Chapter 20

****

"What about the Conver tower? It's got big screens, Shadow and I can hack it, upload Ashe's video and we bounce."

"How do we know they won't take it down before it finishes?"

"No no Atlas, this is the intro, our real video we will ping off a few places."

"Oh okay. So this is just declaring that we are here and ready to reveal ourselves?"

Toni nods.

"And if they find us?" Atlas asks,

"They won't, if they do we do what we have to. No one gets left behind. Under any circumstances." Shadow says,

"Agreed." Ashe says,

"So when do we record?" she asks,

"Tomorrow."

"Hopefully Thomas is on board."

"He will be, if nothing else, because I'm on board. I know we are going to succeed. But. I think we all know, or at least need to address the fact that this could be a one way trip for some of us. Seriously consider that....if you want out, this is your chance." Shadow says,

"Shadow, I'm with you to the end." Atlas says,

Even though no one can see, she smiles at him. He's proven himself, she's glad she can call him a friend.

"I wouldn't be much of a inspiration if I said no." Ashe says,

"You know I'm in." Toni smiles,

"And there's no way I'm backing out either." Neo chimes in,

"Alright. We have done a lot of planning today, help set up for the rest of the day, take it easy. In two days we will go over this with Thomas." Shadow says,

They all agree and walk out of the room.

Ashe follows Atlas and bumps herself against him. "Hey."

He looks at her and smiles, "This is actually exciting. The thought of finally ending this war."

"I know. Finally peace. Jeez what is that like?"

"You're asking the wrong person Ashe."

She shrugs, "I wouldn't know either."

"Glad I got you all as friends though."

Ashe looks at the ground and sighs. Altas frowns.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just thinking about this whole war.-" she says, but it was a lie.

She wishes he felt something for her, like she does for him. "But on a lighter note, I'm really excited to hear Toni preform tonight."

Atlas grins, "She's got an amazing voice. I'll say it again, she killed at the festival."

Ashe giggles, "She's not the only one singing though." she says jumping in front of Atlas and smiling brightly at him,

"Wait you're singing with her?!"

She shrugs, "Maybe."

"Hey guys."

They look over at the man with curly brown hair and soft green eyes.

"Hey Tips, how you holding up?" Atlas says,

He shrugs, "Eh alright, tired. How bout you guys?"

"Same. Hey, do you guys want to play cards?"

"Sounds fun to me?" Ashe smiles,

"Yeah, I'm bored."

****

Toni leans forward on her elbows and stares at the stars. She looks over as Shadow sets her mask down on the ledge.

She takes a deep breath, they looks at the stars in silence for a few seconds before Toni breaks it.

"Shadow, I think you look really good without the mask."

"I know. You tell me almost every time I take it off."

Toni grins, "Cause I mean it."

"Scars aren't attractive Toni."

Toni looks at her and purrs at her. Shadow laughs and shakes her head, "Gah you're something else."

Toni laughs with her and smiles at her hands, "Selina, if anything I think it makes you look brave. Strong. But you are beautiful."

"Thanks Toni....you're really gorgeous. Not hard to see why Atlas likes you."

Her face turns pink, her head shoots sideways to look at Shadow.

"What? No h-he likes Ashe."

Shadow scoffs, "Honey, if he liked her, he would have asked her out first. He likes you a lot more."

"Well...how do you know?"

"I'm a people person."

Selina looks at her and they both laugh. "It's true though, you said go actually flirt with him."

"What? No! Nooo!"

"Toni. Go after him. He likes you a lot. You owe it to yourself, all you do is lift others up and push yourself down-whether you admit it or not! You know it's true."

Toni looks at her hands again and smiles. "He really like me?"

"Yes, even the limbs YOU claim make you look like some abomination."

She is right, Atlas was captivated by the mechanical limbs, he went on about how he liked them. But he waited for her to address it. With respect.

"Atlas likes me."

"What's not to like?"

"Yeah I'm awesome."

Shadow looks at her in surprise as Toni stares into space, shocked at her joke.

"Since when do you make jokes like that about yourself?"

Toni covers her face with her hands, "I can't believe I just did that!" she laughs,

Shadow giggles and let's out a happy sigh. "I miss laughing with you. I miss laughing."

"That's what alcohol is for." she says imitating Tips,

Shadow grins, "That guy is missing a few screws."

"And his dignity."

Shadow looks at her and let's out a loud, short laugh, "Seriously, are you drunk?"

Toni covers her mouth, "What's wrong with me?!" She laughs,

"I like this sassy Toni."

Toni shakes her head, "Gosh, next thing you know...I'm shutting up."

Shadow laughs again and wipes a tear from her eye. "Ugh Toni you are my favorite human being. By far."

"According to you, you need to get in line behind Atlas. I must be slap happy, that's why I'm so loose."

Shadow raises an eyebrow, "Slap happy? Seriously what did you do with Toni?"

"U-hum. Slap happy, that rush of energy you get when you're really tired. You could slap someone and they would probably laugh."

"Not wrong there. Then go rest."

"Nah I'm good."

"Toni you spent the entire day planning with us and before we walked into that room, you'd spent the last 16 hours helping others around the base. Go sleep."

"No, this is nice! I'm funnier and you're looser, this is a rare occasion."

"Gosh man. After you're hitting the hay. I'll be right back."

"Where you going?"

"Getting snacks and drinks, I want to unwind tonight. What do you want? Dr. Pepper?"

"Whatever we got is fine."

"Okay, I'll be back." Shadow pulls her mask on and walks through the door,

Toni smiles to herself, she hasn't seen Selina this relaxed in so long, she can only remember the one night a few years back. She truly gained Selina's trust that day. It's such a great feeling, seeing her like this, feeling so free.

She soon returns with bags on chips and two cans of Sprite. They both sit in chairs and look out at the stars as they laugh and talk.

"Wait so you told me it was Jackson!"

"No no! So they are two different stories. But happened in identical circumstances. The first was Jackson, the second, Tips was running from those guys."

Toni gasps, "What?! Tips was in the field?!" She whispers loudly,

"Yeah, he was good too. That was one of his last missions."

"I wonder why! Getting chased by a freakin camel, gosh." she laughs,

"Yeah, once in a lifetime experience."

"So what did you do? During that?"

"Mm!"

She swallows and sets the can down. "So I hurried to his position, and I see him run around the corner and the camel is literally just chasing him. It chased him for like four blocks. I didn't know what to do so I watched for the first two and then I fired a shot at a window near the camel and it gave up."

Toni shakes her head. "Wow...wow."

"Yyyyyup."

Toni leans back in her chair and looks at the stars. "Such a dark world, but I'm glad we have the stars."

"Me too."

Eventually Shadow puts her mask on again in case someone finds them later, and they talk themselves to sleep.