Chandra growled. The principal was sending Hades after the kids they sent between the dorm buildings as couriers. She was going to need to talk to Kyle before the end of the day but that was much easier said than done. They got lucky last night. Jace's sudden appearance had dissuaded Hades from attacking though he won't be nearly as surprised next time. She had never seen such a large group taken down so quickly by anyone but herself. She could move that fast but doing so would've required that she move out from in front of Alice who was still calming down five hours later. The pressure was finally resolving itself. She was glad it was but didn't like how it was doing so. The third principal of the school was playing a dangerous game by doing this. Of course he didn't know that Lotus was recording him and the Black Lotus had broadcast one of these recordings all over the world. She doubted anyone would come to Elendeth's aid and if the principal started literal war he could easily call in reinforcements. Jace couldn't be in the school building however. He was in a similar situation to Lotus. The principal did not he was a student of the school before this so he would have to work behind the scenes. Of course that was nothing new to him. Jace could be courier. That would give Hades a run for his money. Not that I want to fight the kid. As long as the principal scares him more than we do or more than he likes us he will continue to do as he is bid. Her eyes narrowed, "Looks like it's my turn to get in trouble."

"Are you sure? You really are a moron," Lilianna shook her head, "The majority of human students are terrified. They're terrified that they will be the next one in the cafeteria."

"That's why the non humans cause the trouble. I'll tell the Black Lotus that should war break out in the school they will evacuate and protect the human or noncombatant students while the rest of us deal with it." The two of them kept their voices extremely low. Each dorm room had a security guard standing outside the door. Each student was escorted to every class by a security guard. Chandra's eyes narrowed. I'll just pick a fight with my security guard. That should be enough.

Every single staff member had been replaced and boys and girls were no longer in the same classes. Interaction between the students in any form was prohibited. Every single class was silent. Even glancing at another student ended with some sort of physical punishment. Michael and David had already started plotting. Every day one student or other was brought into the cafeteria. Michael and David continued to disrupt even if it meant they were next on the balcony.

"Somebody's gonna get shot."

Princess Nalaar. Kyle has someone he wants to introduce to you tomorrow night. He'll make a tunnel outside your window. All you have to do is jump.

Tell Michael and David that they don't need to disrupt the cafeteria punishments anymore. Jace'll do that. Also, Erin and Alice aren't going to be couriers anymore. Ask Ral if he's finished those blueprints yet.

Of course.

Chandra waited impatiently for the demon's response. She didn't like him but he hadn't proven to be bad yet. He was contracted to Jace so she wasn't inclined to distrust him. He was a demon which meant she wasn't going to trust him either.

Michael and David are fine with that as long as they get to keep their traps and Jace will just activate them. Who will be courier in Erin's and Alice's places? And Ral says he's almost done and that in a couple days the students can begin gathering supplies.

Jace is courier. Chandra nodded to herself. Ral had suggested that just in case if war did break out the dorms could transform into giant battle stations by basically unfolding themselves. He had suggested that he design the blueprints with Jason's help and then once they were done, Kyle could create tunnels that allow them to gather the necessary materials to do so. Who does Kyle want me to meet?

Someone named Zack. Apparently he's from a public school but can get us anything we need free of charge.

Alright. Chandra shrugged. She laid down on her back and studied the ceiling. It took a while but she finally fell asleep.

The door opened and two security guards stood in the doorway, "Ladies, time for class."

Chandra snarled angrily but got to her feet.

Lilianna sat up, "Don't call us ladies if you don't plan on treating us like one."

Chandra followed her security guard down the stairs. Once they were in the courtyard she tripped him and darted off. Instantly she had ten plus security guards chasing after her. It took many more than that to successfully pin her to the ground and keep her there. The hoisted her to her feet less than gently. She couldn't help but grin, "You're pathetic. You know that?"

"You aren't in any position to criticize our strength," one of the guards said.

Chandra's grin broadened. It was terrifying, cold and yet almost excited at the same time. "Have you forgotten already?" She lit her right hand on fire even though her hands were behind her back. The flames shot along her body. Every security guard leaped away from her.

"That's enough," she recognized Hades' cold hollow voice. She turned and smiled at him, "Hello Hades."

He looked her over passively, "Put the flames out and come quietly."

"Sorry. You'll have to make me."

His expression didn't change. He leaped forward. Chandra leaped back and back flipped. Her foot connected with his jaw. He caught it and threw her down and away. She flipped and landed in a crouch. Students were starting to gather.

Jace has requested I assist you.

Chandra grunted and leaped forward. Hades met her halfway.

He's coming from the left side in an attempt to reach a pressure point.

She caught his arm with a flame lined hand. The flames crawled along him without having any affect. She super heated the air around her, sending her into the air. She spun twice and knocked him into the ground. He bounced and skidded backwards ten feet. He got to his feet and glared up at her, "This is not necessary. Stop."

"It is," Chandra dropped back down to the ground. She smirked, "Your involvement is not necessary."

He looked at her expressionlessly and remained silent.

The principal pushed through the crowd and glared at the two combatants. He snarled and went to grab Hades less than gently. Hades saw him and backed away. His once blank eyes filled with fear. He stumbled and fell. Chandra leaped forward, heating the hair and pushing against the cold air around her to quicken her flight. She skidded between the principal and Hades and spread her arms out to their full length at either side, "If you want to punish someone then punish me."

Hades stared at her. You fool! Don't protect me!

Chandra's eyes narrowed. Kurai make sure he hears this.

Connection's been made.

I will protect you. Just as I have protected Jace, and Onyx and any of the other students of this school.

I'm not a part of this school.

You're here aren't you? You are a part of the school. There's a reason Elendeth City is known as the most accepting haven in the world. You come here, even just to visit and we will welcome you with open arms as long your intent is good.

I don't-

You do as you're told. That is not the same thing as intent. The resent and despise the orders you are given. Fear keeps you in check. Fear is what he uses to keep you in line. If you let fear continue to control you then you will be forever stuck doing something you despise. The principal growled, "Move aside. He is-"

"Hades belongs to no one," Chandra's eyes burned with hatred as she gazed at this man. It took a lot for her to genuinely hate someone but this man had done it all, "Just as this school belongs to no one. The relationship of the principal and the students is a partnership and you are not treating it as such-" He backhanded her, forcing her to stop for a moment. A red mark marked her cheekbone, near her eye. She gritted her teeth to keep from leaping at the principal in that instant, "You cannot demand respect on the basis of fear."

A few of the security guards looked uncomfortable with the entire situation. Chandra noted that and allowed the principal himself to lead her away. She was stuck in a dark room with Hades as her guard.

"Why? Why protect me? I'm not a part of the school and I've never met you before."

Chandra shrugged. Her face stung but otherwise she was fine. She studied Hades carefully, "Do you enjoy living in fear?"

"No. But I don't have a choice," Hades didn't look at her.

"There's always a choice."

"No there isn't. If I disobey him then..." he trailed off and stared at the wall.

"Then?" Chandra prompted.

"He'll activate the HADES protocol."

"HADES protocol?"

"There's a protocol present in every experiment. Even if they develop their own personalities, live their own lives, anything once the protocol is activated they will fulfill the purpose they were created for," Hades explained quietly. He knew this room didn't have any cameras but he didn't want to talk to her. He didn't even know why he'd started talking to begin with.

Her eyes narrowed. He couldn't tell if she was angry or thinking. The silence stretched for many moments. Suddenly she spoke again, "Help us."

"Did you not-"

"We'll help you," Chandra said. She studied his face, "It's how we work. You help us and we will help you."

"No," Hades shook his head, "You already have Athena! You don't need me."

"Athena?" Chandra felt bad for asking but she had no idea what he was talking about.

"You have Athena. The girl with the ATHENA protocol. I'm just a back up anyway," he stared at his hands, "At least she got some form of attention. I got sent to this guy once the Athena Project started working the way they wanted it to."

Chandra sighed, "We do need you."

"No you don't," Hades insisted.

"He doesn't," Chandra snapped.

"Well, that's not-"

"Do you like using your abilities to help hurt people? Do you want to live this kind of life until you die?" Chandra rolled her eyes, "He doesn't need you. You don't need him."

"Then where the hell am I supposed to go? What am I supposed to do?" Hades snarled, "I'd rather have this than uncertainty."

"You all ask me the same questions," Chandra sighed, "I can only give you suggestions. I can't tell you what to do. I won't tell you what to do. It's your life. You have plenty of opportunities and plenty of options if you open your eyes and see them. I'm asking you to help us. He won't be able to hurt you. There are things calculations cannot EVER take into account. Even a protocol that's been a part of your very psyche forever."

"Really?" Hades snarled.

He doesn't like what I'm telling him. He doesn't like the fact that I am telling him exactly what he's known all this time and denied. Chandra sighed, "If you want to then go ahead. I won't ask again." That's a lie. I won't ask again directly. She shrugged, "It's up to you. But if this makes you sick why continue?" She fell silent and took to studying the room. It was the same room the previous principal had hidden away all the banned items in. She shook her head in amusement. At least come up with something a little more creative. Jeez. The wait seemed to take forever and yet no time at all at the same time. Hades followed them to the cafeteria miserably.

Chandra yawned broadly as she stood on the "punishment balcony". She looked down at the gathered student body. Lotus was up in the ceiling recording. Jace was leaning against the doorway of an entrance to the cafeteria right next to a security guard that obviously didn't see him. Onyx, Caedrus and Claire watched her carefully. Lilianna shook her head in amusement. None of the student body looked surprised to see that she wasn't worried a bit about the fact that she was standing on the balcony. "Principal. I have a question. Are you up here because you enjoy being able to look down upon a student body that is on average taller than you are?"

She was hit hard in the back of the head with a baton as a response to her question, "I'll take that as a yes." She spoke through gritted teeth. Sure it hurt but it was all she could do not to hit the man. It wouldn't help their cause if she started beating the hell out of the principal. She growled in an almost feral way. She lit her right hand on fire and heated the air around her to unbearable temperatures. The baton warmed to the point that it bent to a ninety degree angle the second time it connected with her head. She shook her head to clear it, "You done?"

"Another one," The principal insisted to the security guard next to him.

"No," the guard said.

"What?" The principal stared at him.

"I won't give you another one."

The principal growled, "You'd dare defy me?"

Chandra grabbed his hand as he pulled it back to hit the man, "I thought you were busy."

He snarled at her and pulled his hand free, "That's enough!" He stalked away. Hades hurried after him.

Chandra looked at the security guard and then after the principal. Now shit gets real. Let's see if the man will activate the protocol. We need time.

Jace suggests we play along with him long enough for our dorm buildings to be redesigned. We can have three groups, outside supplies, and then girls' dorm and boys' dorm. Outside supplies can include any sort of necessary weaponry as well as bringing in the supplies needed for the battle stations.

Done. Let everyone else know. We'll divide the three groups tonight. Chandra's eyes narrowed, "And we'll be meeting Zack."