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Chapter 7
Two Days Later…
Yet another day of moving boxes…whatever are they using these for?
I guess it doesn't matter…
Hm...
…
Clam it…
He's on my mind…more than usual…
For some reason, I find him…interesting…
An odd curiosity…
As if there's something more to him that I must know…
Well, there's obviously more to him…but why do I want to know?
Ugh…maybe I can get it out of my system by asking around…
I turned to one of my coworkers.
"Excuse me," I called the nearby Twintacle.
"Splat off." He groaned. "I'm working here."
…Well that was rude…
I turned to a nearby Octoling, trying to pay no mind to my guards watching me from a distance.
"Excuse me," I called her. "May I ask you something?"
"What?" Her tone indicated she wasn't in a talking mood.
"Can you tell me about Sieg?" I asked. "I gained a somewhat basic understanding of two of his squad members, but Sieg is a complete mystery to me."
She tilted her head, a little surprised and confused.
"…Well, I know he lived his entire life in the Gorge, only leaving for important business." She explained. "He's a good leader and a very strong soldier."
"I understand those." They made sense. "I mean, what's with him? Why squidnap me rather than talk to people? What's with the pictures in his office? Why does he hate being touched?"
"I think he explained why squidnapping you was the best move." She reminded me. "I never knew about any pictures and I never wanted to know about the no-touching part…shell just moving your hands too close too quickly is enough to make him flinch. I'm not sure I want to know the story."
"Anything else?" I wondered. "I mean, why's he so strong? He caught me in his room and threw me with one arm."
"I don't know, okay?" She glared at me. "All I know is he's strong, he's made our settlement better than it was, and he's willing to give second chances. He's never wronged us yet. He just works as a leader and that's why I follow him, alright?"
I nodded my head since she clearly wasn't in a mood to talk.
I want to find out more…but how?
I'm here to work, then report to Sieg…and he doesn't seem to want to talk about himself…
Perhaps I can convince him to let me in the lounge again…
I do miss playing piano…
Hm…
Later…Sieg's Office…
Perhaps I should try asking him…
"Sieg?" I got his attention. "May I visit the lounge?"
"Why?" He raised an eyebrow…I think? "I said you are to stay with me while not working."
"Well, I'd like to play the piano again." I told him. "In my situation, the music calms my nerves."
"…Very well…" He surprisingly agreed. "But you are to have guards watching you."
I nodded my head.
The Lounge…
As I said I would, I played the piano again. It really does calm my nerves. I'd play, and for brief moments, forget about the hostage situation I was in.
"Excuse me…" A voice behind me said.
I turned to see a young Octoling boy. He was fully formed, but seemed younger than 14…perhaps they develop faster?
"Yes?" I wondered what he wanted.
"Your song is sad…" He told me.
"Heh…it's actually supposed to be a lullaby." I told him. "I guess I tend to put my actual feelings into the song though…"
"That'd sad…" He remarked.
"It is…" I nodded my head. "Well, I'm going to play some more."
I turned to play some more. I played a few different songs for a while, and then I suddenly felt a tug at my arm.
I turned to find that little Octoling again. He handed me a cookie.
"Oh…thanks." I took it.
"Thanks for playing." He bowed his head.
"Oh…you're welcome." I bowed my head.
He then ran off.
…What a nice boy…
Well…maybe I'll ask around…
I walked around a bit, trying to ignore my guards at the entrance.
I walked over to the bar.
"So, One-Eyed Joe…" I leaned over. "What do you know about Sieg?"
"Not much…" He shrugged. "I moved here about a year ago."
"Do you know anyone I can ask?" I wondered.
"Well, there are people who knew him before he was Commander." He told me. "Maybe ask them."
"And who would they be?" As if I know anyone here.
"Well, there's the captain of his squad as well as their medic girl…" He listed. "I also know Gant and some of his assistants remember him from before he was Commander…"
"Where is this Gant?" I asked.
"He's a dome away from Sieg's Office" He answered. "He handles security."
Security Wing…?
Hm…I know I'm not allowed there…maybe someone from there will come every now and then…
"Thank you." I nodded my head.
"Why're you so curious about Sieg, anyway?" He wondered.
"I just…he confuses me…" I told him. "I hear he's a good, fair leader, but he squidnaps me, forces me to work, and refuses to negotiate with Inklings…I just wonder what's driving him to do these things. Why he's unbelievably strong…why he dislikes being touched."
"I'm surprised you don't want to stay away from him." He remarked.
"I do want to stay away from him." I sighed. "But for some reason, I'm just oddly curious about him too…I don't know why…"
"Hm…" He seemed to be thinking. "Well, I do remember one girl…Merisse. She works for Gant and I recall her saying how Sieg improved how things used to be…maybe ask her."
"When does she come around?" I needed to know when.
"Late nights on Fridays." He replied.
"Thanks!" I nodded my head and took a bite out of my cookie.
Hm…Friday…that's close…I'll just hold out until then…