Chapter 22 - Trouble, Predictably

We were ordered to report in immediately after the mission.

When the system says "immediately," what they actually mean is: "Run. Now. And prepare to be verbally incinerated."

The silence in the transport ride back was suffocating. Elren didn't speak. Elliot hummed like this was just another Tuesday. I processed the entire mess by monologuing internally at full speed.

Okay, let's recap. I fell into a literal death trap. Elren disobeyed direct orders. Elliot assisted in the disobedience. We broke protocol. We survived. We're probably fired. Or jailed. Or maybe exiled. Is exile an option? I could work with exile.

-----

Director Seraphine met us the moment we arrived. Her expression could have frozen lava.

"Inside. Now."

Oh good. She skipped the pleasantries.

We filed into the debrief room. Vance was already there, arms crossed, looking every bit like the executioner I didn't order.

"Sit."

I sat. Elren stood. Elliot flopped into his chair like he owned the place.

"Explain."

"I fell," I said, lifting my hand. "Totally my fault. Rookie move."

"Your handler disregarded multiple orders."

"He saved me."

"That was not the directive."

"The directive was flawed."

Seraphine's eyes sharpened. "Do you understand the weight of disobedience?"

"Obviously."

I caught Elren's glance. The corner of his mouth twitched. Oh no. He found that funny. It's over for me.

"Protocol is the backbone of the system."

"Maybe the system needs better bones."

"Your sarcasm will not shield you."

"It shields me emotionally."

Elliot smothered a laugh. I mentally high-fived him.

"We cannot allow hunters to defy orders whenever they see fit."

"Then maybe hunters shouldn't be forced to abandon their partners in the field."

The silence was heavy, taut like a snapped wire.

Seraphine finally turned to Elren. "Do you have anything to say?"

"Obviously."

Oh no. He's doing it on purpose now.

"You were given direct orders."

"Correct."

"You ignored them."

"Obviously."

"Why?"

"She is mine to protect."

The room temperature dropped.

Vance shifted, uncomfortable. Elliot leaned back like he was watching premium drama.

"Your duty is to the system," Seraphine snapped.

"She is part of the system."

"Don't play word games with me."

"I am not."

"You are dangerously close to insubordination."

"Obviously."

Okay, maybe I should intervene before this spirals out of control.

"Look, I get it," I said, raising my hands. "Rules exist for a reason. But maybe the rule that says 'let your partner die for data' needs to be reviewed."

"We need to know your limits."

"Oh, I found them!" I said cheerfully. "They're right where the ground collapsed under me."

Elliot snorted.

"You are not taking this seriously."

"Oh, I am. I just cope with humor."

"You will both face penalties."

"Obviously."

Stop. I will throw something at you.

"Reduced access, restricted movement, probationary status."

"Still sounds better than dying alone in a pit."

Seraphine's stare could have shattered glass. "Dismissed."

We bolted.

-----

"Well," Elliot said as we stepped into the corridor. "That went about as well as I expected."

"Are you demoted?"

"Nah. They just called me 'a regrettable influence.' I'll put it on my resume."

"You enjoyed that."

"Oh, immensely."

Elren walked ahead of us, silent, his posture rigid.

"Hey," I called after him, jogging to catch up. "You good?"

"Obviously."

"You know they're going to keep watching you, right?"

"Correct."

"And you still don't care?"

"Obviously."

I slowed my pace to walk beside him. "You really don't regret breaking protocol?"

"Obviously."

Okay, that's dangerous. He means it. Every word.

Elliot caught up, grinning. "So what's next? Are we getting drinks? Going back to training? Or maybe you two need to discuss boundaries?"

"I have no boundaries," I said flatly.

"Obviously," Elren added.

"Okay, that one felt personal."

Elren finally looked at me, eyes sharp but faintly amused. "You survived."

"Obviously."

"Stay alive."

"Obviously."

Elliot groaned. "If you two say that word one more time, I'm quitting."

"Obviously."

We laughed all the way back to the barracks.

I was supposed to be trapped here. But maybe… maybe with them, I'm freer than I've ever been.