BROKEN

CH.22-the inception

*ACE'S POV*

"You do realize that you've had several days to get started on decoding the genesis file and you haven't even started yet, right?" Cora asked, impatiently tapping her fingers on the mouse pad parallel to the computer.

"And you realize that decoding the file was your job," I replied leaning in front of the file cabinets.

"You found it, you rubbed the fact that you found in my face after Seven nonchalantly clicked on a random file and then you proceeded to explain to me that you're fluent in Swahili. Pretty sure you can cover this one, boss," she said patting my shoulder and walking out of the office just as Seven stepped in.

"Cora-"

"Let her go, sis," Seven muttered as he slowly approached the computer and sorted through the Genesis file.

"Are Ocean and Owen coming today?" I asked running my hands through my hair and trying to replay what just happened.

"To heck if I know. They were supposed to last week to, but they ended up being absent without any notice. Who knows what's up."

"Come to think of it, I haven't gotten whiplash from either of the associations in a while. Do you think something's up?"

Seven shrugged his shoulders and logged off of the computer before trailing behind me as I strode up the stairs, one foot in front of the other.

When we appeared at the third level of the parking garage, the scene was everything but expected.

Danalrie and Cam were getting along and studying the combat motions of each pair of fighters whilst discussing their strategies and arm movements, but Ocean and Owen weren't anywhere to be found.

"Ace! Come here!" Danalrie shouted before approaching me with a clipboard and looking suspiciously happy.

"What's up?"

"Everyone seems to be well on their way to becoming skilled and efficient warriors. This rebellion may not be a completely insane idea after all."

"Did something happen?"

She looked at me in confusion for a while before replying.

"Not that I'm aware of. Why?"

"You just seem a little too excited about being on the job, and no one is aware as to the whereabouts of Ocean and Owen," I stated.

"I thought Cam told you," she muttered, her voice suddenly weak and quiet.

"Cam didn't tell me anything. What's going on?"

She sighed before looking at me and twisting a ball-point pen around in her hand, which usually signified that she was nervous.

"Well, yesterday while you were out we got a battle warning from the Hunter association and you weren't here so we didn't know what to do. Ocean and Owen insisted on checking out the coordinates they sent us and they haven't come back yet."

"So you just stayed here and continued to train? Those are our men and you let them go and when they don't come back you stay here and act as if nothing happened."

"Ace, this is a war. You can't let emotions get in the way of battle strategies. Sacrifices have to be made."

"They're people Danalrie! Not objects to throw away and use as pawns. You could have at least sent out a search party."

"We could lose many more men, Ace and what for? Two people?"

"Two soldiers. Two soldiers that are skilled beyond the measure of anyone here that mean something to everyone here and I'm dead set on retrieving them, so get a search party together and get after them."