With a serious and slightly nervous expression, Nikki watched Tahiko's calm and silent contemplative posture as he scratched the cell floor with a stick.
Sensing the soldier's seemingly shy or cautious behavior, Tovah understood that he needed to give Nikki space to start the conversation.
"He won't listen if you don't speak up," Tovah said, attempting to break the ice, ironically as his popsicle melted while he slowly walked backward.
"Who are you?" Tahiko asked, still seated and only directing a serious look at the soldier.
"Oh, Tahiko," Nikki began, caught off guard but quickly regained his composure. "My name is Nikki Williams. I'm part of the Tower's Special Forces and also the son of a man you knew."
"Ham?"
Tahiko tilted his head slightly to the left and raised his eyebrow exaggeratedly, as was characteristic of him.
"I've met many people," he said, clearly not in the mood for a conversation, his indifferent expression intimidating.
"He was known as Captain Williams. I'm certain he was with you at the military bases in southern Dynami."
"Do you think I killed him?" Tahiko asked, threateningly as he stood up from the bed.
"Not at all. I've been informed by the intelligence department's military reports that you had no legitimacy in my father's death. I don't know if you tried to protect him or if that wasn't even within your reach."
Nikki approached the cell firmly and without fear, while Tahiko wasn't far enough for the soldier to have such sudden confidence.
"I just want you to tell me who killed him. I came here just for that and nothing more," Nikki's demeanor had changed, as it always did when his father's name came up.
"I don't know. What I do know is that he has white hair, was wearing black when I saw him, and is part of the Foundation."
"Damn it!" Nikki cursed, turning away from the cell.
"Do you really think those bastards would pass anything to me? They're scoundrels, not stupid," Tahiko stated, walking back to his bed.
Nikki paced back and forth, feeling confused and thinking to himself.
"I need to get information about the Foundation somehow. The Tower's military action is too slow for me; I can't wait for them."
"Look..." Tahiko called out, and Nikki instantly looked at him.
Sitting on the bed, holding little Riley's necklace, Tahiko spoke to the soldier as he removed the pendant from the necklace.
"If you decide to do something against those Foundation bastards, I want you to save this boy." Tahiko tossed the pendant, which passed through the Nullite bars, and concluded, "His name is Riley. He lost his whole family and was captured by the same guy who killed your father."
Nikki crouched down, picked up the pendant, and spoke to Tahiko.
"I'll try," he said, putting the pendant in his pants pocket.
Tahiko just nodded, returning his attention to the cell floor. He seemed immersed in his own thoughts, as if handing over the pendant had been a small relief in his current situation.
"I hope this changes something down the line," he thought.
Tovah, who had been observing everything from a safe distance, stepped forward, indicating it was time to leave.
"Time's up. I think you've got what you need for now," Tovah said, his voice more serious than usual.
Nikki gave one last look at Tahiko before turning and following Tovah. They walked in silence through the cold, dark corridors of the Containment Center, each step echoing off the concrete walls.
As they entered the elevator, Tovah took the popsicle out of his mouth and spoke.
"I don't know what you're planning to do, but if you're thinking of going after the Foundation alone and saving a boy... I recommend thinking it over. You're just a human; they're carriers. It's not a simple decision."
"I just want justice for my father. Saving the boy is part of that," Nikki said, determined.
"I just think you need to be careful. The Foundation is not an easy enemy."
When the elevator reached the upper level, they exited and walked back to the parking lot. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the asphalt.
"What are you going to do now?" Tovah asked as he opened his car door.
"I'm going to analyze the information I have so far and start taking action."
Tovah started his car, and as he drove away, he nodded and emphasized.
"Think carefully, Nikki. So you won't regret it later."
"I won't regret it, Tovah."
In one of the many large rooms filled with people and computers in the Tower's intelligence department, a random employee was reviewing the latest military reports received digitally from the states in the Midwest region.
"These things never stop coming in," the young man muttered, struggling to bring his coffee cup and bread closer.
He was focused, despite his wrinkled shirt and visible exhaustion. His eyes scanned the computer screen as he slowly chewed a piece of bread.
As he scrolled to the next report, he noticed an urgent marking in the top right corner.
"Whoa... this is never good."
He leaned closer to the screen and, with his right hand, grabbed his coffee cup and took a sip while he began reading the report.
"The city of Cuiabá is under an anti-national government system, established by a group of dangerous carriers self-proclaimed as the Conclave. The situation in the region is becoming unsustainable, with the local military brigade in its last days of resistance."
This was the summary of the current scenario written in the report. However, the employee, surprised and cautious, carefully read the few specifications written in the document.
"Identification of the invading group... Name: Conclave. Nature: Group of carriers with supernatural abilities. Objectives: Territorial domination and absolute control of the Midwest region."
"The city is isolated both in media and logistics. The Conclave has blocked all access routes and communication means. The population is facing resource shortages and increasing violence. We have limited resources and are nearly depleted. We've lost many men, and our defense is extremely compromised. We could be killed at any moment."
"We demand the deployment of Special Forces as soon as possible. Come quickly; they won't stop expanding."
He took a deep breath, straightened in his chair, and thought.
"The commander needs to know about this..."