"What do you mean you're not coming with us? Doctor Amaranth was your idea." Helen asked Oren.
"I suspect you could get more helpful information if I was not present with you, at least not right away. I am just going to have a small chat with Ironwood and then I'll join you. " he replied.
"Now Helen, you know as well as i do that once Oren gets an idea in his head that there's no talking him out of it." Said Grey.
"I know, i know... Sometimes you guys can be so exhausting." Said Helen.
"Oh by the way," Said Oren, "I have some interest in that Archaeological dig, she is funding. Do try to get some sort of passes or something before I arrive."
With that he left. The rest of Team Ghost proceeded to go to Doctor Amaranths lab.
"We are here on official huntsman business, could we please speak to doctor Amaranth?" Helen asked the receptionist.
"please wait in room 3-B, i'll let her know you're here." she said.
it was a good twenty minutes before she finally arrived. And when she did Team Ghost stuck to the plan that Oren devised. Helen said not a single word and focused on reading Dr. Amaranths emotions.
"Hello, My name is Dr. Amaranth, i'm told you're huntsmen on an investigation, how can i help?" she said.
"We have reason to believe that the people who... attacked Vale, are also targeting this location. We just have some questions for you." Said Grey.
"Of course."
"What exactly do you study here?"
"We study Aura and Semblance and the connections they have to the soul. there is still so little we understand about them and we are just trying to make sense of it."
"Can you think of any reason that terrorists would want to target this facility?"
"Not really. this particular field is difficult to make progress in, so it's not like we have any breakthroughs that could do serious harm."
"Can you think of anyone that you would've personally offended that might want revenge?"
"I can certainly think of people i've offended but none of them would go so far as hiring a terrorist group."
"Would you mind sending us a summary of your findings?"
"Of course, of course."
"I understand your funding an archaeological dig? Of what interest is it to you?"
"Part of our research is trying to understand how semblances and aura were perceived in the past. The archaeologist, Dr. Alizarin and i have been working closely together for years. That dig is the location of some newly discovered ruins. I always like to be present for these discoveries to see if there are any references to semblance, soul or aura."
"Do you think we could get some passes to visit this dig?"
"Of course, like i said Dr. Alizarin is a friend of mine, I can easily secure passes for the four of you."
"Actually we are a five man team, our fifth member is just running late due to some business."
"No problem, i can have five passes tomorrow if you like."
"That would be lovely."
suddenly there was a knock on the door. Grey motioned to the door and asked
"May I? That might be our fifth member."
"Certainly" responded the Dr.
Grey opened the door and on the other side stood Oren.
"Grey, sorry i'm late. I got caught up."
"No problem Oren, though i think we are just about done here. In fact Dr. Amaranth has kindly offered to get us passes for that Dig you wanted to investigate, we can visit tomorrow."
"Oh no, not tomorrow, we have that event tomorrow."
"Oh you're right... Dr. Amaranth, is it too late to reschedule our visit to say the day after tomorrow?"
"Of course," said Dr. Amaranth "If you don't mind me asking, what event are you going to?"
"We are not just a Huntsman team, we are also an alternative rock band. Call ourselves the Spectres. We are pretty well known in Vale, and thought we would take advantage of our travelling to do our first show in Atlas. Our show is tomorrow. Its also a good cover for travelling without criminals knowing your true intent. You should come check it out." said Grey.
"Unfortunately i am very busy. Maybe next time."
"Don't worry about it, we get it. I suppose we will see you in two days."
"Of course, have a lovely rest of your day."
as they were leaving they filled Oren in on their conversation. but Oren only had one question.
"Helen, what did you notice?"
"When she said that they didn't have any dangerous breakthroughs she was lying. When she said she couldn't think of anyone who would want revenge she was lying. the entire time I felt feelings irritation coming off of her. and when you walked in the room I felt nothing but straight cold fear. the moment she laid eyes on you." responded Helen.
"Is that why you said to get passes to the dig before you got there? so that she would be forced to hold to that?" asked Sam.
"Yep" said Oren cheerfully.
"What's your history with her?" asked Helen.
Oren shot a quick glare before responding. "I personally had no relation with her at all, but when I was still a kid, I was kidnapped and held in some kind of lab facility. The guards would gossip all the time about research their bosses etc, and one of the names I heard was Amaranth. A couple huntsmen rescued me and of course I tried to find out who they were, but all I had to go on was Amaranth. Of course when I looked it up online all I got was the color and other useless crap. when I grew up I eventually put two and two together and figured it would be Dr. Amaranth, and she was the only thing that came up. Of course I wanted to confirm my suspicions, I figured that a huntsmen destroying their facility would stick in their brains, and that they would remember my face."
"Shit dude," said Sam, "How long did they have you?"
"Three years."
"WHAT, DAMN. How did that huntsman find you? surely they wouldn't have sent out search parties after that amount of time." said Grey.
"huntsmen plural, one man and one woman. And they didn't mean to find me, they just stumbled upon me."
"I'll, bet you're parents were happy to see ya after that." said Thane.
There was a long silence before Oren said "My parents were already dead when i was kidnapped."
"But, then, did they kill your parents when they took you?" asked Helen.
"...I'm done, that's all you're getting today."
"But..." started Thane who was promptly cut off.
"That is all you are getting for today" Oren growled through clenched teeth.
"Come on guys, lets give him some space. We gotta organize for our Spectre show tomorrow."
Meanwhile back at Amaranths Lab
As soon as those blasted huntsmen left Dr. Amaranth picked up her scroll and dialed her companion. Normally with the CCT down their would be no communications, but they had to create their own individual communication for their... less than ethical studies. who knew how convenient it would become later on.
"Hey its Amaranth... Not good, you remember that incident ten years ago? He's back... No no no, the Subject. And he is on a fucking team with four other Huntsmen for fucks sake...of course i sound upset I'M STRESSED OUT RIGHT NOW...they were asking about the people that attacked Vale... well with him on their team it's no doubt they know about our correspondence or at least suspect it... Ya they are coming to visit the dig site in a couple days, should we, you know, set up an ""Accident""?...ok we'll wait until Cinder gets here... yea, see ya soon."
and she hung up.