Valkyrie gripped the arms of the chair as she watched the mirror that was focused on Skulduggery, not listening to anything the Elders were saying. They were beating him, whoever they were, trying to get answers. The quiet translation that Kaden was whispering to her let her know that they thought Skulduggery was a spy and they wanted whatever information he had. Which was none incidentally, but Skulduggery didn't know that was what they wanted, or how to say he didn't know himself. So instead he was hit in the face a remarkable amount of times.

"What do we do?" Valkyrie asked as Dexter waddled into the room, wearing the standard issued white clothes the Medical Bay gave patients. He had a blanket around his shoulders and a cup of steaming liquid in his hand, his hair dishevelled. He apparently didn't care at all that there were Elders in the room. He slumped in an empty chair next to Valkyrie, taking in the screens and very quietly saying

"Shit."

"Isn't the language enough to go on?" Valkyrie asked desperately. Kaden shook his head.

"Your teleporter wouldn't be able to find them, there are no distinctive features. Just a language and sand… It would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack."

Skulduggery cried out as one of the men brought the butt of their gun on his head, screaming in his face.

"We need to do something!" Valkyrie exclaimed, frustration and worry building up in her chest, threatening to burst through.

"Okay," Milo said, taking his glasses off and rubbing the bridge of his nose, then replacing them. "The bandanna that they are wearing to obscure their faces means something, because they're all the same, yes?"

"Yes." Valkyrie said.

"Right, so we need to find what that colour scheme matches and then boom we have it narrowed down."

"I can tell you that," China said, "The red symbolises blood and death, original I know, and the white symbolises the salvation they seek. The fact that it's a black circle in the middle means the government is somewhere in the middle, balancing it. The red 'x' over it shows that the government are losing, failing. They're a resistance group called Underlie."

Valkyrie blinked slowly. "Right. Great. Where is that? How do we get there?"

China hesitated. "They're the mortal version of the Dead Men, Valkyrie. And considering there is only you and a very injured Dexter right now I suggest holding off… But I know you won't, will you?"

"No."

China's shoulder slumped. "I'll call upon as much of a team as I can." She said, then disappeared through the grand doors. Valkyrie looked at the other mirrors. Anton was still in the ship, undetected. Ezra was still being carried somewhere by huge, dark skinned women. Ghastly had been taken in by a family wrapped head to toe in fur with a remarkable amount of Husky dogs. Saracen had somehow managed to free himself of his binds and was wandering, his somewhat surprising survival skills kicked into full gear. They would worry about them when an issue aroused. But right now they were fine… sort of.

The next day, they were ready. There were twelve cleavers, Tanith, China, Milo, Valkyrie and the Monster Hunters. Fletcher was studying the mirror, then a map that China had given him. His eyes scanned it, then looked at the mirror again. He nodded.

"I'm ready. Link up." They did as he said. Valkyrie knew he was not happy with these turn of events, he hated going somewhere for a mission without testing it. But they all knew he might be killed if he went in alone. Valkyrie blinked and then they were in the room. As soon as they're feet touched the ground, shouts of panic and gun shots rang around them. They went about their plan. Milo crouched down, snatching their senses away without a moment's hesitation. The Cleavers went to all possible entrance points, Tanith and China guarding Milo as Valkyrie went and rapidly untied Skulduggery.

"Hello there." He said, trying to sound like he wasn't in pain even though his face said different.

"Hi." Valkyrie said, breathless, untying the last knot.

Skulduggery stood then grabbed Valkyrie, throwing her to the ground as he yelled "GET DOWN!". He was on top of her, shielding her from the bomb she didn't even suspect until it went off. Her ears felt funny, and a fog that wouldn't lift slowed her movements. Her arm was stinging. She felt hands on her, pulling her up, panicked. There was shouting but it sounded far away, like she was under water and they were yelling at her from the surface. She was aware that Milo and Tanith were bleeding. She was aware that Fletcher was unconscious. It didn't register to her why that was bad. She saw cleavers pick him up, then they were running but it felt like she was running in the snow, her legs refusing to move.

Then it hit her like a wave.

There screaming and shouting and ricocheting bullets and the running but to where? They were out of the building now. And in the middle of a war.