JARED, NO!

Jared recoiled, dropping the booster in his hand. He and Iliana both fumbled for the syringe, but it clattered to the floor and wedged itself into a crack on the floor. Jared whirled on Scarlet, what was that for?

Jared, you may have felt some of her emotions, but you only experienced her reaction to some life events. She is deliberately trying to hide something from us. I don't know what it is, but I felt the emotions more strongly than the rest.

Jared turned back around and watched Iliana try to extract the syringe from the crevice. Without her noticing, Jared withdrew his Colt and leveled the weapon at her.

"Iliana...," he deadpanned, all emotion drained from his demeanor and voice.

She glanced up to see the muzzle of the gun pointed at her head and stumbled back on her rear.

"Whoa, whoa, what are you doing?"

"Scarlet says you are hiding something. While I believe your emotions are true from the things you saw in the vision, my companion pointed out she is much better at reading emotions and thoughts than I. She says you are deliberately hiding something and unless you tell me, I'm taking this booster and we are leaving."

If we leave her alive, she may come after us.

Scarlet, I will NOT kill another human being unless it is in self-defense. We can barricade her in the room and let her find a way out on her own.

As you wish, Scarlet said making her displeasure known.

"I-I...," Iliana said while backing up and she dove for the door. Jared made to follow-

WAIT! I can hear more movement outside. She is not alone.

"I'm such an idiot..." Jared hated himself for being so foolish and naïve. Then again, it was against his nature to show hostility against another human, he always assumed the best in them. Even when he was a kid, he chose not to fight back against the bullies, but to stand strong in front of them.

He'd need to get past his unwillingness to harm people if he ever hoped to fight back against the people responsible for his mother's death.

"Put your weapon away and come out with your hands up!" An unknown male voice sounded from outside the room.

"Scarlet, can you stun them using telepathy? Do you know how many of them there are?"

I can try, but my telepathy is much weaker than my mother's was. It should at least confuse them for a few seconds, but I can't say for certain how many. It sounds like four, but I'm just not sure...

"WAIT!" Jared yelled, so they thought he at least considered their instructions and then whispered to Scarlet, "On three." Jared held up his fingers and slowly ticket them down. On one, he crouched and lunged for the door accompanied by a wave of psionic pressure he felt at the back of his head. Thankfully, his bond with Scarlet shielded him from the mental assault, otherwise he would be on the ground holding his head like their assailants.

It turned out there were five people and Jared moved blindingly fast, his new physical enhancements pushed to the max. One blow was all it took to render them unconscious. None of them wore armor, but rather clothes designed for moving quickly and quietly.

Most of the group clustered around a male figure and made it easier for Jared to knock them all out. However, the fifth member of the gang crouched on top of the melted roof as had Iliana when she first arrived. Probably over-watch in case something bad happened...

Unfortunately, this person recovered before Jared could reach them. They brought a small pistol to bare and attempted to shoot Jared. He dove to the side and around the corner, away from the line of fire. He heard them scramble for a better position, but before they could fire another round, he heard a wet slap and a crunch of bone as all went quiet.

Quickly, Jared peaked around the corner and saw Scarlet standing over the downed assailant. "Scarlet, is he..."

He is alive, I only used my tail to whip him in the head.

Jared gathered all of their guns, packs, and searched their pockets for any weapons. Once he'd gathered all the gear, he brought each of them into the room and set them against the back wall. All the gear and weapons went in a pile just inside the door and behind Jared.

He had no rope to bind them so he stripped off their belts and cinched their feet together. It wouldn't hold them long, but it would give him more than enough time to shoot anyone that tried to attack. While he searched their bodies, he also ripped off their balaclava's so he could see their faces. One by one, their faces revealed varying ethnicities along with a tattoo on their necks.

The tattoo portrayed a dagger tipped in blood and surrounded by a tribal pattern. A nuclear hazard symbol surrounded the dagger and tribal pattern. "I'm assuming this means they belong to a gang or mercenary outfit." Jared said to himself and finished his search. He crossed the room to sit on the other side of the door across from Scarlet to wait.

While he waited, Jared went through their packs and discovered a dozen boosters. He grew more angry because Iliana in no way needed his supply. He looked at Scarlet and she seemed to look straight through him.

I'm sorry Scarlet, I should have been more careful. Now a gang, with unknown intentions, knows our secret.

Jared felt ashamed and decided that he and Scarlet needed time to know each other better and explore their strengths and weaknesses. I... I assumed. I was wrong.

In the last pack Jared discovered a half depleted power pack for his phase pistol. Immediately, he pulled the gun from his backpack and inserted it into his weapon. He re-holstered his Colt and kept the phase pistol in clear view of the unconscious people. He wanted them to see he meant business and to give them a clear reason not to try anything sneaky.

It took nearly thirty minutes before they stirred, all except the one Scarlet knocked unconscious. Jared worried that she'd underestimated her strength and permanently injured him, but aside from his jaw slightly askew, the only wound he appeared to suffer was a healthy red mark where Scarlet's tail impacted.

After four of them awoke, Jared spoke, "Don't move, try nothing, and you make it out of this alive."

He grabbed their attention and continued, "I offered a nanite injection," he said it with emphasis for Iliana's benefit, "and yet you thought to harm or steal from us. Why?" Jared leveled his phase pistol at them, which earned a few gasps.

"I see all of you know what I'm holding. I've bound your feet and if any of you try to free them, I will shoot first and ask questions of your buddies. Understood?" He received a round of nods from the four of them. "Now, tell me what you're doing here and why you followed me."

Jared looked at each of them, but no one answered.

"Answer me!" Jared shouted and shot the phase pistol into the wall. "Next one goes in someones head." Jared felt sick to his stomach. This wasn't him. He'd never harmed another human being. Creatures were easy for him to dispatch, but his parents made certain he valued human life above all else.

"We were just exploring the city!" Iliana was quick to speak after his display of hostility. "We've been exploring every city from Florida up the East Coast."

"Following me is not exploring the city, and it doesn't explain why you wanted to steal from me."

"I was curious... I saw you walking around with... with that thing, or dragon if that's what she is. I've seen nothing like her before and I thought..." Iliana stopped speaking.

"Thought what?" Jared roared letting his rage bubble to the surface. He fueled it with thoughts of his mother's death and him nearly failing to hold up his promise to protect Scarlet. "You though you'd waltz in here and steal something that is literally keeping me alive? Worse, you attempted to hurt Scarlet!" Jared narrowed his eyes and clenched his fist.

"With-with that creature by your side, I-I thought maybe you were from the city." Iliana pointed up while she said it leaving no question about who she meant.

"Me, by myself, in a destroyed city, creatures scurrying about, and some possibly mutated creature following me around and you thought I... You know what? I don't even care what you thought. The fact you tried to rob me, especially after what I showed you spoke to your nature."

"You mean those images are true?" Iliana's eyes widened in shock. "I thought it was just a trick... how, how can that be? We're infected with a virus?" Iliana's companions started at that knowledge and Jared could see the looks of outrage flit across their faces as they gauged their chances of escape.

Jared brought the phase pistol to bare and in a quiet, deadly voice said, "Do. Not. Try. It."

Their shoulders slumped, and they released the tension they'd been building to spring at him.

"Guys, he's not talking about infecting us. If what he showed me is true, we already have a virus and those nanite injections... I can't even believe I'm saying this..." Iliana shook her head, "those nanite injections are booster shots that stave off the virus, but only for a few years which is why we need to keep taking them."

The man Scarlet hit sat up, "what is this virus..." The words were barely audible as he tried to speak around his broken jaw.

"Loch, are you okay?" Iliana spun around to see the man sit up and gingerly feel his jaw.

"STOP! You all can discuss this later. Right now I want to know who you are and what you want with my gear. You are my prisoners until I deem otherwise so I suggest you explain yourselves."

Iliana glanced back at Loch who tried to bore holes through Jared with his gaze. Jared humored him, stared right back, and raised the pistol. Jared had to give the guy credit, he didn't flinch the slightest with the weapon pointed at his head. Apparently, he'd been in situations like this before or he was a superb actor. Finally, Loch consented and motioned for Iliana to speak.

Iliana narrowed her eyes at him, clearly outraged at not being able to tent to her comrade. To appease her somewhat, Jared said, "If none of you try to escape and you answer my questions, you will walk away from this alive. That is a promise whether you believe me. My quarrel is not with other explorers."

Iliana weighed her options and then told their story. "We are..."

"Wait," Jared held up his hand.

"What are you..."

"I said wait!"

Scarlet, if she is touching you can you tell if she is telling the truth?

I should be able to, but I've not tried it before.

"Iliana, please come next to Scarlet and place your hand on her like before when you saw the images."

"But...," she gestured at her bound feet.

"No, I will not untie your feet. You can worm your way over here yourself." Iliana grunted and growled in frustration.

"You should have through twice about crossing me, especially after you found out I have a DRAGON."

Iliana wormed her way across the floor and hesitantly placed her hand on Scarlet.

"Ok, start again, and this time start with your names."

Iliana looked at Loch again, but Jared raised the pistol for insistence. "Fine! My name is Iliana Harle, the man your dragon hit is Loch, my brother. The big guy there is Jon Davis, the silent one there is Lee Sakumota, and then you have Rob O'Neille. We have been exploring cities all the way from Florida up the East Coast."

"You already told me that, tell me WHY, and what you want with my injectors when you already have more than enough for the five of you. No, don't look at Loch. If you try to lie Scarlet will detect it and Loch gets a round through the head. Do we understand each other?" Jared pointed the pistol at Loch until Iliana gulped and nodded her head.

"We've been looking for my nanite injections, weapons, and ammunition for our fraternity."

"That symbol on your neck? That's for your fraternity?"

"Yes, we call ourselves the Daggers."

"How many of you are there?" Jared grew concerned thinking there might be more of them in the area. "Better yet, how many of you are here right now?"

"There are forty-three of us but only the five of us came north. Another party went west, but the bulk of our people are back at the camp in the northern part of Florida."

"Why do you not live in a survivor colony? I've never seen so many explorers gathered in one place. Any time I've run across an explorer, they are usually by themselves when they visit a colony to get another nanite injector."

"Many of us are exiles of the colonies."

Jared grew alarmed, "WHY?"

"Whoa, it's not what you think! The leaders at our colony think everyone should work for the greater good of the colony and that means helping with resource harvesting to keep a steady supply of needed items and injectors coming from the cities. When we refused to help and instead set out to explore, they told us to never come back and they would no longer give us any injectors."

"So what? You plan to use the weapons and ammo to go after your colony?" Jared's voice turned menacing as he thought about these people taking the lives of other humans. Humans that went through life oblivious to the lies sold them, protecting nanites that don't exist. Those malevolent, no good... Jared started to get worked up again until Scarlet's voice echoed in his head.

We will have vengeance Jared, but you need to focus and keep a clear head right now.

She was right. Jared let out an exhale and motioned for Iliana to continue.

"NO! We want to take the fight above."

Scarlet, is she telling the truth?

Yes, she has told the truth. I can tell she is holding information back, but it appears they plan to take the fight above.

"All right, let's say I believe you. How do you plan to attack a city that is literally floating in the middle of nowhere?"

"I can't tell you that." She turned to Lock who seemed to consider Jared and what to tell him. After a long, pregnant pause, he pointed out that Iliana should continue.

Looking flustered, Iliana said, "We know when the drop ships will be at our colony and plan to ambush them."

It was Jared's turn to look shocked. "You want to take out a drop ship?"

"Not take one out... capture it, so we can use it to get to the city."

"You don't think they will notice a captured ship and blast it out of the sky?"

"We will force a pilot to..."

"What if these pilots can interact with the ship using nanites? What if they can send a warning you don't know about and a boarding party is ready to shoot you as soon as you land?"

"We have no other options!"

"Well that is not an option unless you want to commit suicide. You know what? I don't even care. I thought maybe we could help each other out, but I can see that's not likely to happen. Move back over to the others." Jared pointed to the other side of the room.

After she'd taken her place, he tossed all of their gear and weapons outside the room.

"What are you doing?" They all shouted and wriggled on the ground. Jared reminded them of their predicament and fired another phase round into the wall.

"If you need another reminder, the next shot takes out someones leg. We'll see how far you get when you need to carry that brute over there." Jon, the brute, growled like a rabid dog, but remained in place.

"Now, I will toss all of you gear out of here, except the nanite injectors. I'll leave those in here as I have no need of them. Weapons and ammo are going outside and I will place a slab of concrete in front of the door. You will remain in here until I'm ready to let you out. If any of you try to escape before then, you die."

Jared finished throwing the gear out the door, asked Scarlet to exit, and followed. He grabbed the biggest piece of concrete he could find and propped it against the door. He also took a couple smaller pieces and stacked them on top to make it harder for them to get out.

I can sense their fear.

Jared turned to Scarlet to see her staring at the room. "You can sense them from here?"

Yes. They may not show it, but once you put that barricade in front of the door I felt a sharp stab of fear from them.

Jared felt a little bad, but then thought about the harm Iliana nearly committed against Scarlet and those feelings evaporated. "They deserve to suffer a little after what they put us through."

Jared upended the packs, took any ammo he could use for his Colt, and a couple first aide kits. "We will not stay here. I want to get far away from here and we can decide what to do later."

What about them?

"Eventually they will tire of waiting and push their way out. We need to be far enough away by then they won't be able to find us."

We may want to find out more about their fraternity. If they really plan to go against the cities, we could use their help.

"At what cost though? I will harm no one in the colonies. If they attempt to capture a drop ship, some people will get killed. The leaders of a colony will want to protect that drop ship at all costs since it is their livelihood."

You will need to get passed your inability to hurt another person.

Jared felt the scorn in Scarlet's emotions and said, "When the time comes I will do what I must, but I'll not kill innocents while getting there."

Are they innocent? You heard what Iliana said. They exiled them and deny them injectors. It is an eventual death sentence unless they are able to scavenge for injectors. There will come a time when they cannot find any and will mutate or die.

"What if there is more to the story? What if they got exiled for other reasons? Maybe they brought danger to the colonies?"

You just made my point. We need to learn more about this fraternity.

"What if we follow them back to their camp and try to verify their story? After we find the camp, we can head south to the colony they came from and ask questions. Maybe they will allow me to enter if I'm not there for nanite injections."

It would be better than going on our own. We need to gather allies and increase in number if we hope to succeed. The two of us against an entire city results in defeat.

"All right, I get it. We will follow them, but if I find out they will hurt people in the colonies for no other reason than to achieve a desired end, I will NOT work with them. In fact, I'll label them as an enemy."

Agreed

"So, how do you propose we follow them? They have those rifles with scopes on them and the way Iliana moved while following us, they know how to move stealthily."

I will fly!

Scarlet's voice had an edge of excitement in it and Jared knew she couldn't wait to soar through the sky. "Let's move away from here first. Once you can fly, circle back and keep an eye on the group. I'm guessing they will abandon their plans to search this city and instead head back to their camp."

Jared and Scarlet walked for at least two hours before he felt certain they were far enough away. The area Jared chose was flat, open, and lifeless. It seemed like the perfect place for Scarlet to try flying.

"You're up!"