3rd adventure: Rebirth

"Zelk, this is ridiculous. The threat is past. He was given the all clear earlier by Breeze, they aren't going to do any better than that and you know it."

Konrad isn't particularly bothered. "Maybe we could convince your boss to let us take him at a later date? When he feels sure that Saemon won't cause any trouble."

To Steve, Zelk says with the sternness he knows her for, "I have orders to follow. I'm not the one making this decision."

Then to Konrad, "Maybe. You'll have a chance to explain the situation yourselves; we've also been ordered to take you to the military headquarters so you can give my superiors a report on what happened in here. Don't worry, your handler will also be present."

"Who will be taking care of Saemon? All the staff's been evacuated."

"We have a team on standby," Zelk replies. "They'll come in as we leave."

"Let's go, then."

"I wonder how often it is that you meet a government official cowering inside a panic room. I'll bet the councilor was relieved to see men in uniform than thugs pretending to play soldier," he wonders, curious at how their meeting went.

"The Councilman?" inquires Fredrick. "He didn't seem the cowering type."

Fredrick and Naomi look at each other, a little surprised by this question. "No," he says. "He's not that type of politician if that's what you're asking."

"......." - Mihai looks back and forth between them, looking a little thinner in patience than usual.

"I know, I know, I just don't like it." He frowns. "Can't you, you know, frown at them and stuff till they let him go?"

Zelk stares at Steve for quite a while before she gives him a deadpan answer. "I'm always frowning."

She then walks outside the room.

"What? No way. When you got here you practically melted in my arms. It was like-" He switches to a bad falsetto voice and hugs himself in an exaggerated manner, "-Oh Steve, I'm so happy to see you. You are so brave and handsome and I'll totally do naughty things to you later after I get Saemon released" He switches back to his normal voice and ends the fake hug, "That's exactly how it happened you guys. Right Frederick?"

Mihai walks out of the room.

Fredrick concurs. "That's what it looked like from where I was standing." Zelk immediately dart her eyes on her subordinate, who hesitantly gulps down some saliva and adds with a shaky voice, "I mean- it's just- you looked like you were having a good time." The lieutenant narrow her eyes even more. Fredrick finally lowers his head. "I think I'll shut up now."

Satisfied, Zelk faces forward again and leads the party away.

Konrad grins at the spectacle.

"Hmph. Mihai leads and we must follow, it seems. Come on, we need to go and meet with that team on standby." A certain someone's relative is waiting to be claimed.

Once outside the facility, he will light his pipe and smoke.

Steve goes uncharacteristically quiet as he nods in agreement with Konrad and falls in with the others. He's not looking forward to that part.

It is night outside, and there's snow falling.

The 113th adjunct is faced by soldiers, police officers, and a few Coins mercenaries; over 100 of them. Judging by the number of torches and braziers, they've formed a cordon around the asylum to prevent any sort of escape by the patients, and by the looks of their weapons, they were ready to use lethal force if necessary. It's business as usual for Zelk and Fredrick, who lead the party away from the crowd and guide them towards the high district, where the military headquarters are.

The party pass by another group of men and women who are waiting to enter the dungeon; soldiers, mages, and doctors, all prepared to put the asylum in order. But once they pass by the soldiers and police officers who are staying outside, the party members notice that they are the center of attention; whatever these people have been told, they know the 113th adjunct is responsible for putting an end to this incident.

After only a few minutes of walking, the asylum is now far behind the party. A quick look around the streets is enough to tell that a curfew has been imposed by the government officials, and no one except the police or the military is authorized to walk outside at the moment. The only thing you can hear is the crunch that your boots make as you walk in the snow.

Soon enough, you arrive at the military headquarters. It is a large building, three stories high. The guards at the entrance let you and Zelk pass through once she shows them her armband. You don't even stop at the reception -which still has a secretary at the desk despite the late hour- and you are lead towards the stairs. Once you've reached the third floor, you are then taken to a small waiting area.

"I have to report to them first," Zelk explains. "After which you will do the same, one by one. It should take a few hours, so be patient. You will be offered some beverages and snacks while you wait."

"The chocolate cookies are not half-bad," Fredrick comments with a smile.

"Come on Fred."

"Yes ma'am."

They walk through two large doors and leave you one. After a few minutes, a man comes to serve you with the promised beverages and cookies. He will stay with you for as long as you wait.

_______________

Zelk and Fredrick do not come out of the room. Once it's your turn to report, you realize why; they've left through another door. At a large table are seated three people; the General you've met at your debriefing for the Kira Paddle mission, who introduces himself as Aaren Shaw; the Councilman you've met in the asylum, Meneo Nori; and your handler, Sonlake Dermold.

You are invited to sit down in a lone chair set right in front of them, and the General then begins to ask his questions.

It is now past 2:00 AM and Breeze, the last party member to give her report, joins her colleagues into the next waiting room. "Hey guys." She yawns and covers her mouth with her hand. "Sonlake told me he would be here in a few minutes."

Fedler cannot resist, and she joins Breeze in her yawning. She then says, "He better hurry then or I'll fall asleep right here."

As promised, your handler does appear a few minutes later.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting," he says. "This meeting is over, so you're all free to go home. Consider yourselves on leave; at least, until they figure out what to do."

"Any sense of the way the wind is blowing, sir?"

"Any sense of Saemon, for that matter?"

Konrad is leaning in his seat, trying to relax. When Sonlake appears, he is at attention.

"So, a week?" he asks, hopeful.

"I am sure that you will be rewarded for your valiant efforts," Sonlake tells them. "As for Saemon Olyr..." He shakes his head. "I don't know. White mages and researchers will examine him to make sure he is free of Snicker's influence. Then the Council will reconvene and decide how to handle this matter. In the meantime, you don't talk about any of this to anyone."

He then turns towards Konrad. "I don't know. You will be contacted once we have more news."