Re-negotiation

Rell was forced back onto the chair, the swords still around his neck.

"You kinda overreacted to be honest, Hina." Six-Seven scolded, plopping back down in her chair and taking a sip of tea. 

"He was trying to escape." Hina said, glaring at Rell. "And aren't you exhibiting a bit too much force here?" She asked.

"I merely wish to show Rell what i'm capable of, is all." Six-Seven shrugged. 

"Yeah. I can see that." He said, careful not to move so much with the elemental blades so close to his neck. 

"Look, let's just agree that we all overreacted, and move on like nothing happened." Six-Seven said, snapping her fingers and causing the elemental swords to dissipate. "Better?" She asked. 

"Yeah, better." Rell sighed. 

"Let's just get straight to it then." Six-Seven directed. "Rin reported that you shattered a leviathan's barrier with your Shadow Nin. We've recently, and by recently I mean in the last half century or so, run into a problem where Sisters aren't powerful enough to shatter an Overlord's barrier." 

"So you want me to kill these Overlords of yours?" Rell asked, glancing at Hina out of the corner of his eye. 

"Precisely." She smirked. "Essentially, my trade offer is this. Kill the Overlord in the city, and that gives you an excuse to search for your friends. I'll even assign Alpha Squad to help in the search." 

"You could have just led with that instead of buttering me up like you did." Rell said back. 

"Oh, but I like to talk." Six-Seven chuckled. "And I've never been one for the politics and mind-gaming of being a Commander. Twenty-Four was much better at that." She shrugged, a sad look on her face. "You know, for a Holy Knight, it doesn't seem like you have very much interest in the Shadows. Aren't they your mortal enemies? You haven't yet asked me what an Overlord is, or the King of Thorns, or if we discovered where Shadows come from. Why is that?"

"I only became a Holy Knight to protect my family and Alicia." Rell answered. "And later, it was to protect my squad mates. I don't care about anything else. If the Shadows threaten them, then i'll destroy them. Otherwise, I don't give a damn what kind of hell hole they came out of." 

"Hmm?" Six-Seven leaned in closer. "Quite a selfish man, aren't you, Rell?"

"I'll stand for the people I love." Rell said. 

"I've taken quite a liking to you!" Six-Seven laughed. "We're so similar in a lot of ways it seems." 

"I don't really like you." Rell let out. 

"You really know how to impress women you know that?" Six-Seven pouted. "I take it you'll accept our arrangement? Assuming it helps you find your friends?"

"What's my alternative?" Rell asked, crossing his arms. 

"We lock you up. Or kill you." Hina answered. 

"Great." Rell sighed. "And what if I don't find a lead for my friends?"

Six-Seven narrowed her eyes at him. 

"Well..." She began.

"How about you let me use your Alpha Squad at my own discretion?" Rell asked. 

"Wait a minute..." Hina tried to interrupt. 

"Deal." Six-Seven agreed. 

"Commander!" Hina let out. "Mind I remind you, you put me in charge of personnel management?" 

"Rell is being a bit stubborn." Six-Seven admitted. "Besides, we haven't yet seen if he can actually break an Overlord's barrier." 

Hina opened her mouth to protest, but decided against it, at least not in front of Rell. 

"We done?" He asked. 

"Yes. For now." Six-Seven said. "I'm looking forward to working with you, oh Holy Knight of a forgotten age." 

Rell got up, turning and walking away, Hina trailing shortly behind him.

"Now, here's a question." Six-Seven said to herself. "Why are you here, Rell?"