Chapter 56: Elf
They left the cafe and started walking down the street, the argument picking right back up where it left off.
"I still don’t get it, Nox," Kendra said, jogging a little to keep up with his long strides. "A mission? What kind of mission? You can’t just say that and not tell us what’s going on."
"It’s my mission, not yours," he said, not looking at her. "You guys have your families to worry about, so just find a place here stay put."
Yeda walked on his other side, looking worried. "But what if you need help? We’re a party, we’re supposed to help each other."
"I don’t need help," he said, though he knew that was probably a lie. That mercenary Lola had almost killed him, and the only reason he was still walking was because of some weird power he barely understood.
Vasa, who was walking just behind them, spoke up, her voice calm and even as always. "Your logic is flawed. A solo mission into unknown territory against an organization that employs high-level mercenaries is statistically a low-percentage endeavor. Our presence would increase your operational effectiveness."
He almost snorted at that. ’Operational effectiveness? She sounds like a robot.’ He didn’t answer her, he just kept walking towards the hotel where he’d left Serian. He knew they were following him, he could hear their footsteps on the pavement.
Kendra wasn’t about to let it go. "So who is this ’someone’ you have to take home, anyway?" she pressed, her voice getting a little louder. "Is it that girl from the cafeteria? Did you run into her again?"
"It’s not her," he said, his jaw tightening. He didn’t want to think about Ava.
"Oh, so it’s a different girl then?" Kendra’s voice took on that teasing tone he was starting to hate. "You ditch us for a day and you’ve already got another secret girlfriend? You work fast, man."
"She’s not my girlfriend," he growled, stopping and turning to face them.