The New Haven Incident - Part Twelve

Quiet descended over the room as the surviving Cedarwood researchers settled down in preparation for the night. They gathered in the main dance studio, huddled in groups. Cheryl, Dr. Lundt and Hannah had elected to join Dr. Liu and Lilith. They sat in a little circle, chewing slowly on the dried bread and cheese that was their evening ration, not speaking. There was comfort enough in their mutual presence.

Members of Sigma Teams Two and Three took up positions around the room, creating a perimeter as their training dictated. Harding and Sakata were in one of the other rooms with Carter and Richards, continuing to work on getting their communications back up.

Sebastian had moved to the only other room on the floor. It was smaller and unoccupied. Being in such a crowd was discomforting. He needed space. An empty mobile costume rack stood against the wall by the door, several empty hangers sitting forlornly on the cross pole. A distant memory of himself as a child, hiding in the clothing racks of a department store when his mother was shopping, giggling to himself, tugged at the back of his mind. It was a rare happy memory of his time with his mother. The small smile from the memory faded, replaced by a hollow ache that always accompanied Sebastian’s memories of his mother.

Shaking his head, Sebastian turned his attention to the windows, watching the sun set. The silence of the city beyond the windows still unnerved him, but it also meant that there was a chance that approaching danger would be heard long before it was seen. He took some comfort in that.

Two short knocks on the open door turned Sebastian’s head. Lilith stood at the door. She smiled at Sebastian and entered. She signed. Sebastian didn’t need to know the language to understand what she said.

Eat.

Lilith presented Sebastian with something wrapped in cloth. Nodding, as if to himself, he took it and unwrapped it. It was a lump of stale bread, a large chunk of cheese and, as a treat, a clementine.

“Thanks,” Sebastian said with a small smile. He cocked his head. “How do you say ‘Thanks’?”

Lilith smiled and showed him. Sebastian copied the motion. Her answering smile lit her face, sending a light dancing in her dark eyes. Moving to Sebastian’s side, she leant against the wall, offering a silent, and welcome, companion to his evening meal.

Mendez, having had enough of the constant ribbing his teammates were still delivering to Grier, zoned out. Instead, he watched Sebastian and Lilith interact through the open door, noting with interest that the usual closed body language of the agent opened in her presence and his sullen expression lifted. His smile, when it was genuine, transformed him from something dark and guarded into what he should be - bright and boyish.

Though there was little physical resemblance between the two, Sebastian immediately brought to mind Luis, Oliver’s cousin. He had died several years ago; taken under by depression and the crushing addiction that resulted. Had he lived, he’d be twenty-nine as of last month. The boy had been so full of life, with easy smiles and jokes until just a few months before he died. The descent, though obvious in hindsight, had been entirely missed until it was too late. Luis’ death had rocked Mendez’ world, sending everything he ever thought he knew sliding sideways and turning reality upside down. Mendez largely blamed himself. He had been, he thought, close with his cousin. He should have known.

The same sort of darkness surrounded the agent now. Mendez’ gaze flickered once again to the bandages around the younger man’s wrists. He frowned. The resemblance was, perhaps, more than mere chance.

It tugged at the back of Mendez’ mind continually. Unable to ignore it, Mendez approached Sebastian after Lilith had left the agent to his own company.

There was no welcome when Mendez knocked on the door. Instead, the agent turned and, on seeing Mendez, frowned slightly.

“Uh… hey,” Mendez said. He entered the room.

Agent Connors didn’t respond to the greeting, save a nod.

“Oliver Mendez,” Mendez said, extending his hand.

The agent hesitated a moment, but then took Mendez’ hand, offering a firm shake. “Sebastian Connors.” In dropping his arms from their crossed position, the agent unthinkingly revealed the slight, threaded marks in the crook of his left elbow; the tell-tale sign of an addict. 

Mendez, despite the jolt of shock that squeezed his heart and took away his balance ever so briefly, flashed a bright smile. “Heard you might be useful, so I thought I’d introduce myself.”

“Useful?”

“Trained, at least. Given we’ve a fair few people to keep safe, that’s pretty useful.”

Sebastian grunted. He returned his attention to the vacant city. After a moment, he looked at Mendez askance. “And the real reason?”

Mendez flashed a grin and shrugged. “To take your measure, of course.”

Whatever it was that Sebastian was expecting from someone in the employ of Cedarwood Corp, Mendez’ frank answer was not it. Despite himself, Sebastian laughed; albeit quietly. He shook his head.

Mendez’ height, athletic build and the unintentional intensity in his gaze gave the impression of someone to never cross, but there was something utterly disarming in his personable manner; a genuine warmth and glint of humour in his dark eyes. Despite the association with Cedarwood, Sebastian found he almost immediately liked Oliver Mendez.

“And?”

“And you strike me as a good person,” Mendez noted with a smile. The smile faded. “Troubled, but fundamentally good.” His smile became sad as Sebastian turned to him, frowning. He waved vaguely at Sebastian’s left elbow. “How long have you been a user?”

The speed with which Sebastian clapped his hand over the marks was impressive. Mendez felt him withdraw, almost as if an actual physical wall had been erected around the agent.

“That’s none of your business,” Sebastian answered.

“It might be,” Mendez, refusing to match the hostility Connors was now projecting. “As a general rule, users are unpredictable, and we can’t have that right now. Too much is at stake.”

Sebastian scoffed. “Mind your own, then,” he growled.

Mendez raised an eyebrow, wondering what he meant. 

“It’s been at least two weeks since…” Sebastian scowled and shook his head. “And I doubt I’ll be able to find my dealer out there.” He waved vaguely at the city.

Deciding he didn’t want to ask about what Agent Connors meant when he told him to mind his own just yet, Mendez simply shrugged easily. “No withdrawal symptoms, then? No headaches? Fevers?”

Sebastian didn’t answer. Mendez didn’t leave.

“I had to ask,” the warrant officer said at length. “There are too many lives at risk. I didn’t mean to offend.”

Sebastian turned his head away slightly. He no longer frowned, but the dark, hollow look had returned.

“Look,” Mendez said, turning his body to face Agent Connors fully. “It’s a disease, not a failing. I know you were in Cedarwood City. And now you’re an agent and have been sent into God knows what. You’ve been through hell… several times, I expect. You’re not the only one who turned to using. I saw it a lot in my old army buddies. Sometimes there’s just no other way to cope. I… This probably is meaningless, but I don’t think less of you, you know.”

“I didn’t ask for your fucking pity.”

“Agent…”

“Get out.”

Mendez straightened. He hadn’t known what to expect, broaching the subject with a man who was a complete stranger, but for Luis’ sake, he had to try. He nodded slightly and turned, heading to the door. He paused briefly and turned back.

“If you ever need to talk,” he said gently. “I’ll listen.”

Sebastian gave no indication that he had heard him. With nothing else to say, Mendez left. He caught Lilith’s eye as he made his way across the main room. She cocked her head at him in a silent query and, changing direction, Mendez went to her. She left her group to meet him halfway.

What happened? Lilith signed. It looked like you were making friends for a while.

“Yeah,” Mendez said. “I was hoping to.” He paused, considering whether he should tell Lilith. Deciding that she’d likely be the only one able to help the agent if the man ever experienced a break, he slung his rifle around his shoulder and signed.

He’s an addict. Did you know?

Lilith’s smile was sad. I saw the signs.

Is he… any symptoms?

None so far, though I think he’d be very good at hiding them.

Mendez nodded. Likely. He looked back at Sebastian. The man leant against the eastern wall of the small side room, his back to the rest of the survivors, staring out over the city.

Lilith touched his forearm, bringing his attention back around. You’re worried for him. You don’t even know him.

Smiling sadly, Mendez answered truthfully. I lost a cousin to addiction. He’d be about the agent’s age now… a bit younger… if he’d lived. I… didn’t know… didn’t see the signs until it was too late. I couldn’t help him. I want to help Connors. I have a debt to pay.

Your cousin’s addiction was not your doing.

No, but if I had seen the signs… if I had paid more attention, maybe he’d still be with us.

Lilith smiled. You are a kind soul, Warrant Officer.

Mendez grunted. He turned to glance back at Sebastian again then, offering Lilith a small smile, returned to his unit and their incessant ribbing of Greir.

“Hey,” Joseph said, grinning over at Mendez. “Saw you talking with Abercrombie & Fitch over there.”

“Tried to,” Mendez said.

“And?”

“And what?”

“What’s the goss? Come on, Mendez. What’s the supermodel like?”

Mendez shook his head. “Closed,” he said truthfully. “Couldn’t get a damned thing from him.”

“Man’s a psycho,” Greir grumbled.

Mendez scoffed, then grinned over at the youngest member of Team Three. “You’re just salty he got the better of you. Twice.”

“Fuck off.”

Mendez laughed.

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