We have a problem

Roland's P.O.V.

In the weeks that followed the aftermath of the battle.  The twins and I have worked non stop injecting every Numirian soldier with the cure. So far they've gained incredible abilities. Some with advanced speed, hearing, stealth, and some of them invisibility. These soldiers would be incredibly beneficial to us during the great war. 

General Adkins would come in and check on the progress every so often to brief the Elders. Their support has been unwavering and I believe we have finally made our first ally. Soon we would be able to move on with enough developed to build another army based on this one cure to stop Solarious. 

Z along with General Adkins were working on interrogating the prisoner and one of Solarious commanders Thorax trying to get any insight on Solarious plans. They had kept him locked away and had no time to play games with him. Now that the threat was over for now they could focus on any method needed to get answers. 

I sat back rubbing my hands over my face. I may be a cyborg but the exhaustion was still getting to me as if I were human. This would take many more months to complete the injections and document everyone's abilities, side effects, and how many are left to do.  This process was getting tedious and I hope that maybe we can come up with a quicker way soon. 

Z P.O.V.

Crack

I slammed my fist into the jaw of Thorax. I didn't have a chance to force him to help us before Solarious had attacked but now I have time. And this time he would feel pain until he fed us the information we sought after. 

Green blood dripped from his scaly lips. He hissed at me and his eyes narrowed showing the pure hatred he had for all of us. He was a very loyal follower of Solarious now I can see why he was made a ranked commander in Solarious's army. 

"Where is he hiding?" I asked, holding him by his throat. 

He smiled.

I threw another punch square into his jaw and another caught his eye. 

"Talk or else this will only be more painful!" I shouted.

My patience was wearing thin with him. I should've known that even sparing his life wouldn't yield me anything helpful. 

"I guess we will have to try more extreme measures" General Adkins spoke calmly shrugging his shoulders.

"What do you have in mind" I released Thorax and threw him to the ground. 

" Might I suggest injecting him with the coldest gas humans had ever come up with?" 

A devious smile flickered on my face and my smile grew wider. What better way to torture someone than freezing them from the inside out. 

" You have the capability?" 

General Adkins nodded. 

"Okay, have someone bring it in."

With a heated glare, Thorax rose to his feet and wiped his lip. 

" And what is this so-called torture device?"

"Oh it's a marvelous gas, and might I say the temperature at minus four hundred is perfect for you." 

Thorax's eyes widened at General Adkins's realization spread across his body and I could see fear fall within his pupils. 

"Liquid Hydrogen?" He asked with his mouth agape. 

Nodding in response, Thorax didn't move; he was overcome with fear. I could sense his worthless heartbeat and his pulse quickened. I think we may have found a trigger to get answers. 

"I'll have someone here in a few minutes, unless…"

"I'll talk!" Thorax shouted, interrupting Adkins. 

I kneeled in front of him and grabbed his throat, tightening my grip with each passing second. Our eyes met and now I could see we have finally broken him. Fear ruled him now and he had lost all his bravado. 

"Where is Solarious?" I ask once more through gritted teeth. 

Shaking uncontrollably he swallows hard. " He went back" 

I jerk him violently in my grasp. Bringing his face closer to mine. 

" Back to where? I am done playing fucking games with you!" 

"His homeworld. After a failed attack Solarious will always return home to regather his thoughts and strategize again." 

" Location Thorax, I need a location " My patience with him was reaching an end. 

"Okay! His homeworld is in the Novilian region, sector eleven. You'll have to space jump to get there." 

I released my hold on him and let out a long sigh. Even with a space jump reaching the Novilian region would take weeks. Secondly, I had no way of confirming what Thorax was telling me. He could be lying to buy Solarious time or he could be telling the truth and possibly leading us to an ambush. 

" If it turns out you are lying to me, I will kill you." I left his cell and closed the door behind me, leaving Thorax on the ground quivering in fear. 

Thorax P.O.V.

After the lycan scum left me battered on the floor, I wiped the remaining droplets of my blood from my mouth. I couldn't believe the levels they would go to extract information from me. 

As much as I wanted to remain loyal to my lord and master Solarious I still valued living and at the very moment feared the Lycan and Numir General more than Solarious right now. Not to mention the fact he didn't even bother to try and rescue me from the enemy. During that whole attack, I never crossed his mind. 

I was angry with him and sending them to fight and kill Solarious would serve as my sweet bit of revenge. My payback for leaving me here to rot like I was nothing. I guess you could say that I betrayed him. But in all honesty, who betrayed whom? The master who left his minion to die or the minion who got revenge on his master?

Emily P.O.V. 

I haven't seen much of Z these past few weeks. After she was healed and able to move around again Z did what she always did best focusing on the end goal and never taking a moment to breathe. A part of me wanted to be annoyed with her. I mean after everything I would've thought we would have a little more time together. Only that hope shattered when I can't even get her to stop and share a simple two-minute conversation with me. It seemed the battle had only intensified her hate for Solarious and her want and utter need to kill him. 

A sigh slipped from my lips. Out of everything in this Galaxy all I wanted was Z or maybe even just one millisecond of her time. And I couldn't get that. I round the corner, my eyes trained down on the ground beneath me. I kept myself lost in my own foolishness and love  sick thoughts. Not paying attention to my surroundings. 

A few more steps in and I am knocked back on my ass. Irritated, I looked up, my mouth open ready to tell whoever it was that bumped into me.  But, I froze the woman that stood before me had me stunned and my tongue caught behind my now sealed lips. 

"You sure have a knack for running into me don't you?" She smiles. 

That voice sounds familiar and I would know it anywhere. Before she even turned around it was Z. She held her hand out to me, her gentle smile playing across her lips. Grabbing her hand I could feel my heart thump in my chest. I never realized how much I had missed her touch. Even if we haven't gone all the way yet, just the warmness and strength from her hand was enough to send my blood rushing and my heart racing. 

"Sorry Z" 

"No worries Emily, everything alright?" She cocked her head to the side. 

I just nod. 

"You know me always lost in my own little world." I smile back. 

" Well, I was going to tell you later but since we bumped into each other I might as well inform you." 

Curiosity danced in my mind. I wonder what she would want to tell me. Was she finally going to come out and fully admit that she was in love with me like I am her? Or was she going to say we're staying here or was she leaving again? Countless things racked my brain. 

Z P.O.V.

I could tell Emily's interest had now peaked on what I had to say. I figured letting her know first that we found Solarious hiding place and that we would be leaving at dawn to begin our journey would make things a little easier on her. I cleared my throat shaking her again from whatever daze she was in. 

"We are leaving tomorrow." I put it simply. 

Emiky's eyes went wide and her mouth opened. I could tell she had questions but I wasn't in the mood to answer them right now. I put my hand up to stop her. 

"We leave at dawn make sure you're packed. And I will explain where we are going later, I promise." 

"Always keeping me in the dark last minute. I thought things would finally change after everything that has happened and yet they haven't. You still see me as some weak human. News flash Z I'm NOT…" She paused looking me in the eyes. 

"Not anymore at least." She finished and pushed past me storing off. 

I clenched my fist frustrated by her reaction and her words. With a tight exhale I walked behind her giving her the space she needed. Why is it that humans need an explanation for everything? Why couldn't she just listen and do things without needing such detailed clarity? This girl is still as frustrating as she was months ago. 

'Maybe see from her perspective'

'I don't have time to understand a human.' 

'Stubborn as ever Z. You've lived longer than Emily, maybe take into consideration what she has been through?' 

I cut Leona off, I had no time to argue with my Lycan spirit. The walk back I spent inside my own head. After all this time I was ready to finally kill the bastard that had taken my wife from me. 

Looking up at the sky the color brought me warmth. The blue like ocean that made the ground beneath me feel fake like we were just in one big orb, laying on the beach the sand the ground and the ocean waves the sky. 

My peaceful mind was short lived when Natasha and Nicole came running in my direction. Panic was written all over their faces. Black ash climbed to their hair and skin. It was clear something bad had happened. 

"Z!" They called out in unison. 

"What happened?" I asked running to them closing the distance between us. 

"The lab...Roland…" Natasha tried to speak. 

"Spit it out" I spat. 

" There was an explosion, the lab that whole wing of the building it's gone" Nicole finished. 

My eyes went wide, NO! was all I could think. Of all the shit to happen and go wrong it had to be that. I shifted and sprinted off towards the lab. This was bad on many levels, how many died, is Roland alive? Who did this? 

All the questions came bellowing in my mind.