AND: Well, here's the next chapter. You finally get to know which side Eva chose. Hope some of you like. Hope you're happy that I post for the 3rd time this week. Be happy. Reviews mean that AND writes quicker.
Probity
The sky was filled with Crog ships. Earth soldiers ran about, trying to defend their home from their enemy. Within the Alliance building, politicians were herded to safe rooms. The general public was in a panic. Pandemonium was rampant.
"Eva!" Don yelled as she was separated from the others by a wave of people.
Eva fell behind and hid in the shadows. She was glad she had worn black clothing. It made it so much easier to hide in the shadows. Then again, with the amount of panic running about, she might not have needed the extra concealment. Eva snuck by the panicking guards and fleeing Elon to the cage holding Cylan. Eva knelt by the cage and pulled out a lock pick set. Working quickly, and under the questioning eyes of a young Crog, she picked the lock. She thanked her lucky stars that no one noticed her. Once more, she thanked the panic mentality of humans. The door clicked open.
"What?" Cylan whispered. Now that Eva could get a better look at the Crog princess, Eva had to wince. She had been beaten. Cuts covered her face and arms. Her legs were covered, barely, by the torn fabric of her skirt. Her upper body was covered by a dirty peasant top. When Colonel Toros saw his charge, he was going to go nuts.
Eva almost felt sorry for his opponents.
"Come, hurry. We need to get you out of here," Eva whispered and grabbed her wrist lightly. Cylan looked at her in confusion but followed anyway. The two moved quickly through the halls of the Alliance building. The halls were thinning of people, only a few soldiers were running through the halls. The two had to be very careful to get outside.
"What are you doing?" Cylan hissed.
"Getting you to your people. We don't have much time before the Naurasians and my people start fighting," Eva said and looked over one of the lower sills of an outer window. Fire lit the air and turned the sky a blooded red.
"But I thought you…" Cylan began and looked out the widow as well.
"Who do you think called them here?" Eva whispered. She pushed the widow with the wind. It shattered. "Go. I'll be safe. Run to your people."
"Go with the grace of the Mother, Spera," Cylan whispered and jumped out the window. Eva smiled and ran to where she knew her family would be waiting.
"Eva," Don said as he held his daughter close. The others gathered around her, placing comforting hands of her shoulders. They had thought they had lost her for a moment.
"I got caught in the mob," she whispered and looked away from him. Guilt was setting in. How many Earth soldiers would die that day? How many would die because of their politicians' mistake? How many would die because of her decision?
The fighting sounds from outside the safe room were getting worse. Naurasia and Elysian had just joined the fight.