CHAPTER 17 – T-minus (3)

"Oh," I say, and put my wing ahead of me, to cover my view, only to be able to see Witch's face. "You are…"

"Hmm, I form parts, unlike these guys," Witch says, looking at the dead-body at the floor. "You see, cause I'm human. Alright?"

"Of course," I say, and nod. "The guy outside is also on our side. Please don't… you know."

"Yeah, sure thing," Witch says.

"I could go fetch some clothes for you. You see, everyone had packed to leave this place but… couldn't," I try to explain.

"Ah, I see," Witch says.

"But um… uh, FORCERER! Ask Scelesthe to get Witch some clothes," I say. "And do not peak inside, she's… you know. And Witch, could you please wait inside, for Scelesthe?"

"Hmm, if she has given you hear real name, I guess I can trust you. Sure thing," Witch says. The dead-body on the floor, moves, and Witch instils the sword in it, and the attempt stops. "Besides, I have this sword, so remember not to double cross."

After some time, Scelesthe comes and looks at the dead-body of Guy-creature, which I had smashed many times, for moving all of a sudden, once in a while. Scelesthe brings out a dressed up Witch, from the room.

"You are wearing a… coat," Witch says, looking at me.

"Ah… yes. Why?" I ask, looking at my lower body: sleeveless coat, and skinny jeans.

"How did you sprout out wings?" Witch asks.

"Ah, the wings start from the spine, but it sticks towards my body, and makes its way to my shoulder. From shoulder, it bends outwards. Hence I always have to wear sleeveless, as it makes things easier," I explain.

"That is smart."

"Anyways, we should be talking about the elephant in the room," Forcerer points.

"Ah, yes, she has finally healed," I say.

"Not that… whoever this Arson is," Forcerer says.

Right, the message from The-Examiner, as he called himself, included many people.

"They seem of utmost priority. Among you and Witch," Forcerer says.

"Among others mentioned," I say.

"Rusk is already on the kill list. I guess we should barely care about some armoured individuals," Forcerer says.

Scelesthe scoffs.

"Are you dumb?" I ask.

"What…?" Forcerer asks and looks at me and Scelesthe.

"Well, Scelesthe here is one of those… armoured individuals," Witch says.

"Oh… fuck," Forcerer says.

***

"Eight buildings," Rusk says.

With Wrap down, and thankfully Witch finally feeling better and standing among us, it was only us left…

"Eight people," Rusk sighs. "Okay, even with Witch feeling alright, it is hard."

That seems to get on Witch's nerves, or whatever this being has. As her usual stiff expression, which I had gotten used to after a long time, flinches.

"I can convince one building by myself," Witch protests.

"It is not about that…" Rusk says, and his eyes quiver to look towards someone.

"You don't have to worry about me, Rusk," Psyand, that someone, says.

"I… can convince people. Alone. But I don't want Psyand to be alone," Psyand's mother says.

"Ma!"

"Me and Psyand could take on two buildings. Together," Witch says.

"You should also be putting baits in places," Rusk points.

Right, the baits. Exterior-Beings could detect Witch, and she could them. But since having only part of Witch's flesh in them, they couldn't exactly get a clear picture. As Witch had framed it to me, before. Probably why they sent one creature with most of Witch's flesh, which in the end helped her gain most of what she had lost.

"That part should be after everyone evacuates. First they ought to evacuate," Witch says.

Rusk sighs. "I'm getting tired. And even as we speak, those creatures-"

"-Exterior-Beings," Witch and I correct.

"Yeah, okay, those. Those Exterior-Beings would be breaking the force-field, even as we speak. And I can't keep repairing it. I'll faint, trust me. With or without repairing it a few times," Rusk says.

"Then we should get going. Come Psyand," Witch signals to Psyand, walking away.

That makes me scoff.

"Wait!" Rusk says, but Witch doesn't. "Get buildings 3-4. It is a bit far from here, and from the Exterior-Beings!"

Psyand follows Witch, and they go away.

"I'll just do this building," Forcerer says.

"Why?" I ask.

"Because I know people here."

"Because it is easier," Feather says, immediately.

"Well, meaning: I can handle it. So yes, sure. Why I chose it."

"And you are an introvert."

"Okay. You are defining yourself. And are just sad that I didn't let you choose the easier option."

"No!"

Rusk stops the fight and lets Forcerer request this building. And assigns others one building each.

I put on my armour as quick as I can, and step out too. Towards building 1.

A bullet hits my armour, right as I reach the grilled gate of building 1. As there were lights at the place, I could see the people easily.

"Ah, why must you shoot at an armour?" I ask.

"I'm a cop, don't move," a person says.

Well, I could be considered as one too. With proper protection on it.

"I'm not here to hurt you," I say, lifting both my hands midway in air.

"But we will. As that will help us protection," another person says.

"Well, if you want to, then stop shooting at armour," I scoff.

The people whisper among themselves, and the guy with gun asks the other two get 'Thunder'.

This must be interesting.

Another person arrive, a younger guy. He without warning, lifts his hand, and a trident… thunders past me, as I dodge.

"Fast. But that was just a warning," Thunder says.

"I'm here to help," I say.

Thunder scoffs and laughs. "You should help yourself. People won't be easy like me, and will kill a merit award such as you."

"Kill me and get a kid to an elderly gentleman behind you," I say under my breath and scoff.

"What was that?"

"Well, we will be an easier choice. As we speak, powered-individuals such as us, are going around to each building, to give the same choice. So altogether, we will win."

"Hmm, sure. But working with a merit award-"

"-Don't call me that."

"You are wanted. They have filed your death warrant with that speech you might have heard."

"Don't call it a speech."

"So it'd be worse with you. Things."

"Being a powered-individual and all, you are on the warrant too, kid."

"Not a kid. Besides, you heard the… voice. Those words," Thunder smirks. "I won't be killed unless I hurt any of them, or foil their plan."

"Huh, so you are one of those. They could still kill you. They talked about betrayal."

"The betrayal they say," Thunder scoffs. "I ran for my fucking life. So did many more. And they call it betrayal."

"Ran?"

"You wouldn't know, but let's just say there are organisations that-"

"Saturn," I smirk, but sadly my helm should be covering it.

"How do you know?"

I just bop my head to the side.

"Well, then you should also know that they CREATE and GIVE people powers," Thunder says, and I clearly didn't know. What were they, run by Psycho? "I'm one of them. And I escaped. And seemingly others did too."

"Then you should be afraid, no?"

"As long as I'm here; I, or the building, don't have to worry about a thing. I shall protect it."

"You got neat tricks. But you can't watch on the building forever. Once those creatures come, you are doomed," I point towards the entrance. Building 1 wasn't far from the trapped Exterior-Beings.

"We can save ourselves. Save your own self."

"How long do you plan on holding out?"

A person arrives besides Thunder.

"Only a while. If you are a powered-individual, you should know. You should know of someone who could save us."

The arrived person whispers to Thunder: that he had gotten a message, and hands him a mobile. Thunder looks my way, and scoffs.

"About time," Thunder says, and clicks a button.

Nothing happens, but I get alert.

"Why is the network so crappy?" Thunder asks.

Who cares?

"Powered-individuals of the apartments in Malleshwaram," a voice passes out of the phone in Thunder's hands.

"As I said," Thunder scoffs. "They'll be here."

"And fellow humans, of different privileges."

Some start cheering, and everyone joins in, but they are silenced, calmly, by Thunder.

"With every word we speak, we are being tracked by these people who… say they want to test you," the voice, comes out as nervous. "But here we are, still contacting you. As we promised to always help you."

Some continue to cheer, but Thunder had a shook expression on his face.

"All these network outage… it is to track each and every thing passing into your apartments. They'll track every message, even this. Probably will cut it off, hence why I… we, sent a downloadable audio file to just have a one go. Hope it reaches you."

So that was the plan. It was smart how TBC had yet got a way to contact. That is if it was still TBC, who had sent a message.

"We TBC, will ALWAYS stay at the side of powered-individuals. We already let many things get out of hand. No more!" the voice says, yet Thunder's expression remains. "We shall come, and help you! Soon. So please hang tight."

This clearly was not what Rusk had said TBC is. They never… did this.

But what was with Thunder's expression of fear, with which he looks at me. As everyone cheers to the message, Thunder stays still, and silent. Just looking at me, with expecting eyes.

"W-we shall join you," Thunder says, turning away.

"What is that-"

"-Why?" I ask.

"Didn't you want to help? Why do you want to back out?" Thunder asks, ungratefully.

"Indeed. And so did the ones you were oh so expecting from. So why do you…?" I ask.

"For that we need to survive then," Thunder says. "And I think all eight buildings deserve to live."

Something was suspicious. Yet, Thunder asks everyone to come along, and they obey.

What made him change his mind, really?