The Order

Storm 01 rushed up some stairs and ran into the cemetery. The place was crowded with a lot of officers and Department H agents that just landed some hours ago. They all wore their uniforms and stood in rows. He slowed down before entering the main building. He looked around the place and found Rory standing in front of a framed photo of her mother and the Prime. He slipped his hands into his pocket and slowly walked up to her. He thought he was going to find her in tears, but her eyes were the desert, and her brows were stretched up.

"Hey. How are you holding up?"

"It just saddens me that I haven't gotten the chance to speak to her since I joined the D.H."

"You weren't on speaking terms with her?"

"No," she replied. "We had an argument before I joined the D.H. She didn't want me to join, but I did anyways. I'm guessing that's the reason she wanted to terminate the Storm squad," Rory laughed, a slight crack in her voice.

"She must love you then since she tried to stop the entire squad because of you..."

"There are other ways to stop me you know. She could maybe, talk to me instead," Rory chimed.

Storm 01 sighed. "I spoke to her on the roof of the prime hall earlier, she was nice."

"It's what everyone says."

The crowd slowly started to disperse. It had already been two hours since they got the report of an accident caused by a Quantum Realm Corp truck carrying barrels of pure fuel. The body of the driver of the truck still is missing.

Storm 01 slipped his hand in his pocket and took out the paper Grace handed to him to pass to Rory.

"What is it?"

"I don't know. Your mom asked me to give it to you."

She collected the paper from his hand and opened it. She was expecting to see a long message, like the way it use to be done in the past, instead, she was greeted by a series of numbers.

"It's just numbers. -000552-" she read out. Trying to figure out what it was, but couldn't make anything out of it.

"Since she gave it to you then it must be something important," Storm 01 stated. "I'll leave you to figure it out. The People have called for an urgent meeting regarding the bill, but Miss Havishma said you don't have to come."

She smiled and turned away, looking back at the paper.

He outstretched his hands wide open to hug her but awkwardly dropped it down and cleared his throat. She had her eyes fixed on her mother's picture and didn't pay attention to him. He turned and walked out of the cemetery to the Prime Hall.

Upon entering the Hall, he found the People already seated in their seats. Everyone, including Damiano, Chief, and Miss Havishma was also present. He quietly sat next to Sox.

"What did I miss?" He whispered to her.

She leaned in to whisper back. "Apart from the part where the People all agreed to let the Storm squad proceed, nothing else."

The puffy man who supported Grace during the last meeting stood up and cleared his throat. "It strokes the center of Winter Weir's heart to lose a prestigious member of the People, Grace Light, and also, the Prime, Imer Conhresman." He looked down. "Though we grieve, it won't halt the development of this great planet. This is why we, the People have sat and decided to appoint the new prime because there's no time to prepare for an election. The decision agreed upon is none other than Damiano Silverr."

Without wasting time, Damiano stood up from his seat and walked up to the prime seat. He quickly signed some papers before turning to the crowd, eyeing Miss Havishma especially. He puts on a glass before clearing his throat to speak.

"Thank you for this great opportunity. I promise to do my best to improve the technological aspect of Winter Weir. And obviously other aspects." He said with a smile. It was obvious he was using the glasses to read what he spoke.

"As I am also required to announce the decision of the People and the dead Prime, from this moment, Department H, is no longer bound by any rules set by the state. It now operates as an organization owned solely by the Chief. May the dead rest in peace," he added.

Miss Havishma let a wicked grin slip off her lips.

*Some hours ago, before the accident*

Miss Havishma and Chief sat inside a car outside the Prime Hall. The front door opened and a man entered the car.

"Miss Havishma?" the man mumbled.

"How much should I trust you?" She queried.

"I've been serving you since before 1817. I haven't done anything against your orders, so I think you can completely trust me," he answered.

Chief looked between Miss Havishma and the man, utterly out of the loop. "Who is this guy?"

"He is a member of the People. With him, we can have the People agree with our bill to let the Storm squad proceed, at least if he succeeds."

Chief pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled loudly. "What are you planning now Havishma?"

"Nothing terrible I promise Chief. You want the D.H. to keep alive so you can continue being the Chief, and I want the Storm squad to have its expedition. If this succeeds, you'll be the owner of D.H. with no restrictions. Isn't that what you want Chief?"

He glared at her with his frowned expression slowly turning into a smile. He then leaned back on his chair and nodded.

Miss Havishma grinned and turned to the man that entered the car. "I am placing all my cards on you again, Rowan Schlavigan."

*Present time*

Miss Havishma locked eyes with Rowan and grinned. He slightly nodded then looked away from her. As the crowd left the room, Chief walked up to Miss Havishma. "You continue to amaze me Havishma," he said, putting on his hat. "First Storm 01, now this. You've proven yourself enough," he added before walking out with the others.

Miss Havishma sat back on her chair. She buried her face in her hand and groaned loudly.

"Exhausted?" She quickly raised her head to see Damiano leaning on a wall in front of her.

"I thought I was the only one here."

"It's fine. You can drop your reinforced wall around me." He pulled a chair and sat next to her.

"What do you want, Damiano?"

He placed his hand behind his head and leaned back. "What more could I ask for? First, you came to me to help fund your research, now you give me the crown of Winter Weir. I'm starting to think there's still something going right here." He said, with his hand sliding up to his chest.

She turned to him with a spin. "You seem to be mistaken here, Damiano. You are now the Prime, I have already paid you back for funding the research, I owe you nothing!" she stood up to leave the room.

"Havishma!" He barked out loud before she could leave.

He stood up and walked up to her. "The deal was that you find a way to make me the Chief of Department H, not the position of Prime."

She fully turned to him and walked forward until she was only inches away from him. "Be careful what you wish for Damiano. And remember that I know everything that unfolds around me," she whispered the last words which made him stagger backward. "I'll take my leave now."

The agents drove back to the port and climbed into their spaceship to leave for the D.H.

Storm 01 walked towards a door on the ship. It slid open as he approached it. Ishary was seated on a chair when he entered.

Her eyes were fixed on her tablet. She didn't notice his presence until he cleared his throat.

"Hi," she mumbled.

"Miss Havishma asked me to come for some checkups," he revealed.

She directed him to seat on the chair she was seated on before taking out a box. They were quiet, and awkwardness filled the air for a while until Storm 01 spoke.

"Are you mad at me?"

She took out a syringe and walked over to where he was. "Why? Should I be?"

He looked at her, then turned to stab his eyes mindlessly into his feet as he let the words flow out of his mouth.

"It's just, the things I said that day were... Not necessary..."

She smiled and positioned herself by his side. "I take care of you. Almost always inject you with stuff. Do you think you'd be alive if I was mad at you?"

"I... Okay, that's a point. But I hope you're not implying what I think you are," he blinked.

Ishary's lips curled up in a smile. "I believe it depends on what exactly you are thinking."

She stopped and looked up at him, their eyes met midway and Ishary's smile became wider. "What's going through your mind right now?" She said in a low voice. Her eyes flickered down then back up.

"A lot of things actually," he mumbled back. "One of which is why this is taking longer."

"Hey," she countered. "Maybe I'll actually drug you."

....