"So, do you think we can take them?" (Argus)
"In all due likelihood, but I'm not sure about them going down if we take out their upper echelon."
"What do you mean?"
If I am to believe Jefe's story then the majority of the people in Bloody Crips likely follow his ideology. I'm not sure how big that majority is but we can assume that it is a good amount in their upper echelon.
"...Just a hunch." (Luis)
Those people in the upper echelon most likely taught their own set of values to anybody who may have joined just like every other organization. Bloody Crips may troublesome in its own way. We either kill everyone in that building, which is unrealistic considering our numbers, or we find some other way to restrain them.
"...And what does this hunch tell you about joining us?"
"It tells me that I should postpone the decision for after we finish this mission."
"Why?"
"Let me ask you in retrospect, why did you ask me out of nowhere?"
"To remind you."
"Or pressure me."
"Potato(Po-te-i-to), Potato (Po-ta-to)...Well, you may be hesitant to join us since you said that thing last time we met.
"'That Thing'?"
"The whole thing about losing your way and having to go somewhere else."
That came out of nowhere.
"...Yes?What about it?"
"Are you really going away?"
"What made you think I was talking about me, I said a friend of mine," I say as I sense Sara and the group approaching where we are
"Yeah, Yeah...Then tell that friend that the vigilantes will make it so that your friend can stay if they choose to do so."
...Did he figure out my circumstances just from the little information I gave him?... I didn't think he was the inquisitive type. I don't think he's the type to talk about someone else's secrets either, I am somewhat confused...
"...Stop talking nonsense. Let's head back down and meet everyone." I say as I head for the emergency staircase.
"Convey it to your friend if possible!"
I just lifted my right hand with an open palm without answering back. We headed back down and met up with Sara and the others.
"Looks like you are all here." (Luis)
"Yep!" (Argus)
"It appears so. Which building is it then?"
"It's that one," I say as I point to the building and explain to her what I told Argus about the building.
"I understand, if we already know that much should we head back to the apartment and let's come up with a plan. Does everyone agree?" (Sara)
"Sounds good to me." (Peter)
"No objections here." (Argus)
"I'm okay with it too."(Rebecca)
"Alright, you guys tell me when you work it out." (Luis)
Maybe I can use this small amount of time I have left to investigate lower Manhattan to see if I can find some clues.
"What do you mean? You are working it out with us too! You are the one who knows the most about what happens inside there so you should be there when we plan it out." (Sara)
That sounds like a logical argument... I guess I'll go with them.
"...Sounds reasonable, let's head back." (Luis)
"Did you just say 'let's head back' !" (Argus)
"Just a slip of the tongue," I say as I start heading towards their hideout.
"Someone is embarrassed!" Says Peter laughing
"Better than being an embarrassment." (Luis)
"Sure." (Peter)
With that small exchange, we headed back to the Vigilante's hideout. Now that I think about it, I didn't ask them anything about the Lotus Flower. Should I ask them?
"I have a small question." (Luis)
"Shoot." (Peter) (Author's note: "Shoot" is slang for "ask", I don't know why it just is.)
"Gladly," I say as I grab and start taking it out.
"I'm sure he didn't mean that kind of shooting Luis." (Rebecca)
"I'm not so sure about that, I might as well do both actions to make sure that I got the right meaning of 'shoot.' (Luis)
"Luis!" (Rebecca)
"Okay, okay." I put my gun away
"What was the question you were trying to ask?" (Argus)
I'll try to observe their reaction to see if they really are a part of Lotus Flower.
"Do you guys know anything about Lotus Flower?" (Luis)
I look at their faces, there really isn't anything that gives it away. There's a small hint of tension though.
"The organizations south of here?" (Sara)
That response was quick. A little too quick actually, it's almost as if it was a pre-planned answer. Well, even if it was a pre-planned answer it doesn't really say that they are of Lotus Flower.
"Yeah, I was wondering if you guys were going to take them on next." (Luis)
"That is the one organization...that we are not too sure about meddling with." (Sara)
"In what sense?" (Luis)
"Well you see, Lotus Flower's goal doesn't look to be to do many illegal things or killings, in fact, they barely act. All they have is territory and the occasional selling of drugs going. We are sure that they are an underground organization but we are not sure if they are a criminal one. Maybe they have another goal besides crime and since they have a lot of weapons and people, we're only watching for now." (Sara)
So what they are saying is that they may not exactly be evil only that they happen to work in the underground? That certainly... may hold some meaning to it. I shouldn;y read too much into it.
"...I see your point. That sounds a little reasonable I guess." (Luis)
With that little line the small tension that was built left the small group of people walking.
"Yeah, so for now, we are just watching." (Sara)
Well, that's that for Lotus Flower. I do wonder though, why did they choose such a soft sounding name?
"You know, I wonder, but why are they called Lotus Flower? They don't sound as threatening as "Bloody Crips" or "Crimson Night." (Luis)
"I wondered that too so I did a little bit of research." (Rebecca)
"And?" (Luis)
"In Buddhism, Lotus flowers are a symbol of purity of body, speech, and mind. Since it's rooted in the mud, its flowers blossom on long stalks as if floating above the muddy waters of attachment and desire... Or so it said once I searched it up." (Rebecca)
"I see, but why would-" (Luis)
"We are here! Let's focus on what's in front of us for now, there's no need to rush." (Argus)
"I guess not."
We enter the building and start heading up towards their base. We enter the room where we had the party last time and sit around the table.
"Alright so here's what we know." Sara starts retelling what I had said before near the Bloody Crip's hideout. "What do you guys think would be the best option to tackle this?"
"Can't we do the same as before where we focus fire and send in a sneak attack?" (Argus)
"I agree!" (Rebecca)
"That does sound reasonable. So then-" (Sara)
"I don't think that would work." (Luis)
"Why's that?" (Sara)
I can't say that I know the background of their organization and that they aren't likely to fight over the position of power.
"... Last time at the Crimson Night's raids I realized something. The way we destroyed them was, in the end, all due to luck."
"How can you say that when we tried so hard last time!" (Peter)
"But think about it rationally Peter. Everybody in the upper echelon was gathered in one place. They were in high tension and ended up killing each other in the end. Not only do we not know who Bloody Crip's upper echelon is, but I'm also sure we wouldn't arrive at the same situation as last time." (Luis)
That actually sounded like a realistic excuse even if I just thought of it.
"So what do you suggest we do then?!"(Peter)
"Are we killing all of them then?" (Sara)
"There's a better chance they'd kill us all before we even get the chance to that. They have way too many at their side." (Luis)
"So what do you suggest we do?" (Peter)
"...Stall them inside the building." (Luis)
"Meaning?"(Sara)
"We do the same as with the Crimson Night's raid, but instead of trying to go for their upper echelon we stall them inside. We call the police on ourselves and once they are close enough, and escape. That way we don't have to kill them all and if the police come all of them will be screwed." (Luis)
"How do we make sure to get the timing right?" (Peter)
"I will keep my sensing radius expanded. We'll use the phones only as an alert." (Luis)
"Only as an alert?" (Argus)
"Meaning that we won't use the phones at all during the raid. The only time will be when I send the text to retreat. That way it'll be easier to escape." (Luis)
"Not using phones sounds risky." (Argus)
"So does raiding a place that has 7 times the amount of people we have." (Luis)
"I guess that's true in a sense, but there's also the chance of some of them escaping.." (Sara)
"Yes, just like the last raid we had. Even if some escape from the police it doesn't mean that they would be able to rebuild just like that." (Luis)
"I guess so." (Sara)
"Does it sound agreeable to everyone then?"(Luis)
The room was silent for a while. They all were considering my proposal. The silence ended when Argus spoke up.
"Sounds good to me."
"...Well, if Argus says it's okay then it's probably okay." (Sara)
"Agreed." (Rebecca)
"Sounds good then." (Peter)
Alexander nods. I have never heard this guy's voice.
"It's decided then." (Luis)
With that plan in mind, we decided to keep on building on the specifics of it. After a couple of hours of discussion, we finally came into a concrete and specific plan.
"Tomorrow we will be striking then." (Sara)
Looks like it's decided, It's kinda late right now, I better leave.
"Well, it looks like we are fine on this front. I'll head back out." (Luis)
"...Why don't you... stay the night?" (Argus)
"... I don't swing that way," I say as I start heading to the door.
"That not what I meant!"
"Yeah, yeah." (Luis)
"What I meant was that it's already this late so wouldn't it be fine if you stay the night here?" (Argus)
I consider my options. If I start heading back now I won't have much time to sleep. I could stay here since I've already done so once.
"...Sure, sounds good." (Luis)
"Yeah!" (Argus)
"Just this once though." (Luis)