I looked around the Mobile MATI Base. Good, it was deserted. I knew the MATI were ruthless, but I never dreamed they'd go this far. Still, when I learned about the abduction, I had to do it. I looked around for the cell. I managed to crawl into the vents and finally find it. My heart began to break at the sight of the little boy inside. He seemed afraid of me, but I removed my hood to reveal my identity. I couldn't believe I was doing this, me of all people.

{Don't be afraid.} I told him. {I am a friend. I will get you out of here.} I hoped my words would calm him down. He signed to let me know he was deaf.

This is just great. I thought. I signed my words this time and he seemed calm.

{{I'm here to help. Stand up.}} It was very fortunate for me that I knew sign. As he obeyed, I placed a teleportation device around his waist. {{On the count of three, push the button.}} Using one hand to count and the other to hold his, we escaped. We both felt a little dizzy, but we soon noticed we were outside the cell. Another level of the base, I figured. I put my hood back on. {{You must not tell anyone about me.}} I signed to the boy. {{There are bad people out to hurt you and your family. They will hurt me as well should they learn of my deed. Do you understand?}} He nodded, not fully understanding what was going on. I saw a Mua woman coming down the corridors. I figured that was part of the rescue team.

{{Thank you.}} the boy signed as he rushed over to the Mua woman, who was surprised to see him. She simply looked at me in confusion, but I had simply walked away, silence in the air.

Using an absorbance crystal, I made my way back to the hotel room on Bedlama, where I was learning the four ancient tongues. Rare did anyone of us separate. I removed my cloak to reveal auburn hair in its pigtails. No one could ever guess that I, Lynei Tarin, the Hav'Throth second-in-command, was responsible for aiding the rescue of the house of Meglouse.

By the Goddess, I hope they survive. If Lenaria found out what I did, she'd be furious. We were mercenaries, but I always assumed we'd have some sort of morality. It's not fair! We work with these purists, and what does that get us? Chased by Mykari law! Why did Lenaria have to take that job? Then again, it was nothing compared to some of our other jobs. I know we murder; that's what we do, but is our wealth worth this? This shouldn't matter to me, but it does. A life is a life, but this is a child. He hasn't begun to live. Elara Wek, well, her life was short, but at least she had a life. That boy...that's all he was; just a boy. Is Lenaria willing to take the life of a child? She would; the MATI are our best customers and they always pay well. It's only a matter of time before they summon us to take on the ta'tori with the Light Element, something Lenaria would do for free. But that boy is a part of her family...how far will Lenaria go to accomplish that mission? At what price is her hatred towards the Light Element?

I looked at myself in the mirror, a small tear going down my cheek. Waetar wouldn't let me hear the end of it if he saw this. Sure, my demeanor matched my Ice Element, but I did have feelings. For the first time in my life, I was emotionally torn. On one hand, I shouldn't have interfered, but my usually frozen heart said otherwise. Am I really as cold as they say, or just misunderstood? I remembered how I got into the Hav'Throth in the first place; my family was slaughtered and I myself was taken to an alien colony and trapped in a brothel. That was where I met Lenaria, a fellow victim. She saved me that day. She taught me how to hide my emotions to the point where anyone could believe they didn't exist. But the memories of the brothel still affect me. They always will. After escaping from the brothel, I was introduced to the world of mercenaries. There we met and recruited the other two members, Waetar and Ranito. That fool Ranito wants me, but he doesn't understand that I don't want him. I remembered our first mission, the slave trader who defiled me. It felt good to get my revenge, I recalled. After that, we took dozens of jobs. One of them got us in good graces with the MATI, whom Lenaria gave a summoning candle should we be needed. After that, our financial situation skyrocketed, but...the cost has been too great. I can understand social, political and personal situations revolving around our jobs, but this...killing out of pure hatred was too much. How much more can I take? I then did something I hasn't done for years; I cried. My tears soared down my face like a waterfall.

I had done good for the first time in my life, but at what price?
 

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