The Deal

Percy was a little suspicious and confused about everything Althea told him. Okay, maybe not a little but a lot.

All his life, all he ever wanted was to make his father treat him as a son rather than his own subordinate. He did his best in everything thrown at him in the hopes it would make his father happy, but it only made him earn a bunch of medal as a soldier. It did make his father look his way but, there was something missing.

All of a sudden, the wardens attacked again. Somehow he did something he never thought he could, or remember, and made him into another impressive soldier in his father's ranks. But then there was Althea. She told him he had somewhat of a destiny ahead of him and a big burden he had to shoulder. He wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry at whatever was happening.

But that was the problem. He could not cry or laugh.

"-cy? Earth to Percy!"

At the mention of his name being shouted, Percy snapped out of his thoughts and focused on the current situation. And if memory served him right, he should be in the middle of a meeting with his brother, Colonel Daniel Ashtein, his doctor, Dr. Bea Cabigas, Tabogon Base's chief researcher, Dr. Adonis Orquez, and his superior, Governor-General Frank Ashtein. The last being his father.

"What's wrong with you?" asked Daniel, a little worried at his younger brother who had been staring into space until some time ago.

"I apologize. I was merely thinking about something." Percy answered in his usual serious and monotone voice. "Do you have a question for me?"

"Are you sure you're okay Percy?" asked his father.

'Well at least he sounds like he's worried.' Percy thought.

"Yes sir."

"I was asking, what is your stand on how to deal with the silver-haired girl?"

"Althea?"

"Yes, it seems to be her name."

"I think we should play it out and just observe her at the moment."

The two doctors immediately sounded their reactions but the governor-general immediately shut them up.

"Why would you think so?"

"Well, her powers for one. Seeing as she helped me deal with a knight-rank warden, which I still doesn't remember by the way, and destroyed a water-based rook-rank warden and its pawns by herself, I don't think it would be a good idea to lock her up and study her."

He heard some noise from the two scientists but they did not voice out their opinions.

"And besides, even if you do want to do that, do you have any means in containing her? You may not have noticed it, but she can definitely destroy this place without breaking a sweat."

"I see. Is she a threat?" asked Governor-General Frank Ashtein with a straight face.

"I believe, only to her enemies." Colonel Daniel Ashtein answered. "So I suggest we make a deal with her."

All eyes landed on Daniel. Of course, they were quite confused about the base commander's actions, but Daniel witnessed Althea's power himself and he was not about to trifle with her.

"What is your say in this Percy?" asked the governor-general again.

"For me… I think it will be better to think that she's an ally. And it would be best if we do not do something we are going to regret later."

"But-"

"Very well. I would like to talk to her. Daniel."

"Yes sir. Tierra, please tell Miss Niadgel to come here."

[Affirmative sir.]

***

Althea was in a vacant spot near the harbor. She brought her familiars, Ash and Gray, with her to take them on a walk and maybe to play with them as well. Honestly, she just felt a little suffocated being inside the base all the time.

With her was Kitty, who was supposed to keep an eye on her, but instead was having fun playing with the wolf pup and the fox cub.

"I have a question." Kitty said as she petted Ash. "I thought wolves and foxes don't get along so how are these two with you?"

"Well, they're not really regular pets. They're my familiars and technically they're living, breathing relics."

"Ash and Gray are relics?"

"Yes. Is that hard to believe?"

"Yeah. I mean I have never heard of any relic that actually lives and breathes you know." Kitty said with a shrug.

"Relics have their own spirits and personality, especially stronger ones. It's just that you people haven't figured that one out yet."

"Does that mean my relic, Rohi, has its own spirit as well?" Althea gave Kitty a nod. "Seriously? How come I had never heard of him before?"

"I don't know. They could've given you a chance to know but you never noticed. Or Rohi is simply still asleep."

Kitty couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. It was already a shocker that the girl she was talking at the moment emerged from a four hundred year old ore, but being told that relics actually possessed wills? That was definitely icing to the cake. But then again…

'Relics choose their wielders. I guess it's not that impossible.'

[Captain Fuentes, Miss Niadgel is being summoned to the conference room by Colonel Ashtein.]

"Got it Tierra." Kitty turned to the silver-haired girl who seemed to be admiring the sparkling blue sea spread in front of her. "Hey, you're being summoned by the base's commander."

"Oh. Okay."

Althea had a strange feeling. Somehow, in a very weird way, she knew everything was about to fit into place and she will finally be able to pursue what she desired. Which was a lot of things by the way. She reached the conference room and eyed the four people present in it. But her eyes darted to the image in the screen and stared at it wide-eyed.

"A thought projection?" she wondered.

"A what?"

"It is a method of communication in Siela."

"It's actually a video call." Daniel said. "Take a seat."

Percy was surprised when Althea dragged the vacant chair next to Dr. Cabigas and brought it next to him. He eyed her skeptically while the rest of the people inside were just plain confused.

"What?"

"Why did you have to drag the chair here?" Percy asked.

"Well…" she motioned to the two scientists sitting across them. "I don't like them."

Percy was not sure whether to laugh or to scold her, but what she said definitely amused him. Meanwhile, the two scientists stared at her in disbelief while Daniel was trying to hold back his own laughter. All of them were woken up from their own train of thoughts by a cough from the governor-general.

"It is nice to meet you Miss Niadgel." said the governor-general.

"And you are?"

"I am Governor-general Frank Ashtein, commander and leader of Cebu Administrative Region."

"Ashtein… Are you the colonel's and Percy's father?" she asked.

"I am surprised you managed to figure that out."

"It's the name. And the three of you have the same eyes. So, why have you called for me?"

"I will be blunt with you Miss Niadgel." the governor-general said in a dangerously low voice. "We don't know anything about you which makes you a threat. How can we make sure that you're not a threat to us and to what we protect?"

Althea couldn't help but smile. She had been called many things before, dangerous being one of them. But she knew her current situation. She was fully aware she had to be by Percy's side and it would not be helpful if she makes an enemy out of the people he works for. She did think of just running away with just him but she had a feeling she wouldn't like that.

"I understand your concern. Let's make a deal then." she offered which made a few people on the room look at her skeptically.

"What kind of deal?"

"A kind of deal that will obviously benefit both of our sides."

"Why should we strike a deal with you?"

"Because we have the same goal; fighting the wardens and those mutated counterparts of theirs living in your lands." she gave them a smirk which obviously unnerved the two scientists. "And I am willing to fight with you. I can even give you some pointers on how to deal with them and maybe answer some of your questions."

Daniel couldn't help but be amazed at the silver-haired teenager. Sure she looked like a kid barely seventeen, but she held the aura and disposition of a veteran warrior which he was sure she was.

"What are the conditions of your deal?" Frank asked.

"General! You're not considering this, are you?" voiced out Dr. Cabigas with an outraged expression.

"That is for me to decide Dr. Cabigas."

The scientist just sat quietly on her seat.

"Let's see… I will fight with you, preferably with Percy here since we make a great team. You can put me in Zero Squad and you can have them keep an eye on me if you want."

Althea had made her observations for the last couple of days. With the help of Kitty and Lisa who were usually tasked with keeping her company in Tabogon Base, she had known many things. Or at least things that would be beneficial for the deal she was about to propose.

"With that, I will fight the wardens and the mutated animals, and maybe give a blood sample or two and say yes to a few tests from the two doctors in this room. I don't appreciate being locked up though."

The two scientists' faces brightened at her statement.

"It's a win-win situation."

"What's in it for you?" asked Frank to her.

"For me?" she glanced at Percy who only stared at her with a look of disbelief. "I only want Percy Ashtein."