On the way outside, they ran into someone that Jett hadn't seen for a while. It was also someone he'd hoped to not see for a long while. Preferably forever. But life rarely followed his wishes.

They'd just passed a group of young people who'd been gathered together in a side tunnel, whispering and giggling to themselves like they were either high on life or high on something that was terrible for their health. Whatever it was, Jett didn't care.

The group fell silent as they noticed Mr Black and his procession, and it wasn't until they were nearly out of sight that Jett heard soft footfalls hurrying to catch up to him.

"Hey," called out a familiar voice.

Jett cringed on instinct. He ignored the voice. Please, he silently begged, let her forget she ever saw us.

Unfortunately, life was hating on him right now. The person persisted and finally fell into step beside him.

"What's going on," Moxie asked him. "What's in the basket?"

She looked the same as she usually did: a vertically-challenged person in a hoodie with pale skin and short bleached hair. Even the two small studs beneath her bottom lip were the same, and Jett couldn't help but glance at them.

Didn't those hurt?

And then he decided he didn't care, because it was Moxie. She was annoying and she could go get lost down a different tunnel.

"Hey." She elbowed him, which nearly startled him into dropping the picnic basket. "You deaf, flyer boy?"

"No," he grumbled.

"Then what's everyone doing?"

"Going for a walk," Jett said.

"Going for a picnic," Raven said.

They spoke at the same time, but Raven was just a bit louder so his words overrode Jett's. His great hood turned towards them. Jett could almost sense the smile hiding within its shadow.

He scowled, even as Moxie tilted her head. She glanced at Ava, who wore a cheerful smile, and then at Andrew, who shuffled along, head down and pretending he wasn't casting wary peeks at the flyers before and after him.

A grin slowly spread across her face. "Really? That sounds fun."

"Did you want to come along?" Raven's hood tilted ever so slightly.

"Definitely!" Moxie instantly agreed. Her gaze fell upon the basket that Jett carried. "I hope you have enough for me."

Jett's grip tightened on the basket. He glared at the back of Raven's head, wishing he could drill inside his brother's brain and understand why on earth Raven thought it was a good idea to invite Moxie. Sadly, he failed to get past the hood.

Ava gave a quick smile over her shoulder, showing her approval of the extra company. It only rubbed in the fact that Jett's opinion meant little. The only one left who might possibly share the idea that Moxie was better off far away from them, was Andrew.

But Andrew wasn't saying a thing.

Jett suppressed a grumble, and comforted himself with the fact that Moxie had no idea what she was getting into. Once she experienced one of Raven's picnics, she'd be scared for life. That notion cheered him up quite a bit.

Under Raven's lead, they exited the tunnels and came out in a small cellar. A rickety wooden ladder allowed them to reach the trap door, which opened up into a filthy kitchen that had seen far better days. Cobwebs dusted the ceiling and faded green paint curled off the walls.

The second he pulled himself up onto the tiled floor, Jett's nose itched and he sneezed. A cloud of fine dust billowed about, making his nose itch even more.

A light beam passed through the dust, and briefly blinded Jett as it shone over his face. He blocked it with a hand and hurriedly rose.

"Will you stop doing that?" He hissed, then added, "Mr Black."

Raven's chuckle filled the kitchen. "Just making sure you didn't get stuck in the trap door."

Jett scoffed. "If you didn't get stuck, why would I get stuck? You're a lot bigger than me."

"You never know what could happen."

"He's got a point you know, little Jettsy. You're kind of clumsy." Moxie came around and shoved the trapdoor shut with her foot. Another cloud of dust rose, making Jett sneeze yet again.

"Don't call me that," he glared at her.

She just smirked and bent to grab the basket that Jett had set down. Settling it on the crook of her arm, she tromped past him in her heavy boots.

"We'll have to do a bit of climbing once we get outside," Raven told them. "Jett, please watch the rear. Help Andrew if he needs it."

Jett immediately grew serious. In other words, he needed to make sure Andrew didn't try anything dumb like running away.

"Got it."

"Excellent. Ladies, please follow me." With that, Raven took them out into the streets of the ruined Shann Tei.

After navigating around some abandoned stores, they came across two of Raven's scouts. They were concealed in layers, with even their faces and hair covered. Only their eyes showed, which reminded Jett of Seb's odd fashion choices.

"We all set?" Raven asked.

One of the scouts nodded. They made a 'follow me' gesture, and strode off, the other scout right behind them.

"Perfect." Raven followed, his long coat swinging around his legs.

Jett noticed Andrew timidly peering around, squinting against the daylight. The little man's gaze lingered a little too long at a narrow alley. Jett quickly moved forward and dropped a hand onto the man's shoulder. He squeezed lightly and leaned in.

"Be careful," he said softly. "There's lots of nasty things hiding in the ruins."

There was a sharp intake of breath, and Jett could feel the muscles tense under his hand. He felt bad for scaring the guy, but there wasn't much he could do about it. He let go, and followed close behind.

Andrew didn't try to look around after that. He just hurried forward, as if trying to outrun the wolf snapping at his heels. It made Jett feel a little strange.

He wasn't that scary, was he? It's the suit, he thought. People were afraid of the suit. One day, though, he hoped to show people that someone in a suit could help rather than harm.

The scouts didn't take them far. They arrived at a long, single story building that had once been a little shopping mall. The scouts had erected a ladder, and now one held it steady. Raven didn't hesitate. He immediately grasped a rung and began to climb. The long roll of paper was still tucked under one of his arms.

Ava was quick to follow, then Moxie. After that, Jett had to nudge Andrew up the ladder, because the man seemed very reluctant. He kept looking at the ground and trembling like he was afraid to leave it.

Eventually, he pulled himself up onto the roof, sweat trickling down his face. He scurried away from the edge, almost as pale as Jett's suit. Looking at him, no one would ever guess he was the son of a great military leader.

Jett shook his head. He wasn't sure what the man was so afraid for. No one was going to hurt him as long as he didn't try to run off. Though knowing Raven, he probably failed to explain that part to Andrew.

With a great whoosh, Raven unfurled the rolled up paper, and laid it down on the roof.

"Oh!" Ava's soft exclamation drew Jett's attention.He looked at the paper, which Raven was using as a picnic blanket, and immediately blanched.

It was a very large painting, and it was definitely not something that should ever see the light of day. One look and Jett wanted to erase his own memory. Or burn the thing with fire.

"Oh, that's disgusting." Moxie didn't think much of it either. "Why did you bring that?"

"We needed something to sit on," Raven said, like it was obvious. "Roofs are dirty. You don't want to sit down and get dirt all over your clothes, do you?"

"That painting is dirtier than the roof!"

Ava gave an embarrassed giggle. "It's...a bit colorful, isn't it?"

Soft footfalls on the roof announced the arrival of another scout. She'd climbed the ladder while carrying a heavy metal box fastened shut with a complicated lock. She calmly went over to Raven and offered him the lockbox.

"Perfect." He took it, and set it down in the middle of the painting. "I think that's everything we needed. Now then, let's sit in, shall we?"

The last thing Jett wanted to do was sit on that painting. But Raven had no qualms about it. He lowered himself right over a particularly spicy section of artistry, and Andrew wordlessly collapsed on the corner farthest from him.

Ava's cheeks flushed lightly as she sat across from Raven. Her eyes danced, making Jett think suspect that she was actually enjoying the whole affair.

"Come on, you two. Sit." Raven patted the painting.

"You're a sick man," Moxie muttered. But she finally went over and plopped down next to Ava.

With a resigned sigh, Jett chose the last open area, which was near Raven. His gaze fell on the lockbox. "What's in there?"

"Nightmares." Raven gestured, and Moxie passed over the basket of food. He proceeded to treat the lockbox like a little table, and began setting out the food. "Don't worry about it."

Just because he said that, Jett was going to worry about it even more. His gaze went out towards the horizon, passing over the outlines of many buildings. The afternoon sun cast long shadows, shielding half the city with a layer of darkness. The hairs on the back of his neck lifted.

"They're watching us," he softly said.

"Who is?" Moxie asked. She looked around, trying to see what he was talking about.

Raven's lips curved. "I know. Would you like some bread, Jett?"

Jett stared at his brother. Then he wordlessly held out his hand. Raven placed the bread in it. With a savage chomp, Jett tore off a chunk of the hardened brick. He chewed and chewed, and wondered how long it would take before this picnic went spectacularly wrong.

***

Raith lowered the binoculars, and considered what he'd just witnessed. While it seemed that part of his plan had been successful, he'd never expected the other party to throw in a twist like this.

There was no denying that the master of Shann Tei, whoever he was, was both brilliant and mad. He was also extraordinarily cocky. But pride comes before a fall. And soon enough, you'll see that for yourself.

"What's happening?" Lante came over to join him. The crunch of his boots against rubble announced his approach long before he'd even reached Raith.

The roof they'd chosen was littered in rubble, which had been cast off by the crumbling skyscraper beside it. It wasn't the safest of locations to be sure, but between the rubble and the skyscraper's shadow, it provided good cover.

"See for yourself." Raith passed over the binoculars. "It seems our opponents have revealed their cards."

Lante raised them to his eyes. For a long moment, he simply looked, and then he lowered them. "What are they sitting on?"

That's the first question he asks? Raith felt disappointed. That was perhaps the least relevant detail on that rooftop. He turned from the edge of the roof, his gaze seeking out the pale yellow form of Syk.

The medic flyer had his own scope that he was using to observe the distant rooftop. He was smiling, but not in an amused way. It was much more sinister. Raith's hackles rose because he knew well that when predators smiled like that, the prey would do well to flee.

"What are your thoughts, Syk?"

"Hm." Syk lowered his scope. "It's quite interesting. The man in the coat is baiting the hook quite clearly, isn't he?"

Raith's mouth twitched, but he suppressed the urge to give a pleased smile. Syk had easily seen what Lante failed to notice. "Yes. With the way he's positioned himself, it's clear he's expecting company. I suspect he knows his accessories will fail to hold us back."

"What do you mean?" Lante asked. He looked between them, frowning.

Inwardly, Raith sighed. He almost wished he'd sent Lante off with Gray and Driskal. But with his and Syk's injuries, it was prudent to keep a certain degree of combat power close by. That was why he had Lante and Maji Ra remain behind.

"I'm referring to the hostages he's waving under our noses. Not only does he have relatives of the Elders, he also has our target."

"Ah."

"That's not all he has," Syk murmured. "The girl. The smaller one. She was under my care for a time."

Lante frowned. "We should report this. If there's hostages related to the Elders, we'll need to get their permission to proceed."

"That would be a waste of time," Raith said. Even as he spoke, his eyes were focused on Syk. He saw the faintest glimmer of interest there, and knew that he would have at least one ally. "By the time we get word back to them, this opportunity will be over."

"What you are suggesting is treason." Lante stepped forward grimly. He didn't take an aggressive stance, but Raith saw how the Smoke flyer kept his hand close to one of his utility pouches, which most likely contained some variety of explosives.

"I was given full authority to see this mission through," Raith returned evenly. "Its successful completion is the only goal. If any decisions I make are incorrect, then I will naturally take full responsibility."

"I agree. We must act now." A soft voice drifted from the shadowed section of the roof. They all glanced towards Maji Ra, who leaned against a chunk of concrete. Twisted steel rebar protruded from it like ghastly skeletal fingers, but the River flyer had found space between them.

Lante's expression darkened. "You would also-"

Raith cut him off. "We will not get another chance like this again. If what the boy told Gray is correct, Ra'Skevvor will soon show his face. We do not have time to spare. Surely you understand this, Lante."

Lante gave them both a long, hard look. Then he backed down with a cool, "So be it."

It was just as Raith expected. The Smoke flyer was a rule-follower, loyal to his masters, but not blindly so. He could be reasoned with, which was one of the reasons Raith had chosen him.

"What is your next move, Raith?" Syk had already turned a blind eye.

Raith turned to look at that distant rooftop. "Since they have put in so much effort, I'm going to answer their invitation."

"Oh?" Syk's pale eyes gleamed. "If that's the case, could you do me a small favour?"

"What is it?"

"Pass on a message for me. I am looking forward to seeing their response."

Their? Raith thought. Not 'hers'?

He felt a cold prickle skip down his spine. But he merely nodded. "Alright."

A short while later, he walked along the streets. He would have preferred to fly, as it would have been far quicker and more direct, but with his arm in a sling, that wasn't an option.

It wasn't a bad situation, as this skewed things in his favor. An injured man was far less of a threat than a flyer swooping down from the skies. He might not fool the man in the coat, but perhaps he could glean some interesting information from the hostages.

Not one to leave things to chance, however, he issued a quiet order. "Gray, Driskal. Be on stand-by. I'm on approach."

"Copy that." Driskal's reply was immediate.

There was no answer from Gray, but then again, Raith wasn't expecting one. The Talon flyer had become even more sullen since his chat with the traitor. No doubt he was dealing with some internal conflict, but that was also within Raith's calculations. In fact, he was counting on it.

Build up the tinder, add in the fuel. When the fire ignites, let it roar like no other.

Raith stepped over a large crack on the road. It was close to a half-mile trek to his destination, but he didn't mind.

It was a rather nice day for a walk.