The half-breed corpses had been locked away, ready to be shipped to Shield HQ. Tents had been set up all around the debris of the Shield base, getting every and any data they could salvage. A few containers were placed, guarded by Shield agents, were the prisoners were being held.
Martha walked into the tent, alerting the other inquisitors. Zhao Fan stood up and walked up to her.
"Is she okay?" Zhao Fan asked.
"No. Had to force feed her. She's not talking to." Martha replied.
"So what now?"
"Now?" Martha sat down on an empty crate, "Its up to her to decide. It will be highly likely that she would leave."
"Won't be surprised." Ricardo said, "Though she grew up with us this is her first experience after all."
"But we are her family!" Zhao cried.
"I know." Martha replied. "But it'd be her choice."
"Then if she leaves, I'll leave as well. Someone does have to take care of her."
"Noble." Jacquez said, "But she's already an adult by law. Besides, you can't take care of her. You are in the inquisitors because of your crimes. You won't be allowed to leave, as you'd be endangering her as well."
"But we have to do something!"
"Calm down Zhao." Martha said, "Let her take some time off. Then she will decide."
Zhao looked at Martha and sighed. She was frantic, but she had to lay it down for now. The four remained silent. Right now the shield was wrapping everything up. All the dead half-breed were being sent to Shield HQ as evidence. The ringleaders of the Foundation, Grace and Graham, were being interrogated, with their goons arrested.
Kyler walked into the tent, and one look at his face answered it all.
"I couldn't find him." He said, sitting beside Martha. "No trace of him anywhere."
"At least he's safe, right?" Martha said.
"Safe, true." Ricardo said, "But he is not okay. He just killed someone, Martha. Someone he intended to save. And a sister of a friend for that matter."
"We won't hold it against him." Zhao said.
"You won't." Jacquez said, "But she will. And the very fact that she will, will eat at Blake everyday he wakes up."
A Shield agent rushed in, diverting their attention.
"Sorry to interrupt, but you have a message from Colonel Elizabeth Lionharte. She requests for your presence, Miss Hill."
Martha grunted as she stood to leave. "Zhao, please go to Sarah's side. Kyler, with me. Ricardo, Jacques, find Blake."
"Good luck." Kyler said.
"Funny," Jacquez said, "Every single member of the Bad batch has now killed someone before."
Kyler stopped, turning to Jacquez. He looked at him and sighed. "I guess you're right."
"I'm sorry, I'm not sure that I heard what you just said. Are you saying that we should let this incident slide as a daemon attack orchestrated by militants and not by half-breeds?" Martha asked, veins popped up on her head.
"That is exactly what I said." Elizabeth said, "While I cannot overlook the fact that one of your own members was used as an experiment, the Shield represents a new hope for the people in these dire times. Crushing that hope now is not an ideal solution."
"Over my dead body if you think I can just overlook this."
"Sarah Stone's family will be compensated..."
"WE ARE HER FAMILY LIZ!!!" Martha shouted, "WE ARE! I will not stand down while you continue to destroy the lives of my men and get away with this."
"As grave as this situation is, Martha, revealing it would be disastrous. How an inquisitor was able to go off radar and not be monitored only to be experimented on without your knowledge is a point that will be hammered on. And giving that your organization thrives on that, it will be used to control you in the end."
"Damn you."
"Now as this is just a random daemon attack and, by the information reaching me, one of them still remains. I understand that this particular one has appeared before. We will still need your assistance to..."
Martha passed he hand over the holo communicator, melting it swiftly. She stormed out of the building in a fit of rage, Kyler following right after her. Reynolds and Hughes stared at each other but said nothing. What was there to say anyway. Another comm was placed and after a quick setup, Elizabeth reappeared.
"Ah, where was I?"
"Colonel," Reynolds saluted. "Martha Hill has left."
"Splendid." She said, "Currently I am on my way here to check things out, to make sure nothing is overlooked. Anything from the prisoners?"
"No, colonel, still silent."
"I am tempted to use crude methods, but one is a merc and the other is a renowned citizen. Her lawyers have already started contacting us. Keep your ears to the ground as well."
"Yes, colonel."
"Oh, and I'd like to speak to Dr. Vott alone."
The two Shield agents saluted and left the tent, leaving Dr. Vott, who had been standing in the corner the entire time."
"Your operation was a success. Congrats." Dr. Vott said.
"Why did you inform Sarah Stone about her sister?"
"She deserved to know. As did Grace. I mean, this wouldn't have happened if we didn't inform her, right?"
"True. But..."
"Not to worry. This has already planted the necessary seeds for the bigger picture. The one controlling the Shield from the shadows will be revealed in due time."
"In due time. But for now, this was just a random daemon attack."
"Yes," Dr. Vott said with a smile, "Random."