Hunt the Hunter (Revised Version To Be Uploaded)

96th West

11th December, 3049
6.08 am

~Cameron~

So after discovering that Shika was the mole, part of her anyway, we needed to somehow convince her to calm down and let Linda take her implant out. That was easier said than done, especially since she could still scream and squirm after being given a very strong sedative. Now we were just waiting for Linda to finish up so that we could go get the recruitment thing over and done with.

"I guess we can go now..."

I looked up to see Linda coming out of the room. Before the door closed fully, I caught a glimpse of Shika sleeping on her side.

"She's asleep?" I asked and Linda shook her head.

"But she's not exactly awake either. Cameron, I have never seen anyone look so hollow. We may have done the exact thing to her mind we were trying to avoid."

"Ah... Great. Does that mean one of us need stay?" I asked.

"No," she started walking away and I followed, "Understand that she is physically fine, all vitals stable. It's just her mind that's broken."

"So she's convinced herself to stay physically paralysed for the time being?" This was so messed up.

"I've told two of my best officers to stay till we return, you know, in case she 'wakes' up."

We ensued in what I felt was the longest lasting trip we'd ever had back to the barracks. Not to forget going through the profiles to pick recruits for personal squads. Since I'm usually in the field, I don't bother to get any recruits on account of my last team being to hot headed and paying for their arrogance.

Needless to say, I work alone and usually don't attend these things, despite being told to. Even Jokul has his own team.

But today, I was feeling a little... I don't know... So I decided to do something completely different, starting with paying the oversized director a visit.

"Cameron?! Where you going?!"

"I need to speak to the director for a lil bit," I said while placing a hand on Linda's shoulder and she ended up giving me a skeptic look.

"What do you want Cheshire?" She asked with a raised brow.

"Okay, first of all, I never asked for that nickname. Secondly, I need you to keep me some profiles especially those from the  girls' orphanage."

I ran off with the feeling of Linda shooting daggers at my back and head. But a few minutes off won't change anything.

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After my little talk with the director, I returned to the same tent that Shika got called into. Sure enough, Linda was there, as well as quite a number of profiles.

"So I have your profiles here," she had her hand on a pile of files, "Though it's quite rare for you to ask for them, considering the last team—"

"Linda, I'm not doing this for me."

She straightened up, opening her mouth a couple of times before letting out a little huff. On the other hand, I busied myself with going through the profiles, checking which ones would be best to recruit and such.

"This is for Shika?"

Linda finally found her voice.

"Do you... Like her?"

"My goodness Linda!"

"It's an honest question!" She laughed out and I felt myself internally die.

"I respect Jokul and therefore, preserve my life. Thank you very much." I answered.

It wasn't much of an answer in all honesty, but it was still a reply nonetheless.

"So, if you don't 'like her'—"

"Saw that—"

"Then why are you setting up a squad for her?"

I was trying really hard to ignore the nagging Spartan currently hovering over my shoulder waiting for an answer.

"Let's just say," I picked up the fifth profile, "She's connected to some people I owe."

Thank goodness, at least she stopped talking after that, it seemed to get her thinking. Now about the profile I had in front of me, there were only two people tagged under Shika's orphanage. The others were picked off streets and abandoned buildings.

Yeah~ this was not what I asked for.

"Linda, there were four other apart from Shika who came from that orphanage. Explanation?"

"Those profiles are apparently 'inaccessible'. Not even for a lieutenant." She said while shrugging, "Oh and that Winterhold girl is my already claimed apprentice so technically you only have on profile left."

"Gee thanks." Note sarcasm, "How long do we have to stay here now?"

"Until the others are done with their squad recruits, which, knowing how Trent is, could take a few more hours."

I will let that Hatter eat my fist one day.

But, it gave me more time to sift the hundreds of recruits for one more red head.

One which Shika might approve.

Also, the more I kept myself busy, the less of that blinking darkness I had to see.