Demand and Choice

The Shield agents had set up everything as the Shield commanders and inquisitors gathered in the room to see the screen. Reynolds nodded at Bree, to which the shield agent pressed a button. The black and white screen reconfigured, showing a scenery of an old warehouse. A boy with white hair in a black t-shirt and inquisitor uniform trousers could be seen, with two armed men in black and orange military uniform and gasmasks. A figure walked into the frame, wearing the same attire with an added beret on his head.

"Good morning,"' he said in a deep voice. "We are the Foundation, and we are here to destroy the Shield."

Sarah let out a sigh of relief, glad that Blake was alive. But she was still worried. Would he be alright? But it had been a bit loud, as one of the Shield agents beside her had heard it and grunted.

"This is Captain Reynolds of the Shield Corps," Reynolds began, "And i believe that you are terrorist."

"Call us whatever makes you happy. The Shield has committed enough crimes to make us puke, and it is about damn time someone did anything about it."

"And that someone is you?" Reynolds laughed, "Someone who hides behind a mask."

The militant let out a short laugh. He shook his head, getting out of the way for them to clearly see Blake.

"This boy here, he's pretty powerful."

"The boy is irrelevant to the Shield." Revana said. Martha looked at her but said nothing. Kyler had calmed her down with a touch on the shoulder.

"Using him as leverage is pointless."

"Oh, he wasn't for you." The militant said with a laugh, "He's for the Inquisitors."

"Excuse me?" Martha looked at the screen.

"Why the surprise?" The militant asked, "Our enemies are not the Inquisition. We don't go around killing inquisitors."

"Tell that to Aaron and Barry." Kyler said.

"That is...on us. But, while we were responsible for their deaths, the blame still goes to the creators of these monstrosities. However, we came to strike a deal."

"A deal my ass," Ricardo said, "As if killing two of our guys and apologizing won't cut it, you go out of your way to capture one of our own."

"We do not want any interference from the Inquisition. This is between us and the Shield. However, if you do try and get in our way, we will have no other choice but to strike. This is our demand. We will hand over the kid at the given location, in exchange, there should be no interference from any of the inquisitors, no matter what happens."

"And if we don't comply?" Martha asked

"Well..." The militant looked at his other two companions and nodded. Immediately, one of them dragged Blake away, while the other one went in the opposite direction. "I'll guess I'll leave that to your imagination."

The connection cut. Hughes looked over at the Shield agents, but they shook their head. They couldn't track their location.

"Dammit!" Hughes cried, "Now, what?"

"Now?" Revana replied, "Now we get ready."

"The Foundation has something planned. However, they need the Inquisition out of the way to do it." Reynolds said, folding his arms.

"Geez, do they really think that low of us?" Revana asked.

"No, not necessarily." Kyler said. All eyes turned to him. Kyler continued. "They have spies in your organization already. Hence they know your abilities. Unlike the Inquisition. Besides, they don't want to deal with us because it is of no concern to us in the first place. They just happened to stumble on Blake. That's why they are using him to draw us away from the conflict."

"But we have gifted individuals. Even Rei users." Revana said. "We can fight a couple of militants."

"So do they." Jacquez and Zhao Fan both said. Revana looked at them.

"Why, old friends of yours?" Hughes asked, "Why am i not..."

"These militants," Jacquez cut Hughes short, "Are trained to hunt down inquisitors. Sure you have a few average citizens thrown into the mix, but then majority of them are going to be trained."

"Great." Reynolds groaned.

"We don't know their plans though." Ricardo noticed.

"We do." Kyler said, "The half-breeds. Let them loose in the city."

"Yeah. I get that." Ricardo said, "But are you sure all the half-breeds are under their control?"

"Of course they are." Revana said, "If not how could they decide when to attack and when not to."

"The daemon attacks were not random, miss." Ricardo said, "They couldn't have been."

He was right, Kyler thought. The daemon attack at the same time the emergence of the half-breed was purely not random. The attacks happened simultaneously. But then it didn't make sense. How, and why, would they let loose half-breeds without a way to control them if they were not targeting innocents?

"We are going to get Blake." Martha said, "And then we would standby."

"That's literally listening to the terrorists, Ms. D...Hill." Revana said, catching the glint in Martha's eyes before she had made her error, "Not to remind you, but..."

"To hell with what Ms. Lionharte has to say. This is a Shield matter. We will remain on standby until further notice."

"Okay, then lets roll." Zhao Fan said. The inquisitors walked away, all following Martha's lead. Kyler turned to Reynolds.

"Oh and one more thing... Graham's gift is Impulse."

"Yeah, and what does it do?" Reynolds asked.

"Confusion. Don't listen to anything the guy says. Trust me."

"Thanks."

Sarah followed behind the group, a bit nervous. This could end up getting bloody, as these were the same guys who had caused Aaron and Barry's deaths. Even she felt a slight hatred for them. Slight. She herself couldn't tell how much she hated them.

Going with them was not necessary. She knew her strengths and weaknesses. She knew her limit and though she had improved a bit thanks to that scientist guy, she still knew that it was not enough. However, it was going to deter her. This was for Blake. Blake was her friend, and if there was anything that she knew, it was that they never left friends behind. No matter what.

"Oi."

Sarah turned to see Spen. He had bags under his eyes, most likely because he'd been watching a football match with Lukas and Shawn all night. Lucky them. But then, unlike before, there was this air of seriousness about him.

"My old man wants to see you."

Huh? His old man? She turned to face him completely and stared at him in confusion.

"I'm sorry...what?!"

"My old man wants to see you."

"Why would I need to see your old man? I don't even know him."

"Maldita sea...Dr. Vott, the scientist guy."

"Ohhhhh...that guy. You had me scared for a moment. Sorry but i have to go.."

Spen grabbed her wrist and drew her closer to him

"Sorry, but...he wasn't asking."

"Let me..."

"Rebecca Stone. Know her?"

"Duh? She's my sister, let me go dammit." Spen did, shaking his head as he walked away.

"If you want to know about your sister, follow me. If not, you can go find Blake. Personally i'd take the later, but... your choice."

Sarah stood still, confused. Her sister? Blake? What was this guy saying all of a sudden?