A/N: hello, sorry for the long break and not posting anything. my excuse: life. and again, sorry for the short chapter, but I just wanted to put something out so you know that I am still alive. the next part will be out after I finish the next chapter for "Shadows Hold More Than Secrets" so expect it at that time.
The next few days went by in a type of blur. Salcito was away for most of the day, only returning at night to do more work in his room. The front of the building was quickly repaired in just a few hours, the people working in it were in and out before any questions could be asked. Whenever someone would try and talk to Salcito to figure out what had exactly happened, he would just ignore them and get back to doing whatever it was he was doing. It wasn't until a week later that he came down to breakfast with everyone.
Rihoko and Mariko had made miso soup and steamed rice. Everyone was enjoying their breakfast when Salcito walked down the steps into the main room of the café, everyone looking and surprised at what they saw. Salcito looked tired. His eyes were red with bags hanging underneath them, his face unshaven and hair unruly. His shoulders slouched, arms dangling by his side. Each step was more of a shuffle, moving him across the floor with pain effort.
He took a seat at a table near the group and hung his head in his hands, a heavy sigh the only thing he said. Rihoko was the first to move and offered him some breakfast.
"Here, hope you enjoy it," Rihoko said, placing a bowl in front of Salcito. He just looked at her and nodded. She smiled at him and went back to sitting next to Masane, continuing to eat her meal. He looked down at the food and used his spoon to slowly fish out the liquid. No words left his mouth as he ate, his thoughts crowded with something. Masane soon had enough with Salcito moping when he finished his meal.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?" Masane asked, walking over to the super-soldier. He just looked up at her and shook his head, not speaking a word. "Hey, I'm try to get answer out of you."
Salcito ignored her and continued back up to his room. Masane though was not going to let it go and chased after him, thinking to catch him off guard. That was not the case for when she moved up the steps and he was once more standing tall and healthy. This through Masane off, she not knowing what to do next.
"Sorry for not telling you, but all that down there was an act," Salcito started. "I had to make myself seem like I've been over worked, which I have, but to make it seem that I was trying to fix everything, which I am."
"That doesn't make any sense, why do you need to act like you've work your ass when you have?" Masane asked.
"Because, I have been through worse, so a little paper work is nothing for me. I did it as a way to make it seem that I'm human, which I'm pretty sure worked. A normal person would have been beat and unable to leave their room so early after finishing up the amount of work I've had. In a few days, I'll socialize again, but for now I'll be your silent protector for when you are sent out to work," Salcito explained.
"Wow, when you said you've prepared for everything, you weren't joking," Masane said.
"Yep, now of you'll excuse me, I need to finish up a report for my superiors at the U.N." Salcito excused himself.
"About what?" Masane asked.
"The first battle against the Covenant. They want to build up a force in case the threat is real," Salcito said.
"And is it?" Masane asked, worry quickly creeping into her voice.
"I don't know, but if it is, it's a long ways off. The Covenant didn't find humanity until in the early 26th century, and that was on a far off planet that they had found us on. The chance of them finding us now is slim and none," Salcito explained, calming Masane down.
"Good, I don't want to have to keep worrying about stuff like that then," Masane sighed. "Good luck, I guess."
Salcito just nodded and continued up the stairs, leaving Masane alone to go back down with everybody else. As she returned down, someone else was down stairs. She looked familiar, which Masane realized was the woman standing by the pier when Salcito had brought her home. And Masane knew she worked for the NSWF.
"What are you doing here?" Masane asked.
"Allow me to introduce myself; My name is Reina, and I'm here to get my daughter back."