What an absurd question. How could Valerius be expected to trust this stranger who wanted to accompany him? The fact she wanted to follow him made him all the more nervous. Suspicion welled in the man's stomach, paired with a keen need to accomplish the task he had given himself. Personal factors weighed against Valerius' ability to make decisions. He was a scientist, not a soldier. All of his choices were decided under controlled environments. This experience was new. Never before had Valerius been the confrontational type, yet.. a person was killed today because of him. But it was self defense, right? At the end of the day it didn't really matter how legal or illegal his actions were in the face of the R'tuuk. The militarized organization had puppets in every office of government to pull strings where needed. Corruption was a given, proven by how the R'tuuk could do whatever they wanted. Valerius didn't know how to stave people away from him, his job was based on compliance. Why was this Stella character so determined to follow him?
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
With every nerve inside of Valerius' body geared against it, he figuratively buckled before the woman, "Fine. But you have to be quiet. The R'tuuk are leveling the facility to the ground- who knows when they'll begin spreading out around it." There was a momentary pause as he pondered if he said too much. Uneasy eyes looked back at Stella.
A puzzled expression marked Stella's countenance, lips pursed as she spoke, "Do you work for the R'tuuk? Judging by your torn up lab uniform I'm inclined to say no.."
"No, quite the opposite. I work for WDGR." Muscles along Valerius' body tensed, miniature spasms spread throughout his limbs. The agent was still at work inside of him, potent in his bloodstream. Every step Valerius made toward the destination in mind was a painful one, but he had to make them. There was no other choice.
"Oh?" Stella's expression lightened up from underneath the obscurity of her hood, "I didn't think I would run into another resistance fighter on the open streets. We've been try-"
"I'm not a resistance fighter. I'm a scientist, a tester if you will." Valerius wiped his free hand across his soaked face while they continued walking, wary eyes alert at all times. "Don't lump me in with the underground militia.. we had a contractual agreement with the R'tuuk to keep to ourselves."
Stella frowned and shook her head before she piped up, "But with the path the R'tuuk are taking.. we'll all be branded as resistance fighters if we don't submit to them." A few quickened paces and Stella was directly next to Valerius to continue her explanation, "Even you. You're already an enemy of theirs especially if they murdered all of your colleagues indiscriminately. Do you really have a choice?"
Irritation had begun to bubble in the pit of Valerius' stomach, when he spoke it was through his teeth, "I am a scientist. I got away. I have to keep it that way. Once I deliver this sample I intend to hide in my home and not come out for quite some time." Valerius eased open a metal gate in an alleyway so the two of them could slide through quietly.
"You don't get it, do you?" Stella said as she walked in front of him and looked over her shoulder. A gust of wind blew her hood off of her head to reveal her dark brown hair. "They're going to find out who you are when they tap into your database. When they find out you've escaped they'll branch out. First they'll probably go to your home and raid it on the off chance that maybe you'll have gone there. They'll take every shred of information on you they need and then will more than likely burn the place down. They'll find out who you know- who you care about. They'll find them and kill them." Her words sounded emotional, as if she were distraught. "That's what they did to my parents. That's why I'm a resistance fighter now."
A streak of lightning jutted through the clouds overhead to illuminate everything below.
"That's why you have to stop living in this fairytale without consequences," Stella continued, "The world doesn't work like that. Do you even know where you're trying to go right now?"
When Valerius started to answer he was struck by another violent series of convulsions throughout his body. A groan of pain escaped him as he collapsed down onto his knees and began to hyperventilate. The sentences came out choppy, in fractions. "I'm on my way to-," He involuntarily winced as his shoulders locked up, "The Cepea facility." Valerius couldn't help but pant as his body went into overdrive. "It's more-," A flinch, "Secure." Was there even a way to lessen the effects? No was pain was involved but Valerius knew better than to assume he was 'okay'. A series of shivers began to overtake him. Perhaps he really was cold. Hands gripped at the torn fabric of his lap coat and helped him up to a stand.
"Look. I understand that you have this self-imposed mission that you feel you have to accomplish, but you need to give up on going to that place." Once Stella helped Valerius up to a stand she hooked his free arm around her shoulders to help support him.
"I have to make sure the sample stays out of the R'tuuk's-"
"Then don't go there! Your facility wasn't the only one that was hit." Stella argued.
How quickly the bad had gone to worse.
"If you go there they will capture you and take that sample thing that you keep babbling on about. Come with me instead. I can take you to a place that is safe. I promise." Desperation marked Stella's tone as she stared at Valerius.
"Why should I trust you?" Valerius ceased to grit his teeth as the tremors stopped.
A pause ensued before Stella answered.
"Because we didn't meet by chance. We know who you are through one of your colleagues. Please, you just have to trust me. I'll explain more once we get to the hideout."
What other choice did he have at this point?
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
With every nerve inside of Valerius' body geared against it, he figuratively buckled before the woman, "Fine. But you have to be quiet. The R'tuuk are leveling the facility to the ground- who knows when they'll begin spreading out around it." There was a momentary pause as he pondered if he said too much. Uneasy eyes looked back at Stella.
A puzzled expression marked Stella's countenance, lips pursed as she spoke, "Do you work for the R'tuuk? Judging by your torn up lab uniform I'm inclined to say no.."
"No, quite the opposite. I work for WDGR." Muscles along Valerius' body tensed, miniature spasms spread throughout his limbs. The agent was still at work inside of him, potent in his bloodstream. Every step Valerius made toward the destination in mind was a painful one, but he had to make them. There was no other choice.
"Oh?" Stella's expression lightened up from underneath the obscurity of her hood, "I didn't think I would run into another resistance fighter on the open streets. We've been try-"
"I'm not a resistance fighter. I'm a scientist, a tester if you will." Valerius wiped his free hand across his soaked face while they continued walking, wary eyes alert at all times. "Don't lump me in with the underground militia.. we had a contractual agreement with the R'tuuk to keep to ourselves."
Stella frowned and shook her head before she piped up, "But with the path the R'tuuk are taking.. we'll all be branded as resistance fighters if we don't submit to them." A few quickened paces and Stella was directly next to Valerius to continue her explanation, "Even you. You're already an enemy of theirs especially if they murdered all of your colleagues indiscriminately. Do you really have a choice?"
Irritation had begun to bubble in the pit of Valerius' stomach, when he spoke it was through his teeth, "I am a scientist. I got away. I have to keep it that way. Once I deliver this sample I intend to hide in my home and not come out for quite some time." Valerius eased open a metal gate in an alleyway so the two of them could slide through quietly.
"You don't get it, do you?" Stella said as she walked in front of him and looked over her shoulder. A gust of wind blew her hood off of her head to reveal her dark brown hair. "They're going to find out who you are when they tap into your database. When they find out you've escaped they'll branch out. First they'll probably go to your home and raid it on the off chance that maybe you'll have gone there. They'll take every shred of information on you they need and then will more than likely burn the place down. They'll find out who you know- who you care about. They'll find them and kill them." Her words sounded emotional, as if she were distraught. "That's what they did to my parents. That's why I'm a resistance fighter now."
A streak of lightning jutted through the clouds overhead to illuminate everything below.
"That's why you have to stop living in this fairytale without consequences," Stella continued, "The world doesn't work like that. Do you even know where you're trying to go right now?"
When Valerius started to answer he was struck by another violent series of convulsions throughout his body. A groan of pain escaped him as he collapsed down onto his knees and began to hyperventilate. The sentences came out choppy, in fractions. "I'm on my way to-," He involuntarily winced as his shoulders locked up, "The Cepea facility." Valerius couldn't help but pant as his body went into overdrive. "It's more-," A flinch, "Secure." Was there even a way to lessen the effects? No was pain was involved but Valerius knew better than to assume he was 'okay'. A series of shivers began to overtake him. Perhaps he really was cold. Hands gripped at the torn fabric of his lap coat and helped him up to a stand.
"Look. I understand that you have this self-imposed mission that you feel you have to accomplish, but you need to give up on going to that place." Once Stella helped Valerius up to a stand she hooked his free arm around her shoulders to help support him.
"I have to make sure the sample stays out of the R'tuuk's-"
"Then don't go there! Your facility wasn't the only one that was hit." Stella argued.
How quickly the bad had gone to worse.
"If you go there they will capture you and take that sample thing that you keep babbling on about. Come with me instead. I can take you to a place that is safe. I promise." Desperation marked Stella's tone as she stared at Valerius.
"Why should I trust you?" Valerius ceased to grit his teeth as the tremors stopped.
A pause ensued before Stella answered.
"Because we didn't meet by chance. We know who you are through one of your colleagues. Please, you just have to trust me. I'll explain more once we get to the hideout."
What other choice did he have at this point?
Forever?
Oh, my darling,
If only you could see what war has done to me.
Oh, my darling,
If only you could see what war has done to me.
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