Hi there!
Here's a short chapter for you!
Warning though: This was written during a writer's block, so it may not flow very well. I'll edit it some day.
Now to the fic! (￣▽￣)ゞ
Day 23
"Status report on the girl, Lieutenant", Warner said as he walked into the conference room.
For once Delalieu wasn't alone in the room with the commander. A sergeant was already present for the meeting, and three other men. Though he wasn't sure what their positions were.
But he wasn't sure if it was a good thing.
"I thought you wanted it as a written report, sir", Delalieu said as he lowered his hand from salute.
"Would it make any difference if you gave me a rough draft verbally, Lieutenant?"
"Um…", Delalieu trailed,"Of course not, sir."
Warner waited.
Delalieu cleared his throat awkwardly.
"She is still refusing to tell us her surname, sir", he said quickly. Perhaps it was considered lying since he had forgotten to actually ask her about it. But he had a feeling that it would still be the case if he tried.
"Then try harder Lieutenant", Warner responded curtly, as if he had expected just that.
Delalieu had expected Warner's reaction as well.
"Y-yes, sir", he said.
Then he waited for Warner's usual 'Anything else?'; but it never came. Warner had already continued to the head of the table in the conference room. And started to prepare the papers they were going to discuss.
"S-sir?", Delalieu asked as he followed the commander. Positioning himself at a polite distance.
"Yes, Lieutenant?"
"Th-there was something else…", he said, in a low voice to not attract attention from the others in the room.
Warner looked up.
"Something more important than finding her last name?", he asked.
Delalieu tried to not feel discouraged.
"She's sick. Sir."
Warner did not looked concerned.
"Sick?", he asked. He made a tiny scrunch of his nose as he uttered the word.
"How sick?", he wondered, returning his attention to the documents.
"A cough that's been getting worse and worse between the days I've seen her", Delalieu explained to him.
"The mother in the house wants to b-bring her to the medical center. But she c-cannot because she lacks the privileges."
"And let me guess, Lieutenant", Warner said.
"I'm the only one that make an exception happen."
It wasn't a question.
"I'm afraid so, sir", Delalieu nodded.
Warner was still looking at his documents when he said:
"Too bad I won't grant her anything until she gives me her last name."
Delalieu, once he had registered what had been said, was stunned.
"Sir…!", he started, as in a protest, but held himself back. But it was clear that he was still upstaged, his lips pressed together in a line.
Warner continued undisturbed.
"Tell her that and she might understand the seriousness of the situation", he continued.
"Sir, she is a child…!", Delalieu reminded in panic.
Warner looked up, shocked that he was questioned. By Delalieu even so. Luckily, looking around the room he saw that no one was paying attention to them.
"I doubt this sickness is anything more severe than a cold. And, if it is she can hold out until my next visit to the compound. I can't spare my time to go beforehand."
Delalieu knew it was no matter of discussion.
"Of course, sir", Delalieu agreed meekly. Then backed away to take his seat at the table.
I know it's short, but the next chapter is really going to speed up the plot, and I'll post it in probably two weeks. So keep an eye out for it! (^ ^ )