"Hmm... that is very strange," Captain Ennessa murmured, her brows knitting together as Arlo turned to look at her.
"The only place that could be described as that backwater would be Sector Z."
She paused for a moment before continuing,
"But Sector Z isn’t snowy. It’s actually a scorching desert, which is exactly why it’s considered so underdeveloped. Hardly anyone can survive there."
She rested a finger against her chin, her expression becoming increasingly thoughtful.
"A place that’s both primitive and covered in snow... I’ve never heard of one."
" It’s probably some forgotten settlement hidden somewhere within one of the sectors... or perhaps deep inside Vorath territory."
Arlo remained silent while Ennessa continued thinking aloud.
"As for suddenly appearing on my ship, it sounds like the work of one of those damn PhenoVortexes, though you appearing specifically on my ship is quite the coincidence."
"If you ever want find your way back home, then you’ll need access to classified information from every sector." She glanced sideways at him.
"That means reaching the rank of Major. Only then will you have the authority to search through the military archives."
A grin suddenly spread across her face.
"So... I guess you won’t be eating your grandmother’s porridge again anytime soon."
Arlo stared back at her with the same deadpan expression before a thought occurred to him and he spoke.
"So, Captain Ennessa..."
"Hmm?"
"...Would you mind dropping me off here?"
Ennessa raised an eyebrow.
"I can already tell you’re an incredibly busy and responsible captain, and with how...kindfully you’ve treated me all this while, I’d rather not become another headache for you."
"So, I think the best outcome for both of us would be for you to kindly leave me here. I’ll find my own way from this point onward."
Arlo forced the brightest smile he could manage.
Instead of answering, Ennessa picked up a strange rectangular device from the dashboard and pointed it directly at his face.
Flash!
A brilliant light exploded before his eyes, causing Arlo to instinctively squeeze them shut as he rubbed at them.
"What was that?" he asked.
"And... done."
Ennessa casually tossed the device back into a compartment in the dashboard.
Arlo blinked in confusion.
"...Done?"
A strange sense of danger suddenly crept over him.
"I just registered you as my personal intern."
"...YOU WHAT!?"
Arlo nearly jumped out of his seat.
"I just accepted you as my intern," she repeated with a shrug. "Though people around my level usually prefer another title...Houseboy."
Arlo froze.
"...Why?"
"I never asked you to!" he protested. "How can you just decide something like that without my permission?"
Ennessa looked at him as though he had asked the dumbest question imaginable.
"I’m a Second Core Awakener and a Captain within the Orano Military. If I want to take in an ordinary civilian as an intern, all I have to do is submit the required application... along with a smiling photograph."
She pointed at him.
"You smiled, I took the picture, and my application was approved immediately. It normally takes forty-eight hours... but I guess you’re just that lucky."
Arlo slowly leaned back into his seat, his eyes drifting toward the ceiling as he wondered what exactly he had done to deserve this.
" Oh, Holy Black Sun..."
Ennessa frowned.
"What?"
"Nothing."
He replied quietly before sinking back into his moody self.
She observed his moodiness for a while before rolling her eyes.
"Dummy, most people who suddenly find themselves stranded in another sector become beggars, or thieves, or both. Eventually, they end up in prison."
"You, on the other hand, get free housing, free food, and training from someone who’s practically a celebrity. I’d say you’re incredibly fortunate."
Arlo slowly opened one eye.
"I only have one question."
"Go ahead."
"How many people have asked to become your intern... and how many have you accepted?"
Ennessa snorted.
"Countless have asked, but I accepted none of them. Why would I? They’d just waste my time. I’d much rather enjoy the peace and quiet of my small home than let random idiots invade it."
Arlo narrowed his eyes.
"Then why me? I don’t even want to become your intern. You practically kidnapped me, which sounds completely out of character considering everything you’ve just told me."
Ennessa rested one hand beneath her chin.
"Hmm... why did I choose you? That’s actually a good question."
"Maybe, because every chance you get... you try to run away from me, and that triggered my competitive spirit."
She pointed dramatically at him, her expression widening into an almost deranged grin.
"So now, I’m making sure you’re mine...forever."
Arlo stared at her, before the thought occurred.
’Yes, I’m sure of it now...She’s half lost it after the mission. Guess that dark needle attack must have affected her in some way after all.’
"And..." Ennessa added more quietly, "we’re surprisingly similar."
Arlo immediately snorted.
"Similar? There’s absolutely nothing similar about us. You’re a complete monster."
’I’m fairly certain you also need a doctor to examine whatever strange split personality you’ve got.’
He added quietly in his thought, but all Enessa did was simply smile, her gaze focused on him for a while before moving back to focusing on the drive.
Silence for a long moment, before the steering was turned for longer, letting the car smoothly pass through a pair of enormous astral-blue gates before gliding to a stop.
Ennessa stepped out.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
BANG!
Turning around, she found Arlo pounding desperately against the window while repeatedly slamming his shoulder against the closed door.
"...Seriously?" Ennessa muttered. "You don’t know how to open a car door?"
Walking back over, she pressed a button, causing the door to slide open.
Arlo immediately climbed out before turning to stare at the enormous gates as they silently closed behind him.
A flash of light crossed his eyes at the sight of them, one Ennessa didn’t fail to notice.
"Don’t even think about running away. If the authorities catch you wandering around, they’ll simply have you imprisoned for a while before returning you right back to me."
Arlo folded his arms proudly.
"Tch. Who said anything about running away?"
He turned away from the closed gate, and raised his head, his eyes widening slightly at the sight before him.
A massive mansion stood in front of him, so enormous that it looked more like a miniature skyscraper than a private residence.
"So this is the Orano Military headquarters?"
Ennessa casually shook her head.
"No. This is my house."