Chapter 21: For the Battle to Come
It was the night of August 25, and once again, Hei and his group were being sent out to search for Amara and Harvey Baxter. However, Hei couldn't be sure how the meeting this time would go because of both sides having the knowledge of how the other is connected to Havoc. Especially considering how Amara and Harvey acted after learning about Hei's connection to Havoc, it was hard to try and guess what their plan was now.
But before Hei could find out, he had to find them. July and Yin were currently using their Surveillance Specters to search for them, but Amara and Harvey knew what both of their mediums were. If they in fact did not want to be found again, they knew what to stay away from. And even if they were around one of the items, it could still take a while before either one found them.
Hei, Mao, Suou, and Irene were currently wandering around while searching in their own manner. Right now, Irene was using her ability to increase her sense of hearing. With the level her hearing was raised too, Irene said that she could even make out someone breathing almost 200 meters away through rush hour traffic distinctly if she concentrated hard enough. In other words, if Amara and Harvey were to so much as whisper something to one another within that radius greater than 2 football fields of Irene, she would be able to locate them.
After a few minutes listening to the surroundings, Irene ended the use of her ability. "I don't hear them." She said.
It was of course possible that Amara and Harvey were just asleep at the time. Even if Irene could distinctly make out the sound, she would not be able to distinguish a specific person's breathing from everyone else's. In order to successfully locate Amara and Harvey with her ability, she had to rely the sounds of their voices. If she heard the voice of someone she had met before, she would be capable of recognizing it immediately with her increased memory recall. But if they were sleeping, Irene would not be able to find them unless one of them were a sleep talker.
"Alright, let's move to the next area and try again." Mao said, and the group began to move.
However, before they had gotten very far, July spoke over their communication device. "Found him."
"You located Amara and Harvey?" Hei confirmed.
"No, not them." July corrected Hei. "I found August."
"He wants to meet with you." Yin added, apparently having found August with her Specter as well.
"What?" Hei questioned.
So far, his only meeting with August had been during the parade when he attack him. He was now aware August was working with December rather than the MI-6 and his orders to capture him were fake from the beginning, but it still seemed strange for him to reach out to them like this, and now of all times.
But actually, considering that Amara and Harvey were also working under December, whether they knew it or not, the reason August was contacted them at this time may have been connected to them. Because of that thought, Hei spoke to July. "Where is he?"
July directed the group to August's location after a small argument with Irene who didn't think it was a good idea. But the others quickly got her to trust July's judgment and they headed out together. Eventually, the group reached the very same alleyway that Hei had fought him in during the parade mission along with Amara and Harvey; and sure enough, August stood there waiting for them next to a window that had July's Surveillance Specter on it and holding a bottle of water in his hand that held Yin's.
"Alright, we're here. What do you want August?" Hei asked.
Before replying, August took a step away from the wall to face BK-201's group directly, and also placed the water bottle with Yin's Specter on the ground. He then scanned through BK-201 and his cohorts and saw that, despite must having deemed it safe to come here, the group seemed on edge, especially Irene. He couldn't really blame them though, with their history it was only natural they all feel some resentment toward him.
Somehow, the scene almost made August feel like laughing, but he kept himself from it and spoke to them with his usual, suave tone of voice. "The trials are finally over, BK-201. It is time for the purpose of this story to finally come to fruition."
"Do you know what that purpose is?" Hei drilled August for answers.
"Unfortunately, no. July told you about December and his powers correct? December isn't able to tell anyone yet because its still technically just one possibility of many." August told Hei. "Although at this point you can likely think of it as a coin that has already been flipped, but it still hasn't been revealed whether it landed on heads or tails. Only once the coin has been uncovered will we know the truth."
"Well you're the closest one to December right?" Mao asked. "You must at least have an idea."
"As a matter of fact, I do." August answered. "If I had to guess, I'd say..." He began, but then paused while mulling it over in his head.
But August hadn't stopped to think about if he really thought his answer was right; he was over 90% certain he was right, but August had been about to tell BK-201 something he suddenly realized might not be okay to tell them. He was just about to bring up how Yin killed the fourth Contractor from the parade, but then recalled that December had deliberately covered up that incident so that the only ones who knew about it would be them, Irene, and Yin herself.
It was possible Irene had already brought up the topic and August saying it wouldn't be a problem, but it was also possible that Irene hadn't thought to bring the incident up and perhaps believed that BK-201 and the others were already aware of it. If they weren't aware, bringing it up now would only cause the group conflict, so it would be safer to assume they didn't know and not bring it up.
"What's wrong?" Suou asked when August stopped speaking for a moment.
"No, nevermind." August replied. "It's best I don't say."
"And why is that?" Irene questioned August's reason with a suspicious tone.
"Just because there's no guarantee I'm right." August answered. "And in one of December's stories, gaining the right information at the right time is very important. If I tell you my assumption and it turns out I was wrong, it could have a severe impact on your actions between now to when you learn the truth. So any uncertain information is better left unsaid."
"I see," Irene said, although she sounded unconvinced.
Her suspicion of August was understandable, as she had been lied to and kept from the truth this whole time by him and December, so she would be bound to question anything August says. And more importantly, anything he refuses to say. "In the meantime, the main reason I had you come to me was so that I could inform you of Parker's and Baxter's current status." August got down to business.
"Parker?" Mao questioned, only familiar with the last name of Amara and Harvey: Baxter.
"Oh, that's right. You would have only had their records from before they became Contractors, so you wouldn't know that Amara began reusing her maiden name, Parker, afterwards." August informed them. "After the two of them escaped from the CIA, I was sent by December to help reemploy them."
"You mean Amara and Harvey are working for you and December again?" Hei confirmed.
"That is correct, and now they have been let in on the truth of the events that has been going on and have agreed to help with the dangers that are approaching. In that regard, December wants to assure that we will have your full assistance as well."
"Wow, wow, wow," Irene cut in when she heard that. "You're asking me to work for that guy again!? After I just got out of that sick deal?"
"I can understand you resentment, Baltar, but we will all be on the same side from here on." August told Irene, but it did little to stay her frustration.
"And that's supposed to make it all okay? Irene shouted back. "Look, just because-"
"Irene!" Suou called Irene's name to cut her off, and she then realized that everyone else was staring at her like the odd one out. "It's okay."
"What?" Irene breathed, unable to understand.
"We've all known from the beginning that this man was not actually our enemy." Mao explained. "So we don't see everything that's happened as something to blame him for."
"And even though we don't know exactly what these 'dangers' are that are coming, we know that we are already involved in them." Hei gave his piece, which for Irene was the hard hitter. "This isn't something we can just turn our backs to anymore. But you're different. You don't have to drag yourself into this if you're not alright with it." After saying this, Hei turned back to August and gave him a nod to say that the rest of them would assist.
Irene clenched her fists and gritted her teeth as she thought on what she should do. She didn't like the idea of working for Happy Ending again, but she didn't want to just leave and let Li and the others while they went into the den of monsters. While contemplating this, July's voice suddenly came over through her earpiece.
"Irene, remember, I told you that December only decided to use you because he saw you would become a Contractor." He reminded Irene that December was never trying to hurt her. "If he hid something from you, it was only because it was necessary. I'm sure that keeping the truth of what you were doing from you was all meant to get you to where you are now with us; with Hei."
Looking back on it all, Irene could see July was right. Because December had kept the truth a secret from her when she was hired and made her believe he wanted Li dead, she had become furious with him to the point of threatening to kill him. But if it hadn't been for all that hatred for Happy Ending, Irene wouldn't have kept as close a watch on the unfolding events, each of which only made her anger and suspicion of him grow. And if it hadn't been for all of that, she wouldn't have been there the other night when Li and the others were fighting Amara and Harvey at the junkyard. And if she hadn't been there, she wouldn't have attacked Amara and Harvey and joined Li's group.
Everything from the note to go to the Supermarket forward was a step meant to get Irene to the exact position she was in now. Even this moment of indecision was likely meant to happen. And of course that all meant that her final decision had also been measured out beforehand. Irene didn't like thinking about the manipulation, but if it was truly all done because it was necessary to accomplish a greater good, then Irene would accept it, if only for now; if only for Li.
As the others also had earpieces, they heard what July told Irene and were now looking to her for her response to those words. "It's okay, I'm in too." She finally said half-heartedly.
"Are you sure?" Hei confirmed with her.
"I'm sure. I'm going to see this through to the end." Irene answered, her conviction back in her eyes.
Seeing that conviction, Hei didn't questioned Irene further, but August grinned, knowing all too well this was just another piece of December's brilliant novel to please the readers. But with that much decided, there was still one major thing to discuss. "Well, with that all out of the way, that just leaves the matter of your CIA handler, Madam Oreille." He told the group. "As of now, she may be the only one of December's characters that hasn't realized she is being used."
It was certainly true. Hei's group had never seen fit to inform Oreille about the person manipulating them and pulling the strings. Because of that, Oreille had absolutely no way of knowing that she was being treated as a character by December. But if August was bringing this fact up, he must have wanted something done in regards to it.
"So are you saying you want us to tell her?" Hei confirmed.
"Correct. It would be far too difficult for you to help December if you were trying to hide it from her. So December want you to have us meet so I can explain everything to her."
"Why you; couldn't we just as easily explain it to her?" Hei questioned.
"I don't know." August replied with a shrug. "I'm just going along with December's orders. If he wants me to be the one to explain the situation, I have to believe that it's the best course of action."
"I see, alright then." Hei agreed. "I'll set it up."
"Excellent; just one more thing then..." August said and raised his hand to his mouth, putting his thumb and index finger in his mouth and blowing to whistle loudly for some reason.
The group looked confused for a moment, but then from around the corner walked out Amara and Harvey, and Amara greeted Hei. "Yo, Black Reaper." She said, although it sounded somehow half-hearted. "Looks like we're on the same side now."
"Yeah," Hei replied, noticing Amara's tone and realizing her thoughts must have currently been stuck on Havoc.
"These two will be coming as well to show Oreille that they're not a threat anymore." August explained.
But once more, Irene complained about their new 'comrades', just wanting to make sure each time that she didn't have to worry and in order to have as much explained as she could. "You say they're not a threat anymore, but why are they even helping us. They were just members of a criminal organization before all this right? Why should I believe they don't actually intend to attack us when our guard is down? What reason do they have to be helping us?"
"So they don't know?" Amara questioned and looked at August, while Irene looked confused by that response.
However, instead of August, Hei answered the question. "Not yet, Irene and Suou never knew Havoc to begin with, so they don't know about it."
"Huh, Havoc?" Suou questioned, getting left behind in the conversation along with Irene, although Yin and July, who had briefly known and remembered Havoc, now just wondered how she fit into the picture.
"Are you saying you know why they're helping us, Li?" Irene asked.
"Yeah, I'll explain it later." Hei told her. "For now, just head back to the house with them. I'll call Oreille and meet you there."
Irene looked once more across August, Harvey, and Amara with a look of distrust, but sighed and agreed. "Alright, I'l trust your judgment Li."
After Hei called Oreille and she said she would come by tomorrow morning, he went back and met everyone at the house who were all crowded around the table in the room. Joining them all, Hei explained to Suou and Irene who Havoc was, what their relationship had been, and that Amara and Harvey were actually her parents. This last fact was also news to July and Yin, who both chanced a glance at Amara and Harvey.
"So Happy Ending didn't just picked you two out of the Syndicate at random." Irene noted to the pair. "You have a connection to Li just like the rest of us."
"Yeah," Amara said. "Of course, that's just half our reason to be helping you guys now."
"Only half? What's the other half?" Irene questioned.
"How did we end up having more information than her when she's been the one closer to Happy Ending this whole time?" Amara asked of August, somewhat annoyed by Irene's many questions when she thought she and Harvey were the ones in the dark. But instead of waiting for an actual answer from August, Amara just turned back to Irene and answered. "According to this guy, the enemy we're going to face has enough power to destroy the whole world and won't stop unless it's killed. You tell me: who in the world can say they'd rather sit back and do nothing after hearing that?"
"Wha-?" Irene stuttered when Amara said that. "You mean those 'dangers' you were talking about are seriously that strong?" She turned to August, not realizing just how bad the situation truly was until just now.
"I'm afraid so," August answered. Then noticing an angry look enter Irene's eyes, he added, "Don't worry, I wasn't trying to hide it from you. If I were I would have told Parker not to bring it up."
Irene's anger faded. "And you honestly don't know who exactly the enemy is?" She asked, double-checking.
"As I said before, I have a reasonable guess, but even so any information that isn't 100% confirmed is better left unspoken." August repeated himself.
"Yeah, yeah," Irene muttered, turning her head away, disliking August's excuse. Even if it was the best choice for him to make, she felt she would be happier if he shared his speculations.
"So now what? Do we just need to wait for that Madam Oreille to come in the morning?" Harvey questioned.
"That would be correct Baxter." August answered. "The only instructions December gave me for after getting all of your cooperation was on in reference to Oreille. For tonight, we are finished."
"Good, I'm going to sleep." Irene grumbled and walked out of the room up the stairs.
"Yeah, me too," Suou added, and followed after Irene.
"As for me," August said. "I'll take my leave for tonight, but I will return in the morning before Madam Oreille arrives." And with that August left the house.
"And what about you two?" Mao asked Amara and Harvey. "Are you going to stay here 'till morning?"
"Might as well." Harvey said. "It's more efficient that way."
Mao nodded in agreement. "Well, I guess we all might as well turn in for the night too." He said to Hei, Yin, and July.
They all nodded in agreement and began to get up, but then Amara stopped them. "Hold up," She told them. "Can we talk for a second, Black Reaper?" She asked, her somewhat somber expression telling him she wanted to talk about Havoc. Realizing that, Hei nodded to the others to go on and rest.
Sitting down opposite of Amara, Hei confirmed what she wanted to speak about. "You want to talk about Havoc, right?"
"Yeah," Amara nodded slightly, while directing her eyes down, as if avoiding meeting Hei's gaze. "Black Reaper... you were with Carmine when November 11 killed her, right?"
"Amara...?" Harvey wondered for a moment what she was thinking.
"I was," Hei answered, despite how strange the question seemed.
"So then..." Amara started. For some reason, she looked like she was angry, and she was clenching her fist on the table. "...why couldn't you stop him?"
After hearing her true question, both Harvey and Hei were taken a little aback. But they were more taken aback because they suddenly realized after hearing it that her expression actually wasn't one of anger, but one of pain and sorrow. But then Harvey recalled how bad she was after Carmine's original 'death'.
That time had been the only time Harvey had ever seen Amara get depressed. It was also the only time he had ever seen her cry. In a way, it was understandable that she get upset thinking about it all again now, but on the other hand, after having appeared to take the news so well well told by Oreille, it seemed strange that she would get so worked up now.
Hei understood why Amara was asking though. And so he answered her question. "I didn't have a chance." He told her. "It was a surprise attack. Before I knew it, she was already impaled."
"Impaled...?" Harvey repeated softly.
"Yeah, November's ability was Liquid Induced Cryokinesis. He used his power and threw ice spears at her before we realized he was in range."
"I see..." Amara responded, sounding calmer even though her fist was still clenched.
"I'm sorry." Hei added, although those words caused Amara to jerk her head up and finally look at him. She had expected an explanation she could accept, but she had not expected him to apologize for it. "It's my fault. I took Carmine to the gate because I was hoping that when she regained her memories of the Heaven's War, she could help me find my sister."
"Your sister?" Harvey questioned.
"Yes," Hei answered. "Carmine agreed to help me but... she was afraid. She was afraid of becoming a heartless killer again when she regained her powers and memories." Hei explained, and looked at Amara and Harvey as their expressions become wrapped in shocked distress as they learned things about their daughter they may have never come to know in any other situation. "Because of that, Carmine told me that if that turned out to be the case... she wanted me to kill her.
"When she did begin to regain her powers and memories, she became terrified of herself and asked me again to kill her. That was when November and his team caught up to us. I told her that she didn't have to die; told her that she wouldn't kill anyone else, and then November attacked her." He finished the tale, and then waited for either Amara or Harvey to respond to the information.
Finally, Amara spoke, "I understand; thank you for telling us the truth about what happened."
"I'm glad we got to know at least something about our daughter in the end." Harvey added.
"And don't worry, we're not going to blame you for being unable to protect Carmine." Amara said and stood up, walking to the refrigerator and looking at what was in it. "We're not even trying to pin anything on August or Happy Ending just for having previously been a part of the MI-6. The ones at fault are the three agents that were there and actually killed her." Amara said, although that did touch on a bit of a sensitive area on its own.
July, who was now helping them, had been one of those MI-6 agents that had a hand in Carmine's death. If Amara and Harvey found out about that, Hei wasn't sure how they would react. But even though, he felt a certain obligation on a number of levels to tell them the whole story. "About that-"
However, before he could, Amara interrupted him. "You don't have to say it." She told him, taking an apple out of the fridge and turning back to Hei. "Before coming to you, August told us a long story about the 'Izanami Events'. During the story, when he brought up the names 'April' and 'July', he told us who they were and the part they played in Carmine's death. We already know that the male Doll you have is July."
"So then..." Hei wondered now that if they weren't angry at July, what did they think about him?
"I imagine it's not too different from how you accepted him into your group during the 'Izanami Events'." Harvey stated. "So let me take a guess at what you thought when you made that decision; you probably thought something like: 'He's just a Doll.' Right?" He asked Hei.
It was more or less true. Although Hei had thrown away most of what emotion he had left at the time, that didn't mean he had forgotten that July helped in killing Carmine. But even if that were true, it was also true that - at least back then - July had been just a normal Doll. He had no emotion, he had a programmed method of behaving and very little - if any - free will. It might be far less true now, but back then, July truly had been nothing more than a 'simple Doll'. When they had all realized that simple fact, they lost the ability to think of July as an enemy, and instead thought of him more as a victim of circumstance.
"Well, that's how we saw it." Harvey said, continuing his thought. "According the August, July has gone through some kind of 'evolution' and has a will of his own now. But he said that he was just like an everyday Doll back then. It's hard to harbor hatred for someone who didn't know how to do anything but follow a program."
"I see."
"Well, Harvey feels that way; but I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel some resentment for the kid." Amara admitted while sitting back down at the table. "It's just the way I am. I'm the kind of person to hold a grudge. But even if I do feel that way, I do get that he was just an everyday Doll; so I'm not going to do anything to him."
After Amara said that, there was a moment of silence to make sure if anyone had anything left to say. When no one said anything, Harvey stood up. "Well I guess that's all there is say."
"Yeah," Hei replied, and stood up as well to go upstairs. "Are you two going to sleep down here?" He asked.
"If we sleep at all." Harvey said. "Since we were part of the Syndicate, we're used to being up at night for missions and sleeping during the day." He noted, and then Hei, nodding to this, finally went up the stairs and left Amara and Harvey to themselves.
At the top of the stairs, Hei turned in toward the room on the left, but then stopped for a second. Behind him now was a door that lead to the bathroom, and the reason Hei stopped was because he thought he heard something strange coming from the other side of the door. He looked at who was in the room in front of him, and saw that the only one missing was Irene.
Listening more carefully, Hei recognized the sound from the bathroom as sobbing. When he realized that, he also realized that it meant she was listening in on his conversation with Amara and Harvey just now. Hei recalled when they decided to let Irene join their group. Hei had been skeptical, but Suou had vouched for her, telling them that during their confrontation during the Parade, Irene had asked questions about him and cried hearing that he wasn't just some heartless Contractor. It must have been the same thing now, and thinking that, Hei left Irene alone and walked forward into the room with the others.
In the bathroom, Irene was leaning her back against the door and sobbing with a hand over her mouth to keep it from being too loud. Her eyes were shut tight as tears streamed down her cheeks before falling to the floor. She had indeed been eavesdropping on Li's conversation. She had left the room first because she had expected the rest to follow her up in just a second, but when everyone else came up without Li, she had gotten suspicious since she didn't really trust Amara and Harvey yet.
So Irene went to the bathroom to hide the fact she was eavesdropping on their conversation from the rest and ended up hearing everything about what happened with Carmine/Havoc. Once again, Irene was given a piece of insight into Li's real history and how hard it had been on him. But even more importantly this time, Irene had learned something about Amara and Harvey, and what kind of people they really were behind their Contractor shells. Irene had just learned the story of loving parents, who after losing their child so long ago, finally had some closure.
When Li had explained who 'Havoc' was earlier, he had only given them enough information to get the gist of her relationship and connection with Li, Amara, and Harvey. But having listened in on everything they talked about just now, she understood far better Harvey and Amara's reasons for deciding to help them. And finally understanding those reasons, Irene felt guilty for having distrusted them so much.
And that's what her tears were for right now. Unlike when she spoke with Suou and cried tears of joy, Irene's tears now were ones of sorrow, sympathy, and regret. She thought that her life had hit rock bottom when she became a Contractor, but as this 'story' of Happy Ending's progressed, Irene began to realize more and more that her hardships so far - if she could even call them that anymore - were nothing compared to what those now around her had been through.
Irene continued to cry and sob for Amara, Harvey, and everyone else that had been forced into the horrible fate of being a Contractor. As she did, she decided in her heart that she would no longer be suspicious or vindictive to Amara and Harvey. As of now, they fully had her trust.
Finally, morning arrived. As he said he would, August returned to the house before Oreille arrived. Hei had not told her anything since August was supposed to do the explanation, so when Oreille did come in the door, she was shocked to see August as well as Amara and Harvey sitting there without any kind of restraints. She was so surprised to see that that she had pulled a gun in self-defense and pointed it at them. "What is going on here?" She demanded.
"No need to worry, Madam." August said, as calm and suave as ever. "We are all allies here."
"What...?"
After calming Oreille down enough to listen, August went into the long story of December and how he was preparing them all for the dangers that would soon approach. Oreille was stunned by it all, but listened quietly to the end of the story. They all knew it was going to be a lot for her to take in all at once; even getting the information in pieces was a lot to fit in one's head.
When August finished, he paused to give Oreille a moment to absorb everything he had told her. When she finally felt that she had gotten it all organized in her head, she looked around at everyone in the room as they waited on her decision.
Sitting up straight, Oreille looked at Hei and the other. "And you've all known that this was going on the whole time?" She confirmed, and Hei nodded.
"We knew, we just didn't understand most of it, so we kept it from you until we could figure out more."
In reply to this, Oreille gave a big sigh of exasperation. "Well, I guess it was for the best."
"Indeed, everything has been planned out to achieve the optimal results." August told her. "So then, do we have your cooperation as well?"
Oreille took a deep breath and exhaled to calm her nerves. "Well, I don't really have a reason to distrust you, August. So if BK-201 is willing to help, I will as well."
"Excellent,"
"But," Oreille added, and turned her gaze to Amara and Harvey. "If we're on the same side now, would you two now be willing to give me the information I wanted on the Syndicate?" She asked them.
Amara and Harvey nodded to her. "No problem, but it should probably wait until after the current enemy is defeated." Amara told her. "Getting sidetracked now would be the worse thing we could do."
"Yeah," Harvey added. "And in the meantime, I'm sure December is keeping them in check."
"Very well." Oreille agreed. If the threat really was as bad as what August had described, then the Syndicate could most definitely wait until afterward. "So then, is that everything I need to know?" She asked, turning to August.
"That's correct. We'll be in touch, so you'll be kept in the loop from now on." August told her.
"Good," Oreille said, and then turned to the door and left.
"Well then," August said, also starting to head for the door. "December and I will let you all know when your assistance is needed again." He told them, and once they had all nodded, August went out the door.
When he did though he looked to Oreille as she got into her car and began to drive off. August looked after her for a moment, but then his body was covered in Lancelnopt radiation and used his ability. Pulling his hat down in front of him, August vanished from where he stood and then reappeared in the backseat of Oreille's car.
From his experience last time he did this to Misaki Kirihara, August waited until Oreille was stopped at a red light to make his presence known. "Sorry for the intrusion, Madam." He said, startling Oreille in the driver's seat.
"August!? What are you doing!?" Oreille asked him.
"There are a couple of things that I needed to tell you away from the others." August answered. "And it's very important that you take what I say now into high consideration."
"Why? What will happen if I don't?"
"I don't know, I'm just relaying what December told me." August answered. "The first thing December wants is for you not to bring any of this to Section 3."
"You don't want me to tell Section 3? Why?"
"Currently, they are being lead around by MI-6 agents that came here after you called them to speak about my presence in Tokyo. Those agents are looking into December and trying to find him as a traitor of the MI-6. If they know you're now helping us, they will coerce you to tell them everything you know."
"Would that really be so bad?" Oreille asked as the light in front of her turned green. "If they knew what December was attempting to accomplish, wouldn't they want to help as well?"
"Maybe, but maybe not. And December doesn't want it, so I must insist that you do not go to them."
Oreille didn't like it, but if they were that sure, she didn't have much of a choice. "Fine; I won't go to them." She said. "So then, what's the other thing?"
"This one is a warning for you Madam." August said, which cause Oreille to flinch in expectation.
"A warning?" She questioned.
"December tells you: 'watch your back'. I wish I could give you a better clue as to what to watch for, but December apparently cannot reveal it, so just be sure to always be on your guard."
Hearing that, Oreille became very nervous. It would be one thing if August were telling everyone to watch their back, but according to August, this warning was strictly for her. Apparently, there was something dangerous that was or would be close to her specifically, and wasn't enough of a threat to the others for them to need to be wary.
Swallowing hard, Oreille replied. "Alright then, thank you for the warning."
"Don't mention it." August said, and began glowing with Lancelnopt radiation again. "Good luck to you." He added, and then was gone.
Oreille took a deep, long breath and exhaled to try and calm herself. She continued driving until sh came back up at the CIA building. When she entered the building, she was soon greeted by John Smith, who had arrived after Amara and Harvey escaped during their interrogation. "Well, how did your meeting go?" He asked.
At this point, John Smith was aware that she had BK-201 working for her again, but as she wasn't even aware of what was going to happen there until she got their, he didn't know anything else. Since August had told her not to go to Section 3 with it, she wondered if she should keep it from Smith as well.
"Did you get your targets?" John asked.
Making her decision, Oreille responded. "No, looks like they got away again. They're starting to turn into more trouble than they're worth."
"I see," John said. "Well, no use crying over spilt milk. You'll just have to keep trying won't you?"
"Right, well, let's get ready." She said, and walked further into the building with John, while at the same time unable to stop thinking about August's warning.
"Watch your back."