Hello everyone, welcome to another update. I was going to post this tomorrow but since I like you guys I thought I'd do it today. Some good news, per suggestions I will be including different POVs and the next chapter will be longer. Now enjoy the update.

Chapter 36

Five

The presentation our army is interrupted when a clone with a captain's badge approaches Hannibal's guard escort. "Sir" the captain says saluting Hannibal. "You have something to report captain?"

"I have come to inform you that the prisoners have arrived and are ready for questioning." Hannibal glances at the clone army one more time and nods his head. "Good. Please tell Interrogation that I will be down within the hour." The clone salutes Hannibal and I one more time and departs at a brisk pace.

"Do you mind showing them to their quarters?" Hannibal asks. "No problem. Is it alright if I join you later" Hannibal nods and says "Of course. I just need to go over a few things with our commanders and the other Cepans. Meet me down in an hour."

I give Hannibal a hug and rejoin the others as they marvel over the troops. "Hey guys, if you're ready I'll show you your new rooms." As we make our way to the residential block of the complex, Nine falls into step beside me. "So who are you interrogating?"

I quickly glance at the others and am relieved to see that no else seems to have heard. "That is classified" I reply not wanting to give anything away. "Aw come on you can tell me." Nine bats his eyes at me and says "I'll be your best friend."

"You're already my best friend" I remind him. Nine then leans in close and whispers "I'll make it worth your while." I sigh deciding to give in slightly. "Fine. If you must know its two Mogadorian collaborators we apprehended."

"Really?" Nine muses cracking his knuckles. "And how are we going to make them talk?" I think it over for a few seconds before replying "We have many methods of persuasion." We then reach the elevator which opens as soon as I hit the button. After we all squeeze in, I push the button for the twentieth floor and the elevator descends with a rapid swoosh.

Four

When the elevator stops, I step out and see yet another corridor lined with doors. Only this hallway looks more like the floor of a luxury hotel rather than the sterile, hospital look of the lab. Decorative carpets cover the floor and bright lights gives it a warm glow.

"Your room will have your number on it and if you need anything hit 0 on the phone located on your desk" Talia informs us as the others step out. "I'll be back to get you for dinner but feel free to explore." She then turns around and boards the elevator with Nine.

After walking past several of the rooms I find one with the number four written on it and step inside. Although slightly smaller than the room I had on the boat, my new dwelling has just as many amenities. A Kings sized bed, a new TV and Xbox set up across from the bed, a fridge, and a private bathroom with both a hot tub and shower with eight different settings. Even my luggage has been brought down and is waiting to be unpacked.

A knock at the door interrupts my surveying and when I open it, Sarah walks in. "I see Five spared no expense" she says taking a seat on my bed. "Being able to spontaneously create gold and jewels has its benefits" I reply.

Sarah holds out her hand to me but rather than taking it I pull up a chair. "Listen Sarah I wanted to talk about us…" At that moment, Six walks into the room and when she sees Sarah her eyes narrow. "I guess I'll come back later." Six spits out before turning on her heels and slamming the door.

"What's her problem?" Sarah asks looking at me expectantly. "Sarah" I sigh "I think we need to take a walk."

Half and hour later, we are outside walking along the beach as I tell Sarah about everything that happened between the time we left Olympus to when we arrived. "I can't believe Nine is the heir of Ra and you're Pittacus" Sarah says crossing her arms. I put my hands in my pockets and keep walking. "I have a hard time believing it myself some days" I tell her.

Sarah then comes to sudden stop and turns to face. "Listen John there's something I want to tell you." Oh crap I think to myself worried as to Sarah is about to say. "I love you a lot but I think we need to change some things." I nod mutely so Sarah carries on.

"I think it might be best if we parted ways for a while with the war and everything going on." My mouth opens in shock but Sarah holds out her hand to keep me from speaking. "I know what I said in Argentina but Five brought my family and me here mainly so I could say goodbye."

"Are you breaking up with me?" I ask finally remembering how to speak. Sarah smiles but I see tears in her eyes. "Please believe me John when I say I care about you but I feel that the more we push this relationship the further apart we become."

Sarah takes a second to wipe her eyes and adds "And I see the way you look at Six. It's the same way you used to look at me." The tears are no falling freely and without needing to say it, I wrap my arms around her. "I'm sorry Sarah. I never meant to hurt you like this but Six and I face death every day together. The reason we didn't take you with us is because I couldn't imagine a world without you in it." Sarah sighs and buries her face in my shoulder. "Just shut up and hold me." I mentally zip my mouth shut and hold Sarah with only the sky and sand as witnesses.

Nine

"Whoa" I exclaim watching androids being assembled on a massive assembly line by both clones and other machines. "I thought you would like this floor" Talia says leading me too another line where thousands of guns are being put together.

"What is all this for?" I ask still in complete awe of the weapons and other deadly toys being built. "The future" Talia replies. "After the Mogs are all dead there will be chaos, destruction, panic in the streets. Not to mention years of rebuilding."

"I just hope we have a bigger ship than then one we came on" I tell her as we leave the assembly line. "We're working on it" Talia says walking past several dozen men in white lab coats. "Really?" I ask astounded. Before Talia can elaborate I see a lab that catches my immediate attention. I teleport over and reread the sign to make sure I didn't imagine it.

In big red letters it reads PROJECT ASTRAL and underneath that Authorized Personal Only. "So this is Project Astral? A secret lab hidden in a secret base."

"Give me a little bit more credit than that Nine" Talia complains as she rejoins my side. "So what is it really?" I ask trying to sneak a peek inside. "It's our secret weapon. The final blow that will win the war" Talia replies smiling broadly.

"Oh so it's a weapon?" I ask getting excited at the idea of a wicked, high tech Mog-killing machine. "In a manner of speaking it is a weapon of sorts. Only this weapon is going to let us reshape the world the way we want it to be shaped."

For some reason I can't explain, I find Talia's words rather unsettling. "What do you mean by reshaping the world?" Talia places her arm around my waist and starts leading me away from the lab. "It's simple. After we kill all the Mogs, the entire world is going to know life from other planets exists and when that happens the humans will need someone to….guide them through it all. Help them understand that they aren't the center of universe."

"I don't suppose we could see it?" I ask hesitantly. Talia shakes her head and takes my hand. "Sorry Nine, Hannibal wants to show everyone at the same time."

"Since when do you do everything Hannibal says?" I ask while running my hand through her hair. Talia smirks and gives a small laugh. "I listen when its important. Besides if we don't hurry we're going to be late."

With that, Talia brings me back to elevator and leads me deeper into the bowels of Santa Prisca.

When we arrive, Hannibal, his new bodyguards, Hawk, Lestrade, and that new guy Rider are already waiting for us outside a room that has INTERROGATION written on it. "… and we would all understand if you wanted to sit this out Ryan." Hannibal is saying to Hawk. "They are after all law agents from your native home." Hawk's face hardens and he replies "I renounced any loyalty I had to that country after they tried to kill me and left me for dead. I'll stay."

Hannibal pats him on the back and finally notices us. "Ah you're just in time! We're just waiting for Reese and Valmont to get here. They can help determine if what they say is true."

"I thought that's what I was here for" Talia pouts crossing her arms across her chest. Hannibal smiles and holds up a bronze Greek war helmet with a metal face guard made to resemble a skull. "It's nice to have a second opinion. I was hoping you could use this to…persuade our guests if they prove too resilient."

Talia takes the Helm of Darkness and says "It would be my pleasure." Hannibal nods and we proceed into the interrogation room. Several empty computer terminals arrayed in three rows of seats make up the back part of the room, while long table and a man with his back to us stands at the front.

When we get closer, the man turns around and I see that it's Gregorovich. After he turns to face us I notice the table is covered with an impressive array of tools including pliers, a blowtorch, several scalpels, water bottles, some towels, a metal wash basin, a defibrillator, and two electric wires with clips at the end.

As Hannibal takes inventory of all the devices, I see that the front of the room there is a wide pane of glass that looks into an adjacent room that is completely white and has several hooks suspend from the ceiling.

Hannibal is apparently satisfied with his inspection and he randomly says "Bring them in" to no one in particular. A door in the adjacent room then opens to reveal Reese and Valmont dragging two hooded figures, bound in manacles, and wearing orange jumpsuits.

Reese secures his prisoner's chained hands to one of the hooks and then does the same for the other. Once that's done, he calmly walks out followed by Valmont. For a whole minute Hannibal just watches the hooded figures not saying a word.

"Hawk, Gregorovich its time." Hannibal hands each man a ski mask and they head towards the exit. Before they leave, Hannibal turns to Talia and says "Don't come in until we leave." Talia nods in agreement and a few seconds later, a masked Hannibal, Hawk and Gregorovich have entered the adjacent room and are approaching the prisoners

Hannibal removes the hood of the first prisoner to reveal a middle aged man whose nose looks like it's been broken several times. "Hello Agent Purdy." He then removes the hood from the second prisoner to show a terrified middle aged woman with red hair "And hello to you too Agent Walker."

Hope that everyone enjoyed that and it holds you over till the end of the week. Don't forget to Comment and Review. Until next time folks.