The Detective's Daughter
Chapter 2: Settling In
The sun in the horizon shines brightly like a diamond clean to the cut. The morning rays lit up the small compartment in which the two once feared child assassin and her handler rests for their trip to a new life. Triela woke up in a haze, her mind clouded with various events that had been going on for the past night. First thing she noticed was the difference on how she slept the other night. Previously, she was leaning on Hillshire for comfort. This morning she finds herself comfortable in a small bunk with a pillow and a blanket. The change in location startled her at first, nearly causing her to frantically search where her handler had gone to only to be relieved when she found him standing not far from her position.
She looks up sheepishly, giving a small 'good morning' nod before adjusting herself to sit on the bunk.
"Had a good sleep?" He ask while taking his morning coffee
"I've had better days. Not too shabby though..."
"Not too shabby..." Hillshire chuckles
The new 'names' they've decided were alien to their ears, yet for a particular reason it was something that has been in practice for so long. It has been something they're familiar to, something they knew it will turn 'good'. It's unexplainable to either Triela or Hillshire on why it turned out into something like this. Hillshire never did expect Triela would comply to his request on leaving the SWA with him, yet no complaints were heard from her side. Was it the conditioning she took? Or is it something greater? Life has its own way of finding peace in each different individual.
"So...where were you this morning?" Start Triela, curious on what has happened during her slumber "I mean how I ended up here?"
"We reached Vienna, Austria yesterday. I wanted to wake you, but you're sound asleep and so I decided not to. The stranger earlier advised me to carry you to the next train. So I did; booked a decent hold, a sleeping compartment, and a ticket for free breakfast in the restaurant compartment."
"...and where did you sleep last night?"
"I didn't. I simply took a short nap in the passenger seat."
His calm and collected response gave Triela a big sigh, recognizing how Hillshire sometime tends to overdo things; this is one of the times he did so. He could have wakened me up, she thought. Shouldn't have to carry me to another train, she thought. Get himself a decent sleeping compartment, she thought. And what did he do in the end? He slept in the passenger seat. Shaking her head in disbelief, the 'little princess' decided to comfort him and lend her sleeping compartment while she fetch something to eat. He hesitated, but decided to listen soon after. He told her, that they will be arriving to their destination in approximately three hours.
Berlin, Germany is just a doorstep away...
##
The screeching halt created by the breaks of the train marked the beginning of their new life in Germany. The sounds, the sights, and the voices of German speaking individuals that echoes and surrounds them were all-too familiar for Hillshire, yet ever so new for Triela. Never had she heard many speak the language of her native tongue at once, and never before could she catch and understand the meaning of them in a single whiff. It's all too spontaneous, too bold to change her everyday language from the slippery Italian to the rough German.
Moving to a new country for a living means there are things needed to be filed. The government is required to be notified of the arrival of a new civilian to their country, where they had previously lived their lives in Italy. It would take some time for it to be sorted out, but Hillshire was all too ready to handle it. A small, cozy apartment was all they needed to stay. Dusty, perhaps, but with little work the place would feel like 'home'. It was nothing compared to the dormitory in the Agency, but Triela finds her personal liking to the apartment they managed to acquire. A dry kitchen, window adjacent to a market, two rooms, one bathroom, and a small living room is all she ever asked for. Having her own personal home is something Triela have secretly dreamed of during her days in the SWA.
"I wish I could show this to Claes..." She started after examining the entire room "It's nice and cozy; I think we'll be able to dig in for a living..."
"It's the cheapest I could find, but living in Berlin once I knew how comfortable it feels in these small yet comfortable apartments." Triela stands quietly by the window, listening to Hillshire's say which she returns with a nod. Watching the people buzz around in the streets below is what had sucked her entire attention the whole time. The market, a local fruits, vegetables, and meat market seems to be the neighborhood's favorite as it was seemingly crowded the whole time.
"...Triela...?"
Swiftly pivoting her body to Hillshire's attention, Triela let her pony-tailed hair swivel and wave across the window. Smiling with her hands behind her back, she state with pride:
"Ich bin ein Berliner."
##
Sorting their new home was a start to their new life in Berlin. Hillshire was still unemployed and his previous career as the Italian government's agent must be kept a secret. He can't return to the Europol, there are too many that recognizes him, and far too many who have contacts with the SWA who could easily fetch them whenever they wish. Triela, too, can't stay at the apartment alone all day. She is required to be enrolled into a school.
"Enroll in a school?" Triela ask, puzzled to Hillshire's suggestion "You mean I got to go to school...?"
"Every girl at your age should've been seen in a school zone at this hour; finding one in the street will rouse some unnecessary attention."
"True. But I'm not your ordinary girl, Hillshire, but your once reliable operative. I somehow do feel the need to grab my pistol right now..." She checks her waist and her belt. "...where is it?"
"Are you still an operative at this point?"
Hillshire's last remark closed the debate in an instant. Triela recognized she was an operative, but not anymore. Despite the mechanical body she has, she was now no different than an ordinary girl—with the exception of her super-human strength, of course. Accepting her current fate, Triela let out a sigh.
"...so...your plan...?"
"I have two schools in mind," Hillshire started "There's John F. Kennedy School, an American/German school. The other is Canisius-Kolleg Berlin. Both are Gymnasiums."
"...High schools?" Hillshire gave a nod "...are you sure about this? I mean the fees...?"
"I'm confident." He return "Have a look between them, and tell me which one you'd prefer."
Two pamphlets were handed over; one promoting John F. Kennedy School, the other Canisius-Kolleg. Clearly between them, Canisius-Kolleg would be a much preferable Gymnasium to enroll to. As one of Berlin's most prestigious school, being able to enroll in one would give the student a name to be proud of; something to boast to others.
"I've sent your reports and your average grade to both school; you're qualified for both. Just have to pick which one you prefer..."
She pauses, constantly switching pamphlets between the two "I'll have to think about this...but if it's ok, I'd like to attend Canisius-Kolleg Berlin."
"No objection from me. If possible, we'll head there tomorrow for an interview—yours. Hopefully, by this week you can start."
##
Settling in a new, fresh life has a totally different feel than starting a new day. For once, Hillshire have to worry about how he would earn more to support their small living. Finding a new job wasn't easy, and the fact he was a former SWA agent spells trouble to his future colleagues. Padania agents would be hunting them, and so will SWA agents to silence him or to interrogate him to the most intolerable manner. Triela's true identity would need to be kept secret, as any spoils of it would lead to disaster. The SWA would be actively searching for its missing child assassin around the world and return her to the Agency—dead or alive.
"Since we're starting a new life as a family of a single-virgin-father..."
"Don't mention it. I know I have not been lucky in my love life..."
"...and his daughter," Triela continue completely ignoring Hillshire's remarks "If I may, I want to know your real name. Just to avoid confusion later if asked..."
"Hartmann, Victor."
Clapping both hands together, Triela concludes their conversation "Then it's settled. From today onwards, I'll be Triela Hartmann. Pleased to meet you, papa!"
Returning her cheerful attitude, Hillshire chuckles in delight
Welcome to the new life!