Her heart almost stopped. Decha and her eyed each other. Rory felt like she was placed in a different dimension. She did it. For the first time ever, she broke a law, and it was in front of an Astellian high-ranked General.

What was next? Was he going to arrest her? Scold her?

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Rory panicked and her adrenaline kicked in.

"I'm waiting to see what other criminal activity you're going to do next."

"Am I... in trouble?"

"Yeah," Decha scoffed playfully. "But we'll discuss your punishment later."

"I should've known you wouldn't let it go." Rory clasped the cuff back into his wrist and began unscrewing the small plastic cover on the side of the device. She placed a new flash drive inside of it and waited for the cuff to turn back on.

Rory's eyes remained focused on her task while Decha watched her intently. Although she committed a crime, he was impressed by her. Whenever she was determined to do something right, it made Decha feel warm inside.

Rory smiled and finished by taking out her flash discs and holding them up for Decha to see. "No one other than you will be able to interfere with your chip. Also, it'll be completed in the next hour or two."

"Thanks," Decha grabbed onto the drive and placed it into his pocket. "You should head to bed—" Decha grunted when Rory tackled him and wrapped her arms around him. He reciprocated carefully, as the two were sitting in an awkward position.

"It'll all be okay, right?" Rory pulled away and gave him two thumbs up. "You're going to win."

The Parallels of Chai and Rory stunned Decha into silence. How could the two be so different, and so similar?

Chai was reserved, but she had a lot of confidence in him. Very similar to Rory.

But Decha realized that he felt more content with Rory's persistence and expressive behavior.

Whatever Chai and he had in the past was great for that time. And it was already too late for Decha to go back. After losing her, he rejected the idea of becoming close with any other woman in the same way.

But for once in a long time, Rory was giving him a sense of hope. He wasn't an affectionate guy. He wasn't a romantic like Jax. But he could envision Rory in the future in better health, and in that daydream, he wanted to be by her side.

"Rory, let's say the borders get fixed. The case is closed and we find the culprit behind everything. Your father gets a fair trial. And you get surgery and get to finish your studies at Grandell. I know you said you wanted to become an Engineer. But, what do you think your plans would be after we go our separate ways?"

Rory was surprised by his question. She knew that if her surgery went well she wanted to go back to Grandell to graduate. But that also meant she had to go back to Sector B and leave Chen's household.

She knew Jessica wanted her and Decha to be together, but that depended on the way Decha felt. Deep down, she wasn't sure what he felt about her. He never confessed and she was terrified to.

"I want to be like you," Rory answered. "Helping people and keeping them safe from harm, just like you do Outside. But I'm also going to work hard to repay every tekel that I owe you. And I'm sure that means we'll get to see each other from time to time."

Rory swung her feet off the gurney and gritted her teeth. "When you're stationed back on the Outside, I wouldn't mind if you came to Sector B to visit me."

"Why do you assume you'll be stuck in Sector B?" Decha snorted. "With your tech and brain power, I'm sure you'll be able to find a job in Astell that allows you to apply to be a permanent resident here."

"I'm honored that you think of me that way." Rory felt overjoyed that he had a lot of confidence in her skills. "But I want to help Sector B residents too."

"Then find a place near the border. Downtown is full of great apartments."

"Maybe..." Rory shrugged. "What about you? What are your plans when you go back outside the Walls? Do you ever plan on settling down anytime afterward?"

"Settling down is easier said than done." Decha chortled softly.

"Well eventually, you're gonna want to start thinking of marrying someone right? There's a lot of pretty girls out there."

"I'd rather pass."

"You'd pass on marrying someone pretty?" Rory raised a brow. "Your ex was pretty. Weren't you ever planning on marrying her?"

"I was, but circumstances have changed."

"I've always wondered what it would be like to see a General's wedding. I heard they were always grand and beautiful. And full of cool traditions." Rory mumbled. "I think your mother would be happy to see you settle down and marry a pretty lady."

"I'm sure she would be," Decha added sarcastically. "My mother is very persistent. It's annoying."

"I think it's funny. She's different from a lot of women I know. Sometimes I wonder if my mother would do the same for me." Rory yawned and rested her head on Decha's shoulder. "Honestly, you're a lot like your mother. I can see similarities between you and your dad but—"

"Is it because of the scar?" Decha chuckled.

"You have your Dad's direct attitude, but your Mom and you have similar mannerisms and expressions. And you look exactly like your mom... that's why you're pretty...handsome..." Rory's words came out slower and softer, indicating her loss of consciousness.

Decha was still listening to her intently. He didn't realize that Rory was falling asleep.

"I never noticed." Decha voiced and waited for her to say something in response. But there was none. He could hear Rory breathing in his ear, and that's when he knew.

"You have a bad habit of falling asleep whenever we have a long talk," Decha grumbled and guided her body onto the gatch bed gently. He rested next to her, allowing her body to take up more of the surface.

He thought deeply about their conversation. Thinking of their future goals was helpful, but talking about weddings and marrying disturbed him. He wondered why she brought it up.

Why was she so focused on him getting married? Maybe it was a test. She was probably testing his loyalty or her trust. Trying to figure out her rambling often frustrated him.

Decha brought Rory close to him so the two could fit on the gurney more comfortably, and he closed his eyes.

One thing was for sure.

Searching for a woman to settle down with was a waste of time when he had already promised himself that protecting Rory would be his main priority. He needed to prove to himself that he could do it.

He wasn't planning on letting her off so easily.

~~~

Rory woke up alone and covered in a thick warm comforter the next morning. Next to her was the cuff that Decha wore. She reasoned that it must've completed clearing any of the bugs from his chip and he got up early to leave for work.

Rory sat up and rubbed her tired eyes. As she began to process what she was to do for the morning, the door slid open, and in walked Decha with a tray of breakfast in his hands.

He wore a black tank top that displayed his arms and his black uniform pants. And his black hair was dampened and stuck to his face. There was a white towel wrapped over his shoulders.

Although he looked like he was sweating, he smelled nice. That led Rory to conclude that he just showered and washed his hair.

"Morning," Decha announced to her as he walked over to the bed and placed the tray of food down on top of the stool.

"I thought you went to work." Rory blinked at him.

"I'm about to go," Decha confirmed. "Jessica isn't home, so I brought breakfast. The chef made it because she had to take Avon to an appointment. So eat up, and don't skip out on your tea."

"I'll be sure to take my medicine, Dad," Rory snickered and reached to grab the tray.

"I'm serious," Decha stated in a strict tone. "You're the only Bracket Refugee alive right now. I can't afford anything bad to happen to you. So when it comes to your health, I'm asking for you to act a bit less... nonchalant about it."

"I was just joking." Rory smiled at him and picked up the mug full of dandelion root tea. She placed it on her lips and took a gulp but regretted it instantly.

The liquid was hot on her tongue. Rory shrieked and swallowed it in a panic. Then she began to cough. Decha snatched the mug out of her hands and began to blow on it for her, and Rory watched him in awe.

When he handed the mug back to her, she began to hiccup again.

"Why does that keep happening?" Decha frowned. "I'll have to ask Jessica to check. You do that too often."

"I'm fine," Rory shook her head. "Sorry, it's a reaction I'm working on trying to stop."

"A reaction? To what?"

"I don't have to tell you, do I?"

"I think you know the answer to that question." Decha rolled his eyes. "I'm gonna head out. Finish eating. And don't work hard on anything. Just rest." Decha reminded her before finally leaving Rory to eat in peace.

~~~

It seemed like the day was going to get worse. Decha arrived at the Agency with a lot on his mind. He was aware that Kilos, or Deliverance more specifically, was keeping an eye on his family.

Rory's condition and the event that unfolded the night before was just another bad ingredient added to the batter of his worries.

Theodore never gave him any data on the upkeep of the Agency's technology. But there was no doubt that Kilos was the primary source of technology that the building received.

It wouldn't make sense to pull up the data now. Decha had a hunch. A trained instinct. He was more than ready to uncover the truth.

Decha made his way through the lobby. The Agents shot him an unsettled glance as he marched his way past the receptionist's desk. Decha could feel all eyes on him but continued to saunter toward the elevators.

"N96," One Agent stepped in his way and looked at his feet nervously. "Director Chen has requested that you meet with him on the ground floor."

Decha nodded in response and brushed by the Agent. Why did the Director need him to meet at the ground level? That's where all the criminals awaiting a court trial were placed.

He reasoned it had something to do with Jamison. Amir was probably talking out of his arse again. Decha stepped inside one of the elevators and pressed the G button. He typed in a passcode that allowed him to head down.

When the doors opened on the ground floor, Decha didn't have to walk too far to see Theodore standing in the hallway that led to a corridor full of cells.

"You wanted to see me?"

"Follow me." Theodore sighed and began walking in the opposite direction. Decha did as he was told.

Theodore walked down the hall and made a left. Decha thought it was weird because the cells were on the right. By the time they reached another door, Theodore pressed his hand against a keypad, and the doors slid open.

"You weren't supposed to come in until later." Theodore pressed his lips together.

"The bug was fixed early."

The harsh sound of voices hollering as the two walked further into the room made Decha skeptical.

One of the voices was Jamison's. He recognized it. Not too far in front of Theodore was Jamison sitting at a table with 2 Agents and Amir looming over him. The 2 Agents both held their blasters firmly, waiting for Jamison to make any movements.

Amir tossed a thin tablet on the desk. "I've dug up some more information on the body we found earlier this morning. The guy had 5 fake identities that he went by."

"A body?" Decha raised a brow.

"Take a look at the file." Amir drummed his finger on the tablet.

Decha picked up the device and looked at what was displayed. There were Gory images of a body with black marks all over the arms, legs, and neck. It wasn't until Decha saw the face of the dead man that his stomach began to churn.

The body was Antoine's. Decha's primary source of information on Deliverance.

Decha skimmed over the autopsy results, and the tablet cracked in his palm.

"The man was a Bracketer, and goes by the name Antoine Duboi. The autopsy states that he was near the border when the bomb went off. I believe that he was caught in the event and tried to escape." Amir stated before looking Jamison directly in the eye.

"He almost crossed into Sector B. But he was finished before stepping foot in. The note he left was very clear and in support of the case I have against him."

"Are you accusing Clarke of the murder of this Bracketer?" Decha snapped. There wasn't enough info. But he could tell where this conversation was headed.

"I didn't kill him!" Jamison stood abruptly, but the Agents shoved him forward and slammed him on the table. "I didn't—"

"Save it for the court." Amir snatched the cracked tablet out of Decha's hands. "Director Chen, I suggest you schedule a day for his execution, rather than drag this out longer than it needs to be."

"Amir, how many times do I have to say it? Clarke isn't the culprit!"

"I think we've had enough listening to you, Decha. Your focus has wavered a lot since we started, and that's because you're biased." Amir rebuked. "We've got enough evidence to prove that this guy is the bane of our existence."

"I didn't kill him!" Jamison cried.

"Bracketers aren't known for their honesty." Amir snorted. "You didn't kill him directly. You planted the bomb before you turned yourself in to sway us off your track."

"It's not true! I'm being framed! N96, please! Tell them! Tell them about—"

"Shut him up. We don't need him filling N96's mind with any more nonsense." Amir commanded the 2 Agents.

The two began beating Jamison relentlessly, ramming their blasters into his back and head. It was a common tactic used in Astell to get a suspect to confess. Although it was a familiar strategy, it only aggravated Decha.

"Amir, you son of a—" Decha fumed, and stepped forward furiously. He had his eyes on Amir and saw red. Because of the overwhelming rage, he swung at him.

"Stand down, N96." Theodore snatched Decha's arm and snagged it away. Decha snatched his arm out of Theodore's grasp and scowled.

"Stand down?" Decha scoffed.

"Take him back to his cell," Theodore ordered, and the Agents dragged Jamison off the table, shoving him in the direction of the exit. His nose was bleeding and his lip was busted. Even with the burgundy liquid stains on his skin, he looked over his shoulder at Decha.

"I didn't do it! N96! Please! Tell them! He'll go after Rory next!" Jamison coughed. "It wasn't me!" His voice echoed as he was forcibly removed.

"It's your call, Director." Amir saluted to Theodore, not bothering to bat an eye at Decha.

"Chen, you can't do this—" Decha began, but Theodore raised his palm, signaling him to pipe down.

"Not another word." Theodore sighed. "I was okay with taking Avon into our home, N96. He's a child, with no other place to go. And he doesn't know any better about what's right and wrong to the full extent. But there's an unhealthy pattern that you are following."

"An unhealthy pattern?"

"I tolerated the Bracket woman, because of her illness. But now, you've gone mad. You want to risk all of Astell because of a Bracket man who claims to be innocent when there is plenty of evidence stacked against him."

"The fact that there is so much evidence against Clarke is the main issue! We've dealt with cases like this before. The reason why you're blind to it is because of your nationalism!"

"Is wanting to stop the distress nationalistic, Decha?" Amir added, offended by the accusation.

"This scenario isn't as simple as wanting to stop the distress, Amir. You know that." Decha seethed. "I don't know what I've gotta do to get you to take your head outta your arse so you can see clearly!"

"You want me to get my head outta my arse? Hop out of your pity pool and snap back to reality! These people are deceivers! They're liars."

"And I don't want you to get caught in a fire, Decha." Theodore agreed with Amir. "You've changed, and I'm concerned."

"I haven't." Decha shook his head. It was true, as Decha always took his duties to both Sectors seriously. He was committed to protecting both Astellians and Bracketers from danger. They only taught that more so on the outside than in the walls.

And he was very disappointed in Amir. They received the same training when they were cadets.

"Either way, I can't have this case go on any longer. The people of Astell will riot if Jamison isn't executed." Theodore placed a hand on Decha's shoulder. "If Jamison isn't put on trial or executed, the people will find out about his daughter. She'll have a petition against her as well, and I know you wouldn't want that. I'm not thinking of what's best only for Astell, I'm thinking about your feelings as well."

"His feelings?" Amir sneered. "What does his feelings have to do with Jamison? If it were up to me, I'd have them both executed!"

"But it's not up to you." Theodore narrowed his eyes. "He's fond of her."

"I'm fond of ice cream but if it makes me fat I'll get rid of it to protect my health!" Amir reasoned. "We can't make any excuses—"

"I'll prove it to you." Decha massaged the bridge of his nose, trying to ease the headache that he had.

Decha needed more time to prove that Deliverance was the true culprit. Antoine was dead. So that meant he had to confront Kilos head-on, with a warrant. He needed to conduct an official investigation into that company.

"Give me one week."

"One week? What do you need a week for?" Amir spat viciously.

"Give me one week before coming up with a court date for Clarke."

"Decha, did you hear anything before? We can't wait any longer."

"All I'm asking for is 7 days to prove to you that the culprit is still out there. 7 days isn't a lot of time. This case could go in your favor, Amir. But you seem intimidated." Decha shot back. "Are you?"

"I'm not going to dignify your question with a response." Amir waved him off.

"Chen, 7 days. Please." Decha looked back at Theodore who sighed in reply before looking at the ground. Theodore tapped his feet softly, giving Decha's request serious consideration. He trusted Decha, but he was starting to think that this case was hurting him.

But Decha was a hard worker. He knew that if he didn't give him the authority, Decha would still go behind his back and do whatever he wants. It's less damaging to his reputation if he allowed Decha to commence under his orders.

"Alright."

"What?" Amir scoffed, and Theodore shot him a glare.

"7 days Decha. 7 days. And your first starts today, meaning you have 6 days left."

"Director Chen! You can't be serious! We can't keep allowing this! The people will—"

"I know that the people will have something to say. But let N96 remind them of the hero who's kept the sectors safe and isn't afraid to put them in their place." Theodore groaned. "N95, I want you to assist him with his investigation."

"No way." Amir shook his head. "I'm not going to be a part of Astell's downfall. Leave that up to 'Mr.HeadInMyArse' here."

"Are you defying my orders, N95?" Theodore raised a brow.

"I don't want to watch this country burn!"

"Then you're going to assist him. And you can't refuse." Theodore poked Amir in the chest in a threatening manner. Then he left the room without saying another word. He took one final look at Decha apprehensively before stepping out.

"Are you happy?" Amir sneered. "Sector A will now fall because of a Bracketers deception."

"You don't know anything, Amir. If you would let me explain—"

"I know that a Bracket woman means more to you than our friendship ever did!" Amir yelled bitterly. "Seriously, how could you even think of sparring him?"

"Amir, enough." Decha huffed. "You're like a brother to me. You know that. We've been through a lot together."

"It sure doesn't feel like it anymore."

"I'm not only doing this because of Rory. I want to catch the culprit who hurt you and kill him!" Decha snarled.

"Jamison isn't the real culprit. If I didn't care about you, or Sector A, I wouldn't be working my arse off trying to track down the real fool who destroyed the border and killed all of those people. You, someone who is like a brother to me, of everyone should know that I am not this persistent for nothing."

Amir closed his mouth and only stared at Decha.

"When I found you in that capsule, you don't realize how much anger and stress I went through. Every day I worked harder to try and find the perpetrator. And when you finally woke up, I don't know if I was expecting it. But I wanted you to have my back. Just like I had yours." Decha finished.

Amir wasn't sure how to respond. He kept quiet and waited for Decha to say something else, but there wasn't anything more for him to say.

Decha spun around and stormed out of the room, leaving Amir speechless.

~~~

Sorry for the late update. Life has been quite an adventure. Hope you enjoyed~