LES MUSICIENS DU MONDE ARC III 2011 TO 2016

by DanteVirgil09

This is the final arc of this particular saga where it is reaching closer and closer to its climax. When transcending choice for others and making them for some, where every emotion and motive for all characters will have to face and handle to the best of their abilities. Will everyone rise and pave their destinies or fall from grace? But all roads lead to the stars in the end.

1. 2011-PRELUDE

LES MUSICIENS DU MONDE

A CROSSOVER STORY

2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

This arc covers the years we are living now, the tumultuous years of change, horror, activism, scandal, and a hope. So this arc seems more serious than the previous two, forgive me but this must be done to tie in everything I have experimented in style and written for the central theme: Choice

This chapter was inspired by an old expose on Occupy Wall Street from the now defunct Current TV. As well as various headlines I've watched from several news outlets such as BBC, Al Jazeera English and Vice Media; as well as an episode of No Reservations where Anthony Bourdain headed for Haiti. So for this prelude, not so much emphasis on music but who knows I might surprise you in the end.

A lot of things happened in the first year of this arc, and I will not cover them all. But I will do my best in choosing events that have had impact and we are still feeling the effects of them today.

The musical source of inspiration for this prelude was "Lily's Theme" from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two. The second voice for the prelude is "Immigrant Song" from the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo soundtrack.

PRELUDE

NEW YORK CITY, NY, USA

NOVEMBER 17, 2011

[UNION SQUARE, MANHATTAN, 2:34PM]

"WE ARE THE 99%! WE ARE THE 99%," the crowd was shouting and holding banners right in front of the Wall Street Stock Exchange. This was the largest gathering of protests since its inception back in September. Thousands were marching and from the orchestra, Zane along with Zach, Wilfredo, Alberto, Gilberto, Jang, and Christine was on the scene documenting the event.

Christine was looking around astonished and she was live-tweeting the event to the orchestra's website, "This is getting insane," she said as the boys films her along with what's going on street level, "The police are starting to make arrests and the protesters are fighting back!"

They were now documenting it and Zach zoomed in his camera to capture more of it and then zoomed out to capture how the protesters were overwhelming the police and the barricades no longer effective against this civil unrest. They then followed the protesters filming and making sure the police or the activists themselves don't knock down their cameras or hurt them in the process. All of them were passionate in covering the events that are taking place but in fact something had led nearly all of them to do this and it started with Yasmin and her trip to Libya earlier in the year.

9 MONTHS EARLIER

NEW YORK CITY, NY, USA

FEBRUARY 2011, WEEK TWO

[ASTORIA, QUEENS, TUESDAY, 9:01AM]

Yasmin was watching the news on Al Jazeera English with coverage of what was going on in Libya and the uprising against the dictator. She never thought this would happen so soon in this new century and her parents with their cups of coffee and her younger brother in his pants and black tee with his cup of black tea were engrossed with what's happening.

"؟سخيفحقيقي هذا هل... هذا (This…is this for fucking real?)," Mazhar asked now shocked to whoever listened, ".ذلك في شك لا (No doubt it is.)," she responded to him as she puts down her bowl of cereal.

Yasmin on the other hand, felt something click inside her. An urge to go and run in the streets, seeing how something so great had happened, dangerous and scary, but great. But she just stood there, with her cereal in front of her and her eyes glued to the screen.

Mohammad and Dania came downstairs ready for the day and with the news blaring both were shocked, "What the…" Dania mouthed.

"IT'S A REVOLUTION! FUCK YEAH," Mohammad was ecstatic as his inner 25 year-old shouted, "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS! HONEY! WE…WE GOTTA CALL OUR FRIENDS," he rushed for the phone and began to speed dial his colleagues in the city as his wife was trying, futilely to calm him down.

Yasmin and Mazhar have rarely seen him this excited since their performance in Philadelphia last year, and he got drunk in the celebration. Mazhar was contacting his friends on Twitter about this news but Yasmin, she was thinking along totally different lines, 'Can I go and cover this?"

MARCH 2011, WEEK ONE

DUBLIN, IRELAND

[CLONTARF, 1:04PM]

A month after the revolution started in Libya, Liam was out and about in the city until he came upon a jeweler's shop. He's been keeping up with the news and can feel the urge to go but surprisingly no news from Yasmin. That was strange but he has other thoughts to ponder about. He spots a ring in the window, "Mmm…"

He enters the shop and the owner greeted him, "Good afternoon sir. What can I do for you," he asked and Liam was a bit red in the face, "Um…I'm looking for a ring."

"We have a lovely selection during this time of year. A gift perhaps," the middle-aged man asked and then had a smirk on, "Or is it an engagement ring?"

Liam coughed to clear up his throat, "It's an engagement ring sir," which made the man chuckle, "Who's the lucky lass?"

"A woman I met a while back. We've been together for three years now. I just figured it's time to…um…make things official with her," he said and the man nodded, "Very good. Now, what is her ring size?"

He told her and the shop owner but then the TV that was on was relaying the same news his girlfriend was watching across the Atlantic, "My God," he muttered and the shop owner looked at him and then at the TV, "That's gonna be a bloody mess, considering what started last month."

"Yeah…" Liam said and looked at him, "I'm looking for this particular stone," he handed him a piece of paper that showed the stone and a particular design, "With this design for the ring. The woman I plan to propose to is…special to me," he explained and the older man smiled.

"We'll make sure she'll love it," and added a wink before the men started to talk further on the design layout as well as the stone and then finally on how long it will take to make it in time for Liam's proposal.

He then started to walk around the store with the news about Libya on BBC Ireland, "She would plan to go there at the earliest opportunity," he muttered

Then the jeweler came out, "Okay the ring you requested is around 210 euros," he said and Liam got out his debit card to pay for it but then got a text from Yasmin that read to him like a moment of madness:

{Going to Libya. Wanna tag along?}

Liam paled at it and the jeweler peeked at it and looked at him, "Is she the lucky gal you aim to propose to," he asked and Liam nodded, "And she wants to go to Libya to cover the mess over there. What do I do," he asked with a nervous chuckled.

The older man shook his head and patted the young man on the shoulder, "If she is that special for you to propose to then do what it takes to show you'll be there for her no matter what. Even as one as daft as she is proposing to go to a war zone," he said and Liam laughed and nodded as he texted back.

{When do we leave?}

He waited for a few seconds until he got a reply back:

{I'll meet you in Dublin in two days and then we'll head to Egypt to catch a ferry that will take us to a relatively safe spot in the country to dock and head out from there.}

Liam read this, as did the jeweler who was getting a kick out of the young and their exuberant nature, "She sounds feisty. How is she in bed," he asked with a lecherous grin and Liam laughed a bit, "She's something else all right; wears me out too," which the jeweler laughed joyfully.

[DUBLIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, THURSDAY, 1:30PM]

Yasmin exits the terminal and sees Liam waiting there with a sign and she rushed to him, both embraced and kissed, "Oh Liam," she separated herself from him but her hands still clutched his upper arms, "I'm so excited to go! How about you?"

He nodded and wondered if his surprise for her would be ready by the time they leave or when they return from their dangerous trip, "But how are we going to go," he asked, "We'll book a ferry from Egypt and we'll head to Libya. Hopefully, we'll head to Benghazi if not we might head to a safer location in the country. We'll probably stay for a few days due to the absolute danger of this."

"Then why are we going," he asked her again and she looked at him, "Because this is the first time in the Arab world in decades where the people are rising up against their autocratic regimes. That's why we're going," she emphasized why this was important.

The two then got in his car and debated this until they arrive back in Clontarf where they will stay for two days before they head to Egypt, "You know my parents will be worried shitless about me going. I'm in no doubt your folks are considering the same thing that you stay home."

She shook her head, "At first yes, but they know my burgeoning career as a journalist with freelance articles for the New York Times and developing our orchestra's immersion journalism division. However, I'm doing this because whether this fails or succeeds, we have to document this and I called you because I know you would support this."

"I do! It's just…It's just if anything happens to us…to you," he muttered the last part, "There's no guarantee we won't be bombed out of there," he told her and then calmed down, "However…since it's you, I'll follow you anywhere," he ultimately relented with a chuckle.

She smiled, "Good, I can't do this without you," she said and lightly pecked his cheek, "Come on, let's tell your parents the news," she said and got out of the car ahead of him and he looked at her heading for the door, "That woman…" he smirked and got out of the car as well.

LATER THAT NIGHT…

Yasmin was getting ready for bed and brushing her hair in front of the mirror dressed in her nightshirt she heard a knock on the door, "Come in," she called out and as the door opened it was Liam's mother Sarah, "Oh…Sarah."

"Pardon me but…please reconsider going to Egypt or God forbid Libya right now. Wait a few days," she pleaded in a calm manner to whom she hopes to be her new daughter in law, "It's much too dangerous to leave at this time."

The Lebanese American woman stopped brushing her hair, "Sarah, I know how this looks. But I called ahead for fixers to show us the way in and a safe passage out. But no mistake, we know the risks and I want Liam there with me to document this historic moment," she made her case but Sarah wasn't comforted.

She sighed and looked at the young woman before her, "I know but I also don't want you or Liam to get hurt, or worse, killed or even kidnapped. It's just…what's this world coming to," she said in an exasperated tone.

Yasmin approached her slowly and gently puts her hand on the upper arms of Sarah, "…What it's coming to is a turning point for all of us. The world is awakening. We can make a difference, so please allow Liam and I to go and document what can be a starting point for the rest of the region. It's a long shot I know but it's better than nothing at all."

Mrs. Corrigan looked at her and relented, "I sort of figured I wouldn't convince you to change your mind, or my son for that matter. But please, make it back safe and sound," she repeated, which Yasmin smiled, "No problem."

~Music bit: "The Visitors" by Hamza El Din~

ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT

[EL ROKAB EL BAHAREYA STATION, SATURDAY, 2:04PM]

The ferry started the loading process of passengers and crew. Yasmin gripped her backpack and suitcase, as did Liam with his. Their fixer is a Libyan from Canada who has come back to fight in the uprising and he dropped his studies in Vancouver to do this, "Okay this is it. Either this trip will make or break us," Liam told the guy whose name is Yussef.

Yussef laughed, "Well you two shouldn't have problems. However I heard that if things go forward as it is, NATO might join in to end the conflict. If by the incompetence of leaders won't do anything, the leader of Libya will no doubt use his own military to kill his own people. Now that will start some serious shit," he added with foreboding of what might occur.

Liam nodded and clutched his engagement ring box in his coat pocket, "I hope not…" he looked on as Yasmin was talking to Ahmed's parents about if she can take him next month and it seems intense by the sound of it, "What's your story," he asked the guy, "Why come from Canada, in Vancouver no less to be here in the dead of winter."

Yussef laughed as he puts his hands in his jacket, "Well it's not as cold as Vancouver in the winter, but I'm here taking time off from medical school to participate this. It's the same for you Irish during the bad days of the IRA against the British. We're fighting against a legitimate bad guy and with this opportunity we won't let that fucker win."

Liam listened and took it to heart, at least on face value. He knew the IRAs agenda was to unite Northern Ireland with the whole of the Irish Republic and sees the British as occupiers as well as using terrorism as a political device, even in those moments where those who rather use bombings and the like since its well faster than a protest or hijackings in the pre-9/11 days. Now in this world, the old system is falling apart and this uprising and revolution is the spark for what will inevitably come. He was silent but inwardly, "Well Yussef, I'm with you guys. Yasmin definitely. She's Lebanese American and her parents survived and fled from the first years of the Lebanese Civil War. So for her and her family this hits home in a palpable way."

The young Libyan man nodded and looked around, and then heard the port of call for everyone to board, against collective better judgment to head for a war zone. Yasmin came back to him clutching her backpack and suitcase with camera equipment, "Well Ahmed won't come but he agreed to use some of our travelling funds to be prepared for anything. And I suggested Fatma to go with him since Delilah's access to the Middle East is a bit restricted."

Liam nodded and breathed in and out, "Right…So love, let's get moving," he said and she nodded with a smile and got in line in front of him. He looked at her figure and her profile when she looked around. He was nervous, he was anxious, but most of all, excited.

WEEK TWO

BENGHAZI, LIBYA

[SUNDAY, 12:34PM]

"With checkpoints around the city it seems on the surface that rebels have gained control of the city. But with the forces still out-armed and out resourced, the news of whether or not the US or NATO forces will go and join them is still the hot topic of discussion for the rebel forces here."

As Liam filmed her he was immensely proud of their work and more wary than he's ever been filming in a war zone. But then gunfire was heard in the distance and the fixer along with their hired security in the form of local militia who Yussef ushered them back to their van, "Move! Move," he told the two journalists.

Once back inside the van they drove off but not too quickly otherwise they would be targeted. They drove to a checkpoint, "من أنت؟ (Who are you?)," one asked.

"Veritas," Liam said and the guard asked again, "من الذى؟ (Who?)," he asked, "فيريتاس. قناة بث أخبار بودكاست على شبكة الإنترنت. (Veritas. A news podcast streaming news channel on the Internet.)," the fixer responded and the guard nodded allowing them to pass, before flashing a victory sign to the camera Yasmin was holding to head back to the safe area of the city where their hotel was.

As they drove past, they knew they would soon have to leave Benghazi as the noise of gunfire was now spreading, "حيث يمكن أن نذهب آمنة؟ (Where can we go that is safe?)," Yasmin asked the fixer.

"We'll head for a restaurant in the safe zone. We'll eat lunch there. But I feel more players will come into the city and I'm not talking about the main players. I mean foreigners not from North African countries," the fixer responded.

"المرتزقة التعاقد؟ (Hired mercenaries?)," he asked and the fixer nodded a yes, "Fuck. It's like Iraq or Afghanistan," he commented to Liam and Yasmin directly.

"I doubt it. This is a lot different from either of those two countries," Yasmin disagreed with that statement and they drove off. They would commence filming later after lunch towards the afternoon if permitted.

[MONDAY, 6:34AM]

The sun was rising and after a night of fitful sleep in their hotel, it was great to get out and have the ruins to themselves before breakfast. As he walked alongside her now near an abandoned amphitheater that overlooked the sea he felt this was perfect. Now or never, "Yasmin…I may have had reservations coming here but you were right, this was a worth while trip."

She turned to him her hair flowing in the light breeze, "Yeah I'm glad you're here with me as well. This trip has been…truly something. Close calls of course but that's part of the game," she said with a smile and she then sees him kneeling on one knee, "Um…what are you…"

"Since we met four years ago, our friendship has grown in the most…wonderful way. From France to China, from Colombia to L.A., and now here these trips have been an eye opening experience. I wish to travel with you to whatever ends of the world we'll land in. Like birds on migration," he said and she added, "Or two butterflies in the sunlight," with tears forming, but maintained her faltering composure.

That is until he took her hand, "I don't have a ring yet but…Yasmin Moradi, would you marry me?"

She smiled like crazy now, tears flowing and laughing good naturedly, "Yes…Yes," she said twice and it's all he needed. After days of documenting the revolution together he stood up, brought her into his arms and the two shared a passionate kiss.

She caressed his cheeks and he gently grasped her upper arms and then the two ended it. They looked into each other's eyes and just enjoyed the sounds of the nearby ocean, "What a fucked up place to propose huh," she joked and he laughed warmly, "Could be worse, it could be in one of the many French and Italian restaurants for normal couples."

She bellowed a warm laugh, "We're so not normal," she said in between laughs and he continued to hold her, "Nah, normal is…normal. Nothing wrong with it but not for us," he said and placed a kiss on her forehead.

She then asked, "You don't mind if we postpone the date for marriage for a while until we cover the events going on in the world. I feel this year will be too busy for us to go to the altar," she pointed out and he looked at her understandably.

"I don't mind. In fact I think we can postpone our date till at least next year. We have time for that and the honeymoon," he suggested as he wiggled his eyebrows and she slapped his arm playfully, "And kids," he asked.

This is where Liam and Yasmin were quiet for a bit until she spoke, "Well…I am hoping for kids but after we handle our business first," he told her regarding their work and constructing their new site with Craig, "Agreed," she responded.

The two stood there for a while and Yussef stood behind a column in the shadow and smiled, amused but also touched. Love still exists in an evolving hell that is the world now.

APRIL 2011, WEEK THREE

PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI

[HOTEL OLOFFSON, MONDAY, 10:23AM]

"With its towers and balconies and wooden fretwork decorations it had the air at night of a Charles Addams house in a number of The New Yorker. You expected a witch to open the door to you or a maniac butler, with a bat dangling from the chandelier behind him." "But in the sunlight or when the lights went on among the palms, it seemed fragile and period and pretty and absurd, an illustration from a book of fairy tales."

Alberto was lying down on his bed reading The Comedians by Graham Greene who based his fictional Trianon Hotel off of Hotel Oloffson. With this quote totally true to how it is staying in this what the orchestra dubbed, 'the doll house'. Even after the earthquake and hurricane that rocked this country last year, this decrepit hotel still stood and now the country has to deal with a cholera epidemic. To cover the cholera victims and encampments of people still displaced by the earthquake last year as well as this new problem he and Juliette as well as Cecilia are wary of what they want to cover, but have faith in their fixers can deliver with access to these places and safety. Ever since the highly viewed but critiqued documentary of Libyan Revolution covered by Liam and Yasmin last month, their orchestra was now coming under the spotlight of either sticking to music or cover other stories people are craving for. Mohammad so far has staunchly defended them and the orchestra as a whole, but with them now in Haiti to perform a small concert while volunteer with an NGO called J/P Haitian Relief Organization that still aids thousands displaced by the quake it puts them in a position no university or conservatory can pass up.

He hears his door knocked, "Yeah," he called out, "It's me," it was Cecilia, "What's up," he closes the book and sits on the bed as the door opened. Due to the humidity he wore a Tupac shirt with blue jeans and sandals.

She wore a white tank top with blue shorts and sandals, "Time to head out to meet the others at the other hotel they're staying in. Can you believe we are lucky to be here," she said as she sat the edge of his bed, "We sure are. And hated by the other musicians," he mused and she laughed.

Alberto then turned silent, "But what about Shinji? He's stuck there and Dante and Asuka went there to see he's all right with their families," he told her and she turned quiet, "Yeah…he'll be all right. But still an earthquake, a tsunami, and to top it all off radiation fears due to a nuclear plant exploding…kind of mirrors this country's own hell."

Cecilia groaned, "First Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Syria, this country and now Japan? What the hell is going on? I am almost convinced the people months ago we fought are behind these events like some sort of vast conspiracy. But that's too out there even for us," she said with slight humor, "Some Illuminati shit huh," Alberto commented and he got a laugh.

MEANWHILE IN JAPAN…

KYOTO, JAPAN

[SHIMOGYŌ-KU WARD, TUESDAY, 12:05AM]

Staying at a ryokan brought them some peace with the hot baths and relaxing in their rooms, but even with their parents Dante and Asuka were a bit uneasy in their futons with Shinji having to deal with this crisis occurring in his home country. Dante left for the balcony and at the same time Asuka came out as well. She pointed downward, indicating to talk to themselves downstairs about what is going on. Moments later they are downstairs in the bar where last call is in an hour or so and over glasses of sake, "乾杯。 (Cheers.)," Dante offered.

"乾杯。 (Cheers.)," Asuka returned and both raised their glasses and drank, "それはあなたが知っている前のように感じています。(It feels like before you know.)," she expressed in a quiet manner regarding what has just happened to Japan, "天使は私が意味します。(The Angels I mean.)"

Dante nodded in agreement, "…We're meeting Shinji tomorrow in Tokyo in Shinjuku with Koji," he reminded her to which she nodded. He then asked, "How's the separation?"

She looked up at him, and then back at her glass, "Weird…I didn't think it would feel this jarring. But he's a free man. I learned long ago now that being possessive will never get you what you want, let alone the love you want and deserve. So he's free. He can do whatever he wants or with whoever he wants."

He nodded, "Girls like him due to his musical talent and globe trotting exploits. Makes him a bad boy of the classical scene in Japan, at least in our demographic," he told her and she nodded, "He's handsome, talented on the cello, looks good on camera, interviewed the right wing and plans to do a yakuza story soon…well hung," but then Asuka looked at him with a stern look.

He enjoyed her slightly unhinged due to romantic longing, "What," he asked and she glowered before returning her focus to her sake, "You're a fucking asshole," she said, "Yeah but you did save my life," he humored her.

"And sometimes I regret it."

Afterwards the two headed back to their rooms upstairs and he stopped her, "あなたは、私はちょうど冗談を言っていた、右を知っていますか？あなたとシンジについて。ちょうど...それはあなたがかつて行ったようにあなたが過剰反応していないとき当惑います。(You know I was just joking, right? About you and Shinji. It's just…it's disconcerting when you're not overreacting as you once did.)," he explained to her.

She sighed as she listened, "わかった。そして、私はあなたが私のために心配してくれてうれしいです。しかし、私は大丈夫だよ、本当に私は。どのようなシンジと私はそれに取り組んでいることは私たちの間です。(I get it. And I'm glad you're concerned for me. But I'm fine, really I am. Whatever Shinji and I are working on it's between us)," she assured him, "私が扱うことができる冗談。それは我々が持っていたこの全体の関係のことだとまだ作業していることは私のための新しい領域です。 (The joking I can handle. It's this whole relationship thing we had and is still working on is new territory for me.)"

He nodded, "右。知っておきたいこと、おやすみ。(Right. Good to know, goodnight.)," he smiled at her and headed for his room and as the door slid closed she headed for her and slid the door behind her.

[SHINJUKU WARD, TOKYO, 8:23AM]

Asuka, Dante and Shinji got off the Shinkansen and now were in Shinjuku, "Where are we headed," Asuka asked Shinji, "We're headed for one of the Red Cross stations. I figured since we're on assignment we can volunteer for a bit if we're able," he explained as he puts on gloves.

It was March but it was quite cold today and Asuka along with Dante adjusted their scarves, "ときにスプリングが、この時間は来ていますか？私は、気候変動が高速になりまし周り暖めだろう、それに行くと思いました。(When is spring coming this time? I thought with climate change going on it would warm faster around now.)," Asuka commented and Dante chuckled.

He then looked around, "これは、その後、深刻でした。私はこのすべてが国に起こった信じられません。しかし、私もこの国が単離されることはありませんと思います。(This was serious then. I can't believe all of this happened to the country. But I guess even this country is never isolated.)," he commented, "誰が、おそらく最も国家主義と傲慢であることを考えました。(Whoever thought that are probably the most nationalistic and arrogant.)," Shinji surprisingly remarked coldly.

They then arrived at the Red Cross dealing with people who evacuated from their homes up north to settle in Tokyo for the time being. It was a crowded to say the least. Shinji met with the supervisor of this particular Red Cross station and as they talked Asuka looked around and the scene before brought back memories, of her own childhood as did Dante, "It's like…it happened or they came," Asuka muttered cryptically.

Dante caught it, "Yeah, quite unnerving," he added and pretty soon the three were allowed to volunteer. After getting their vests with the famous cross on it with their tags they got their duties and set about to work.

Dante was off with taking care of people coming in and out while Shinji and Asuka took care of seeing the elderly. As they walked down the hallway towards their destination they talked, "What are you thinking about," Shinji asked her in a low tone not so much a whisper but enough for the both of them.

She looked at him briefly before resuming walking next to him, "I'm thinking about this trip and your safety," she explained and he looked at her nudging her slightly for her to open up, "Come on I know you better than that."

Asuka looked at him and relaxed a bit, "あなたは後半のように誰を見ている場合さて...私は思ったんだけど？ (Well…I'm wondering if you're seeing anyone as of late?)," she asked, "いいえ、私はしませんよ。(No. I'm not.)," he responded and she stopped, as did he.

"何故なの？あなたが醜いしているようではありません。私はあなたとデートするために並んで女の子を持っていると確信しています。(Why not? It's not like you're ugly. I'm sure you got girls lined up to date you.)," Asuka said with a playful smirk and he chuckled nervously, "いいえ、本当に...それは私が見ていないよということではありません。それはちょうど...私は私のオプションを計量しています。女の子はスケジュールの私のタイプを処理しませんか？ (No, not really…but it's not that I'm not looking. It's just…I'm weighing my options. Would a girl handle my type of schedule?)"

She pondered this for a moment before she answered, "見て、私はそれがすべてのバラが再びそこに行くことが、原因で、我々はまた、非生産的である持っているものは何でも自分自身を制限することになるとは言いませんよ。 そう… (Look, I'm not saying it would be all roses to go out there again, but to limit yourself due to whatever we have is also counter-productive. So…)" she grasped his shoulder gently, "、そこに行く楽しみを持っていると幸せになります。かつてのために幸せになります。(Go out there, have fun and be happy. For once be happy.)," she smiled warmly.

He looked at her with a mixture of relief and gratitude, "ありがとうございました。私たちはそれ以来育ってきたと思います。(Thank you. I guess we have grown up since then.)," he turned and sees Dante waiting for them, "それでは、行くと手伝ってみましょう。 (So let's go and help out.)," he said and she nodded. They then made their way to take care of the elderly.

Half way around the world in Haiti the rest of the orchestra has finished their stint in helping with an NGO for the cholera epidemic.

PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI

[MONDAY, 9:27PM]

The orchestra promised a free concert for the people in one of the camps in the city while they finished volunteering for the NGO today. It was pandemonium during the day with the amount of people still in dire need of aid since last year's disastrous earthquake. The camp was supposed to handle a capacity of 20,000 but today's numbers were around 55,000; way beyond capacity and resources were already stretched thin. But nevertheless they made due they had no choice.

The free concert was in fact just under an hour and now they were finishing up. Their audience clapped loudly and was enthusiastic that they provided something other than aid; music is always welcomed for the Haitians. Cecilia who did interpretive dancing to the baroque music was surrounded and congratulated by several dozen and she thanked them in French. After the concert they headed for town where they were having dinner, normal by most standards but for the rest of the city a near unattainable world where if it were a comparison, Beverly Hills compared to the rest of the city. At the restaurant they had creole food and had a post mortem for their trip, "Man what a trip and we have six days to go," Gilberto slumped as he ate his trout.

"You said it. And I hope the others in Japan will be all right. An earthquake and the looming threat of radiation, its right up there with what this country is dealing," Fatma said who was a bit more concerned for Dante.

Cecilia caught it, "They'll be fine. But you know…I want to see the artwork here. There's something nearby where kids do their art work," she suggested and no one caught on, "It's something in the art here where I researched that I feel a kinship towards."

They nodded and she explained as a mystic but also a practitioner of Candomble and surrounded by Afro-Brazilian art and music, Haitian art has a visual language she can identify with. A language beyond French, English, or Creole, saying things about truths and realities that are both terrible and beautiful, an old language hose in the know can understand; or at least those who are emotionally open enough to learn something new.

As for those in Japan the feelings were mutual regarding their trip away from the orchestra. Of course they'll spend time with one another along with their families who have gotten closer over the years, since the former pilots' introduction into their lives. Six years and counting and each day grateful to be alive right now but with the looming problem on the horizon regarding those they fought and derailed temporarily in Philadelphia last year, they will make sure none of that will ever come to their doorsteps.

MEANWHILE BACK IN JAPAN

[SHINJUKU WARD, TOKYO, TUESDAY, 7:23PM]

After spending the whole day with Red Cross they were done and heading out to enjoy their night on the town. Asuka was excited while Dante just wanted to head back to the hotel and sleep early. What was a bit off was their surroundings when heading for one of the many small bars in the area, "Hey are we being watched," he asked them in a whisper.

Dante was the first to comment, "Yeah we are but it feels like standard observation. We are in Kabukicho after all," he pointed and Shinji nodded as they walked on passing through the infamous red light district.

Shinji nodded and Asuka looked at the two guys, "Come on let's go get drunk," she puts her arms around them and the two smiled at her and went on their way.

Meanwhile up in one office building was a teahouse opened for one man's request. His team of bodyguards numbering at seven in total was in he hallway, and inside the teahouse. Then outside the door, one young male who came from Fukushima was allowed in. The man he wanted to speak was behind the shoji where the man's silhouette was visible drinking tea. The young man bowed, "、若い男を話します。 (Speak, young man.)"

"はい。卿は、被害者を助ける地震サイトで私たちの努力は成功を収めています。(Yes. Sir, our efforts at the earthquake site aiding the victims have been a success.)," he relayed their progress, "そして、いくつかのプレス会場が正の光の中で興味をとっているようです。 (And it seems some press venues have taken interest in a positive light.)"

The man in question said nothing for a few moments, "そして、原子力、クリーンアップのでしょうか？ (And what of the nuclear cleanup?)," he asked, "我々が話すようにそれはまだ進行中です。(That is still in progress as we speak.)," the young man responded.

"結構。アップ北のあなたのポストに戻り、定期的に電子メールを介して進捗報告に送ります。自分では、エンド排気あなたにここになります来ます。いずれにせよ、良い仕事で食べて、いくつかの睡眠を得るために一口をつかみます。 (Very well. Return to your post up north and periodically send in progress reports via email. Coming here yourself will in the end exhaust you. In any case, good work and grab a bite to eat and get some sleep.)," the man who spoke with an elderly but authoritative voice said in a calm manner.

The young man was glad, "ありがとうございます！ どうもありがとうございます！ (Thank you, sir! Thank you so much)," he bowed twice and headed out of the teahouse, leaving the man to his calm moment of the evening.

~End music bit~

MAY 2011, WEEK TWO

KIEV, UKRAINE

[DNIPROVSKYI DISTRICT (Дніпровський район), TUESDAY, 9:23PM]

Trips being separated doing other projects and really developing their journalism segment called 'VERITAS' Latin for 'Truth', a mix of investigative and immersion journalism where on one end Yasmin is in charge while in the other Zane is in charge for different videos calling for different styles to cover a variety of subjects. They didn't go anywhere much in April because of this but the international members did upload what going on in relation to what's been happening recently, whether in Europe or the Middle East or Latin America even. Now they are together again in the Bratislava Hotel for a project that is well, complex…

"Also, wo genau gehen wir jetzt hin? (So we're going to where again?)," Eda rubbed her hair back, "Um was genau zu tun? (To do what exactly?)," she asked again not believing not liking this crazy idea as she was dressed in jeans with a black tank top.

Bernhard looked at her and then at Asuka who decided to go along with what Zane assigned, "Wir fahren nach Tschernobyl um nachzusehen was seit dem Unfall vor 25 Jahren mit dem Atomkraftwerk geschehen ist. (We're heading for Chernobyl to see what has happened to the nuclear facility since the accident 25 years ago.)," Bernhard told her and Asuka herself looked a bit wary of going.

"…Weil wir ja eh schon gehen, werden wir aus dem ganzen einen verfahrensorientierten Prozess machen. Fasst nichts an, nicht mal Blätter oder Erde. Und falls wir dort essen werden, essen wir in der Cafeteria mit Thyreoidea-schützender Medizin oder in unserem Van. Außerdem.. müssen wir eventuell unsere Klamotten verbrennen.(…Since we're going, we are going to make this a procedural project. Touch nothing, not even leaves or dirt. And if we're going to eat, we eat in the cafeteria with a thyroid protection medication or eat in our van. Plus…we might have to burn our clothes.)"

Eda and Asuka hated all of this but said nothing just nodded in agreement as they then prepared to head for bed for a long day tomorrow as Bernhard headed back to his room, "Wenn man bedenkt, dass wir eine 29 stündige Zugfahrt hinter uns gebracht haben, um hier her zu kommen. (To think we went on a 29 hour long train ride to get here.)," Asuka commented, "Ach ne. (No shit.)," Eda added.

CHERNOBYL, UKRAINE

[PRYPIAT, 10:12AM]

Through arrangements and paperwork the three Germans got their chance to head for the old nuclear facility. Thy first headed for the only building that allows visitors to come as well as the few dozen still working on site, figuring out how to contain the exposed Reactor No. 4 where the only solution now is to construct a concrete dome around the site to contain the nuclear reactor exposed, in this case Reactor No. 4. The three had strict guidelines; no eating outside the car, take a thyroid supplement to shield against excessive radiation absorption, no touching leaves, dirt, any of the building surfaces. If followed then they are safe, no more radiation than a standard X-Ray.

After getting the layout of the rules and history of the accident, they couldn't help but compare this with recent the recent nuclear meltdown in Japan. However while that was caused by a natural disaster, this infamous meltdown in Eastern Europe was caused by human error on part of Soviet officials. Hubris in other words, going beyond the limits while ignoring the dangers. Now arriving to the abandoned town near the border with Belarus, being there was very grave. Buildings overgrown, in various states of decay with evidence of life from 1986 everywhere. They got out of the van and with sunglasses on and Geiger counters in hand they looked around, "Das hier ist alles komplett im Arsch. (This is fucked up.)"

Asuka's comment pretty much summed it up, "Egal was die meistan Leute sagen, das hier war der schlimmere Unfall. (I don't care what people say, this was the worst accident.)," she added noting that Fukushima was in effect larger in terms of radiation leaking out into the air spreading over the Pacific.

Bernhard was astonished by how much greenery was around, "Alles ist so... grün. Ich mein das auf die ehrlichste Art.(Everything is so…green. I mean that in the most sincere way.)," he said, "Ich mein, schau dich um, man könnte komplett vergessen dass hier radioaktive Strahlung herrscht. (I mean look around, you would forget that there is radiation here.)," he added as he adjusted his polo shirt that matched his khaki pants.

Eda knelt down in her jeans and tank top and take a reading of the ground. The sounds of the Geiger counter shattered that illusion, "Mit den Messwerten von 1300 schlag dir Blätter oder steine aufheben erstmal aus dem Kopf. (With the meter reading 1300 forget picking up leaves or rocks.)," she stood back up again and looked out.

"Скільки часу буде потрібно для випромінювання, щоб розсіяти? (How long would it take for the radiation to dissipate?)," Bernhard asked their guide in Ukrainian, a language he picked up quickly after learning Russian, "В 25000 років, щоб діти спеціально заборонено цій галузі. (In 25,000 years so children are specifically not allowed to this area.)," he explained.

Asuka then asked, "Який час ми можемо залишитися в одному певному місці перед пам'яток тут? (What is the time we can stay in one particular spot in front of sights here?)," also in Ukrainian, in fact the three Germans knew Ukrainian but hers was the best, "Не може бути годину чи навіть півгодини. (Can't be an hour or even half an hour.)," she added.

"Зазвичай це тридцять секунд для кожної плями тут, щоб звести до мінімуму вплив радіації. Ви в безпеці до тих пір, поки ви не відхилиться конкретний шлях. І не ходити в лісистій місцевості тут. (Normally it's thirty seconds for every spot here to minimize exposure to radiation. You are safe as long as you don't wander off the concrete path. And don't walk into the wooded areas here.)," he reminded them and they agreed.

As they filmed the area and visited the abandoned Ferris wheel, bumper cars and headed inside one of the abandoned schools. Inside the school was truly a time capsule of how life was like for the privileged Soviet society. This town was essentially a utopia where everyone had jobs and kids went to school. Part propaganda and part reality, dichotomous natures for this abandoned town. What surprised them more were that birds were heard chirping as well as their guide telling them that wolves and bears wander in and out of Prypiat.

Nearby was a forest where boars are said to live Asuka asked, "Може ми вирушимо туди тільки на одну секунду? (May we head in there for just a second?)," but their guide specifically forbade it, "Це Червоний ліс, ніхто не допускається там. Це саме радіоактивне місце на Землі. Ви йдете туди, ви помрете. (That's the Red Forest, no one is allowed in there. It's the most radioactive place on Earth. You go in there you will die.)"

This warning really sent shivers down their spines, "An diesem Ort ist es wirklich wie nach einer Apokalypse. Der Boden und die Pflanzen bringt dich um; das Wasser bringt dich um, der Schimmel genauso. Die Tiere haben anscheinend keine Angst weil… Ach keine Ahnung, die sind verdammte Mutanten. (This place really is like the apocalypse. The ground and plants will kill you; the water will kill you, the mold as well. The animals apparently have no fear because…I don't know they're fucking mutants.)," Bernhard pointed out as he looked around.

Asuka shuddered and Eda then asked an even more disturbing question, "Скільки людей насправді живуть в виключає зоні? (How many people actually live in the exclusionary zone?)," and the guide didn't hesitate in answering, "Близько 1400 осіб жили тут, так як після евакуації. Це питання досі зчепилися в уряд країни не кажучи вже про наслідки для здоров'я впливу радіації. (About 1400 people have lived here since the aftermath of the evacuation. It's an issue still grappled with in the country's government not to mention the health effects to exposure to radiation.)"

This made Eda look around the buildings around behind them as well as the forest ahead, "Добре. Давайте нахер звідси. (All right. Let's get the fuck out of here.)," she said and made her way back to the guide's van with the others, "Das hier ist alles komplett im Arsch. (This is truly fucked.)," she added, this time in German.

JUNE 2011, WEEK TWO

BEIRUT, LEBANON

[AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT, WEDNESDAY, 1:20PM]

After a month recess from traveling the orchestra returned to Lebanon for a relaxing period to just kick back, relax and perform some music for the American University of Beirut in the Ras Beirut district. Ever since their trip here last year and getting more than 500,000 views on their performance and conversation bit since last year, the orchestra vowed to come to this country at least once a year due to their audience here had grown substantially since then. For Mohammad its for him to reconnect with friends who have lived through the civil war and even Syrian occupation from the early 2000s. But now with the news of a civil war breaking out in Syria, he is more concerned than ever.

In one of the faculty rooms on campus he sits down with six of them five are professors while the other is the dean of the Social Science department, "It seems you're a star now," his oldest friend now a political science professor.

Mohammad laughed, "Hardly," and smiled as he drank some coffee, "But thank you. It's been a long journey from here to Paris, London, Philadelphia and finally New York. What a trip it's been," he added.

The dean who is a woman in her fifties like the other five spoke up glad her old friend is in good health and doing well, "Je suis plus impressionné vous convaincu ces macchabées à Columbia et de l'Université de New York pour vous permettre l'autorisation de couvrir les récents événements mondiaux. (I'm more impressed you convinced those stiffs in Columbia and New York University to allow you permission to cover the recent world events.)," which all he could do was smile.

"Eh bien, je fus un fauteur de troubles. (Well, I was a trouble maker.)," he admitted to certain events in his youth, "Et tu as épousé une princesse. (And you married a princess.)," another of his friends who is a sociology professor quipped, "Tais-toi. (Shut up.)"

They then continue on their years apart, those who have died in the war, those who have moved and never returned and above all their good fortune for being alive, "كنت تعرف مدنية وهذا جار في سوريا، وأنا أعلم من شأنها أن تتحول إلى أن تكون جحيم حقيقي بالنسبة لنا. (You know the civil that's underway in Syria, I know that will turn out to be a real hell for us.)," his other friend who is a history professor commented on the topic at hand.

Mohammad nodded, "اللاجئين تكثر في المستقبل. مثل الفلسطينيين. (Refugees abound in the future. Like the Palestinians.)," and the dean sighed, "طالما لم تحل هذه القضية في إسرائيل من قبل هذا الغبي اليمين في السلطة سيبقى هنا في ظروف قاسية. (As long as the issue in Israel is unresolved by that right wing idiot in power they will remain here in dire conditions.)"

"هل ستكون أسوأ مع السوريين تتدفق؟ (Would it be any worse with Syrians pouring in?)," the anthropology professor asked, "الطريقة الوحيدة هذه ستكون وخيمة هي إذا كانت الأرقام كبيرة جدا للمدينة في التعامل معها. (The only way this will be dire is if the numbers are too great for the city to handle.)," he added.

The history professor answered, "لا شك في ذلك. بالنظر إلى الوضع في المنطقة في الوقت الحالي. الربيع العربي، الثورة الليبية، والآن حرب أهلية في عقر دارنا كلها دلائل على وجود صراع كبير الكبير الذي على وشك أن يحدث في المستقبل. (No doubt about that. Considering the state of the region is in right now. Arab Spring, the Libyan Revolution, and now a civil war on our doorstep are all signs of a great big conflict that's about to take place in the future.)"

They all looked at him, "أسوأ من ما يحدث؟ (Worse than what's going on?)," Mohammad asked who now looked a bit depressed at the prospect of another big war, "آه أجل. قطعا. التاريخ هو مفيد، وليس ملهمة. (Oh yeah. Definitely. History is instructive, not inspirational.)," he responded in a near cynical way while finishing his coffee.

The circle of old friends now in their fifties approaching sixty in four years, two of them will reach that in only two, time has passed by and they gained wisdom. Now knowing the current generation will have to deal with the world that is coming, and it's coming with the speed of a tsunami, threatening to destroy everything in its path. Mohammad knew this more assuredly and knew more that those in his orchestra will no doubt take the reins much more aggressively than even his close friends who have seen a lot of horrible things during the civil war would find shocking and unbelievable.

LATER THAT NIGHT

[SHATILA REFUGEE CAMP, 8:34PM]

Dante, Asuka and Shinji headed for this neighborhood by taxi at great risk to a Palestinian refugee camp. But they reminded themselves that this is not the 1980s but since Islamic radicals are more common to recruit the disillusioned as well as Hezbollah now more common in areas like this with supporters for their cause. But they're not here to cover those topics. No they came here to meet Kevin who took time from Plumber duties and his new life in Providence, RI to meet them here about what happened before and see if he can help out but in a slightly different capacity: weapons dealer.

They told the driver to stay and they'll return shortly. So Dante paid him the amount for the ride and he nodded and told them he'll wait for them. He turned off the engine and the three headed down the narrow street missing a passing moped and people just walking about to have their own version of a nightlife compared to Ras Beirut. The deeper they ventured they found a hookah shop where it borders the parameters of the refugee camp. They entered and got cups of mint tea to wait. Kevin arrived shortly after, "Found you guys! This place is crazy," he shook their hands and sat down.

"We ordered a cup for you and we got a hookah to share," Dante said and he nodded, "Thanks," he said and relaxed a bit after taking a sip of tea, "How's Gwen," Shinji asked.

"She's finishing work in Brown right now. I didn't want to disturb her but I'll go back after finishing up here," he responded and the three nodded. Asuka then spoke as their hookah arrived, "Well let's get started."

"Isn't this unfit for a woman to do," Kevin asked but she just shrugged, "I don't live here. Plus we're still in an okay area of the neighborhood. A block down is the refugee camp and the more conservative area," she explained and he nodded, sort of buying her explanation.

The four smoked the peach flavored hookah and now more relaxed their discussion began, "Now why have you called me here," Kevin asked as he looked at the former EVA pilots, "This is unusual that you called me instead of Max or Danny."

The three looked at each other and Asuka then proposed the topic, "Can you procure small arms to us or perhaps rifles," she whispered to him and he was genuinely surprised by their request, "Are you guys…seriously preparing for what's coming since last year?"

"Yes. Can you help," Dante confirmed Kevin's thoughts and asked him, which got the American to sigh, "Give me a moment," which is what he needed to think on all of this. Kevin was surprised and a bit apprehensive about procuring weapons for the former child soldiers, "Why?"

Shinji then spoke, "In Philadelphia we observed that we were woefully unprepared against these insurgents. Not only that it proved difficult to track them in real time due to the type of network they were using," he explained, "Their network was unusual as well as their encryption," he added.

"Fatma is helping me on her end with that perhaps she can find someone on a chat room somewhere and Wilfredo is going to visit his grandmother in Lisbon next month with his family and he'll look into what is on the ground there if it has gone that far ideologically speaking," Dante explained as he poured himself some more tea.

Kevin then looked at Asuka, "And what do you really think about all of this," he asked and she just put it forward in a way he can really understand, "We best be prepared for anything. Even if it means to take up arms against them," to which she added, "I was upset about Ben's decision last year but in hindsight I suppose he was thinking about civilian casualties if we were to miss our shots."

"Yeah he was. But you three weren't in the wrong either so I'm not blaming you guys," Kevin responded and sighed, "Tell me what sort of toys you need and I'll do my best in getting them for what's coming up," he old them and the three were surprised and then grateful, "Thank you," they responded in unison.

So the three continued to smoke their hookah while Asuka slipped him a list as she high fived him after a joke and Dante and Shinji groaned. They stayed for another twenty minutes and then left the place. As the trio headed back for their cab Kevin headed for his rented car to head back to the spaceship outside the city in the mountains he read over the list, "Three 1911 Colts, Spas-12 shotguns, and one L115A3 sniper rifle…talk about light infantry. However, I'm going to be nice to them," he muttered to himself and puts the paper in the cup holder.

He reverses and heads down for the main streets and find his way back to the highway and out of the city. Once he reached the rental service to drop off the car he got back his own car with the piece of paper in his pocket. His car roared down the highway and calls someone on his Bluetooth system he installed, "Hey man. It's me I have a few orders to make."

JULY 2011, WEEK ONE

SEATTLE, WA, USA

[TUESDAY, 2:13AM]

Ben Tennyson drove from Bellwood in Houston, Texas after graduating high school to arrive in Seattle. His final year in school was pretty normal with alien patrols at night, keeping up with his schoolwork as best he could and applying for college. But he didn't wish to remain in Bellwood. Inspired by Gwen and Kevin moving to the east coast, he now wishes to head elsewhere in the country. So after giving it some serious thought he chose to not to follow them but head for the west coast. Seattle, Washington since there is a Plumber Sub-Station located there close to the Canadian branch in Vancouver.

His parents wished him luck, his mother teary eyed but proud and his father gave him a nod and knows his son will be all right. His grandpa called ahead so Ben can have time to drive there himself and enjoy his little road trip northwest. It took him five days to just enjoy the trip, when normally it would take four days to get to the famed northwestern city. He can see the city coming up in the distance and he can say his trip was great, especially that day stop in Aspen.

'Girls, bikinis, mountain vistas, what more can a guy ask,' he recalled that great day as he shifted gears.

Fifteen minutes later still on the I-90 and was now in the city, with the skyline in the distance. He was now looking for a place to get a bite to eat but also use the restroom, "I need to take a piss and stretch my legs," he told himself as he entered the tunnel from crossing the water from Mercer Island Town.

He exited the highway and found himself blocks away from Safeco Field and near the tracks as well and after another minute he finds a diner, "DeLuca's Diner. Perfect," he parked on the curb and headed inside.

The diner has a 70s exterior but inside was a mixture of the 50s and 60s, showcasing how long its been in operation. Black and white tiles with old-fashioned stools at the counter where the kitchen was where cooks cooked and patrons ate their meals. It was pure Americana at its finest.

A young woman in her early twenties it appeared greeted him, "Welcome. Would you like a seat," she offered and he smiled, "Sure but first I need to use the restroom. Been driving for six hours," he replied back.

"Oh sure. Go past the counter and down the hallway there is the men's room," she told him, "It's unlocked right," he just wanted to be sure which she nodded and he walked fast for the men's room.

Moments later he finished his business and began washing his hands. He checked himself in the mirror and dressed in a green hooded sweater with a black shirt underneath with slim fit jeans he looked okay but felt stiff still after all that driving. He stepped out of the restroom and headed for the counter where the waitress from before, "Would you like a menu?"

He sits down on the red stool and accepted the menu, "Please and thank you," he said with a grin, "I'm starving. Traveled here from Bellwood in Texas for five days. What should I get? All the food on the menu looks good."

The waitress suggested the house special, the DeLuca Deluxe with consists a double cheeseburger, fries, salad and a drink; dessert was optional. He agreed and ordered it, "I'm Hayley by the way," she introduced herself, "I'm Ben."

As his food was being cooked the two started talking, "What brings you to Seattle," she asked, "Well I came to experience something outside of the norm from back home. Plus my cousin and friend left for the east coast so I decided to do the same but head out west."

"Judging by your slightly accent, Texan," she guessed and he laughed, "Yes ma'am," and he responded with a heavy Texan accent and both got a laugh out of it. The two talked a bit longer and after fifteen minutes she asked, "So do you have an apartment yet?"

That he felt a bit of an idiot, "Well I came here also for work but no apartment was assigned to me yet so for now I'm homeless," he chuckled at himself, which she waved it off with a smile, "It's not a problem. Say I can hook you up with an apartment today if you like. There are a few available where I live. Just meet me at this address," she wrote it down on a piece of paper and handed to him.

He accepted, "Wow thanks! When do I swing by after lunch and my work placement today," he asked, "Oh swing by around six. Not a problem," she replied with a grin.

His food came and he downed it with gusto, but also not too fast as to bloat with gas later. He needed to stay alert for tonight's patrols for the Plumbers, well as far as he's used to anyway. After he finished he said goodbye and again promised to drop by at her apartment complex to see the potential new home for himself.

[DOWNTOWN, 3:13PM]

Ben parked across the street where Seattle's Underground Tour is located. It's the site where the city later elevated its streets decades ago and now abandoned and a haunt for tour groups who want a glimpse into mid-19th century Seattle. But this didn't interest him at the moment. He instead headed for an elevator shaft that looked as shabby as the rest of the underground ruins, but in fact there is one button that looked new and up to date under a layer of dust. He pushed it and sounds came where an elevator appeared from the wall behind and came forward. He entered and pressed the down button. The doors closed and he felt the elevator move back into position and moved downward. The elevator inside was a white metal with the numbers in both standard Earth notation and alien notation.

What felt like he went down twelve floors the doors finally opened and he stepped out and into the Plumber's Sub Station. It had the feel of a government office building like that of the National Security Agency or the FBI. In other words, people walking down hallways and glass windows where aliens and humans were working on their computers of both alien and local construction. He was then met with a face from the past, "Victor?"

The older man in his forties nodded. A broad shouldered man with greying blond hair cut in military fashion in a suit instead of his Plumber uniform. Victor is also Elena's father who both left Bellwood when both he and she were twelve. The two shook hands, "Hey there, kid. How was your trip here?"

"Long but okay. So when do I start my patrols here," Ben asked his senior officer but Victor led him down the hall, "Come with me."

With that Ben was looking around the hallway was nondescript and Victor opened the door and inside there were two other men also in suits, "Ben Tennyson. Please have a seat," the first man spoke who looked to also be in his forties.

"My name is Eric Donovan, special agent for the FBI and investigating the criminal element in the northwest for the past seven years. You have been assigned here on the insistence of Officer Validus here to train you in infiltration."

Ben was gob smacked and didn't believe what he heard. But then got asked, "Tell me," Eric placed is elbows on the table with his chin resting on his hands, "What do you know of organized crime?"

He blinked before responding, "Well aside from the Forever Knights and Goodfellas, not much. Everything else was either gangs or lone nuts," he explained and Eric chuckled a bit.

"I like this kid," he told Victor who also sat down. Then Eric got serious, "Now then here is what I want you go through. I want you to immerse yourself in the Irish Mob here in this city. Nowhere near as big as it was in Boston or Chicago I know, but it has grown in past fifteen years since the downfall of the Italian Mob. However, even here there is a particular Italian Mob syndicate that is making a comeback. I want you to infiltrate them when the time comes."

Ben listened and felt that this was a big break to really get into the gritty side of law enforcement. But also this was something he's never done on his own or with Kevin and Gwen. He thought about it for a second, "May I take a few months settling in Seattle so I can get a feel for this place. But who are the underbosses of the underworld here?"

"Leonardo Frederick Galante, middle aged Italian American. Then you have Thomas Leroy Bossley, Tebo for short and an African American. And finally, Michael McCauley, Irish American and near the age of Leo; you'll start with him and then work to figure out the others."

Ben listened and got up, "Thanks sir," he shook the FBI's hand and stepped out with Victor, "So, how long is the training," he finally asked.

"Six to eight months. As long as you need to acclimate to the climate here," he responded and Ben nodded, "Well I gotta go and see this thing about an apartment. A local hooked me up. Am I lucky or what," he said with a grin.

"Sure are," Victor smiled and Ben stopped, "Say…how's Elena these days," he asked what was bugging him since arriving and Victor knew it, "She's doing well. Plans to start up a company, tech wise and getting her degrees in computer and electrical engineering."

He nodded, "Good, maybe we'll cross paths sometime," he casually remarked, not believing he would and pressed the elevator button, "I won't fuck up during my time here. Count on it. I'll give this my all sir. I promise."

Victor nodded, "I know you will," then the elevator doors opened and he stepped inside, "Does my grandpa already know I'm here," he asked as he held the doors from closing.

The older officer smiled, "Yes. Don't worry you'll do fine here. Now go and get settled in. Tomorrow night is your first night patrol. And yes, you will get paid this time," he winked which caused Ben to smile and chuckle lightly, "Thanks."

[ARKONA APARTMENTS, 5:55PM]

Just blocks away from the Space Needle and after driving around and walking around for two hours doing nothing in particular he arrived at Hayley's address, "Not bad," he mouthed and parked alongside the curb.

He got out and headed for the main entrance as he buzzed for the manager, "Who is it," a male voice asked.

"Hi. A tenant here named Hayley to come here around six. Is there an apartment available," he asked just as a cable car passed by on 1st Ave North, "Oh yeah, come in."

The buzzer rang out and he was allowed inside. He sees Hayley there, "Hi there. Did you secure your job today," she asked and he smiled, "Yeah. I start tomorrow night. Not too bad for now," he said full of certainty.

"We'll see," she said and the manager motioned them to follow into the elevator which like the rest of the building had a vintage quality to it, "You new here boy," he asked sounding like a no nonsense type of guy, "Yeah, drove in from Texas."

"Not bad. Enjoyed the trip, had fun in Aspen with some girls," he said and the manager smirked a bit, "Enjoy it while you're young as I always say."

On the fourth floor they arrived, "It's down the hall. It's a one-bedroom apartment with kitchenette, refrigerator, stove, and a newly refurbished bathroom. Rent is 940 a month. Can you provide," he asked.

"Yeah. The job I called in for got through and I start tomorrow night," he explained himself and the manager nodded in acknowledgment. He opened the door and Ben stepped in to look around. The walls were blank but it was roomy enough, and his first apartment no less.

He went from the living room to the bedroom and then to the bathroom. He liked what he saw and he had a good view of the street below and the surrounding area. So he headed back to the living room and sees the manager there with Hayley, "So? Do you like the quick set up," she asked.

"You really did me a solid," he replied and looked to the manager, "I'm in! Though I may have to be a bit Spartan for now. No bed but I do have my sleeping bag," he said poking fun at his own situation.

The manager nodded, "Good. Come down to my office and we'll sign the necessary paper work and upfront security deposit," he told him and he nodded. It's going to be a rough few weeks for him but he's on his own, 'This is going to fucking rock!'

MEANWHILE

In an abandoned film studio, a woman in a black blouse with a black shirt and her hair down, monitoring traffic of the city as usual. Then an alert ping came on the monitor again that rang out earlier in the day. He compared the car shown with earlier footage and pieced it together as she also found footage of the driver, "Oh? How interesting," she smiled with a coy tone of voice.

"He's here now. Time to welcome him into my turf," she added as she worked on the computer to track him down…

AUGUST 2011, WEEK TWO

LONDON, ENGLAND, U.K.

[TOTTENHAM, THURSDAY, 11:12AM]

The London Riots were in full swing and it's been twenty-four hours since it started and already a storefront is burnt and things looted. The orchestra was here to perform music but also cover the riots. With a young man killed by police for being accused of gang activity, a true wake up call of the distrust between the black community and the police. Their only concern is to not get too caught up in the violence that will occur between the protesters and the police, "Jesus even London is burning," Dante said as he walked with Fatma down the neighborhood, "Nice pun," she added.

As they past walkers in the protest rally he looked at her, "So who are we meeting again," he asked again as he walked in his white polo with black trousers with loafers with the top buttons of his shirt undone.

Fatma dressed in shorts, sandals, a tank top and her hair up in a bun responded, "We're meeting someone who may have information on the rogues we met back in Philadelphia. I know we're spending too much time on not doing much but I feel that this would put our nerves to rest for the moment," and he looked at her without saying a word.

They kept walking and with the signs of burnings, violence and theft of businesses and damage done to people's homes was a sign of failure of policy and outreach to the forgotten communities. They then headed inside an Indian restaurant where her contact was, "Scarlett?"

Scarlett Ingram is a hacktivist who was covering the Tottenham riots so far as well as uncovering police corruption for the past few months, "Nice to meet you Fatma. And is this Dante?"

"Yes," she said and he shook the British girl's hand, "Shall we sit," she said and the three then sat down with menus at hand. They made three orders of mango lassi and sat down to talk about these rogues, "They are actually a formalized group formed around mid-2008 after the downfall of the Forever Knight organization to fill in the political vacuum regarding the esoteric communities here. They are called Wizards and Witches Against Esoteric Integration, the W.W.A.E.I. for short," she told the two.

"What is their agenda," Dante asked, "To ensure that separation remains on grounds of power struggle, inter-marriage that can result in emotionally unstable children, as well as the fear of the disappearance of their magical arts when fusion blurs the lines too much. All sectarian bull shit, but it gets worse. Direct influence in society as a whole, our own."

"Will they risk exposure to play their hand," Dane asked, "Well most insurgent groups now are doing just that. But they are hardly covert with one exception; recruitment," Fatma explained to him to which he nodded.

"Those heading out to the unstable countries of the region and come back as sleeper agents. Those are the worst," Dante replied and then Scarlett spoke up, "That's what this group is doing right now across Europe. And tracking them on their network has been bloody difficult."

Dante thought about this development, "Are mages exposed to the modern world or it's like the case of Rowling where it largely depends on their half-blooded populations?"

Scarlett wasted no time in answering, "Well according to those I talk to, mystics and magi, from whom I had to earn their trust, it largely depends on a generation to generation basis. And as for Rowling, according to those in the know, she surprisingly got close than most writers. In fact, she's close to how much Tolkien got right in terms of lore. Maybe…65-72% correct."

"Really? Wow I never would have guess," Fatma sounded surprised, "But then again she mainly focused on the communities here in the UK and not elsewhere. Only snippets of France and the Slavic and Northern European countries."

"Indeed but now I would like to see what your plan is," the British girl asked the two and Dante came into his own, "We seem to have the same problem, tracking down these insurgents via their online activity. I'm wondering if your contacts work for the wizarding community in regards to information technology?"

Scarlett then noticed the waiter coming back with their smoothies, "Thank you," she said to him, as did the two orchestral members. She took a sip via a straw before responding, "Well to be honest they are. Experimenting how to incorporate their magic with new technology," she started and continued, "I tried to gain access to their network but no avail. It's designed to the point where I would get an error message on my screen. But to answer your question, yes. I do have four contacts that work for the ministry's department specifically for this type of research. Why?"

Dante pondered this. It was the exact same situation to what he experienced back in Philly along with Tucker. However he has an idea, "Tell me, would any of them be willing to help us regarding this? To help us gain access into their network and keep up with these insurgents," he asked and Scarlett's eyes widened with both glee and shock.

"I'm cautiously intrigued by what I'm thinking is your proposal. Please continue," she placed her arms on the table to lean in and listen to him. Meanwhile in Portugal at the same time, Wilfredo was looking to the past.

[SINTRA, PORTUGAL, 11:17AM]

Wilfredo was driving north from Lisbon to visit some castle ruins with the rented car his father selected, a 2010 Renault Megane. He picked up some history about the Great Esoteric War while visiting his grandmother. Apparently there was a group of knights and warriors who escorted scores of magi and mystics away from violence of the Great Esoteric War during the rule of the Moors. He wanted to go to the ruins and find out himself.

After traveling 25 kilometers he arrived in this small town where it had the feel of a town stuck in time, more so than even Lisbon with his train cars and lack of modern architecture. He parked across the street from a church. He took out his sunglasses and put them on due to the bright sun. He looked around and felt more at ease. With a mountain forest near the sea, it also felt like the last vestige of a fairytale Portugal his grandfather used to tell him about in fairytales; which was now confirmed as quasi-fact mixed with legend. He took out his phone to check out Google Maps, "Okay I'll check this place out first."

So he got back in his car and head down the N375 to head for a rather mysterious estate, Quinta da Regaleira. It was only a few minutes until he got there and immediately he felt a presence around the area, both the home and the surrounding parks and different structures. As he got out of the car the mysterious presence around the area felt stronger. He walked up the path and saw a pillar of signs to point which to go around the area. The attraction "Initiation Wells" got him intrigued so he went up a path to head there.

Once there he looked down into the well and it took his breath away by the design of it. It indeed looked like it was probably used for some ritual, but unfortunately for him he felt nothing in this well so he went to the second not far off. Again, nothing; but then he decided to skip the wells and head for the grottos and immediately he felt something. He looked around and sees an inscription or two inscribed on the surrounding rocks, "So there is a mystical community here. Perfect."

After the grotto he headed back to his car and headed back to town to then make his way for his intended destination; Castelo Dos Mouros, The Castle of the Moors, a remnant of the days of Moorish rule in southern Portugal and east in southern Spain. So after taking the main road and then using the mountain road he arrived and immediately he can see why it was built here. A strategic point where the sea is in sight to look out for ships on the horizon.

As he got out of the car a man from behind quietly approached him, with him reaching out and grabbing Wilfredo's shoulder. He quickly turned around and sees a middle aged but still in good shape man, "It's not rare to see a mystic coming here. But an American, now that's intriguing," he said.

Wilfredo nodded and got out of his grasp gently but maintained his composure, "Oh forgive me. My name is Paulinho da Rosa. And who am I speaking to," the man asked in return.

"O meu nome é Wilfredo Pereira da Silva. (My name is Wilfredo Pereira da Silva.)," he responded in Portuguese and the man slightly raised his eyebrow, "Falas português? (You speak Portuguese?)"

"A minha família é daqui e dos Açores. A minha avó veio de Barcelona. (My family is from here and the Azores. My grandmother is originally from Barcelona.)," he told the older man in question, "Só estou a visitar para aprender um bocado da história daqui. (I'm just visiting here to just…learn the history a bit.)"

The man nodded and looked a tad bit focused on him, "Diz-me jovem. (Tell me young man.)," he crossed his arms and just observed the landscape before them, "Dás muita importância ao passado? Eu peço desculpa, mas a tua geração está demasiado preocupada com o aqui e agora, e também com o futuro. (Do you place much stock in the past? Forgive me but your generation is too concerned with the here and now as well as the future.)," he added as he glanced at Wilfredo.

He listened and thought for a moment before responding, "O passado é importante, mas tenho assuntos importantes a tratar. Pode chamar-me idealista, mas o mundo está com problemas graves e temos de fazer algo acerca disso, ou então... (The past is important, but there are pressing matters at hand to take care of. Call me idealistic but the world is in deep trouble and we have to do something about it. Or else.)," he responded in a careful calm manner, but with weight to emphasize his point.

The man said nothing and nodded for a moment, "Parece que a tua visita aqui não foi para observar o passado em particular, não é?(It seems like visiting here wasn't to look to the past in particular was it?)," he asked and Wilfredo looked at him confused, "Como? (Sorry?)"

The man now faced him, now his arms down and smoothing the wrinkles from his polo shirt, "Como místico, deves saber que este país teve um papel na Grande Guerra Esotérica. Nós tínhamos orgulho em ajudar os que procuravam refúgio e em combater criaturas sombrias que os caçavam a mando dos que procuravam derramar mais sangue pela sua causa. E tu. (As a mystic you now must know that this country did have a role in the Great Esoteric War. But for us, we prided ourselves in aiding those seeking refuge and combatting dark esoteric creatures preying on them from those to spill more blood for their cause. And you.)," he grasped Wilfredo's shoulders.

He stood still and the man spoke again, "Vejo que és forte; determinado, sombrio mas também muito leal aos teus. Um verdadeiro aspecto dos cavaleiros que outrora ocuparam estas terras, um grupo inclinado para a política - mas justo - de Cristãos, Judeus e Muçulmanos; algo raro nos dias de hoje. (I can tell you're a strong young man; determined, yet somber but also fiercely loyal to your loved ones. A true sign of knights who once roamed these lands, a politically minded but fair group of Christians, Jews and Muslims; a rare thing these days.)"

Wilfredo looked at the man, "Diga-me, quem eram eles? (Tell me. Who were they?)," he asked and the man smiled, "Anda comigo, vamos voltar à vila para tomarmos qualquer coisa. (Come. Let's head back to town for a drink.)," and off they go.

He then heard the call of a sea gull in the air and he looked up as the older man walked to his own car. The sea bird was of course in the distance

BACK IN LONDON

Fatma and Dante left the Indian place a while ago and were now in one of the open-air markets still open after the riots in Tottenham. With Scarlett in tow they browsed around to find anything like a hat or a pair of old sunglasses. The British girl however as she turned her head to speak to them she could've sworn that she saw someone observing her and her two new acquaintances. She looked around to see if there more, 'What are they doing here,' she wondered.

As she turned again, the man disappeared, "You two we should go," she told them and they were perplexed, "What's wrong?"

"It's…nothing. I thought I saw someone I recognized," she said quickly but Dante looked at her closely, "I repeat. What's wrong?"

She looked at him and then at Fatma, "Not here. I'll meet you later at your hotel with the others. It involves the real nature of your plan and chances of success," she told them.

Fatma and Dante looked at each other warily, feeling something is indeed wrong, "Okay we'll meet later," she gave Scarlett a hug and Dante shook her hand and the three went their separate ways.

Later that night they did indeed meet up again and discussed the nature of their plan while Wilfredo called in that night to relay what he just learned.

SEPTEMBER 2011, WEEK THREE

LOS ANGELES, CA, USA

[DOWNTOWN, WEDNESDAY, 1:23PM]

An encampment formed around City Hall in response to what is already going on in New York, an offshoot of Occupy Wall Street with another encampment in Oakland. Since the publication of a Canadian anti-consumerist magazine called Ad-Busters calling for an Arab Spring style occupation of Wall Street in New York City. But the city wasn't the only battleground where the people were demanding for a presidential commission to separate money from politics, where the financial and political elite was in charge and the people were simply following along. Where Occupy Wall Street in New York was based in Zucotti Park, the encampment in Los Angeles was around City Hall in downtown. As if a moat of people were surrounding the ivory tower of civic power.

Yasmin and Liam along with Craig were there to interview people. For the Scot who would rather make humorous content back in Glasgow, he saw the importance of this movement since his friends' trip to Libya earlier in the year. As the buses and cars drove on wary of the people there they crossed the street and walked around with one handheld camera and Yasmin as the correspondent for VERITAS and their own podcast channel. They learned that while they were welcomed in the Wi-Fi hot spot where podcasters were giving daily updates on their movement online via their channels and social media, there are protesters who are distrustful of the media who simply came to demonize them. But since both are from podcast like networks, they were given a pass.

What they learned was that for here, in Oakland, Berkley, and of course New York, that there was organization for communication for their style of direct democracy. Crossed arms means to block a proposal, waving hands in the middle means uncertainty, while raising up both their hands means a full agreement; often times spending hours in a general assembly where they would make a decision or ultimately failed to reach one. This was a way to self-empower the people, as well as within the organization how to transcend gender and racial biases that might inhibit the movement. But ultimately it was express discontent and distrust with the current political structure where its flawed and bought by special interests. For Yasmin, when she reported on the Libyan Revolution while others reported on Arab Spring, she felt that this was just getting started.

"Hey it seems they are making their own media center here," Liam rushed to the two who are keeping track with their audiences in the Wi-Fi center, "We know," his fiancé responded, "Plus live-streaming this will definitely make this movement legitimate," Craig added.

"And they're launching drones to cover the area where the police are stationed," Liam added and two looked up, "Really?"

At that moment two drones were launched to film the encampment as well as monitor actions of the police who will turn violent with pepper spray usage. As reports in New York where white women were pepper sprayed directly in their faces as well as shockingly, casually.

MEANWHILE IN NEW YORK CITY

[ZUCOTTI PARK, 4:47PM]

Zane along with Zach who took a plane to the city were in the live-streaming center reporting on several girls who were pepper sprayed by the police and used drones, first time for the orchestra and their new news service VERITAS to cover these confrontations with the protesters and police more up close, "This is insane guys! Who would've thought this would happen here in America?"

Zach asked his friends who were also excited to cover what is going on, "I called it years ago. Way back when the last president called for war in Iraq," Alberto responded who was totally against it from the start.

"But this isn't for an unjust war. But rather a call for financial reform," Gilberto responded, "Plus getting the fat bastards to not buy our elections anymore," he added.

"Agreed," Zane said and added a groan to the sight around them. Not to mention the insane plan to perform music later in the evening for the encampment here, "Do you guys have any problems with performing here," he asked them.

Gilberto and Alberto nodded a no while Zach was too busy piloting the mini-drone via the remote controller. He felt that the encampment was just the beginning and also began to wonder, "Where's Wilfredo?"

Wilfredo was at the Occupy Wall Street Library to receive donations for the librarian as well as to hand out books while interviewing her with his digital recorder, "This is a great set up you have here. But since it is still early, do you see this becoming central for the movement here? Even with many on their computers and iPads," he asked.

"Oh absolutely," she said with a smile, "People need books as a way to hold what we are trying to protest about in your hands. Digital media is at times impersonal, instant, nothing truly invested. However with books on hand, it makes the experience more real so to speak."

He nodded, "Do you see yourself staying involved in the long run," he asked and she gave a resounding yes, "Oh absolutely. This is just starting and it won't be snuffed out just due to some bad and unfair press coverage by traditional media. Plus if the police are behaving towards us as they have already, then more people will side with us. That's just how it's been for years."

He nodded and then sees his friends coming to him, "Hi guys! What's up," he greeted in a happy mood, "Isn't all of this great?"

"Sure is. Hey are you performing as well or still undecided," Zane asked, "I'm performing yeah. What about the others," he asked, referring to the rest of the American crew of the orchestra, "They're more than ready. I am sad that the others can't come right now," Zane said referring to the international members.

"Indeed. This is not just going on in America. It's happening in Argentina, Germany and Japan as well as France, Turkey, and even fucking Israel and Lebanon despite the other shit going on there," Zach remarked sounding exasperated with what's going on, "Sorry it's just…this year is really starting to get to me."

Across the world, the others were feeling the same thing. Wilfredo has also sent Asuka information he's gathered since Portugal and hoped she would formulate a plan while also covering this new movement…

HAMBURG, GERMANY

[JUNGFERNSTIEG, NEUSTALDT, THURSDAY, 2:21PM]

As Eda walked through the crowd alone, she felt like a buoy rocking back and forth on the waves near port where boats heading to port. The promenade looked serene alongside Lake Binnenalster where the water looked calm and undisturbed by the protestors cries against the system that has taken the world to it's current depths. Asuka and Bernhard were on their way but as far as she can see, her American friends are going to have plenty of excitement. She felt giddy.

Meanwhile Asuka and Bernhard were nearby with her holding her bag with new information on the plan that's to come. Bernhard felt more like a security guard around her, even though it wasn't necessary. In fact she's teaching him to really take notes of their surroundings and find a way out in case things get hairy. She also got better in her self-defense skills thanks to Asuka and Bernhard's training and also her driving skills have improved to the point where local street racers have dubbed her the 'ballerina of asphalt'. She's proud of her new title but right now; she just wants to get to her friends without getting crushed by the sea of protestors.

Then a memory came to mind, "Eda! Eda! Slow down," she turned around and in her mind's eye she saw herself running here with a fair looking boy with very fair blonde hair, almost platinum with a pointed face running after her, "You have to catch me," she saw herself yelling in delight.

"Eda! Eda," then she felt a hand on her shoulder, "Eda," she turned around and it was Asuka with Bernhard, "Hello! Are you in there," Asuka joked and Bernhard, "She's gone down memory lane again."

Eda briefly glanced behind her, "It's nothing, just a memory. Let's get to work," she reassured them and the three walked out of the crowd to effectively cover the event.

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL

[ROTHSCHILD BOULEVARD, FRIDAY, 9:34PM]

Delilah found out the demonstrations taking place in her city were not exactly what's going on in other parts of the world. This was more centralized in Israel and more on social justice with current state of things, mostly on the decrease in social programs as well as the degradation of the middle class. For her, it was the fact that this crossed religious lines. Plus she was here to meet a fellow mystic who has communicated with Fatma and traveled from Turkey in secrecy to avoid suspicious eyes.

She then found in beside a tent, a young man her age, "האם אתה אלון? (Are you Alon?)," she asked and he nodded, "כן. דלילה נכונה? (Yes. Delilah correct?)," he asked in return and she nodded and off they walked.

"מהו החדשות מאירופה או כאן במזרח התיכון בנושא הקבוצה שספרתי לך? (What is the news from Europe or here in the Middle East regarding the group I told you about?)," she cut straight to it, "הקבוצה שאתה ספרת לי על צלילים כמו קבוצת מורדים קרובה בעיראק על פי המודיעין הפלסטיני והסורי. עם זאת, הם בצד השקט לעת עתה. (The group you told me about sounds like an upcoming insurgent group in Iraq according to intelligence from the Palestinians and Syrians. However, they are on the quiet side for now.)," he told her.

She nodded but did not like this at all, "שום דבר על תוכניתם במקום אחר או המטרות שלהם? (Nothing on their plan for elsewhere or their targets?)," she asked, but he nodded a no, "שום דבר לעת עתה. (Nothing for now.)"

She sighed and looked around, "שמור על קשר. נשתמש הפגנות ככיסוי להתחמק ממבט לא ידידותי. (Keep in touch. We'll use the protests as a cover to avoid unfriendly eyes.)," she relayed her plan and he nodded, "ואני אשמור על קשר עם בעלי ברית אפשריים תכניתו של הקבוצה שלך לעתיד. (And I'll keep in touch with possible allies for your group's plan for the future.)"

With that said both Alon and Delilah parted ways and into the crowds of tents and people they disappeared…

MADRID, SPAIN

[PUERTA DEL SOL, SATURDAY, 4:45PM]

"BASTA! BASTA! LA SISTEMA ES MUERTE! BASTA! BASTA! LA SISTEMA ES MUERTE," the people chanted in the square, legitimately angry with the state of the country with more than 20% of the youth unemployed.

Dante traveled here from Argentina to cover the event but to also incorporate new mini-drone technology to cover everything above the crowds of protestors and police. He and a girl were on the roof of one of the surrounding buildings to get ready and launch their device.

"¿Crees que esto iba a funcionar? (You think this would work?)," a Spaniard girl his age asked, "Más que probable. Sólo quiero mejorar nuestra forma de cubrir eventos, Antonia. (More than likely. I just want to improve our way of covering events, Antonia.)," he responded with a smile.

After finishing up and snapping the final piece in place he stood up holding the remote, "Ahora paso atrás. (Now stand back.)," he told her and she did. He fiddled with the controls and then after a few moments of warming up he had it levitate and began to fly about the square below.

"¡Esta funcionando! ¡Esta funcionando! (It's working! It's working!)," she screamed with delight as she held her monitor to see in real time what the mini-droning was recording. Several below noticed but the rest were caught up with the drama against the police and yelling their chant.

Dante was happy. Happy his custom drone can acquire great footage while also prepared to live-stream it in real time to VERITAS'S website, "Perfect. This can prove fruitful for later," he whispered to himself about the other problem.

After a few minutes he turned to Antonia, "Muy bien, nos dieron lo que necesitábamos! Volvamos abajo! (All right, we got what we needed! Let's head back down!)," he told her and she nodded in agreement so he landed the drone on the roof again and they proceed to pack up and head out.

The two separated and to his surprise, Fatma is there with her arms crossed and was smiling, "Found another girl? And not telling about it, that's classy," she teased and to him with her there in jeans and her hair up in a bun and a tank top made her alluring.

"I was but this was just business. You however are not," he stepped forward and kissed her, "Let's go," he said and off they walked, enjoying their romance while covering the protest rallies.

TOKYO, JAPAN

[MEIJI PARK, SUNDAY, 10:34AM]

Shinji was performing one of Bach's cello suites with Koji filming while Kensuke Sato, who took the train down here from Sapporo, Hokkaido, was taking pictures of the encampment. 40,000 attended this gathering to get rid of nuclear power due to the events earlier in the year. He was just providing simple entertainment for the small area of the protest while Koji and Kensuke spoke with the protestors more or less while just documenting the event.

As Shinji finished some clapped and then to his surprise, his old high school friends from Kyoto came by, "真鍋先輩、ちょっと！ お元気ですか？ (Hey, Manabe-senpai! How are you?)," Takeshi, the athlete of the school is now assistant manager of a gym back home.

"かなり良い、感謝します。あなたはここにいるよ私は驚いています。(Pretty good, thanks. I'm surprised you'll be here.)," Shinji said and then Kenji who replaced his glasses for contacts spoke up, "そうでもないあなたが抗議の途中でパスポートの本と今遊んでチェロを持っているので。(Not really since you have a book of a passport and now playing cello in the middle of a protest.)," he pointed out the audacity of the situation.

Haruhi also came with her girlfriend Rika who now is curious while the former is bemused, "私はちょっと私はあなたのオーケストラは、いくつかの点で行う可能性があります確信しているパフォーマンスアートのスタントを待っています。(I'm kinda waiting for a performance art stunt I'm sure your orchestra might do at some point.)," she said and Shinji laughed as Koji was filming the interaction.

"あなたはこのすべてをどう思いますか？ (What do you think of all of this?)," Shinji asked his friends, "福島はめちゃくちゃし、最終的に人々がたわごと言って立ち上がりました。(Fukushima was fucked up and finally the people rose up to say shit.)," he added who was still astonished all of this happened.

"私は、これは素晴らしいことだと思います。最後に、ちょうどヤクザに対する警察ではないこの国ではいくつかの興奮。(I think this is great. Finally some excitement in this country that is not just the police against the yakuza.)," Takeshi remarked with his arms crossed, "しかし、その後、再び、それは彼らが震災後利他何かをしたことは皮肉です。(But then again it's ironic that they did something altruistic after the earthquake.)," Kenji added as he puts his hands in his pockets.

Then Haruhi looked to her left and sees some young protestors getting into an altercation with the police where some of the crowd dissipated around them and then the protestors were separated from the police while the others were arrested for directly assaulting them. She didn't feel right about being here with her girlfriend, "私は物事があまり熱くないことを願っています。 (I just hope things won't heat up too much.)"

Shinji looked on as well and remarked to his friends, "、ここで何が起こっているのかによって判断すると、あなたの息を保持していません。 (Judging by what's going on here, don't hold your breath.)"

OCTOBER 2011, WEEK TWO

NEW YORK CITY, NY, USA

[ZUCOTTI PARK, 2:34PM]

"THE PEOPLE UNITED WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED! THE PEOPLE UNITED WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED! ALL DAY ALL WEEK, OCCUPY WALL STREET! ALL DAY ALL WEEK, OCCUPY WALL STREET," the chanting started again to keep up morale and for the young musicians it has become standard music to their ears as they worked.

The American members of Les Musiciens du Monde have been covering the start of the Occupy Wall Street movement since its inception. Ever since the massive Brooklyn Bridge arrests, the movement has gotten more support and more coverage from the media, both traditional and online. And now in October where the weather is starting to get cold and November nearly here they opted to help with whatever they can. For the last five weeks they set up a booth as another Wi-Fi hot spot for their orchestra so they can cover the events going on while linking up to a podcast Yasmin and her fiancé Liam share with Craig up in Aberdeen, Scotland. Not to mention the sweet, sweet coverage since they started last month. Christine who was with them at ground zero asked them, "Do you mind if I leave at night? I have to do a story due in a week."

"Not a problem," Wilfredo said as Zane nodded, "You think he'll show up," he asked who knows what her assignment was, "I think he would. But he requested us to not show his face."

"Why," Wilfredo asked, "Because he said he didn't want to be known and or harassed by the police," she explained and he nodded, "Who's coming with you," Zane asked.

"Jang, Alberto and Yasmin," she answered and Zane was relaxed now, "All in order. We're getting good at this huh. Although, good is relative. We're basically ripping off Vice at this point and Al Jazeera," he pointed out with humor.

"And Current," Christine added, "And Current thanks," Zane added with a chuckle and he looked at her, "You'll do fine," he said and she smiled, "Thanks. See you guys later," she reluctantly said, not wanting to leave their command post, but she had to get ready for tonight.

"We'll meet in The Bronx after you're done okay," Zane called out and she waved in assurance and she disappeared through the sea of people. She was going to interview a local politician in Queens who is also fighting against racially driven arrests with a proposal to reform these policies that target certain groups, which in this case, Black and Latino. Down south in another continent, things could not be more different…

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRASIL

[3:39PM]

Cecilia and Dante were with Lionel in Rio's favelas covering how the police are racing against the clock to pacify the areas most affected by drug traffickers ergo the gun deaths in the country and not just the city ranks second, only to the US. After leaving a police scene where a mother was crying that her son was killed, not knowing what to do. But they had to leave since the gang members were probably still in the area, "Dios mío, ¿estamos realmente empujando nuestra suerte? (My god, are we really pushing our luck?)," Lionel asked Cecilia.

The three walked out of the neighborhood and down the street back to their taxi, "Tal vez, pero esta noche voy a llevarnos al infierno. (Perhaps but tonight I am going to take us to hell.)," she said cryptically, "Pero primero, tenemos que atender él en una masa iglesia prisión. (But first we have to meet him in a prison church mass.)," she told him and both Argentines were perplexed.

Half an hour later they arrived at a prison and lo and behold there was their pastor who was preaching to the prisoners who came in the tight space to hear the word of Christ. It was a very palpable mixture of sacred and the profane, something the orchestra as been striving for, for the past year. But this leg of the trip was really going to push them far and by tonight, more knowledgeable but none the wiser.

THAT EVENING, AROUND 11:25PM

At the other side of the city near the railroad tracks around ten thirty or so, the four arrived in an area where they can see crack addicts in front them, scattered around the area, "Esto es jodidamente loco. Más loco que cualquier cosa que he visto en mi vida. (This is so fucking crazy. Crazier than anything I've ever seen.)," Lionel said off camera but was picked up as Dante was filming.

Cecilia was talking to the pastor in Portuguese as Dante looked around still filming. It all unnerved him and no doubt their online audience. Mohammad has stressed to keep going even with some of the board for Columbia and NYU are still unsure to put his orchestral members in situations they really shouldn't be. Especially for what was about to pass in mere moments, exorcising demons from crack addicts in a crack den nearby. And they were going to document it on camera.

Lionel was apprehensive with his camera as was Dante even, but Cecilia was steadfast and the trio followed. Immediately they noticed how the addicts were just staring off into the horizon, not looking at them at all. That along with the smell of the den was just unnerving to the nth degree, along with the fact that Cecilia and the pastor performing exorcisms on the addicts in a mixture of Christian and Candomble styles, both Argentines were just speechless.

Afterwards they head back to the city and discussing what to do next. Tomorrow they plan to cover the ripple effects of a scandal of corruption that occurred earlier in the year, when the police and the chief of police himself were accused of selling weapons back to the traffickers themselves.

BACK IN NEW YORK

[YANKEE STADIUM, THE BRONX, 10:32PM]

Christine was waiting for an African American YouTuber who is fighting back against the unjust arrests of Blacks and Latinos in New York, documenting it anonymously on camera. With 600,000 stopped, frisked, and arrested by the NYPD, more than the population of Seattle across the country, this was just as important as what was going on in Manhattan. She heard a knock on the window of her borrowed car, she got it from Mohammad, and it was the YouTuber, NYC Rebellion.

"Hi there. Wanna get in the car," she asked and he nodded, "Hi sorry I'm late. You're Christine right," he asked, which she nodded, "Yep. So as agreed, we'll keep your identity secret," she reassured him and he nodded, so off they go.

"So why are you doing this," she asked as she drove on to see where the man can document an episode of stop and frisk. To be honest his videos are no holds bar honest, "After years of being stopped by the police for no reason, I decided to fight back with a camera."

"How often does it happen," she asked, "Everyday, every night," he responded without a pause, "Why pick the name, NYC Rebellion?"

"I'm rebellion against the policies that the police are trying to put me in. Basically saying, I'm young, black, I have no right to walk around without a search or harassment. And in addition, furtive movement (aka walking while black), and the negative consequences of the arrests."

"What do you mean," she asked as they stopped at a red light, "Based on you wear, thinking it's the uniform for criminals and gives the NYPD an excuse to do this. It's a lie, a sham, a way to destroy young lives before they actually start," his explanation really hit home for her. Alberto experience once while on his way to rehearsals two years ago. Mohammad got so pissed he successfully sued the police and made sure this had no place in Alberto's record.

As they drove on, the excuse was to find guns on the streets. However, only 1 in 700 stops where the stop and frisk measures resulted in finding illegally owned fire arms, most of the time is for small bags of marijuana where the 'soft drug' was decriminalized in 1977, so in effect all of this stank of racial targeting. Then he told them to stop a block away. There it was, police stopping some young guys. The guy got out of the car covertly and immediately turned on his camera, "Hello there, I'm NYC Rebellion. And I record when the police do stop and searches."

The young man wasted no time in revealing what it really is, "They harass us on a regular basis. It's nothing new and…it's always like this," and back in the car, Christine was waiting for the guy to come back and continue their nightly patrol. Meanwhile in Manhattan, another night of pushing back the police against OWS, but that won't last forever and it didn't…

NOVEMBER 17, 2011

NEW YORK CITY, NY, USA

[WALL STREET, LOWER MANHATTAN, 10:35AM]

The protestors were chanting "SHUT DOWN WALL STREET! SHUT DOWN WALL STREET," as VERITAS was filming from multiple angles of the massive rally. What's different this time is all of the orchestra is filming this, from the ground and from ten stories tall in the surrounding buildings. Dante's drone was hovering about and the police were upset about that. Tens of thousands showed up just prior to the opening of the stock exchange, just two days after they were booted from Zucotti Park. Tents where confiscated, thrown away, even the library for the encampment was tossed in garbage trucks as part of the city's attempt to clean up the area and clearing the area out. This caused a lot to be pissed off, Wilfredo especially.

On ground level Alberto caught the moment along with others when a woman in a wheelchair was arrested and carried back to the curb with her hands in plastic restraints. He felt shivers down his skin, two years ago when he was stopped and frisked by the police for no reason and no warrant. He thanks Mohammad for having his back and defending him. He also remembered how pissed the cops looked in court when Mohammad and his lawyers successfully cleaned his record. The anger was more embarrassment than anything else. But right now this was more intense than that had been.

The police and protestor altercations got intense as well as protestors to employees of the stock exchange, which Christine captured, "What is your point? I'm trying to get to work!...You don't have a point!...Go to your government, your senator, not this way!"

"Go to Washington! Those are the assholes that gave the bankers the money," a man and woman responded in anger and frustration, but then Christine captured a bloody scene where a man now has blood on his face. The police made violent arrests by shoving protestors to the ground and threatened to arrest those with cameras as well. At the end of the day, more than 200 were arrested.

Then at one moment the police couldn't contain it anymore and the protestors effectively took over Lower Manhattan. What was shocking and heart enlarging was that as they moved with the protestors on all levels, on the ground and with aerial shots, the people, the public was behind the movement. It was the first time the people were behind the protestors, that they are not a waste of time but something important, needed, starved for a long time and now it was happening. From morning to night, the city was theirs and the orchestra was there to document it all.

When they made it back to Zucotti Park, it was galvanizing. This wasn't just the power of the 99%, but an entire generation the orchestra was a part of, "Where we go! Where we go! Is the occupation! Is the occupation," a woman shouted and the crowds repeated in great jubilation.

DECEMBER 2011, WEEK THREE

NEW YORK CITY, NY, USA

[CARNEGIE HALL, MIDTOWN, WEDNESDAY, 7:23PM]

After the chaos of OWS and now the movement is scrambling to survive the winter and try to maintain the flame of protest alive, he was with his French colleague to see about a new singer. He was in the progress in adding a new editor for his site's videos, Michael "Mike" Stanislaw from Illinois. Now he was with Armand seeing a recital of various performers from instrumentalists to singers; for a young Russian female singer named Oskana Yurlova, aged 21, a real beauty of blonde hair, ice blue eyes and a great figure. But her voice trumps all of that it was her true talent in singing her selected piece for the evening, a Galician song called La Molinera. The music began to play on traditional Galician instruments with these lyrics:

Estando la molinera
sentadita en su molino
Pasó por allá un soldado
olé, olé
vengo de moler el trigo
que vengo de moler, morena

Que vengo de moler, morena
de los molinos de abajo
dormí con la molinera
olé, olé
no me ha cobrado el trabajo
que vengo de moler, morena

Que vengo de moler, morena
de los molinos de arriba
dormí con la molinera
olé, olé
no me ha cobrado la maquía
que vengo de moler, morena

Que vengo de moler, morena
de los molinos del frente
dormí con la molinera
olé, olé
se enteró toda la gente
que vengo de moler, morena

Que vengo de moler, morena
de los molinos azules
dormí con la molinera
olé, olé
sábado, domingo, lunes
que vengo de moler, morena

The audience clapped and some of her fans cheered the loudest. Armand was itching to have her attend Aulamerta, Mohammad was curious and wanted to know about what drives her. So after the recital concluded there was a reception and the performers mingled about and just chatting. Armand was the first to approach Oskana who was speaking with a professor from the Juilliard, "Mademoiselle, pleased to make your acquaintance," he greeted with the shake of her hand.

"Ah, Monsieur Laurent, I know of your work as conductor, Pleasure to meet you. And who is," she looked at Mohammad who nodded at her, "I'm Mohammad Moradi, conductor of Les Musiciens du Louvre. I enjoyed your singing. Congratulations," he politely said and she bowed her head.

"Thank you. So let me guess, are you two interested in having my talents at the services of your orchestras," she wasted no time in guessing why the two men approached her and it's not just for light conversation.

"Well he is," Mohammad said and Armand glared at him slightly, "I just want to know what drives you to sing? Why sing at all," he asked and she smiled, "It's a way to communicate the nature of music in the most palpable of all instruments, the human voice."

He drank a bit of his champagne, "And what other talents you have? What else do you do outside of singing," he asked and she responded, "Well I run the family business as well as fiddling around with camera work and cello practice."

"Oh don't be modest. Your short student films are really beautiful to behold," Armand stepped in and complimented her, wanting the Russian to join his ranks, "Your recent work on Eastern European migrants is hauntingly beautiful."

Mohammad listened and took out his business card, "Here miss," he handed it to her which she accepted, "I'm looking for individuals who are itching for something new, push their limits, discover their own weaknesses to overcome, face the darkness of the world and find the hope. In other words, to find their own greatness," he told her in a matter-of-fact tone but also to spark inspiration in her.

He finished his champagne and nodded to Armand, "Sir," and then to Oskana, "Madame," and walked away from the two to head out of the reception. Armand wanted to steer the conversation to his direction, but Mohammad's seed of something new was already planted in her mind. She'll make her decision later that night, much to the surprise of everyone later.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

[DOWNTOWN, THURSDAY, 11:45PM]

Ben was in his car as he got a police report of a break-in in one of the high-rises, one of the corporate offices for a new tech company, common as pigeons in the west coast. He parked on the curb and rushed inside. He pressed for one of the freight elevators and as it headed up in a slightly faster pace than the regular ones, he was ready when he got up to the fortieth floor. He ran out and down the hall and sees an open door and bolted for it. He pushed it open and sees the woman raised up a gun and he kicked it out of her hand. The two were grappling each other's punches and Ben landed on the floor after he attempted to land a kick, which the woman grabbed and threw him across the room.

He got up and was in a fighting stance, "Gonna take you down, just watch," he warned her with his fists raised. She found this amusing and exciting, "Sorry Tex, but I have to leave in a bit. Since you are a newbie still in this city, I'm surprised we've only met once tonight," she playfully teased.

Her voice was familiar but clearly modified via a voice modulator in her helmet while her black suit hugged her body in a sensuous manner, reminding Ben of Selina Kyle in comics. He was interested to say the least but he had a job to do even as she spoke again, "You have a choice here, help me. If you say yes, leave a rose on the windowsill at your apartment."

"I don't know how you know I live in one, but," he then began to dial his Omnitrix ready for serious action, "But I wanna know anyway. How?"

"When a new predator enters, the time honored champion sees it as a contender. Alliance or die, it's that simple," she responded simply while sauntered back and forth like a cat.

He eyed her, "Well then, if that is your way of threatening me, I've faced worse," he told her and dialed onto a transformation, "And trust me, I'm dangerous when I need to be," he told her before transforming into Rath.

"Now then, woman, time to come quietly or prepare for serious trouble," he cracked his fists and she just stood there now with a silver ball in hand. He charged forth and she threw it to the wall behind him. She leapt up and delivered a smashing kick to the face. He stumbled a bit and then the ball launched high-tension cable to wrap around him, tightly enough and strong enough to restrain him, even as an alien bipedal tiger like creature. And he was not having it…

"Untie me woman! Now," he yelled as he struggled as she sauntered over him, "This is just the beginning as for what's coming for you. I haven't reached my sexual peak towards you, just yet Tex," she started, "But to come over to you…" She unzipped her top to reveal a beautiful rack, around a D cup and went to her abdomen which was perfectly toned and she walked to him and let him have a real good look and as he got stiff all the coil's tightened freezing him in place.

She smiled at him and zipped up and patted his face and her perfume a homemade specialty entered his lungs which was both beautiful and intense and this he found increased his erection and the coils clicked twice to signify it and she smiled, "Thought so. See you around, Tex." She leaped to a skylight and took out a small black disc, which emitted a circular laser and cut out a perfect circle. She exited through the hole and placed the pane of glass back and pressed another button and the glass to Ben's amazement was reset and now seamless. She then was seen jumping off vanishing into the night.

Minutes later the police arrived and Ben now normal was still strapped in for who knows how long. The pain made him not sure if his erection has subsided. The doors opened and they bust in to see him there, "Hey! Can you cut me loose?"

They go over to him and one says, "Anyone take shop class," one asked and a police officer named Anita Rodriguez stepped forward and she took a small plasma cutter and she cut the coils and they saw his erection as he was released. She smiled, "I know you're excited to see me but come on, Tennyson."

The cops snickered, "It was that Catwoman wannabe bitch that did this to me," he was clearly upset and embarrassed. He breathed in and out, "Sorry, just not used to having people trapping me like that and get away."

She smirked, "You need to learn then. Come on, back to the station. You're lucky she didn't leave you naked with an erection," she told him with an elbow nudge, "Good to know," he rubbed the back of his head and walked off with her while the rest stayed behind to investigate.

Ben wondered who that woman was and why he felt a familiarity that didn't make sense. But he will learn soon, this was not new to him and with the new thing in his life, Seattle was really becoming his type of town.

JANUARY 2012, WEEK ONE

KENT, ENGLAND, UK

[SATURDAY, 9:18AM]

A young British man with blonde hair, a pointed face, a broad-shouldered build and his expression serious and concentrated on his weapons with his wand attached to his belt. He was in his study of one of the estates his family owns when his valet entered, "Sir, your father has sent an invitation to attend a concert in a two week's time," he said.

The young man groaned, "I'm a bit busy Raj," he responded but then the valet laid down the invitation on the table, "Open it, young master Rathbone. It has a surprise for you."

He eyed the valet curiously and opened it. He reads the name, "Les Musiciens du Monde. Interesting name. Now who are performing," he reads all the performers of the orchestra and one struck out immediately and did a double take at his valet, "E…Eda Kramer?"

"Apparently she's been a member for nearly five years now. She joined in the summer of 2007 and joined them in America for the academic year of 2007/2008. She returned later that year and now travels with them once a month for a week at a time. They celebrated their fifth anniversary in late 2010."

As the British young man listened he mouthed, "So that was it…" and then formed a small smile, "Well then, tell my father I'll indeed attend while I also take care of business in London until then."

"Very well sir," the valet left after saying he would return with coffee and as the doors closed he gets up and walks to a dusted picture of himself, aged 12 with Eda together in Germany, both happy and holding hands.

"Years separated, contact lost…how much I have changed, how much have you changed," he whispered to himself as he mouthed it his feelings, restrained as they were but hidden with emotion. He then walked away from it and continued with his work for what's to come based on reports; insurgents coming and another group might come as well as an investigative unit. He was curious on how all of this will play out in the next two weeks.

Well here we go! My prelude!

The bit about Occupy Wall Street, crack dens in Rio and stop and frisk, I drew from old documentaries from Vanguard from Current TV by Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller from three documentaries (The 99%, City of God, Guns and Gangs, and finally The War on Weed). Well-made they were and informative on issues at the time, underreported by most of the media. As for Tottenham, of course drew from coverage done by Al Jazeera and Vice Media; it goes for Libya, Fukushima, while Haiti was again drawn from No Reservations as well.

As for the piece of music, La Molinera performed by Luar Na Lubre, A. shared it with me and had to put it in. A nice change from the usual.

So after this is posted, comes the official beginning of Arc III. So read, review, and critique. I again thank HolyDragoon, Lilyflower00 and A. who have helped with the story with translations and what direction to take through insightful advice. See you all soon.