A Traitorous House on Traitorous Earth: Shattered Past Book 3

Enter the Depths

James and Cameron headed up the stairs from the hangar bay as Amanda kept practically drooling on Caesar as she began to probe his systems. "So that was kind of fun right?" James asked her. Cameron didn't reply, James could tell that something was still wrong with her. "Hey, are you okay?" James probed her. 

"Yes, I'm all right." She replied. "But, why didn't you tell me about that program that you have? Don't you think that it's important information?" Cameron sighed. "Nova said that when you rescued her that you looked like Upgrade. I didn't believe her." 

"Listen, I know that what I did wasn't right, and I'm sorry. I just didn't know what would happen if I told you." He replied sheepishly. "I was afraid that you would be scared of me." 

"Scared of you? Why on Earth would I be scared of you?" She asked him. "I can understand where you were coming from, but James, if stuff like that happens to you, please, be open to us about that. Both Nova and I." Cameron pleaded with him. 

"I understand that now, more than ever. I'm truly sorry." He murmured as the pair headed out of the hangar. The pair saw a man in a ushanka hat with a rifle slung over his shoulder talking to the postmaster. He seemed pretty livid by the looks of him. 

"Okay, please, I just need you to take this drive and hold it for James-17," Dimitri said to the frame behind the desk. 

"I'm sorry, but I need to inspect the contents of the drive. It's just policy." 

"Policy?! What kind of policy?!"

"There was an incident where an Exo got a virus from what was supposed to be a standard program order. That's why." She replied. James then walked over to the Russian before he started swearing at the frame. 

"Hey, can I help you at all buddy?" 

"Unless you get this stupid frame to take the drive, then no." He replied. 

"Well, where were you going to send it?" Cameron asked. 

"I needed to get this drive to James-17, do either of you know him?" 

"I do, he's standing right in front of you," Cameron replied to him. Dimitri's eyes widened and looked the Exo in the eyes. 

"Oh, my goodness, I'm incredibly, incredibly sorry. Dimitri Petrov, a pleasure to meet you." He said holding out his hand to meet the Exo's. James shook his hand gripping it tightly. "Nice to meet you as well. " He replied letting go of Dimitri's hand. 

"Cameron Vasquez, pleased to meet you," Cameron replied holding out her hand to meet his. 

"Kind to meet you as well," He replied shaking her hand taking notice of the tighter grip than James'. 

"Anyway, I heard that you had something for me to show me. What is it?" 

"Yes, here. I don't know what's on it, but my family told me that it was important to you." He replied handing him the USB drive. "Anyway, I should probably try to find somewhere to stay." 

"Well, there's a spare room just across the hall from us, why don't you use that?" Cameron noted to him. 

"Really? In a Tower filled with hundreds of guardians, there's one that's vacant?" Dimitri asked unconvinced. 

"Yes actually, why don't we take you there?" James asked him. 

"Well, having a roof over my head for more than one night would be fantastic," Dimitri replied with a smile. It was true, he seldom slept under a roof, much less one in a city. His adventures from the northern plains of Canada took him from many different places on Earth. Visiting different towns and villages that were around for him to rest and resupply. He in turn for hospitality would do services for them such as take out a band of raiders if they were close by or some fallen if they were terrorizing the town. His Mosin Nagant carried him through that journey. Now it seemed as if it was all coming to a close. Dimitri followed close behind James and Cameron as they approached the door.