15. Recovery

"Are you two ok?" Using the key I got from Brendan, I unlock Ivy and Jay's handcuffs.

"I-I'm ok," Ivy replies, followed by Jay. "Same here. But… I thought you got shot. How are you still alive?"

"Don't worry. I was wearing body armor," I say.

"You were wearing one? And why do you even have a gun?" Jay asks, her gaze lingering at my back where I holster my gun before removing their cuffs.

"I'll explain it later. For now, we should get out of here." 

"Ok," Jay nods.

As soon as the handcuffs were off from their wrist, something popped up on my HUD. 

<Warning, one hostile is heading your way.>

Connected to the drone feed, one of the kidnapper's heads to the stairs leading to the basement. Most likely to check about the gunshot.

"You two stay here, I'll be back later."

Ivy and Jay nod. Unholstering my gun, I walked out the door and ran to the stairs. When I arrive at the bottom of the stairs, I wait beside the wall to surprise him. 

With quick and loud stomping, he shouts as he heads down the stairs. "Boss! What's happening down here!? We need to get out– waaagghh!" When he reaches the last step, I grab the collar on his shirt and kick his leg, making him fall forward. Instinctively reaching out his hands to catch himself, I use my free hand to grab his outstretched arm and pull it behind his back. Using his momentum and my weight, I force him to the floor with an armlock. 

Winded and groaning from the force of the impact, I bind his wrist with a zip tie. Moments later, I hear two loud booms followed by the sound of boots and men shouting. "Police! Drop your weapon!" As soon as the squad of SWAT head down the stairs, they aim their assault rifles and SMGs at me as they shout orders. "Get down on the ground!" 

Here's the cavalry.

"I'm First Lieutenant Blaze Orlov. I already secured the hostages and they are unharmed." As soon as they heard my name, they lowered their weapons. "I also captured two of the kidnappers." After I told them the situation, they radioed that the situation is contained.

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[5 Minutes Later]

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Surrounded by a group of police vehicles, I'm near an ambulance that Ivy and Jay are being checked at. After being checked by the EMT, I spoke to both of them. "How are you two holding up? I hope the bastard didn't do anything too serious."

"We're fine thanks to you," Ivy says in a tired voice, but still showing a grateful smile.

"Yeah! The gunshot spook both of us when we heard it outside the door," Jay says. "Mind telling us why you were there carrying? Not that I'm complaining of course!"

"I know. I did say I'll explain after this, and please don't spread this around," I say before clearing my throat.

Jay nods with a serious expression on her face

"I'm First Lieutenant Blaze Orlov serving under a Private Military," I say with my back, arms, and legs straight on instinct, minus the salute as I recite my rank and name while omitting key details of what company and unit I'm in.

"Y-Your a soldier? Wow… that's why I couldn't beat you in a one-on-one or even a one versus three sparring match against you."

"As I said before, don't tell anyone about this, or some of my 'friends' will visit you."

"S-Seriously?" A single bead of sweat trails down on Jay's forehead.

"Nah, I'm just messing with you."

"Blaze! Don't just scare me like that after what I've just been through!" Jay complains.

"Sorry." 

After apologizing, Ivy giggles beside Jay.

"Why are you laughing? Shouldn't you be surprised that Blaze told us he was a soldier? Especially how he single-handedly saved us" Jay asks, confused.

"I am surprised he came to save us, but I already knew about him being a soldier and that the bodyguard of Kay," Ivy says.

"Seriously!? I heard a rumor that Blaze is stalking the Qu– I mean Kayla. So that's what it was huh? I guess it makes sense."

While both of the girls are chatting to each other, I notice another cruiser driving down the road before stopping beside the other vehicles in the area. After parking, two familiar figures exit the car. Chief Eileth heads toward the police command vehicle for a debrief while Kayla asks another police officer before pointing at us. As soon as she spotted us, she came sprinting towards us. Kayla barrels into Ivy before hugging her tightly. 

"Thank god you're safe!" Kayla says before letting Ivy go from the hug a few seconds later. 

"Yeah, I'm ok. Sorry to worry you," Ivy says with a smile. 

While the two of them spoke to each other, I asked Jay a question. "How are you going to explain this to your parents?" As soon as I told her that, Jay froze up.

"Shit…" Ivy mutters.

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[45 minutes later]

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After the situation was handled, all of us were brought to the city police station for statements.

"Ok, that's all for the questions. The Chief wants to talk to you in the office," the investigator says as he grabs his tablet and stands up from his chair. Following his example, I stand up from my chair, and we both exit the room. Before I walk toward the direction of Eileth's office, the investigator tells me "good job out there."

"Thanks."

Even at night, the station is still bustling with activity as officers and droids are doing their tasks. When I arrive at Eileth's office, I knock on the door. A few seconds later, it slides open to reveal a white room with a couch and coffee table in the center; a digital desk with pens, decoration, and a picture of Eileth's family while Eileth himself is sitting behind the desk. 

"You called?" I say before flopping myself on the comfortable couch.

"It's about Wiley," Eileth says as I sat down on the couch.

"What about him? Is he causing trouble in his cell?" I ask.

"Not him, his father." 

"The CEO operating at the asteroid belt?"

"Yes."

"What of it?"

Tapping his desk, a holographic projection floats above the coffee table showing documents and pictures of Mr. Wiley. "We uncovered reports of weapons being smuggled into the planet by disguising it as just a regular shipment of minerals. The court already released a warrant for his arrest." 

"And you're telling me this because the police don't have the jurisdiction to apprehend him outside the city or the capability?"

"Yes."

"What's that got to do with me? My current job is to guard Kayla."

"I know full well of your current assignment. That's why the lass will be staying at Orlov's residence until you finish this. Of course, the government will compensate you after arresting and transporting him back to the city for trial."

I let out a deep sigh before asking "when?"

"Today. Now go tell the lasses they're parents are coming to pick them up."

"Got it." 

Standing up from the couch, I head out of the office and walk towards the lobby where Kayla, Ivy, and Jay are waiting after finishing their statements. When I enter the room, Ivy excitedly waves at me when she spots me.

"Blaze! How did it go?" Ivy asks me when I walk up to them.

"It went smoothly. Also, your parents are coming to pick you up."

"Pick us up? Fuck…"

"Something wrong?" I ask Jay.

But before Jay could open her mouth, the main entrance to the station opened up to reveal three people entering. 

"Mom, Dad!" Ivy shouts to the man and woman who are rushing into the lobby.

"Ivy!" Ivy's parents both shout back as they tightly hug her.

"We're so glad you're safe and sound!" Ivy's Mom says, followed by her Dad. "Come on. Let's go home." While the three of them are happily reunited, a man with tan skin walks towards Jay.

"Dad–" Suddenly, Jay's father suddenly raises his palm and slaps her across her cheeks; surprising everyone. I quickly ran up towards Jay and her father.

"Who are you." With a deep and threatening voice, he asks me as I stand between him and Jay. 

"I'm her friend," I answer in a calm voice.

"This is none of your business. Move aside," He says while glaring at me. 

I shake my head, "I can't do that sir. Not when I've witnessed that."

Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Blaze, it's ok," Jay says in a weak voice, devoid of the usual energy.

With a glare of my own, I look at Jay's father as I step from the side. After I move, he grabs Jay's wrist as he pulls her out of the station and into his car, quickly driving off without any resistance from Jay.

Now I understand why Jay was so reluctant.

"What the hell was all that about?" Kayla says to no one in particular.

"I have no idea," I answer.

After a few minutes of wrapping our heads from what just happened, a familiar luxury car drives in front of the station with Kaleem behind the wheel. Nikolai steps out of the car and walks inside the lobby. Immediately noticing him, Kayla runs up to Nikolai to hug him. "Uncle! Why are you here?"

"Of course I came to check on my niece and son!" Nikolai says, returning Kayla's hug before letting go. I roll my eyes when he mentions, son.

"You did great protecting your cousin out there."

"Yeah yeah, I know."

Like usual, Nikolai chuckles at my subtle annoyance. "Get in the car, Kayla. We'll be going back to the mansion."

"The mansion? Why?" Kayla asks, confused.

"Blaze will be going out for a few days, so you'll be staying at the mansion. After what happened, you also need a break.

"Where is Blaze going?" Expecting Kayla to be ecstatic with me getting off her back, caught me off guard when she asked that question.

Is she… concerned?

"Don't worry about Blaze, he can take care of himself," Nikolai assures Kayla.

"If you say so," Kayla says as she walks with Nikolai to the car. Kaleem drives off when Nikolai and Kayla enter the car.

Time to head to base.

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[08:30 PM]

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When I arrive, I head to the main administrative building. Waiting for me there is Jean in her exosuit; greeting me as soon as I enter the door. "Yo! Welcome back, Lieutenant. Suit up, our transport is leaving in 0900."

"Who's coming with us?"

"Foxtrot and Alpha squad while the rest are on standby." 

"What's our equipment and transport?"

"Usual loadout. Transport is a dropship fueled and ready at the launchpad."

"Ok. I'll suit up in five minutes."

"I'll be waiting at the ship," Jean says before we part ways. 

Entering the locker room, I begin to strip naked before heading inside a specialized stall. When I entered the sterile white stall, the door behind me slid shut. Tapping the screen beside me, a small box pops out of the wall containing a bodysuit. I proceed to wear it until my tail, limbs, and everything up to the neck is covered. Tapping the back of the collar, the suit's fabric tightens which conforms around my body. Even though it's snug on my body, it's pretty flexible as I stretch and move.

After wearing the bodysuit, I proceed to wear the exosuit. With my exosuit on, I grab the helmet and attach it with my suit, completing the set. As soon as the helmet was attached, the HUD on my helmet activates, displaying the exosuit's information. After I suited up, the stall activated its testing procedure. 

An electronic voice announces in the stall. "Beginning decompression test."

As soon as it begins, the atmospheric pressure level on my HUD starts to decrease until the stall is at vacuum.

"No leaks detected. Repressurising."

As soon as the test ended, the stall's pressure normalized, and the door opened. I walk out and grab my rifle and equipment from my locker, heading to the dropship.