Chapter Text
You narrowed your eyes. He had nothing more than a hunch to offer you, so why would you give him the benefit of a doubt? If anything, letting him go could cost you: Even if he truly meant what he said, if he were caught again later and if anyone found out you turned a blind eye, you’d also fall under equal suspicion. Moreover, he was just as likely to be lying: He could've been breaking into the morgue in attempt to hide or fabricate evidence rather than find any. Just because you worked together didn't necessarily mean that the candidates and regular soldiers liked each other. He was too suspicious to let go.
It was child's play to subdue Ebbi, and you quicky knocked him unconscious. He might not have been clever enough to keep himself from getting caught, but he'd at least known better than to bring a scouter. You had to locate someone to drag him off.
It didn't surprise you at all that that wasn't the end of the matter: Of course you had to make a report the next morning. However, you were surprised when you found out that the person you were reporting to was Algid.
It made sense only in that this was a case that involved his candidates—granted, his influence at the base did extend slightly beyond the medical staff and your group. You thought you'd only have to talk to another soldier, someone who wouldn't be as likely to pressure you for answers. There was nothing to incriminate you, you'd really done nothing wrong to begin with, but you still couldn't help feeling a little concerned. Maybe you were just being overly paranoid from the recent death and previous night's encounter...
In a rare change, Algid requested that you meet with him in-person in one of the medical labs. Even when you had clearance, you hardly ever entered them. The long, dimly lit chambers were far too sterile for your liking. The labs always seemed to dredge up haunting memories that could never fully manifest: Muddled visions of tubes and water and wires, of indifferent voices breaking through your lack of consciousness at random.
For the time being, this lab was practically empty, which somehow made it feel even more discomforting. Raising a Frost Demon from the labs, specifically one of any great power, was a careful and expensive process. Since Lord Frieza's downfall, only a couple of candidates were successfully created each year—not counting the ones who had died or fallen from the heated competition with one another early on. Nearly a full year had passed since anyone new had been added to the candidates' numbers. You wondered if that was subject to change soon enough.
Algid didn't comment on much as you made your report. You kept it brief, recounting Ebbi's suspicions while staying quiet on any of your own. When asked for your personal thoughts on the recent death, you simply expressed your concerns against Ebbi himself, but admitted that there wasn't enough information to go on to point to foul play in any direction.
Your backer just nodded, "In any case, it is a relief that you caught this before there was any more damage. It's not the only reason I called you here though. Since this incident, the resistance on Planet-206 has escalated and we're overdue sending a replacement. I'd hate to divide you and Hymal when you have only just formed an alliance, but we need to make quick work of the rebels. Someone will contact you when the ship is ready to leave this evening."
The order caught you off-guard. It was sudden and it had been a while since you were last sent out on a mission away from the base. There was still too much you were uncertain of to want to go, but you had no means, or even a real reason, to refuse. In the very least, you wouldn't have to hear Hymal chide you for your lack of focus for a while. "I'll be ready."
Go to Chapter 4.