[District 7, Neon City]

(Sofia’s point of view)

Alzec hadn’t spoken a word since they left the Wasps compound. Sofia on the other hand was being consoled by the young girl. Noel sat staring into the front windshield.

“He led us out here to die” Sofia gasped, still looking out at the Ash city as the sun started its accent.

“We got found out. It happens” Alzec said back nonchalantly. “Sometimes stuff just goes bad”

“How many people have died in front of you?” Sofia started to raise her voice again. “People you cared about?”

She stuck her finger in his face. Alzec didn’t look her way, just seemed to be focused on the broken roadway. He let out a sigh.

“To many to count” Then he skidded to a stop, just short of an on-ramp.

Stepping out of the suv he quickly tossed open Noel and Her doors. Pointing to the Neon City across the waterway.

“Go! If you are gonna run just go!” Alzec’s face was stone cold ice, not an ounce of emotion.

“Go where?” Sofia hoped out the truck, quickly closing the gap between the two of them. “The only person who I know is dead. This place is foreign!”

Alzec didn’t back up as she stopped ahead of him, a hand on her sword. He quickly turned to his right and kicked the sword out of its sheath in a single motion. It clanged to the gravel a few arms lengths away.

“You put your hand to your blade like I didn’t teach you all you know” Alzec was leaning back against the stone rail of the on ramp.

“You knew what we were sent out to do” She lunged at him, leading with her left first.

As he grabbed her wrist, she swing with her right. Nearly missing his chest as he hopped back onto the railing. Anger flaring in her eyes like a city ablaze.

“It was very sensitive information “ He huffed, dodging her next swing. “Spider didn’t want it to get out. Routine training exercise was the cover. It was a secret “ He caught her right hand and pushed her back into the suv.

“Sofia please stop” Noel stepped out of the car, Olivia at her heals.

“No I can’t “ She rushed him again, this time not swinging.

She tackled him to the ground, just short of the ramp wall. Sobbing as tears started to fall, she hit him twice weekly in the chest. Alzec didn’t move or flinch, instead he wrapped her in his arms.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for it to end this way” He looked up at Noel and Olivia just standing there as two more strikes collided with his muscular core.

“It’s not fair” She continued to sob.

“It never is” He whispered.

(Alzec’s point of view)

Hours had gone by since they returned to the compound. Sofia had been sent away to her and Emond’s quarters. The girls had followed trying to be of help.

He on the other hand had to bring Emond’s body to the doctor. To be set up for a burial. Then off to see Spider, which he knew wouldn’t be pretty.

Spider was out on the balcony as Alzec approached, a smile on his face as the boy climbed the stairs. Even a wave, it didn’t make sense.

“How goes your day?” He said in a much giddier voice then Alzec thought humanly possible.

“We got beat, lost Emond in the process “ Alzec hung his head in shame, stopping just short of the top step.

“I heard. But it just so happens that I know why. And am already getting ready to head the next invasion “ Spider let a sly grin peak from his lips. “ We did have two spies in our camp. Both will be delt with tonight “

As Spider spoke a loud sound started to echo across the lawn. It sounded like a helicopter, or multiple helicopters.

Peaking his head back he saw them, three VTOL air ships brandishing the Spec Sec logo across the bottom headed towards the ground. A three set of spears, held on a shield.

“What are they?” Alzec asked as the three ships landed on the plantation grass.

Two men and a woman jumped out of the first, all wearing the Spec Sec armors and logo. The first man throwing up his hands at the sight of Spider.

“As I live and breathe. A Spider amongst the ashes “ He smiled climbing the stairs, the others following his stride in toe.

“How long it’s been?” Spider gave the man a quick embrace.

“Years for sure. So why am I here?” He stood just out of reach of his two handlers. Battle hardened for sure. Neither have Alzec even a glance.

“Wasp has become his own problem, he’s moving people from the main lands, getting them shipped here from other cities too” Spider sat at a small white metal table, inviting everyone to sit.

“Human trafficking at its finest “ The man shook his head. “I remember a long time ago when he wouldn’t even touch drugs.”

“What a long time ago that was” Spider looked over at Alzec as he sat. “We don’t pretend to be good, but I don’t bring girls and women from other cities to have them taken by my men and anyone who will pay a nice fee”

“The city has no quarrel with what goes on out here. Except when that happens to start stuff in the city. Do you know a Nobel house was knocked over? Whole family dead, minus the children” He slammed his hand down on the table.

“That said house is in ruins but only had daughters. Seems to be a sad arrangement of marriage in one of their futures.“ Spider shook his head knowing full well how the big city did its business. “What if I told you that I knew something about that too?”

“What could you know about that? You have never stepped foot on the main land by my knowledge “

“That is very true. Yet I have seen the pictures on that blasted set my mother watches. I know them all”

“Are you telling me the three girls are over here?”

“Would you like to meet them?” Spider smiled a bit. “It’s funny what their drugs do. To the human mind. One of the girls doesn’t even remember her sisters, the other two are joined at the hip”

“Your telling me I’m here because Wasp has them all?”

“No, they are here safe” Spider stood up. “We move on Wasp tonight. I would like to have your assistance, with this problem at hand.”

“The girls are here” The man looked puzzled. “Can I take them?”

“One won’t go. She lost a very close friend to Wasp. So I’m sure she’ll want to be there when we get him.”

“Makes sense. We’ll meet here tonight, we can fly out there and catch him off guard. I’ll have boots on the ground as well” Then man gave him a nod and started back for his air ship. “You owe me one!”

“Go fetch the girls!” Spider ordered him, heading into the house.

Alzec stood there for a moment taking in every word he’d just been allowed to hear. Processing it all in his mind. Before he set off towards the house. Knowing full well this day was about to get way more muddled.

[Sofia’s point of view]

(Sofia’s residence)

Noel was sitting at the edge of the long sofa, Olivia on the other hand was in the kitchen trying to put together a pot of tea. Sofia hadn’t spoken since they entered the house. They could hear her tossing around things upstairs, sobbing the entire time.

Spider had given them cloths, all of Emond’s where being tossed aside into a basket. His room upstairs an empty hole. They had only spent a few months here. Yet it had felt like home.

“Sofia! Tea is ready” Olivia called in a chipper tone from the floor below.

Slowly she floated down the stairs like a ghost. Hanging on the banisters edge as Alzec’s stepped through the front door. Ignoring him she fled right to the kitchen. Not even batting an eye in his direction.

“We have some information” Alzec said to Noel as the other girls hung out in the kitchen. “I know she won’t listen to me. Spider is going back tonight with help from some other friends, they are going to take Wasp out.”

“That’s good” Noel said as Olivia and Sofia stood at the doorway to the kitchen. “We will be there”.

“Tell Spider that Wasp is mine” Sofia said without looking in Alzec’s direction.

“He knew that would be your choice” Alzec said dropping onto the couch.

“You won’t be staying “ Sofia said as if he wasn’t in the room.

“I have more information “

“Well I don’t want anything to do with it. I’ll kill Wasp then I’m leaving.” Sofia took a sip of tea from a homemade metal cup.

“What she said” Olivia added in.

“It’s about all of you” Alzec stood up. “I’m sorry I couldn’t save him, but the man made his choice. Which was her life over his own.” He looked right at Sofia while he spoke. “They are holding a vigil for him in an hour, after we are leaving to take Wasp out”

“We will be there as well. She just needs some time” Noel stood up and started toward the door. “I’m sure in some time she’ll be ready to talk to you” Noel whispered the last part as Alzec stepped out of the house.

“There’s one more thing but I’ll let Spider tell y’all” Alzec gave a bow and turned off down the stairs.

Noel closed the door and looked right at Sofia. A look of disappointment on her face. She understood the process of grief but this was making it his fault.

“You gonna get dressed?” Noel asked moving across the room toward where they both sat.

“Yeah” Sofia slipped past with her head dropping to the floor, a few tears running down her face.

“She misses him” Olivia looked at her older sister with a sigh. “He saved me… she should be mad at me”

A small breeze had started to blow as the night set in. A large pyre stood just outside of the Spiders mansion. Two men sat on there knee’s, ankles and arms tied up. Tap across their mouths, terrified expressions on their faces as the crowd got bigger.