Section 43: Recon Moving Out

Daybreak has come, it's time for the recon team to make their moves. The team consisted of Tristan, Joel, and me. We decided to go on foot to avoid detection, the car engine's sound will only make us more detectable. The plan is fairly simple, scout the camp's and return with new information. What matters now is to gather information on how to deal with them.

Joel and I already waited at the entrance, Tristan approached us from afar.

"Sorry, I'm late" Tristan sighed.

"It's almost half an hour" I growled at Tristan.

"I know, I'm just worried about my younger sister," he sighed. "What if her injuries got worse?".

The look of concern in Tristan's expression is no facade, he is very worried about his younger sibling's health. As much as he dislikes going outside, he volunteers to know the truth about his younger sister's injuries. I saluted his determination in seeking the truth. I can't trust Vladimir's conclusion in regards to everyone's safety.

"Alright, don't carry weapons that are impractical to use such as heavy firearms," I told both Joel and Tristan.

"Ah, got it" Joel nodded to my order.

"Don't worry, this is the only thing I need" Tristan shows me his handgun. "It has a silencer, I'm good to go".

Glass handed us some water bottles for the trip, she told us to be careful on the way.

"What you're about to do is very dangerous" Glass sighed. "Please, be careful".

Glass warned me the most since I tend to be a klutz she says.

"Relax, we're just gonna do some recon mission! Nothing dangerous!" I assured Glass.

At the same time, I'm also trying to reassure my throbbing chest from panicking. I hope it doesn't show on my face. Glass opened the gate for us, we bid her farewell as we walked further to the enemy area without looking back. The distance is quite far, that's why Glass prepared us with snacks and water supplies.

Although, to be fairly honest I am worried. The reason for this is because both Joel and Tristan don't look like the outdoorsy type, I don't want to babysit them from danger. Then again, I might be too judgemental, Tristan looks like he's used to it. Joel on the other hand is still adapting to be a frontline.

The city reeks of death as we walk through the empty streets. Fallen corpses, whether it was caused by poisoning and drones are everywhere. Tristan and Joel walked in front of me casually, the jock man seemed to be friendly. He's trying to strike a conversation with Joel, who has been quiet for a while.

"So how's IT work? Is it hard?" Tristan asked Joel.

"It's okay, I guess" Joel replied nonchalantly. "But I'm surprised that Vladimir accepted us as volunteers, especially that we're in the IT team".

"I think it's because he still has my younger sister, she has minor injuries so she can work on those drones without me" Tristan replied happily.

"Oh yeah, I heard both of you are hackers" Joel's astonished. "How is that possible?".

Tristan lowered his head, avoiding Joel's gaze. I felt like Joel hits a sensitive topic about his secret. I decided to join in the conversation and changed the topic.

"So how long does it take to arrive at their base?" I asked both men.

"Ah, I don't know," Joel shrugged. "But based on the map, I think it's around two hours by foot?". Uncertain of his answer, Joel opened the map he has in his grasp and looked at it carefully. Tristan elbowed me after that, he looked at me and said something in a quiet voice.

"Thanks" Tristan smiled.

"No worries" I replied nonchalantly. "I wouldn't like people invading my privacy as well, Joel is just too relaxed".

"Nah, he's a good and chill guy" Tristan grinned. "I trust him better than Ender".

My ears tingle when he mentions Ender.

"Huh? Why?" I raise my eyebrows toward Tristan's statement.

"Well, something about him smells fishy" Tristan whistled. "But I guess I am too impolite, I mean he's your boyfriend and all".

My cheek flushed in rosy red, I pushed Tristal lightly and put at his remarks about Ender.

"Ender is my important person" I pouted.

"Yeah, I know" Tristan smiled like a child. "I mean it is obvious by the way you treated him, and you guys snuck out too at that time".

I was immediately on high alert when he mentioned that, he knows that I snuck out with Ender before? Ender put us in an unfavorable position it seems. If Tristan snitched on us, we're doomed. However, looking at Tristant's current reaction it doesn't seem he snitched on us.

"Did you guys do something that night?" he asked me curiously. "I mean you guys sneaked out for a reason right".

When I remembered what Ender did under the moonlight. My face immediately reddened into bright rose colors. This arouses Tristan's suspicion, in a bad way. He smirked at my reactions and elbowed me teasingly.

"Oh, I know! You guys did some steamy actions outside our camp huh!? Ender is so bold!" Tristan laughed at me.

"Shut up" I scowled at the teenager who teased me.

"What are you guys even talking about?" Joel, who has been focusing on his map, didn't hear what Tristan spoke of.

"Ah, it's Ender and Aria! They-".

I covered Tristan's mouth forcefully, I pinched his cheek to avoid him talking further about Ender and me.

"Ouch! That hurts!" Tristan pouted. "You're so mean Aria!".

The camp is seriously full of jokesters. Adrian, Jean, and Tristan are those class clowns the teacher despised. Kallen on the other hand looks more mature than the three of them combined. Although, I think Tristan still has a sense of maturity, then Jean and Adrian. I had a feeling Tristan hide something under his joyful smile.

"Nothing fancy" I replied to Joel nonchalantly. "You can ignore him".

"Ouch, I don't want you to pinch me anymore, so no more teasing" Tristan pouted like an obnoxious child.

"Good" I replied sullenly. "I'm surprised that Kallen didn't join us, he's small and agile".

"That's right, he can be a good scout but yeah" Tristan shrugged. "He said he had an urgent matter to discuss with Vladimir".

"Oh, they're pretty close huh?" Joel asked Tristan.

"Some rumors speculated that Vladimir adopted Kallen from the streets, other rumors speculated that Kallen is Vladimir's bastard child" Tristan spoke in uncertainty. "Rumors spread fast, but we don't know whether it's the truth until Kallen tells us directly".

The rumors about that bastard child are too exaggerated. However, I remembered that Kallen told me that Vladimir saved him. Perhaps, the first rumor is the closest one to the truth. Speculation remains as speculation if there's no other proof.

"Say, are we there yet?" Joel's legs trembled.

"What? Your legs turned into jelly?" I asked the exhausted geek.

"Kind of, it would be nice if we can teleport" Joel shrugged.

"I would like that too," Tristan nodded in agreement.

We walked for hours, there's no sign of dangerous drones near here. I had a bad premonition about this somehow. Usually, drones flocked everywhere. However, as we ventured further to their area, lesser drones could be seen.

"Is it just me, or the number of drones getting thinner?" I scratched my head.

"Yeah, I think so too" Tristan looked around him, anxious and somewhat terrified.

"Stay on your guard" I ordered them.

"Got it" they nodded in unison.