LILLIAN DANTI PROVIDES SHELTER FOR THE PEOPLE OF HAITI AFTER ATTACKS

By L.M.Taurus

6/9/0029 UWC

12 hours after headline

"This is unbelievable," said Luka as he looked out the window at all of the protesters gathered. "We should tell them Brodie Noble is the Agent of Dependency. Maybe they'll back off if they knew."

Standing next to him were Yelena, Arlo, Ji-hun and Esme.

"The problem is that the media has been legitimizing him," said Yelena. "They even have details of that night's fight. They think Dependency attacked them."

"To be fair, Mercy Kallstrom shot him in the shoulder," said Ji-hun.

"To make it look like they're not working together."

"I don't even know how the media is even getting this information," said Ji-hun. "I didn't see anyone out there."

"Those reporters are sneaky bastards," said Arlo. "She was probably hiding in some bush or something."

"She?" said Esme.

"L.M.Taurus is a woman. She's the one who's been writing the articles about Brodie Noble."

"How do you even know that? I thought you didn't read the newspaper."

"I don't read those papers, but I've had a couple of run-ins with the writer."

"What's her name?" asked Yelena.

"Lois Taurus. Why do you care?"

"Just curious."

"Why don't we tell them who Brodie Noble is?" asked Luka.

"We technically have no proof at the moment," said Esme. "Brodie is denying any involvement with Dependency and now add on to the fact the media is portraying him as a victim, there's a chance we're going to end up looking like the bad guys."

"Are you saying we might have to release him?" asked Luka.

"As of right now, no, but I guess it's a possibility," said Esme.

"But Luan and Cairo witnessed him wearing the Agent of Dependency armor."

"Our word versus his," said Esme. "Brodie has powerful friends. If we don't get new evidence soon, we might have to let him go."

"This is unbelievable," said Luka. "You're telling me he got all those people killed and now he might get away with it."

"He won't get away with it," said Esme. "Once Celeste returns, I'm sure she'll have plenty of evidence to bring him down."

"I hope she returns soon."

"We all do," said Arlo.

****

Luka sat on his bed, deep in thought and squeezing a stress ball. His mind was on Julia. The good times they had and then the betrayal. He gripped the stress ball so tightly that his fingernails went through the ball and into the palm of his hand.

There was a knock on the door and Luka loosened his grip on the ball. "It's open."

Ruby opened the door and entered. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine," said Luka as he tossed the ball at the wall and it bounced back and he caught it. He continued this process. "I'm just thinking."

Ruby sat next to him. "What are you thinking about?"

"Brodie Noble," he lied.

"Yeah, I saw the mess outside. The people seem very angry that you guys are holding him in custody."

"He's a criminal," said Luka. "The people are going to have to get used to the idea of him going to prison. You shouldn't be here by the way. Haiti is a very dangerous place right now."

"It's not like I can leave now with all of the airships destroyed and the harbor being on lock down. They're not allowing anyone in or out of the island."

"Yeah, that's because we have every intention of taking down Dependency soon."

"You think you'll actually be able to do that?" asked Ruby. "Their leaders might not even be in Haiti."

"They're here," said Luka. "The leaders have all been seen on the island recently. It's only a matter of time before we get them."

"Does that include that bitch Julia as well?"

"Don't call her that," said Luka.

"You still like her," said Ruby as she stood up and looked down at him. "After everything she did to you."

Luka stopped tossing the ball and turned his head away from Ruby. "I'm not sure she's as guilty as people think she is. Actually, I know she's not a bad person."

"You have to be kidding me. She played you. She stole from you and the world military. She's a terrorist and you're an idiot if you believe she's innocent."

Luka had his head down as he gripped his stress ball again.

"Not going to say anything, Luka," said Ruby. "Don't tell me you love her."

"Yes," whispered Luka, his head still down. "I do love her."

"You're fucking ridiculous," said Ruby. "She killed a fellow soldier and you're defending her. What are you thinking?"

Luka looked up and straight into Ruby's eyes. "How do you know that?"

"What?"

"How do you know she killed a soldier?"

"I must have read it in the newspaper."

"It wasn't in the paper. Fyn made sure the media didn't know who killed the soldier out of respect for me." Luka stood up. "And no one would share that information with you, so I ask you again, how do you know Julia killed a soldier?"

Ruby took a step back. "I don't know. I must have overheard one of you talk about it."

"Doubtful," said Luka as he took a step forward and pinned Ruby to the wall. "What have you gotten yourself into?"

"I don't know what you're accusing me of but"

"Cut the shit!" yelled Luka, cutting her off. "How do you know?"

"It must have been in the paper," insisted Ruby as she turned her sight away. "I'm sure I leaked that information."

"What?" yelled Luka. "You leaked information to the media. Wait, was it you who leaked the information about Julia's past?"

Ruby hesitated and looked for a way out. "Julia isn't a good person. And what were you thinking, dating a stripper. I know your childish but you're not stupid."

"How did you even find out about Julia's past?"

"Armek told me," said Ruby.

"Armek? Celeste ex-husband. What does he have to do with this?"

"He approached me and told me how I could get you back. That the girl you were dating wasn't good for you and if I cared about you, I would help him."

"How did you help him?"

"He had me relay a message to her," said Ruby. "We told Julia if she didn't help Armek and get him your arm-cannon, we would tell the world who she really was."

"You blackmailed her and then told the media anyways," said Luka, slamming his hand on the wall next to Ruby.

"Julia is still a thief, a prostitute, and a terrorist."

"Because you set her up!" said Luka, slamming his other hand at the side of the wall next to Ruby and pinning her between his arms. "Armek infiltrated Dependency," said Luka, realizing the implication. Luka walked over to the drawer and pulled out handcuffs.

"What are you doing?" asked Ruby.

Luka grabbed Ruby's arm and put the handcuffs on her. "You're under arrest for blackmail and conspiracy to work with Dependency."

****

Luka entered the conference room where he found Esme, Kara, Fyn and Yelena. "Esme," he said. "Celeste is in danger. Her ex-husband has infiltrated Dependency and I think he's after her."

"How do you know this?" asked Esme.

"Ruby Patel told me she and Armek are working together. They blackmailed Julia into stealing my arm-cannon."

"I'm sorry Luka."

Luka looked around the room and noticed the table had a bunch of newspapers spread out on it. "Did something else happen?"

"I think Dependency has kidnapped the reporter Lois Taurus," said Yelena. "Her office hasn't seen her in weeks but she keeps sending them reports that are kind of favoring members of Dependency. Look at today's paper." She pushed today's paper towards Luka.

"Who's Lillian Danti?"

"We don't know yet and it's not from lack of trying. We had gotten intel that she was the real leader of Dependency."

"It says here she is helping the Haitian people from Dependency's attacks."

"Creating a public persona that is helpful to Dependency and harder for us to take them down. Exactly what they're doing with Brodie Noble."

"We need to rescue Celeste, Julia and Lois Taurus," said Esme. "And we need to do it right now."