Chapter 34
The soldiers and the Siren had a day feast together, courtesy of Red the skillful chef. He had cooked the Skag for two nights, he remarked. Axton was quite hesitant to eat but seeing how passionately Maya and Kharkov was eating, he was convinced at the very least it was edible. It took only the first bite to convince Axton that Red was a genius when it came to cooking. The meat was tender to a point it melts when it came to contact the tongue. Axton joined Kharkov and Maya, releasing verbal satisfaction while eating their food. While eating the food, Red looked at the other three with a slightly disturbed face, he knew it was good but at least be proper at the table.
Kharkov got up and went to get seconds on the Skag meat. Maya was not shy to also join Kharkov. Axton was enjoying eating the food but prepared himself for another round. The feast was quiet. Not a lot of talking. More eating and appreciating Red's delight. Red also joined to make sure that he got some of his parts.
"So you were working with Vladof for how long?" Axton asked Kharkov. The feast had ended and the two were tasked to clean the firepit. Axton, being the social person he was, wanted to get to know more about Kharkov. He knew Red and now it was Kharkov's turn.
"Hmm…" Kharkov sweeped the charcoal then glanced at Axton. "I think when I was 17-18 maybe. Ah, at the time, I was too keen for the action my friend. Vladof takes only those who will go long distance. Same as Dahl right?"
The chemistry between them hasn't rust it seems, even though they only met once.
"I think Dahl is more obsessive than you think." Axton touched his forehead, at the mark of a Dahl Commando. "They willing to pay top money for soldier implants."
"Opa!" Kharkov was amazed. "Every soldier?"
"Yeah, every soldier. Crazy right?" Axton and Kharkov had the same enthusiasm. "Being veteran doesn't mean shit, I tell you that. Being veteran means that your hair is grey, that's it."
"But they do give you some benefits right? I mean Vladof only pays bonuses for how many battles you win, trust me, you die before you win a war."
"When it comes to implants, they only pay for it because they expect to continue your service. If they can put implants on you and you can work, they'll put it. Talk about working yourself to death."
"Well, never expect human kindness from corporations." Kharkov finished his part cleaning the eating place. "But still my friend, do they also pay for your limbs, not insurance but other ways of compensation?"
"Oh they do, full payment on the bionic implants." Axton also finished his part of cleaning the place. "They pay the maintenance and also put the insurance!"
Kharkov and Axton had already invested in each other's past corporate life. They finished their small errand and got close together like old friends. Both of them then went away and went someplace else, perhaps shooting something while talking about each other. Maya was observing both of them from far away, quitely fixated towards Axton. Perhaps in an affectionate way but indeed in a concerned way. She saw something in Axton that was slightly different. She could sense it but not pinpoint it. Something was off about Axton.
"Quick quiz, who is Sirenos' brother?" Someone said beside Maya.
"Mykonos." Maya glanced at the man who asked that was Red, with a smirk to add.
"Getting confident are we?" Red nodded. "Guess you didn't slack."
"I read the books that you said to read. Heck I prepared for the quiz you said you're gonna give."
"Well it seems we have to cancel that." Red kneeled to knee and re-tied his boots. "We got something going on. Kharkov and I will be out for a while, something happening."
Maya looked at Red and the man was prepared to do a military assignment. Red wore his distinct eyepiece, navy blue AE uniform and hair somewhat combed.
"Where are you going Red?" Maya inquired.
"I have to meet my boss." Red finished tying his boots. "No more than three days, hopefully. Kharkov and I have been offline ever since your training started. Seeing how extensive it could be, we need to meet our boss to give a proper debrief of the absent."
Maya remembered that Kharkov and Red were working in some elite private military. "Is it serious?"
"Not really." Red took a deep breath. "Kharkov knows our boss personally so he will give some slack after a few future favors. But that doesn't mean we can dismiss our boss and just take days off. So we need to meet face to face and finalize certain things."
Maya looked at Kharkov again and he too was wearing the same uniform.
"So you will be staying with Axton for the few days." Red said. "Can you do that?"
"Oh." Maya was surprised but kept her cool. "No problem. Is not that I can't handle myself."
"I heard that you and Axton have something going on." Red looked at Maya plainly. "With this meeting that we need to attend, it gives you both some leg room to be together. You know, some privacy."
Maya started to blush, her face was red so she looked away to hide it from Red. "... is not uhmm…." Maya stammered. "Is not like what you think it is. Is just that Axton... is a good person and sometimes…. you need to be with someone like Axton, you know, every once in a while. Right?"
"Uhuh?" Red agreed unconvincingly. "Not gonna think about you two more than I should. But one thing." Red raised his finger. "Axton is quite a handsome guy. So I get what you are trying to say Maya.
"Can we stop…" Maya snorted her nose. "Can we just stop talking."
"I just wanna to get up to date with you Blue, nothing more. You alright?" Red said with a caring tone.
Suddenly the redness of Maya's cheek flushed out and she looked at Searcher Red. "Oh, I'm handling well, or I think I am handling well. Lately, something happened about my position as a Siren. Things get a bit complicated, turns out my role is not just learning."
"You look like you need some RnR, don't take yourself too seriously Blue. Or you will end up like me." Red nodded and wanted to call Kharkov. "See you in the next few days."
"Uh Searcher Red." Maya raised her hand. "Can I ask you something?"
Red stopped then glanced back to Maya. "Sure."
"Your hand, can I see it?" Maya looked at it and was curious like a cat.
Searcher Red was surprised, eyes wide and somewhat speechless. Maya never saw such an expression from Searcher Red. Red nodded, approached closer to Maya and gave his left knuckle. The Blue Siren held Red's hand and was confused. It was like any normal hand, a bit rough but no Siren marks whatsoever. She frowned and hoped to see it in a different way by using some of her Siren abilities.
"You want to see the Channels don't you?" Red said.
"I am." Maya nodded. "Not gonna lie to you."
Red nodded and closed his eyes. He focused on emptying his mind and soon enough, the marks appeared in clear view. From his fingertips to his wrist, the mark was different from what she usually saw. It was less flowish, more aggressive and angular. Maya's mark was like the flow of gravity that was seen in the cosmos. But Red's Channels was like a shark. Maya touched his hands around, feeling the rough hand and admiring the unique look of the Channels.
Quite a sight isn't it? Red communicated through his mind. Not bad for a mistake…
"Woahhh you have mastered your Nonua too??!?!" Maya exclaimed loudly. "I thought it was limited to Siren's only?"
Can't spill all the beans Blue, we all have our secrets. Red softly pulled away his hands away and looked at his hand, his face was sorrow for a reason. The marks helped me a lot. We're Searchers for a reason, you didn't see what Kharkov can do yet.
"You guys know how to keep secrets." Maya put her hands on her hips. "I wondered what's next on the surprise list?"
"I assumed that Kharkov told something about me to you." Red hides his Siren marks. "Hopefully you don't know too much about me." Red looked at Maya. "Did he tell you about his family?"
Maya nodded. "He talked about his late wife to me. I'm sorry about your life Red." Maya, thoughtlessly hugged Red and the man didn't know how to react. His hands were down and he looked as if he hoped that time was quicker than usual.
"Being sorry doesn't lead you anywhere Maya." Red pushed Maya away politely and scratched his head. "But still, thank you for your concern."
"You're my friend Red, just the same as Kharkov. You're like family to me."
Red coughed, trying to change the topic. "So, we'll be moving in one hour. You planning to go someplace else after this? Going to Overlook and meet your friends again?"
"I don't think so." Maya shook her head. "As much as I miss them, I want to have some proper rest before I go back training. If I go to Overlook, things get more hectic than it is. I'll be more tired before I meet them. I want to relax and calm down, this motel seemed to be a good place to rest."
Maya looked around the abandoned motel and it seemed it was cleaned up and more hospitable.
"Yeah." Red nodded. "Axton is quite restless so he did something to the motel. Clean up and adjust a few things here and there. Now is quite livable."
"He's okay right?" Maya asked. "Nothing dangerous on him or sickness?"
"Nope, he's good." Red confirmed. "There's nothing big on him, just some side effects of being a soldier."
Maya listened and released a long breath of gratefulness. Axton managed to survive Alesia and him dying after that was something that Maya doesn't want to happen.
"Alright, time for me to look at the jeep and finish a few things up." Red moved away, already updated with Maya's condition. "You need your time with Axton. Enjoy it."
"Shut uppp Red." Maya blushed again redder than before.