Veronica walked back to Alexandria dusting off her hands. The cannon fire had subsided which most likely meant Lyric and the others were already on the island. Something needed to be done soon so they could meet up. “They are so proud of their weapons but they never work on me. Why do they keep trying after so many failures?” Veronica started to jump around a bit watching the elevator door begging for someone to come through it again.

Alexandria wrinkled her nose looking up at the ceiling. There had not been a rumble for a little bit which meant she needed to figure out how to get up to the city without losing anyone. If they were willing to send a heavy machine gun down who knows what else they are willing to do. They could always just go up the elevator and Veronica could shield them all. Of course there is also the issue of some of the ability users not able to leave the underground facility. Something needed to be done soon before a wave of guards came through the elevator door.

“Let’s go back to the lab and check on Claire. After that we are either going up that elevator to the city or we make a stand here and wait for the rest of my crew.” Alexandria motioned for Veronica to follow as she made her way back to the lab. They shouldn’t try to attack again especially after what Veronica did to their weapon. Of course that is what Alexandria hoped was going to happen.

Veronica followed close behind doing her exercises extremely pumped for the next encounter with the enemy. It had been a long time since she was able to do this much damage to anything other than her cell. Of course that is why it was electrified even though things didn’t hurt her being electrocuted wasn’t fun at all. Just thinking about it made her intensify her exercises.

Alexandria was enjoying the excitement and hoped that when they went to speak with Claire she had some good news. They were so close to getting another notch on the conquest belt Alexandria felt like she could take on anyone or anything. They made it to the door. “I want you to go to the elevator entrance and kill any guards that try to come through.” The ability user nodded and ran down the hallway towards the location.

Both Alexandria and Veronica walk into the lab to see Claire typing furiously on her computer. She didn’t even notice them coming inside. Alexandria was a bit worried until they got closer to the computer and she saw what was on the screen. There were files all over the desktop with different names; Ability Users are the Answer, Ability User DNA Strains, Failed Attempts, Abilities To Watch Out For. The names just kept filling up the screen. “So did you find something good or are you trying to cover that screen with files?” Alexandria asked shaking her head and blinking her eyes from the strain.

Claire screamed and almost fell out of her chair. “Why in the hell would you not make a sound so I knew you were there?” She turned in her chair to see who was there. Her eyes widened to see Veronica and Alexandria standing there with annoyed looks on their faces. “I mean you almost gave me a heart attack. Sorry I get in the zone and I have found a ton of stuff y’all are going to love.” Claire spun back around in her chair facing the computer.

Alexandria’s annoyed look quickly went away as she leaned forward putting her hand on the back of Claire’s chair. “From what I could tell the file names are telling me that my kind are the answer to this vaccine or cure for the virus?” If that was the case everyone that continued to work from the damn walled cities needed to be terminated. Ability users were not materials for scared walled city people so they could go outside and have fun.

Claire wasn’t too keen on sharing information with Alexandria. Although what she had read already give her time to decide on Alexandria’s offer. She didn’t want to work for people that felt it was fine to kill others to save people who don’t even care much for the outside world only themselves. “The folder took me a bit to crack the code but you are correct. If a vaccine does exist this facility has helped to create it. I have only downloaded half of the folder. Your answers are inside though.”

This information could bring everyone outside of the walled cities together and that would be bad news for them. Even though the walled cities had better technology, the settlements and pirates outnumber the guards at least three to one. Of course there has been nothing to bring all the different groups together. This could do that job and Alexandria could lead the whole campaign. “So have you thought more about my offer?” Alexandria didn’t want to push but with all this new information it was only a matter of time before something got out.

Claire had allowed the offer to sit in the back of her mind which was a good idea since all the files she had already read was taking up the front portion. Alexandria didn’t seem like someone who would kill others to save herself. Of course Claire wasn’t a fan of pirates since so much death and destruction had been caused by them. It was amplified these days since most of the pirate groups had exceptionally powerful ability users. “Can you tell me that your crew is different from the others? They just slaughter because they can and take more than they need. What will you do with so much power?”

No one had ever asked Alexandria that type of question before. Of course she had not be asked many questions outside of her facility aside from, ‘How is the pain level?” and ‘Tell me exactly what this does to you.’ This was a deeper question that really spoke to what she was striving to change. “The pirates you speak of slaughter their own kind along with everyone else. They are mindless most of the time and only care about what is in it for them. I want to make this world better for everyone that is willing to abide by treating everyone with respect. Of course if they don’t they they will pay with their lives.” She knows that might not be exactly what Claire wanted to hear but it was the truth.

Veronica stood in the back and had stopped doing her exercises. That face from before was back and she was cracking her knuckles. There was no way she was going to allow anyone else to be killed just to create a vaccine for people that don’t even go outside. “Everyone who was involved with this that doesn’t care about our people will pay with their lives. Even if I have to kill them all myself.” She wasn’t going to take back what she said. There was going to be blood and no one could really stop her.

Claire continued to download files allowing everything that Alexandria and Veronica said to settle in her mind. There was so much there to unpack but she did agree that those who would kill just to gain something that may or may not work was unacceptable. If she didn’t accept the offer there was no telling what either of them might do to her. Of course she had already made up her mind after Alexandria’s comment about her plans. “I will join your cause as long as you do one thing for me. If any worker on this project didn’t know the true nature they must be given the choice to live or die.”

Alexandria was starting to understand why Veronica like Claire. She may be someone from the walled cities but she has a mind that is needed for the next world. “Alright I have no problem giving that option. How would we know if they were telling the truth?” There was always someone willing to lie to save their own life. Anyone could say they didn’t know the truth but there was no real way to tell. There wasn’t an ability user yet that had an ability to tell when someone was lying. Of course that would be an awesome person to know.

Claire was impressed with the way Alexandria was handling the conversation. Of course her attention was divided since there were still a good number of files to download. A real scientist would never lie about the data. “Well if you question their knowledge about the projects A true scientist would never report false data. Posing a question only someone who knew about every aspect of the project would be the best way to tell who was lying and who was telling the truth.” Claire felt that Alexandria could be trusted at least for the moment. She was still weary about the pirate thing but that would be something she might get used too.

“Alright if everything is agreeable we need to start packing things up. My crew is most likely here and this information needs to be kept out of the walled cities hands.” Alexandria was glad they could come to an agreement. Now that she had a scientist on her side who knows what they might accomplish next. Both Claire and Veronica nodded in agreement as they started to pack up anything that wasn’t currently running.

Lyric and the others made final preparations to enter the city. The siege weapons were ready and in place. All that was left to do was find out what Alexandria was up too. Lyric didn’t want to invade the city if Alexandria was prepared for them. There was also the news from Tyra that there wasn’t a strong gathering of guards anywhere in the city. However she was ready to go inside and by the looks of Eve she wasn’t going to wait to much longer either.

Tyra looked through the scope of her rifle watching Alexandria who seemed to be making a deal with a scientist from the facility. Once she see that they start to pack up the lab a hearty chuckle escaped her lips. “It would seem our captain is getting ready to leave the facility. I am sure it will be alright to give the signal now. Of course maybe I should wait until she gives a signal to attack?”

A small knife fly up sticking inches away from Tyra’s head. Eve put up her fingers barely leaving space between her thumb and index finger. “No need to toy with my patience just give the signal so we can start the real fun.” Eve wasn’t in the mood for games she just wanted to feed her bloodlust. It wasn’t good if it didn’t eat since she could possibly take that frustration out on others who don’t deserve it.

Another hearty chuckle escaped Tyra’s lips. She takes the knife out of the tree tossing it too Eve. “Just remember you have the advantage at a certain range. I can shoot you just about anywhere within a few miles.” Tyra peer down her scope looking at the lamp post nearest the open gate. No one had come to close the gate which was unusual but there was no time to figure out the issue. She flexed her trigger finger and squeezed off a single shot. The lamp post shattered from the impact giving the signal for the assault to commence.

Eve look up for a moment giving Tyra a wink followed by a sly smile. “You would first have to find me in a crowd.” She took off for the gate excited to take out some of her pent up frustration on some guards who stood zero chance of killing her.

Lyric and the others rushed forward storming through the open gate onto the main street. A silence envelope the group for a moment followed by a loud buzzing sound. The gates slam closed behind the group and in a instant they were surrounded by a formidable amount of guards. They had sprung a trap and now it was time to see how far they had come as a crew since this wasn’t going to be easy but that was something everyone in Alexandria’s crew craved. The crew would earn their name here and exact Crimson Judgement.