Episode One, Part 5:
Basilisk

Hannah walked with a determination in her step as she crossed the centre of Basilisk, walking alongside Lydian as they made their way towards the Sovereigns' Quarters. 

"You think this is gonna work?" Lydian asked, glancing around to see how close Josiah was to reaching the medical tent. There were a lot of people in between them, but she could just about see him lingering by the entrance, contemplating the perfect moment for him to creep inside. 

"It'll work," Hannah assured her, not taking 'no' for an answer. "He'll get what we need and he'll get out of there. Our role is essentially to distract the Sovereigns, although, it would be nice if they do actually let me see my son." 

Hannah cut herself off, turning her attention to the guard who approached them as they made their way to the door of the Quarters. 

"Can I help you?" The guard asked, restricting them from entering the building. 

"We need to speak to the Sovereigns," Hannah answered. 

"About what?" 

"About my son," she sighed, folding her arms. "Look, it's quite complicated. I can stand here and explain everything to you, or you can simply go inside and ask one of the Sovereigns to speak to me. I'm Hannah Shayman. They'll all know who I am." 

The guard seemed reluctant to listen to her request, but already not liking her attitude, he decided to agree to fetch one of the Sovereigns, rather leaving them to deal with Hannah instead of himself. 

After disappearing for a moment, the guard returned outside with one of the Sovereigns coming to the door, clearly not too interested in having a conversation with them. 

"What do you want?" Dreea asked, standing in the entrance and keeping the door almost shut on herself. 

"I came to ask if you'll let me inside so I can see my son." Hannah answered. 

"Do you mean Quill?" Dreea raised an eyebrow, knowing full well that it was excatly who Hannah was talking about, she just didn't want to give her the satisfaction of anyone else assuming that she was suddenly Quill's family again. 

"Yes," Hannah let out a deep breath, doing her best to remain civil despite her obvious dislike for the Sovereign. 

"Wait there," Dreea muttered, shutting the door on them and returning inside without offering them any explanation. 

"This is good," Lydian muttered, nudging her elbow into Hannah's, assuming that Dreea had gone to bring Quill outside. "Maybe we won't even need to commence our plan after all," she continued. "It won't be long until things between the two of you are how they should be, and it'll feel like you were never separated at all." 

"Let's hope," Hannah said, though, her voice was anything but hopeful as she glanced back at the door, seeing the handle twist it open. 

They were met with someone else - quite possibly the last person they wanted to see. 

Wynn stood in the doorway with Dreea right behind him for support, looking expectantly at the two of them and waiting to hear what they wanted, even though Dreea had already filled him in. 

"Can I come inside to see my son, please?" Hannah sighed. "I wasn't happy with how things ended the last time we spoke, so I want to make things right." 

"No," Wynn said, already having made up his mind before he heard Hannah's explanation. 

"Excuse me?" Hannah took a step forward. "It seems that I have to point out that I'm only asking for permission to come inside your precious Quarters; you don't get to decide who I do and don't speak to." 

"But I just did?" Wynn stood his ground, his worry only seeming to grow as he paid attention to what Hannah had said. "What happened between you two? What do you mean 'how things ended?'" 

"It doesn't concern you. It's a family matter," Hannah challenged him, taking satisfaction in withholding information from him, seeing the irritation settle under his skin. 

"I'm Quill's brother, so if something's bothering him, then it's bothering me, too. I'm also a Sovereign, so I'll say it one more time: what happened between you two? I order you to tell me." 

"No," Hannah repeated his words from moments ago, not even flinching as Wynn took a step outside the door, ready to lunge at her if it wasn't for Dreea holding him back.  

"What are you going to?" She laughed. "Kick me out of your clan? I don't think Quill would be too happy to know that you banished his mother-" 

"His mother died 2 years ago!" Wynn yelled, having to compose himself as he didn't want to cause a scene in front of all the other Basilisk who were within earshot. 

"You're not his family, Hannah," he spat. "He was 2 years old when you abandoned him. My family were the ones who took him in, raised him, loved him-" 

"I saved his life!" 

"I'm the one who's saved him," Wynn exclaimed. "Ever since we came up to the Ground, I've been the one watching out for us." 

"How's that working out for you?" Hannah questioned, careless as to if she was taking it too far or not. 

"W-what?" Wynn stammered, trying to deny what he knew was coming. 

"You have another brother, don't you? Where is he?" 

"Hannah!" Dreea growled, pushing Wynn back so she could stand in front of him, creating a distance between him and the older woman. "Get the hell away from the Quarters before I banish you myself." 

She let out a deep breath, glaring back at Wynn who's hurt was glimmering in his eyes, refusing to let his own anguish stop him from staring her down. Hannah knew that Dreea was serious; Wynn might have not been in a position to banish her from Basilisk, but Dreea could easily do it: it didn't make a difference to her if Quill hated her for doing it, but it would make a difference if he hated Wynn. 

"Come on, Lydian," Hannah said, grabbing onto her friend's arm. "I'm sure he'll find us later." 

"That was intense," Lydian breathed out, glancing over her shoulder to see Wynn and Dreea still in the doorway, watching as they retreated back to their tent. 

"I know," Hannah said. "That's why I want to get Quill away from those people. They're not right for him. He needs me." 

"It's okay, Hannah. Josiah's by the tent, see? He must have been able to get what we need." 

Hannah found some ease in her declaration, hurrying over to where Josiah was waiting and ushering them all inside the tent before anyone could approach them. 

"Did you get it?" Lydian asked, hopeful. 

"Yeah," Josiah exhaled, moving over to the lamp in the corner of the tent, needing to get more light so he could see what he was doing. "I just need the implants, now," he looked to Hannah, extending his hand out. 

Hannah moved over to her bed, crouching low and pulling out a small, rusted tin from underneath, twisting the numbers on the combination lock to open it. 

"How many?" She asked, moving back over to Josiah and Lydian and examining the handful of implants. 

"Just one," Josiah said. "We can't risk destroying the other implants until we know this works." 

Hannah nodded, watching closely as Josiah connected the final instrument to the implant, relieved that he had managed to successfully break into the medic tent and steal it back from the equipment the Sovereigns had taken from The City of Targo. 

"And how do we know if it works?" She asked. "If we can actually use it to control someone?" 

Josiah looked up at her, anticipating their reactions when they would finally glance down to his hand, seeing the implant begin to illuminate with a vibrant green colour. 

"We find it a host..." 

One // Part Five
I'm the one who saved him.

Sorry that this is so short! But I left you with a bit of mystery there at the end!

12/07/20