Honor

"Linda Strawberry, John Sutton, Amaka Chuckuwerri…"

Liam stood amongst many other Sweepers all wearing their casual uniforms as they once again, mourned the death of their comrades.

The speaker continued. "Justin Red, Connor Watson, and our very own brother, Cole Jenkins-- a man who was among the very first human crew to step into the Forbidden Zone in hopes of saving us all from this curse which we found ourselves in, a man who along with two others created this organization for the better of Grey Land."

The teal green-eyed man glanced to his side to see Thalia staring at the grave sign. She was motionless with no expression on her face, but it was clear that a simple tug could make her break into tears.

"Let their death be a fuel that'll propel us into a future with no Forbidden Zone, only Grey Fortunes-- so raise your head, and do not let this anchor you down, but push you forward."

One by one the Sweepers moved forward and dropped flowers on the graves before walking back.

Liam approached Cole's grave and curbed in front of it with a flower in his hand. He inhaled and exhaled softly, looking at the name written on the gravestone.

"There was so much I wanted to tell you… how do you want me to face Thalia now?" He stayed that way for a moment before dropping the flower and rising to his feet.

He stood up to meet Thalia who just approached the grave. "Liam," she finally broke down in tears, melting on the light brown-haired man's shoulder.

Owen walked up to the graves and dropped a flower on it. "It a shame their lives were cut short in such a terrible way, especially Mr. Jenkins."

The teal green-eyed man pulled away from Thalia and turned to Owen. "What did you say?" He probed, his brows already inching closer together.

"I said if only Mr. Jenkins had listened to us and dropped the suit when we all said he should, perhaps he would have been here with us today."

Liam clenched his fist tightly but slipped his hands into his pocket trying to calm himself. "I don't have the time to entertain your bullshit, Owen, go away." He shut his eyes.

The blonde-haired man rolled his eyes. "They all say this good stuff about him and all his accomplishments, but no one mentioned how he got in my way."

The teal-green-eyed man opened his eyes and turned to face Owen. "What?"

"Yeah, if that old bastard hadn't gotten in my way, I would have been the first man to put down a Creature, but he just had to get in the way and ruin my chance of showing how great I am, and also putting an end to his life-- and no one listened to me when I said the sabotage was done by a creature, they all thought I don't know…" before he could complete his words, Liam grabbed him by the collar with his left hand and hit him with a heavy right punch that sent the blonde over the graves and blood to drip from his nose.

"I'm going to fucking kill you!" The light brown-haired man moved to launch himself after Owen but got held back by the Sweepers around. He escaped their grip and charged forward, meeting Owen's jaw with another punch.

The red-haired lady's breath became hyperventilated as she watched the two exchange punches. "Lia… I…" her eyes rolled backward and she collapsed on the hard floor, drawing the attention of Liam and the others. He let go of Owen and rushed up to her, calling out her name.

Just a few steps away from the incident, Daniel shook his head at the scene before turning to his assistant who just walked up to him. "Sir, Ms. Jericho is here to see you."

The bald man exhaled tiredly before starting towards the main Sweepers building. "Where is she?"

"At your office," he replied.

A few moments later, Daniel arrived at his office where he met the owner of the famous industry, JERICHO.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Ms. Jericho."

The pink-haired lady shook her head. "Not at all, I only just got here myself."

Daniel filled two glass cups with a type of drink that exuded so much green smoke that covered most of the liquid in the cup. He passed one to Nyx and took a sip of the other. "What can I do for you?"

"Is it true?" She asked.

The head of the Sweepers stayed quiet for a while before setting his cup on the table. "What part are you asking?"

"My intel from the Protection Wall told me about the squads of Sweepers you sent into the Inner Core… is it true the creatures are here?"

Daniel rested his hand on his knee and buried his face in his palm. He could already tell the end game of the conversation he was having with the pink-haired lady.

"We still haven't had time to process the information brought back by the team because we are mourning the death of those we lost…"

Nyx furrowed. "We don't have the time to waste on mourning deaths, if it's really true that the creatures are evolving and can now live beyond the concentrated areas, then we need to inform the Star Lord about this so he can figure out ways to quickly move everyone from this Space."

Daniel raised his head and looked into her eyes. "What is it you want?" He questioned.

The side of Nyx's lips twitched up but disappeared as quickly as it happened. She picked up the drink she was offered and leaned back on her chair. "I do not follow."

"Don't bullshit me," he slapped the table, causing his cup to fall and the drink in it to pour all over the table, but the action drew not a single reaction from the Grey Lander who sipped from her drink nonchalantly.

"You and I both know that the Star-Lord and his council of governors have been looking for ways to shut down the Sweepers organization so he can have his Heavenly Protectors be the only ones going in and out of the Forbidden Zone--- hearing this will be more than enough reason to have him shut down this organization."

Nyx exhaled and dropped her cup on the table. "You are right, the Star-Lord has already ordered the troops to begin moving here, hell, a new building should be built right next to yours before the next thirty days in preparation for their arrival, he wants to take over this business."

"Ms. Jericho," Daniel chipped. "I know you are the voice behind the thoughts the Star Lord has of having the Heavenly Protectors begin operation into the Inner Core-- and I know you want something and that's why you are here, making threats."

"Threats?" She scoffed. "I'm not making any threats, Mr. Anderson… I am simply looking out for the well-being of this planet and its people."

The head of the Sweepers organization pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Just say what you want let's get this over with."

The owner of JERICHO leaned back on her chair and crossed her legs. "Oh well, you've got me."

She tucked back a stray hair and chuckled. "I was going to use some other tactics to force your hands into signing the papers but this incident laid the foundation I needed."

"What is it you want?"

Nyx dropped her tablet on the table and slid it to the bald man. "Sign that contract to make me a partner and a second owner of the Sweepers Organization and I'll make sure the incident about the creatures doesn't reach the Star Lord's villa, we'll take care of things as partners, and I'll compel the Star-Lord to recall his troops."

"That's all you want?"

The pink-haired lady held her jaw and hummed. "Oh, right, I also need there to be no more formalities between us," she revealed. "I call you Daniel, and you call me by my first name as well."

The head of the Sweepers Organization leaned back on his chair and bit his index finger. "Very well then."

.

.

.

● Graviton

Exact Location: Neon C Street.

"Fellow Grey Landers," the blue-eyed man started. "Aren't you tired of living in constant fear?"

"Aren't you scared of the day the Greyes will rain down their punishment for the humans doing?"

He tucked back his hair and wiped the sweat that had started forming on his forehead. "We are only a few days away from the Gravity Fall months, a very auspicious occasion…" he paused for a moment before speaking again. "Hear me my brothers and sisters-- are we going to let the sin-coated humans be around us while we observe this month?"

"Let us not make this month a time we'll be punished with the wrath of the Greyes instead of being showered with their blessing, raise your voice alongside me, together we could accomplish anything we desire, together we could annihilate the humans!"

"Hear me, and heed my words, for the punishment of the Greyes is nigh!"

....