Right after the events in Emma's room, Amber took her to her car, where Heron, who had confronted the girl earlier that day, was waiting on the passenger seat. She carefully opened the back door and laid the body on the couch, then took the driver's seat.
- Thanks, Amber. You saved me from this. If I came back empty-handed, I'd certainly be in serious trouble. - The woman in the black clothes thanked him, stretching out her hand so that the other would shake. However, she just ignored the gesture her companion made.
- Don´t need to thank. My job is to take care of your problems anyway. - Amber answered, indifferent. The only thing she was worried about was how long the sedative dosed in the veins of the girl resting in the back seat would last.
- Oh, come on, do you have to be that serious? We're coming back from a mission, it doesn't have to be so formal - she said, taking her hand towards the radio buttons, going through random channels until she was interrupted by the driver, who was already beginning to get bored with her partner's attitudes.
- I take my work seriously. This is not a joke, Mrs. Heron. You know what's at stake, don't you? - she said, giving the heron a light slap in her hand, who quickly recoiled the member, getting angry.
- God... you're too boring. We are only five years distant in age, but you look like an old woman - she spoke, leaning on the window of the car, watching the night landscape plunged into the indigo flash of the city.
They had already left the chaotic center of New York, but the exuberant lights were still chasing them, making it difficult to enjoy the view.
- I know you're not doing this for the reasons the group believes. Like many others, you're just a mercenary who came for the money, nothing more. And before you come to deny what I'm talking about, just look at the difference between my bank account and yours, I don't think I need to explain anything else, do I?
- So tell me, why did you get into this risky game? Even though you're high up, you rarely show up and you're so mysterious. What secrets could one of the most influential people in the Golden Minor hide?
- Nothing that might be of interest to you, believe me. Now be quiet, the less we talk, the less chance the target has of waking up because of the reduced tranquilizing effect.
- I may even be a mercenary, but the way you treat people is very bad. What makes you so aloof?
- I have my reasons. Now it's serious, if you come with one more question, I swear I'll have you punished for insubordination, you know I have the power for that.
The rest of the drive was down to the Heron looking out the window and Amber driving attentively to Staten Island, one of the burgs near New York City. Despite being located in one of the most developed states of the decade, Staten Island was one of the few places in Greater New York that did not fully surrender to the phosphorescent embrace of progress, serving as a good place to install the church of the faithful of the Golden Menorah.
Traveling through less busy streets, the agents had finally reached the base of operations of the group, which used as a disguise the metal and the concrete corpse of an old appliance factory, abandoned long enough for nature to dissolve a good part of the memories and echoes of past times.
They got out of the car, looking at every corner carefully to make sure they were not being followed or observed. After they checked, they pulled Emma out of the car, leaning her gently on their shoulders. Amber no longer knew how long the sedative would last, so she should finish it quickly.
They approached the wall surrounding the building. Covered with vines and graffiti, it was the ideal place to hide a secret passage, where they entered together with the girl's body.
A few meters ahead, they were close enough to the factory building to notice its real size and its real end. Pieces of metal and other materials were lying on the dirty, cold ground, bringing an even clearer picture than was the time when technology was not yet so advanced. The building itself, even destroyed by the temporal gears, supported itself on strong pillars, rising imposingly like an old bastion of an ancient era amidst the modern landscape.
After walking a little further, they finally found the elevator door that would take them to the base of operations. They came in and waited while he calmly descended. With each passing number on the monitor, Amber's heart palpitated harder and harder, as it always did when she approached what she believed was a den of distorted and corrupted ideals.
And then the elevator door opened, and they were greeted by a flash that blinded them for a moment, followed by a cold wind from the air conditioning system installed underground.
The place was a great labyrinth of corridors and rooms with specific functions, such as prayer shrines, cafeteria, stocks, and many other things. At the center of this gigantic religious complex was a kind of temple, with several rows of chairs and an altar further on, which was exactly where they had arrived. They were in the middle of a religious event since most of the seats were occupied.
At the altar, a man with long black hair and emerald green eyes wearing a priestly cloak smiled as soon as he saw them both. He looked a lot younger than the agents, getting closer to Emma's age.
- Look at that, it seems our friends have finally arrived from their noble mission. Give it up, my brothers! - the young priest asked, captivating the crowd and influencing them to applaud.
- You look good, Leviathan - Amber replied, approaching the young man with the university body with you. - Are we interrupting something?
- Of course not, miss. Your arrival is more than welcome. I'd love for you to attend the service, but you seem to be carrying something the boss wants - he said, directing his gaze at Emma's body.
- Yeah, you're right. Crane, the Wolf is waiting for us, let's go soon.
- Go alone, I'll stay here with Levi-boy - she spoke, putting her arm over Leviathan's shoulder and smiling at the woman in white. She knew the blonde wanted to push all the work for her, but she didn't care.
- If you think you're getting rid of it, you're very mistaken, Miss Heron - she provoked it by not giving up her penetrating gaze, which caused the girl some discomfort. - Anyway, I'm going. I'll see you guys later. - she turned around, heading for the cult leader's quarters.
However, in the middle of the way, Emma finally woke up, slowly recovering all the senses of the body. Her mouth was dry and her head hurt, her body was still a little soft from the dart, but she could think.
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- Where... where am I?
- In the Golden Shrine or the base of the organization if you prefer - she answered, concerned about the girl's condition. - And before you try anything, you're in the viper's nest, so you better keep your voice down and not try to run away.
- In other words, follow your rules? - she questioned, still a little groggy. - I'm already very angry with you because of that thing in the room. A tip: don't throw one damn of a sedative at the person you want to recruit.
- You wouldn't like the Heron in the car, go for me.
- Heron?
- The blonde woman who tried to convince you earlier. We use animal names here to keep it secret.
- And what are you? The cow?
- Haha, very funny, you want another sedative? - spoke, showing a part of the dart gun.
- Put that away, please. What did I come here for, anyway?
- Before I say, I have a question. Would you help an enemy to defeat a common danger?
- By logic, yes. It is more beneficial, and there is also the possibility of reconciliation between the two sides.
- Okay, you're ready to listen to me then - her expression has become even more serious, and she's gotten closer to the girl. - Will you ally yourself with me to defeat the Golden Menorah?
- What?! You're a... - Before she could finish talking, her mouth was covered by Amber, who prevented her from speaking too loudly.
- Yes, I am a traitor. I work for them long enough to know that their ideas are more than wrong, It is a shame that I only realized this too late to stop all this. Anyway, are you gonna help me or not? - asked in a whisper.
- Wait! Give me some time to think! - she demanded, away from his wife, that she remain serious, while Emma was tense. - What are your objectives? What are we up against? What are our chances? I want you to say everything.
- You'll know when the time is right. For now, you should only know the purpose of the Golden Menorah.
- Stop the progress? Good luck to them. It won't be easy to erase technology from the world, even more so the way it is now.
- Make no mistake. In history, Adolf Hitler managed to turn a country destroyed by war into a powerful nation in a few years, all thanks to his speech to millions of oppressed and revenge-seeking Germans. The will of a single man caused a war that killed over 46 million people in the 1930s. Imagine now, 2025, with the weapons and technologies we have, the world would be reduced to ashes in a few months.
Although she hates to admit she was wrong, Emma understood perfectly what was at stake. The future of mankind rested softly on her hands, a responsibility too big for such small hands.
- I'm still impressed with how quickly events are happening. In a single day, I went from a simple college girl to infiltrate an evil organization. - she sighed, trying to hold the weight that fell on her shoulders. It was something she never expected, but she would have to accept.
- One hour you get used to it - Before they could keep walking, Amber put her arm in front of the girl, preventing her from continuing. - Here we are. From here on out, you have to act like you're in the group to help, you understand?
- I think so.
Walking a few more steps, they faced the door of Lobo's office. As naturally as possible, Amber turned the door handle and opened it.