Murray paced along the kitchen floor, hands behind his back. "Where should I start?" he muttered. "There's a lot of ground to cover."

I stepped up to the table, blocking the blood stains from my mind. "How about you tell us what happened in Lattice?"

Murray stopped, his frown curving. "I don't actually know what happened…I left the base as soon as we split up."

Oliver's eyes went wide. "Wait, what? Why on earth would you leave?"

Murray took a deep breath. "I needed to see how they would respond…if it would work."

Oliver threw his hands up, scooting back his chair. "So was it a lie then?" he hissed, "Was the whole satellite plan a lie?"

"We did work on it, but I never intended on actually using it," Murray's voice wavered. "We needed something they'd fear...something to draw them out. I'm sorry I misled you."

I tapped my chin. "And why draw them out?" I slid into the chair beside Oliver. "You know better than any of us about who Kendall is."

Murray raised his eyebrows. "Yes, but this involves more than just Kendall."

"There it is," Raine laughed. Her head ducked inside the cupboard, her voice echoed as she searched the shelves. "Murray's come to the only reasonable conclusion. That the war is just like the revolution, both are manufactured by our governments."

Everyone turned their heads, mouths stuck shut. She poked her face out. "Oh c'mon, you can't tell me you didn't know the revolt was a hoax?" Silence over the room, she sighed, slamming the door shut. "They were trying to gather all the radicals together and take 'em out in one swoop." She frowned, chewing on her lip. "The war is a little different, sure...but it is similarly useful." She darted her eyes. "Fighting draws attention, hides their actions, it gives people a visible enemy." She shrugged her shoulders "And when there's no fighting to be found…" you create it.

Gwen lowered her eyebrows. "That can't be true-"

Raine glared back. "I watched every hero of mine turn out to be a fraud. You'd be surprised what can be true." She dusted herself off, leaning against the counter. "I've been doing the dirty work for both sides long enough to know, they're goals are often unopposed. Now with everything with Phyn, I can't help but think."

I crossed my arms. "We think they want to use me to restart the experiments."

Murray nodded. "That's why I found you before Kendall could." He ripped open the paper bag, pulling out a small black case. "There's been whispers for a long time about restarting the experiments, as soon as you surfaced I knew things would escalate. Convincing the Commander of your importance became vital."

"And how well did that work?" Oliver growled, leaning back in his chair. "Phyn got kidnapped and you ran away." Murray rolled his eyes, Oliver pointing back at him. You still haven't told us where you've been."

"I've been right here," Murray said, shifting his eyes. "I've been hiding in the Tower, gathering every sliver of information I can: video, audio, documents. Anything incriminating"

"It's your listening devices Kendall mentioned…" I murmured.

Murray nodded. "Ya, I'm sorry if he used that against you." He pursed his lips. "Although I'm pretty sure Kendall knew it was me, with Jake hanging around."

Gwen shuts her eyes. "Your brother's involved in this?"

Murray stiffened, leaning back in his chair. "He is a council member, and better than most at spotting me. I'm not surprised Kendall would bring him in." He clicked open the black case, lifting the lid. Some sort of metal chip rested inside.

Murray continued, "I've collected enough information to piece together what they're doing...if we can shine a light on that, we'll kick the legs out from under them. It's not much but it's a first step…"

"A step is better than nothing." Raine raised another bag of chips, breaking open the top.

The other empty chip bag laid, crumpled up in the corner. Lewis…where did he go? I spun around, checking the other corners. "Anyone know where Lewis is?"

"Lewis is gone?" Gwen's eyes went wide.

I darted my eyes between Oliver and Gwen. "When's the last time you saw him?"

Oliver rubbed his face. "I don't know, we were so focused on Max."

Maybe we should've left him with Kendall...I bit my lip, not wanting to follow that train of thought. He betrayed us once, why not twice.

Drake spun into the doorway, rolling on an office chair. "You're talking about the sulky one with the bloody lip?"

I walked towards him. "Did you see him leave?"

Drake steadied his chair. "Ya, he said he needed some air, left soon after Phyn. Not sure when he's planning on coming back, like I said sulky."

Murray took a step over. "Did you see which way he went?" Murray said, straightening his shoulders.

Drake's eyes went wide. "Why did you bring that psycho here?"

"He's on my side, he's not going to hurt you," I said.

Murray snorted, "Not as long as you don't give me a reason."

Drake shook his head, rolling back. "Phyn..."

Murray snickered. I stepped in front of him, raising my hands. "Stay away from him, please." I glared at him, crossing my arms. "That's not asking much."

Murray rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'll stay out of his way, for now."

Drake gave a wary glance, his chair skidding back out of view. Gwen scowled at Murray. She hissed, "Instead of trying to be macho, how about you figure out what to do about Lewis."

Murray sighed, "He'll come back...he's been through a lot."

Oliver snorted, resting his head in his hands. "What a great excuse to betray us."

Murray slipped his hands in his pockets. "I told Lewis to tell Kendall things. I knew they were connected when I recruited him." Murray's shoulders dipped. "Did he share too much? Probably, but trust me when I say he hates the man more than any of you."

"Because of Iris?" I raised my head.

"Yes…because of Iris." Murray slumped down his chair, eyes dim. "Back then there was a lot of talk of what powers could accomplish, what peace in Avarice could look like. Iris, like many of us, wanted to be a part of that change." Murray lowered his head. "It was Kendall who convinced her to take part."

Raine set down the chip bag. "What trial was she from?" She pulled out a chair, sitting with us.

"The fourth, just after mine."

"Ah," Raine hummed. "That's unfortunate."

I turned my head, biting my lip. What happened on the fourth trial?

"There was great anticipation for success." Murray cleared his throat, "They thought they had perfected the mistakes from my trial, and in all appearances they had. Not a single casualty in the fourth trial...not until six months had past." He rubbed his cheek. "In a single week every single person in that trial died, something strange with their blood. I didn't understand the doctor's explanations, but it looked agonizing."

"Gosh," Gwen muttered.

Oliver met my eyes. He mouthed, "Their blood?" I pursed my lips, thinking back to our conversation about my blood, blood-magic. Would they have stolen my fake blood sample, did they know? Or did they just take more of my blood in Idyllic? I shivered.

Murray's eyes glazed over, he picked at the blood on the table. "I was there when she passed. It was sobering...to see someone like me accept death as if it was her patriotic duty." He paused, his chin quivered. "I found Lewis's phone number among her things."

Shivers attacked my spine. I got up from the chair, walking towards the window. I peeked through the blinds. An empty street in the twilight, a street light flickered off and on. "How long can we afford to wait for him?"

Raine frowned, tilting her head to see out the window. "We shouldn't hang around too long, best to get to the base before nightfall."

I nodded. "Now that I've been 'kidnapped', we have a timeline."

A sigh from Drake, he rolled back into the room. "Why don't you just call him? I know Phyn doesn't have a cell phone-" he glared at me. "-but that's not stopping the rest of you."

Gwen frowned. "You really think they aren't tracing our phones?"

"Crazy super spies like you don't have burner phones?" Drake laughed, "Even I have one-"

Gwen turned her head. "Does Lewis have one?" She raised an eyebrow at Murray.

"Yes...I know the number." He stiffened.

She nodded. "You have one too." Gwen crossed her arms. "Is it really too much to expect a phone call?"

Murray's stern expression faltered. "You were unconscious most of the time. They were watching your room, I couldn't really say hello."

Gwen caught our stares. She rolled her eyes. "Whatever, just phone him," she said, stepping back.

"Okay…" Murray sighed, flipping open his phone.

"Like an old married couple," Oliver mouthed to me. I stifled a chuckle as Gwen glared back at him.

The sky turned a dark purple. Tired silence, a heavy weight hung over the room. Murray's voice muttered in the background. I stretched out my arms, sick of waiting.

"Oh!" Raine's face lit up, she rummaged through her pockets. "I found a picture." She pulled out a folded piece of paper, printed out, ink faded in the cresses. She held the page out to me. A red light shond over a dark metal door. White writing scratched over it, 006-Discord base.

Wait...Discord? I gave a nod, folding the page.

Murray hung up the phone, stepping back. "He didn't pick up, but I left a message," he said.

I looked back out the window. "Why don't we go and if he calls I can come back and pick him up."

Murray nodded. "Gather what you need and we'll head out."

The others shuffled around the room, searching cupboards, grabbing their own things. Quiet mutterings as they took count. I stayed by the window. Street lights turning on, they nagged at my growing worry. At least, if he is a traitor, he wasn't here to hear our plans. I took a deep breath.

Gwen swung a bag on her shoulder, walking over. "Excited to be useful instead of a pawn." She gave a half grin.

"Are you feeling okay?"

Gwen nodded. "Ya, I don't think the voltage was too high. I'm doing alright."

Raine picked up the syringe, setting it back down on the table. "Not going to risk anyone finding this on me," she said, taking my hand. Gwen took the other,

Murray last, he completed the chain.

"Whenever you're ready, Phyn," he said.

I nodded, closing my eyes. A steady beat, my heart rate carried us away. The kitchen spun away, replaced by the dark door from the picture. "Here we are," I muttered, my voice echoing off the metal.

Turning around, we faced the black hall. A red light flickered, lighting the steps ahead of us. There was total darkness beyond it. Shivers down my spine, I shook off the humid chill in the air. This certainly looked abandoned.

Raine snorted, "I sure know how to pick places, huh? This gives me the creeps."

A drop of water echoed through the hall. "No kidding," Gwen whispered.

Murray sighed, marching his steps forward. "I hate dark spaces."

I stayed back, studying the lettering above the door. "Discord...that's one of the four capitals of Tetrad." I tapped my chin. "Is there still a city?"

Raine blinked through the red light. "I thought the whole border lands were called Discord...guess it makes sense though." She rubbed her cheek. "There's ruins close to here, just like the other sites on your maps."

Murray turned back. "What maps?" Gwen gave me a wary eye.

"It's nothing, just a hobby." Their faces staying as stone, I sighed, "I've been trying to understand when things changed. Avarice seems to appear out of thin air…" I muttered, stepping around a metal bar.

Murray looked back. "What do you mean out of thin air?"

I bit my lip. "There are gaps in history. I can't find the point where Tetrad became Avarice."

Gwen frowned. "You are very interested in Tetrad."

Raine swatted my arm. "And there's a reason for that, isn't there?" She glared at me. "You should probably tell them."

Murray raised his eyebrows. "What should you probably tell us?" A green light flashed down the hall.

"It doesn't matter, it changes nothing." I crossed my arms.

Raine pursed her lips. "You said you would tell him."

"I know, I-" I hung my head. "It just sounds insane."

"Here-" Raine turned around "-Phyn's from five hundred years in the past. She traveled through time." She tilted her back at me. "It's as easy as that."

"What?" Gwen and Murray flicked their heads around.

I shut my eyes, rubbing my face. "I came to Avarice five years ago...yes, from the past." I took a deep breath. "That's how I have natural born abilities, why I'm confused as to how Avarice works-"

"You're a time traveller too?" Murray blinked at me. "How does this make sense…"

My face turned red. "I don't know. You think I understand this?"

Gwen lowered her eyebrows. "You're really not joking?"

Raine snorted, walking backwards. She strutted her steps. "Is it really that ridiculous? I got a guy who can turn invisible in front of me, a teleporter on my right. Call me crazy, but this doesn't seem so farfetched."

Murray wormed his way back, walking beside me. "Can you still time travel?" His voice picked up, excited.

"If I could, I wouldn't still be here," I muttered, my voice echoing. "I left a lot of people in a bad spot. Right before I left, I was fighting a time-bender, trying to stop this coming catastrophe." I slipped my hair behind my ears. "I think our powers interacted. I ended up here, with the fall in my wake…and-" I shut my mouth. "It doesn't matter, I failed them...and I might fail you too."

Raine punched me in the arm. "Don't talk like, I literally kill people for money, he's a disgrace to his country, and she's-" Raine pointed at Gwen "-she's too uptight."

Gwen glared at her. "Really?"

Raine rolled her eyes. "So I'm reaching. The point is we all suck." Raine pointed at me "Stop being hard on yourself, you can't help anyone with that mindset. Failed hero or not, we're still with you."

Murray crossed his arms. "Can we talk more about this time travel thing?"

I sighed, "What do you want to know?" My voice travelled back from the dark hall. A door stood ahead of us, illuminated by the blinking green light.

Murray's eyes brightened. "Are there powers everywhere in the past? What can people do-

"It's not as frequent as you might think. I knew a few others with abilities, but I could count them on one hand." I bit my cheek. "There's also magic apart from them..."

Gwen reached the door, turning the handle. She swung open the metal door. A light flickered on, activated by our movement. Rows of monitors hummed, the machines starting up.

Guns lined the back wall, ammunition tacked up. Raine's face lit up like a kid in a candy store. She ran down the row, whispering facts about each one. Stopping at the end, she turned back with a grin. "I told you this place was awesome."

Gwen wandered in first, lost in awe. "It's basically untouched…" she murmured. Lifting up a fallen bulletin board, she blew the dust off it.

"This tech is old." Murray wiped a finger of dust off the monitor, looking back at Raine. "Who's base did you say this was?" He jumped as a green line flickered across the big screen.

Raine frowned. "I thought it was a Vitriol base...but now I'm not sure. I haven't made it back here for years."

Gwen twisted the board around, the name Discord printed at the top. I stepped over, pointing at it. "What does the rest of this say?"

Gwen squinted at the board. "Discord armed forces...battle of daybreak. " She frowned. "It goes over organization, battle plans...they seem to be fighting Avarice...but they're not Vitriol." Gwen shook her head. "This doesn't make sense…"

"What doesn't?" I asked.

"This is only a few months before Redemption day. Avarice shouldn't even exist yet."

Raine pulled herself away from the guns. "Phyn, you said Discord was a city?"

I nodded my head. "One of the capitals of Tetrad."

"Strange…" she murmured

Murray's jacket swooped back. He stopped in front of the board. "The way they use the name, it's as if it still exists."

Gwen darted her eyes. "But Tetrad fell hundreds of years before this. It has to be a second Discord, a branch off of what became Avarice."

"Or our history books lie…" Murray tilted his head. "What if Tetrad never completely died, what if-"

"Avarice snuffed it out…" I stepped back, my stomach turning. I pointed at each of them. "What do you know about the events leading up to the fall?"

Raine shrugged her shoulders. "I know all the capitals fell...but I've heard many reasons; a civil war, Vitriol, some sort of natural disaster?" she laughed nervously. "I don't really know which is true."

I searched their silent expressions. "Do any of you know? What do they teach you?"

Murray cleared his throat. "As far as I'm aware, they teach a mixture of all three of Raine's theories."

My heart pounding, I took a breath. "So none of you knows who Merle is? Even in legend?"

"Merle…" Gwen murmured, she shook her head. "No, I don't think so. Who is he?"

"Merle was the time bender I was fighting before I ended up here. He was fixated on erasing a certain group called the Remedy. He would've leveled Tetrad to the ground to do it." I swallowed my spit. "I think the fall was because of him."

"The Remedy?" Murray hummed, "Huh...does that connect to Redemption day?"

Oh crap...I turned my head. "I don't know..." This doesn't make sense. I shut my eyes. "Their name is written on the train station steps, both have a council of six, and now Redemption day?" I shook my head. "What does Kendall get out of this?"

Wren's grin stuck in my memory, he whispered, Details are important...

My heart pounded as something clicked in my head. That question he asked...I'm having trouble placing the last name, do you remember it?

Kendall…

It was Kendall. Wren's real name was Leo Kendall. I shut my eyes, fighting the rising panic. And Merle let him live...he let him live.

I gripped my head. "Why would they bury this? Erase their own history?" What happened after I left.

Hope pounded in my heart. If Tetrad survived long enough to die here, maybe Luca kept fighting...maybe they all did. There's a chance I didn't leave them to die.

Murray scratched his chin. "I don't know what to make of this."

"Are we sure this group is connected?" Gwen asked, arms crossed. She tapped her arm.

"Victor is interested in their ideas, although I don't know much more than that," I muttered.

Raine sighed, stepping back towards the guns. "Nothing surprises me anymore…"

Murray faced the monitors, walking down the row. "This changes nothing. We keep it in mind, and keep moving." He brushed away another layer of dust. "Focus on the plan ahead, and we'll sort this out later." Gwen set the board down, following after him.

Raine snorted, "Sure, just ignore the game changing information." Murray glared back at her.

Gwen ducked under the desks, flicking switches. "I might be able to get these computers running, and convert the files Murray's collected." She brushed her hair from her face. "Anything software heavy, I'll need Lewis's for. The virus he built for the satellite plan might be useful." She pulled out one of the consoles. "He could make some adjustments, we could figure out a way to spread the files you want."

Murray's pocket buzzed, he pulled the phone out, growling at it, "Speak of the devil." He answered the phone, pacing.

"So we start here," I mumbled, straightening my shoulders. The screen lit up."Let's give them something to gawk at."