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Post by Maelstrom on Aug 20, 2014 9:53:54 GMT -6
"...and never wants to have one.”
"Balance of power and process of elimination," Maelstrom explained. "Both teams needed someone who could stealth, and with Iskra needing to be with my team to look after prisoners, that puts Meldom on yours. So he's out. Each team needs someone like the two of us, to blow obstacles if they're in our way. Since you're team-lead for your own team, you obviously can't be team-lead for mine. Each team needs a tech expert. Bridges seems to have an interest in finding their central database, so that leaves Morgan on mine. I don't trust her, and I doubt I'm the only member of the crew who doesn't. A stowaway is not a suitable leader. In fairness, Karn or Joe could go on either team, but would you be comfortable with a krogan who seems to be mostly muscle or with Mister Jokes leading a team? I wouldn't.
"That leaves me and Iskra. Now, whether or not it's warranted, how many members of the crew would you say actually respect me for something other than my destructive potential?" Maelstrom asked. "I know what I look like to the vast majority of the universe. I'm the paranoid one in black armor who puts people at gunpoint without enough cause. Whether it's accurate or not isn't the issue. While the two of you MIGHT respect me, I know better than to expect it from the team I'm on. Iskra, on the other hand, is respected and liked by virtually the entire crew. She's the doctor, and they think of her as a friend. Or at least friendly. Not someone on the edge. She's the obvious choice."
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Post by Esteban Bridges on Aug 20, 2014 10:08:25 GMT -6
Esteban was lost in the problem of the Seeker Swarm, going over the sparse data in his mind over and over. Maelstrom violently tore through that serene calm with his shout... "What the HELL is happening on this ship?!"
Esteban jumped in surprise. It was the second time someone under his employ felt at ease to yell at him. He merely turned his head and took in a deep breath, clenching and unclenching his hands. Before he had a chance to respond, Eric stepped in...
“Sorry I’m late,” Eric said, stepping between him and Maelstrom. “Slight hitch with my inoculation but it’s been cleared up now...”
Eric handed a tube out to him. Esteban took a glance at it like it was an uninteresting piece of furniture before looking back up at Eric. “If you ask me I’d say this ship has too many elephants on deck and it’s startin’ to affect the balance here. At the risk of gettin’ dressed down myself, what made you guys decide on Iskra for the rescue team lead? She’s a good shot and her medical skills can help the prisoners at the base but… she sure sounded like she never had a command before… and never wants to have one.”
Esteban tried to say something, but was once again immediately cut off.. this time by Maelstrom.
"Balance of power and process of elimination," Maelstrom explained, suddenly calm. Esteban grit his teeth, trying his damnedest to stop himself from cutting Maelstrom off. "Both teams needed someone who could stealth, and with Iskra needing to be with my team to look after prisoners, that puts Meldom on yours. So he's out. Each team needs someone like the two of us, to blow obstacles if they're in our way. Since you're team-lead for your own team, you obviously can't be team-lead for mine. Each team needs a tech expert. Bridges seems to have an interest in finding their central database, so that leaves Morgan on mine. I don't trust her, and I doubt I'm the only member of the crew who doesn't. A stowaway is not a suitable leader. In fairness, Karn or Joe could go on either team, but would you be comfortable with a krogan who seems to be mostly muscle or with Mister Jokes leading a team? I wouldn't.
"That leaves me and Iskra. Now, whether or not it's warranted, how many members of the crew would you say actually respect me for something other than my destructive potential?" Maelstrom asked. "I know what I look like to the vast majority of the universe. I'm the paranoid one in black armor who puts people at gunpoint without enough cause. Whether it's accurate or not isn't the issue. While the two of you MIGHT respect me, I know better than to expect it from the team I'm on. Iskra, on the other hand, is respected and liked by virtually the entire crew. She's the doctor, and they think of her as a friend. Or at least friendly. Not someone on the edge. She's the obvious choice."
Esteban spoke up as quickly as possible to get in a word before Eric could speak again.
"It does not matter what Iskra wanted or did not want," Esteban said icily. "She was never given, nor offered, the command position. I did not have the opportunity. She chose to ignore that fact despite my insistence to the contrary, which is something you are deciding to ignore as well, Eric. Please stick with the facts."
Esteban took another breath and crossed his arms, falling back against a nearby wall. His cold stare bore into the two mercenaries. "What matters is the mission," he continued on. The ice melted from his voice slightly, though the annoyance was still there. "And how you will be able to save the prisoners without a doctor on the squad. I am taking Joseph and Karn with me to the Collector database. The rest will be with you, Eric."
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Post by Maelstrom on Aug 20, 2014 10:26:47 GMT -6
"The rest will be with you, Eric," Bridges said.
"I don't like the uneven split," Maelstrom said. "No offense, but you need more brains going with you than that. And what's all this about Iskra?"
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Post by Eric Lysander on Aug 20, 2014 12:07:38 GMT -6
“… the rest will be with you, Eric.”
Shit!
The formerly balanced teams were now reshuffled such that those most loyal to a paycheck or command structure were teamed with Esteban. Eric was no longer in a position to help carry out the plan he outlined to Iskra; she had lost her employer’s confidence and was to be confined to the ship. And Maelstrom did not trust Morgan. Eric did not expect him to warm up to her anytime soon; he had his own doubts about her as well. She was all too willing to fly under the radar of the man she had made a contract with, that saved her from being thrown off the ship or worse. Yet it was this same rebellious aspect about her that Eric was counting on. If he could endear himself to her - gain her confidence, her friendship – he could discover if she really was a threat, keep her out of trouble if she was not and hopefully help Iskra’s efforts in the process.
Again he wondered what Esteban’s true motives were, what Iskra did other than go off on him that was so terrible as to deny her the chance to find what she needed at the base, whether or not she would find anything. But to press the issue with his employer risked betraying the trust the drell doctor placed in him.
Maelstrom unwittingly saved Eric some of the trouble.
"I don't like the uneven split," Maelstrom said. "No offense, but you need more brains going with you than that. And what's all this about Iskra?"
“Whatever’s goin’ on between you two needs to be settled now or put aside for later; there’s been too many disruptions as it is,” added Eric. “We need every advantage out there, now more than ever. And being short a medic could land us all on the Collector’s operating table. Udina’ll get to keep happily twirlin’ his mustache behind his desk… I’ll lead the rescue team if you want but only if we keep the balance you guys laid out before…”
Eric held up the drell’s tube again. “And only if Iskra is on the team as well. Joe can head up or follow yours.”
This arrangement, if agreed upon, would still have all the essential players on the field for the data tap. If the prisoners were being held near or inside laboratories certainly those facilities would have terminals Morgan could hack into and trawl for data. The question was if she could do this without Esteban picking up her activities from his end and suspecting Iskra even more. But if he could make peace with Iskra, agree that they both could get what they needed. Subterfuge would not be needed at all. And everyone else on the team could get what they came for whether it was rescuing innocents, stopping a galactic menace, pilfering tech, getting a paycheck or payback.
Or nothing more than the fight of a lifetime.
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Post by Esteban Bridges on Aug 20, 2014 12:11:53 GMT -6
"I don't like the uneven split," Maelstrom spoke up in response. "No offense, but you need more brains going with you than that. And what's all this about Iskra?"
“Whatever’s goin’ on between you two needs to be settled now or put aside for later; there’s been too many disruptions as it is,” added Eric. “We need every advantage out there, now more than ever. And being short a medic could land us all on the Collector’s operating table. Udina’ll get to keep happily twirlin’ his mustache behind his desk… I’ll lead the rescue team if you want but only if we keep the balance you guys laid out before…”
Eric held up the drell’s tube again. “And only if Iskra is on the team as well. Joe can head up or follow yours.”
"No," Esteban responded bluntly, coolly. "I am in charge of the other squad. Though Iskra refused to do her part, she commissioned me to retrieve something for her on the base. I will not allow those secrets to fall into anyone's hands but hers. I am still a man of my word. Only Joseph and Karn on my squad. I require the brute force and speed if I am to survive."
Esteban looked down at the vial in Eric's hands and shrugged indifferently. He did not take it. "It is Iskra's decision if she wants to go or not, but I am under the impression she does not. She can do as she wills."
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Post by Maelstrom on Aug 20, 2014 12:34:51 GMT -6
"She can do as she wills," Bridges said.
"Nobody's answered what's going on or what the deal with Iskra is," Maelstrom answered, struggling to keep his voice even. "If she's causing this kind of difficulty before a mission, though, I don't want her going, and I certainly don't want to be on her team.
"If it comes down to it, I can make trouble on my own. I might not have a stealth generator, but I know how to avoid being seen. And I can keep setting off alarms well-away-from the rest of you. As far as extraction, I can move faster on my own than with a team- much less a team dragging along a bunch of wounded civies- weighing me down.
"Now, if someone wants to explain what's going on, maybe I can rethink my current strategy..."
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Post by Esteban Bridges on Aug 20, 2014 12:44:55 GMT -6
Maelstrom spoke up again, more out of frustration than anything else. "Nobody's answered what's going on or what the deal with Iskra is. If she's causing this kind of difficulty before a mission, though, I don't want her going, and I certainly don't want to be on her team.
"If it comes down to it, I can make trouble on my own. I might not have a stealth generator, but I know how to avoid being seen. And I can keep setting off alarms well-away-from the rest of you. As far as extraction, I can move faster on my own than with a team- much less a team dragging along a bunch of wounded civies- weighing me down.
"Now, if someone wants to explain what's going on, maybe I can rethink my current strategy..."
Esteban pushed himself off of the wall, rolling his shoulders. The armor plating moving along with his every action flawlessly.
"Simple," Esteban responded to the mercenary. "I cannot share all details due to confidentiality. But Iskra discovered an unknown artifact on her home world approximately three weeks ago. She brought it to me. After study, I confirmed it was of alien design, reminiscent of Collector technology. I told her that we were going to the Collector base and that she can have whatever data is acquired on the device and what the Collectors have on the Drell. But as of ten minutes ago, she exhibited strange and confrontative behavior, proclaimed she did not want to help the prisoners inside the base and the insulted me by refusing to install that.."
Esteban did a slight head bob towards the vial in Eric's hand while walking past him... heading for Maelstrom. "Into my armor. It is not my concern what is going on in her head. Such behavior so close to a mission is unacceptable. The only rational explanation behind it is this: she does not want to go on the mission. But since Eric wants her, it will be up to him to do it."
Esteban stopped a couple feet short of Maelstrom. He was not sure if Eric was following or not. But he believed Eric had bigger problems with convincing Iskra. "My concern is rescuing the prisoners on the Collector base. Karn and Joseph are two of the biggest guns we have. They will be able to keep me alive for me to accomplish my goal."
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Post by Joe Fischer on Aug 20, 2014 13:46:39 GMT -6
Joe reached the cargo bay and saw Enaya sitting in the doorway of Maelstrom's shuttle with another asari. He waved at her and approached.
Finally, a friendly face...
Whatever good feelings he had evaporated as the other asari stood up and pointed a pistol at him. "Please do not come any closer," she said.
He resisted the urge to draw one of his weapons; he could tell she was nervous, and nervous people with guns were the most dangerous people in the galaxy. He stopped and slowly raised his hands.
"Enaya, what is going on here?" he asked calmly.
"Anelya, put that away!" Enaya said to the other asari. "My apologies, Joe, but it seems my sister can be a bit literal-minded at times."
"You thought Maelstrom was joking?" Anelya said.
"He was clearly frustrated at the delay," Enaya said. "He did not mean for us to actually shoot anyone who approached the shuttle, now put that away."
He sighed. Everyone else was deciding to pull a drama queen act before leaving, why not Maelstrom too?
"Okay, I'll back off," he said, stepping back on the off chance the biotic was serious about having any potential intruders shot.
To try to ease the tension he asked, "So, are you two coming on the mission too?"
The two asari spoke at the same, overlapping each other.
He sighed again.
Enaya spoke once more. “While we will come along to the base, we will stay on the shuttle,” she said. “I will pilot it and Anelya will operate the sensors and, if needed, the turret.”
He nodded in response; that question had been bothering him for some time.
"Fair enough," he said. "I'm just going to sit here and wait for the others."
He laid the Typhoon on the floor, sat down, closed his eyes and began re-centering himself.
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Post by Eric Lysander on Aug 20, 2014 15:03:10 GMT -6
Parameters were shifting again.
Esteban largely refused Eric’s proposal, pointing out that the new assignments would remain with himself leading the infiltration team and that he was taken back at Iskra’s reaction as much as anyone else present. Then, to allay Maelstrom’s concerns, he revealed that she had commissioned him to find data on the device she found on her homeworld, unbeknownst to the entrepreneur that the ex-Alliance commander in front of him was already privy to the information he classified. Most importantly Esteban pledged that the prisoners held at the base were his priority and that he would follow through on his contract with Iskra despite her current issues with him; whether she was to accompany Eric’s team was to be left to her to decide.
Eric ended up with what he needed – with what Iskra needed – without having to resort to espionage or risk team security. Now it was high time to get everyone ready to face the Collectors again. Eric forced a concerned nod and brow.
“… fine, then. We’ll do it your way. I’ll go talk to Iskra, see if I can change her mind. I won’t hold it against her if she doesn’t.”
He spoke to Maelstrom next. “If she does decide to come along she’ll be my responsibility, her and Morgan. I’ll keep an eye on them while you’ll be free to do your thing. Since you mentioned keeping outta sight, maybe you can back up Meldom in scoutin’ ahead of us. He can blow into the enemy’s left ear while you sneak up and bleed out their right.”
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2014 15:36:32 GMT -6
The wind left the Drell's sails as the two men left the room, she felt exhausted. There was no reason for this to have left her and Esteban but she just felt so trapped...so angry...
"I meant what I said, by the way." Morgan started quietly. Iskra looked up from the counter to the woman across the medbay. "I can help you look for the data if they don't take you with them. We can even set up an encrypted line of communication between us so you can advise me on the fly, if you want. The others don't have to know..."
Silently, Iskra pulled a small device from her coat and handed it to Morgan. "Asa will find what I need. If you could just get her to a console, she will do the rest."
Meldom entered the medbay and Iskra stepped back from the human, walking back over to the tubes. "Sorry it took so long to come up...was...occupied." Meldom spoke distractedly.
"It is fine." Iskra stated calmly, pressing the serum into the Salarians shield generator. "I am still waiting on Karn but otherwise everyone has received what they needed."
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Post by Maelstrom on Aug 20, 2014 15:50:11 GMT -6
"Speaking of bleeding..." Maelstrom said. He swiped a hand over his right thigh, producing one of several throwing knives skillfully concealed in his armor. They were going to be his projectiles until all hell broke loose. Projecting them with his biotics would produce far less noise than using his grenades or guns. He held it up for a moment for the other men to see, before slipping the weapon back into place. "Thought they might come in handy."
Leaning back against the far wall, starting to feel a little more at ease, he turned to Lysander and said, "I haven't decided what I'm going to do. Probably won't until I get a feel for the rest of the team. I may stick with you, may scout ahead, or may go off on my own. The situation with our members is a bit too... fluid for me to pin myself down."
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Post by Eric Lysander on Aug 21, 2014 8:18:55 GMT -6
“Thought they might come in handy," said Maelstrom of the throwing knives he produced and showed to Eric and Esteban. The N7 smirked and snorted in approval and mild amusement, picturing the mercenary in action: a cyclopean ninja with a permanent maniacal grin moving within the shadows, dispatching his foes with lethal precision and efficiency.
Maelstrom continued to Eric. "I haven't decided what I'm going to do. Probably won't until I get a feel for the rest of the team. I may stick with you, may scout ahead, or may go off on my own. The situation with our members is a bit too... fluid for me to pin myself down."
The man in silver armor built on that assessment. “Well let’s see if we can’t get everyone to quit pissin’ about and aim for the enemy, put out some of their fire… if there isn’t anything else I’ve got a doc ta talk to and a team to snap inta line.”
He held up the canister of Anti-Seeker for Esteban to see once again. “Sure you won’t be takin’ your Bug-Be-Gone, Fearless Leader? Those two fly swatters you’re bringin’ with ya may not be enough.”
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Post by Esteban Bridges on Aug 21, 2014 8:49:20 GMT -6
Esteban was almost satisfied with how the conversation was going. Something about it troubled him, though what it was, he was not sure. He listened passively to the exchange between Maelstrom and Lysander... the former intent on using subtly and the later wanting to make peace. But it was not until the former N7 held up the vial did it hit him what was bugging him. “Sure you won’t be takin’ your Bug-Be-Gone, Fearless Leader? Those two fly swatters you’re bringin’ with ya may not be enough.”
He did not respond at first. That feeling gnawed at him. How did he acquire that? His expression hardened as realization flashed in his eyes. There was only one answer to that. He was there in the room when she insulted him. He took awhile in the med-bay, having difficulty with his countermeasure. He did not like this.
"No," he said calmly, adapting his usual businessman demeanor. "I fear I may have the same hitch with the inoculation that you had. I would rather not risk it."
Esteban took one more look at him before he stepped aside, intent on heading for his helmet. His gnawing feeling was drown out by another one washing in. Disappointment. "I would rather be alone until we have the final briefing in ten minutes. I have work to get to."
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Post by Maelstrom on Aug 21, 2014 9:34:41 GMT -6
"I have work to get to," Bridges said.
"Not until you take your inoculation," Maelstrom disagreed. "That's the only proven countermeasure to the seekers. A quick scan with your omni-tool will be enough to show whether or not it's been tampered with. Do you want to risk the whole damned mission and everyone's lives for your own damned pride?"
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Post by Esteban Bridges on Aug 21, 2014 9:41:44 GMT -6
"Not until you take your inoculation," Maelstrom spoke up while Esteban started walking toward his helmet. "That's the only proven countermeasure to the seekers. A quick scan with your omni-tool will be enough to show whether or not it's been tampered with. Do you want to risk the whole damned mission and everyone's lives for your own damned pride?"
Esteban sighed. This was his mission, but all he was receiving was resistance from all sides. His armored hand passed over his helmet. Now it was Maelstrom too...
"Maelstrom," he addressed the mad mercenary in a half-resigned tone. "I was insulted in front of the crew. What was supposed to keep me alive was then used to further the insult. The only one who endangered here is me. And only one who is doing it is Iskra."
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Post by Maelstrom on Aug 21, 2014 9:52:12 GMT -6
"And only one who is doing it is Iskra."
"Are you two a couple or just a pair of children that we're dealing with this juvenile bullshit?" Maelstrom asked. "It doesn't matter who said or did what. You take the inoculation or don't expect anyone to do anything more for you when you get stung than to put a bullet in your head. Especially if you're going on a team with just two people. No reason they should risk their lives just because you won't take your medicine. There's a difference between risking one's life on a mission and it being put at risk because a team-mate chooses to make what he knows is the wrong decision."
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Post by Esteban Bridges on Aug 21, 2014 10:18:49 GMT -6
"............chooses to make what he knows is the wrong decision."
Esteban clenched his fist and closed his eyes, inhaling.. filling his lungs with the cool, processed air. His mind wandered. He could map how the air was transferred from the internal garden sealed within the engine room and how it flowed all the way up to where he was now. He could easily tear apart and reassemble Maelstrom's entire shuttle within two days. He knew he could. But this. He knew he could not choose to make the wrong decision. His fist trembled on top of his helmet. No matter how much he wanted to not accept the insult.
"Fine," he finally replied, knowing he had to accept it. But he did not have to accept something else. He had to hope Eric still had a sense of honor. "Eric, put it down and leave. It will take work to make sure the same hitch does not happen to me. Unless you care to tell me how Iskra explained how she dealt with the hitch?"
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Post by Eric Lysander on Aug 21, 2014 10:51:23 GMT -6
Eric set down Esteban's tube of Anti-Seeker solution where he indicated.
“Had to do with my kinetic barrier’s balance,” the ex-Alliance soldier said. He had hoped that Esteban would gloss over that feint but there was no escaping an engineer’s scrutiny. He quickly thought of a plausible scenario to preserve the inroads Maelstrom had made. And to keep Iskra's trust. “Shiftin’ between Combat and Bomb Disposal modes could’ve affected how her magic formula worked. Could stop workin’ for a few seconds or stop altogether. Hadda recalibrate 'em so I could still get some decent overall protection without havin’ to switch modes and disrupt it.”
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Post by Esteban Bridges on Aug 21, 2014 11:26:41 GMT -6
“Had to do with my kinetic barrier’s balance,” Eric explained while setting the vial down. “Shiftin’ between Combat and Bomb Disposal modes could’ve affected how her magic formula worked. Could stop workin’ for a few seconds or stop altogether. Hadda recalibrate 'em so I could still get some decent overall protection without havin’ to switch modes and disrupt it.”
Esteban heard all he needed, and wanted, to hear. It sounded plausible enough, since there were always complexities with the way any system operated. Not even the best systems could get around operational problems. And he was not familiar with Eric's system, so recalibrations could have taken him as little as a minute. But it did not sound right to him. How could he have known that? He did not have time to run tests. He would not be able to recalibrate without tests to know how the formula would have affected it. And... why did Eric side-step his tone or skeptical looks? If this was the truth, he would have asked about it. Too much inconsistency.....
Esteban's mind was about to go down that line of reasoning until he realized he was staring at the vial for a few seconds too long, his eyes shifting back and forth as if reading something. He blinked and looked up at Eric. He was still disappointed. But, what it came down to was this: did he trust Eric enough to get past his disappointment? His skepticism?
"Very well," Esteban responded, no longer wanting to push this. It was possible he was telling the truth and would still have to convince Iskra to go on the mission. That was enough for him, for now. "When you return to the med bay, tell Morgan I need to speak with her up here immediately about Collector technology. If she will be accompanying you, I must make sure she is ready."
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Post by Eric Lysander on Aug 21, 2014 14:21:15 GMT -6
Esteban stared about Iskra’s vial as Eric elaborated on – lied about- why he was delayed. A second or two after Eric finished he looked back to him. He ain’t buyin’ it, Eric thought. Sorry B – that’s my story ‘n I’m stickin’ to it-
"Very well," said Esteban. "When you return to the med bay, tell Morgan I need to speak with her up here immediately about Collector technology. If she will be accompanying you, I must make sure she is ready."
“Got it. See you below deck.” Eric left Esteban and Maelstrom behind, heading back to the med bay.
It was not the first time he had lied to superiors; to subordinates or friends for that matter. But in his time in the service he lied more often to try and preserve team morale or to carry out his own plans when he felt the official strategy was lacking more than to save his own neck. Esteban probably was going to press him on this at a later time, preferably after the mission was completed. But for now he would be applying Iskra’s formula and tracking down her data. And Eric did not reveal that Iskra had already told him about it. Eric remembered a stray quote from some flustered officer or maybe it was Shepard who said it:
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall catch hell from both sides… Upon arriving at Iskra’s workplace and living quarters he peered through the entrance to find her tending to Meldom. Morgan was not present. Eric mentally knocked himself upside the head; he did not have her com code or email as of yet. Perhaps she told Iskra where she was going. Eric knocked on the side of the entrance.
“Iskra…? Do you have a minute to talk? One on one?”
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