Chapter 30: New Job.
"All that and not a single actual apology, you’re not sorry about anything, are you Andrea?... You claim to know how to complete this quest, but that’s bullshit. You have no idea whether controlling the ruins of humanity will get us home. I know that because Seris told me about the intel they found for you...
Now you’re purposely driving hundreds of men and women to die on a hunch, why?".
Andrea didn’t let the silence last for long.
"Now that my trial is over, why don’t you all find something more productive to do?".
Without waiting for a response, Andrea rose from the chair at the head of the round table. She spared no one another glance as she walked past them and disappeared through the cloth partition leading deeper into the tent.
For a brief moment, nobody spoke.
Naomi’s expression gradually hardened as she watched Andrea’s retreating figure vanish from sight. There wasn’t the slightest attempt to hide the resentment in her eyes.
Vincent simply smiled to himself, his smug expression making it impossible to tell what was really going through his mind. He adjusted the sleeves of his neatly pressed suit before calmly following after Naomi.
Elias let out a quiet sigh and pushed back his chair. Ryan, as usual, kept his head lowered beneath the hood of his white hoodie before silently falling in behind him.
As the four of them passed Damien, Naomi slowed for only a fraction of a second. Her cold, reclusive eyes settled on him, lingering just long enough to make her displeasure unmistakable before she looked away and continued walking without a word.
"Now, that can’t be good, I was hoping you and I would tolerate each other, but if that’s how you’re gonna be. Naomi, I’m afraid I can’t let you live for long".
Damien now found himself standing alone and staring blankly at the round table.
"Wait, I came here to see those guys, and they all just left".
Just as Damien was about to start cursing, Andrea’s soft, melodic voice drifted out from the rear compartment of the tent.
Damien hesitated for barely a heartbeat before making his way inside. Shrinking away had never been part of his nature.
"Oh wow, this is a sight to behold. Wait, what are you scheming now?".
The moment Damien stepped through the hanging cloth, he paused.
Andrea was no longer wearing her white armour. Her long chestnut hair had been tied into a neat bun, and in place of the heavy plate she usually wore was a simple white linen sleeping garment.
Resting against the head of the bed with a blanket draped loosely over her legs, she looked nothing like the commanding leader who had stood before the Round Table only moments ago.
Without the armour, the sharp edges of her authority seemed to melt away, leaving behind a young woman whose calm beauty was difficult to reconcile with the unyielding commander everyone in the camp admired.
She looked up at Damien, her expression as composed as ever, as though inviting a man into her private quarters dressed like this was the most natural thing in the world.
"Oooh, what are your intentions with me? Andrea".
"Damien, I want you to join Leslie and her team to scout out the advancing Eidolon forces". Her intentions immediately became clear.
"Well that was easier than expected, first you let your stuck up friends to stigmatise me and have me ostracized by the camp, and now you want me out in the field, fighting for your cause...
I initially wanted to, but now I don’t feel like it anymore".
The silence was starting to get loud, so Andrea continued.
"The Eidolons are moving slowly because of their large numbers, not to mention they don’t exactly know our exact location".
Damien was still oddly quiet.
"That can’t be all of it, you’re testing me with basic intel. I’m guessing the real reason you want me to join this Leslie girl is much more significant, and dangerous as well".
Andrea’s face softened even further.
"They’re travelling with giant machines cloaked with black cloths, and we have no idea what they are. I want you to find a way deeper into the enemy lines, and figure out what they are exactly".
You want... no, you need me to. I’m the only expendable guy in camp, if I die... The people of the camp that think I’m the grim reaper incarnate will breathe a sigh of relief, and your round table would throw a party celebrating my demise...
What’s worse, you already know what I will do... You engineered my current situation without even saying a single word, honestly Andrea, I pity your enemies, but my enemies pity you, I will go on your little errand, but I will also make you pay for this".
Damien snapped back to reality and said with a soft smile.
"Do I have a choice?".
"Depending on how you respond, I will know just how wary of me you are Andrea, I will know if you let this happen because you’re afraid, or because you’re proud... I tried following you over the last four days I spent in camp, but for some reason I always felt like you knew I was watching, could it be your dormant ability?".
This time, Andrea remained silent.
But she refused to linger there. Allowing Damien to control the pace of the conversation was a mistake she had no intention of making.
She answered almost immediately.
If she wanted someone else to believe her, she first had to believe it herself.
"Everyone has a choice in camp, our society is built on cooperation, everyone has their roles to play".
Damien was genuinely impressed this time.
"If everyone has a choice, then why do people have roles decided by the round table? That self-loathing bullshit won’t work on me, I’m convinced I’m in the right here, but you already know that, don’t you? So you weren’t trying to make me feel guilty for not being able to participate in any definite role in camp, you’re just trying to confuse me, trying to make me think too much and make a mistake, fine. You win, I will make that mistake".
"You’re right Andrea, everyone should do their part so we can all go back home".