[center][color=#4dff4d][h1][hr]Benji Baker[/h1][/color][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E0NF0k8q8s]"Detonate" - Black Math [/url][/center][hr]

[indent]From the shower head water graced his pale forehead, streams trickling down his faded black eye. Benji's fingers stroked his scalp, touching each black strand until his palm slid in a descent towards his beard. The water was quite colder than he would usually prefer it, but nonetheless, he liked it, found it refreshing to purify his sweat-ridden self after the brawl. His wrist rotated in a circular motion, twisting the shower knob until the water ceased. It was about time he decided to finally dry up, Benji honestly did not know how long he spent wasting water. He lost tracked of time itself in there. No matter, in all actuality it was late, all the others either fell fast asleep or attempted to. 

Benji grabbed the towel he hung against the wall of the shower. He smothered his face in it before mopping the rest of his body with the cloth. Next, Benji proceeded to get dressed. Since the invasion occurred while everyone was getting some rest in their rooms, he wore what he would normally sleep in: his free Cryonautics t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. He has been wearing that ever since, it was nice change to be putting on his khakis, a button-down shirt, and a sweater vest. Benji planned to make his way to the library once exiting the bathroom, because he was not yet tired and figured a book might clear his mind, if not at least make him a bit sleepy.   

Yet about the time of putting his khakis on, Benji began hearing multiple footsteps, [i]heavy[/i] footsteps. Immediately, he jerked the shower curtains to the side, making eye-contact with his unexpected visitors. "What are you doing here? Something wrong?" 

[color=B0E0E6]"Allow me to escort you to the cockpit, it is [b]urgent[/b]."[/color] Without even slipping his shirt on, Benji followed Pseudo while Britheian troops shadowed their path. 
[hr][hr]
[color=B0E0E6]"You can evidently see Echo Montigawitz enter Ailbeart Rend's dorm room, with Rend currently present in that moment."[/color] Pseudo pointed at the screen monitor, directing his synthetic finger at Echo who appeared in the video footage. [color=B0E0E6]"The door slides shut, and since this ship was originally built under the approval of Velbenan queen, the Artemis was designed with cameras present in all rooms except the bathrooms and dorm rooms to ensure privacy. Therefore, there is no surveillance provided to show us what happened in that room."[/color]

With arms folded, Benji's brow furrowed in irritation. However, it was not as if he had any right to control her. Of course, he is concerned since he feared Echo's perceived alternate reality may be affecting her decisions in waking life. No matter, as long as whatever she was doing does not put anyone else in danger, then Benji was not going to force her to do anything. [color=#4dff4d]"Even though I don't like it, whatever did go on in there is their business. I can't infringe upon that."[/color]

[color=B0E0E6]"And naturally you wouldn't, unless you were aware that immediately after she exited the room, clearly sober and not intoxicated, Rend was no longer there. None of our surveillance records him ever walking out. After guards investigated any escape out of that room, they came to the conclusion that his own means of leaving beside the door would be the--"[/color]

[color=#4dff4d]"Vents,"[/color] Benji interrupted. [color=#4dff4d]"I wish I didn't spend so long in that shower-- I wish I knew sooner, maybe he got lost in that maze of ventilation. But that doesn't make sense, Rend might be a monster, yet he wouldn't do such a thing unless he knew he would be successful."[/color] Benji's expression twisted and contorted into one expressing paranoia. Rend escaping was bad news, there are a number of ways Rend could completely sabotage Benji's mission for the queen, but more importantly Rend could hurt the crew. [color=#4dff4d]"Pseudo, we need to secure the exit, but more importantly the armory, just in case. Rend might be outnumbered but there is the slight chance that he might try an attack once armed, and I don't want any more surprises from him, the first time was enough."[/color]

"There is an armory on this ship?!" The Britheian captain snarled at Benji. Since Pseudo intended that the Principality forces be informed of all precautions that were going to be enforced, they had been conversing in Discovering Tongue. The captain now discovered that the entire time, the Humans were in possession of arms. In charge of security aboard the Artemis, for him, it was quite unnerving to know that.

[color=#4dff4d]"I swear I was going to inform the Principality about that. It is just that, when I reunited with the crew, telling the Principality was something that I just must have subconsciously pushed off. But that doesn't matter right now, getting Rend does. The armory can be either accessed through the vents or the library. The queen must have appreciated the classics, or at least tried to make the secret-bookshelf-door leading to the armory a little obvious in hopes that we actually do have the chance of finding it. I say we head there right now."[/color] 
[hr][hr]
Benji activated the secret door once his hand extracted the correct switch- a navy blue book directly under [i]Lord of the Flies.[/i] He held his breath, expecting gunshots or bashing batons against Rend's elderly body once the shelf slid sideways, allowing an open path to the armory. Though no sound of hostility nor security was heard. Nevertheless, he followed alongside Pseudo. 

[color=#4dff4d]"Well, that's good news,"[/color] Benji sighed in relief while wiping the cold sweat from off his forehead. Rend was nowhere to be found once they made their way inside. But Benji was still on edge, and snatching an arming sword that dangled off the wall was proof of that. Though just as he did so, instantly a warm grasp curled around the back of his neck. "The last time you held a blade in your hands, you destroyed Principality property," the familiar deep, grouchy tone of the captain growled in his ear. 

[color=#4dff4d]"Yes... but that was [b]before[/b] I made my alliance with them, [b]before[/b] me and the Principality made a deal. And there's no way I would do anything to cut my ties with them. Besides, what can my one blade do against your troops?"[/color] 

With a grunt of approval, the captain released Benji from his hold. Once freed, Benji began wrapping a belt around his waist to hook the sheath for his sword. He wished to feel safe with a weapon he trusted himself with. And though the only time he has ever handling a sword before was during the invasion, it was far safer than equipping a gun without any firearm experience. 

After Benji's encounter with the captain, he turned to Pseudo, [color=#4dff4d]"Now that defenses against Rend are in position. I will deal with Echo. The Principality can do whatever they want with Rend, but not Echo."[/color]

[color=B0E0E6]"Very well, as all forces are currently occupied, so you will be responsible for her interrogation."[/color] 

[color=#4dff4d]"Go to the cockpit and override the door to her room. I don't want Echo running off. And as for the others, override their doors also, but keep them open."[/color] 
[hr][hr]
Through the hall connected to the other dorm rooms, Benji anxiously rubbed his hand against the hilt of his sword, anticipating for Pseudo to activate the doors. With each second that passed, he grew even more uneasy wondering about what the others may think about him. Though as soon as the doors did slide open, all the distress vanished. Benji's whole demeanor became stiff and antagonistic as he lifted his sword, bashing the hilt against the metal wall. The horrendous racket he caused was quite alarming enough to rob everyone of sleep. 

Though immediately after the banging, followed his voice. Yet this time, it was far more firm and strangely a little deeper than usual with a raised volume, [color=#4dff4d]"Go to the kitchen, now! Don't ask me any questions. Oh, and don't wait up for Echo... or Rend for that matter."[/color] 
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