"Alright, have you noticed anything else?" The leader asked.
The others were quiet for a while before a man who seemed not to like to talk much replied.
"There is another group of people looking for her. They donāt seem friendly."
"And what actions did you take when you noticed this?" The leader asked again.
"I erased the residue energy signature in the two locations she had been to. I think we should hold out on seeking her out even if we locate her. It looks like there are people with ulterior motives and if they manage to find her, things might get complicated.
Judging by how she didnāt seem to know that she was exposing herself, or how she left a trail in her wake without erasing it, it is obvious that she had not regained her memories yet.
She wonāt be able to protect herself well without her complete memories. Letās take a step back and watch her from afar until she is ready. Otherwise, our eagerness to find her will put her in danger." the quiet man suggested.
"Sonny has a point. Letās be more discreet when we look for her in case we bring her trouble instead." The young girl suggested.
"There is something else I donāt know if any of you noticed." The hip hop man added.
"What is it?" A decently dressed man with glasses asked on behalf of the other curious people.
"There was another energy signature almost mixed with the Commanderās. It was faint, but it was definitely there." The hip hop guy continued to say.
"Then what is it? Or who does it belong to?" The girl asked.
"The Protector." The hip hop guy said.
"Are you sure?" Several people almost jumped to their feet when they heard that.
It was as if they had heard something that was impossible. How was it possible that those people had found each other so early in the apocalypse?
"I would not mistake it for anything else. The two energies were definitely mixed. Itās just that the commanderās energy signature was too prominent, thus, overshadowing the other. But, it was there." he continued to argue.
The others didnāt doubt his words. After all, no one among them had a dog nose kind of sensitivity more than him. If he said it was there, then it was there.
"Then we donāt have to worry too much. Even without their memories, Lu will protect the commander with his life." The mature man said with an almost inaudible sigh of relief.
They had been worrying about where to go searching for that guy once they reunited with the commander, but now they didnāt have to. It is almost like the case of ābuy one get one freeā.
"I hope that guy doesnāt do more suicidal actions if something happens to the commander. Making decisions is not easy, especially when the leaders are willful lovers." The young girl complained as if she had remembered an unpleasant memory.
"Donāt talk about them like that. They made a sacrifice so that humanity had a chance to heal and gain the strength to fight again. If not for their sacrifice, this world would be a long forgotten ruin." The quiet glasses man reprimanded the girl.
Everyone else just sighed loudly. Who could blame the girl for being a bit resentful? Those people made decisions that indeed, were good for the survival of humanity, but what about the people they left behind after making such an absurd decision?
There were others who could have completed the mission. People were willing to die for that mission, but one had to insist on completing it herself and the other had to follow in her footsteps and depart in secret.
They all hoped that after all these years, they had changed and would care more about other peopleās feelings and those who cared about them more than the mission.
"Go out and collect supplies. She will need them when she finally awakens completely. Donāt look for her for the time being in case we lead enemies to her doorstep. Collect everything you can find.
It is obvious from the places she has been to that she is collecting supplies in bulk. Be careful not to expose yourselves as well." As the leader finished speaking, a device that looked like a phone beeped in his pocket.
He took it out and looked at the screen. A simple line on the screen read, āCome back to the base ASAP.ā
Seeing the message, he stood up and said to the others, "Be more careful. I have to go back to the base."
After saying that, he picked up a coat on the arm of the chair he had been sitting on and left with long strides.
"When do you think heāll stop pretending and come back for good?" The young girl asked with curiosity as soon as the leader was out of sight.
"You think he canāt hear you just because you canāt see him? Are you stupid or just naive?" The hip hop guy began to roast her as soon as she was done speaking.
"Who are you calling stupid? Do you want me to drown you in the air?" The girl jumped up with puffed cheeks and a flaring nose.
She looked like she would fight to the death with the hip hop guy.
"I can just kick you to the other side of the city before you get a chance to do anything to me." The hip hop guy taunted.
Just as the girl was about to launch herself at him, the glasses guy grabbed her arm.
"Can you two stop acting like children? You have a mission to fulfill. So, go do it. Also, the leader has his reasons for staying at the base. He will leave when the time is right. Donāt ask questions you should not." Sonny said before letting go of the arm he had been holding.
"Yes Sonny, we will go collect supplies now." The two replied in unison.