Chapter 14

The elevator dings and the door opens. Neo leads them down the hall and into a conference room.

A figure in dark clothes talks with a blonde haired man. Atlas can tell the figure is female, based on her figure.

The two stop talking and look at the group. "Sir, you two are going to want to hear this."

"This is Shadow and Thomas, our leader. This is Atlas Grey sir.

The two look at each other and back, "Like Ashe's Atlas?"

"Yes sir, but we have been informed that he isn't a member of the Agency."

"I've seen the proof and he's proved it to me on a personal level as well sir." Toni says,

"Well Atlas...what do you want?"

"Sir, I captured May Barnes, well I didn't do it alone. But she's in your prison I'm guessing by now? Sir, I may not be a syndicate member officially, but what you fight for, is what I fight for. I hid for many different reasons, a mix of fear, or PTSD, they hurt and took everything I loved when I was younger. I tried making my way in, but it didn't work, I got cancer and I was on my deathbed. A dying man sacrificed himself for me. He...transferred me his life, it was a serum....what?" Atlas asks,

"Darwin Jackson?"

Atlas nods, "DJ...yes. I owe him my life."

Thomas looks at Toni, "What proof did he give to you?"

"Sir, respectfully....I promised to keep it a secret. I'm afraid you'll have to trust me."

Atlas smirks, he likes her a lot.

"Alright...I guess I can understand that. If Toni trusts you, I'll give you a tiny chance. You mess up, Shadow gets to kill you."

She tilts her head, silently studying Atlas.

"Heh, fair enough. So what do you want me to do for now?"

"Ashe can show you to a room, you'll get a chance to prove yourself Atlas."

"Good, I'm ready, oh and, I have an ability so you know, I've convinced the Agency that it's nanite technology but it's not, I can control heat, ice and poison. I can shoot beams or anything but I can channel the energy."

"Hm, intriguing. Alright, Shadow and I are busy, we will continue this conversation in more detail later Atlas."

"Yes sir."

"I got to get back to work too, Come on Toni, I need another set of hands." Neo says,

"Are you gonna start calling ME names too?"

"Nah that's just kitty."

After Neo and Toni get off, Ashe and Atlas stand in an uncomfortable silence for several seconds.

"Atlas, thanks, for saving Toni."

"Of course, Toni is pretty cool."

"Yeah, she seems to like you quite a bit, that's saying something for her."

"I heard people don't respect her a lot."

Ashe shrugs, "It's a shame, she's really amazing. I think, they just get weirded out by her arm and leg, but I think it makes for a pretty awesome, bold look."

Atlas smiles, "Definitely. How'd you two meet?"

"She recruited me, I was outnumbered twelve to one. I stole food, I was homeless in the poor district. She came in, her and Shadow took them down, but she was the one that took a bullet for me. I envy her."

"Why?"

"She's just, awesome, she's got patience and kindness overload. She's string and fast and beautiful. The only downside is she's been convinced she's some beast that should be caged."

Atlas looks at his feet as they walk,trying to think of what to say. "I think you are beautiful too. You're also pretty kind. You're both really great."

Ashe smirks, "Awwe Atlas, you flatterer."

He grins, "Compliments available 24/7." he teases,

She narrows her eyes, "Oh? I'll have to take advantage of it."

They both smile at each other and continue in silence.

'I can't believe I'm saying this, I don't know him! What is wrong with you Ashe?!' she mentally shouts at herself,

'Dude what. The heck?? You hardly know each other, she probably doesn't even trust you yet!' Atlas says mentally.

She leads him to a room, both silent the rest of the way, she clears her throat, "So uh, here we are, 63B is yours, clothes in the drawers, two pairs of shoes under the nightstand, um...yeah."

"Thanks Ashe, I like it."

A concrete room with built in vents for the heat, a brown nightstand and brown bed all made up.

"Hasnt been used in a while, I'll let you explore, um I'll be in the cafeteria for probably like an hour or so, if you want to join later or something."

"Ashe, sure, I'll be only a minute, just, processing."

"Sure, see ya!"

"Oh wait, um, I don't know if I'm allowed to ask right now, but that night with the explosion, that was you guys right? I mean, you and Toni as the distraction."

"And a few others, stay a little longer and I might tell you about it."

She walks out and disappears around the corner. It was probably Shadow, an operation like that. Her, she's the one, but he needs her to trust him."

He lies on his back and stares at the ceiling. He's waited for this for a long time.

He finally dresses into the grey clothes with a jacket and black boots and walks out.

But another guy nearly plows into him. "Whoa! Sorry about that man."

"It was my fault." Atlas says,

"Well regardless, we haven't met, I'm Harvey." the blonde boy says smiling,

Atlas grabs his offered hand and shakes, "Atlas, I'm pretty new here."

"Ah okay, welcome to the Syndicate dude."

"Hey, can I ask, where you headed? Just, should make friends."

"I'm meeting up with some guys for lunch, we're gonna plan a mutiny of this place." Harvey says so easily,

Atlas fights the urge to smile. "Oh cool, need any more guys?"

Harvey snaps his fingers and points at Atlas, "I...DO need a body shield. Cause we'll you know so much shooting and killing and all that."

"Cool, I'm down."

"Sweet, come on."

"So Harvey, hope you don't mind me asking, we're you born around here or..."

"Oh uh, no, I was raised in a small village, can't remember where exactly, but uh I think it was south somewhere. This guy that owned a shop, he just went like crazy this one night, like absolutely crazy, he lit his bar on fire and lit a bunch of houses on fire, just everywhere. I don't know why he lost his mind. And this other guy, he was a former syndicate member. Something went down and I guess he couldn't handle it and he left them, but, he grabbed me and took me in. He joined them again. Taught me what we were, how to fight and defend myself."

"That's pretty cool, he still around?"

"He was caught in a firefight a few years back."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay, he was a strong guy, it drives me yanno? Reminds me of what we are fighting for."

Atlas nods, "Yeah, it's important not to lose sight of what drives us."

"For sure, so what about you? Obviously not born into the syndicate."

"No, I was from a small village too actually, North , the Agency came they, killed a lot of people, I was hid by my parents and I was the only one to make it out. I don't remember much of my childhood though."

"Huh, me neither. But that's cause we had to grow up fast."

"Nailed it there."

"Come on, we'll get food and meet Tinker and Plyer."

Atlas grins as they walk into the cafeteria, "Please tell me that's a guys name?"

Harvey looks at Atlas and blows a raspberry.

"Obviously, that's not his real name of course, there's a long story behind it, we call him that cause it pisses him off."

Atlas laughs and smiles, "Jeez, it feels nice."

"What?" Harvey asks as he grabs a tray.

"Being home."

Harvey smiles, "It's a special place, just trying to make a difference."

Joy swirls around inside Atlas. Joy, actual, pure, joy. He hasn't felt that in a long time.

"Now! The food here is actually pretty good, the women, it depends, her Brenda-"

"Jerk."

"Nice to see you too. And meals are served three times a day, we got snacks and other things to eat in between. But just don't go ham on them."

"Fair enough."

"Hey Mark, how's the slop?" Harvey asks,

Mark looks up and smirks, "Eh I've seen worse." he teases,

Harvey grins, "I'm sure, Mark this is Atlas, Atlas, Mark is one of the chef's here."

"Hey Atlas, Burritos and mashed with gravy."

"Wow that actually sounds awesome." Atlas says,

"Right?" hand it over Mark!" Harvey demands,

Atlas turns, Harvey points across the cafeteria at two guys sitting at a table, one has a brown Mohawk, the other wears a backwards cap advertising 63 Summers, one of the most famous bands.

"Those are my dopes."

Atlas smiles, "Mind if I bring one of my own? I kinda said I'd meet someone?"

"Yeah, as long as they don't mind us idiots."

Atlas smiles, "I'm sure she'll enjoy it."

"Cool."