Terra closed the back door of her house, perhaps never to return. Will stuffed two bags behind the truck seat, containing what few of her clothes and possessions she took away. Holding the key in her hand, she paused, then re-opened the door and tossed it inside.

Closing the door without locking it, she took a deep breath. Goodbye old house. You served me well. Perhaps someone else will take better care of you.

They drove in silence toward the Blue Uprising Command Center. A small smile came to her as she recalled the sweet lovemaking of last night, quelling the nervous anticipation in her gut. She had expected Will to make a quip about the sunrise, but it never came. Then that gave her a distant feeling of unease, as if it foretold an undesired ending. Her smile faded.

I hope we are doing the right thing.

The Blue Uprising Command Center filled an entire block, and then some. From the outside, it appeared to be an unremarkable and rundown metal-sided warehouse. Terra guided Will away from the front parking area to a gravel lot a short distance behind the building, one concealed by a row of mostly empty wooden buildings.

She explained. "If things go bad and we have to make a quick exit, we should avoid the main entrance."

They circled the entire building at a distance to familiarize Will with the area, then approached the front entrance.

Terra turned toward Will, putting on as brave a face as she could. "Are you ready?"

He nodded and gripped her hand. "Together."

The foyer behind the rusty doors was elegantly appointed, contrasting with the outside building shell, as if they entered a different world. A pretty, well-dressed receptionist behind a curved wooden desk turned her eyes up to the visitors. Two burly blue-uniformed security guards with holstered guns flanked her. Even the seemingly harmless receptionist likely packed a sidearm.

Terra spoke to the receptionist. "Terra Lorr, and guest Will Sall."

The receptionist looked down and manipulated the tablet viewer before her. In short order, she produced two name tags and handed them to Will and Terra.

"Welcome back, Ms. Lorr," she said with a smile.

The pair followed one guard through another set of doors and then paused while he ran some sort of handheld scanner over them to check for concealed weapons. Satisfied, he motioned them on. They walked past two other uniformed guards with assault rifles strung over their shoulders.

Terra whispered to Will. "From now on, the security will be mainly Talented. Stay with me, but not too close. You will be nearly invisible to them."

Terra moved an arm's length away from Will as she shifted into the aura, hoping that her bright aura signature would mask Will's lack of one if anyone checked closely. They continued down the brightly lit windowless hallway past another set of guards, these wearing the traditional robed garb of high-functioning Talent.

Turning, Terra flung open one side of a set of double doors to enter a large open area bustling with activity. She took Will by the hand and led him through the scattered desk stations. With a warm smile, she stopped behind a short, middle-aged man.

"Hex!"

The man swiveled around in his chair and grinned. "Terra! How is our favorite problem child?"

"Still causing trouble." Terra pulled Will forward. "Hex, this is Will Sall."

As the men shook hands, Will said, "Good to meet you in person, Hex."

"Likewise."

Hex turned to Terra, wrinkling his forehead. "Will does not have clearance here. How did he just walk in?"

Terra put on a sly grin. "He has that way about him. Were you able to do what I asked?"

Hex huffed. "Oh, that was easy. Do I want to know why?"

"Best if you do not."

Hex nodded. "Walt wants to see you before you go into the council meeting and do whatever trouble you're planning. Good luck Terra, and you too, Will."

Terra hugged him, which took him by surprise. "Thanks, Hex. You are truly my friend."

Will and Terra walked down the hallway to another door. He opened it and followed her in. The walls were as blank and the assistant as disinterested as her last time here, when the unlikely mission began.

Full circle, Terra mused.

Before Terra could announce her arrival, Walt looked around his open door. "Terra, please come in," he said in an even voice.

She held her breath. He is being polite to me. That is spooky.

With Will in tow, Terra entered the office, closing the door behind, and stood before Walt's desk.

"Walt, this is Will Sall," she said.

Walt jerked up, his eyes widening as he noticed Will. He addressed Terra while still looking at Will. "Should he be here?"

"Yes. He should," Terra answered in a firm voice.

"Very well. Now, what is this meeting with the council about? Why all the secrecy?"

"Walt, I have had enough. I am leaving the Uprising."

Walt tilted his head down and rubbed his forehead. "Terra, they won't take this well, especially since you have not completed your mission. I sent you to find the Hooded Man, not a boyfriend."

"Oh, so my house was bugged." Terra smirked as she looked at Will, who tightened his lips and glanced away. "But I completed the mission. The Hooded Man stands before you."

Walt's eyes darted back and forth between Will and Terra, while his mouth hung open. He sighed. "Oh, Terra. What have you done?"

Terra narrowed her eyes. "Do you not see what the Uprising has become? Just another form of the Dynasty. It is time for me to leave."

Walt's eyes burned into Will's. "And what is your purpose here?"

Will answered, returning the glare. "I am not here to join or oppose the Uprising. Only to protect Terra."

"I'm sorry, Walt," Terra said in a gentle voice. "You have always had my back, and I am grateful for that. But you should distance yourself from me now."

Walt stood, his expression softening. "No Terra. I am with you, but you will be on your own before the council." He gestured toward Will. "They will not let him in."

Will grinned. "Oh, I will be there."

Walt shot Will a questioning look, then shook his head and addressed Terra. "It is almost time. I will wait outside the hall in case you need help. Good luck Terra."

"Thank you, Walt."

As they walked out of Walt's office, Will turned to Terra. "You have some good friends here."

"Some. Walt and Hex, I will miss."

Terra put on a stern face as they made their way to the council hall, checking in with a guard seated outside a massive metal door. Two other guards with the masks and robes denoting High Talent stood near the doors. Terra knew that they would recognize her aura, but Will would be invisible to them. The unmasked seated guard gazed at Will with unmasked eyes, but when the Talents showed no interest, he did the same.

At the appointed time, the guard stood up and opened the door. He eyed Will suspiciously, but again, did nothing.

Terra grasped Will's hand as they walked down a ramp toward a large round table. Around it sat the Blue Uprising governors in high-back chairs. They all wore the ceremonial masks and robes signifying their high rank. There were no decorations adorning the plain gray walls, not any other furnishings but the round table and chairs. Soft lights above provided dim illumination.

They stopped, standing at a platform before the table, obviously meant for questioning. Terra continued to let her aura shine. Although Will stood beside her at arm's length, the governors appeared to not notice him.

The Council President Senn, wearing a gold mesh mask reserved for only the leader, addressed her. "Agent Lorr, your interference has become tiring. What presumed you to challenge the Dynasty's Chief Enforcer?"

She replied in a firm voice. "Sir, I did not intend to face him. He came to me. Does the Council not welcome Necros' demise?"

"Agent, we have carefully crafted plans of which you are not aware. By going outside of your mission parameters, you disrupted them."

"I am sure the council is adaptable."

Some members of the council mumbled among themselves. Will put a hand to his mouth to stifle a laugh. Terra shot him a glance, gritting her teeth, communicating that he should be quiet. The council may not see him, but they might hear him.

"Agent Lorr, the council's time is valuable. Why are you here?"

Terra cleared her throat. "Sir, I have come here to formally submit my resignation as an agent. I am leaving the Blue Uprising."

The murmuring among the council grew in volume, to which President Senn shouted, "Silence!"

He spoke in a condescending tone. "If this is about the incident at Norhold, I assure you that was an unfortunate accident. Collateral damage sometimes occurs in war."

Leaning forward, Terra raised her voice. "I saw the results of this collateral damage. It was at best incompetence, at worst, genocide. There has been far too much of that, Senn. Surely the council knows the Blue Uprising purpose? To lift up the oppressed, not kill them?"

"Agent Lorr!" Senn growled. "Consider your next words carefully."

"I further request that the Blue Uprising cancel the upcoming planned offensive. Nothing good will come of it. Only suffering."

The council erupted in chatter, which the president silenced with a raised hand.

"How do you know of any such offensive, Agent Lorr?"

"I am an agent. I have my sources."

Senn jumped up from his chair, leaning forward with both hands on the table. "Enough of your insolence! Your mission was to find the Hooded Man and deliver him to us. What do you have to show for it?"

Terra glanced at Will, who nodded with a smirk. She said, "I have completed my mission. The Hooded Man stands beside me."

Senn scoffed, "Don't try us, agent Lorr. There is no one beside you."

"Take off your mask and see with your eyes."

Will raised his hand and spoke in a loud voice. "I think she means me. Surprise!"

Confused chatter filled the hall. Terra felt the council members probe through the aura, but they could not find the source of the last statement. Finally, the president yanked his mask off, blinked his eyes, and gazed at Will with widened eyes on his long face.

"How? How is this possible?" he asked in a small voice.

Will responded, "It is my nature." His voice stepped up in force. "I echo what your agent says. Power corrupts you. Stand down your war!"

The president banged his fist on the table and shouted. "I am destined to rule this land! It is I, as the rightful heir, who will bring order and righteousness to it!"

Will clenched his fists and spat, "Your words reveal yourself, Mr. President. You are nothing but a little Dynasty."

Senn's face twisted and turned red with rage. His powerful aura blazed like a welder's arc as he prepared to strike.