p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The team met up in the conference room of the base. Etrius was the first one there, hunched over a table with a translucent surface. When the Author was the last one in, he shut all the windows and blinds and killed the lights./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"A blue hologram rose from the table. Etrius approached it, rotating the 3D image with his fingertips. "Here's a full view of the Oregon forest. This is our base—" He zoomed in on Rebel Headquarters. "—This is the spot where Angel was last seen."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"His eyes grew distance in the lush, electric blue light as he recalled the memories. "It's been three weeks since it happened. And right now, Blue, you're our best bet at finding her."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The Author ran her fingers through her hair, eyes darting through the holographic area. She breathed deeply. "Alright…" Almost instinctively, she moved her way through the hologram, pressing buttons and setting that even Etrius didn't know about./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Etrius raised a brow. "How are you doing that?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She shrugged. "Instinct, I guess. This is my story, after all." After ten minutes of searching, she gave up. "There's nothing. Wherever this base is, it's not recorded on this map. It's like it doesn't even exist."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox curled her hands into fists, knuckles turning white. "Something is wrong. If you can figure out the tech by instinct, you should know where the base is."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Well, it's not on the map! What do you expect me to do?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd approached her. "I still think she's doing this for the 'story'. Tell us where the base is!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I don't fucking know!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Etrius slammed his hands into the table. "Everyone, emshut UP/em!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Silence reigned through the team. Etrius hadn't used that commanding tone of voice since he'd been in the military./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"He took a breath and composed himself. "Fighting like this will get us nowhere. We're running out of time, so either we work as a team and find Angel, or all hell breaks loose. Do I make myself clear?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The team stiffened and faced Etrius. "Yes."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The Author blinked, fascinated just by how fast the team was able to focus back on the task at hand rather than endless Roasting. emAt least they're better than the teams I'm put with at school./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Good. Let's focus on what we emdo/em know. The Superior can only use the portal to a certain extent. Since he's a character, and not a Creator, he can't use it to it's full potential. If he did, it would kill him. So we have some time before he can use it again."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Something clicked in Blue's mind. "Maybe if we go out into the physical world, I might have an easier time finding it."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Etrius stroked his chin. "That could work. Leading us straight to the source. Alright everyone, get ready and armor up. We leave in five."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Blue swallowed down panic, knowing she emhad/em to do this if she was going to get back home. Although she couldn't help but admire the way Etrius had total confidence in his team - the way everyone took orders without question. Everyone trusted one another. And while Blue could trust them, they had a hard time trusting Blue./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Blue followed the rest of the team out of the conference room and towards the armory. But before she could get far, The General stopped her. He waited until the rest of the team was out of sight, and even then, he spoke in a quiet tone. He looked at her with the slightest tinge of hope. Something even Blue hadn't seen before. "Give it to me straight."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Blue stared at him in utter surprise./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""That past… Did you create it?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"It took Blue a moment to understand what he was talking about, and when he did, she avoided his gaze. "Obviously, I did." She took a breath and summoned the courage to look at him straight on. "But that doesn't change the person who you are today."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Then… It's true. The darkness will come back. Nobody is safe. Not from me, not from the Superior."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Blue's eyebrows creased together. "Only if you choose to let the darkness consume you. But I don't think it will. You've come so far."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The General's mind traveled back as the pages of his memories flipped open. He shivered as he remembered the trauma from so long ago, yet the pain was still fresh as if it were inflicted minutes ago. "Can't you change it?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Well, that seems to be the question of the day," The Author crossed her arms, but there was sympathy in her eyes. "The past can never be undone. Your lives are more than just a book that can be written and edited. It's more than just a story. It's the truth."/p