Chapter 19

"Report May."

She sighs and looks at Travis, "Went well, the little brat is in containment."

"Good, rest up, we are sending out guardians today."

"I thought...mmf! We had a few other things to do first?"

"No, this will be fine. You got our other guest right?"

May sighs and holds her stomach as pain still explores her body. "I-Yeah, yeah we did. She's in a holding cell downstairs."

"Good, we are going to execute her in front of everyone."

May's eyes widen. "Sir. They are going to have a difficult time trusting us to begin with. They will say we are murderers."

"Not if they are the ones that want justice."

May looks at the ground and back up, Sidney sticks a syringe into May's back. May jolts and growls evilly at her.

"Easy! It's morphine." Sidney says, looking scared,

May turns back to Travis. "You want to hang the 'unknown deaths' of innocents on them?"

"Yes. Not all of them, that would be too obvious. But by the time we finish, they'll probably kill her for us. Now leave May, get some rest. You did well."

She nods, "Okay. Agh! Okay."

She limps to the door, Sidney hurries after her.

****

Atlas looks out the back at the stars as they drive away. Toni looks at the sanctuary they had to abandon.

"So set up shop, try again?"

Shadow and Toni look at him. "No. We need to hit back. Show them we aren't push overs. We won't go down easily."

"Ashe?" Toni says,

Shadow looks at her, then at Atlas, then to the other soldiers.

"I'll tell you later Atlas. I'm sure they are beginning operation Guardian now."

"Guardian? As in those super soldier things?" Atlas asks,

Toni nods, "Yes. We read a report we stole. There are many Guardians. They are going to releases them as their elite soldiers and reveal themselves to the state."

"They'll try and turn them against us."

Atlas feels the hairs on his neck stand. "And if they turn them against us?!"

"We will take prisoners, but we can't let them stand in our way. I'm sure they wanted you to improve the guardian suits."

"Tough luck."

"We'll spare as many as surrender, but when we are ready to invade, we need to be careful but strong and fast." Shadow says,

"You can say that again." one of the soldiers says,

"We'll follow you to the end Shadow."

The men in the back cheer. Shadow looks at Atlas and tilts her head.

"Atlas?"

"Ask me later. I have an idea."

****

"You alright Kitty?"

"Neo. I'm. Fine. I'm just hecka pissed! I can't believe they got the drop on us like that."

"Me neither. But don't worry, we'll meet up with Thomas and hit em hard."

"I hate hiding. I hate running."

"Me too. We are going to get them back."

At long last they arrive, an apocalyptic looking town. Buildings covered in ivy, it's massive. They begin unloading, after they finish a few hours later. They set up a watch party rotation for the night.

Atlas looks at Shadow then at Ashe. "You're kidding me."

Ashe shakes her head, "I can control glass and reflections, or mirrors, no matter how faded the reflection is, if it can sustain one I can use it."

"The mirror realm?"

Shadow nods, "She's the best of us."

"Holy crap, well then let me get to what I needed to say. You say they are going to try and convince people, get them on their side. Let's convince them that they are the monsters."

"How? We've got next to nothing to work with." Toni says,

"We'll show them there is. We tell them who we are, who we really are. Shadow, Toni, Ashe, Neo and I. When Thomas returns, he handles the Syndicate, then us five go in as point men, hidden, we dig up what evidence we can and use it against them. We are bound to convince some. Or at least cause some type of conflict."

They all exchange glances. "It's a good idea. Risky, but I like it." Neo says,

"I'm in."

"I got an idea to go with it. Let's add a face. Sort of. Mirror Mage. Ashe, hidden in dark clothes and a hood, she's the face of the Syndicate." Toni says getting to her feet,

They look at her and again exchange looks. "Now this is a plan. Declare that we are fighting for our freedoms, they want to rip it away." Ashe says,

"We'll need to Amp up against those Guardians." Shadow says,

Neo slaps her hand to Shadow's shoulder and grabs it.

"Ooggff! What?!"

"Say that again."

"Say what? Jeez Neo."

"They want to rip our freedom away?"

Neo shakes her head, "No, guardians. Guardians-guardians-guardians....o-o-oh crap...I know what they are planning."

"Care to elaborate?"

Shadow grows annoyed of Neo's hand and throws her arm off her shoulder.

"In one of the videos, they were talking about drones and suits of armor."

"Drones?-"

"Yeah suits of armor, guardians." Atlas says,

Neo shakes her head, "Drones! Suits of armor!" She quotes,

"Take out the exclamation point, add in a comma. The guy wasn't saying drones and suits of armor. Shadow, tell me exactly what you saw on recon two months ago, in excessive detail."

She stares at Neo, "Uh...machines, they were making suits, looked like guardian suits, they looked a little skinny though I guess, wait...."

Neo nods, "I think they are sending in soldiers and guardians yes, but they don't want to risk their own if they can help it. What if they are creating armies of machines to fight and control people, the only reason they are revealing themselves now, might be because they have the numbers they need. In case people don't listen."

Toni shakes hard. Even Shadow is taking deep breathes.

"Okay so we know they are making machines, but let's get proof this is their goal. We aren't sure yet." Ashe says,

"I know May well. This is their goal. Drones as the next state of the art security. She would make sure they had an army in case the people turned."

Atlas takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. "Okay, then, let's make sure we turn the people, we'll let them know they aren't alone."

They look to Atlas, fear still on their faces.

"Atlas, if we are the-the, recruiting wave of you will, the agency won't be push overs and let us set up shop!" Neo says impatiently,

Guys, we got a tank, power over the elements, power of glass and a brilliant mind to back us up. If that doesn't work, ghost here will give them night terrors before she kills them." Atlas says pointing to Toni, himself, Ashe, Neo and Shadow, in that order.

They stay silent and look at each other. "I'll say this, you make it sound like a walk in the park for us. That being said, let's send them running for the hills." Toni says,

"What the heck, I'm in, I Already know Shadow won't pass this up."

Neo and Shadow look at Ashe. She shrugs, "Serious offer, take me on a date and I'm in."

Atlas feels the heat rise to his face, so does Toni. Shadow and Neo look at Atlas in surprise, waiting for a response.

"U-uh, yes. I, yeah." he stutters,

She smiles, "Good, let's get to plannin then."

Toni feels her heart practically drop ten floors. She was going to tell him tonight. She bites her cheek hard, mentally beating herself. Ashe deserves it. They both deserve to be happy, she's getting distracted. Nothing more.

She stretches and fakes a yawn, "Can we tomorrow? Sorry, it's...been a day."

The rest look to each other, silently agreeing.

"Alright, first thing tomorrow." Shadow says,

They find their rooms and turn in. Though none fall asleep very fast. Atlas can't stop thinking of how Ashe asked him out, she is half filled with panic and half with excitement, she thinks about what they could do, oh! Maybe in the state, possibly. Shadow and Neo can't stop wondering what their first move should be.

Toni tries desperately to think of anything other than Atlas dating Ashe. She can't believe she asked him out. She knew she probably would make a move but it was just so forward. It totally through her off guard, it felt like her heart shattered. But she is just getting attached. Maybe she still has a chance, but she doesn't want to be in Ashe's way and stop her and Atlas from being together.

They are both amazing, attractive, smart, funny, caring and kind. They both incredibly strong too, and skilled and talented. And as for herself, she's just a monster, a freaky monster.