Cave Newcomers

Liv, noticing the recognition in Walker's eyes, said, "Before you jump to conclusions, we're here on common ground. The enemy of my enemy, right?" She gestured toward a shadowed corner where a young boy stood, observing the group with cold, assessing eyes.

Lee's gaze landed on Hffyl, the barely adolescent figure who had unleashed the devastating white phosphorus. There was something disturbing about the boy's calm demeanor, especially considering the chaos that had just ensued.

"Wow, he's just a kid," muttered Tank, blinking in surprise.

"That 'kid' almost killed us," Spectacles remarked, adjusting his glasses.

Hffyl stepped forward, his voice dripping with ice-cold detachment. "You're on our base now. Liv might trust you, but don't mistake my cooperation for kindness."

Walker, ever the diplomat, tried to deescalate the situation. "We don't want any trouble. We're just looking for answers."

Hffyl's gaze remained unwavering. "Aren't we all? But you're not going to find them here."

Lee, despite his weakened state, met the boy's cold gaze. "Then why bring us here?"

Hffyl simply replied, "It was either this or let you all die."

Liv interjected, attempting to mediate. "Both our groups have bigger fish to fry. Let's focus on the real enemy. We've got intel that AASOC isn't just a mere elite force. There's something bigger at play."

Spectacles, still wary but intrigued, questioned, "What do you mean?"

As the tension in the room built, Liv began detailing the information they had gathered so far, revealing the undercurrents of political intrigue and dark agendas at play.

Throughout the discussion, Hffyl's young yet steely gaze never wavered from the group. While the rest of the room was consumed in a passionate exchange, he stood silently, watching, always watching.

Karim emerged from the shadows, his hands filled with gadgets that gleamed even in the cave's muted light. "Got some gear here you might find useful," he began, carefully laying out the equipment on a worn tablecloth.

Hffyl, holding one of his countless white phosphorus grenades, glanced at the array. "Got more tools for us, huh?"

Tank, intrigued, stepped closer to inspect the items. He picked up a sleek vest that seemed to have a metallic weave. "Bulletproof?"

Karim smirked, "Better. It disperses the kinetic energy. A bullet won't penetrate, and the impact will be like a tap. Useful for your... size."

Spectacles was already engrossed with a pair of compact goggles. "Heat and night vision?" he mused aloud.

"And motion detection," Karim added with a hint of pride. "Those will show you even the slightest movement. Handy in your line of work."

Lee took a moment to observe a wrist gadget, flipping it open to reveal a compact screen. "GPS?"

"Not just that," Karim responded. "It's integrated with a local network. Gives you real-time data on hostile movements, safe zones, and extraction points."

Captain Walker, still wary, questioned, "Why are you helping us with this tech? What's the catch?"

Karim, tilting his head slightly, replied, "You're in our home. If you fail, we're compromised. It's as simple as that."

Liv nodded in understanding, her tone soft, "We appreciate it."

Hffyl interjected, his tone flat, "Just remember, you're on our turf. Our rules."

Tank, trying to keep things light, quipped, "Got any tech that'll make a killer baklava? Been craving something sweet."

Karim chuckled, the tension momentarily dissipating, "Next time, big man."

Walker, sensing the need to move forward, declared, "Alright, gear up." He added the last part begrudgingly, his gaze shifting to Hffyl, who merely stared back coldly.

Captain Ajwad, in the meantime, addressed the entire group, "Look, it's evident we're in a mess. But right now, we need to pull together. Forget where you're from or who you served. Survival's the game."

Karim, holding up some of the advanced equipment he'd crafted, caught Walker's attention. "Got some tools here that might be of interest."

The Captain raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go on."

"They're essentially heat decoys," Karim began, explaining the design. "Simple stuff, really. They emit heat to distract any infrared drones. Our friend over there," he nodded towards Kadir, "had the idea."

Kadir, hesitant in the spotlight, added, "It's a classic misdirection. Flood their sensors with multiple heat signatures, and they can't pin down our exact location."

Walker looked impressed. "That's smart. How many can you make?"

Karim shrugged. "With the materials we've got? Maybe a dozen."

"That'll have to do," murmured Walker.

Hamzah approached, his disciplined demeanor evident. "We've also secured some food supplies, thanks to the underground stream here."

Tank grinned, "Now we're talking!"

Hffyl, though appreciative of the camaraderie, interjected, "Enough small talk. We still need to break the loop. Ever heard of a place called 'Maqbara of Sayyid'?"

Walker scratched the stubble on his chin. "Can't say that I have. Why?"

"Just... got a hint. Might be something worth checking out." Hffyl replied, the weight of his recent surreal experience pressing on him.

Nurse Murni looked intrigued. "Maqbara means 'tomb' or 'mausoleum' in Arabic. Sayyid… could be a title, or a person's name. Sounds like it could be a historical site."

Hamzah interjected, "Sounds like an old legend I heard. Something about a resting place of a warrior-saint? But legends are usually just tales."

Kadir, deep in thought, added, "Old legends sometimes hold truths. And if this 'Maqbara of Sayyid' is calling out to you," he looked at Hffyl, "maybe it's a sign?"

Suresh stirred the pot, the aroma of his dish filling the cave, "If it is a sign, it's an odd one. But then again, everything lately seems a bit... unusual."

Captain Ajwad cut in, "It's worth investigating. We could use any edge we can get, especially with the enemies that seem to be converging on us."

Hffyl took a deep breath. "So, any of you have any intel? Anything about enemies in that region? Anyone?"

Walker took a moment, then shook his head, "None from our side. But it's not our territory."

Dollah, gazing out, remarked, "It's a risk, but maybe one we've got to take. If it means an advantage or a safe haven."

After their discussion on 'Maqbara of Sayyid', Liv hesitated for a moment before suggesting, "We need to think about saving the rest of AASOC. Especially my Juliet Squad. They're out there and could be hunted down."

Hffyl snorted, "Why should we risk our necks for them?"

A crew member from MV Sirena stepped forward, voice edgy, "They could help us. We can't just leave them."

Jalaluddin, standing tall, added, "Every life is precious. We must do what's right."

Hffyl glared at them, his voice rising. "And who are the ones who plundered our lands? Made our ancestors suffer?"

Hffyl's met Jalaluddin gaze, his eyes dark with memories. "Who killed your father? Attacked our town?"

Hffyl sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose, "Fine. We'll discuss it. But no promises."

Liv, trying to mediate, said, "Look, we might not have a clean slate, but we've got a common enemy right now. We can't let them be hunted down."

But Hffyl's anger simmered beneath the surface, "Common enemy, huh? Just like how the Dutch teamed up with us to get back Malacca before they backstabbed us?"