DreamWorld
Xander sits on the barren plain as the Orion Industrial Conclave was teaming with defenses ranging from the fantastical to the hyper advanced, Artur sharpening his sword as Tegan goes to a knee beside Xander as Leon lounges on his speeder.
Tegan: That's a helluva defense.
Xander: Nothing the four of us can't handle. With all four codes acquired we have done the hard part.
Leon: So what is next?
Xander stands as Tegan looks at him.
Xander: Artur...can you render us some tents and a fire, shielded so we don't give ourselves away?
Artur: Of course.
Artur heads off as Xander looks at Tegan and Leon.
Xander: Rest. Fresh minds even in the Dream Share must happen. I want you to get actual sleep. Outside of here.
Tegan: You want us to wake up?
Xander: Don't worry...once you come back into the dream share I'll be able to find you. But you've been in here for many many hours. Your minds are strained. I can sense it.
Leon: How?
Xander raises a hand and the two watch as an orange hue with digital codes spinning and swirling around his arm as he points his arm at Leon.
Xander: asleep for sixteen hours...heart rate elevated...mental capacity down 27 percent…(moving arm over to Tegan) twelve hours slept...34 percent mental capacity deterioration.
Tegan: The chain code?
Xander: Yes...I can read and understand your makeup. It's almost as if I can feel your very essence. In here and out there...We will need you fully rested. Go. I shall find you. Promise.
He smiles at them as Leon shrugs and clicks his tongue twice before he scratches at his right arm and takes deep breaths before he glitches and then dematerialized. Tegan snaps her fingers repeatedly as she hums a tune, closing her eyes as Xander watches as she dissipates slowly before fading completely away as Artur comes to him.
Artur: Sending them away?
Xander: They're stronger rested. Besides...this may be the last true organic sleep they ever experience. They've earned the right to decide for themselves whether they want to come back to this. There's no turning back after what we do.
Artur: The ones who attacked me... they'll be back. More prepared. Stronger even.
Xander: We don't have much to worry about. What are insects to a god?
Artur: You're not a god...yet.
Xander: With you by my side we cannot fail.
Xander pats Artur as the two head towards their camp.
Reality
Tegan awakens in her bed and gets up as she yawns and rubs her neck as checks the time to see it's 7pm. She groans and goes and takes a shower, letting the warm water wake her up a bit as she checks her phone and sees texts from Caleb as she grimaced and puts her phone down as she makes herself a glass of wine and drinks it while she watched the news, looking and spotting the lies as she eventually turns it off and texts Caleb back as she then makes herself something to eat and waits as there's a few knocks on the door as she takes a deep breath and opens the door as Caleb looks at her and walks in as Tegan closed the door.
Tegan: Just walk on in…
Caleb: What the hell are you doing?! I saw what was happening before I got booted out. Tegan...you can't be serious about…
Tegan: I didn't invite you over to talk, Caleb.
She runs her hand over his chest as he moves it away.
Caleb: Seriously…?
Tegan: Look man, I have a long day ahead and I need a release…
Caleb: You don't know that man...what you're signing up for…
Tegan: Maybe...maybe…
She puts her lips to his and kissed him passionately as he balls his hand and then rubs his hands along her hips as the two of them make out until she takes him down onto her bed, Tegan rubbing and grinding her hips as the two began to rub, caress and kiss all over each other, clothes being removed, bodies entwining and crashing together over the course of the next few hours.
Elsewhere
Alex pulls up outside of a home and checks his phone before he heads out of the car, checking the pistol he took off of Chris as he runs up and knocks the door as he sees some people walking their dog as he hides his face before the door opens and Charles smiles at him.
Charles: Alex.
Charles steps aside as Tobias looks at him and stands as Alex jumps back and raises his hands.
Alex: Toby...Toby I swear..
Tobias: Crowe Daddy.
Tobias smirks and comes over to him hugging him as Alex hugs him back as Charles closes the door as Esmeray and Vade watch him skeptically.
Charles: Ray, Vade. This Alex…
Vade: We know each other.
Alex: Vade...Ray?
Esmeray: Esmeray Dixon.
Alex: Alex Crowe. Charles...I've been made. Or at least figured out.
Vade: Made?
Charles: You never wondered how you were always able to heads up on things.
Vade: yeah, you.
Charles: Yes, me. But I wasn't connected to the Orion inside anymore. And someone had to take over the Ghost mantle.
Tobias: (at Alex) You?
Alex: Yeah. Me. I've got my reasons. But we're gonna have to go somewhere soon. They'll have a tracker unit on that car in a matter of moments. Take only what you need to Charles. I've got a fall back spot that should keep us safe.
Alex leaves out the front door as Charles hurried and grabs his gear as Vade and Tobias help as Esmeray follows Alex out as Alex lights a cigarette and spaces about.
Alex: I knew your brother.
Esmeray: I'm learning he's very popular with new people I'm meeting today.
Alex: We went into the D.R.C boot camp academy together. Bunked together. Talented...strong. Guy was a natural leader. Even better person.
Esmeray: An even better brother.
Alex: I can imagine.
Esmeray: You sure you're ready for this?
Alex: Fuck...no.
Esmeray can see Alex's hand trembling as he takes a drag.
Alex: I may have been the Ghost...but a part of me is still an Agent...I still believe in that brotherhood...I believe that most of those men are good men...that don't know any better...I'm doing this because of them for them…but I know what Orion will do...what they're capable of...I'm not the most optimistic.
Esmeray: You and me both.
She folds her arms as Alex looks at her.
Esmeray: But we gotta fight for something...or we're going to die with nothing..
Vade and Charles come out and load up Charles' car as Tobias comes out and watches as Esmeray taps Alex as Alex flicks the cigarette butt.
Alex: Tobias, ride with?
Tobias: Sure.
Alex: Charles stay close to me.
Charles: I will.
Alex nods and gets into his car as Tobias gets into the passenger seat as Charles, Vade and Esmeray load up into his car as the group heads out as quickly as Alex had arrived.
Elsewhere
Winston sits in his chair, checking his phone as Chris runs his neck as he stands before him as Ian stands near Winston as Mario and Ash are standing by Chris.
Chris: I underestimated him but…
Winston: Everyone does apparently. It's a common problem but one that can't be fixed. As long as you are committed to fixing it.
Chris: I am, sir.
Winston: Go. Take whatever resources you need and find him and kill him. Silence him and anyone he's run to for help.
Chris: Yes, sir.
Winston: Ian…
Ian: Yes sir.
Winston: Your team ready?
Ian: I have notified them. They'll be here soon.
Winstin: Excellent. Ash. Mario. I need you to keep an eye on our D.R.C rep.
Ash and Mario nod as the elevator doors ding and the group look at the doors as a pair of nice and slender legs strut out as a woman wearing a nice dress with a leather jacket draped over shoulders as she comes over and between Mario and Ash.
Ian: Courtney, you got here fast.
Courtney: Was close by. (Looking at Ash and Mario) Dick skins.
Ash: Fuck you.
Courtney: Definitely not my type. Boss Man.
Winston: Courtney. Looking lovely.
Courtney: I was on my way to date actually.
Winston: Apologies.
Courtney: Eh, guy was a fucking loser, but he had money. And I was bored. This sounded much better.
Ian: It's going to be dangerous.
Courtney: I fucking hope so. Again. Bored.
Winston smirks as Ash rolls his eyes and walks off as Mario turns to her as Courtney catches his leering gaze.
Courtney: Can I help you?
Mario: You say you were going on a date...and here I thought the great big bad Courtney doesn't date…?
Courtney: Haha, you did hear me say that the guy was a loser, but was a least a rich loser right?
Mario: I've asked you out a dozen times.
Courtney: Oh, I know. And do you know why I say no? Because your a fucking a loser who isn't rich or worth my time. I don't date people I work with. Complicates things.
Mario: You are a vision.
Courtney: Ugh...I need to change. I'll be back, Ian.
Ian nods as she flips Mario off and smiles as she struts off and heads towards the back as Winston smirks and then chuckles as Mario watches her go with a rather creepy glare. Ian taking note of it.
Elsewhere
Tegan and Caleb lay in bed as Caleb grabs her hand, Tegan not seeming to mind as Caleb turns on his side and faces her.
Caleb: Don't go..
Tegan: Caleb…
Caleb: Please.
Tegan: I know what I want...as much as this...this means something...it's not everything.
Caleb: Whatever he's offering...it's not worth it.
Tegan: It is to me.
Caleb: I'll stop him. If that's what it's going to take…
Tegan: You couldn't stop him even if you wanted too...I doubt anyone can…
Caleb: We can...together.
Tegan: I wanna be part of what of his world. It's a world worth fighting for. Dying for.
Caleb: Listen to yourself!
Tegan sits up, covering herself as she looks away.
Tegan: You should leave, Caleb…
Caleb nods and grabs his clothes as he gets dressed quickly and storms off as he stops at the door and looks back at her, Tegan laying back down as Caleb nods and locks the door handle lock before leaving and closing the door, Tegan silently weeping to herself as she curls up.
DreamWorld
Kami stands over Valencia as Valencia was panting as she was covered in scars and bruises, her mouth bleeding as she charges Kami, appearing a blades chain as she tosses it at Kami who knocks it away and goes for a stab as Blayde watches as Valencia dodges the attack and kicks her chain sword up and at Kami's face, Kami dodging it but still gets a nick across her cheek as Blayde smirks as Valencia and Kami trade off blows as the waves crash along the shore line closer and closer towards them they had been before.
Blayde: It's almost time…
Kami and Valencia continue to train as Blayde observed with a sense of pride.
Elsewhere
Artur and Xander sit amist the fire, both not speaking as they hear some rustling. Artur quickly getting up as he stops as he hears guns being raised all around them as an Advanced D.R.C scouting unit surrounds them. Xander looks at Artur as Artur shrugs.
Artur: Thought the shield was stronger.
Xander: You had a tough fight earlier. It is understandable.
Agent: On your fucking feet now or we will blow you away..
Artur looks at Xander who yawns.
Xander: how boring.
The ground rumbles around them as Artur smirks as the Agents watch as suddenly vines, chains and other various things begin to appear through solid cracks in the earth as Xander directs them using flickers of his eyes as he grabs hold of Agents and rips them apart violently as gore and viscera are strewn about as Artur draws his blade and zooms about between three of the Agents without even seeming to lift his sword as their top halves slide off of their frames as others are trying to flee but can't as holders appear out of thin air and crush two to death before a sinkhole pit filled with fire swallows another as Xander grins at the amount of bloody carnage he's inflicting on these Agents.
End of chapter.