"She's one of theirs, huh?" Mustafa glanced at Liv, whose posture was defiant despite her bound hands.
Jalaluddin rubbed his beard thoughtfully. "Seems like it. And by the looks of it, not just any foot soldier. Might be worth keeping her around."
Hffyl frowned, "Yeah, but she's a person, not a bargaining chip."
Mustafa raised an eyebrow. "Since when did you get soft on the enemy?"
"Ever since I realized that seeing things only from our side is... narrow," Hffyl responded, taking a sip of his cup of water. "Sometimes, it's worth understanding where the other is coming from. For now, she's lost. Only following what she was told."
Liv, finally finding her voice, interjected, "Look, my squad, they'll be looking for me."
Mustafa spoke. "We know. And that's the idea."
Hffyl chuckled lightly. "Don't worry. We'll get to them before they get to you."
Liv shot him a sharp glance, her guard momentarily dropping. "Why? What do you have against them? You're not even..."
He interrupted, "It's not about sides or following orders blindly. It's about what's right."
Mustafa rubbed his temples, "We've got word about someone who could be of immense help. Asif's brother, Karim, recently returned from Russia. He's learned a lot over there – engineering, technology – things we could use."
Hffyl leaned forward, intrigued. "What kind of help are we talking about?"
Jalaluddin jumped in, "With the right knowledge and equipment, Karim can make us tools. Defensive mechanisms, traps, things that can give us the edge."
Liv interjected, her voice a mix of defiance and curiosity, "Why involve me in this?"
Jalaluddin looked at her, his face unreadable, "Given your skills and background, you might be of help when we approach him. Plus, this could be a chance for us to find common ground."
She considered it for a moment, then slowly nodded, "Fine, but what's in it for me?"
Hffyl replied, "You might find your answers as well."
Liv finally spoke up, her voice hesitant. "What do you want me to do?"
Mustafa regarded her for a moment. "For now, you'll remain with us. You can't go back to your squad, not until we're sure of your intentions. But perhaps your presence might help in negotiating with Karim."
_____________________
The MV Sirena crew huddled together in the fading light near the insurgent camp. Kadir glanced at Azura, Omar, and Priya, his expression filled with concern.
"So, what's the plan now?" Omar asked, shifting uncomfortably in the unfamiliar terrain.
Kadir looked around cautiously, making sure no one was eavesdropping. "First, we need to find out if Hffyl's here. Then, we'll figure out how to approach this. Keep it low-key."
Azura nodded, her eyes scanning the camp's outskirts. "Right, we don't want to draw attention. This place looks... different from what I expected."
Priya chimed in, "Considering the AASOC had control here, it might not be as dangerous as we thought."
Suresh, who had been listening quietly, spoke up, "Let's just hope they don't recognize us from our little detour."
Kadir nodded, "We'll need to find someone who knows about Hffyl or has seen him."
Rizal, who had been quiet until now, spoke softly, "We have to be careful about mentioning AASOC. We don't know who's sympathetic or hostile here."
Aini, glancing at the makeshift buildings, added, "Agreed. We should gather information discreetly and find out where Hffyl might be."
Amid the hubbub of the camp, the Sirena crew spotted Hffyl, and a swift hush spread through them. Captain Ajwad's piercing eyes settled on Hffyl, his stance stiffening.
"Is that...?" Faiz began, nudging Rizal subtly.
"Shh," Rizal whispered, nodding discreetly toward Hffyl.
The captain, with a firm grip on his emotions, approached Hffyl's group, the weight of his former soldier days heavy on his shoulders. Omar, sensing the imminent confrontation, stepped in between.
"Look," Omar said in a hushed tone, trying to defuse the tension. "I know what you're thinking. But things have changed."
Captain Ajwad's voice was stern, "Changed? I see a young lad who's been dragged into something he knows nothing about." His gaze briefly flicked to Liv, noting her AASOC insignia, before turning back to Omar.
"He's got a choice, and he made it," Kadir interjected, standing beside Omar.
Ajwad's voice cracked with restraint, "Choonch? I see a boy getting embroiled in a war not his own."
Azura, with her arms crossed, jumped in, "He's safer with us than you think. We've all been through worse."
"Safer? With them?" Captain Ajwad's voice had the barest hint of a growl, his glance darting between Farid, Asif, and the other unfamiliar figures.
Mustafa stepped forward, "You must be the Captain. I assure you, Hffyl is treated with respect and dignity. This is our fight, but he chose to stand with us."
Nadia, her gaze unwavering, added, "It's not just about him. What about the rest?"
Hffyl, sensing the escalating tension, finally spoke up, "It's not what it looks like, Captain."
Ajwad's gaze softened a touch, "This isn't a game, lad. These aren't your seas or your stories."
Jalaluddin's deep voice resonated, "But perhaps, Captain, they're stories that need to be heard. All of them."
Mustafa extended his hand, "Captain, let's talk. Over chai, perhaps?"
Captain Ajwad, though reluctant, nodded. "Chalo, then."
Jalaluddin's dark eyes settled on Hffyl, Liv, Asif, and Farid as the rest of the group dispersed for the chai gathering. His voice was low and deliberate.
"Asif, you remember what we spoke of? About your brother?"
Asif nodded, the worry evident in his eyes. "Yes, he could help us."
Jalaluddin's eyes glanced over at Liv, a fleeting moment of uncertainty, but he continued, "I trust you, Hffyl, with this task. And," he paused, looking again at Liv, "you'll watch her?"
Liv bristled a bit, "Main sun rahi hoon, you know. Not a threat."
Farid, eager to keep the mission on track, interjected, "Do we have any idea where to start?"
Hffyl, thinking on his feet, suggested, "We should head to the marketplace. There are always whispers there. Might give us a lead."
Jalaluddin handed Asif a worn-out photograph. "Find him. We need all the allies we can get."
Asif's fingers brushed the photograph, eyes clouding with emotions. "We'll find him," he affirmed.
Hffyl patted Asif's back, a gesture of silent support. "Let's head out then."
Liv, still a bit defensive but realizing the gravity of the situation, said, "Alright, but let's keep it quiet. We don't need to attract any unnecessary attention."