Guard:
Things are quiet around here, more often that not. Occasionally some rowdy delinquent breaks in and causes a fuss. In fact, only yesterday some guy with bleached hair burst in, ran through the lobby and took down almost ten of my fellow security guards. I just can't believe that even though everyone in the room was firing at him that not a single bullet hit him. And apparently he was stopped by just one guy. What was his name? Jericho?
Ah, speak of the devil, here he is now, walking through the door. I'm surprised he's still here at night – what do they pay that guy? He must be rich.
He's coming over to me, a charming smile on his face. So why does that send shivers down my spine?
"Cameron!" he calls – he knows my name! – and approaches me.
"Yessir?" I ask, trying to be as casual as possible.
"How much do you need this job?" I'm confused – I have to say that I hadn't expected such an odd question.
"I don't know what you mean, sir."
"Why do you do this job? Is it the money?"
"Well… I guess I just like to think that I'm helping someone in some small way." He smiles.
"You're a good man," he says. I can't remember him ever being so open with anyone. "That's why I need you to leave. Right now."
"What?" Is he asking me to leave my post?
"Round up all the men on watch. Take as many of them as are willing to leave and get out of the building. Take a night off, go home, spend time with your loved ones. Are you married?"
"Yes, sir, with three children…"
"Go to them. And go quickly."
I move in a daze, rounding up my companions and herding them out of the door, still unsure what I'm doing or why. None of them understand either, but I'm well trusted and they do as I say without question.
I emerge from the double doors onto the street and stop, because suddenly I understand. There's a ring around the building – a ring of people, many carrying torches and other light sources. They have us surrounded, and for a moment I think we'll be massacred where we stand. Then, without a word, the horde moves aside and a hole opens up in the wall of people. They're giving us a way out, and I'm going to take it.
I only hope I'm doing the right thing.
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Angel:
Jason has just gone into the building to get the innocents out before the battle. The rest of the army is waiting, encircling the building like jackals. In this deathly calm, I have a chance to clear the air.
"Buffy," I whisper, and she looks up at me. "In case we don't make it out again, there's something I want to tell you…" She smiles, and lifts a finger to my lips.
"Shh…" she soothes. "Tell me afterwards. We'll make it out again, you'll see."
I really love this girl.
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Soldier:
I clutch my gun to me as I prepare myself for the coming struggle. We're just standing here, forming a ring around the building so that nothing can get out. In seconds we'll all charge in, but apparently they're sending in Jericho to get out the civilians. I've never met the man, but apparently some of the guys in charge don't trust him. Some of the people behind me are saying that they're only allowing Jericho to go in because of Angel, the tall dark one. He must be very trusting.
The doors open, and a crowd of guards emerge. I wonder if they're going to try and attack us all on their own, but then remember the order. We let the civilians go. So we all move closer together, opening a hole for them to escape. And they seem perfectly happy to make a run for it.
Once they've passed, we close up the line again, and my thoughts drift back to the girl on the stage. Once this is over, I have to find out who that was.
A shout draws me from my reverie.
"Mr Finn! Get your squad ready!" That's my cue…
"Ready! Arm! Charge!"
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The Observer:
They're in. Now the game starts for real.
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Gene:
The alarm's sounding! I was busy debriefing Simone in my office, when suddenly the alarm went off. So, we rushed to the security office as fast as was possible, just in time to see Jericho ordering the security guards to leave. Now we're waiting to see what happens next. We can't afford to have anything go wrong while the summit is in progress, but there's not a lot we can do from here.
Suddenly, bricks and various other blunt objects smash through the windows in the lobby and a horde pours into the building through the double doors.
"They'll destroy everything," I whisper, despite myself, and rush to the summit. I have to warn them.
Unfortunately, it's a long way through the cavernous corridors, and before I can get to the meeting room, I'm waylaid by an old enemy.
"Gene…"
"Matt…"
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Matt:
The horde is streaming into the building, entering every room, destroying anything in its way. Being at the head, I set off in search of my own prey. And it's not long before I find him.
"Gene…" I hiss, with as much menace as I can muster.
"Matt…" He seems surprised to see me. Well, I would be too, I suppose.
We stand for a moment, facing each other across the corridor. Then he pulls himself up to his full height, trying to retain his composure.
"It's time for payback, is it?" My knuckles turn white as I grip my axe tighter.
"We trusted you, Gene."
"No, you trusted me. The others knew all along that I would turn on you. I really should thank you. If not for you, I never would have been able to steal the Scroll of Aberjian from Edward's vault."
"Is that it? You infiltrated our group just so you could steal an old scroll? I thought you were more important than that."
"Well, I did use the opportunity to do a little recon. By the way, how did your girlfriend's little mission go?" My eyes go wide, my blood freezes in my veins. That was how Jackie was ambushed… Gene found out where she was going and they were ready for her… and I let him into the group. It's my fault… but I'll not forget his role in this. He's not getting away this time. He laughs at my expression of horror. He really has no soul, does he? "Plus, you underestimate the value of the scroll. It was key to bringing Angel back from beyond."
"Oh, and we know that worked really well for you." He shrugs. He's remarkably cool for someone about to be killed, and I'm sorely tempted to do just that. Of course, maybe I'll just take his other arm.
"I'll admit we had some setbacks. But there's the beauty of it. You do-gooders are always so willing to take in outsiders. It was really no trouble to get someone inside, someone who could finish what I started."
What? No…
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Angel:
I'm running so fast, getting to the room that Jericho pointed out on his hastily drawn map, that I've lost sight of everyone. Everyone, that is, except one person that has managed to keep pace with me.
"How are you keeping up?" I call over my shoulder as the carnage rages all around me.
"Fine," replies Jericho. "Just fine."