Sacrifice

Chapter Four

Sombra isn't mean to me over the next few days. Quite the opposite, in fact. She's nicer than I've ever seen her and it's scary. It's like she's trying to make up for something, or win my favor - I'm not sure which. I avoid her as much as possible but it's difficult when I'm sharing her room.

Roadie doesn't say anything about his meeting with Reaper. I ask, of course, but the first time he just shrugs and after that he ignores me. I want to tell him about my conversation with Sombra, but the fact that Talon listens in on everything we say is thoroughly unnerving.

There's nothing to do the first day besides sit around and rethink this morning's conversation. Sombra is out doing who knows what for her boss, so I get lots of time alone. Usually I think aloud to Roadie, so it's weird to keep everything to myself. I don't know how people do it.

Then again, this is something I'd rather even Hog didn't know. There aren't many things I keep from him, but this is private.

The more I relive that conversation, the more anxious I become. I don't know what she's planning for me but whatever it is, it can't be good. I think I must have insulted her when I said I don't know her. No idea why that'd be insulting, though. Just a fact.

I'm torn between irritation and... something else. Something that I'm not quite familiar with. Something that excites me and terrifies me at the same time. And I ain't keen on sharing that with Roadie, no matter how close we are. I wouldn't know how I'd explain it, besides.

Eventually I decide that two can play her game. When she gets back, I'll be extra nice to her, just to throw her off guard. And then I'll ask her what she's really up to.

But I don't get a chance to carry out my scheme. As soon as she walks into her room, where I'm sitting on the bed with my leg folded under me, she says, "Rat. Come. We've got a job to do."

"What job?" I ask, without getting up.

"Infiltration," she says, crossing over and sitting down beside me. "Think you'll enjoy it. I need you to distract some people while I find information." She leans closer, grinning up at me. "I checked with Reaps. He said you can blow things up."

"I'm listening," I say. As put off as I am with my whole situation, it'll be nice to blow off some steam.

"Great." She hops to her feet. "I'll tell you on the way."

She doesn't say anything more until we're tucked away in a small, inconspicuous vehicle and driving up the road toward the main street. I sit in the passenger's seat and she drives. She's not exactly a reckless driver, but she's not the most cautious either. Every sharp turn sends my heart racing.

"Your job isn't vital to the success of the mission," Sombra says, "but it is an important part. You'll create a disturbance while I sneak in and hack their security. Then I'll start extracting data. I need you to keep them occupied while that happens. And from what I've heard, making noise is your specialty."

"Sure," I say. "How long d'you think I'll have to keep that up?"

"If all goes well," she says, "probably less than half an hour. Think you can do it?"

"O'course." I glance sideways at her but once again, her expression's unreadable. "So, whatever happened to keeping Jamie safe at all costs?"