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[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/eiPi3ur.pnghttps://imgur.com/eW3DkFq.png[/img][/center]

Location: Innocence, the floating island- experimental division (medical ward) 
Time: Morning 

[hr]

Cade pulled up on the metal bar. 

The chill penetrated into his skin and drove him onward. With each lift, the asylum fought the pull of gravity and rose his chin over the bar. Then he lowered it back down, allowing his tendons and muscles to slacken in rest. He repeated it about ten more times before he let go. His feet dropped to the floor with a soft thump before turning to the woman observing him nearby. 

Noticing his attention fixed on her, the medical doctor paused in her writing and tossed him a towel. Cade caught it then began to wipe away the sweat collected on his bare skin. Taking a seat, his thoughts wandered over the last four weeks since their little ‘adventure’. Samad had, at least tried, become less of an asshole when working with him. Something he was grateful for, but he didn’t expect it to last much longer. Old habits were hard to break after all. Everyone appeared alright, having came out out of it for the better. Everyone, but him. 

It bothered Cade since that day. His concern festered and ate away at him, despite his attempts to ignore it. Even with their broken link, he knew Samad could sense it and some times caught his partner looking at him. Apprehension to know what troubled him laced Samad’s usually cold eyes. It made him shiver thinking about it and realize he could share it in words. That meant facing it existed, but he just wanted to forget it. 

His peripheral vision caught he woman dismissing him, his inner attention broken when she waved him off toward the exit. 

On his route out, Cade tossed the towel into the nearby hamper. His arm tugged his shirt off the hanger then over his head to return his modesty. When he entered the hallway, an order rang into his head.  

[i] Bean Sidhes, SenDep, and the Experimental Team, you are all required to report to briefing room A23 immediately.[/i] 

Cade sighed while he adjusted his course from the cafeteria to the briefing room. He didn’t look forward to going on a mission, but he couldn’t fight the orders. It was hard to see how this was better than death sometimes. 

[hr]   

[center][img]https://imgur.com/eW3DkFq.png[/img][/center]
Location: Briefing Room A23
Time: Morning
[hr]

Samad’s eyes looked at the arriving teams. His eyes were seeking Cade among their numbers, but found no trace of his partner causing silent disappointment. Casually he leaned against the wall beside the door as he debated on what to do. A deep, worried side of him wanted to seek out his partner. Cade had been acting uncharacteristically distant and strange ever since the incident with Angel’s Red Doors. The Lost Number’s words echoed in his head about facing fears to help move forward, but sometimes taking a step backwards. What fear could’ve left his partner in such a sorry state?

The question nearly haunted the Iranian’s thoughts continually. It seemed when one took a step forward, the other fell back. A anger rose in Samad’s gut over the fact before he pushed it back down. 

[color=deba5e][b] “I don’t suppose any of you have seen Cade today?”[/b][/color]