"Zeke Ashbourne, you have a visitor."
I looked up toward the voice. The creak of the metal door and approaching footsteps followed. I wasn't too pleased with leaving my cell, but it can't be helped.
When he was closer he removed my straitjacket.
As for my blindfold, I said. "Don't take it off."
I preferred that my eyes hideous eyes remain covered.
He obliged and prompted me to follow. We walked for a while until arriving in a small room. I had memorized the path from memory, so I could tell that this was the interrogation room.
There was a desk here, with two chairs facing each other from opposite ends. On one chair sat a middle aged man, I referred to as commander, who had awaited my arrival. The other was empty so I took a seat.
"Even when blindfolded your senses remain sharp."
He was complementing my ability to detect every bit of energy around me. I wasn't about to allow him to begin an unnecessary conversation, so I asked. "What do they want?"
I could hear him sigh. I'll assume that he's about to say something I won't like.
"They are still pushing for your release Zeke. This time they're not willing to accept a no from you."
There was something more he was holding back, but I decided to ignore it and act stubborn.
"Tell them what I always say. I'm not willing to cooperate."
"Zeke."
My response must have made him anxious from the way he reluctantly said my name.
"They expected you would say that. So they want you to know that they understand what you're hiding. They can take it from you, if you don't cooperate."
He didn't want to reveal anything else, regarding it, because of the recorders. Somehow they had discovered what I held dear. I managed to remain calm, in order to not do anything bad.
"Do I have to work for them again?"
"Partially."
"Partially?"
"I never told you this, but years ago I retired and made the decision to become the principal of one of the local academies."
"How is this relevant to the topic?"
"It's simple. As you already know, when the children graduate, they join squads under the mentorship of a high ranking squad captain."
I didn't know where this was going, but I continued listening anyway.
"I put in a word for you. You'll be allowed to take up such a position. Only on one condition, you cooperate whenever you're needed. You'll only be bothered when necessary.
This was a tempting offer. If I became squad captain, I might gain more freedom than when working full-time. This was also their way of keeping their valuable asset active, and within their field of vision.
After some thinking, I said. "I'm not sure about this."
"I advise you to take the officer. Not only will it benefit your freedom, it will also benefit them, somehow. I was also assigned as Xensy in the zone designated for your squad."
I was both proud and shocked for the old man, when I heard he was appointed as a Xensy. Talk about a major upgrade. I could trust someone like him in that position.
But...
"I also have a condition of my own. Since you are the current principal of the school, you must be responsible for assigning students squads and squad captains."
He nodded.
"Know that I want a strong team, otherwise we can forget about this whole arrangement."
"That has already been taken care of."
I could feel him extending his hand, awaiting mine. I followed his lead and shook it in agreement.
Huh... I didn't look foward to seeing the outside world.
Man, am I going to miss the endless solitude.