Nami: OMG! What if they see us?
Caiden: Don’t worry about that, I’ll stall them.
-End Chat-
Caiden began walking toward the hitmen with his head down. He pretended to be fiddling with his watch when he ‘accidentally’ bumped into them on their way to the twins. Franki’s body was as solid as granite stone, nearly knocking Caiden back as he bump into him.
“Hey!” Neo yelled as Franki grabbed Caiden by the collar. “Watch where the fuck you’re going, asshole!”
“Wouldn’t wanna bump into the wrong people,” Franki added, intimidatingly.
“Oh! I’m sorry, guys. I, you know, just got carried away checkin’ out somethin’ while I was walkin’. Lost myself for a second,” Caiden said as he feigned an apologetic nervousness.
“You coulda lost more than that. Consider yourself lucky this time,” Neo said. Franki let him go and they walked off.
“Aw, man! Those two chicks are gone now,” Neo was heard saying as they walked away. The two hitmen disappeared deeper into the crowd.
Caiden’s tense muscles relaxed as he picked up his utility case and made his way out of the busy bazaar to meet the twins. “Oh my god, Caide! You okay?” Nami asked.
“I’m fine. What took you guys so long to leave?” Caiden asked.
“Honestly, we got carried away. Those fights were really something,” Hitomi said.
Caiden decided to let it go and the three of them hurried back toward Home-base. Upon safe return, they all went to the living room.
“So, Caide what happened at the negotiation tent that had you so spooked?” Hitomi asked.
“Everything about those meetings felt weird. There was this guy, I know I’ve never met him before, but for some strange reason I recognized him and I couldn’t understand why. And he had a meeting with members of ZOBE,” he said.
“ZOBE!? They, like, never ever show their faces anywhere near BlackLight, let alone Darkside of all places. Even we know that!” Nami exclaimed.
“Yeah, exactly. I tapped into their conversation with the NOVO Lenses, but the connection was weak, so I couldn’t make out everything they were saying. But I did hear a few keywords like ‘organization, support, and assassination’,” Caiden said.
“Hmm, what do you think it means?” Hitomi asked.
“It could be about anything. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions. But ZOBE had made an appearance at a well-known Hybrid populated area, and met with someone who was a Hybrid. Adding to the strangeness of all this, is the fact that those hitmen, Franki and Neo, were there, and they met with the same guy immediately after the ZOBE people did. I heard their conversation much clearer. Sayin’ that if ZOBE fails, Chimera will be compensated for finishing the job, as well as for being there as backup. It’s all a little too out of place to simply be a coincidence. Something much deeper is going on, or about to happen,” Caiden speculated.
“Caide, you may not like what I’m about to say, but it needs to be said. If this incident is any indication, I feel like you’re gonna try to do something about it. And I really feel like, well, you’ve done enough already. Look at everything you’ve been through in these past few weeks! Look how many times you’ve nearly died because of all this craziness. Whatever you’re planning on doing next, you should just let it go,” Nami advised.
“Caide, Nams is right. Look at us right now. Look at you! We’re all alive. Yes, this city is corrupt, and a lot needs to be fixed, we know that. But one man, no matter how special you’ve proven to be, cannot take on such a heavy burden on their own. The burden you’ve involuntarily placed on yourself can destroy you, no matter how strong you are. And the last thing we wanna see is for you suffer any longer,” Hitomi added solemnly.
“So, please, just come back with us to Rune Village. Let’s get away from this madness and start over,” Nami begged Ciaden.
The girls could feel a powerful coldness, a darkness, a deep void of limitless anger slowly boil from his depths. They felt it so much, that they subconsciously took a step back as if to stay clear of the invisible aura Caiden was giving off.
"Have you ever wondered what it would be like to wake up every morning and barely recognize yourself? Or your sister? Sure, your lives were full of unimaginable pain. You were whisked away from your home. Forced into unconscionable acts against your will by those detestable gangsters. You’ve lost your parents, your friends, your freedom. You lost your home, and had only each other to fend off the ills that have plagued your lives. But you wanna know what the difference is between you and me? It’s not the nanocells, oh, no.
“You guys have a past! Something that you can remember! Beyond all the heartache and pain, you have your past where good memories, however few, existed even for a short time! Have you ever wondered about your existence? What your purpose was? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to never be able to acknowledge each other as sisters because you’d have no memory of each other?” Caiden asked them. Nami’s eyes welled with tears and Hitomi squeezed her sister’s hand.
“I don’t know why the fuck I am even here! All I know is that I feel this drive, deep down inside, that recognizes people and other things that I cannot, no matter how hard I try to remember. There’s a clear connection between everything that has happened and me! Something more is at work here! None of this is coincidence! And I intend to get to the bottom of everything that has destroyed my life with or without your help! I’m not going to run away,” Caiden yelled as he rushed to his workspace downstairs.
The twins tried to wrap their heads around what just took place. Caiden, on the other hand, was laser focused. He
