"So, about the current task at hand —"
Orion was explaining the assignment that the teacher gave them. What was the assignment all about? Well, it was about the current affairs between humans and Menkaids. The task was to create report about the situation. It sounded easy enough. No need to be very formal about that.
Of course, among the fog of war, there were several things that Dean suspected might be or might not be true. One of them was an old article that suggested that there were a split on Menkaid faction, but well, it was unconfirmed. Still, for a food for thought, it was good.
There was another option for the report, and the report was the security situation on Almara Island at the moment. Sure, the former was easier than the latter so Dean decided to just write a report on the former.
"So, we should open multiple analysis journal about the current war? Sounds sensible enough, to be honest." Dean intervened. "Besides, it's not like Google won't help us."
"Alright, should be easy enough, where the hell is Andre?" Orion asked as he looked around the dorm room.
"Probably in the academy? I don't know. How the hell am I suppose to know?" Dean asked Orion.
"Ask the group chat, then."
"For what? Scarlet isn't connected with him, so what's the purpose?" Dean asked.
"Well, let's just finish this report, after that, we can think about him later. It's almost eight. Where the hell is he?" Orion added.
"Agree."
Orion and Dean rushed through the assignment with all of the resources provided by the Internet. Truth be told, forming a report only needed some resources and paraphrasing it so it sounded credible. He added his personal opinion on the situation, and done. The report was completed in less than an hour.
He sent the assignment to his teacher using his e-mail and he waited. In the meantime, he checked on his group chat. There was no activity yet. However, at 10:00 P.M, he noticed that Andre sent something odd. Why would he sent an address?
As expected, Orion also noticed that. He immediately woke up from his bed. Dean wondered what he should even do with that address? There wasn't even any more information on that address. What the hell?
"Damn, why an address in the middle of the night? What the hell does he want?" Orion complained as he looked at the map.
"Well, it's not something good," Dean was opening his Streetview app to look at the coordinate, "This is an abandoned park where Scarlet and I are attacked, do you think this is a coincidence?"
"Shit, do you think what I think it is?"
"Yeah, fucker got assaulted, let's go," Dean changed into his woodland uniform with balaclava and grabbed his heavy ballistic vest from his wardrobe alongside with his ShAK-15. Dean also threw his M4-EC to Orion so he could use it.
Orion also changed into his combat uniform and called Adams for the sudden change of event, "Adams said he would give us a ride, what do you say?"
"Just accept it." Dean packed his first aid kit with a new supply of medicines and bandages. He grabbed his helmet and put it on his head. Dean gave Orion two magazines of his M4-EC.
Orion packed the magazines into his pants' pockets. After everything was ready, both Orion and Dean headed outside of the dorm and into the parking lot of the dorm in the middle of the night. Not even two minutes later, Adams arrived with his Tahoe.
"What's the deal with the address?" Adams asked.
Adams himself was well-armed. He also brought his M4 alongside with the exact same loadout as yesterday with his plate carrier. Adams opened his car door for both Dean and Orion.
As usual, Dean was the driver. He put the GPS coordinate of the park into the car and he followed the road. During the trip, Adams asked him multiple questions about his sudden summoning in the middle of the night.
"What's the matter with Andre, going out in the middle of the night like this?" Adams asked.
"Sir, to be frank, we also have zero to no idea, but we are positive that he is assaulted," Dean replied.
"And you just told me just now?" Adams commented.
"Sir, we are not aware on Andre's activity and it's not like he would tell us either," Dean said.
"Gosh darn it, I swear, you four are always entangled with some shits that I have to handle, don't you think?" Adams added his opinion.
"Well, sir, I think other squads also have to deal with similar problem," Dean gave his reasoning, albeit he knew better.
Dean had no doubt that even someone with the capacity of Adams wasn't exactly tasked to deal with two assassination attempts of his own squad members. Moreover, no one in the academy had his squad member put into prison because of an assassination attempt. As a result, he was pretty much bearing a heavy weight on his shoulder.
"You think? Dean, I'm not going to lie, but the other squad leaders are pretty much equally surprised when I told them my story, even my sergeant," Adams sighed.
His phone suddenly rang. Adams picked it up and his eyes suddenly gouged up. The voice was actually could be heard by Dean. It was the voice of his Sergeant, Lanza. How the hell did this news got to him this quickly?
"Yes, sir?"
"Uhm, yes. Yes, I understand. Your sister, too, sir?"
"I apologize sir."
"Affirmative, sir."
"I won't sir."
"Good night, sir."
Adams sighed as he put his phone back into his pocket. It looked like he had just messed up big time. He didn't need to know what was it all about because Adams would eventually tell him on what he should do.
"Shit, Corporal Lirza and Scarlet are involved in a crossfire. We need to split task."
"What do you mean?" Dean asked.
"Corporal Lirza and Scarlet are under heavy magical fire from unknown hostiles in Alburque Parking Garage, it's only two blocks away from the park where you are assaulted. It's better if we split," Adams added.
"How should we approach this?" Orion asked.
"I'll get Scarlet and Corporal Lirza, sir, if I may," Dean added.
"Are you nuts, Dean? Going after hostiles alone in a parking garage?" Adams asked Dean back.
"Hey, I'm the only one who held a large caliber rifle," Dean added.
"Fine, Dean, you're up. Orion, you and I are going to get Andre from whatever shits he is into."
"Roger that, sir."
"And Dean, take this radio and switch to frequency 243.2134. Every squad leader always brought a radio, that's a regulation. Anyway, Dean, grab the telescopic stun baton, you might need it."
"Alright, copy that," Dean added.
Adams dropped Dean right on the entrance of the car park. It seemed that police had locked the place down although there weren't anyone armed enough to enter the crossfire inside of the parking garage.