Chapter 9

"We only have three weeks left now until we reclaim our city, please tell me you have good news" Ms Y walks around the concert hall with DJ K Washi by her side.

"I do." The mysterious enigma is dressed today in his 'casual' attire. His long hair is tied back into a ponytail and instead of his showpiece futuristic suit, he is wearing black leather pants and a tight black shirt, revealing his muscular frame underneath. His eyes are also shielded with dark black shades serving a tint of blue.

"Not only will we be able to enforce mind control to the people inside this hall, but this will also extend into the local population of the city" the DJ explains.

"The speakers we have left underground are all dormant. There's not enough, how will that even work?" Ms Y queries.

"Those speakers around the city are only there as a diversion. Yes we will pump out music but with this clever device right here, my music from the concert will play on all major streaming apps. Anybody in this city using a smart phone or device will receive an alert five minutes before we begin. And who doesn't relish the prospect of a free concert?" He grins.

"It's clever, I'll admit. But there's one flaw in your plan…"

"What's that then?"

"Not everyone in this city enjoys your music. I mean, my brother loves it. I think he even has a crush on you" she winks. "As for myself, I loathe your music" she coldly stares at him, being brutally honest.

"And that is why my dear, we have a backup plan!"

"I'm listening…" she stares.

"Not only will thousands of people tune in for this concert both in Wood Oak and afar, but we will also have access to local radio stations. For example, Wood Oak City's number one radio hub will broadcast the city's Christmas Choir in Central District's main Park. 20,000 are expected to attend. While they are in the middle of their carols, we will blast through the speakers our own music."

"Then that is good news!" Ms Y grins, showing her approval of the plan. "Would you excuse me? Thank you for your cooperation Mr Washi".

"Anytime" he nods.

"Briggs, what brings you here?" She rushes forward as soon as her guards escort him through the entrance of the hall.

"I came to see your brother actually," the tall man with dark eyebrows and grey hair smiles.

"Well Mr Y is busy right now. What can I do for you?" She pessimistically folds her arms.

"Just tell him I stopped by. I'll speak with him later…" Briggs then turns away from her to leave.

"You know both he and I share equal responsibility and equal assets from our syndicate. So why do you insist on communicating only with him?"

Her tone of voice immediately stops him in his tracks. He then turns around and walks straight back towards her.

"Don't take it personally sweetheart, I think you are the more intellectual one. But, your brother is the twin that takes after your father".

"It's funny you say that, you seem to know a lot about our father for a CIA director. First the tommy gun, now the dna description, what's next I wonder?" She squares up to him then stares into his eyes, tilting her head slightly to one side.

"You know, I see more of your mother in you. I remember the night they killed her and the night we found you and your brother laying in a pool of blood. They had shot you right here…" He reaches his hand forward, gently moving the hair by her ear to one side, revealing a large scar underneath it.

"After freezing your bodies until your organs were repaired, we managed to save you but we couldn't save your mother. Now how could an old man like me have known that?"

His words cut deep into her soul, sending shivers through her spine. First her brother, now her. This man unexpectedly has gained access to her emotional state and his very existence cuts deep under her skin. Even Ms Y is unable to hide her darkest fears in front of him.

After a long pause and stare, she grabs his hand to move it away from her scar.

"Ouch!"

Ms Y immediately jumps back startled, holding tightly onto her hand in pain and shock when she feels a burning sensation on the skin of her palm.

"That sword of yours might cut through flesh but it doesn't cut through fire. You still have a lot to learn my dear. Tell your brother I stopped by when you see him" Briggs flashes a smile before swiftly making his exit.

"Shit!" She loses her nerve in the centre of the hall, grabbing onto a pile of discs by the decks. "How dare he!" Ms Y then slams the records into the ground and stomps the back of her heels into them with anger and outrage.

"Hey! What's wrong with you sis?" Mr Y suddenly emerges, grinning whilst waving goodbye to K Washi standing by the side of the restrooms.

"While you were busy in the lavatories with our staff, your new best friend Orson Briggs paid us a visit" Ms Y explains, feeling pissed off.

"And?" He casually shrugs.

"And I don't trust him! He knows too much about us and about father. He's not who he says he is, brother…"

"So? If the weapons keep coming and Briggs lives up to his end of the bargain, what's the big deal? All he really wants is Leon Stone and his powers. We're still gonna be the ones running the show."

"No! He wants more than that. Can't you see that Briggs is trying to divide us? Whether you approve or not, I'm making sure I get to the bottom of this!" She glares with determination in her eyes.

"Dinner is served! Help yourselves!" Floyd shouts from the canteen kitchen, displaying a whole feast of traditional Maori foods including fresh seafood, potato breads, hot sweet potato and lamb ribs wrapped up in herbs and cooked over a hot stone pit that he dug out and created yesterday.

"This smells amazing!" Estel smiles, famished after another long day of training. The others also thank him as they serve their plates of food before sitting down at the large table in the centre of the canteen.

"You did good! Thanks for helping me out with this kid!" Floyd gives Cherry a smile.

"I like learning how to cook new foods, it made a change from training today" she smiles back.

"Are you sure everything is ok? You barely acknowledged Estel when she said hi to us back there. What's wrong?" He asks.

"Nothing, I'm just hungry. Let's go and feast!" Cherry grins.

"So, this is the first time in a long time since the whole gang has been back together in one place. It's good to see you again" Max says, patting Shiva over the shoulder.

"Likewise." The fighter nods, giving the smallest hint of a smile back.

"How was your training session today then?" Max asks.

"It was good, but Hunter seemed quite tired so we finished half an hour early" Shiva shrugs.

"That's understandable, Sammy has been rushing back and forth from the lab everyday to get supplies…"

"No, I'm talking about Adam. I know the two of us are completely opposite in fighting styles but I can tell something is bothering him or distracting him. Maybe you or Axel should talk to him tomorrow".

"Thanks for the heads up! We will." Max nods.

"Remember, we're only as strong as our weakest member. And if one of us is having a bad day, it will affect the rest of us" Shiva replies.

"Owwww look who's bringing out the Sake shots! The doctor is in one of his good moods then!" Estel shouts out as Zan starts pouring the alcohol out into several shot glasses in the middle of the table.

Cherry sits back in her chair, folding her arms from across the table glaring at her dad and Estel with annoyance on her face as if nothing happened yesterday. Neither of them have made an effort to speak to her ever since and the two of them have just carried on as normal according to her.

"Let me guess, you caught those two lovebirds…" Blaze remarks whilst sitting next to her.

Cherry huffs "there was a time when dad used to tell me everything. I wouldn't mind and I like Estel, but I hate all this sneaking around".

"Maybe he's just embarrassed or worried about what you'll think. I know he's your dad but, sometimes you can also make the first move and reach out to him…. Here, you look like you could use one of these". Blaze passes her own shot glass to Cherry under the table.

"But if I get caught…"

"Hold your glass still under the table…." she whispers as she sneakily pours the alcohol inside it.

"This is so cool!" Cherry grins.

"Just one though yeah? And that's it!" Blaze nods.

"Yeah, of course," the 16 year old agrees.

"Ok, now grab your other glass of water and pour some of it into my shot glass" she winks.

"I'd like to make a toast!" Floyd stands up to his feet as the others in the room fall silent. He gives the group a heart to heart, acknowledging how hard they have been training and reminding them why they are doing this and what they are fighting for.

"...live today, fight tomorrow!"

"Live today, fight tomorrow!" The rest of the gang repeat before raising their glasses in the air.

"Damn this shit is strong! I remember the days when I wasn't allowed any of this. I can see why now!" Sammy complains, making Axel laugh who is sitting next to him with Leon on his lap.

"I remember when you were his age and your brother and I introduced you to skateboards. Those were the days." Axel smiles.

"Yeah, you both raised me and taught me how to fight on these streets when I didn't have a father or a mother. I'll never forget that," Sammy nods, starting to feel emotional.

"We're all family here and we've always got each other's backs no matter what".

Axel then briefly turns to Blaze who is sitting on the other side next to him and Leon.

"Well that's a surprise, I thought you hated yam…" he raises his eyebrows, noticing the pile of the vegetables stacked up on her plate.

"Yuck! I hate them too" Leon replies.

"Oh, that's yam? It's quite nice actually, it must be Floyd's amazing chef skills!" She smiles, trying to cover up what she's really thinking. "I'll be right back…" Blaze says, kissing Leon on the cheek and gently touching Axel's arm before getting up to leave for the canteen's restroom.

"You understand that serving alcohol to a minor is an illegal offense!" Estel turns into police mode as soon as Blaze opens the door to the ladies' restroom.

"One drink isn't gonna hurt her. Hell, I tried my first shot when I was half of her age!" Blaze proudly smirks.

"And look at how you turned out!" Estel barks.

"Well, Cherry's probably experienced worse things for her age over the last few days than alcohol shots…." Blaze snaps back, leaving Estel silently turning red with embarrassment.

"Look.. I'm sorry! You know me, if you try to police me my bitch mode will come out!" She lightens the mood.

"Don't I know it! Just like the first time we met!" The blond officer laughs it off.

"Just give Cherry some time, she still looks up to you and things will be ok". Blaze reassures her.

"Yeah, it was pretty awkward but I'm sure we'll laugh about it in a few years!...So how far along are you?" Estel directly asks, catching the brunette off guard.

"Huh?" Blaze frowns, acting surprised.

"It's obvious why you didn't drink the shot. You've been weird since we got here. I hear you every morning running down here being sick before training and your fighting is slacking…"

"I don't know what you're talking about," she replies.

"I'm not stupid. It's obvious you're pregnant..." There is a long pause between them as Blaze looks away, avoiding Estel's eye contact.

"I don't know, maybe three months?" She shrugs, breaking the silence whilst resting her hands on one of the basins.

"There's a clinic about 5 miles from here. They'll be able to tell you how many weeks. I think you should stop training like this. Does Axel know yet?"

"No", she shakes her head, leaning forward over the basin staring into the mirror. "Please don't say anything to anyone…" Blaze pleads.

"Don't you think he should be the first to know?" Estel looks at her with concern.

"You've seen how great he is with Leon, he's the best father any kid could have! There's so much going on right now I can't…"

"I'm sure he'l understand. There's enough of us to win this fight, trust me! If you back out now, the rest of us will understand why and no one will hold it against you."

"No, it's not that…"

"So what's the problem then Blaze?"

"If he knows, he'll try to convince me to keep it…" she looks back at Estel with guilt on her face.

"Sounds like you've already made up your mind then. Don't you think he deserves to know first? You'll kill your relationship if you hold onto a secret like that!"

"I just… I just don't know how I could ever bring another child into this world, knowing what Leon has gone through. They'll only experience the same thing… threats from every corner, violence, power hungry people. Leon is never going to live a normal life and I've accepted that. I won't ever put another child through that!"

"I feel for you hon, I really do. Just please, talk to Axel before you make that decision."

"I told you, my mind is made up and I'm begging you, for the sake of our friendship please don't say anything to anyone."

"Ok…" Estel sighs in agreement before leaving the restroom to give Blaze some space.