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savage-rhi · 3 months ago

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Duality

Chapter 10: The Message

Summary: Sawyer Kiddo has walked a razor's edge as a hacktivist for several years, driven by the loss of her family in the Raccoon City incident. Haunted by past choices and fueled with desire for vigilante justice, Sawyer's work takes an unexpected turn when she ventures to Spain and crosses paths with Luis Serra—a man with blood on his hands long thought to be dead. Together they unravel a web of corruption and face an impending bioterror threat, fighting not only monsters but also the darker elements of their humanity. As they delve deeper into each other's pasts and the conspiracy at large, Sawyer begins to sense something unsettling about Luis—something that might be even more dangerous than their mutual enemies.

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"C'mon…"

Luis's voice barely escaped his lips, a hushed plea directed more at himself than the specimen under his eyes. His hands hovered over the micromanipulator, fingertips trembling as they gripped the control knobs. Each minuscule adjustment translated into even tinier movements of the fine-tipped instruments, guiding them with a precision that could only be fueled by pure spite or insanity. Luis wouldn't be surprised if he held elements of both emotions, swallowing as his anticipation grew.

The parasitic specimen held fast on the left side of the petri dish and began to writhe as Luis carefully stabbed it, injecting a serum he had spent many sleepless nights perfecting. His heart whipped in his chest as the translucent worm took on a faint purple hue, its insides becoming more visible as the seconds ticked. He could see everything down to its tiny heart beating fast.

This has to work...

After weeks of failures and watching his efforts crumble, today had to be different. Luis could feel it in the air that luck was on his side.

When the serum was fully distributed, Luis withdrew the needle, surprised that the creature remained calm—stable, even. He waited for a minute and watched for any signs of distress. A tiny glimmer of hope ignited within him, acknowledging this was already a huge milestone. Most specimens didn't get this far.

Luis tore his gaze away from the lens just long enough to fill another syringe with blood, muscle memory guiding his hands while his mind stayed locked on the possibilities unfolding before him. He administered the red blood cells into the petri dish and quietly returned to the microscope to watch the worm's reaction.

He was so engrossed in the process that Luis didn't notice the lab door creak open.

"Dr. Serra," a voice broke through the silence, jarring him.

"One moment." Luis's response was curt, almost a whisper. He couldn't afford to look away now, not when the worm was inching toward the red blood cells, its newly purple form shimmering under the light. The cells seemed to call to it, drawing it in as the creature slinked closer.

Then, the battle began.

White blood cells suddenly emerged like soldiers on a battlefield, converging on the worm with force. Some lagged, tending to the red cells first, while the rest charged into the fray.

Luis watched, transfixed as the tiny organisms carried out their mission. He couldn't help but marvel at the sight, his lips tugging into a small smile despite the suspense coiled in his gut. He started naming them in his mind, and each cell and the worm became characters in a micro-universe drama. Luis knew he shouldn't anthropomorphize them, but it was a small comfort in his exhaustion. He couldn't help himself, naturally loving spinning tales to keep his mind sharp.

Luis quietly noted the white blood cells were ruthless, latching onto the worm as it squirmed frantically to escape. Of course, it became overwhelmed and started to die, freezing in place while its attackers continued the pursuit. Then something incredible happened—the serum within the worm began to anchor the cells to it, drawing them into its body. He counted at least fifty individuals joining when the metamorphosis started, the cells fusing within the worm to create something new. Its body increased a few millimeters, tendrils extending from its sides as a soft glow pulsed around the worm like a blinking star in the silence of space, and then it moved again—a creature reborn.

Luis exhaled, not realizing he had been holding his breath. His hands shook as he reached for a sterile petri dish housing another worm specimen without the serum, transferring the newly altered creature with a pipette. He switched out the dishes, adjusting the microscope until the two worms came into focus, side by side.

The purple worm wasted no time latching onto its counterpart with savage intent. The tiny struggle before Luis felt monumental, like witnessing a war of titans in miniature. He swallowed hard. This was it—the culmination of all his work, his sacrifices, and his sleepless nights. As he watched the purple worm overpower its rival, its tendrils sinking into the body like thousands of little daggers, Luis felt triumph for the first time in ages.

"C'mon, c'mon…"

He spoke too soon.

The purple worm had been so close, but the light faded like a candle snuffed out by an unseen hand. The once-vibrant color turned ashen, its life draining away, leaving nothing but a shriveled-up body. The other worm seized the moment, slinking away from the threat as it broke free from its rival's grasp.

"Jódeme!" The curse tore from Luis's lips. He yanked his hands away from the device, frustration boiling over while he slumped back into his chair. His head tilted toward the ceiling, eyes squeezed shut as he pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed deeply. (1)

"Another failed test run?"

A soft voice pulled Luis back to the present. He'd nearly forgotten Dr. Smith was in the lab with him. He hummed in response, the sound more of a weary exhale than an answer. For a moment, he didn't have the strength to speak.

"And then some," Luis finally said. He forced himself to sit up and spin around to face her, his eyes trailing up to meet her concerned gaze. Smith offered an apologetic smile, and he couldn't help but smirk, though it didn't reach his eyes.

"I don't recall asking for a pity party now, Olivia."

"I wouldn't stoop low for your amusement, Lulu." she shot back, her attempt at lightheartedness faltering as she shook her head. "Maybe it's time to put Singularity on the back burner for a while. Work on something else, get a fresh perspective. You've been at this for six months, honey."

Luis frowned. The idea of abandoning the project, even temporarily, struck a nerve. He lost count how many times the other members of Team 6 tried to lure him away from his baby, and he wasn't having it.

"No, I can't do that now," he insisted, his tone proud as he sat up straighter. "I'm this close! I can feel it! And you know me—I can't let go of an idea once I've sunk my teeth into it."

"An idea? More like hyperfixation," came a tired voice from the doorway. Luis and Smith turned to see Dr. Clouret shuffling in, looking like he'd been running on nothing but coffee and frayed nerves.

"Hey, Soldadito!" Luis greeted, forcing a smile as he waved. Clouret shot him a withering glare, muttering a French curse under his breath. (2)

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that," Clouret grumbled, his eyes darting to Smith. "Olivia."

"Yeah, Jean?" She raised an eyebrow.

"How are things in Sector 3?"

"Peachy as ever," she sighed, the exhaustion in her voice mirroring his own. "Chief Alvarez has been riding our ass hard to accelerate the intelligence growth in the T-Virus-infected rabbits."

"She's a piranha like that!" Luis quipped, his tone edged with sarcasm. Even as his peers laughed, the sound felt hollow in his ears, the humor doing little to alleviate the sense of defeat clinging to him.

"She needs to get laid," Clouret huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Might improve her mood."

"Speak for yourself!" Luis retorted, trying to inject some fun into his voice, though Clouret's glare almost made him regret it.

"Anyway!" Smith quickly interjected, stifling her remaining giggles as she steered the conversation back on track. "We've made some progress, but the bad news is if she wants us to meet the Tyrant Theory deadline, we're going to need three more researchers on deck."

"That shouldn't be a problem. Why not take Junior here with you?" Clouret gestured at Luis with a snort, grinning at the man's expense. "He's been nose-deep in bugs and worms for ages. It's about time he got some air."

"Y'know," Smith chimed in, her grin widening as she turned her attention to Luis, further cornering him. "I was just telling Dr. Serra he should step back!"

"Tempting, but no thanks!" Luis shook his head, forcing a smile. "As much as the T-Virus gives me a tent like it does you and the higher-ups, it's not my thing."

"Alvarez is eventually going to slam you headfirst into viral applications kicking and screaming, you know that, right? She's not a patient woman." Clouret sighed, already going through the motions to prep his station.

"Jean has a point," Smith's grin faded into a frown. "Everyone knows parasites are your bread and butter, Luis, but Umbrella's pushing for more viral tests these days."

Luis sighed. “Yes, and? Dime algo que no sepa…” (3)

"I'm not saying your theory on exploiting parasitic properties to boost immunity isn't a good idea, but Project Singularity hasn't hit the ground running since your last trial, and you know the funds are getting slim, thanks to the American branch. I don't want to see you digging money out of your pocket to keep it alive. And we all know how it breaks your heart when our volunteer subjects fail the tests. You gotta give yourself a break from all the suffering, Lulu."

Luis's shoulders slumped; she had him beat there with the latter remark. He remembered what became of the last Jane Doe that he worked with, the poor woman infected with blood flukes who signed her rights over to Umbrella to try and save herself from late-stage schistosomiasis since she couldn't afford hospital treatment. Although it had been weeks, he still couldn't get the screaming out of his head. He couldn't forget how one tiny flaw in his serum cost someone their life.

"I know," Luis finally admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. His free hand fumbled through his lab coat for a cigarette, something to distract him from the growing sense of failure chewing at his gut. He placed it between his lips, wetting the end while he dug for his lighter and stood up.

"If it stops everyone's bitching for a while," Luis mumbled, resignation in his voice, "I'll put in two shifts for Sector 3 this Thursday and Friday. As long as I'm only working at the main lab station. I don't think I can stomach poking and prodding anything for a while after today."

Smith's face lit up, her gasp filled with relief. "You mean it?!"

Luis nodded. He cupped his left hand around the cigarette's tip, flicking his lighter to life with the other. The tiny flame seemed inconsequential compared to the fire burning within him, yet he welcomed the distraction.

"Hé, hé, hé!" Clouret suddenly exclaimed, snapping his fingers toward Luis. "Not in here!" (4)

Luis couldn't help but laugh. "What are you, mi padre?"

He threw his arms out to challenge Clouret before tucking his hands into his pockets. As he walked past Jean, Luis blew a cloud of smoke toward his face, catching the grimace on his colleague's features just before a box of pipettes was hurled in his direction.

"That's coming out of your check!" Luis teased as he exited the lab.

“Manger une bite, Serra!” (5)

"Enjoy your break, Luis!" Smith called out. "Thanks again for volunteering!"

The door clicked shut behind him, and for a moment, Luis allowed himself to feel a little swell of pride as the nicotine hit his tongue. The smoke drifted pleasantly through his nostrils, and he headed toward the recreation hall, craving a moment of peace.

A hand gripped his waist, freezing him mid-step. Luis's brows furrowed as he turned, facing an older woman whose expression was a storm of anger and urgency.

"We need to talk."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Luis shirked back and grimaced, a shiver racing down his spine while an intense ringing began to infiltrate his ears. Every blink of his eyes seemed to tear apart the fabric of space. The overhead lights blazed brighter until they scorched his senses, and reality itself blurred and distorted, slipping through his grasp. He wasn't here. He wasn't real—he was unraveling.

"I didn't come here to create monsters!"

"Dr. Serra, you knew exactly what you signed up for when you were brought onto this team."

Those were the last words heard before Two Legs shot up from bed with a gasp, his chest heaving as if he'd been submerged underwater. His hands and arms jerked, his senses spinning while blinking rapidly, desperate to anchor himself. The hotel room slowly became focused, the vibrant shades almost too vivid for him to keep staring at.

As Two Legs woke further, the parasite clawed his way back to the present, grounding himself with the scents around him: his clean sweat mingling with the pillowcase, the lingering tobacco in his jacket, and a crisp, minty smell drifting from the bathroom.

Swallowing hard, he repeatedly pinched his shoulder, confirming that this wasn't another trick of "the other place." During these episodes, it was always difficult to tell what was real and what wasn't.

"Hey, you good?"

A sweet vanilla and floral musk suddenly yanked Two Legs from his train of thought as he turned his head, staring at Sawyer like a deer caught in the headlights.

"What?"

"I asked if you're okay. You gasped like a fish out of water just now."

"Oh," Two Legs swallowed, his voice rough as he cleared his throat, scratching his neck. "Just a nightmare, is all. Y'know, the stuff we dealt with yesterday. Sorry."

"No worries…"

Two Legs followed her with his eyes, torn between a glare and soft regard, while Sawyer returned to the bathroom without another word. The door was left ajar as she resumed brushing her teeth. She was already dressed in fresh clothes, and the plaga was surprised at how deep he must've been sleeping, for his senses should've picked up on her movements long before now. He shook his head, snapping out of his trance to fixate on his shaky hands, constantly reminding himself that he wasn't lost.

Luis had worked on countless assignments for Umbrella, enough to where Two Legs could recount most of the research by heart—hell, he could probably write a book on it if he cared enough about his host's career pursuits. The only vested interest he had in Luis's work pertained to details related to his kind, and this was the first time he'd come to hear of Project Singularity—whatever it was. It clung to Two Legs, biting at the edges of his mind as he thought back to the purple serum, the color striking not only for its unnatural tint but because Two Legs knew he had seen it before. A quick memory bubbled up of Luis hastily brewing last-minute samples to aid a group of people back in the village.

Ada, Leon, Ashley…

The names repeated in his head several times, and he wondered if it was the same substance he had used on the worm.

No, what Luis used…

The sudden sound of the sink turning off jerked him back to the present. Two Legs' attention snapped to Sawyer as she stepped out of the bathroom, her movements purposeful while she approached the desk where a laptop rested. He squinted, trying to make out what she was doing, only to flinch when something came flying toward him.

"Dios mio!" His hands shot up on instinct, catching the object with a practiced ease. He found himself staring at his lighter.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." Sawyer quipped, her voice teasing but filled with something softer.

"I have a sense you're lying about that, but I'll accept your peace offering," Two Legs replied, his smirk brief as he glanced between the lighter and her. "I'm surprised."

"About what?"

"That you didn't destroy it."

"Trust me, I thought about it," Sawyer admitted, her voice tinged with fatigue as she rifled through a spare suitcase pulled from beneath what would've been Mobley's bed. She sat on the floor, unzipping it quickly. Inside, a backpack filled with first aid supplies and spare clothes. She pulled out a pair of dark jeans, studying the waistband for a moment before tossing them along with a black t-shirt in Luis's direction.

"Eh?" Two Legs mumbled, watching the clothes fly onto the end of his mattress.

"These should fit you," Sawyer said, her tone distant as she continued her search. "You can put your dirty clothes in the blue biohazard bin by my bed. A cleaner from VITA will incinerate them later and decontaminate the room."

"Shouldn't we have done that yesterday to avoid potential infection?" Two Legs asked.

"Probably would've been smart," Sawyer replied with a faint shrug, digging through the backpack again. "But I have strips in case you're worried. I took one earlier; it was negative. If we caught something from Soldado's hideout, we would've turned into monsters by now."

Two Legs tilted his head in confusion. "Strips?"

"Yeah, y'know, the ones you spit on to detect the presence of RNA genetic material from viruses?" She looked over her shoulder at him, her brow furrowed. "I thought being an Umbrella researcher, you'd know that."

"Well, uh-" Two Legs stammered, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "I'm not exactly an early bird, at least not until I've had coffee! Forgive the brain fog."

Sawyer's lips formed into a small, reluctant smile. "Makes two of us."

She tossed a small box of strips toward him.

"Gracias," Two Legs murmured, stretching with a yawn. He absentmindedly tucked the lighter into one of his jacket pockets, almost forgetting he'd slept in the damn thing. As he got up from the bed and cautiously approached her, he couldn't shake the memory of nearly getting whacked on his way out the door last night.

"I, uh, have a question."

"I probably have an answer,"

"Heh," Two Legs blushed, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "Are we…okay?"

Sawyer's movements stilled as if his words had struck a nerve. She blinked a few times before she understood what Luis was asking. Slowly, she scooted back from the suitcase and turned to face him, looking up at him with a guarded and fragile expression.

"Do you want an honest answer?" Sawyer asked.

Two Legs nodded.

"No, we aren't…" Sawyer breathed. "But…"

"Pero?" (6)

"I'm sorry I lost my temper and for pulling the gun on you. I should've tried to talk to you first, but I was scared." Sawyer swallowed hard, struggling to find the right words. She hesitated to speak further, unable to believe she was apologizing to an Umbrella employee. But here they were, both caught in a moment that felt surreal.

As the initial shock of her confession faded, Sawyer continued. "I'm sure you've done plenty of fucked-up shit on Umbrella's behalf, but…you helped me. So…let's end this on a positive note."

Two Legs was caught entirely off guard by her response. He had braced himself for hostility, maybe even another attempt on his life, but this? This felt different. His brain was flooded with dopamine and adrenaline as if his body had been starving for relief. The sensation was puzzling—and the plaga wondered why he suddenly felt simultaneously calm and excited.

He realized he'd been silent for too long.

"For the record, you body slam like a beast. I'm sure I won't need a chiropractor anytime soon." Two Legs forced a laugh, trying to borrow a bit of Luis's wit to ease the suspense. When he saw Sawyer give in a smile, he felt another small wave of dopamine, making his heart ache in a way he wasn't prepared for. "Anyway, thanks for clearing the air. So…what does this mean for us moving forward?"

"You go to the UK, I go to the States, and we pretend we never met." Sawyer's smile faded as she gave a dismissive shrug, her words solemn and final. "You won't have to worry about VITA coming after you, at least not from my end. Consider it another thank you."

"Just like that?" Two Legs furrowed his brows, pursing his lips.

"Yeah."

"Yeah…?"

"Were you expecting something else?"

Her question stunned him, making Two Legs blink and shake his head. "No, no, I get it. I just wanted to be sure."

Sawyer's gaze remained stable, her eyes narrowing slightly as though she could see straight through him.

"Luis," her voice was almost gentle but no less insistent. "You gotta promise me I'll never see you again after today. Can you do that?"

Two Legs felt his heart skip a beat. He didn't like how easily she saw through him, how she seemed to know there was more to his words, more to the hesitation that lingered in his silence. A part of him wanted to lie, to tell Sawyer what she needed to hear and go through the motions of escorting her to the airport. Yet another side—this part that had begun to crave her presence beyond seeing her as food—resisted. Then, the sudden trivial thought of being forgotten terrified him almost as much as the idea of giving up the hunt.

This wasn't just about the chase anymore, and that realization, more than anything, scared him in a way he couldn't fully articulate. He was so damn confused.

Before Two Legs could speak, a sudden wave rippled through his body, seizing his muscles and pinching his breath. The sensation was forceful as if a current of electricity had jolted him from the inside out, leaving him stricken. Without realizing it, he stumbled to the window nearby.

The parasite from last night—t he other plaga —had called out to him.

It's near…

Two Legs eyes darted over the nearby buildings, desperate to locate the source of the disturbance. His left hand gripped the windowsill tightly, fighting against the overwhelming urge to chase after it. He was so consumed by the need to get a visual that he didn't notice Sawyer rise to her feet, her eyes glancing between him and the outside world, trying to piece together what was happening.

"Luis?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you good? You just glitched out for a second there."

"Sorry," Two Legs swallowed hard, blinking rapidly. He could feel the stress rolling off him in ripples and realized he might've come across as strange—dangerous even. He needed to backtrack and regain control. The last thing he wanted was for Sawyer to discover what he was. Or worse, for his cousin to pinpoint his location and claim his quarry. The thought of the other plaga eating her made Two Legs' blood boil as his territorial feelings from yesterday resurfaced. No, he wouldn't let that happen. Not after putting so much work into keeping Sawyer alive for the right moment—or...he wasn't sure anymore, about hunting her. It didn't seem as sporting as it once was.

"Luis?" Sawyer called his name again gently.

He quickly spoke up, not wanting to linger any longer in his thoughts. "Last night after our argument, when I went for a walk...I wasn't alone. Someone was watching me. I tried to chase them down but lost them in the rain. Now, I can't shake the feeling that I'm being watched again."

Sawyer's eyes widened slightly. "Shit, really?"

"Yeah." Two Legs finally turned to her; a frown etched deep into his face. "I should've told you sooner, but it slipped my mind."

"Don't sweat it," Sawyer shook her head, letting out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "Do you think they're with Soldado?"

"I don't know, but it's possible." Two Legs sighed, his gaze sweeping the room while he pieced his next move. His tone shifted, taking on a forced lightness as he formulated a plan. "Looks like you still have some packing to do. How about this—I'll go around the block a few times and make sure we're safe before heading to the airport. Sound good?"

"Sounds risky on your part," Sawyer murmured. "It could be a trap."

"It might be, but better me than you getting caught. I know these streets; I can handle whatever comes my way." Two Legs forced a grin. "For all we know, it could just be an angry ex of mine."

Sawyer blinked, caught taken back by the remark as she snorted. "How the hell did you jump to that conclusion?"

"Think about it!" Two Legs laughed. "If you were an ex and saw me sneaking a random American into a hotel in the dead of night, you'd probably feel jealous or curious at most!"

Sawyer scoffed, shaking her head as a reluctant smile tugged at her lips. "Me thinks you're giving yourself too much glory in the romance department, pal."

Two Legs chortled and smirked. "So we're pals now?"

"That's not what I—shut up."

"You didn't say please!"

"Por favor," Sawyer crossed her arms, looking at him with a faint grin. "That good enough for you?"

"Well, you spoke my mother tongue, so why not?"

Despite the playful exchange, Sawyer felt uneasy. Luis's plan made sense, but something about it felt off. Yet, Sawyer couldn't argue—she had her responsibilities to contend with: keeping VITA property safe, cleaning up the room, and giving Mobley and Kari one last chance to make it to the rendezvous point before she had to report them officially missing. Telling Maestro was one thing, but the paperwork was another beast she wasn't looking forward to slaying.

"One hour," Sawyer said, her voice firm as she held up a finger to drive home her point. "One hour to see if there's anything worth sticking around for. After that, I'm gone with or without you. Okay?"

"Absolutamente!" Two Legs responded with a grin that lit up his face, his excitement almost childlike as he clapped his hands together. The energy radiating from him was like that of a dog about to be let off its leash, eager to run wild. He began shedding his clothes, flinging them aside in a chaotic blur to toss on the new ones Sawyer had given him earlier. (7)

Sawyer's breath caught in her throat, her cheeks heating as she quickly turned her gaze to a spot on the wall, the sight of him almost naked too much to handle. The rustle of fabric behind her only amplified her discomfort, and she cursed herself for not averting her eyes sooner. Beneath the embarrassment, she was curious about Luis's unabashed ease, wondering if he stripped so casually in front of everyone he met. The thought made her briefly cringe. Although the furthest from a prude, Sawyer couldn't imagine being this comfortable around a complete stranger.

Two Legs, oblivious to her unease, finished changing some seconds later and smoothed down his jacket after zipping it up over the black tee. When he turned to face her, now fully dressed, Sawyer couldn't help but be momentarily struck by how normal he looked, well—for a guy with long, unkempt hair and a beard. The realization reminded her just how little she knew about him. She was almost tempted to crack a Jesus joke but reminded herself that getting cozy like that with a former Umbrella employee wasn't wise, let alone went against her principles.

"Do you want anything to eat while I'm out? I can grab us something on the way back." Two Legs asked, his tone light as if their tension had evaporated entirely.

The kindness in his offer caught Sawyer by surprise. It was strange how nonchalant he was behaving toward her, considering she almost blew his head off with a gun last night. She hesitated, searching his face for any hint of deception, but found none.

"No, I'm fine," she murmured. Then, almost as an afterthought, she added, "But...coffee would be nice. Y'know, for the brain fog."

Two Legs smile widened at her callback to his earlier remark about not being an early bird, and he nodded eagerly before heading for the door.

"One coffee coming up! I'll be back soon."

As the door clicked shut behind him, Sawyer released a breath. The room instantly seemed emptier without Luis. She shook off the lingering awkwardness and went over to her laptop, turning it on and letting the system boot up. It was better to start her missing report draft now than to work on it at home, figuring she'd get the painful parts out of the way.

Now sitting in front of the computer, Sawyer's fingers quickly moved over the keys. She logged onto the VITA network, searching her inbox for a reply from Maestro, but nothing appeared. She hummed in disappointment but figured he was busy and decided to check the archives for that one government document on Luis. While it didn't have much on him, Sawyer hoped to find more clues about his past dealings with Umbrella, but she didn't get that far, being met with a blank screen.

"What the fuck?"

She tried a few roundabout ways to get in but kept getting the same results. There were no codes, buttons, or whistles—just a void staring back at her.

A frown tugged on Sawyer's lips. It wasn't like the system to be unresponsive, and for a moment, suspicion crept into her mind, but she rationalized that it was probably a glitch. Despite all the tech advancements VITA had at its disposal, they weren't immune to site crashes like any other online organization.

"I'll worry about it when I get back to the States, I guess," she muttered, her finger hovering over the trackpad to close out. At the last second, Sawyer stopped, watching the screen flicker, the darkness giving birth to an all-white text message in capital letters.

"Meet me on the rooftop. - Rebus"

"Sweet Jesus," Sawyer whispered. Kari was here—in the hotel. At first, she wondered if it was a trick or wishful thinking until another message appeared.

"In case you're skeptical, here's Soldado's code: 'Are you enjoying the splendors of Spain?' Please hurry. - Rebus"

Sawyer stood frozen for a moment, the reality settle in before wasting no time preparing to meet Kari. She ventured and grabbed the backpack from the suitcase, hastily stuffing it with additional first aid rations in case Kari needed any wounds tended to, a couple of cell phones, and some euros on hand.

As she packed, Sawyer's mind raced with questions—how Kari escaped the Dires, how she survived Soldado's self-destruct sequence, and if she found Mobley or if the son of a bitch was with her. Each thought piled on top of the last. Before letting her thoughts run away, Sawyer paused to write a quick note for Luis, letting him know where she was in case he showed up early.

With the note left on the table, Sawyer locked the door behind her, clutching the key tightly before slipping it into her pocket. She reminded herself that Luis had a spare and swung the backpack over her left shoulder. Not that it mattered in the end, given they wouldn't be here much longer.

Sawyer bolted down the hallway to catch the elevator at the end, wondering what kind of tale Kari had in store for her and if she'd have the strength to tell Kari what became of Samuel. Whatever was to come, she knew the conversation would be challenging, and she had no idea where to begin about Luis, much less how Kari would react.

For now, Sawyer allowed herself to bask in the joy that someone on her team was alive. That was enough to keep the loss of Samuel at bay, and the stint that happened in Colorado.

Notes:

1. Jódeme! = Fuck me 2. Soldadito = Soldier boy 3. Dime algo que no sepa = Tell me something I don't know 4. Hé, hé, hé! = Hey, hey, hey 5. Manger une bite = Eat a dick 6. Pero = but 7. Absolutamente = Absolutely

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