Inside ARCHER Headquarters.
"That can't be true," Emerald argued. "I don't believe Storm 01 will do anything of such."
The head of ARCHER pushed her hair back and sighed. "What makes you say that?"
Emerald stayed quiet for a couple of seconds before speaking. "The man I knew and stayed with for a couple of days won't do anything of such." She said slowly and pinched the bridge of her nose in realization.
"'Knew'" she repeated. "You barely know him and have only spoken to him for an amount of time I could count on my left hand... Plus, we have evidence of his involvement." She pointed at the screen.
"Evidence which Miss Havishma might have fabricated to deal with the two who stand in her way."
Madeline shook her head. "We checked, everything seemed legit."
Emerald scoffed. "Something happened on Moonfour before the Storm agent fled this planet and I feel---no, I know she is trying to get rid of him. Not only that, we both know Miss Havishma won't settle for Chief of Department H."
"I've been racking my brain since the prime meeting and the dots are connecting now: she wants to become the Prime of Winter Weir. Must be why she had her representatives brought up that issue and we all just foolishly danced to the rhythm of her tone..."
"Klay."
"… She gave you that file so you can put Damiano away for her and she could simply present herself as a candidate for the Prime, and who wouldn't select her, the one who has protected Winter Weir on so many occasions..."
"Emerald Klay!" Madeline yelled. She pulled out the drive that was connected to a computer and slipped it into her pocket. "All you just did was narrate the ambitions of a woman. Damiano will be investigated to confirm these accusations, and Storm 01 as much, bring me the files of the agents that were previously of Primal Q."
"Then…" Klay started.
Madeline reached for the door but stopped and turned back to her assistant.
"Let me lead the investigation…"
"No," Gurley rejected before she could complete her sentence. "You clearly already believe Storm 01 is innocent so I will not have you in this case… meet with the team searching for Rowan Schlavigan and continue with them, that is my order," she added before walking out of the room.
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Sox sat in an empty bar in Department H swirling her glass in her hand. She held a name tag, fiddling it with her right. She then gulped down the drink and filled the cup again.
The sound of footsteps filled the air as a figure walked into the dark empty bar. The figure moved and sat on the seat next to the deep blue-haired girl.
Sox tilted her head to the person, she could tell the individual was a female with just a single glance though she had a mask that covered from her nose downwards and a hoodie over her head.
The individual also turned and their eyes met. They held each other's stare for a couple of seconds before Sox looked away and moved her drink to her mouth.
"The heart you have staying down here and drinking after throwing your friends in hell."
Sox's hand stopped and dropped the drink on the counter in front of them. "What?"
"Where is Storm 01 being kept?" The lady asked.
"Who are you?"
"Who I am doesn't matter, what matters is what you did," she paused. "You are the worst of them… because you don't even know why you do what you did."
Sox's brows inched closer as she already picked up on what the mysterious individual was on about. "Which child wouldn't back up their parents when in need?"
"Not when your parent is Miss Havishma."
Sox glared into the person's eyes before gulping down her drink. She dropped the glass on the counter and swiftly lunged her hand to remove the mask on the lady's face but she pulled back, letting Sox's hand only brush past.
The deep blue-haired lady got up and attempted a left which caught the mysterious individual cleanly on the jaw. Sox pulled out a small gun and walked forward, without hesitation, she aimed the gun at the lady and pulled the trigger.
The masked individual managed to roll out of harm's way. She picked one of the many chairs in the bar and tossed it Sox. While the deep blue-haired woman moved to dodge the projectile, the mysterious individual raced for the door and disappeared into a corner. Sox rushed after her but her opponent was already gone by the time she made it out.
The deep blue-haired woman slid her gun into its holster and tapped on her wristwatch. "Report: there's an intruder around, I repeat, a masked individual is roaming this ship, be on alert and detain anyone suspicious," she stated.
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Damiano inhaled and exhaled constantly as he stood inside an elevator leading to Madeline's office in the ARCHER HQ.
The caramel-haired man felt his breath hooked in his throat as the elevator moved higher up in the building. It stopped and the door slid open, giving way for the Prime of Winter Weir to walk through.
For some reason, he felt that whatever is it that was to happen in there, Miss Havishma had something to do with it. He cleared his throat and fixed his suit before entering the office. "Madeline, what is so urgent that I had to come over here?"
The head of ARCHER smiled. "I'm sorry, it is indeed an urgent matter that needs to be discussed here."
"I see." He sat on a couch which was at the head of the table and filled a glass cup that was also on the table among other things. He moved the cup to his lips and took a sip of it before setting it on the table in front of him. "So, what is it?"
Madeline let a small smile slip off her lips and leaned forward. "You know, most invasion and usurps begins with a single spy infiltrating the territory to be invaded..."
Damiano narrowed his eyes as he lifted his drink. "They find ways to move said spy into the territory: tourist visit, schooling, trade, diplomatic visit…" she paused and looked up at the Prime.
The caramel-haired man swallowed hard as his gaze met Gurley's. "Some move on to make a relationship with someone from the territory, either make them the spy or use them to move their spy into the planet."
"What are you implying?" He dropped the glass hard on the table it shattered into pieces. "Did you call me here to waste my time? Get to the point already."
"Did you allow the spies from Earth to use your trade route to get into this planet?" She said out loud, but it was obvious the look on her face was begging for an explanation that would counter whatever she had in her mind so she could start her investigation all over again.
He held her stare for a couple of seconds before getting up on his feet. "What a waste of my time." Damiano reached for the door but stopped and turned back to look at the head of ARCHER.
"Also, the next time you wish to speak with me, you know where to find me," he added before walking out of the room.
Madeline buried her face in her hand and sighed disappointedly. "No, what have you done, Damian." She swiped across the screen of her computer.
Meanwhile, the caramel-haired man rushed out of the building while struggling to take out his mobile device. He ran towards his car and pulled the door, but before he could fully open it, a hand pushed the door back and seized the phone out of his hand.
Damiano looked up at the man with his brows glued. "What the fuck?! Do you have any idea who I am?"
"Yes, it's actually an honor to meet you, though I would have loved it to be in different circumstances," he said while pulling out a restraint from his pocket. "Not important, but I am First Agent Serif Dick from the Primal Q…"
"Primal Q?"
"Yes, and you are under arrest for the instigation of the murder of late Prime Conhresman, Grace Light, and Chief Augustine, also for assisting the spies from Earth…"
"No!…" Damiano yelled.
"Do you have any idea who the hell I am? I am Damian Silverr, I am the Prime of Winter Weir, I will not repeat myself… oof," his words cut short as the First Agent tackled him on the car and applied the restraint around his hand.
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The dark-haired man opened his eyes sharply and began to gurgle continuously as he looked for a way out of the liquid-filled container he was in. His hands and legs were tied down and the liquid swallowed him entirely.
He struggled for a couple more seconds before falling unconscious again.
...
ns 15.158.61.51da2
