AN: One more chapter after this one I think.

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CHAPTER 7

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"I think it's literally the top brass. The person writing the pay-checks, so to speak. K. L. Highman. His job's overseeing the whole thing, rules and stuff, and links to the UN."

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"I've studied your work for a long time." Gerard tells me. "Had a bit of a gift for making things since I was little. Do you think it will be any use?"

I study the machine carefully. "Does it do what I think?" I ask.

"Yes. At least it's supposed to. I've had a few snags in the details but so far it can slow a normal human such as myself down to almost half their speed."

"I've taken it as far as I think I can, further than I ever truly expected. I give it to you because if we get it to work the way I used to dream it would, it will be one hell of a weapon against Afina's vampires."

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We're standing among the assembled soldiers of both Gerard's men and Theraus' vampires.

"We fight side by side as brother and sister." Theraus calls over the crowd. "The hope is not to fight our own but the choice is theirs alone. I ask you each to put aside ancient quarrels, shed biased beliefs and join together as a whole. One people. Vampire and human, together."

There's a low cheer from the vampires. Some of the humans join in, others glance around nervously.

"Helen." Theraus greets as we meet at the edge of the throng. "Thank you for your support."

"It's my pleasure. We are seeing my dream come true, both races side by side."

"I fear this is only temporary. We vampires do accept your claim to humans being an asset, however,"

"Change takes time." I agree when he stalls. He nods.

"What is the plan?" I ask. Both Gerard and I agreed the confrontation would be led by Theraus.

"We will go to Afina's camp. You have no doubt seen the fallout surrounding her encampment, however that will be nothing if she begins an attack against your cities."

I nod.

"I will lead a group into her camp to offer her a final chance. If she refuses, we will be forced to subdue her and her army."

"I understand."

"I would ask you to join us to explain from a more human perspective but I believe with your personal history it would be unwise. Perhaps you and your vampire would join the lead reinforcement team? It would be appreciated if you are available should she see reason."

"Of course."

"And what of this human component?"

I take a deep breath. "How much time do you have?"

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It's one hour before we're due to re-join Theraus and the soldiers. We're at an SCIU facility in Nevada.

Henry managed to track the name K. L. Highman to an actual person in the SCIU ranks. It appears he had two jobs only the second was much lower down the food-chain.

It's against many of my morals but after much discussion we had a plan.

"Dr. Lennison? Could you sign off on my project please?" A woman in a white coat asks. She's carrying a clipboard with several forms pinned to it.

The man looks harried but takes the proffered forms.

I watch from behind the door as he scribbles his name across multiple pages.

I look away quickly at Will, hiding in the next room. I can see him, just.

The woman thanks Lennison and leaves with her clipboard.

I catch Will's eye. He nods.

I close the door gently as Will rounds the corner with a taser. Lennison barely has the chance to react to me before I'm catching his falling form.

I signal with my eyes for Will to lift his feet.

We carry him into the side room Will hid in, place Lennison on the sofa. Nice office I think to myself.

I go back to his desk, boot up his desktop.

I'm conscious for time as I search for files on vampires or Afina.

It doesn't take long before I stumble across what I'm looking for. For a man who keeps himself offline his computer files aren't very secure. No password and only light encryption. I crack it easily.

"Magnus." Will says quietly through closed lips. He's making sure not to say my name where other might hear but we didn't come up with an alternative.

He indicates the door with his eyes.

I copy the files, wishing the man didn't keep his desktop offline. It would have been so much easier if he'd been connected to the internet.

I switch the machine off and hide in the room with Will and the unconscious Lennison.

"Oh. He was here a minute ago, maybe he went to lunch?" It was the woman from before. I don't see who she's talking to.

We wait for a while, but not too long, to make sure they've gone. We're on the clock so we leave sooner than I would have liked. I don't go back to Lennison's desk, if there's more there then that's too bad.

We carry Lennison out of the office, watching the halls. I send the one beep signal for Gerard's men to flick the switch. For mere seconds the cameras and other internalised electrical systems will go crazy. Hopefully the security will believe it's a fuse. That's what it's been designed for.

The lights flutter and we make our run for it with our load.

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Gerard stands beside me as we watch Lennison stir. Hira and Harus join us in watching the troublesome man.

"Is this the one?" Harus asks.

"Yes."

We are in the vampire's settlement, Lennison is in a cell.

"What will you do with him?"

"It will depend." Gerard answers carefully. "But for now, he shall remain under lock and key. We can't have him orchestrating any new difficulties while we deal with Afina."

Hira hums agreement. I smile at the quiet vampire.

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We're waiting outside the edges of Afina's camp. Theraus and his delegates are inside the main tent with Afina herself.

It's quiet.

The air is tense, everyone, human and vampire, knows what's coming.

A bloodied and shredded vampire appears at the edge of the camp. "Theraus is dead! Afina has killed him." He yells, falling to the ground.

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AN: We're getting there, aren't we. Just one more. I was a bit iffy about how to deal with the Lennison/Highman issue, can you tell?