A week and a half later, a knock sounded on Fletcher’s office door, interrupting him from his work of debugging the code for the sensors. He was exhausted since he’d been up half the night fixing the air filtration system in the station after Cortez managed to break it while trying to rig it to ignore his smoking.

  “Come,” he said.

  Lieutenant Teller entered, a pretty young woman probably around his age. Faint markings along her skin hinted at her being part [Elf], but Fletcher guessed her Hexing was pretty low.

  “General Anders would like to see you,” she said.

  “Okay. When?” He glanced down at the growing list of tasks still needed to be handled around the base. With part of his mom’s team making the rounds for inspection, they were digging up a whole lot of things that they wanted fixed, and somehow it all fell to Fletcher to do it since nobody was willing to step up. On top of all of the duties of wasting time to entertain their guests, it left little time for him to do anything but work.

  “Now,” Teller said.

  Fletcher glanced up. “Oh. Uh, can you give me five minutes to finish this?” He thought he was close to finally figuring this one error out.

  Teller cocked an eyebrow. “She said now, Dixon.”

  Biting his lip, Fletcher gave in and closed his laptop. “Right. I’ll be right there.”

  “I’ll escort you,” Teller said.

  Fletcher thought that was extremely unnecessary, but he didn’t argue with her. It wasn’t worth the hassle. Teller left the room first, and he followed close behind as they went up to the upper floor where his mother had commandeered Palacios’s office for herself. Then again, Palacios had basically begged her to take it, so it wasn’t really like it took much effort from her to get it.

  Teller knocked at the door and waited until Hazel called for them to enter. They stood there at least a full minute, long enough that Fletcher wasn’t sure his mom had even heard the knock given how soft it was. Just as he was going to suggest that she knock again, Hazel spoke up and told them to come in.

  “Presenting Lieutenant Dixon, as requested, General.” Teller saluted.

  “Thank you. I’ll handle this interview in private. Go help Major Simpson with his interviews of the personnel,” Hazel said without looking up from her desk.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Teller spun on her heels and walked out, leaving Fletcher alone with his mother for the first time since she arrived at Vesi ten days prior.

  They’d been in plenty of meetings together over the course of that time, but there were always other people present who had no idea about their relationship so things had remained strictly professional. Fletcher had had a private interview with Simpson a few days ago, so he was a little surprised his mom was doing another one with him, but part of him wondered if maybe it was just an excuse for them to talk as family members for once.

  “Sit down, Lieutenant,” she said sharply.

  “Yeah. Sorry.” He crossed the room and sat in the chair across from her. “What’s this about?”

  “You will address me appropriately.” Hazel looked up at him with cold eyes.

  “Yes, General. Sorry, General.” Okay. Not a friendly family chat then. What on earth did she want from him then? And why would she make it a private conversation? Normally Teller sat in to take notes for every meeting and interview Hazel conducted.

  “First off, I’m sorry. About all of this.” Hazel sighed. “But I’m… pleased that you finally stepped up to your role during this crisis. And I’m happy that you’re okay.”

  “My role? As a soldier? As a killer?” Fletcher said. Whatever she said about “okay,” he sure as heck didn’t feel it. He was angry and sad and… empty.

  “The Unhumans attacked, and you defended yourself. That’s how the world works,” she said. It was similar to what she’d said back when he talked about the trauma of killing Fieva a year ago back in Bren’it’p.

  “Is that all you wanted to talk about?” he asked coolly.

  She looked at him with pursed lips. “No. I have official business with you.”

  “Let’s get it over with.” He crossed his arms and waited for her to continue. He didn’t want her to be proud of him. He didn’t want to be a killer.

  “There are some glaring inconsistencies in your report, Lieutenant. I’d like you to walk me through them and clarify some things,” Hazel said after a moment.

  “Which report are you referring to ma’am?” Fletcher had done a lot of write ups since the attack.

  “Your initial report, the one you sent with Captain Walters.” Hazel gestured to the papers on her desk. “The one where you outlined every detail of the attack ranging from punching your commanding officer to ignoring protocol and using the self-destruct device for a suicide mission.”

  “Ah. Yeah. I guess there would be a few mild inconsistencies given all that happened. I’m sorry if I got a few things mixed up, but—”

  “I’m not talking about mixups, Lieutenant. I’m talking about things that don’t make sense. Things that would point to you as a traitor,” Hazel continued.

  Fletcher scoffed. “Come on. We both know that’s not true.”

  “Do we?”

  He blinked in surprise at his mother. Surely she wasn’t actually accusing him of betraying the Mixed? Yeah, he wasn’t a fan of the whole military-thing and war, but that didn’t mean he was going to sell people out to the Unhumans. Not to mention that given his obvious Hexing, joining up with the Unhumans meant he was going to end at a conversion facility sooner or later. It was a terrible idea to be a traitor.

  “What inconsistencies lead you to that conclusion, General?” he asked.

  “You knew the Unhumans were going after Major Palacios when they first came in through the catacombs. You claim it was an obvious assumption, but why would that be their target? Why not the power station or even to set off the self-destruct?” she asked. “What led you to that assumption?”

  “Logic,” Fletcher lied. Obviously it was that he used [Read Thoughts] which was a [Skill] he wasn’t allowed to have because he was masquerading as a [Vampire].

  “And when you found the Unhuman camp?”

  “I followed the [Insectoid] to it,” he reminded her.

  “Only part way. The rest of the path you discovered yourself,” she said, pointing to the paper.

  “I’m a lucky guesser.” He stared at her. He wasn’t sure if there was a secret recording device somewhere, so he didn’t dare admit to using his contraband [Skills], things that he shouldn’t have.

  “I know you’re lying. And I have a feeling I know the truth. You used [Read Thoughts], didn’t you? Deities, Fletcher, did you even think things through when you wrote this and sent off into the world? It’s riddled with problems and errors that make you look extremely suspicious.” His mother glared at him.

  “I had a lot on my mind. I don’t know if you know this, but I did just lead the station through days of being under attack, and I had a lot going on. Sorry my report wasn’t perfect after all that.” He glared right back at her.

  “Lose the attitude. We have to come up with convincing lies for all of this to cover up the truth. Your failings have created a lot more work for me, and I do not appreciate it. You should be on your knees thanking me for all I did to keep this from reaching the upper ranks, because if this had been widely circulated, you’d already be in prison if not executed,” Hazel said.

  “What do you want from me? I didn’t do it on purpose. It’s not as easy as you might think to play [Vampire] when I’m not one,” he countered.

  “You’re the one who chose to come out here. You don’t get to complain now, child.”

  Fletcher scoffed and ran his hands through his hair. “You’ve got to be kidding me. It’s not like I knew I was coming to a base that was going to get attacked. If I had, believe me, I wouldn’t have come. This is ridiculous.”

  “Your hair is too long. It’s out of regulation,” Hazel said, her green eyes still drilling into him.

  “Remember that whole thing about having a lot on my plate right now? It’s not like we have a barber here, and I don’t have the time to learn to cut it myself.”

  She didn’t even look at him with the next comment. “Smoking is a terrible habit which I will not tolerate.”

  “My deities, did you really drag me in here just to criticize everything about me? I have better things to do.” He stood up.

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  “I’m trying to help you.”

  He laughed. “If this is help, I don’t want it. Sorry, General, but unless there’s something specific you wanted to discuss, I have business to get back to.”

  “I’m going to alter your report to make things consistent. I’ll have a new version sent to you, and I expect you to memorize every letter of it. That is the official story going forward, and you will not say a word contrary.” She glanced down at her work.

  “Fine. Thanks, I guess. Was there anything else, ma’am?” Fletcher was ready to be out of this office and as far from his mother as he could be.

  Hazel paused for a moment and then sighed, looking back up at him. “How are you doing, Fletcher? I know that it’s been a lot for you.”

  He shook his head, still laughing. “Yeah, if you wanted an answer to a question like that, you shouldn’t have started off by insulting me. Thanks for your time, General.” Fletcher walked out of the room without waiting for her response.

  Did she really think she could just drag him into her office, belittle him for decisions he made under pressure, and then suddenly get him to open up about his feelings? Wasn’t his mom supposed to be more intelligent than that?

  Too frustrated to return to his office to sit, Fletcher grabbed his things and then prepared supplies for a patrol. He’d gone out only yesterday, but he needed a break from being Vesi Station’s sole manager and worker. And he needed to be away from his mom for a bit. That brief conversation brought back unpleasant memories, and he didn’t want to think about the attacks and the fighting and the killing and the deaths.

  With all his stuff prepared, Fletcher made his way to the garage only to discover Captain Naeku waiting there.

  “Another patrol?” the man asked. He had medium brown skin and his eyes were a pink color that meant he was probably part [Goblin].

  “Yeah,” Fletcher muttered. Deities, it was impossible to escape these people. They seemed to be lurking everywhere.

  “Do you mind if I come with you?”

  Fletcher paused. “I’m sure you have better things to do.”

  “I’m part of the inspection team, and I understand that there are sensors out in the ruins. Kind of need to inspect them too,” Naeku said. “Plus, it’s a little dangerous to go out alone, don’t you think? Especially after everything that happened.”

  He sighed. No getting out of it. Great. His one escape was getting crashed, and somehow it was still his mother’s fault. “Of course. Are you ready to leave now?”

  “Sure.” Naeku hopped over the passenger door. “I’d like to see every sensor if possible, but we can take multiple trips if we need to.”

  “Of course,” Fletcher said through tight lips. He started the engine up and left the garage behind.

  Nothing was said as they drove down the hill and to the ruins, the cold wind cutting straight to Fletcher’s skin, but he was accustomed to that part of going out on patrol. Naeku seemed less comfortable, but the man didn’t complain.

  As they reached the ruins and Fletcher slowed down, he thought he heard the Captain trying to say something, but between the engines and the ringing in his ears and in general, the muffledness the world had taken on since those grenades back in the catacomb, he couldn’t make out a single word.

  “You’ve got to speak louder, Captain,” Fletcher said, trying not to raise his own voice too loud.

  “Can we go to the explosion site with the former Unhuman camp?” Naeku asked louder.

  Fletcher tightened his grip on the wheel. That was the last place he wanted to go, but he couldn’t very well say no. “Sure. We can head there first.”

  He’d come out on patrols enough that he knew the city layout well enough to get there without a map, mainly because it was one spot he actively avoided as much as Humanly possible. He’d only gone there once since the attack, and that was to take care of any bodies that might be left. Once that gruesome work was done and he confirmed there was nothing of interest in the rubble, he’d never even considered returning.

  Fletcher slowed the jeep as they reached the edge of the crater left behind by the explosion from Hugo. Naeku got out of the vehicle, pulling a clipboard and camera from his bag. Fletcher stayed in his seat, not wanting to get closer than he had to. More memories flashed through his mind, the screams of the dying echoing through his brain.

  “Can you come help me, Lieutenant?” the Captain asked.

  Grimacing, Fletcher exited the vehicle and went to the man who held out the clipboard.

  “Fill this out while I take photos,” he ordered.

  “Yes, sir.” Fletcher accepted the clipboard and glanced down the list of notes he needed to make. This was the exact opposite of what he wanted to be doing, and he was really regretting his decision to come out. And thanks to Naeku joining him, he wouldn’t even get to see Backup, which was the main reason he came out at all.

  It was an uncomfortable half an hour as Fletcher filled out the papers on the clipboard, walking the entire circumference of the crater as he did so. Each step brought back more memories, and his chest was tight by the time he finished. He needed to get away from this place, from all of this.

  Naeku was completely unbothered when he met back up with Fletcher, commenting on how impressive the damage was.

  “Yeah. Are you ready to go?” Fletcher asked, turning his back to the blast site. He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, deciding that he needed something to help him relax after all this.

  “Eager to get back?” Naeku questioned.

  “I’ve got a lot to do,” he answered, lighting up his cigarette. “Shall we?”

  “Alright. Let’s hit the nearby sensors,” Naeku decided.

  Fletcher did use the map for this, just to be sure he plotted the most efficient course possible through the city to hit the various sensors he placed. They didn’t have enough functional ones to cover the entirety of the ruins, but he thought he did a good job placing them strategically. But he didn’t believe the Unhumans were going to come back anytime soon, so this was mainly just a project to distract him from the things he didn’t want to think about.

  “Smoking is a bit of a bad habit, don’t you think?” Naeku asked him as they drove. “When did you start? Training?”

  “A couple of months ago, during the attacks,” Fletcher answered. “It helps me relax.”

  “It’s also technically killing you.”

  “There aren’t rules against it, Captain, and I’m perfectly capable of handling myself in this regard.”

  Nothing more was said for the rest of the short drive.

  As they reached the first sensor location, Fletcher was busy getting his backpack from the back with his laptop when Captain Naeku held up his gun.

  “Cycat, four o’clock,” the man muttered, taking aim at the large beast.

  Fletcher flung himself at the man, taking the gun from his hands. “What are you doing?”

  “Taking out the cycat before it takes us out,” Naeku said. “What’s your problem, Dixon?”

  He glared at him. “She’s not bothering us. Trevor prefers to hunt mangies, not Humans. This is her usual hunting ground. Leave her alone, and she’ll leave us alone.”

  “Trevor?” Naeku raised his eyebrows.

  “I didn’t name her. But don’t you dare shoot her. She’s not bothering us. Why would you kill her just for existing?” Fletcher huffed.

  The Captain shook his head. “It’s a dangerous creature that could kill us in minutes. I’m protecting us.”

  “No,” Fletcher said sharply. “Leave her alone.”

  Naeku stared at him for another moment and then dipped his head. “Fine. You know this area better than I do, but if I end up as that cycat’s lunch, I’m totally going to come back to haunt you.”

  Fletcher rolled his eyes and handed the gun back to him. “Let’s get going. This one needs some repairs so it might take a while.”

  Naeku followed him up the decaying stairs to the second floor of what used to be a house, but most of the roof was gone, making it a good place for Fletcher to place one of the sensors. He took it down and hooked it to his laptop while Naeku stood nearby, just watching him.

  The Captain spoke up after a bit, but Fletcher couldn’t tell what he said.

  “What did you say? Sorry, my hearing took a hit after some grenades,” he said.

  “This is a pretty complicated system. Who all worked on it?” the Captain repeated, his voice loud enough for Fletcher to actually understand it.

  “George, I mean Private Feng, helped me put together the sensors. I did the rest myself,” he answered. Since George fully converted, they stripped him of his original rank and made him a private before sending him straight to Vesi Station, without giving the [Insectoid] a single choice in his future. That still made Fletcher angry when he thought about it, but George didn’t seem to care. The [Insectoid] was an innocent soul who did as he was told, regardless of who gave the orders.

  “All the programming and set up?” Naeku continued.

  “Yeah. That’s why there are so many bugs in it.” Fletcher sighed, gripping the bridge of his nose. This man was annoying him with his distracting questions. And Fletcher was too tired to be patient.

  “Don’t you also handle the electrical?”

  “Yeah. But that’s because our electrician died during the attack,” he responded, staring at his computer screen in hopes of ending this meaningless conversation.

  “And no one else has any electrical skills?” Naeku questioned.

  “Not that they’re willing to volunteer to use.” Fletcher looked up at him. “Sorry. This actually takes a lot of focus, if you don’t mind, Captain.”

  “Sorry. Go ahead.” Naeku crouched down near the edge of one of the broken walls, watching the ruins below. “Trevor’s still out there.”

  “Yeah. She normally comes out this time of day. She’s fine. She’s just getting food for the kids,” Fletcher said. Deities, what happened to letting him focus?

  Luckily Naeku did finally take the hint, so Fletcher was able to work in peace. He managed to figure out the issue with the sensor and repair it the best he could with what he had on him, but in reality it probably just needed to be replaced entirely. Making a note of it on his task list, Fletcher packed up his computer and stood up.

  “Alright. Ready for the next stop?” he asked.

  “We should head back. I have some stuff at the station I still have to do,” Naeku answered.

  Fletcher made a face and nodded. “Sure thing, sir.” Why did he ask to come at all if he didn’t have time for it?

  They returned to the jeep, Naeku warily watching Trevor in the distance, and then Fletcher started the engine and took them back to the station. He missed Backup. He missed having alone time. And to make matters worse, Naeku was trying way too hard to be his friend. The whole trip back, the guy asked him about his personal life, ranging from family to his home in Finnack. Fletcher dodged the questions as much as possible, and to make it clear that he wasn’t interested, he didn’t ask anything in return. He had too much to do to add befriending this guy on top of it all.

  They arrived back to the base, and Fletcher quickly turned the engine off and gathered his belongings. “Thanks for coming, I guess, Captain. Let me know if you need to go back out.”

  “Sure thing, Dixon.” Naeku smiled at him.

  Without returning it, Fletcher walked away, checking over his list of tasks. So much to do. Too much to do, but somehow he had to do it all.

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