Day 15
Delalieu had had a longer day than usual it seemed. Starting with the chief commander being extra grumpy during the breakfast, because apparently he had stayed up late trying to unfocus from the mystery girl. New years eve was closing in and the weather was getting rather raw, so the assembly with the soldiers had been rather unpleasant. Especially when you had to stand still for so long.
Though the trip to the compounds felt refreshing somehow, even with the same wet feeling in the air. He couldn't really tell why.
The living quarters, that Warner himself had come up with, had been established during the summer that year and were serving their purpose quite efficiently. The only question remaining was whether they would hold up against the winter climate without causing too large expenses to stay warm. All the higher ups were very eager to know the results.
Delalieu himself wasn't sure if he wanted them to stay. Sure, they were better than the tent camps; those had never been a lasting option. But they were really depressing to look at after a while.
Perhaps it was the lack of sidewalks, flowerbeds and caged in trees... or that they all looked the same.
But he wasn't the one to complain, after all, he lived at the base with roof over his head and proper food.
He was tasked to observe the compound groups, but he took some time to talk to citizens as well. Unlike the oblige to answer the questions of the chief commander, the lieutenant could have more relaxed conversations with the citizens. After all, he had been there for quite a while; while Warner had received his post less than a year ago.
But since Delalieu felt that he wasn't very good at socializing he did not utilize this very often.
"That girl you keep asking about, she's been starting to wander off sometimes. We don't know where she's going. But she always comes back afterwards, so we don't think about it too much."
He had just heard that from a woman and was standing still on the spot, deep in thought, when Alice had appeared before him.
Though he hadn't noticed at first, so he was quite startled.
"Mr Delalieu!"
He turned around just in time to see her slip and land on her butt further off.
"Ow…!", she cried out.
Delalieu was quickly by her side helping her up. She had gotten slush and dirt on her jacket and back of her pants, but she didn't look too bothered.
"Thank you, Mr Delalieu!", she said while swaying some before she found her balance again.
"Are you okay, miss?", he asked.
"I'm fine, I think", she said, after clearing her throat a little, but cringed as she felt her abused back.
"What's that bone at the end of the spine called?", she asked.
"The tailbone?"
"I think I landed on the tailbone…", she admitted.
"Well, that's not good", Delalieu muttered, though he knew he couldn't really do anything about it.
"Does it hurt a lot?", he asked.
"No", she said,"It's fine." Then she tried brushing off some of the slush.
Then she looked up at him, a smile spreading on her lips.
"Would you like to take a walk, Mr Delalieu?", She asked.
He blinked, surprised. He had never heard a child ask if he wanted to take a walk with them. But it didn't matter, really.
"I… I suppose I have a few minutes until I must go back to base", he said.
"Are you sure it doesn't hurt though? I can get you to the medics center if you'd like…"
"I'm fine!", She smiled. Then she started walking.
Delalieu suddenly found himself pulled with her, and he realized their hands were still interlocked from when he had helped her up.
It was as if Alice had been waiting for Delalieu to come by, because it seemed like she had a whole new arsenal of new questions concerning the compound, and his coffee habits.
"I kind of miss eating with you two", Alice suddenly said as the two were walking.
"What do you mean, miss?", Delalieu asked.
Alice shrugged, but didn't look discouraged.
"I think it's how annoyed Warner always was with me sitting by the table. He'd always chew his food much faster when you and I were talking…"
Thinking back, maybe the chief commander had done such a thing. It didn't seem out of character for him.
Day 16
"I meet Alice in the compounds yesterday", Delalieu dropped into the empty space of conversation at the dinner table.
"What?"
Delalieu swallowed his food.
"Alice, the girl. I meet her in the compounds yesterday. She seemed to be doing well", he said,"It's starting to get rather raw outside right now. She slipped on some slush."
Warner kept chewing.
His eyes showing something that looked like both frustration at the mere utter of the name, and a lack of interest.
"Any news on what the civilians know about her?", he asked.
Delalieu was about to say no, but then he remembered what that woman, just before he meet the girl had said.
"There was one woman..", he said,"..who mentioned that she's been wandering off sometimes."
"I assume you are referring to the girl when you say she", Warner said curtly.
"...yes", Delalieu nodded, then started eating again. Completely oblivious to Warner staring at him as if he was trying to determine whether he was trying to make a joke or not.
And when Warner deemed he wasn't, he dried the corners of his mouth with a napkin before dropping it next to the plate.
A scowl on his face Delalieu noticed when he looked up.
The chief commander was more frustrated than uninterested at this point.
"How nice of you to tell me this now, Lieutenant", he said,"now I have to go and instruct a compound group to monitor her whereabouts."
"Oh", was all Delalieu said as he realized what he had done, but quickly added:"Of course, sir. I'm sorry!"
"I assumed you were, Lieutenant", was all Warner said while he pushed back his chair and started heading for the door.
"S-sir..!", Delalieu stuttered to catch the younger's attention.
Warner did halt.
"W-wouldn't it be easier if we p-provided her with a citizen card? After all, it tracks her movements...", Delalieu asked.
Warner shook his head.
"Only official citizens are allowed citizen cards. If we were to make her an official citizens we would have to grant her custody, and if we did that there would be no reason of trying to find her origin to return her to."
"There's no temporary solutions?", Delalieu asked.
Warner shook his head again.
"Nothing I know off", he said. But then he seemed to change his mind. He tilted his head some.
"I suppose we could plant a manual tracker on her", he said wagging a finger in the air as if the idea had something to it. But he changed his mind almost immediately.
"But we can't give her one of our trackers without an official report of what's it's used for…"
Delalieu was about to ask why that would be a bad thing when the fact of Warner's position slammed into the back of his head.
The chief commander had been in charge for less than a year. The news of a mysterious little girl sneaking into his office would make a fool out of him. There would be no excuse to cover it up with if it actually got out.
"L-let's go with the compound group", Delalieu nodded.
Warner also nodded and then he was out the door.
Day 18
The compound didn't give that much new information. According to the reports she walked around the neighborhood, and sometimes walked along the perimeter of the compounds. But she never tried climbing it, or getting put any other way.
"They have been told not to shoot her if she actually passes through", Warner told Delalieu during one of their meals,"But if she actually would try, and repeat it after that we can't leave her to it. It might give the rest of the civilians ideas", he added.
"O-of course, sir", Delalieu agreed. He just hoped Alice would understand the seriousness of the situation.
"And if another compound group spots her, are they under those orders too, sir?", he asked.
"Yes", Warner responded.
"Good", Delalieu said. Feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He returned to his meal.
After a few seconds he realized Warner was giving him quite the peculiar look. He sat with his chin resting in his hand, a slight scowl on his face.
"Hm?", sounded the Lieutenant.
"You told me good", answered Warner. He sounded puzzled. Not disapproving, but surely not entertained either.
Realizing his mistake Delalieu almost choked on the food in his mouth.
He coughed
"I'm sorry, sir!", he said, when he had gotten his breathing under control.
Warner stared at the older man for a few seconds longer.
"I forgive you", he said.
Then after a few more moments thinking he returned to his meal.