Cleo's Game

35. Answers

It was early in the afternoon. Over at the cafeteria tables, Mince had just been served his meal. It was a portion of boiled steak with a generous helping of mashed potato beside it, gravy poured over the top to finish it off. A satisfying enough meal; no complaints at Mince's table. He was sat across from Ramsey, a guy of a similar age that he had gotten to know more through training and seeing him around.

"It's been quiet as fuck today," Mince remarked, referring to all the half-empty tables dotted around. "Yeah, for sure. I'm not complaining, bro, can ask for seconds," Ramsey replied. "Nah, man, it's weird. I think I'm gonna chase it up or something." Mince pulled his chair back as if to stand up, but his chair didn't move. It was being held steady by the usual bringer of bad news, Blake, who promptly took the seat next to him.

"What's that?" Blake sharply questioned. "It's some steak and mash. If you want some, then get your own." Blake grinned. "Steak, huh? A real tough guy's food." She reached towards Mince's plate, but he blocked her arm. "Why are you here, bro? Like, what do you want, actually." Blake composed herself quickly. "There's some sudden business that needs to be taken care of tomorrow, and I'm letting you know that you're coming along." 

"I ain't coming," Mince defied. Blake chuckled to herself. "I don't remember giving you a choice." Blake stood up and looked down at Mince. "Yeah, what are you gonna do about it?" "You can either follow my orders like you're supposed to, or I could just tear you limb from limb. Your choice." "Fucking do it then, tear me limb from limb, fam."

They glared silently at each other for a long moment, before Blake broke the silence with an audible exhale from her nose. "It's a mission that Drew told me to round up strong fighters for. Your blonde friend is coming too." "Who you even on about? Cleo or Tranquility?" Blake gritted her teeth and was visibly annoyed. "Cleo," she answered firmly. "Still not convinced, you know."

"You still need convincing? Most of anyone from rank 8 and 9 have been whisked off to the jungle by some nasty little fuckin' tribe. If you're not going to help then you're nothing else than a traitor." "I ain't no fucking traitor," Mince replied. "Can I take that as 'Yes, Blake, I'll come along'?" Blake asked. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. All you needed to do was drop the attitude. You don't scare me, bro." Blake narrowed her eyes. "Glad we could clear that up, 'bro'," she mocked in response.

She looked across the table at Ramsey, who had stayed quiet through the exchange. "You're coming too. Don't be difficult with me," Blake asserted. He appeared to be zoned out and not listening, looking away into the distance, so Blake powerfully snapped her fingers, getting his attention quickly. "Yes, ma'am!" Ramsey replied sincerely, saluting her. Satisfied with the answer, Blake turned around to leave. 

When Mince thought Blake was out of earshot, he burst into laughter. "How have you actually just said 'Yes, ma'am' there?" Mince teased. "Come on, man, she's scary," Ramsey defended himself. Blake could still hear the conversation, but rather than turning around and adding something, she just smiled to herself.

Blake had been tasked to talk to those she wanted to bring to Gamjee, but it was midday and she was done. She started to hunt down Drew, wanting to inform him of her choices and get things over with. She made a beeline for his office and swung the door open, but he wasn't present. As soon as she entered, she left again, this time more aimlessly. 

After around ten minutes of scanning around, she spotted Drew walking down a path. She sprinted over to him, her footsteps alone alerting him into turning around. "Oh, Blake, you have something to tell me?" Blake stopped right in front of him. "I went around and asked people. I'm ready to go tomorrow, or tonight, or whenever," Blake announced. "That's good." Drew responded. They both paused. "Who?"

"I already talked to Cleo, Mince, Ramsey, Orange, and her pet. That's enough for me," Blake stated. "That's all? You do realise that this mission will be tough, right? You sure you want to bring four people?" Drew asked. Blake was visibly jumpy, eager to defend herself. "The toughness will be the environment, not those little fuckers in there. The less mouths to feed, the easier it'll be." "That's a good point, actually. I guess the number is about right, but I did tell you to bring our best?"

Blake raised an eyebrow.

"I feel like if you're bringing the most battle-ready, hardened soldiers for this mission, soldiers that can prove themselves useful in lots of situations, then how can you miss off Tranquility?" Blake's expression dropped. "And why her?" Blake asked, feigning ignorance. "She has a fair bit of mission experience, she's an incredibly good fighter. She can fly, she can provide light-" Blake interrupted by clearing her throat loudly. She tapped the side of her lure twice comically. "We have light."

Drew half smiled at what he thought to be Blake's joke. "So maybe you bring her over, say, Ramsey, then?" Blake went completely serious and deep-voiced. "Why would I do that?" she asked. "Why would you not do that?" Drew rebutted, growing confused with Blake's tone. "Tranquility's too soft for this stuff. She strikes me as the sort of person who'd rather stay here anyway, rather than, you know, go with me." Blake clenched her fist behind her back.

"Anyway. ANYWAY. Ramsey is a good fighter, we agreed on this yesterday. We need good fighters, that terrorist rebel group poses a big threat to us. I think that it'd be a mistake to bring that girl, so I'm not going to do so. That's the end of it." "Well, you're the one organising all of this. I won't micromanage you, I just hope you know what you're doing," Drew replied, slightly concerned, but not concerned enough to feel the need to do anything.

"I always do."