As Lily took a sip from her coffee, a warmth spread through her body, a welcome respite in the colder region. After heard the General finished briefing Eli that his team were cleared to go, Lily glanced at Eli, her eyes lingering on him for a moment, before she bowed her head and took another sip of her coffee, lost in thought. Lily's mind fixated on the fact that Eli was leaving for the mission now. For a few minutes, she was completely disconnected from her surroundings, the murmur of conversations fading into the background. When she finally snapped back to reality, she set her coffee cup down on the table, the ceramic clinking softly against the wood.
Lily turned to the General officer, her voice steady. "Officer, can I go on this mission?" she asked, her eyes meeting his with a determined gaze.
General's glanced at her in curiosity, but before he could ask why Lily was requesting to join the mission, a voice cut in from across the room. "Why do you want to go on a dangerous mission? And you're asking the wrong people, it's my call who goes." The speaker, dressed in black tactical gear, his eyes fixed intently on Lily.
Lily turned toward the voice, her eyes widening slightly as she took in the additional personnel in the room, all clad in black uniforms that contrasted with the military's olive green. "Oh, may I know who you are?" she asked calmly, her composure unwavering despite the unexpected interruption.
The man smirked, a hint of pride creeping into his voice as he said while pointing his finger at him "I'm Captain Oliver White, leader of this team. Who have conducted numerous successful rescue missions, and I'm the one who decides who's worthy of joining us." His chest seemed to puff out slightly as he added, "You might've heard of me."
Lily's eyes sparkled with amusement as she heard his introduction, she got an idea of how to be part of this mission and exclaimed "Oh, so you're the great captain the General boasted about earlier!! Hello captain Oliver, I'm Lily. I hear a lot about you." She then turned to the General, winking playfully, indicating not to reveal her before refocusing on Oliver. " What Officer general said to me was absolutely right. You does look like a great captain. Your abilities are practically radiating from your face." Her tone was lighthearted and teasing, and Oliver's pride seemed to swell in response.
Oliver's face lit up with a pleased smile, and he seemed to stand a little taller. Lily continued, "That being said, I think I could be of assistance. With no signals at the location and the kidnappers having a signal source in the building, technical support could be crucial. And it was my great honour to go to a mission with you. I'd be happy to help you guys out and ensure the safe rescue of the researcher. Plus, if they've sent information about the neutralizer to anyone, I could erase it remotely. What do you think, Captain?" Her eyes locked onto Oliver's, and he nodded thoughtfully, considering her proposal.
Oliver's voice took on a stern tone, though a hint of warmth lingered in his eyes. "Alright, I'll let you join the mission, but I need you to understand, discipline is key here. You'll need to listen to the team and follow orders without hesitation. It's not just about completing the mission but it's about everyone's safety. Can you commit to that?"
A faint smile played on Lily's lips as she nodded, her eyes shining with amusement at Oliver's seriousness. She leaned slightly forward, her voice filled with confidence. "Don't worry, Captain. I've got this. I just want to help. I'll follow your lead and do my part." She could see the genuine concern behind Oliver's words. The sincerity in her voice seemed to reassure Oliver, and he nodded, his expression softening slightly as he accepted her commitment.
The Vice General's brow furrowed with concern as he asked, "Lily, are you sure you want to go? You don't have to put yourself in harm's way. You've already helped ~" But before he could finish, Lily cut in, her voice reassuring.
"Officer, trust me, I can manage this. If you're worried I might cause trouble for the team, don't be, I won't. I just want to see this mission through to its end. Let's get it done." She paused for a moment, a mischievous glint in her eye, and added with a playful smile, "And I have to admit, I want to see that incredible mansion with my own eyes." Her smile was infectious, and the tension in the room seemed to dissipate slightly as the officer chuckled softly, shaking his head. The general who listened their conversation also laughed. Generally, they won't allow anyone to go to mission. They have protocols and rules. But they know Lily was capable, so they didn't fuss over it and agreed.
Lily's gaze swept the room, her eyes scanning the faces, but she couldn't find Eli anywhere. Her brow furrowed in concern as she wondered where he might have gone. Unbeknownst to her, Eli had slipped out of the room while she was deep in thought. Before he went out he had called the special forces unit, instructing them to deploy the tiny electronic fly to scout out the Caligo Forest and check for any traps.
As the team sprang into action, their eyes fixed on the screens displaying the feed from the fly, Eli made his way out of the room. His intention was to change into his uniform, preparing himself for the mission ahead. Though he would have preferred to stay by Lily's side, he knew he was needed on the mission. With a quiet resolve, Eli geared up, his focus shifting to the task at hand to complete it as soon as possible.
The general and vice general left the room, their voices fading as they wished the team "Good luck" and thanked Lily for her help. The special forces unit and Lily remained, the atmosphere buzzing with focus. Team members hunched over screen, scrutinizing every inch of the Caligo Forest for potential threats.
Lily stood quietly, observing the room's activity with interest. Her eyes swept across the space, taking in the concentrated faces of the team. The door creaked open, and Eli entered, his gaze immediately meeting Lily's. The air seemed to vibrate with tension as they locked eyes, before Lily broke the gaze, her attention drifting elsewhere.
Captain Oliver approached Eli, his expression resolute. "Former Captain, Ms. Lily is also coming with us," he announced, his voice clear. Eli's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression unreadable. Oliver continued, "She's offered to help with technical support. I think it's a great idea. Her skills would be a huge help. Don't you agree?" Eli's gaze lingered on Oliver's face, his eyes piercing. The air around Eli seemed to grow colder, as if the very temperature in the room had dropped. A shiver ran down the spines of the team members, who exchanged nervous glances. Lily's eyes were fixed on Eli, her mind racing to understand what had triggered his sudden anger. Oliver, sensing the icy vibe, took a step back, his voice trembling slightly as he stammered, "Form... Former Captain, don't... you think I... I did a good job?
Ms. Lily ~"
Before he could finish, Eli cut him off, his tone low and menacing, "NO, SHE WASN'T COMING WITH US." The words hung in the air like a challenge, leaving no room for argument. Lily's eyes widening in shock as she hadn't expected such intense opposition from Eli. Her heart twisted with a mixture of hurt and confusion as she felt a sting in her eyes. She was taken aback by her own reaction, and for a moment, she struggled to process her emotions.
The team members exchanged uneasy glances, their faces frozen in silence. Captain Oliver's eyes darted between Eli and Lily, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. He seemed to be searching for the right words to say, but none came.
Eli's gaze never wavered, his eyes still fixed on Oliver as he asked, "Understand?" The question hung in the air, a cold, hard demand for compliance.
But before Oliver could respond, Lily's voice cut through the silence, her tone firm and demanding. "WHY?" The single word was a challenge, a demand for an explanation that Eli couldn't ignore.
Eli's demeanor shifted abruptly as he remembered Lily's presence, his aggressive temper cooling down like a sudden gust of calm wind. He turned towards her, his eyes locking onto hers with an unreadable calmness. The room seemed to hold its breath, the tension dissipating slightly as Eli's calm demeanor washed over the place.
However, Lily's expression remained firm despite the flicker of surprise in her eyes for Eli's calmness towards her. Eli's gaze met hers, his voice calm and even as he spoke. "It's a dangerous mission." The words hung in the air, laced with a quiet concern that made Lily's heart skip a beat. But Lily refused to back down, her voice firm as she countered, "Wasn't the reason I'm coming with all of you to minimize it?" Her words were a challenge, a logical argument that Eli seemed determined to ignore. Instead, he repeated, his voice unwavering, "Whatever, you're not coming." Eli thought he didn't mind even Lily get angry at him, but he didn't ready to take her to a dangerous place. He already lost her once, if something happens to her during the mission he felt more than devastated.
The air was thick with unspoken tension as Eli's words hung in the air, a clear dismissal of Lily's participation in the mission. The silence that followed was oppressive. Lily's face burned with frustration, her emotions simmering just below the surface. She felt like she was losing control, her rationality deserting her in Eli's presence. The urge to lash out at him or burst into tears warred within her, but she refused to give in. She knew it wasn't her, it's her emotions. Her emotions on Eli impacting her. Taking a deep breath, she slowly closed her eyes, her chest rising and falling as she struggled to regain composure.
When she opened her eyes again, her gaze locked onto Eli's, her tone icy and challenging. "The Captain of the team already gave me permission to come," she said, her voice low and even. "But you're saying I'm not allowed. I'm asking you one time, and this is the last time. I want to be part of this mission. Am I allowed or not?" she didn't want to delay the team anymore. She implied one last time before leaving the matter to rest. The room held its breath, the air thick with tension as Lily's words hung in the air.
Eli's expression remained resolute even though he knew she was angry at him, he delivered the decision, his voice firm. "NO." The word hung in the air, and for a moment, it seemed like time itself had frozen.
Lily's face contorted, her emotions bursting forth like a dam breaking. Tears welled up in her eyes, and before she could contain them, a single drop slid down her cheek. With a swift motion, she turned around, grabbing her bag as she made a hasty exit. "I'm leaving. Goodbye, and good luck," she said, her voice trembling slightly as she rushed out of the room.
Eli's eyes widened, his heart jolting in his chest as he watched her go. Seeing the tears on her face was like a punch to the gut, and he felt a pang of regret. Without hesitation, he sprinted out of the room, his feet pounding the floor as he chased after her. He burst through the doorway, his eyes scanning the hallway until he spotted her.
In a few swift strides, he reached her, standing directly in front of her. His eyes locked onto hers, and he was met with the sight of tear-stained cheeks. A pang of guilt and concern shot through him, and he felt like his heart was being squeezed. For a moment, he forgot about everything else, the mission, his responsibilities, all that mattered was the hurt he saw in her eyes.
Lily's eyes widened in surprise, clearly not expecting him to chase after her. She stood frozen, her chest heaving slightly as she met his gaze.