074.2 Hours Since Quartz's Disappearance

I giggle a little when I hit the big red button on my remote control. I'm laying just a foot away from an electrified fence. When the explosion goes off, the fence's main gate goes with it.

It was hard to get everything ready in time. Yulks stressed it in the files that tonight was the best time to attack. Something important is going on, and he wants us there. I started getting some volunteers ready as soon as I heard the news. I thought many would be reluctant with such a dangerous mission, but this is Quartz we're talking about. We all owe him our hope. I had to refuse a few people in the end.

What really surprised me is when Lincoln and Gabriel showed up with a pack of Paladins at their back. They were chatting and laughing with the three leaders, falling back into the familiar pattern of fighting beside each other. The Paladins could be a good permanent ally if that James would just get his head out of his ass. It might be good for out groups to realize that we're after the same thing: a voice. Everyone in the West just wants a voice.

Sci kept proving himself useful. He scoured through the mess of files Yulks had sent. There were guard rotations, the location of weapon storages, a layout of the compound, and so much more. Yulks took a big risk be stealing this much, and he got burned. We'll start tracking him down in one of the prisons once we have Quartz back.

The gate is blown off it's hinges, alerting the entire compound. The once electrified fence has also had its current broken. The guards are swarming in confusion to the ruined gate, but they don't immediately spot the scores of shadowy figures climbing over the fence. I leave the remote behind when I start to climb. With the electricity usually running through, they never thought to put barbed wire at the top. I'm already dropping into the compound when the guards finally start to notice the uninvited guests. The swords on my back are heavy, and all I want to do is drawn them and fight beside my recruits, but that's not my job. I need to get to Quartz.

The others cover me while I run. Bullets are flying all over the place, and thanks to the Paladins, some of them find guards. A flash of red catches my eyes before Chichi is running next to me. She's running with a sword in hand, and cuts down a guard that steps into our path. A bullet hits the dirt right in front of my foot. Everything has dissolved to chaos, but I keep running.

The compound has three buildings, but only the smallest one is nestled up against the wall. Chichi and I sharply dash around the corner to escape the gun fire. Two guards are already laying on the ground, dead or unconscious, in front of the building's only door. Lincoln is standing with James. Both have guns, and Lincoln nods to us when we turns the corner. I never knew he had shot a gun before until James gave both him and Gabriel guns with their initials carved in. Lincoln now carries a wicked looking sniper rifle. It's been modified to have a faster reload time and has a blade mounted to the end for close combat.

The door is unlocked when I yank it open. Easier for us, I guess. The door opens up to a kitchen of all things. I can hear shouting and screaming from the room beyond. Lincoln raises his rifle up higher and charges into the next room without saying a word to us. I pull one of my sword off my back and charge after him. We both go through another narrow doorway and come out behind a long, cafeteria style counter.

"No No No! Don't shoot the DELTAS!".

The room is even more chaotic then the war going outside. There's about eight compound guards wearing reflective face shields. What confuses me is that none of them are firing their guns. One is locked in a fist fight with a guy dressed in all grey, and the other guards are scrambling to load weapons with some sort of tranquilizer dart. A girl is lying unconscious close to the counter with a dart sticking out of her shoulder. James comes out from beside me, sees her lying there, and vaults over the counter. I jump when Lincoln's rifle goes off with a horrendous crack. One of the guards go down.

Chichi and I jump over the counter as the remaining guard's attention turns to us. One of the cafeteria tables is flipped over with an unconscious guard laying nearby. I run to use it as brief over, but I smack right into whoever was hiding.

"You want some!? Oh, wait, Vixen?". Quartz's freaky gold and blue eyes meet mine, and he smiles. "Vixen! When did you get here?".

"We're here to save your ass! Come on, we gotta move", I smile back despite the urgent situation. I hand Quartz my sword before drawing my other off my back.

"This reunion is great and all, but won't you PLEASE unchain me?", Yulks's plea startles me. He's laying on his stomach next to Quartz with his arms shackled behind his back. His eyes are wide and dart around at every noise. Another boom from Lincoln's rifle makes him jerk.

"Oh, right, right. Your chains". Quartz nods as if he's forgotten. He leans over and grabs a ring of keys from the unconscious guard's belt and sets to work on Yulks's chains. They clack to the floor moments later.

Quartz's expression shifts to wariness when the room suddenly goes quiet. He sticks his sword out from behind the table and studies the reflection before standing up. I follow, pulling up Yulks. All the guards in the room are down. Lincoln sits up from where he was hunched behind the counter. He got two . Chichi had cut down a guard after I ducked behind the table, and there's a dark skinned young man, wearing the same clothes as Quartz, standing over another guard. A deep purple bruise is forming along their jaw. Quartz had also gotten a guard earlier. A pair of twins are standing nervously with another guard at their feet. The other two have vanished.

"Jasper!", Chichi is too happy to use his fake name, I'm not the only one who chokes at Quartz's real name. He doesn't seem to mind as he rushes around the table and pulls Chichi into a fierce hug. I'm even more stunned when she turns her head and kisses him. Damn. I guess they are a little closer then I thought.

"Seriously? Come on, Lovebirds! There's still gun fire outside", Yulks huffs and rolls his eyes. Quartz and Chchi break away, embarrassed.

Quarts seems a little overwhelmed before his leadership side takes over. "There's a lot I need to tell you guys later, but for now, introductions", he points to each prisoner and names them, "Mico, Eli, Ella, and Lyla. We were all brought here because of our eyes. We'll take them back to headquarters with us......", Quartz pauses before his eyes widen, "Wait...... Governor Griffen is here".