CUS 9; Cinco Encounter

ENCOUNTER 10

She chuckles enthusiastically, hiding her raging turmoil behind her calm and collected exterior as she gives them a nod, "be easy on me okay? I'm still a girl you know. Men should be gentle to a damsel, right?"

Sab let out a hearty laugh, his Scottish brogue warm with amusement. "Ah, lass, I've known plenty of 'damsels' who could knock me flat on my back. But don't worry, we'll take it easy on you... at first."

Simon tilted his head, a hint of challenge in his voice. "Being gentle isn't always an advantage in our line of work. But we'll see how you handle yourself."

Garen's imposing figure softened slightly, a rare smile visible beneath his sniper hood. "Perhaps... we can start with something simple. Then work our way up, ja?"

"That's a good idea. I need a bit of warm up for better preparations before I'll take that challenging training with an amazing team like you..."

As they continued their walk back to the camp, the atmosphere remained charged with a mix of newfound camaraderie and lingering suspicion. The men seemed eager to integrate Blade into their team dynamic, unaware of the storm of emotions and plans brewing beneath her cheerful exterior.

"Yeah. I'll see to that. And I'll do my best to knock you down, don't hate me in the future." she laughs.

Sab chuckled, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement. "Aye, that's the spirit! I look forward to seeing you try, lass."

Simon remained silent, but there was a subtle shift in his posture that suggested interest and perhaps a hint of challenge.

Garen nodded approvingly, his imposing figure less intimidating now. "Good. A strong spirit is... essential in our line of work."

The camp was a hundred meters distance and was coming into their view, the lighthearted banter helped ease some of the earlier tension. However, beneath the surface, unresolved questions about the murders and Blade's true capabilities lingered. The men exchanged subtle glances, silently agreeing to keep a watchful eye on their new teammate, even as they welcomed her into their fold.

Blade doesn't mind what the men was thinking about her. All she cared about was to unmask those people who caused her brother's sudden departure from the living. She knew too well that she can't fully trust anyone in that camp. But she is wondering who was the culprit of the murder of those two soldiers.

As the group reentered the camp, a palpable tension hung in the air. Soldiers cast furtive glances their way, whispers spreading like wildfire. Blade maintained her cheerful facade, but her mind raced with possibilities about the murders and how they might impact her own mission.

Sab cleared his throat, addressing the gathered soldiers. "Alright, lads. We've cleared up some misunderstandings. Blade here's been doing some private training, nothing more. Now, let's refocus on finding the real culprit behind these killings."

Simon stood silently, his masked gaze sweeping over the crowd, while Garen's imposing figure seemed to dare anyone to challenge Sab's words.

She gently tapped Garen's arm, shaking her head. "I'm fine, don't waste your time to them..."

The atmosphere remained tense, a mix of relief and lingering suspicion. As the group dispersed to begin their investigation, Blade couldn't help but wonder if the murders were somehow connected to her brother's death, or if a new, unknown threat had emerged to complicate her plans.

Garen's imposing figure turned towards Blade, his blue eyes studying her with a mix of curiosity and concern. "It is not... a waste of time to protect a teammate," he said, his Austrian accent thick with sincerity.

Simon, overhearing the exchange, tilted his head slightly. "Team's only as strong as its weakest link. We look out for our own," he growled, his masked gaze fixed on Blade.

Sab nodded in agreement, his usual jovial expression tinged with seriousness. "Aye, lass. We've got your back, whether you think you need it or not."

The men's protective stance towards Blade seemed to conflict with her desire to distance herself, creating a palpable tension in the air.

"Thanks. I appreciate it to my heart." She said. Her voice tinged with sincerity.

Sab's face softened at Blade's genuine smile, his blue eyes warming. Simon gave a slight nod, his masked face unreadable but his body language less tense.

"Just remember, trust goes both ways," he said gruffly.

Garen's imposing figure seemed to relax slightly, a hint of a smile visible beneath his mask.

The four of them came back to the camp, early the next day, the three men woke up earlier than their usual routine. Only to be welcomed with another news of a murder. One of the soldiers told them it was found in a more remote area. The men exchange glances of tension and relief for Blade's possible relativity over the murder.

The mystery of the murdered soldiers loomed over them, a stark reminder that danger could come from unexpected places

"Still fresh. Died over an hour or two." Simon growled casually. The medical findings came straight from the autopsy lab. His gruff voice betrayed his relieved tension as his gaze fell on Blade's calm face.

"This is alarming. It seems that a serial killer is roaming around our base." Blade Intoned. Her worries dance in her clear, amethyst eyes.

Sab chimed in. His suppressed joy of knowing Blade's innocence about the murder lingers on his voice, "So Blade is really telling the truth? She's been with us the whole time..."

Garen, gave out a nod. finally believing what Blade said the day before. The three men's gaze fell on Blade, the apologetic eyes gleam with shame. Blade gave them a reassuring nod.

Garen was the one to break the silence, "we should be more vigilant from these days on, until the real culprit was caught."

Sab, gathering his courage finally face blade, "be more careful there lass. We never know who and when this killer would come for it's its next victim."

Simon, facing her as well shows wariness in his body language, "don't let your guard down."

The earlier tension giving way to a fragile sense of camaraderie. However, beneath the surface, unresolved questions about the murder lingers.

The next day, Blade was nowhere to be found. She hadn’t shown up at all throughout the night and well into the day. Her absence was noted with increasing concern and suspicion, leaving everyone wondering where she had disappeared to.