"Alright, now that we've had our break, it's time we start working on what we have to do next," Bella said. In the meeting room were a couple of other higher-ranking members of The Rebellion, Chaewon, Elliot, Xander, Kaedan, Lumina, Mina, Hyunwoo, Leon, and Risále.
Well, more specifically, Apocalypse.
They had decided to inform the team's youngest members after they'd come to a decision about how to move forward, so Val, Nia, Owen, and Fenix had decided to go into town while the meeting was held to keep their minds off of things. Bella had decided to give them three days after the wedding as a break but after getting news from her other members monitoring the White Lotus, she decided they had to get back to work.
"First things first, let me explain to you what's basically been happening," Bella spoke, pulling up a holographic map and enlargening it on the huge white table in front of them, "A while after we stormed Rowlock Manor, a lot of forces pulled out Sector 2. There are still a few here, of course, but it seems like they split into two forces. A smaller one is still stationed here, and the other larger one is in Sector 1."
"Sector 1?" Kaedan asked, crossing his arms, "What could they be looking for in Sector 1? There isn't really anyone with much power there, aside from maybe my father. Even then, he won't do anything. He's a wallflower."
Bella shook her head, "I think that's the point, the King is a pushover. And with past history, he's probably working with the White Lotus, sorry Kaedan, Xander," She looked apologetically at them. The two winced but Kaedan gestured for her to continue, "He's probably helping them if not just handing control to them. There's definitely something there that they're looking for. So, if they're looking for something there, it means we probably also need to look for something there. "
Kaedan hummed, "And you said Sector 3 had movement as well, right? Anything on that?"
Elliot spoke up, "We're not exactly sure what's happening there, honestly. It doesn't seem like they're searching for anything in particular but there have been more troops stationed there. I'm assuming they're expecting us to go there."
"Then, what if we don't? Let's just not go there. If they're expecting to find something in Sector 1, might as well have us all go there instead. If most troops are stationed there, it's probably better to go in a big group," Xander said, looking closely at the map.
"I'm going to have to stop you right there, buddy," Apocalypse crossed her arms, stepping out, "That's not exactly an option. We have to go there. I suppose it's my turn to explain, Mirabella?" The ginger-haired woman nodded, "Wonderful. Let's start with the basics. For the people here who are not aware, I am Apocalypse. Yes, I am dead. I'm using this one's body as a host, and yes, she's letting me. Try to hurt me and you hurt her too."
Hyunwoo stepped a bit closer to her, "No one is going to try and hurt you, right?" He looked pointedly at the members of the rebellion who were not part of their friend group. They nodded, seeming to know better than to anger Hyunwoo.
"Thank you," Apocalypse's voice seemed sincere, "Alright, moving on. I was not aware of the rumors that were spread about me, so I suppose I should clarify. Yes, I did actually slaughter my entire government," The people who were unfamiliar with her took a step back at this, "But what they did not tell you was that approximately 98% of my government was part of the White Lotus and planning to kill me. They did succeed, but not before I killed most of them. I didn't kill everyone though, and I didn't kill anyone that wasn't part of the plot."
Her eyes flicked over to Elliot and Chaewon for a moment. Chaewon didn't seem to notice but it turned out Elliot had been looking at her too.
She looked away quickly, "Obviously, that's proven by Elliot Varshini and Chaewon Song being alive. Now, I suppose you're all wondering, if I'm actually real, then does that mean the legends about Sector 4 are real? To answer that simply, yes. It fell only about a decade ago. I don't know what they did, but the White Lotus somehow managed to induce mass amnesia or something since only I knew Sector 4 was real."
"Not just you," Elliot finally spoke up, "I'm sorry I hid it from all of you. I knew it existed too but since it was dead and gone and I didn't think anyone would believe me, I didn't say anything."
"—Which we honestly need to discuss, because I don't know how only you remembered when both you and…" Apocalypse trailed off again, "Never mind. It doesn't matter. Sector 4 is huge," She manipulated the map, turning it to an area that seemed to be a large expanse of wasteland, "And we need something from there. Or, two things I suppose. Mirabella, would like to explain what was in the safe?"
Bella nodded, turning to everyone, "When Risále and I opened the safe during the Winter Ball, there was a flash drive in it. Risále decrypted the code on it and managed to get what seems to be coordinates, which we're assuming is the location of the Wings. Since the White Lotus got to it before us, they probably have the location too. This means that getting it is probably going to be a very difficult fight."
"I'm guessing you all can figure out the teams later. Let me tell you what you need to know from me. Do you all know what the Wings are?" Apocalypse asked.
Leon was leaning against a wall, his hand in Hyunwoo's, "It's a weapon of mass destruction, isn't it? Or at least, that's what they told me while I was working in Sector 3, which again, is highly dubious information."
Apocalypse shook her head, "The Wings themselves are not the weapon. They're a part of the keys to unlock the weapon. Now, I'll be honest, I don't know if the White Lotus is actually going to activate it, it wouldn't do them any good to kill everyone here including themselves. More likely, they're keeping it as a method to threaten people and take control. This is why they cannot be allowed to keep the Wings."
"You said they're a part of the keys to unlock the weapon. Does that mean there are other parts?" Lumina asked.
The other woman nodded, "Technically, there are three parts. The Wings, The Twin Blades of Misery, and the formation of the weapon itself. Two of those three things are in Sector 4. Without all of those parts, the weapon cannot be activated."
"Then shouldn't we be safe for now?" Mina asked, "If they can't activate it, then it wouldn't matter if they have the Wings, right?"
"It's only a matter of time," Apocalypse replied, "They will find out about Sector 4, and they will find out that the Wings aren't the only thing they need. Trust me, I know they will. They know where the formation is, I'm sure, but they don't know the location of the Twin Blades of Misery."
Chaewon's eyebrows scrunched up, "Why does that sound familiar? Twin Blades of Misery?"
Apocalypse gave her a pitied look, "You probably knew about it. Elliot as well. It was a famous artifact of Sector 4. Anyway, our safest bet is probably to get our hands on the Wings and the Twin Blades, and then we'll figure out what to do with them later. That's why we need to go to Sector 3."
"Huh?" Mina asked, "Didn't you say the Twin Blades are in Sector 4? Why would we need to go to Sector 3?"
Apocalypse grinned, "Well, I'm not all-knowing. I know that the Twin Blades are in Sector 4, but I don't know the exact location. And as far as I'm aware, I believe there is a tracker in Sector 3. Anyone that escaped my supposed 'rampage' ended up taking refuge there and I know they had a tracker on those things. Like I said, Sector 4 is huge. We need that tracker. So that's why we need two groups."
"Alright, is that everything? Or is there anything else you need to tell us? Or that you…Can say, at least," Leon asked,
Apocalypse nodded, "I'll probably have to take a backseat now, especially around White Lotus members. Risále sometimes lets me take control of her body when fighting since, you know, my title was 'The Warrior Queen' and all before I died and became 'The Ghost Queen'. I can't do that anymore. The more White Lotus members see me, the more they will start to remember about Sector 4, and that would lead to them finding out about the Twin Blades."
"Got it. Can we have Risále back now?" Bella asked, "We need her here for designating teams."
Apocalypse scoffed, "Well, damn, you don't have to be that eager to get rid of me. Have your shortie back."
Within seconds, her eyes returned to their normal brown, and Risále blinked a couple of times before rubbing her forehead and sighing, "I swear to God if you're not taller than me, Apocalypse, I will never let you live this down," She muttered, "Hey, guys! So, I heard all that. Teams, I'm guessing?"
Bella nodded, pressing on the holographic map, pointing towards Sector 1, "I'm giving Sector 1 a slightly bigger team. Chaewon, Elliot, Xander, Kaedan, Risále, Hyunwoo, Val, and Nia."
Kaedan stopped her, "Wait, does this mean you're sending Fenix and Owen back to Sector 3?" He crossed his arms.
Bella sighed, "Trust me, I hate the idea of it just as much as you do. Hell, I think I probably don't want to go back there as much as them. However, I had to assign most of the main rebellion members to Sector 1. At least, I have to go to Sector 3. Fenix said if I'm going, he's coming with me. Owen said he'd prefer to go with Fenix for this one. Honestly, as much as I hate to admit it. This way, we have four out of six people who actually know Sector 3 pretty well."
Kaedan let out a deep breath, "If…If that's what they want," Xander stroked his back, knowing how difficult this must be for him.
"This leaves Lumina, Mina, Leon, Fenix, Owen, and I to go to Sector 3 and get the Tracker. Our group is a stealth group. Don't fight anyone if you don't need to, we just need to get in, get the tracker, and then get out," Bella said sternly, "Sector 1 Team…Just—Don't put yourself in danger for the Wings. Be as careful as you can. You'll have a backup there, of course, but it'll be difficult no matter what."
Hyunwoo took Bella's hand, kissing it, "We'll be careful, Bells. Don't worry," He said reassuringly and Bella let out a deep breath. Risále looked at her in sympathy, rubbing the other woman's shoulders. She must have been stressed about all of it.
"Alright. When do we leave?" Lumina asked.
"I was thinking both teams can start in two days—"
Just as Bella spoke, the entire building shook.