Chapter 37
Some Time Later…
I don't know how long I've been here…
And I'm in this situation…because of those bitches…
Because of the Inklings…
Because of m…
…I just-
The door opened.
"S-sieg?!" I turned my head.
I then saw it wasn't Sieg, but Traeger.
"Hello, Cassandra!" He seemed more dapper than he was yesterday. "Glad to see you're still alive! I brought you food!"
"Where's Sieg?" I asked.
"He'll be here later…" He told me. "For now, I need you to do something for me…"
"What?" What does he want?
Traeger then got closer.
"When they put his food in here in preparation for his return, put this powder in his drink." He gave me a bottle. "I want you to poison him…"
"But won't they find out?!" I silently shouted.
"They will…" He nodded. "But when they find my discovery, they'll make me the new Commander and I'll pardon you."
"What discovery?" I was confused.
"Turns out, you meddling with my signal helped me!" He told me. "I found a mainframe that appears to be thousands of years old! The knowledge to be gained from it will surely benefit us greatly."
He then turned to leave.
Wait…
"…Was what Sieg said true?" I asked. "About improving the Gorge?"
"Well, yes…" He replied. "He's improved escape routes for dome collapses, expanded our trade deal with the Salmonids, and is working on plans for a permanent power solution…"
"And I should…kill him?" I was feeling…hesitant?
"You get to live, don't you?" He asked. "I'll run this place fine. Nothing to worry about. Just get rid of that hideous weed on my life..."
He then left the office.
Two Hours Later…
A Twintacle placed a food tray with Sieg's next meal on the desk.
As he left, he looked at me as if he almost felt pity.
…
I stood up and walked over to the desk, opening the bottle.
Okay, Cass…you can do this…
Just…poison him…
My hands started shaking.
My breathing sped up.
I was thinking of...their faces…
Oh Octo, not again…not now!
You're freezing up again over him?!
Come on, Cass! Screw the Gorge! It's your survival at stake!
You ruined his life once…you can end it…
End it…
Just…
Just…
End it!
…
I walked over to the corner and slumped down…
I couldn't do it…
I just threw the bottle in a nearby trash can…
Why…?
Why couldn't I just…kill him…?
The door then opened…Sieg came in.
He was walking slowly towards his desk. I could see his hands were shaking. I couldn't read his face due to his goggles…
He stopped, leaning on his desk. He quickly downed the drink and dropped the cup. It rolled onto the floor as he had his head lowered.
It…sounded like he was crying, but I couldn't see any tears…
I slowly tried making my way towards the door.
He immediately stopped, seemingly composing himself.
He turned to face me.
I stopped.
"…Y-you're going to kill me now, aren't you?" I guessed.
"…No…" He replied. "I won't."
My eyes widened.
"Cassandra, you may leave for now." He told me. "Come back when I call you."
I quickly got up and scrambled out of the room.
I'm not going to die…
Well, I'm not going to die…for now…
A few minutes of walking later and I found something odd…
There were some staff around Traeger's office, carrying him out on a stretcher.
"What happened?" I asked an Octocommander.
"Not sure." He said. "Eye-witnesses said he was excited to get into some old server, but after a few minutes, he started freaking out. He called for help was screaming 'Deep Sea, Deep Sea' before he collapsed. We're taking him to the infirmary. He still has some organic parts, so we should be able to keep him alive, but it's like his mind's just…gone."
Geez…well, that's what you get!
I have a feeling I should feel sorry for you, but I don't…
I just can't.
I'm sure someone does, but not me.
Wait…if this happened not too long ago…and if I had poisoned Sieg…
Oh Cod…
Man, I dodged an Inkstrike on that one…
Ten Minutes Later…
I decided to look around the settlement.
I noticed there were a lot less people in hypnoshades since I last left.
The market was…wait, we have a market again? We're selling things other than CDs and celebrity merchandise?
I looked around the place.
There were more kinds of personal items, not just celebrity stuff, some people were selling different types of weapons, and-
"Fruit?!" I picked one up. "When did we get this?!"
"Salmonids brought it in." The Octotrooper at the counter answered. "You not from here?"
"I just came back…" I replied.
"Well, we got some more things to trade." She explained. "The Salmonids found out spices can make their food taste better, so we're trading wasabi, as well as these herbs that grow on the surface."
We're going to the surface now?
"We also started mining for some resources more." She continued. "We've forged more Sardinium and we're supplying the Salmonids with more metal for their pots and pans."
"And in return, we're getting power eggs AND food?" I asked, surprised.
"Well, a higher number of power eggs, food, some spices, knickknacks from the surface, Salmonid-made music, as well as some more manpower." She told me.
"So we're going to be fighting alongside Salmonids?" I tilted my head.
"…In a way…" She didn't explain.
"What do you mean?" I was confused now.
"You'll see…" She smiled. "Well, I'm just glad I can try out one of those old pre-war Octarian recipes."
Wow…
"Can…can I try that fuzzy fruit?" I pointed to it.
"If you have the credits for it." She shrugged.
I bought it and took a bite.
…I didn't like it…
But I can say I tried it…
"Cassandra, please report back to the Commander's office." The Announcer said. "Cassandra, to the Commander's office."
Fifteen Minutes Later…
Well…moment of truth…
I went in and took a seat.
Sieg was sitting in silence, then he looked at me. He got up and walked in front of me.
"Would you like a job, Cassandra?" He asked.
"W-what kind of job?" I was hesitant to find out.
"My personal squad needs a captain." He told me. "You have a reasonable amount of wit and, from your records in the Valley, can work in very small groups. I-"
"Yes!" I agreed.
"…Well, good..." He said, seemingly unsure about this. "Your promotion ceremony will be in two days."
Promotion ceremony?
Wait…his personal squad…that means…
"S-so I'll be an Elite?!" I shot up from the chair.
"Yes." He answered. "You'll be on my personal squad, away from the recruits."
"Th-thanks, Sieg!" I found myself throwing my arms around him.
He immediately shoved me back.
"Don't…touch me!" He shouted before composing himself. "I give you this position…but know this…"
He got close.
"If I find out you've been abusing my soldiers…" He sounded completely serious. "…And I will not hesitate…to snap your neck…is that clear?"
"Y-yes, Sieg…" I agreed. "I-I'll try to keep myself under control."
"I understand it'll be difficult for you." He said, backing away. "I'll overlook you shoving someone out of the way if you're upset or smacking them when they 'sass' you, but I won't tolerate your old behaviors returning in full force."
"R-right…" I nodded my head.
"You may leave now." He told me. "I suggest you get to know your future squadmates soon."
"And they are…?" I was curious.
"Well, Elise for one…" He explained "There's also our spy who's currently on a mission in Inkopolis. Then there's Lenore, but I'm considering replacing her…"
Wait...
Elise…the doctor's kid?
And we have a spy now?
Man, I need to catch up…
Oh well…
I nodded and headed out of the office.