Classless

Chapter 20- Secrets out 2

Chapter 20- Secrets out 2

Chief Song’s POV

“How do you accidentally murder someone?” Fedor resembled someone whose world had opened up, I waited for Ode to continue while he took in the reactions in the room.

“I was a mercenary for hire for the longest time, the Bloots had murdered an entire family on a yacht that had strayed too far into their territory, they had a surviving son who was ready to spare no amount to exert revenge on the ones who had taken his family. Then the leader wasn’t Bahkman, it was his elder brother. It took a while but I was able to become a member of the Bloots and killed his brother along with other men. I faked my death and that was why I was certain they weren’t coming for me, my only theory is that Bahkman must have found out what truly happened.” Ode said as a matter of fact.

“You are not a very good storyteller,” Fedor commented which earned a glower from Ode, Fedor leaned back and looked at Carlos for help.

Carlos had become suspicious of Ode, I could tell because his playful demeanor had disappeared, “Why are you here?”

“I needed a break. My last job had taken a toll on me, I needed somewhere inconspicuous but now I am beginning to regret that decision.” He scratched his beard.

“Is it because our lives are in danger or that this place isn’t as safe as you thought?” I asked.

“Why can’t it be both? Now, you all know one of my darkest secrets. They don’t know what I look like, I was a scrawny kid when I was with them, it is strange that they were able to find me.” Ode remarked after thinking about it.

I analyzed the events that had led up till now, “Maybe you are jumping the gun and this is all a coincidence. They are pirates, there is only a 50 percent chance that they were after you.”

“Could they be after you then?” Naim wondered out loud.

“It’s impossible.”

Naim shook his head, “the walls have ears, for you to make a tech this advanced and impressive, there had to have been someone else besides you.”

“There is someone that knows but he would not betray me. It is better if we all chalk it up to coincidence, it is alarming that they are still directly above us. They will not be able to find us even if they tried and I would not want to risk us moving.” I explained.

Fedor examined the room and frowned, “Why isn’t Martha talking?”

“She is in defense mode. I ask that all of you keep what you know about Martha a secret, and Castle, what about you? Why are you here?” I hadn’t forgotten Kora’s slip-up regarding his heritage. I had never done a background check on them because I had thought it was an infringement on their privacy, I only focused on psyche evaluation to enable me to understand their strengths and weaknesses. In a way, I had contributed to as what Fedor called a shallow connection, it was better that way so no one got attached but today had changed things.

Castle sighed, “Mine is a boring story, I am the middle child, the black sheep of the family as they liked to say. I wanted more for myself than to go through life the same as everyone around me and that’s why I’m here, I like it and I think it’s fun. There is no pretense, tight suits, blind dates, hypocrisy and best part of it all is that I was a fan of Chief’s work in school. I had been dragged to one of the talent competitions where Chief had made a robot from scratch, I was amazed and had followed his career until he suddenly made a switch to this when tragedy struck. I saw this as a chance to get to know my idol better and I don’t regret it. I knew you had something amazing happening.” Castle’s eyes lit up like a little boy, my back bristled in discomfort at the obvious adoration.

“Tragedy?” Fedor asked.

“The loss of someone close to me. Joseph, do you have something to say?” He had been blinking guiltily at me and even though I had an idea what he was keeping from me, I wanted to hear him confess and even though I did not mind his reports to George and Rwan, I had always been wary of him.

Joseph cleaned his glasses for the hundredth time today, “I take money from Rwan and George to keep them up to date with your activities, I did not do it to hurt you I swear. I needed the money and they wouldn’t hurt you, so I didn’t think it would mean much.”

“I knew it!” Fedor exclaimed.

At the same time, Kora muttered, “Snitch!”

“That’s enough. Thank you for telling me the truth but let it end now. No more, if you need another source of income, get another job.” I warned sternly.

I caught Fedor’s gaze and returned with a fierce one which led to her glare and me ignoring the fact that she stared daggers at me. Carlos sniffed, “Does anyone here have anything to add? Are you secretly an assassin Fedor?”

Fedor laughed, “I wish.”

“Anyone else?” Carlos pressed.

“It’s not fair that we said something and the rest of you don’t give some of yourself. It doesn’t have to be a terrible secret.” Castle persuaded the rest of the crew.

Naim grunted, “I fainted the first time I saw a dead body. While at the security academy, I was called snooze for the time I was there.”

Fedor smirked at him, to anyone else this might have been the normal reaction but not for Naim, he came across as the toughest man onboard, I half expected him to be a spy from another nation.

Carlos went next, “I get seasick.”

I was surprised at his confession than I was at Odes’ it was absurd to say that a sailor got sea sick, he never showed it or complained despite our many trips on the ocean. I wasn’t the only one stunned into silence by this, Kora and Naim exchanged disbelieving looks, Fedor sighed and Ode passed another can of beer to him.

“That’s … surprising.” It was all I could say.

Fedor turned to him, “Why are you a forager then?”

“To conquer my fear. I don’t like being afraid or affected by anything. My father said the best way to conquer your fear is to face it, it’s not as bad as when I first joined.” Carlos flushed red.

Fedor did not take pity on him and probed further, I understood since Carlos gave her the most flake for not knowing how to swim. “Fear, so it’s more than just sea sickness, are you saying that if you had a fear of Lions, you would work in a zoo?”

“Yes.”

“What is wrong with you?!” Fedor exclaimed.

Carlos smiled goofily and nudged her shoulder, “Nothing. What about you? What’s your embarrassing secret?”

“I don’t have one.” Fedor answered too fast.

“The lady doth protest too quickly.” Kora teased.

“What about you Kora? What is your secret? Are you afraid of rats?” Fedor tried to take the attention off her.

“Ha ha, because I am as tall as an elephant.” He responded snidely. “I ran from home and still running. Don’t ask me why …” He wasn’t able to complete his sentence before Castle answered on his behalf as payback.

“He accidentally burnt his father’s farm, he fell asleep and started a wild fire, it took fifteen water trucks to put an end to it. His father would roast him alive if he finds him.” Castle grinned victoriously.

Kora snarled, “Does this make you happy?”

“Yes, very much so.” Castle beamed.

“Back to you princess.” Kora sniggered.

Fedor rolled her eyes at his antics, “I don’t have anything.”

“You believe you are an open book? Don’t you?” Ode took an interest in her refusal to admit that like everyone else, she had secrets.

Fedor squashed her beer can dramatically and opened another one, “Not an open book but I don’t have locks.”

“Okay then, does that mean you are open to questions?” Castled drawled lazily.

“Why do I get questions and no one else does?” She whined and must have decided to think about her life choices carefully.

“It’s simple, everyone volunteered information so you either do the same or allow for one intrusive question.” Carlos enjoyed her discomfort way too much.

She agreed sheepishly, “Only one question.”

“Do you find Chief Song attractive?” Ode asked, I sputtered at the unexpected question, my drink was all over my shirt, I was dabbing my chest that I almost missed her answer.

“Yes.” Fedor grinned smugly.

“Wait… what?” Castle gagged.

Fedor laughed, “I am only a woman. Look at him, strong, manly, beautiful, considerate and to add to that an eccentric genius. I am not a fan of the eccentric part but you have got to love his mind.”

It wasn’t what she had said that hooked me, it was how she had answered without deflection, and like everything with her, I did not know how to take it.

“Do you find me attractive?” Castle buffed his chest out eliciting laughter from the rest of the men, it was like I was the only one shaken from Fedor’s public confession. Maybe I was reading too much into it, it was an answer to a question. A question that I had thought would have deserved a little hesitation.

She clicked her tongue and appraised Castle carefully, “Hmmmmm, too sweet for me.”

Castle gave an expression of disapproval, “What does that mean?”

“You are not my type and before this goes any further, none of you are my type.” Fedor laughed in amusement at their growls and taunts.

Castle surrendered, “Makes sense, the Chief has it all. I can understand, after all I followed him here.”

The men had taken Martha’s existence better than I anticipated, it did not stop me from taking extra precaution, the Bloots were still on top and the rest of the crew had retired to their rooms. I was working on configuring Martha when Fedor sat beside me at my workstation.

“What is it?” I asked without looking up.

If Fedor minded my discourteous behavior, she did not say. “The tragedy castle talked about, was it your mother?” she spoke softly, I was tempted to peer at her but I didn’t.

“No, I had a younger sister. Not the same parents, my mother had adopted her from one of her trips, she died of heart failure.” I continued working while I answered.

Fedor sighed, “I am sorry you had to go through that, look at me Song.”

I paused but didn’t answer, “No, I don’t want to. It’s hard enough already.”

“Is my presence here too hard on you? Do you want me to leave? Is that it?”

“Would my answer matter?” I asked because I was curious.

Fedor played with my pads, “Nope. I didn’t come here for you and no matter how annoyingly frustrating you are; I won’t leave because of you.”

I grinned this time at her answer, it was because for some strange reason, I was proud of her. “That is good. Emotions are fickle anyway.”

Martha started ringing an alarm again, I traced the source and I felt the blood drain out of my body, the Bloots had somehow found us.