Chapter Two:

As we touched down back at base, Newt and I stood behind Thomas, Harriet followed as we got the door open. Inside were rows of seats a long row with people hands chained to the roof chain's. Thomas walk in and up to a familiar face.

"Aris. Hey, hey you guys okay?" Thomas asks.

"Yeah we're okay." Sonya replies. Aris was battered and bruised scoring a black eye. I made my way over.

"Sorry about the long rescue guys, you've done well." I softly praised their survivability. "Harriet they need you now." I smiled at her keeping our promise of bringing them back.

Thomas made his way to the back, I followed. I couldn't see him. But I didn't stop surveying the seats. Neither Group C was present. What was going on?

"It's okay, you guy's are safe." Thomas spoke softly to the frighten people. "Hang on."

"You'll be free in a second." I followed along trying to calm them. "Thomas I…." Harriet calls for the bolt cutters but I knew I had to stick by him.

Thomas turns back to face me and Newt. "He's not here." He spoke a little broken, defeated but not down.

"The intel was right, you plan everything to the smallest detail Thomas. How can he not be here." I growl angrily punching a wall. "Fucking WICKED, always ahead of us."

"Slim it, alright" Newt says placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"Fine." I said walking toward the others in the front and exited the train following Harriet and them toward where Vince was holding a gathering. Same old rustic coastline, sunken ships and our little jewel a rust bucket with some improvements. I was fuming that I headed inside away from everyone just listening to his speech echoing off the walls.

Tossing off my coat, I slip out of my heavy shirt and just keep on my blue undershirt and jeans. I sat at a table along. These last dozen of months for what? I couldn't be the only one feeling this way.

"Come in guys. Alright listen up, I know you all been through hell. I wish I could say our troubles are over but where not through this yet." Vince spoke catching everyone up who didn't know the plan. I knew he was going to tell them that WICKED will always try to find them, the importance of they hold and how the hell where leaving here in a few day once our ship was ready. I was there when we head told us the first time, then again Vince was leading us to freedom. I walk between small openings and areas to I found Jorge working on a car. Brenda sitting reading a book.

"Everything alright Hermano?" Jorge said calling me over.

"Not really," I say taking a seat. "I'm happy you two made it just fine."

"It's been sometime we've been together, you should by now we'd be okay."

"You're right, I just worry about you sometime even if I notice you're doing just well." I said giving a worn smile.

Jorge has been working hard with the engine as we sat in quietly. Thomas slowly walked pass staring and kept going looking tired. Jorge stuck his head out slowly now walking over to Brenda who's legs we're leaning out. He unzipped her a part of where she'd been bitten a while ago. I guess it never crossed his mind to check on that. As he undid it I got out of my seat to see it was completely healed.

"Can I help you two?" She said defensively.

"It looks good. " He mention.

"Really good, as if it never happen." I spoke up as well.

"How are you feeling?" He continued.

"Awesome," she replies sarcastically.

"Just asking…"

"I know, I know. Just asking, everybody just asking." Her voice upset from the probing."When I crank out you'll be the first to know." She said to Jorge before getting to walk away. I gave him a short nod before catching up with her.

"Brenda go easy on him, he means well. Most of us do. I do." I said closing the gap between us. "If you weren't around I'm sure he would of up and left by now."

"Lately people think I'm fragile. The more numbers that join, the less work we get."

"You fragile?" I raise my eyebrow questionably. "Not in the slightest, I've seen you do more than any one man. Don't let no one tell you other wise. Brenda you've got more guts in a pinky then half these people."

"Must you always try and cheer me up?" She said turning back giving a serious look as her eyebrow arch up.

"C'mon were practically siblings, you and I. Right big sis?" I laugh.

"Real cute," She chuckled giving me the middle finger. As i kept pace I guess we was heading where the others are held up.

Taking a seat on a crate, Brenda did the same as we found Thomas and Newt with the other's. Sonya was cleaning bits of Aris face as he shrugged about the pain.

"Here drink this." Harriet said handing the two a cup of water. He took a healthy sip of water before speaking. He was seriously banged up.

"Took you guys long enough to rescue us." Aris said smiling.

"It's good to see you to bud." Thomas said tapping him.

"Sorry for the delay." I said softly still remembering what happen in the Scorch when they tricked Thomas. I couldn't believe that Jacob and Nyx plus myself nearly killed him. But he was an honest guy when it comes to it.

"So what happen?" Thomas said asking for answers

"Fought back, tried to anyways."

"Lucky you found us at all, they had us move alot. Felt like something big was happening." Sonya spoke a little more relived.

"Any idea where they were heading?" Newt asked.

"Did they mention anything?" I raised my own question.

"All I know is they kept talking about a city."

Everyone froze shocked at what he said, I knew of my experience of how dreadful they are. Nobody spoke for a moment. Then Harriet spoke up. "I didn't think there were any cities left."

"That's because they aren't!" Brenda join in."Not still standing anyway."

"If they were, there likely filled with those who were turning and those already turnt." I added.

"Okay wait what about Minho, why wasn't he on the train?" Thomas asked.

There was another short burst of quiet, a unknowing faces turning unaware. Just emptiness of the moment. We all needed answers.

"Sorry Thomas, he was." Aris spoke his face a bit pale. "So were the other's."

My heart dropped into my chest, there was more then one car full of kids. No way to save both, either way one was doomed to be condemned. Thomas walked off and I wanted to do the same.

"Listen, there might be away to fix things. Away to free them. You kept your word. Now I'll try get Vince to let us recuse Minho and the others." Harriet said embracing me in hug before waking off.

"I'll go with her." Brenda says getting up.

"I'll go and cheer up Tommy alright. Stay here with them make sure they readjust." Newt told me getting up, before placing a firm grip on my shoulder. "Tonight alright." He nodded.

I sat with pair, bringing them a blanket so they could feel secure. Sonya didn't remember me much due to my longer hair, but Aris knew me. Why not, I nearly beat him to dearh with the guys.

"There no hard feelings about, well you know?" I ask fidgeting in my seat.

"No we're cool." Aris replied fist bumping me.

"I'll let you guys settle in, I need to see what's happening."

It was nearly dark outside when I walked away, people hard at work, the recused are being fed. Still Nick hasn't come back, Sadie I could see was tending to people. Two day's Vince gave us. But there was no way in hell I was leaving the other's behind. Minho has been there for so long, if not for him the Glade would of been worse then what was.

I slowly made my room where most of the other stood in debate. Thomas somehow found a map and sprawled it across the table slamming it down on a location.

"There that's it, it's a few hundred miles. Base on the railway and everything Aris told us, that's got to be where they're headed. That's where they're taking Minho. We take everyone who can fight, follow roads when we can and be back in a week."

"A week? It took us nearly a year to get here. We've got over a hundred kid's here now, we can't just hang out here forever." Vince said stressing the issue. "After what we just pulled, you wanna wonder off to some random point on the map? You don't even know what's there." Vince said.

" I do." Jorge interrupted, "It's been a few years, but I've been there. The Last City. That's what WICKED called it. It was their whole base of operations." Jorge said before going on. "If that city is still standing, that's the last place you wanna go hermano. That's the Lions den."

"It's nothing we've never done before." Thomas shot back quickly.

"Yeah, it's not like dealing with WICKED has been a cakewalk. We all know the risks. And some quite frankly are worth the risk." I interrupted finally getting my word in.

"Yeah with months of planning, reliable information, the element of surprise, none of which we have now." Vince argued.

"Vince, I have thought this through." Thomas shot back again, "Would you just hear me out?"

"The last time we went off half-cocked...I lost everything." Vince raised his voice, "You remember that?"

"And I remember not to long ago you sending four of us into the Badlands within a moment notice. Why?" I ask the whole room with a furrow brow. "Because you had intel that some Raiders were going to hand off their child hostages to WICKED. You owe us this much Vince." I demanded changing the tone of the conversation.

"Look, I know its Minho. All right? But you can't ask me to put those kids on the line for one man. I won't do it." Vince stated calming down.

"Some leader you are!" I said rather sheepishly walking away from the meeting."One man huh?" I turn around raising my voice. "Minho is the only goddamn reason any of us are here. So remember that when we're living the tropical paradise life you oh so careful planned!" I scream kicking something down in blind fury before walking away. Soon I found myself in the sleeping quarters in the dark. As the sound of Berg's hovering over in the distance. I didn't care to look either. They could come charging in for all I care. How absurd to suggest we leave Minho behind.

That's not happening even if it meant defecting from the Right Arm. Even if I have to sell out to WICKED, I'll bring him back. But these are just fleeting thoughts in the dark…