Xero walked through the streets, a robe draped over her head to disguise her from all the creatures walking through the rundown streets. She watched as bipedal creatures went through their daily lives, pulling greenish water from wells, markets offering less than savory foods. All of them unaware that a human was down with them.
"When was the last time a human was down here," Xero finally asked Copo.
"20 years ago. Maybe longer. The mayor at the time developed a transfer program that would help all involved. One of us, one that looked almost human, would learn of life outside of these sewers. And a person from the up top would come here, learning what they can from our different cultures, while also bringing aid to those that need it. It didn't work out," she said bitterly as she pointed across the street to an individual begging for anything.
"The world isn't ready to know about us. They never will be," she said as they passed the beggar.
Xero quickly handed the beggar some money and food capsules. Copo noticed but was unmoved.
"We have your partner here," she said as they walked toward a run-down hospital.
Katz continued to row throughout the night, his only thought being the promise that he has already broken. He could already imagine the look of betrayal on his one time friends.
"I am so sorry," he said to himself as he continued to row. "I am going to make things right."
He suddenly felt a soft resistance against the oar. As he glanced up he could see it; Vein's island prison base. He quickly shook Susan awake. "Were here!" he said excitedly.
"Were here," Copo said as the elevator hit the final floor.
As the doors opened Xero quickly noticed the group of people, all wearing visible MPC badges. A harry sasquatch like figure wearing a hood as Copo had rushed up to her.
"The chief is not happy," he said through a gruff voice.
Ignoring her partner's comment she asked, "where is he now?"
"In the main doctor's private office on a couch."
"And the doctor?"
"Already has preformed a diagnostics. It doesn't look good."
"But he can save him?"
"Technically yes… but,"
Xero and Copo both stopped in their tracks and turned to the gray-haired sasquatch.
"Saving him," he continued, carefully choosing his words, "City council wants to hold a formal debate before proceeding. The doctor has been instructed to not proceed in any way. bringing him down violation of several laws."
Xero felt a sudden burst of anger within her. "So you're just going to let him die? He doesn't have the amount of time needed to hold a formal debate."
The sasquatch finally turned to Xero. "Copo, not again."
"Patterson, you know just as well as I do that 1st one doesn't count," she reminded him. Just take her to her friend and we can talk business."
"I am getting too old for this, the gray-haired Patterson said as he led Xero toward the doctor's office. towards Zero.
Katz and Susan sat by the fire at the mouth of the cave, the inflatable boat off to the side. Katz continued to look at the fire, contemplating their next move.
Susan sat across from him, pressing onto Mole's "M" emblem. After 10 seconds he booteed to life.
"I'm still alive!" he said eagerly.
"You were never technically alive, to begin with," Katz said from across the fire.
Susan gave Katz a stern look as Mole just sat there in silence, unsure how to respond to his boss.
"At first light," Katz said breaking the silence, "we break into the base. The EMP schedule may have changed, but the layout of the base has to still be the same. I recommend getting some sleep," he said as he laid his down on an inflatable seat from the raft; facing away from the fire and his companions.
Mole looked at his boss with concern, still wanting to say something, anything.
"He's just stressed," Susan said as though she could read his mind. "As soon as this mission is over a lot of things will change. Hopefully for the better."
Susan laid her head on her travel bag and turned away from the fire, her invaluable camcorder in hand.
Mole looked at the fire for a while, until he finally went into sleep mode, unsure of what the morning would bring.
Vain stood in his study room within his prison base, after arriving that afternoon he had believed he could get some work done. He had been wrong. Instead, his attention was focused on the large stained glass windows within his study. They depicted the origins of Heracles. A demigod, son of Zeus and a mortal, born illegitimate, and nearly killed by Zeus's wife, Hera. He reflected fondly on it.
"And to imagine, all I had to do was level a small city for this prize," he said to himself gleefully. And yet this prison base held not just this prize, but many, many more.
