Strength

*Knock!*

"Who is it?" A hoarse voice sounded, to which Kariuki figured to be the bald man.

"It's K.. Eleven, I was told to come talk to you." Damn I have to be extra careful Almost forgetting his new name, he answered.

For a minute he could hear rustles of paper being crumpled together, before the door finally cracked open and the voice reverberated.

"Come in."

He did wanna go in, but for some reason he felt like he was being forced in and couldn't refuse even if he wanted to.

Stepping in, the room looked to be about the same size as the clinic, having two yellow lights that floated around illuminating it, and a medium sized desk that was in the middle with two high back chairs on each side, it seemed quite peaceful according to Kariuki.

The bald headed man, in his usual red armour, sat on one of the chairs.

"Have a seat." He said gesturing at the seat opposite him.

Eleven didn't hesitate and sat comfortably.

...

"Why did you engage?"

Straight to the point "I thought they needed my help."

"How many missions do you think I've assigned them before you woke up?"

"Fifty, seventy." He didn't wanna answer a rhetorical question like that, though he felt compelled to, and seeing that everyone woke up two years before him, then the number would have surely ranged from fifty to hundred.

" It's four times."

Four? Was this baldy playing tricks on him? There was no way they went on only four missions for two freaking years. Seeing the confusion in his eyes the general decided to elaborate.

"You see, when someone wakes up they must train first, getting accustomed to the increased strength, and if possible they must first learn their ability, that takes about a year to manifest." Pinching his nose bridge, he signed before continuing. "I only made an exception for you, because unlike everyone else in your group, you're probably the least exposed to the terrors of the Vexes, but now after what you did, almost costing me my job, I don't think there's anything else I can do for you."

"You never told me who specifically killed my parents." Ignoring his remarks, Eleven asked. Now that he was no longer the original Cade, he didn't really need him.

The reason he asked for the name of Cade's parents killers, was simple, even if he took this body unintentionally, it didn't change the fact that he still did it, sensing the anger and blood lust the body still held towards the Vexes, he felt the urge to finish what he had started.

The man gazed at him with an unreadable expression for over a minute.

"What do you plan on doing if I give you the names?"

"Kill them of cause." Eleven answered with an emotionless expression.

"Hahaha, the baldy before him broke out into a laughter, which was more of a mockery.

Eleven peered at the man who was now gasping for air after the sudden outburst.

Draining the drops of tears that had made way on his cheeks, he looked at Eleven again and tried his best to fight the demon of laughter.

"You can't be serious, did you even observe that fight, two mere security guards were capable of cornering your group, and you're here asking for the names of the highest ranking Vexes. Do you have some kind of a screw loose?"

"Then what do you expect me to do? you're the one who brought me here and you know exactly why I accepted." He asked, repressing the anger of being looked down upon by a fellow human.

"I know the reason, and I'm sure I never told you how long it would take for you to have that strength."

"So you're not gonna tell me?"

"No, not until you prove to be capable or become a commander and figure it out yourself."

"How do I become one?" If there was really a chance to rise through the ranks , it meant that this whole thing wouldn't be as hard.

"Both of those choices require one thing that everyone needs to survive in this world, power.

In this organisation, the strong lead while the weak follow."

You mean to tell me this baldy who already have one foot in the grave is stronger than me? There no way right?

"Let me guess, you think you can take me on."

Smiling nervously, he scratched the back of his head before answering.

"Is it that obvious?"

" It's not, but most Reapers get those thoughts when they hear about the chain of command."

"Is that so, I'm good though, where's the training field?" 'Don't judge a book by its cover' he once learned about the saying the hard way, this time he wouldn't wanna risk it.

"Ask Two, I know you're pretty close with her."

"No she just likes talking, is all." Standing up, Eleven answered.

"Can I be excused?"

He remained silent for a second, before answering, with a authoritative voice that commanded respect.

"Call me sir, and the next time you disobey an order there'll be consequences, understood beta."

"Yes sir." Being a soldier, when he heard him, he instinctively stood at attention.

"You can leave."

Following that, he left, aiming to go back to the clinic and see if Two was still there.

But it seemed like he didn't have to.

Why does this girl always insists on being around this guy so much? Floating directly above the walkway, Two with an usual grinning face, approached him, immediately after he stepped out of the commander's office.

"What did he say?" She asked with a chearful tone.

"What got you this excited?" Ignoring her question, he countered with one of his own. She's always jolly, but this time it was a bit more than usual.

"Guess what?"

Eleven looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"You're no fun" pouting, she remarked before adding. "We're partners"

That sounds troublesome Eleven frowned.