Chapter 2
It's hours later when she sees the black car pull to a stop next to the curb, the shine reflecting from the sun. She looks up from where she was fluffing a pillow leaning against one of the booth seats to the window as the car door opens, and a man in uniform steps out, before opening the back door…
"Come on!" Her boss grabs her by the wrist and pulls her back into the kitchen. The swinging doors slow to a stop as her boss places Paige next to the counter.
"Don't leave unless you're doing your job, understand?"
The finger merely inches from poking her eye out causes her to nod. The hand withdraws with satisfaction, and her boss straightens, fixing her uniform before turning around. The doors powerfully swing open and closed behind her, with Paige watching. She pauses a moment more as the doors slow to a stop, before running to peek through the window slot at the scene.
The ornate doors of the entrance open and two soldiers lead the group in, eyes scanning for threats from the scene and from the older woman waiting for them. Paige can't hear what her boss is saying, but after a long pause, the two soldiers give a curt nod before spreading out to opposite sides of the restaurant. Two others station themselves by the door, and Paige backs away as two more head towards the kitchen doors, but merely stop in front. Now, the two remaining men in uniform turn to her boss. She recognizes Tesler, from the ads and newsreels for her district, but who is the other man…?
The two follow her boss to their seats, and her boss turns back to see her, and the farce of a smile falls into a glower as she returns to the kitchen. The doors open and close and the older woman hisses: "You will give them whatever they want. You understand me?"
Paige already knows that, but nods, still. Her boss gives a short nod before roughly forcing her out of the doors. Luckily, the soldiers by the kitchen are the only ones to spare her a second glance, as the two men at the table are already deeply engrossed in a conversation. She closes her eyes, reaching for her notepad and pen, exhales deeply, before opening her eyes and starting towards the table.
Waiting on the two officers is easier than she thought it would be. The two stop their conversation every time she approaches, merely giving her a glance straightforward answers before assuming she is done and forgets about her again. She is on the dessert round, now, and is clutching their orders in hand.
"Waiter." One of the two_she's too nervous to glance back quickly to see who_ calls. After a beat of pause, she turns, and the man she doesn't recognize continues. "Will you also get us some tea? Mint."
"Yes sir."
"Thank you."
She nods, and tries to restrain her pace back to the kitchen. Inside, her boss is waiting for her with a tray of glass teacups and a kettle. The elder woman snatches the notepad, before passing her the tea tray.
"Don't just stand there!" She turns back to see Paige still staring at her. "Go take that to them before it gets cold!"
Regaining her grip and composure, she nods before turning around and out again. By now, the soldiers have gotten accustomed to her presence, and barely glance to her and the tray. As she nears the table, she begins to finally pick up on the conversation.
"Now that's the problem." The man who had ordered the tea replies to Tesler, ignoring Paige as she sets a cup down next to him. "We don't know have a single clue of who he actually is. The Renegade could be anyone."
"Nothing?" Tesler grunts.
"Nothing. He almost appeared out of nowhere." The man nods to her as she pours the hot drink into his cup. "And now he's claiming he's Tron, of all people. He wants 'their land' back 'for the people'."
"Well he's not. Tron's been sighted on the opposite side of the battlefield."
"Exactly. If we can find out who he is and rid of him, the rebellion will crumble. Then," He takes a sip, swallowing deeply before continuing. "We'll win this war."
"So how do we do that?"
"Informants. Get some through enemy lines."
"Spies?" Paige finally pulls away, realizing she almost overfilled Tesler's cup. "Not a good idea. The rebels raided one of the outposts, and made away with the list of every informant we have."
"Then what_" Paige clenches the kettle tighter and backs away as the unnamed man suddenly stands_ "do you suggest we do?"
Tesler looks up to him, but after a long pause, looks away without an answer.
"I'll do it."
They both look up to her, and she suddenly realizes that the voice had been her. The unnamed man's eyes narrow, before sauntering towards her. She straightens before he stops in her personal space, eyes searching every part of her expression.
"Leave us." He says finally, gaze remaining on her, but when he snaps, the soldiers file into the kitchen. When the doors shut, he breaks gaze, and walks a small distance away.
"Who are you?"
She glances to Tesler, who merely watches her, before she returns to the man. "M-my name is Paige, sir. I work here."
"In the kitchens?" The man scoffs. "Hardly qualified."
"...May I be honest?"
A pause, then the man grunts with a nod.
"If the information has fallen into the Renegade's hands, then they will know a spy in their midst the moment they set foot in the rebel camp."
"Which we already covered."
"Dyson.." Tesler grumbles, but neither stop her.
"It would be better to send in someone who is not on the queue of spies."
"Of course, but why you?"
"I look like everyone else. I haven't been trained for the army or anything explicit for Clu's service. I still look and act like a citizen. I could pose as a volunteer, and get what you want, and report back to you."
The men exchange a glance. She waits, and Dyson turns back to her. He paces past her, and she follows him with her stare.
"But understand-!" He turns back to her, finger pointed. "In order to keep up the guise, you won't be receiving the regular training we give to spies. And if you're caught," she manages to straighten even more as he nears. "Don't expect us to get you out of the mess. You will find yourself a dead man before you can even plea for your life. Understand?"
Paige pauses, glancing back to where her boss tries to peaks through the guards. She had been here for so long now…
But she can repay her thanks. She can serve her country and stop this war.
She turns back, and gives a tight nod. "Yes, sir. I understand the terms."
Dyson gives a taut nod. "Go home and pack up. We will pick you up for briefing shortly after. You start now."