Bleed, Patch, And Keep Moving - An Apex Legends Story

Chapter 31 - Branthium

Ajay flashed her badge to the security detail at the desk as she walked into HQ. Her boots were loud against the tile as she walked towards the elevators and then stopped. She had just assumed that she would be heading to the hanger but she really had no clue. The text message she received the night before was so vague. Her phone buzzed; proceeding her thought. She pulled her phone out of her pocket to find a message from HQ, which she promptly opened to read:

Report to the air hanger, bay 2. You will receive your assignment when you land.

She held herself back from rolling her eyes to another vague message. Someone couldn't have just told her that when she walked in. Everything had to be documented in some little message. Now she really did have to fly somewhere. "I hope this isn't long. I didn't bring anything to do." She shoved her phone back into her pocket and reported to her assigned ship. 

It was just a basic transport ship, the same kind they used for the arena. She really wished that she knew what he assignment was or even where she was going for her assignment. She didn't like surprises and she certainly didn't like being unprepared. She entered the ship and sat down, tossing her backpack in the seat next to her. The ramp of the ship closed and took off.

"Didn't expect to see you here." She heard Elliot's voice from the seat across from her. She shrugged at him, trying not to act surprised that he was on the ship with her, "Didn expect ta be here. Do yuh know where we're goin?" Elliot leaned back in his seat and got comfortable, "Talos." Ajay waited for him to say more but that was all that he said to her.

She pulled her hood over her head, just out of comfort, and slumped down into her seat. "Talos?" She wasn't sure what a 'Talos' was. He nodded, "It's a planet." She sighed at his simple response, yet again. She really didn't feel like digging information out of him and he didn't seem to be offering it to her so she just sat there quietly.

"So...." After about ten minutes Elliot broke the silence. "What's with you and that crazy speed guy?" Ajay didn't move, she didn't want to give him any kind of indication about her relationship with Octavio. "Who? Octane?" Elliot leaned forward in his seat. "Octavio Silva." He said it almost mockingly, throwing his hands up near his face. 

She continued to sit still, "We grew up togetha on Psamathe." That was the first time he had ever heard her talk about her home planet or anything about her past, "Is... Is... Is he like your friend or something?" She stuck her hands into the front pocket of her hoodie, "Or somethin." She could play the simple answer game just like him.

Elliot threw his hands back into his lap. He was getting pretty annoyed with her. "What is that supposed to mean Ajay?" She squirmed a bit in her seat as she became uncomfortable with the whole conversation. "What does it matter Elliot?" He crossed his arms over chest and then relaxed as he thought about it. "Why am I getting so worked up? We aren't even anything. No labels here."

He tried to change to a more friendly tone of voice as he spoke to her, "I was just wondering." Ajay could hear the softness in his voice and it made her feel bad. She looked at him, "Sorry. It's just not mi story ta tell. It's his story." Elliot nodded, "Okay." His voice was bright and cheery; as it usually was. He didn't want to force the subject because she obviously wasn't going to give him any information. He wondered if Ajay was the reason why Octavio was acting so weird at his party the other night.

The hum of the transport ship was the only noise that broke up the silence between them. Elliot wanted to talk but he didn't know what to say. Ajay was glad when the ship landed shortly after their awkward conversation. They both stood up and gathered their belongings. Ajay hurried to exit the ship first because she really didn't want to have another unsettling conversation with Elliot.