Chapter Forty-One: Being Patient is Annoying

Siem was in the usual preoccupied position at his desk staring down at a number of holographic screens on his desk that lit up his face. I wonder if he gets neck pain...

"Kae," his voice really hit my name with a chill factor and I stare back, waiting for whatever he had to say next. I could tell by the look on his face that he knew I was not going to handle any so called banter at the moment. And he rarely has time for that shit by the looks of it, "I can send you out with a few of my crew to the area you believe that there might be some useful intel on your siblings."

"...What happens if it turns out to be a waste of time?" I ask straight up.

"It is a lead," he simply responds. "Unless you know something that I do not?"

I shake my head. "I'm just checking. It's my neck on the line." I can just imagine the intensified animosity I'll get from Rain -heck Fenir, if there was nothing out there.

He leans back in his chair, smirking at me. "It is an area we are unfamiliar with. I am sure that it will be educational either way. We still have Salford if nothing turns up."

"How soon can we leave?"

"As soon as the pilot stops stuffing his face and gets reasonable amount of sleep, for once."

I can only guess who he's talking about. "Oz."

"He's the only one who can fly the Hollow Kite."

We're getting that giant contraption? I feel a little giddy just imagining being back on it,"...Do I dare ask who's coming as well?"

"Seth has volunteered and so has X. I'm also sending Fenir."

I just died a little on the inside.

"Hanna has also offered herself." Now I'm decomposing.

"But I have forced her to stay."

Ok, back to just dying.

"Unfortunately I can't really give up anyone else. Since X is refusing to budge on this...replacing him and Seth on missions does take a lot of manpower. But for a simple mission like this X and Seth will be more than enough. If, however, it seems too much to handle, you are to retreat and this time I'm not going to stand for disobeying orders." His eyes flick over to X, "Am I clear? Any issues and you will drag him back."

X slightly bows his head as an understanding, "Yes sir."

He took another long second to stare at X before it came on me. "This is not negotiable."

Uh huh. "There isn't any reason why Lady can't come this time?"

"...You may bring her as well. I also suggest you rethink your wardrobe choices before heading out. A hoodie and sweatpants are not going to cut it out there in the middle of winter. The weather is probably going to be a problem as well."

I wanted to point out the fact that I've literally only got what's given me to wear and snow gear wasn't one of the items.

"We have no current information on the area. Nothing shows up about it in our current database and we are not in contact with any other City officially. Unofficially, they have about the same amount of information. Another reason why I'm not sending a large force with you in case of open hostility, is because we do not need to draw attention to our movements in that area. Not only are we looking for some information on your family, but we are also seeing if there are any useful resources in the area because as far as I'm aware, the area has remained untouched for the last decade. And the last time you were there was estimated two or three years prior." He looked at me to confirm it.

"Yes..."

"That is more than enough time for anything to occur. Zurich, now currently known as Elysia, was a surviving City-State but there has been nothing from them for about nine years and no one has scouted the area in the last three. Our issue is that Laax is relatively close."

Like one hundred and fifty kilometres close. We mostly avoided big city-areas since they were either a breeding ground for Hexers or crazed Outsiders that would kill you for your supplies. Deadside was an exception. Probably because it was an actual attempt at civilisation since there were relatively small Miasmic Storms and no Hexer nests spotted. Switzerland on the other hand... "Miasma Storms are frequent as well..." and they were big.

"Yes. Seth has measured Miasma radiation it does spike frequently. Though you have resistance to not only Hexer influence but also because you are an Outside, you also have adapted to Miasma influence. The same can be said of Seth and X because of the experimentation done to their bodies."

"...What happens if someone who doesn't have this 'immunity' to Miasma?"

"Effects can range from flu like symptoms...fever, headaches, hallucinating...right through to abnormal growths, psychosis and death. The world has been saturated in Miasma for the last ten years, Kae. Those of us who have stayed inside the presence of the Towers can't handle extreme levels, especially around permanent Storms."

Now that drained the blood from my face, "There's a permanent Storm near there?"

"One has raged from Hungary for the last six months. Not to mention the Tear."

The permanent Storm in Finland that's raged for the last ten years...and the last place we heard from my Father. Everything went to shit when he went on the god damn plane and insisted we stayed in England. Mum begged him not to go. It was the first time I saw her breakdown in a heap on the floor and refused to let go of his wrist. I was only seven, I didn't really connect that Mum was really really afraid that time. Like she knew he was going to his death.

I closed the book on those memories. They were not happy and I still feel raw, even now especially with the ones that followed a year later. I look at Siem to get rid of that memory lane and focus on now, "...Is that all?"

"For now. You have until Oz is ready to move out."

Is this all he wanted from me? Couldn't he have just relayed a message through Seth again?

I move to leave with Lady in tow.

"Oh and X," Siem's voice from behind, "you are to remove the radio silence in the Abandoned Grounds."

I chance a look at X who was staring rather icily back at Siem but he simply responds, "That is your order?"

"It is. Be on standby for now."

I had to wonder at why X wasn't entirely happy with the last bit but for now, we could only wait for Oz the pirate to move his sorry ass into the airship.

I was explaining things to Lady, letting her down gently that she would have to go on the airship once again. She sent me a myriad of conflicting emotions but her stubbornness was probably the most prominent. During this internal talking, we had moved to a sort of waiting area that was near where I was first dragged in here. It was a simple set up, a sofa with a giant pot plant beside it.

I sat down on the floor in front of the sofaI even notice a small TV on the wall opposite the sofa in this little niche. I was curious as to what would be on there...but I look back up at Lady who was getting comfortable beside me until she could lean against me.

Next I feel a weight sink into the sofa beside me and I notice that X was attached to the legs that were now next to me. I lean back and look at the ceiling, this waiting is driving me insane.

I wake to the feeling of someone stroking my hair. I was resting against X's leg.

"Seth said that he wants to skip on sleeping and get on with it. He knows how much this is...making your impatience spike."

I sleepily nod at him and try to get up, "How long was I out?"

"An hour at most," he helps me up to my feet like I was a two-year-old. I am thankful to him but I have to wonder if he was getting sick of dealing with me every hour and my permanent state of feeling sorry for myself and moping about it.

"I am here for support, Kae. I may not understand...loss to the degree you are currently experiencing but...I do not enjoy your pain."

I give a half grin, "I should say thank you, I guess."

"For what?"

"For being there."

He actually looks confused, "It does not require thought or a 'thank you'. I am on your side and will remain here as long as I can."

...X can really drop a bombshell like he was commenting on the weather and probably doesn't even realise it.

"Hate to interrupt you two but would you get to the landing dock already? Oz has gone around to grab the Kite and should land in the next ten seconds." Seth comes walking along with the grizzly bear in tow. And he looked royally pissed off. At least Siem was walking alongside him.

"I understand the orders perfectly, sir. You do not need to repeat them," Fenir growls as he marches up.

I could see the smirk still on Siem's face, "Oh really? Considering your pervious reports, I just wanted to be absolutely clear about your feelings on Kae."

"My feelings on the 'Subject' will not get in the way of the mission. They never have, sir."

Did he just refer to me as a thing?

"Indeed they haven't. I'll withdraw my statement, for now."

I am crying on the inside right now. He is so still looking for a reason to kill me. If he can justify it, he won't need his 'personal feelings' just a loaded gun and me acting crazy.

Siem and Fenir stop in front of me and I wanted to run for the hills.

Fenir looks me up and down before opening his mouth, "It's been a while..."

Not a billion years long enough. I simply nod back, "Same to you."

"Anyway, Oz should have landed, you can be on your way...I have left the time limit up to Fenir. He is the best at judging the situation and adapting to it." Siem looks at me, almost as if he was hoping for me to comment. Seth urges me by knocking me in the shoulder as he walks passed to open the door to the platform.

"I wish you good luck...and I'm praying you find something Kae. For your sake...and ours." Siem's eyes were actually kind as he said this. Like he could empathise with just how desperate I am. But as soon as he said this, I hear the door opening and the night air hit me as it invaded from the open space. It was not pleasant and I'm never going to get used to it.

We board the Kite, this time Lady was furiously ignoring her hatred of the thing as she stomps on. I sat in the same position as last time, as familiarity equals comfort.

As we buckle in, Seth told me that they had the snow clothing on the ship, ready for us to changing into once we are closer to Laax.

"Alright, everyone is buckled in. No one's touching the controls...Kae, in front of you is a panel. In a second I'm going to put a map on the screen. I want you to tab with your finger on the screen on the general area you think it will be."

I remember distinctly where it was. I won't lie about it. My family was rich and we owned a lot of holiday homes. This lodge was special. It was owned by my grandparents who handed it over to my Mum when they died when I was two. This was my mum's home. A holographic screen jumps into my field of view and I press exactly where I remember it was as Mum always enjoyed teaching me and making me remember locations on a map. I pointed to it without a second thought."

The screen disappears and the next thing I notice, we're taking off into the night and I suddenly feel overwhelmingly mixed with impatience and...dread.