Back at the barracks, Melanie restrained herself anytime Pete was discussed. If anyone could help her find him, it was Lucy.
The rest of the crew worked hard to patch clues up but the enemy covered his tracks well. The only leads they had was the spider emblem of which the computer didn't seem to find a match.
For the first time, Lucy was beginning to get frustrated. They weren't getting anything. They were slowing down. The day ended and they still hadn't got anywhere. Before bedtime, Melanie received the message and it made her hair stand on end.
"The army has been annihilated. I don't think I can make it. The Lieutenant betrayed us. He is coming for our family too. The enemy you are dealing with has everything under his thumb."
Lucy read it again and again. She couldn't believe it. Was the Commander dead? Eventually she had make it sink in. The family needed to know about it and they needed to get out of there, now.
The following morning, Lucy dressed up all in black tried to look concerned. She knocked on the door to her home and a familiar face opened with a smile. It was Jamila, Lucy's first friend and sister. She was almost as old as Lucy herself.
Her smile went plain when she noticed Lucy's attire; a black lace gown cascading down her feet. They formed intricate patterns with the slightest movement.
"That's a beautiful dress. Sorry, come on in.", she apologized and invited her in.
As Lucy entered and was approaching the hall, she hugged from behind. Those small hands had grown. They had grown bigger.
"Is father really gone?"
"Uriel", Lucy bent to his height, "He will always be here. In your memories."
It wasn't enough but what could she do. She didn't even know how to react to his death.
"He finally died, huh?", the words e hoed from the stairs. It was the voice that once lulled her to sleep. Age had wrinkled her but she was still the same woman and she never put things bluntly.
Lucy walked over a gave her a warm tight hug. So tight, the woman lost her breath. When she finally let go, her mother asked her how far they had gone with the assignment.
"Everything is stagnant right now. No clues."
From her mother's large pockets she drew out a sealed envelope and a pendrive and gave it out to Lucy.
"What are these?"
"I don't know myself but I was told to give them to you when something like this happens. He wanted to give the envelope to you directly instead."
"Have you opened them before?"
"No. I learned my lesson a long time ago to mind my business. How else do you think this marriage lasted? To be honest, sometimes I felt that man was being promiscuous."
Lucy couldn't care less about whether they were faithful to each other or not. She just wanted to see what contents the items had.
Lucy didn't stay there for long. Ampofo called her on the phone. She had to go to the I.T. centre immediately. She bade farewell and proceeded to hurry on out but she was stopped halfway to the door.
"Melanie, avenge him."
She nodded to her mother sealing a promise of revenge.
Everyone was already there when Lucy got there. Melanie was sitting upside down on the adjustable chair, fumbling with a bottle. Afia.A. was on the table doing complicated acrobatics whilst the rest were sitting around a desktop computer like nervous sixth graders waiting their turn to give a presentation.
As she approached, the two stole glances at each other. They argued noiselesslyover who should start first for about five minutes.
"What is it? Make it snappy.", Lucy was getting bored.
Afia.B. took the reins, "We have news."
"I can see that. It's written all over your face."
.B. ignored the unintended sarcasm and continued,
""For the past few weeks, we have been trying to get into our country's satellite. It was hectic but we broke through. With the help of the satellite, we now know that there's no war in commotion of any sort in Raine. Either they failed or didn't attempt at all..."
"Or they were killed", Lucy made it clear.
"That could be a possibility. Secondly, we tracked mass movement and it seems like three-quarters of our army is heading into Gaja but not in this direction."
"Where is that snake leading them to", Lucy muttered under her breath but it was still audible.
"Who are you talking about?", Melanie asked. By then she and Afia .A. were drawn to the conversation.