Meeting Beno

Micca and Verona slept through the night without much trouble besides a person going crazy and trying to fight the NSF officers watching over them. That person was quickly hit with the batons and restrained. Then a few minutes later another NSF officer came in the door and took the person away.

Everyone was woken up at what felt like early in the morning by Petty Officer Liam. He came into the room and yelled, "WAKE UP!"

Most of the room was standing up soon after. He didn't give much time before barking his next order.

"Get your mats put away and line up at the door. It is chow time!"

That is right, they hadn't ate since at least before they were taken yesterday. For a lot of people, that was over 24 hours without food.

Everyone quickly put the mats away and lined up ready to go out the door. Micca made sure to stay next to Verona. He was expecting them to be shackled together again, but no such thing happened. 

The NSF officers went out the door first and Petty Officer Liam led the line through the hall. Easily, the security officers split between the front and back of the line as everyone marched. It only took about five minutes to reach the cafeteria, much shorter than the time it took to reach Cannon 13 from the auditorium.

After going inside, Petty Officer Liam spoke to the line of ratings. "Everyone get something to eat. You have twenty minutes. After that, I will call you to this door and anyone who doesn't show up immediately will have to haul shells on their own." He quickly went to get himself food and went to a locked backroom by himself.

Everyone went to the line and got their food quickly as the NSF officers stayed by the door. Micca led Verona to come with him and brought her to sit by someone he recognized.

"Hi Beno."

Beno, a large and muscular looking man, looked back at Micca in surprise.

"Micca! It is good to see you. How are you doing?"

Micca started eating his food and responded. "I am doing okay. I am stationed at Cannon 13 with Verona here."

Beno nodded to that and looked at Verona. "I remember her. I got stationed in cargo handling." He said as he pointed to the badge stamped into his uniform.

"Hah, such a waste of talent, just like Verona." Micca looked over at Verona and said to her, "If you don't remember, Beno was an outward face of the organization. He looks big and strong, but his best asset is his sharp mind. He can remember the most minute of details and is generally pretty good in a conversation."

"You flatter me, like always." 

"So Beno, do you have your bearings here yet?"

"Not quite. Another day or two and I should have a good grasp of the culture here."

"Good. Can I rely on you to help me out?" It was apparent that Micca was anxious about this question.

"Of course. You were always good to me Micca. So long as it causes me little inconvenience, I will do anything you ask."

Almost on cue with his sentence Beno's group was called and he left.

Micca looked over to Verona at this point with a fairly serious expression.

"It looks like things are going well so far here, and we have the potential to really make the best of the situation. I know that previously I paid you well and you only had tasks which were well suited for you. Do you think that you can trust me and do what I ask here? even if it is something you would be uncomfortable doing? with nothing in exchange except for my word to look after you?"

Verona's eyes darted and she looked nervous at that moment. She took half a minute to respond while Micca sat and looked at her expectantly.

"I'm not sure what to do now that we have been taken here and I'm not sure if I could survive on my own. I'll leave my fate in your hands since you have taken care of those around you."

Micca gave her a smile and took her hand into both of his. 

"I am very thankful for you." He then took a pause and looked around. "The first thing I need you to do is take your spoon and pierce that security officer's neck."

Verona's eyes widened with surprise. It is one thing to help him with something that clearly benefits them, but this was just unreasonable violence. She just told him that she would leave her fate in his hands, but this...

Trembling, she took her hand and moved it to the spoon as she grabbed it. Slowly, she started to stand - Micca pulled on her arms to sit back at the table.

"I am very proud of your bravery, but that was a test. I am glad to know that I can trust my life to you as you trust yours to mine."

He cupped his hand to her face as he spoke those words. Verona looked like she was on the edge of tears, but tried her best to keep a straight face. 

"Shhh." Micca pulled her head into his shoulder and wrapped his arms around her as she regained her composure. "I will watch over you, so don't worry. It is almost time to go back though."

They sat there with Verona's head on Micca's shoulder for a good minute, before their group was called by the petty officer.