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"Save your strength... It's only the beginning." Jaq says sagely, from her station. Then adds. "Help her unclog it."
Nodding, Alex cracks his shoulders, and leans over you. He tries his hand on the problematic contraption, but after a moment of fruitless stuggle, he whips out... Oh.
Your eyes widen when you see him hold a knife right over your head! - No, not just a knife, but an ornate, silver switch blade. You have no idea from where he pulled it out of at all. Promptly, he shoves it down the hatch, and after a few, careful thrusts, the deed is done.
"Umm... thank you."
Hiding his weapon into his suit, he responds (and you breath a sigh of relief). "No problem, madam. I hope it wasn't too sudden, I mean the knife." Rubbing the back of his messy, black hair, he adds sheepishly. "When I'm tired, I sometimes act without consideration."
"Eh, no problem." You say, and he returns to his seat, leaving you, once again, alone with- "Wait, Alex!" You blurt out a little too loudly, garnering everyone's attention, including Angelina behind her counter.
Embarrassed, you scamper to his seat, and lean on the boxes, as if nothing happened. He can come in useful, you think. Maybe even answer one of the other questions looming over you... Really, anything will do.
"Anything else?" He asks, as he puts another mangled mess of papers into his small furnace.
"Actually, yes. How do you fare?"
"Alright, madam. No reason to worry. I'm tougher than I look." He says, smiling apologetically. Yet you can see him breathing labored breaths.
"I bet you are." You say feigning ignorance, but then whisper. "I find your devotion truly admirable, but... I can't help but keep questioning, why? Why would you push yourse-"
Suddenly, he silences you with a finger. Leaning closer, he whispers back sternly, with not a trace of his usual regality present. "That's enough. I get what you mean... And I agree. It's about time for someone to do something, before any irreparable damage is dealt."
Feeling him squeeze your arm, you whimper. "D-do what? W-what damage?"
Alex sneaks a look past you, and towards others. Full of life, or adrenaline, again. "But not here." He seethes. "I will answer your questions the next time we are alone, you deserve that much. Until that time, please, don't do anything rush... Madam."
With that said, he returns to his menial task. Satisfied, albeit a little worried, you return to your own. Guess, it's serious enough for him to open up - that's an information in by itself too, you think.
~~~
Afterwards, you continue your part, albeit still faster than the rest - it's easier like it. Outside of the engines and tearing paper, the library remains quiet. With nothing better to distract yourself, you keep furtively searching for anything interesting in the rubble you are meant to destroy.
