"Here's that paint and extra glitter you guys wanted."
I place the bucket of purple paint on the table and toss the tube of glitter to Emery who raises one hand to catch it.
"Nice catch," Grayson says with a smile. Emery grins in return and I notice her cheeks redden a little before she resumes her painting. She looks over at me and I raise my eyebrows, an action which she immediately shakes her head to. After grabbing a brush, I begin to paint as well until I hear the door close and see Roman and Drake walking in. Without sparing a glance in my direction, Drake pulls up a stool and sits right next to Grayson while Roman stands behind him.
"Can you give us a minute?" Drake asks Emery before turning to look at me.
"We're not going anywhere," Emery answers before Grayson also responds,
"Yeah, anything you need to say to me you can say to them."
"Yeah Drake didn't you hear? Emery is a Red Hawk now." I hear Roman and turn to look at him with an incredulous look.
"Now where did that come from?" I ask him but he turns his head away.
"That's not true," Emery insists and I look back at her with the same look.
"What is this about?" I ask officially confused.
"You've been leading on me for weeks about information on the Trags. I think I've got something for you." Drake tells Grayson who glances at Roman and him before moving closer.
"I'm listening."
"The Trags built a weapon," Drake says hoisting himself up on the table. "Something called a suvek. We think it's some kind of bomb."
"A bomb?" Emery asks.
"We tried to destroy it. It didn't work," Roman states bluntly.
"So, why are you telling me this?" Grayson questions.
"Because we've got a plan B. We're gonna steal the suvek from the Trags. We need your help." Drake answers pointing to Grayson.
"Why don't you tell the SCU?" Emery asks Drake.
"The SCU is a leaked ship," Roman responds. "They have informants on the inside."
"It's true." Drake confirms. "When I was a Trag, Vega always knew ahead of time when the SCU staged a raid."
"Besides, they'd end up holding all Atrians accountable," Roman adds.
"Kiss integration goodbye."
"Unless, of course, that's what you and your Red Hawks really want," Roman says in a snide tone looking at Grayson who stands up.
"No, what I want is to go back to the part where you said you were a Trag." He says staring down Drake. "No, I'm sorry but how do I know this isn't some Trag plot?
"You said it yourself. The keyword is were. He was a Trag." I say in Drake's defense.
"Exactly, I'm no more a Red Hawk than Roman and Drake are Trags. And Grayson doesn't want to end the integration program. If we all just take the testosterone done a notch, you'd see we all want the same thing here. Right?" Emery says before pausing. "So say we actually get our hands on this thing. What are we gonna do with it?"
"We take it to Gloria. She's the only government official that we trust to make sure the Trags are the only Atrians sent to the Crate."
"Have you even thought about how we're gonna get it out of the Sector?" Emery asks and the room goes silent with everyone in thought. I look out of the window and an idea comes into mind.
"Laissez les bon temps rouler," I say aloud. I'm given a strange look by everyone before I continue. "I've got an idea but we'll need help."
That Night...
"I'm sorry you want us to do what?"
"We're gonna smuggle the suvek outside using the Mardi Gras unity float. I got Gloria to give us permission to finish building the float in the Sector tomorrow. She's always looking for new ways to promote the integration program. So she's using it as a pr opportunity." Emery explains to everyone in the booth.
"Nothing says unity more than trying to dismantle an Atrain terrorist plot together," Grayson jokes, moving closer to Emery.
"I knew the Trags were vicious but I never thought they'd go this far." Sophia says in complete disbelief.
"Think of it this way: if we fail and the Trags detonate that thing; a whole lot of people are gonna end up dead." Drake looks at me after he speaks and I nod in agreement.
"You know how this 'sumak' thing is gonna wipe us all out? Why aren't we going to the police about this?" Lukas asks.
"Suvek," Roman corrects him. "And even if the police did believe us, there'll be all kinds of Atrian backlash. Not just the Trags."
"How many people know about this?" Sophia asks.
"Just the seven of us. It's safest that way."
"Yeah, so don't go phoning your Red Hawk pals." Roman tells Grayson who opens his mouth to speak but is cut off by Emery.
"Okay, first thing we need to do is figure out where the Trags are keeping it."
"They've got a new hideout. We find that, we find the suvek."
"Can't we just ask Teri or Soroya?" Sophia looks to Roman.
"Nobody's seen or heard from Teri in days. Besides, we don't know where her loyalties lie anymore." Roman says quietly.
"Isn't there anyone in the SCU we can trust?"
"Afraid not but we think we might have a way to use their shadiness to our advantage," Drake implies with a smirk.
"After we find the suvek. Show them the map." Roman tells Drake who reaches in his back pocket and pulls out a folded map. I see Emery and Roman walk away but my attention goes back to Drake when he starts speaking again.
"Alright, here's what we're thinking. Now the SCU guard station is on this side," Drake points on the map. "If we come in from the south we take a left there and they won't see us."
"Are you sure they won't see us?" Lukas asks.
"Positive. This section is hidden by a warehouse plus there is a bunch of tarp and crates that keep us hidden as well," Drake explains moving his hand over the map. "And after we get the suvek, it's a straight shot out of the Sector."
"Great," Lukas sighs with a dry laugh.
"What?" I ask him.
"It's just a lot to take in. It's like, did you think you would wake up this morning knowing the fate of Edendale and the peace between Atrains and humans is in your hands?"
"When you put it like that..." Emery says and we all turn to her with smiles on our faces. "I'll see you all tomorrow." I move out of the booth and we all exchange goodbyes as everyone starts leaving. Eventually, Drake and I are alone after everyone is outside still talking.
"Are you scared?" I ask him playing with my necklace. He nods his head and opens his arms for me to enter his embrace. I wrap my arms around his waist and turn my head to face him.
"Are you?" He asks in whisper.
"Terrified," I say.
I feel his hand rub circles on my back and with a shaky sigh, I close my eyes.
"I'll always protect you. You know that?"
"I know."