Shock and Awe Pt. 5

Holiday returned to Calypso's temporary camp. There, she found Zephyr and Loki standing next to the planning table, postures straight with their hands behind their backs. As she trudged past them without even so much as acknowledging them, their heads fell in shame. She stopped at the table in the back and leaned her hands on the surface.

"I took your advice," Holiday sighed. "I decided to rest for just a moment, and the one time I do, I find out that you two went off to cause a ruckus."

The two kept their silence, for they were not willing to interrupt their captain with faulty excuses.

"There is a reason why we take so long to plan out these operations. It takes time, patience, and meticulous preparations to ensure the highest possible chances of success and survival. Everything needs to be just right... and yet, what did I see? Two Calypsos, currently the most wanted individuals in the city, prancing around with their lives at risk. Did you two not stop to think about what could've happened to you? Or..."

Holiday bit her lips. "Or how I would've felt if you two had lost your lives? As your captain, as your comrade... as your family..."

They were filled with subtle regret, rethinking their choices and yet, still hesitant to admit that they were entirely in the wrong. While Zephyr stayed back, Loki took a step forward. However, she did not speak—not yet.

"Permission to speak," Loki said.

"Permission granted," Holiday replied.

"With all due respect, Holly... It's not like you think about how we feel either."

"...Elaborate."

Loki took a deep breath. Now that she had the talking stick, she would speak her mind with as much sincerity as she could muster.

"I admit, we are at fault for acting on our own, and it could've ended badly had it not been for you. For that, we apologize. But... There's a reason why we tell you to rest, Holly—because it's a fact that you don't get enough sleep. All of us worry about you every day. You constantly push yourself to your limits, and... we're scared. We're scared that one day, you'll break down and never recover... but you still don't listen to us."

Holiday kept her eyes on her with crossed arms, steadily letting her words sink in. Finally, Zephyr stepped forward and stood next to Loki.

"Permission to speak, Captain," she said.

"...Permission granted."

"To be honest, we didn't think how you might've felt. We didn't plan correctly, and that is our fault. However, it is like you said. We are family. As our Captain, you have a duty to look after us, but... we also can't help but look after you. We just thought we'd handle this one on our own to give you some time to rest. Of course, we understand now that it wasn't a wise choice. Still... We just thought we'd try to help you out a bit."

Holiday alternated her gaze between the two, who were keeping their eyes on her. She took a deep breath, shutting her eyes, and releasing the breath as her head tilted away.

"The High Order won't rest, so neither should I," she said. "That's what I always thought. Whatever sacrifices I had to make, and no matter how tired I was, I had to do everything in my power to keep you girls safe. I already lost Captain Nemesis. I don't want to lose you too."

"Then we're on the same boat, Holly," Loki smiled as she rested her hand on Holiday's shoulder. "We're all important to each other, so we should all do our part to keep each other alive. That's what Nemmy used to tell us, right?"

Holiday grew a gentle smile. "Hah... Yeah. She did. Thank you, girls. But don't do anything reckless ever again."

"As long as you get the rest you deserve, Captain, we won't," Zephyr said.

Suddenly, Astrid slammed open the door to her office, peeking out while still sitting on her gaming chair.

"Oh, did I interrupt something?" she asked.

"Not at all," Holiday said. "What did you find?"

"Take a look. Everyone's gonna wanna see this. Hey, Minerva!"

"Ah!" Minerva's scream could be heard.

Her makeshift workshop, which was situated in an alcove, exploded within seconds, followed by trailing smoke. She walked out of the thick cloud, coughing and waving her arms to clear the way. Blots of soot covered her body, but other than that, she seemed completely fine.

"Yeah? What's up?" she asked.

"What... What the hell was that?" Loki mumbled.

"Oh, that? It was nothing. Just a new explosive weapon I was working on. It didn't really fit the schematics I made anyway, so it's a good thing that it blew up. Now, I won't have to waste any more time on it."

"Uh-huh..."

"So what's happening?"

"Take a look," Astrid said.

She slid her chair back into her office while the rest of the squad followed her. Upon the holographic screen was a file containing personal information regarding a soldier, codename: Strider.

"And who is this?" Zephyr asked.

"L-Look..." Minerva mumbled. "Solas... De Leux..."

"Hah. Well, that didn't take long," Loki scoffed. "But why the hell is he in the High Order's military database? I thought his information was wiped?"

"Because this isn't Regulus," Astrid replied as she pointed at the screen. "Look. Codename: Strider. Remember the Day of the Brightest Sun? After we escaped, Regulus disappeared. No info anywhere. And this 'Strider' kid... Not only did he say that he wasn't augmented, he also had Nyx's code without even knowing what it was."

Holiday pinched her chin. "Then it's true... His code nucleus, along with his augmentations, must've been forced out of his body."

"Wouldn't he have died if that's the case?" asked Minerva.

Loki chuckled with malice. "Leave it to the High Order to discover a bypass that defies the laws and nature of human beings."

"Regardless, it's clear that Regulus no longer exists. It's just Solas now. I talked with him for a bit, and he told me something interesting."

"Which is?"

"His goal is General Mars, and the reason? That old man is the center of suspicion for his investigation. Someone he loved disappeared."

"Captain Nemesis..."

"Yeah. That's what I think too."

The room fell into silence, as if all five of them were thinking on their own, theorizing every possible outcome to everything they could do from here on out.

"So... What do we do?" Minerva gulped. "He lives in the Golden Age district, doesn't he? If we go after him, then the High Order will be there to stop us. Not only were his memories wiped, but he was also stripped of his augmentations. If we end up getting caught, he'll be in danger."

"Damn..." Loki growled.

Holiday let out a sigh. "Astrid. Can you contact him again?"

"Easily."

"Draw him out, but don't scare him. At the end of the day, he has Nyx's code. It's only a matter of time before the High Order figures that out. We can't afford to delay any longer."

"Consider it done."

"Everyone, prepare to move out. We're taking the next flight to the Golden Age district."