After Commander Hails bombshell of a question the group went to a room that had been set up for them to discuss.
"I think we should help them." Trinity says.
"Why?" Blake snaps at her.
"Because if it wasn't for them we would be dead. Jason might be dead." She spits back at him.
"Yeah bu-" Blake gets cut off mid sentence.
"We are talking about killing people guys. I'm still processing killing Brand. This isn't an easy decision. Ok." He takes a shuddering breath then looks at Trinity and Blake. "I'm going to explain what you saw at the Fair Grounds. The day we did our class battles I decided to walk home. On the way home I came across the site of a massive battle. There were bodies and blood everywhere. I could hear the fighting farther down an alley and I decided to investigate. I saw a single woman fighting against around ten other people. She got blasted by fire and I ran in to protect her. My light power activated making a hardlight bubble and the other people ran off. Then she asked me if I wanted more power. And I answered yes. She grabbed my face her fingers lit up and then I woke up in my room able to do new things."
"Is that why you weren't at school the other day?" Trinity asks.
"No. My dad was part of the Vigilante Initiative. He killed people. The realization that he was a killer..." Jason trails off.
"Oh." Blake says.
"Who was your dad? Which hero I mean?" Trinity asks.
"His hero name was Shadowmancer. And I used to look up to him but I don't know what to believe anymore." Jason says quietly.
"Why does us helping these people mean we have to kill?" George says.
"They won't want to feed and house all the people we could capture." Lillian says. "Jason. George. You two know my background. And what I've done. I want to help them." Trinity and Blake give Lillian a look.
"I think we should. This will give us the ability to learn more about our new powers before we go back to school." George says.
"Yes we learn about our new abilities. Maybe even gain new ones, looking at you Jason, but what do we lose in the the process? I've heard soldiers comeback from war feeling empty because they killed." Blake says.
"How about this? We go and ask Hail to take us to the nearest town. We will ask around about the Creed. And Peacekeepers. And Knights. And then if the Creed are good guys we help them." Trinity asks.
"Yeah. That's a good idea actually." Blake says sounding mildly surprised.
After agreeing on that plan of action the group heads up to Commander Hails office. They ask if they can be brought to the nearest town and Commander Hail agrees though he thinks the request odd.
Loaded up in a cart now the group takes in the scenery. The trees are at least one hundred and fifty feet tall. Most are pine trees. As the cart rattled down the dirt path Jason spots a deer running along side the path. Trinity points out a herd of rabbits on the left. Blake points out a squirrel. Lillian and George are passed out propped up against the sides of the cart. The jovial mood of the three that were awake dissipates when they exit the forest. A small village was still smoldering. Bodies being dragged away by wild dogs. Jason turns to the driver. "What happened here?"
The driver pats the young man next to him and points at Jason. The young man speaks. "The Peacekeepers did this. The villagers didn't have enough food for them to take so they took everything then killed and burned the village. The Creed took in anyone who made it out."
"How come he didn't answer?" Blake says pointing at the older driver.
"He spoke badly about the Peacekeepers and they found out. They cut out his tongue and destroyed his ears." The young man said.
"Oh." Is all Blake could say.
They rode for the rest of the ride in silence. The ride wasn't a very long one. They eventually reached a walled off city. "Be careful what you say. This city is controlled by the Peacekeepers. This is the Creeds next target." The boy says. Jason, Blake, and Trinity all new what they would do now.
Unloading from the cart so the Peacekeeper gate guard could search the cart they ended walking into the city. The area nearest the gates seemed like the slums. They saw people being beat by the Peacekeepers. Even saw a few die because they couldn't pay some protection tax. Jason was looking around at the chaos that was the slums. Pain and suffering radiated from the area. They all knew they would help get rid of the Peacekeepers hold on this city. As they made their way to the market Jason saw someone. This person looked just like.. "Mom?!" Jason says in both parts relief and confusion. And he runs the the woman he grabs her arm and she turns around.
"Excuse you sir!" She says in shock.
"I-I'm so sorry. You look just like my mother I..." Jason stammers.
"My love." A male voice comes from behind Jason. "Do you know this lad? Is he bothering you?"
"No dear. And stop trying to act tough. We both know you won't hurt the boy." The woman says as the man walks around Jason, he almost fell to his knees in tears.