Hey! bestknight32 here! I hope everyone had a wonderful year and I wish everyone a good next year as well! Id like to thank Dahliingg for making the base of this story and Tim Baril for making this chapter you two are the best! "Reading the next chapter fills you with DETERMINATION!"

Sunlight gleamed off their mirrored helmet visors. Their bodies were protected by heavy body armour. They were armed with crossbows. Yet outnumbered by the mob. More LGD soldiers opened fire. Staccato popping filled the air, and a hail of arrows ripped through the crowd.

A dozen more infected refugees cried out and fell to the ground.

Hayden felt his stomach drop with despair. "No!"

Amiya instinctively raised her hand and her Arts appeared. She braced herself and prepared to support those being persecuted.

But Hayden's practical nature snapped back into dominance over his horror. He reached out and grabbed her shoulder, shaking his head. "Wait! We can't." He hated saying it, but, "If we try to help the infected here and hurt any of the Lungmen soldiers, it'll be the end of our mission. Not to mention it'll probably get us killed or imprisoned. We'll be no help to anyone."

Understanding, Amiya gritted her teeth and dropped her hands. But she clenched them into helpless fists and refused to look away from the massacre.

Chief Ch'en's dual katanas appeared in her hands as if by magic. Blue ponytail streaming behind her, she rushed at the action like a demon, her fine features twisted in a snarl, her eyes laser-focused on her targets.

Hayden saw the glittering blades, one blood crimson, the other like the darkest night, and he feared the bloodbath to come.

Ch'en flew across the ground, covering the distance in no time. The crimson sword flashed to the side and an infected man dropped. The night sword slashed in a swirling figure eight and four more people hit the ground, including an angry teen girl and a grandmotherly woman.

As soon as Ch'en appeared in the fray, the black-clad LGD soldiers immediately perked up, morale bolstered. Instead of backing away from the enraged mob, they formed a wall and shouted commands, firing at will, becoming a dam against the chaos storming against them.

From the uninfected crowd waiting to enter the city came shouts, some in support, others against, and even a scream of fright at the sight of the violence.

As bodies piled up at Ch'en's feet as she cut her way through their ranks, the lung woman seemed to grow in intensity. And then — she froze. She brought her swords in close to her body. And waited.

The soldiers went silent.

Hayden blinked. "Is she hurt?"

Doberman, apparently understanding the tactic, twitched her head in denial. "No. She's luring them in."

The crowd, confused, paused at this sudden change in their attacker's behaviour. An eerie silence hit the battlefield. But when no further attacks came, the infected, infuriated at the sight of all those who'd fallen, screamed and charged once more. They surrounded and descended on Ch'en.

Ch'en's body flickered and vanished.

A hellish black-and-red-and-blue blur swept through the crowd. Then two dozen people swayed on their feet before lifelessly dropping.

Ch'en reappeared, swords in hand, her face grim, a ring of bodies on the ground around her.

The crowd came to a dead stop. They stared at her in horror. Anger turned to fear and panic. Some began turning to run, a stampede imminent.

Ch'en raised her voice and commanded, "Halt!" She pointed with the crimson katana. "Don't move!"

Perhaps it was the fact that her voice, though hard, wasn't as harsh as one might have expected. Perhaps it was the flick of her black katana that had the wall of soldiers lowering their guns. But the crowd hesitated, uncertain.

Hayden was entranced by the spectacle of it all yet also sickened by the horrid number of dead. The dead that…wait. He squinted. The chief's swords weren't covered in blood. In fact… "They're still sheathed?" He took a step forward in shock to see better.

Amiya's jaw dropped. Then she, too, took a closer look. "Oh gosh. You're right!"

Hayden's gaze hurriedly swept the battlefield. Infected lay like felled trees. But there was no sign of blood. Even from those who'd been shot. In fact, many of those wounded from being shot were rolling on the ground, still alive.

Doberman squinted. "Hmm. Rubber arrows. So she expected something like this."

Hayden slowly nodded. "And I think… I think she only stunned people with her swords. But that would require an absurd level of skill and strength to be able to exert that kind of control." His awe for the woman went up several notches.

Also impressed, Amiya breathed, "Wow. She's good."

Hayden felt the tension drain from his body. For some reason, he felt immeasurably relieved that the commander hadn't turned out to be a heartless killing machine.

Chief Ch'en's shealthed katanas clipped back onto her belt. She addressed the crowd. "Lungmen will not tolerate violence. You are scared. You are hungry. Some of you may be in need of medical attention. But Lungmen is facing an unprecedented security threat and we cannot jeopardize the survival of everyone in the city just because you're in a panic."

Those still in possession of their senses now also took note of the fact that nobody seemed to have died in the fighting. Sensing the scary lung woman wasn't about to unleash more violence or worse, they visibly calmed.

Ch'en continued, "Care for each other. Help these fools starting trouble and make sure nobody causes more."

Someone bold in the crowd called back in a male voice, "You want us to just sit here while you corral us like cattle to be slaughtered?"

She snarled back, "I expect you to sit there and wait your turn to be processed like civilized people."

"Even though we're infected? Are we still people to you?"

She pointed in the direction of the speaker, though he was hidden by the crowd, "Unless you start acting like monsters and threaten to lives of those in my command or the citizens of Lungmen. Unless you're complete idiots, all infected should already know what the consequences of entering Lungmen are. Sit down. Be patient. If you have objections, make them verbally. The next brain-dead moron who throws a punch loses their arm. Understood?"

Obviously, no one responded to that last question, but the crowd turned from afraid to disgruntled once more. Folks warily eyed the soldiers but turned back to their fallen comrades who'd been shot or stunned by Ch'en's flawless sword skills.

Ch'en glared at them for a minute or two, fearlessly allowing them to approach before directing the people erecting the fence to only use it as a wall to separate infected and non-infected, and to prevent either crowd from rushing the elevator into the mobile city. She loudly growled to a subordinate, "And for fuck's sake, tell logistics to get that water out here right bloody now. What the fuck is taking them so long?"

A soldier bowed and ran off toward the admin tent.

Infected refugees who'd overheard glanced at each other but remained silent.

Ch'en turned her back on the infected and marched back toward Hayden, Doberman, and Amiya.

An infected woman called out as she held a stunned man on the ground, "Thank you!"

Ch'en completely ignored her. When she arrived, she turned her glare on Hayden who was once more entranced by her and speechless. "Why are you staring at me? Nothing better to do?"

His brain, which had apparently shut off while watching her, apparently clicked back on. "Uh, sorry. Just…surprised."

"Ah, so that's what that stupid look is." She rolled her eyes.

He was too taken aback to respond.

Amiya jumped in, "Thank you for not killing them all."

Ch'en frowned at the cautus woman. "What kind of monster do you take me for?"

Amiya raised her hands in protest. "I don't! It's just that some commanders would have reacted very differently in that situation."

Ch'en spoke with contempt, "Don't lump me in with those incompetents. Now, do you want to enter the city or stand around wasting my time?" Without waiting for an answer, she marched toward the elevator, leaving the three Rhodes Island members to catch up.

Chief Ch'en stalked the halls of Lungmen city hall like she owned them and strode through the doors into the conference room without hesitating. She halted just inside the door and waited only a breath until Wei Yenwu, the city's leader, looked up at her. "More representatives of Rhodes Island have arrived."

Wei's highly intelligent eyes roamed over the newcomers. "Ah. You must be Doctor Hayden. Excellent. I've been interested in meeting you. Please, take a seat. Doctor Kal'tsit and I were just talking about you." He seemed relaxed and in a good mood, playful and with the confidence, or arrogance, of a man in a position of supreme power.

Haydan sat, with Amiya taking a seat next to Kal'tsit and Doberman electing to remain standing next to Ch'en, who showed no interest in either sitting or leaving. Hayden gave the city's chief executive a surprised look. "Me?"

"Your reputation precedes you. Though I'm curious as to your survival. We had reports that you'd vanished, presumed dead."

Hayden drily replied, "I suppose reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated."

Wei smiled with real pleasure. "You've read Twain! I, too, am a fan." He then looked at Amiya. "And you must be Amiya, Rhodes Island's very young leader."

She shook her head. "One of them. Whatever doubts you may have about my abilities, Doctor Kal'tsit and Doctor Hayden are also directors."

Wei raised one furry brow. "Even after his memory loss? I wasn't aware he'd resumed that role. Hasn't he spent much of his time since as a student and researcher?"

Kal'tsit frowned, which was basically her default expression anyway. "You are well informed."

He gave them a wolfish smile. "You aren't the only organization who values intelligence."

Kal'tsit's eyes narrowed with suspicion. She was no doubt thinking the same thing Hayden now was, that either there was a mole in Rhodes Island or that Lungmen, and probably others, were buying up intelligence on RI. Of course, that was to be expected; RI did the same, for information was valuable. Kal'tsit pressed forward, "Time is limited. Shall we continue?"

Wei clapped his hands and nodded once in agreement. "Naturally. Since your fellows have joined us, let's recap. You're asking to be included in the defence of the city. But not under our command. You want to be included as an equal partner at the highest level of administration, and remain in command of your own personnel."

"Yes."

His tone grew slightly mocking, "Not only that, you also wish to allow the infected refugees into Lungmen. More, you want to guarantee them, and by association any other infected in the city, a certain degree of comfort regardless of local circumstances."

Kal'tsit didn't rise to the bait, though you could tell she was fighting to hold onto her temper. "I'm only asking for basic rights: food and water, shelter, freedom from unjust treatment, equality in the eyes of the law. I shouldn't think this was too much to ask for."

"Well, this is an inopportune time. The position of the infected in our city has…" he waved his hand in the air in a vague manner, "come into question recently and is a matter of considerable internal debate." He looked first Kal'tsit and then Amiya and Hayden directly in the eyes as he continued, dead serious now, "These are Lungmen matters and do not concern outsiders like yourselves. It is unreasonable to make demands on us regarding how we treat people in our city. Surely, you can see how it might be seen as exceptionally rude to make such demands."

Amiya jumped in, smiling and with a brighter tone than Kal'tsit was using, "We simply want to make sure that the people are safe."

Wei shrugged. "Our position regarding infected people is well known by now. If the refugees don't like it, they're free to go elsewhere. Likewise, if they don't like how things are here, the infected are more than free to leave the city at any time."

Kal'tsit sternly tried to elaborate, "It is our intention—"

"To get involved in Lungmen politics?"

She became flustered. "No, of course not."

"And yet you are." He lazily leaned back in his chair. "Tell me, Doctor. Which is more important, defeating Reunion's advance, or meddling in internal Lungmen affairs? It seems to me that you came on the pretext of one and are now trying to force the other."

Kal'tsit scowled. "That's not true."

Amiya spoke, "Sir, if I might add to the discussion. Rhodes Island's mission is the betterment of all people, all over the world. A big part of our focus is the infected. It's devastating. And it doesn't care about who you are or where you're from. Your own people are victims of catastrophes, the same happening all over the world."

Wei sighed. "I take it that meddling is your primary intent then." He looked around and patted his pockets, looking for something, before pulling out a gold and wood pipe. He clamped it between his teeth but didn't light it.

Amiya shook her head. "No. Stopping Reunion is our goal. And we'll drop our request for certain levels of treatment of the infected, if you leave us no other choice, though I think that would make it much harder for either of us to achieve our goals. I'm just trying to explain Doctor Kal'tsit's position in the hope that maybe we can do more than hold off a hostile army. Maybe we can also preserve lives."

He eyed her. "Infected lives."

"Many Rhodes Island members are infected and yet we're a significant force on the world stage. Reunion is entirely infected and one o the most dangerous organizations around, one that managed to capture an entire mobile city and which now threatens to destroy or capture yours. Being infected obviously doesn't make us useless."

"Just dangerous, apparently."

Amiya remained patient. She was a good negotiator and Hayden could see why she was Rhodes Island's main diplomat. "What I'm saying is that by condemning people to slums, by taking away opportunities for people to contribute to their own lives and to society, we're wasting a valuable resource: people. These are people that can still contribute. They deserve to be treated like everyone else. Like how they were treated before infection."

"Until they explode and spread their disease to others."

Amiya allowed, "A risk. But one that is manageable!" She gestured to Kal'tsit.

The doctor explained, "Spread of the infection in the body is trackable and measures can be taken to minimize the spread to others. Rhodes Island has developed methods and policies for this and we'd be more than happy to share them with you."

Amiya added, "The infected can still contribute to the economy, health care, education, even the defence of the city."

Wei appeared unmoved and waved their words away. "It's an argument I've heard before. Since the fallout of the first catastrophe and the appearance of the first infected. As you can see, the argument did not take root in Lungmen."

Hayden leaned forward. "Sir. Outside, we just experienced the beginning of a riot. The same could happen in the city."

Wei shrugged, unconcerned. "It has and has failed. More than once. Which is why the infected have been pushed into the slums and contained. Along with the other undesirable elements of our population. It keeps the rest of our city cleaner, healthier, and freer of crime."

"And should they riot again? More than ever before?"

"They'll fail again. The slums have been walled off. And we have contingencies in place." He sighed again and seemed to be losing patience, turning to them and growing more serious, yet disappointed. "Again, I object. Is this really your primary focus? Is Reunion just an excuse to meddle? I'm getting tired of this line of attack." He rose from chair, giving every indication that the meeting was ending.

Hayden knew they might not get another chance at being involved in this incident if Wei walked out. His eyes drifted around the room as his mind whirred with a way to sway the man.

Amiya spoke with confidence, not at all giving up the fight, "You have a large, segregated, persecuted population that in increasingly unhappy and many are infected. Reunion is an organization dedicated to wiping out anti-infected attitudes like those in this city. That's reason enough for them to want to wipe you out and probably a factor in their planning. I'm sure they're also coming here as part of a military plan to expand by taking your resources, which also includes your infected. They've probably been sneaking agents into your city for some time. Not just to sabotage your facilities and undermine your defences, but probably also to recruit. The more you turn against the infected, the more the infected here are likely to become Reunion agents."

Her points seemed to regain something of Wei's interest, though he remained doubtful. "Who are, again, all in the slums, so why care?"

Hayden spoke up, "Because people have ingenuity. And infected often have amazing abilities. with leadership and trained by those with fighting experience, like Reunion has, they could be building a rebel army right inside your walls. And have the Arts abilities to break out of the slums."

At this, Wei Yenwu grew more focused and sat down again. Because that definitely had his attention. "I see."

Ch'en broke into the conversation, her tone slightly haughty. "We don't ignore the slums entirely; we're not so foolish. I'm sure we would have noticed a secret army coming together."

Kal'tsit struck back. "Respectfully, how well can those who are outsiders really understand what's going on?" It was clear that she was drawing a parallel to Wei's treatment of them as outsiders.

Ch'en's voice was cold, yet she spoke at length, "This is my home. I know every nook and cranny in Lungmen. Including the slums. I grew up there. The docks, the neon signs, the winding paths. I can see them all in my mind, clear as day. I'll never forget them." Depending on one's tone, such words could be taken multiple ways. A contemptuous or harsh tone might reveal someone full of distaste or hate for the slums and the infected within. A kind tone might reveal affection. It was difficult to determine her true feelings on the matter, but it was telling that while she didn't seem outright supportive of the people in the slums, neither was she hostile.

Hayden could well imagine that, with so many politically against the infected and maybe others in the slums, it would be disadvantageous to be openly supportive, if that was how the LGD chief truly felt. He didn't want to jump to conclusions, though. She could despise infected but believe that someone in her position as a security chief should be as outwardly neutral as possible, portraying herself as just a tool, not a potential ally or threat.

Wei seemed to reconsider Rhodes Island's presence. "Political policies aside, regarding our defence against Reunion, what are you offering?"

Amiya quickly pressed the opening in their negotiations, "Politics still play a part. For example, your people are probably not welcome in the slums. If our reputation as allies of the infected has found its way here, it may provide a counterpoint to Reunion's influence. We might swing angry people away from a violent path to a more peaceful one. We might be able to gain access to locations and people and information that you and your spies can't."

"Possibly. Though we do have a thriving intelligence branch."

"Why have one intelligence organization when you can have two? Or even collaborate? Wouldn't that be even more efficient?"

Wei wasn't so easily swayed. "Unless you end up just getting in the way and making things worse."

Amiya and Kal'tsit had nothing to say to that. They shared a frustrated glance.

But Hayden had discovered something. "You have serious security breaches. I suspect ones you don't even know about. Reunion is already here. They have agents in the slums and even in your government."

This seemed to amuse the city leader. He was dismissive. "Ha! They may be in the sewers with the other rats, and we might have a few low level moles, but I doubt it's anything to worry about."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Hayden pointed to a man standing silently in the corner of the room. He wore a military uniform but bore the look of a office staff, not a soldier. "That's your aid in the corner, yes?"

Wei's brows rose and he glanced over his shoulder, then looked back at Hayden. "Yes. What of it?"

"He's a Reunion spy."

The whole room looked at the silent man.

Wei instantly became frustrated. "And now you're just throwing your credibility out the window. I can't believe I was considering changing my mind. Shei Fu is not infected. We all undergo regular tests." He gave a disgusted shake of his head, visibly disappointed in Hayden.

Hayden, though, was confident. "You don't think Reunion could recruit uninfected agents? People who have a grudge? Or something to gain? Someone bought and paid for?"

Wei frowned. "Shei Fu has been a loyal part of my personal staff for years. You're just making a fool of yourself."

"Then why does he look increasingly nervous as we talk about this?"

Wei brushed the idea off. "Bah. Anyone would be when put under even false scrutiny. Someone trying to frame you for bad deeds or make you out as evil is going to cause the body to react. It's why lie detectors don't work."

"True." Hayden nodded at Shei Fu and spoke matter-of-factly, "Then about about the secret camera in his jacket button? The one he started fiddling with earlier. You can tell when he started using it. He started making sure his chest captured everyone in the room and then he moved to get a better position on our conversation. And got closer, probably so he could pick the conversation up on a microphone. Of course, he might not be a Reunion agent; he could be one for a rival or something."

Wei Yenwu grew still. Then he looked over at the aid.

Shei Fu managed to look indignant. He adjusted red-framed glasses and retorted, "Sir, these allegations are absurd. How do we know these people aren't Reunion's true agents, sent here to sow doubt and discord?"

Wei crooked a finger. "Come here, Shei Fu."

The aid didn't move from his position. His tone became even more indignant, "Sir, you're not giving these ridiculous allegations credence, are you? They're the real spies, here."

"Shei Fu. Show me your uniform."

Again, the agent refused to budge and tried to change the conversation. "Respectfully, we cannot give in to such paranoia. We cannot allow these people to distract us, to turn on each other."

Wei wasn't so easily distracted. "Do you have a camera in your uniform."

A pause. Shei Fu's jaw flexed and he must have frantically been trying to come up with an answer. At last, he replied, "Merely a job aid, sir. So I can go over complex discussions again at my convenience. To prevent mistakes or to offer better analysis with further study and reflection."

Doberman chuckled. "Wow. Good twist."

Wei's eyes narrowed. "Then you are only using these recordings for personal use. You're not sharing them with ministers or certain business people? Certainly not with Reunion."

"Of course not! I would never betray your trust, sir."

Slowly, Wei turned back to those seated at the table, evidently choosing the believe his aid. "Well, Doctor Hayden, your guess seems to be off."

Hayden knew he could offer no evidence other than his suspicions. But others could uncover more. "Perhaps. I'm sure that if you direct your office of intelligence to dig into his finances, his family, his movements, you'll find nothing out of the ordinary if he's innocent. Still, you lose nothing by investigating, right? And if the man is innocent, he should be eager to prove it by cooperating."

Shei Fu became angry. "That's an invasion of privacy. I have always been a loyal and hardworking member of this office. How dare you suggest otherwise. How dare you encourage an investigation that might misinterpret the facts, that might bring my family to harm? Where is trust I've earned over the years?"

Doberman wasn't swayed by his protests. But she was amazed by his replies. "Seriously, wow. He's really good at this."

Hayden tried to address Shei Fu directly. "How long have you been recording the city lord?"

Shei Fu angrily replied, "I'm not answer your deceptive questions. I won't play into your game."

But It seemed Wei still had his doubts. "Answer me then, Shei Fu."

Looking uncomfortable, Shei Fu looked like he was debating internally, then answered, "I don't remember."

"Why didn't you tell me you were doing this?"

"I didn't want you to doubt my abilities by thinking I wasn't fully present during important moments."

"How often have you recorded me? Or others?"

"I don't know."

"Often?"

"I don't recall."

"One a year? A month? Every day?"

"I don't recall. It really wasn't often."

Hayden interjected, "But you said you were doing it to enhance job performance. Surely you'd have to do it regularly."

Shei Fu appeared ready to ignore the question but a look at Wei and he understood the city leader was waiting for an answer. "Perhaps somewhat. Not always."

Hayden pressed, "Why didn't you just use an open recording device? Put a security camera in the room?"

"I didn't want to be intrusive or bothersome with such a request."

"Which is it? You didn't want your abilities doubted or to be seen as troublesome?"

Shei Fu erupted in anger. "I— This is crazy! A couple of infected outsiders come in here and start throwing around lies and accusations. I find this highly offensive. I won't stand here and be treated this way." He stormed out of the room.

Wei Yenwu looked conflicted and uncomfortable. His smugness was a thing of the past and didn't seem likely to return.

Hayden spoke more gently in tone if not in content, "If the same intelligence service is good enough to uncover Reunion agents spread throughout the city, then it should be trustworthy enough to determine whether this man has been compromised. You said that you don't need Rhodes Island. I suppose you can guarantee then that your intelligence and methods are perfect and that there's no reason to suspect anyone within the government or outside the slums. Certain not in the highest office in the city. I suppose you're right and there's no real need for Rhodes Island here at all."

Amiya spoke, "Or, this man is a secret agent of some kind, and it seems our help might be valuable after all."

Kal'tsit added, "We have capable soldiers, investigators, strategists, and technicians. Our medical team is one of the finest around. I firmly believe that we will be the ones to find a cure for oripathy first or discover the key to it."

Hayden looked over at her in surprise. Apparently, they'd been co-researchers in the past, before he'd lost his memories. But he'd been far less useful since, relearning things while she pressed on with new experiments. And she seemed to actively dislike him. Either she had great faith in herself alone to solve this terrible issue or she actually had a measure of faith in him, or in their cooperation. It was…nice to hear, and it gave him a little more self confidence.

Amiya continued, "Give us permission to operate in Lungmen, especially in the slums. Reconsider your policies regarding infected, at least temporarily. Give us the resources to help people there and we can uncover agents, convert allies, and possibly prevent Reunion from hurting the city from within and undermining your defences when Chernobog arrives. If you have to convince others, tell them it's not wasting resources on infected scum, it's an investment in your security. And if conditions in the slums improve, that improves your future as well."

Ch'en objected, "There's still no reason to listen to them. Regardless of who they are or what they claim, they're likely just going to be a disruptive and possibly subversive element in the city. I suggest rejecting their offer."

Amiya, however, wasn't finished. "There's on more thing we bring to the table."

Wei was thoughtfully tapping a finger on the table and was distracted when he asked, "What's that?"

"We have a lot of experience fighting Reunion. Not least of which, both myself and Doctor Hayden here have faced their leader, Talulah."

Ch'en's head whipped around in Amiya's direction and she betrayed surprise and perhaps worry. "Talulah?"

Amiya nodded. "She's the reason Chernobog fell so fast. Her power is overwhelming."

Hayden pointed out, "Reunions tactics often take advantage of their phenomenal Arts abilities. But then, you know full-well how powerful someone with the Arts can be, don't you?"

Wei appeared affronted. "Excuse me? Are you accusing me of being infected?"

"No. But she is." Hayden pointed at Ch'en, deciding to take a massive gamble and risk not just their efforts here but possibly their lives. "I didn't want to point it out with your compromised subordinate in the room, but it's obvious from her abilities—"

Ch'en tried to interrupt. "I'm not infected. I'm well-trained."

"—that she can do inhuman things. You can't fool doctors. We know what the body is capable of, no matter how hard you push yourself or the 'power of motivation'. What you did down there to quell that crowd went beyond mere training."

Ch'en's shoulders hunched. Her anger iced over and she cooled, her eyes boring into Hayden's. Her hands dropped to the hilts of her katanas. No using sheaths this time. She drew the swords slightly, baring steel or whatever strange metals they were made of, with one blade glowing red and the other so dark as to feel like a black hole.

Doberman shifted, her whip appearing in her hand.

A dark glow appeared around Amiya's hands.

Kal'tsit didn't even look at Ch'en. "Don't be idiots. There's no reason to resort to violence. Any of you."

Hayden felt his heart skip a beat, then seem to make up for it by beating much faster. Yet he pursued his point. "We have no plans to tell anyone that the leader of a city with anti-infected policies is concealing the infected status of a high-ranking officer. She's a…family friend? Cousin?"

Wei looked away, then at Ch'en. Reluctantly, he answered, "Niece. Through marriage." He seemed to grow even more thoughtful than before and refused to look at the people from Rhodes Island. Was he considering ending their lives to protect a secret?

Ch'en appeared ready to do just that. "Give the order, sir."

Kal'tsit made a disgusted sigh. Mon3tr, all sharpe angles and deadly points, its body glittering, appeared in the room behind Wei Yenwu.

Ch'en's blades came halfway out of their sheaths as she took a step in her uncle's direction, eyes flashing with anger.

Dispelling her Arts, Amiya stood and raised her hands in a placating manner and spoke calmly, though she must have been both surprised and tense in that moment, "We're not threatening you. No matter what you decide, this information won't come from us. We'll keep your secret. But I think if you're willing to risk this much for someone infected, you might have it in you to find a way to persuade the city council to put some of its policies on hold and conduct a proper investigation of Reunion activities in the slums. You can use us as an excuse."

Wei really didn't seem to appreciate being threatened by the creature behind him. He growled, "Don't think that just because I may turn a blind eye to a family member for reasons that are my own that I necessarily share your views on the infected."

"We're not suggesting you do, only that by working together we can help you militarily, economically, and on a personal level." She gestured at Kal'tsit.

Kal'tsit frowned at Wei but Mon3tr vanished.

Wei reluctantly motioned for Ch'en to back down as well. He pulled himself together and stood, calm and serious. "I'll consider your arguments and discuss things with the council. Until a decision is made…perhaps you can assist Chief Ch'en with the infected refugees at our gates on a provisional basis. Maybe seeing other infected at the door will keep them from getting out of control. And you can hunt for spies all you like outside the city. See if you can prevent their entry. Catch some and that might help your case."

Amiya smiled. "It would be our pleasure."

Thanks for reading!

Er if someone more knowledgeable than me in the future reads this chapter should it be rubber bolts or is rubber arrow fine?