Reality-Orion Industrial Tower
Kami stands with her arms folded against the door as the group were standing and pacing about a conference room they were allowed to converse in in private.
Vade: So what are we thinking?
Alex: They need our help.
Charles: What do we really think?
Esmeray: They're going to fuck us the first chance they get.
Kelsey: Agreed.
Vade: Then we have the advantage.
Esmeray: Is it really worth it? Helping these guys.
Kami: You know we don't have much choice.
Esmeray: I say let them destroy each other and be done with it.
Tobias: We can't let Xander get his hands on the final source code. I hate the thought as much as you do about this, Ray. But right now we have to do what's the best thing for everyone.
Esmeray: Yes...helping the corporation that murdered thousands of people including my brother and who knows what else they've done. We should totally be helping those guys.
Esmeray rolls her eyes as Alex faces her.
Alex: We can still expose them once this is over. The goal doesn't have to change. But this fight has become bigger then that. You have to see that…
Esmeray: I want too, Alex. But I can't right now…
Esmeray heads off to be alone as Tobias goes to Kami.
Kami: She'll be okay.
Tobias: You knew Xander wasn't...you know.
Kami: Yes. Don't ask my how or why. Because I genuinely don't know. I just...knew.
Tobias: I see.
Kami: What…?
Tobias: I think...I knew too. I just couldn't be sure.
Kami: Really now?
Tobias: Something about the way he spoke to me, the way he fought. Everything about him. It all seemed too... indifferent. Even for someone with such lofty ideals and goals he seemed so assured of it. As if…
Kami: I know.
Tobias and Kami look at each other as they don't say anything else.
Elsewhere
Back in the main foyer of the top floor Ian leans against the desk as Winston laces about as the others are still seated.
Winston: All this time.
Ian: It's why I never pushed you on the Memory altering. As far as I knew you would make sure that Xander would be viewed and seen however you wanted and needed and you did exactly that.
Winston: You used me!
Ian: Don't act out of sorts, Chairman. Look at those faces there and tell me who do you believe you have on your side.
Winston can see Courtney, Ash, Wesley and Braxton staring him down as Mario and Chris are off in a corner, Mario booting Chris into the A.N.N as Mario whistles for Ian who comes over.
Mario: What is this I'm uploading Chris too?
Ian: Codename: Tormentor. It's a training simulator that became self aware and we had to isolate it.
Mario: And we're putting Chris in there too what?
Ian: To let Tormentor fuse itself to Chris as a host.
Mario: Why?!
Ian: Tormentor is an insanely powerful digital creature. His strength alone can tip the scales of a battle. And besides, nobody likes Chris very much anyways.
Ian heads back as Mario looks at Chris and shrugs and Courtney cuts Ian off.
Courtney: You let them mess with our memories.
Ian: Yes. And I'd do it all over again.
Courtney: I thought I could trust you.
Ian: Trust only yourself in this world, Courtney. But until this is done you still have to fall in line.
Courtney: I will. But this conversation isn't over.
Courtney nods her chin as Ian looks to see the others coming back, everyone standing as Kami and Vade lead up front as Ian and Winston come the closest to them.
Vade: We're in. We'll help you stop, Xander.
Vade extends a hand and Ian looks at Winston who smiled as Ian shakes his hand.
Ian: Welcome to Orion Industrial.
Esmeray sneers as the others still look uncomfortable at this newfound alliance.
DreamWorld
Xander and the others appear as Cosette comes over and smiles as the Fallen Agents all stand at attention as Xander smiles at her.
Xander: Cosette.
Cosette: Xander. Artur. Ahh these must be our aces in the hole.
Xander: That they are. Cosette, this is Tegan and Leon.
Cosette smiles and shakes their hands as Xander walks through the Horde of Agents as he heads towards a small building that had been set up.
Xander: What's our numbers looking like?
Cosette: I was able to pick off the rest at the Conclave. I'd say we've amassed about a third of the current D.R.C agents deployed. So pushing 200,000.
Tegan: Damn.
Leon: How are you able to keep control over that many?
Cosette: Lots of training and honing my craft. And the fact that the bodies themselves are just husks of code it's not exerting much energy to keep them rewritten.
Xander enters the building first as the others follow and the Fallen Agents stand guard as Xander brings up a 3D layout of the Tower.
Xander: I've studied and watched this Tower for many years. It is as you said, Tegan, nearly impenetrable. But. There is a way inside.
Cosette: Yes...here…
She highlights the area and brings it up.
Cosette: It's structurally a weak point but it's still going to be hard to get you in there.
Xander: Leon will get me there.
Leon: Yes I will.
Xander: But the forces opposing us will be more than mere foot soldiers and D.R.C Agents. They'll have Untherers, and we know some have Awakened powers.
Tegan: Let's not forget those we met at the Inferno Bar…
Xander: Ah, yes. Tobias and his little group. I do expect some kind of interference from them. Buy I trust between the four of you I shall not have any trouble.
Artur: Count on it.
Cosette nods as Tegan looks at the Tower.
Tegan: Where exactly will this source code be…?
Xander: I'll have to make it to the top floor. There Winston will be. Protected no doubt but I will be able to handle whomever is there.
Cosette: Don't be so confident. Pride always comes before the fall.
Xander: I shall remember that.
Tegan: That's still a helluva fight we have ahead of us.
Artur: I wouldn't want it any other way.
Leon grins as Tegan seems nervous as Cosette notices her as Xander just stares at the holographic with determined and cruel eyes.
Reality- Orion Industrial Tower
The group are sitting around, looking up at an almost identical holographic image of the Tower.
Winston: Within the dream the O.I Tower is the most secure and well defended place possible.
Braxton: But with what we know these zealots have the means to render defenses almost entirely moot.
Vade: Combined skill and strength should be able to withstand it.
Ian: It's Xander we need to focus on. He'll come directly here.
Esmeray: Because Chairman Vernon has the final source code.
Winston: The A.N.N was created by my grandfather. My family is the A.N.N
Kelsey: The source code is something only you know correct.
Winston: Yes.
Ian: I can protect the Chairman.
Tobias: Not alone. I can help you. He...has some kind of affinity for me. Maybe we can both reach him somehow.
Ian: Maybe. But in the end we'll have to be ready to do whatever it takes.
Tobias: We will be.
Mario: The rest of us will pair up and do what we can to slow down each other four zealots, difficult fights no doubt.
Alex: We should be able to handle it.
Wesley folds his arms as Courtney huffs.
Courtney: All of this planning and in the end all it's going to take is me punching one of the shit bags in the head and ending the fight.
Ian: Don't think it's going to be that easy this time.
Courtney: Watch.
Kelsey leans over to Charles.
Kelsey: I like her.
Charles: Yeah, she's hot.
Kelsey smacks Charles in the chest with the back of her hand.
Kelsey: Not what I meant.
Winston: Failure is not an option. We all know what's at stake...and what we stand to lose. Once this is all over I understand things will get back to being a little dicey...but that's a bridge we can cross later.
Everyone eyes one another as Winston claps his hands together.
Winston: We know what has to be done. And so we're in this together. Let's stop the end of the world.
Everyone looks ready and determined even with the tension amongst them all. Everyone knew what was at stake and that the fight ahead was going to be intense.
End of chapter.