September 12th, 2222. Late in the afternoon, Silas, Dana and Carl were waiting around in the quiet safehouse. Nobody has come in or even tried inspecting inside this small stone house they were in. "You think Garcia bit the dust?" Carl asks.
"I would certainly hope not." Silas says. "That would create several more problems for us. Like, how would we get out of here? How would we handle the cartel? Then, we also need her for the joint task force when we get back home."
"Right, and that American girl will be there too..." Dana says as she looks at Silas.
"I know what you're suggesting..." Silas says. "What do you want me to say? That I like her?"
"Well... do you?" Carl asks. "Because she seems dangerous."
"Yeah, well..." Silas says, then thinks. "It doesn't make a difference how I feel, considering our family will always be public enemy number-one."
"Silas." Dana says as she looks Silas right in the face. Dana then slaps Silas on the back of the head. "Don't be an idiot. I get you have been trying to break out of the mold, so to speak, and socialize more. However, if you go out of your way to get involved with people and they actually stick around you... I hate to break it to you, but the right people would be hesitant to stay around you. Not to sound mean, but there's two things to think about here. First off, your family. The whole world has you, your father and your mother in their sights right now. For several reasons. Especially since the word of these 'laibah' are slowly making waves in the media here and there. Most people don't believe the new species thing is real, but you have to think, people are still going to be cautious of that rumor. Even more so if they find it's real. Secondly, you're... you! You are a softie. A big softie. You know what they call softies in the real world?"
Silas sighs, then asks "a pushover?"
"Exactly." Dana replies. "Look, the only people who can have half the balls to approach you either have no sense or have a few screws loose. Even more so for narcissists. If you're nice and try to help everyone, that's going to make them dig and dig at you until they get what they want, Silas. You need to be more careful of people. Especially Americans. And, not to sound prejudice, but I am still mad about being tied up in that fucking underground base still."
"Look, I get the concern, but-" Silas says.
"But... what? You didn't go and make friends with someone dangerous, did you?" Dana asks.
"I made a friend, and he's not dangerous." Silas says. "Someone by the name of Mathias. Mathias Rudiger. He's kind and he was weary of me at first, but he came around, because whether you believe it or not, other people can be kind too..."
"Is this friend of yours by any chance an American?" Dana asks with a disappointed look.
"Okay, now it's starting to sound a little prejudice..." Silas says.
"Silas, focus!" Dana says. "There's only two things Americans were in Omnia or Seeira for. Destroying things or arresting the guys who were destroying things. Either they were a terrorist or an FBI, which if my memory serves me right, tied us to a fucking pole deep underground to lure out and kill your parents!"
"What's with all the yelling?" Garcia asks as she enters.
"Nothing." Dana says, without taking her eyes off of Silas.
"Did you find our targets?" Silas asks.
"Yes, and it's much bigger than I first thought." Garcia replies. "This has gotten out of hand. First, looks like all of the top brass cartel are in on this. Stopping this would definitely sever my ties with the cartel, but I got no choice. Secondly, the arms they're developing? It's explosives... you know, the kind that was supposed to be put to rest during the restoration period. Lastly, I've found out there's several groups of rogue Hunters here and they're not rogue at all... They're all fully aware of the other groups and are working together. Furthermore, I've discovered all groups originated from America. You can confirm this with the guy I have tied up in the back of my truck."
"A guy tied up in the back of you truck?" Carl asks as he looks around the corner and outside to see boots hanging out of the back of the bed of the truck.
"He, uh... dropped this too." Garcia says as she tosses his wallet on the ground. The wallet unfolds and reveals a CIA badge.
"No... CIA?" Carl asks. "What the hell is going on here?"
"So, which is it, Silas?" Dana asks as she glares at him angrily. "Terrorist or the ones arresting the terrorists? Because when it comes to them... I'm not so sure there's much of a difference anymore."
The three of them walked outside together, as Carl asks "So, we've tried making some of the Hunters talk before... how'd you do it?"
"There's a catch." Garcia says. "Most of the Hunters, I believe, aren't CIA. I think I just got the lucky pick. This guy did a good job at blending in and looking like part of the crew that just does the moving. Unfortunately for him, that's just what I needed. Nobody would've seen it coming, that someone might be feeding the situation fuel for the fire from the bottom."
"Then, the Hunters are being commanded by the CIA?" Dana asks. "Or maybe they're just acting of their own accord, being led by bait from the CIA. With an inside guy to relay the situation back home so they know what bait to use and when."
"Both are good observations." Garcia says.
"Why is he missing an eye?" Silas asks as if he's about to be sick.
"I specialize in making people talk." Garcia says. "If you don't like the sight, look away. Because it's only going to get worse the more you see it."
"So, what's the plan?" Carl asks, however, Garcia just remained still and lost in thought. "Garcia? Agent Espinoza? Hello?"
"Whu-huh?" Garcia asks as she snaps out of it.
"Stage 2, remember?" Carl asks.
"Y-yeah... I... don't know." Garcia says. "It's one thing to be this lucky and get this much intel, but to have to actually face this... I think I'm at a loss. I don't think I can do this."
"Hey, snap out of it." Silas says as he puts a hand on her shoulder. "That's why we're here. Look, squad, if Garcia isn't able to move us forward then I'm going to take the helm for the rest of the operation. We need to make our focus taking down the help. Target the Hunters before confronting the cartel, then dethrone the cartel. Once we have our ultimate goal of knocking the cartel down a couple pegs, we should call this operation complete and leave before the situation gets worse. Before we take on any direct conflict though, I want those explosives marked, removed and accounted for. Seize all the explosives we can get to reduce their overall firepower when we confront the Hunters. Take some samples back to HQ for testing too and find out what they used to make it and how. If there's a chance we can learn something about our enemy from this, I want to take it. Clear?"
"Clear." Carl replies.
"Yeah, yeah... I can do that." Garcia replies. "I just... didn't think I'd be getting put on the cartel's shit list like this. I don't know how I'm supposed to handle being hunted like a dog for the rest of my life."
"You'll get used to it." Silas says. "Don't worry, we'll get you out of here, alive. It's what we do." As Silas looks past Garcia, he sees Dana still staring at him in anger.
The next day, Laibah stayed home as the school was being fixed quickly from the damages. Luckily, no casualties arose during that powerful earthquake, partially thanks to Laibah. It was only Friday, but it looked like they'd be off for quite some time until the repairs were done. "So, you think people are gonna be nicer when you go back to school, seeing as how you used magic to save people?" Asahi asks with a smile.
"I dunno..." Laibah replies. "I'd be surprised if they even knew. Looks like you two and the teacher are the only ones who saw it and I don't think she'll tell them because she doesn't like me."
"I would hope they wouldn't be that heartless." Asahi says. "You're like an actual real life hero! Like your brother!"
Laibah smiles, then says "You just read too many comics, Asahi. I don't want them to make things weird by lining up and thanking me."
"Come on, it's what you deserve!" Asahi cheers.
"Heh- thanks, Asahi." Laibah says with a smile. "I guess we'll see when school opens up again. Though, I won't be bothered if they don't know. I think that would make me more like my brother."