I N P U L S A (Loba/You)

•C H A P T E R S I X•

The small grimace that left my mouth certainly didn't go unnoticed by Anita. As her chuckle filled my ears, she placed down a mug of coffee in front of me. It must of been a few hours since Loba and I's training session and to say that every muscle in my body ached was an understatement. My fingers wrapped itself round the mug, taking a long soothing sip of the warming brew. It felt like a sigh of relief to me.

"How hard did you go at it in training?" Anita joked as she took a look towards Loba, herself having trouble. I chuckled lightly as my own gaze moved to the thief, to see her talking to none other than Renee.

"Well, a bit harder than what I did with Elliot...sure she had some tricks up her sleeve, but so did I." My focus returned to my drink. I wouldn't lie to myself but I could definitely feel a connection starting to form between the thief and I. It was a nice change for once. Instead of dwelling in my past, I was starting to think about her more often in my free time. Not thinking of how to keep my darkest secret hidden from all of these watching eyes. It was pleasant.

"Well as long as you rest up for our next match tomorrow, all will be fine." I nodded towards Anita, my hand going up to feel my torn ear, remembering the distinctive crack of the Kraber as the masonry ricocheted past. Natalie had mentioned that she had no idea why it hadn't healed in the ring. It seemed that she was bothered by it when she first saw it.

That wasn't the only thing that seemed to bother me, there was a certain person that had caught my attention; all for the wrong reasons. A certain scientist that hung around Natalie and seemed to glare daggers at me ever since the static scientist became puzzled over my ear. Caustic, or Alexander to his friends, if he has any that is. I don't know what it was about him but something didn't feel right.

Mention of the devil...

"Miss (Y/L/N). I was wondering if I could borrow you for a moment of your time?" The seemingly strange kind tone in his voice gave me no reason to object. With my own fake smile, I simply replied;

"Of course. Please, take a seat." I gestured to the vacant seat in front of me, which the doctor took.

"I just wanted to know a little bit more about your background if you don't mind. You were in the military weren't you?" Well, there certainly was no beating around the bush was there...

"Yes, that's correct. I was in the Special Forces."

"Right, and do you mind me asking you why you left?"

I could feel the beat in my heart stop and a sickening feeling dwell deep in my stomach. I can still hear your cries, your screams, your pleads for your mothers and I'm still here. In your stead.

"Lance Corporal! It's a trap, this place is wired to blo-"

As I always do, I pushed the painful memory down, burying it deep with my guilt and shame and put on my best fake smile in order to reply to his question.

"Retirement from long service." Was my simple and short answer to the Doctor who I hope would leave the conversation there.

"Very well. Thank you..." And with that he left, leaving me in a silent state of guilt and painful memories.

'I can hear you...' They taunted me and all I could do was sit here and pretend that there was nothing wrong and pretend that what I had told was the truth. Oh how I wish that retirement from long service was what I got. Instead, a national shame etched into my skin, feeling it eat away at my soul. I will never be able to say enough sorry's to those families, to those children, to the nation for what my foolishness had caused...

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CRACK

That certainly wasn't what I was wanting to hear along with Lifeline's shields breaking. Unfortunately for us, the sniper was accurate and quick with his shots as our medic was down on her back, dazed by the Kraber shot. She has my sympathy on that half; it hurts like a bi-