''That is very, interesting-''

What?

What is interesting?

Who is talking?

God fucking damnit, my head hurts.

UGHHHHHH.

What was I doing just then?

Something something, I remember a needle being involved.

Oh fuck it, who cares man?

''Oi, OI!''

LOUD.

That's loud.

Who the hell is screaming into my damn ears-

OKAY.

NOW I'M GETTING SHAKEN TOO.

JUST WHAT IS HAPPENING?!

''Get up, we have arrived.''

Fucking, fine.

''What?''

I open my eyes to see that everyone has gotten off the car and that multiple of the girls were trying to shake me awake.

Damn. Maybe there is hope after all, for all the wrong reasons.

I motion them to make space as I grab my head and get out of the car.

''You were murmuring something about, the details of a deal?''

She said in a suspicious tone.

I did?

Well, shit.

It's all coming back now.

Seriously didn't expect to go into RAM sleep, nor to be dreaming.

God, what a fucking bitch I was, good thing I pulled myself together.

And for the Talulah matter?

Well, bad memories that will be salvaged soon.

I reach in for my bag and close the door as I fully leave the car.

Just before the door fully closes I reach for my pocket and drop something into the car seat I was occupying and close the door before the rest of them can see what I did.

''How did you manage to close the music?''

Yeah, how did they do that?

They shouldn't have been able to open my phone, I closed my face and fingerprint recognition on purpose, so they couldn't have just done that.

''We just pressed the pause button.''

Ah.

Makes sense.

The music being played is always displayed on home screens, so they could technically be able to pause it even if they can't open the phone properly.

''You all didn't do anything else did you? Like trying to open the device or rummage through my bag?''

Pretty sure I could tell if they tried to lie, this is the best way to realize the reality of the situation I am in right now.

Brutality.

One of my greatest allies.

See people never expect you to be so brutally honest with things sometimes, well ''honest'' but the point stands.

People are used to paraphrasing to show their real motives, or sweeteners in their sentences meant to absorb some of the shocks.

But when they come across someone who doesn't do that, the brain usually has to spend some time adapting to that, to reconfigure itself.

This means the longer they spend answering me, the likelier the chance that they did.

''Why are you even asking?''

That was a quick response.

But what does that mean?

''Heh. Now move on, just be on edge, these people that we shall meet aren't to be trusted as I told you before, possible terrorists and all that.''

As we were just about to turn a corner I tell the group:

''Someone should go back and stay back in the car, just in case things don't go well. And yes, there is a reason as to why I dragged you all with me here first.''

They agreed with it.
So we sent the singer back to the car.

So now what's the headcount?

We have a ''tank'', a shooter, a fighter another ''tank'' and me.

Sent the singer to the car, she wouldn't be much of a help in the firefight anyways. Well, it shouldn't get to that point, but being prepared is always useful.

Back to deciphering that mess.

Did they think I was using my ''powers'' to know what happened maybe?

Unlikely, they wouldn't come to such a conclusion when they have no idea how my ''powers'' work. That'd be ignorant and stupid.

Or did they think it was a trap-

Oh shit.

They did, didn't they?

They probably thought I was testing them by merely pretending to be sleeping and dreaming.

They never expected me to actually sleep next to them.

That- That is-

I couldn't help but let a smile form on my face.

It was not one of happiness, not one of satisfaction.

I didn't even know why I am smiling.

I didn't get what I wanted, I didn't gain their trust.

But the smile was still there, and it would stay for some time.

As we came across a closed factory-like building I motioned for the P.L. fellas to open its metal door.

As we make our way into the building the smell of iron hits me.

Rotting iron, the smell of rust, and something else…

The inside is well-lit due to the destroyed roof and windows which had been barely boarded by pieces of wood.

As we continued walking more and more into the building, nothing happened.

Nothing, not even a single sound.

That I could detect at least, because I knew that the ones beside did in fact realize some things.

I fucking wish I had battle senses like those, would be very useful.

''When is the apex of a people?!''

I shouted into the seemingly empty building.

Just as we had planned, the moment I said they consolidated their defensive positions behind me, taking advantageous spots in case a fight were to break out.

Or that is what I am in fact hoping, I do not understand complicated battle tactics.

Now let us hope, that the info I sacrificed my literal skin to get was correct.

A moment passes.

Just as doubt is about to set in-

''During the night of liberation!''

Out of the shadows, mostly from the opposite side of the building figures emerge:

People from all races, all groups of ages, both men and women.

All united under one banner, the banner of revolution, remnants of Re-union.

For simplicity's sake, let's hope it all goes to plan.

''So it was true, the sleeper cells still remain.''

The bet, the bet paid off.

That's right.

My guess was right.

How do you think Re-union managed to infiltrate Lungmen so fast?

How do you think they managed to cause that much chaos as an organization that had just appeared on the horizon?

Simple, just like all groups, they had sleeper cells.

They had infiltrated Lungmen long before they took over Chernobog, long before their declaration of open war.

This was the true face of Re-Union-

A ragtag group of desperate people.

All fighting for a cause they deemed just, for that shining hope at the end of the tunnel.

They didn't have the signature white mask, the only thing they had as proofs of identification were armbands carrying the logo.

Well, even more proof of them being undercover cells.

A man stepped forward, machete in hand:

''And who might you be? You don't look like a ringleader, whom did you serve under?''

Things are looking good, keep going.

''No one, I am just an associate of Talulah.''

Which immediately confused my ''bodyguards'' as I could feel them questioning what was going on.

So I raised my empty hand up as my other one stayed in my cloak, just like what I had done in the duel, hopefully they bite.

''We worked together until that fiasco in Chernobog. I was told that there would be people who could help my cause in Lungmen still standing.''

I started examining the man before I had even stopped speaking.

He looked tense, unconvinced.

The black spots on his skin were clear signs of infection.

Expected from a Re-Union member.

Good thing I brought a full-on filtered mask this time around along with the visor.

''And what cause might that be? You don't look very convincing with that armed legion you brought with you.''

The man also took a step forward, trying to see if there were any flaws he could exploit, any opening he could use to discern the truth.

''Oh, them?''

With a dismissive attitude, I shake my hand in the air.

''They are just my assurance.''

''You can never be certain in this line of work if the person you want to meet, is actually the person you want to meet.''

I lie out of my teeth like it is a matter of fact.

The man doesn't change his stance, machete still in hand motions for something and the big metal door behind us gets closed shut.

Ah, shit.

''So what are you actually here for? Re-Union is gone, dead.''

''If you are in fact a member here is our declaration, we quit.''

''And if you aren't, you and your people need to be silenced.''

Man.

Do I really have to do this?

He will lose this fight, he probably knows it too.

He can tell that everyone on my side far outclasses his own.

I say that it would actually be an insult to call the people on his side fighters even.

They look more like a group of armed, piss-poor starving peasants than anything else.

This is also probably why they want to quit, the hope they fought for, the flame they fanned has been extinguished.

I need to show these people that there is hope, for me at least.

''Are you sure you want to quit? I have something that could get us all out of this mess, the dream hasn't died out yet, let me show you something.''

This also means that N abandoned these people.

Quite a sad story.

Just like tools, used and forgotten.

So how do you give hope to these tools?

You remind them that they can still be useful.

So I start slowly moving towards the man.

With m-

''STOP!''

He raises his machete in my direction.

''Not another step until you pull your arm out of that coat of yours.''

Well, that sure is quite inconvenient.

''Oh, that? My hand was just tired.''

So I let go and slowly pull my hand out with the note that I managed to get Talulah to write.

I am a learner, I have already adapted.
I knew this would come, fuck you universe.

So slowly, step by step I make my way to the man.

When I get close enough to him he holds his machete with one of his hands and grabs the note out of mine with the other.

''You better not pull any funny business or you will regret it.''

Pffft, okay.

''Sure lad, sure.''

As he reads the note in silence I wait for it to dawn on him.

''Have you now confirmed that it is her handwriting?''

I get in even closer, right next to his face.

''Listen to me, the flame isn't out yet, we can still work for something great, greater than Re-union has ever been. Just work with me.''

The man doesn't respond.

His arms are now trembling, face full of emotion.

The infected man is shocked by the reality he is facing.

Heh, this is why I revolted against mine.

Some time passes, mere seconds, but the man resolves himself and raises his hand holding the paper note.

Now with a tone filled with emotion, his resolution barely holding on he answers:

''I-''

''I am sorry but we will have to refuse. Just look at us.''

He points all around him.

''We, we are not fighters, we are people with families and friends.

''While yes, we may have taken the mantle once in the past, our fight has ended.''

He wipes his face with his hand, even though there were no tears present.

''We just want to rest, leave it all behind.''

Bah.

You weak-willed FUCK!

This is why I hate people who aren't mentally capable enough.

I hate you, you deserve this.

''Are you absolutely sure?''

I try my last shot at recruitment, just accept it man for the alternative is, far, far worse on your end.

''Yes- Yes, I-.''

''No, we are.''

And he hands me back the note.

I slowly put the note back into my pocket.

I had really hoped that you would have accepted it, lad.

Well, I tried my best.

You can blame the rest on your own weak will.

I turn my back and start moving away from the fracturing man.
When I decide the distance is long enough I do it:

I raise my right hand and make a peace symbol with my fingers.

Signal sent.

A WHIZZ.

A bullet, from outside the building, coming from another rooftop hits the man on the shoulder sending him tumbling down.

''Shame.''

''You brought this upon yourself.''