy about her and an unmaskeable sense for what was right, holding her head high as if she stood kilometers above the other five. That sort of hubris Alina hadn't thought rare — every soldier was above a common criminal.

But, what she thought rare was the way Dominique silenced her. It was the way Simone followed her without complaint, never spoke a word against her orders that made Alina consider Simone was as much of a puppet to this mission as Alina and her new friends.

"What got you thinking?" Felix said, leaning back in one of the chairs posted around a circular table. The tent they were in had been moved from the medical hangar closer to the passages through the compound used by soldiers to get outside.

Alina surveyed Simone standing in the corner of the tent and rifling through the papers on a wooden cabinet before her gaze landed on Felix again. "I wanna know what's with her. Nobody follows Caldwell around like a lost puppy for no reason. Whatever she did was enough to be threatened into compliance."

Felix nodded, otherwise spoke nothing as his eyebrows scrunched and his hand flew to the side of his arm where his dove tattoo rested — Alina knew his consideration, how he would ran a hand over the fading tattoo once he thought, and chose not to continue inquiring as she found Simone again.

Whatever that soldier had done forced her into this precarious situation with five almost convicted fugitives and under the control of a DOIC informant with more power than any detective or common officer.

As Alina thought, the tent flaps opened and Dominique walked inside with a soldier trailing behind her, hefting a long black bag that most likely hid the weapons the team had chosen. He dropped the bag onto the table and instantly retreated.

Leaning her hands on the table in front of the five, Dominique nodded to the bag as Felix leaned forward while Denise and Mikkael pulled their chairs closer to each other. "Your weapons. Before I give them to you, let's make something very clear."

"I thought you did that already." Felix said.

"One more word from you, Alvarez, and I'll escort you to the mines myself." She sneered, prompting Mikkael and Denise to instantly drop whatever conversation they intended to begin. "When I said to beware of survivor groups, there is one group I had in mind."

Lieutenant. Alina thought, sharing a glance with Felix who nodded as if having read her thoughts.

"He goes by the name Lieutenant. His Crusaders are the reason our soldiers die and keep dying out there." Dominique eyed the bag. "This bunch of shit won't do you good against him. So, stay clear of Crusaders. Don't engage, don't fight them."

"Why not?" Mikkael asked.

Dante snorted humourlessly beside Alina. "They have guns, dipshit."

"Watch your language, Hughes." Dominique warned, before she nodded at Mikkael. "Yes, they have guns. You don't. You meet Crusaders, you run without looking back. Now, get your weapons and get out."