The Upside Down, the alternate dimension that had a harsh grasp on the real world where everyone lived. Causing a vicious never-ending cycle of violence that caused the deaths and disappearances of many. 

Andrea's headache had subsided. It went down so much that the girl barely even felt it, feeling so much relief within her brain as the pounding stopped. But she was sitting in a room with everyone who seemed clear on what they wanted to do next.

Andrea agreed that they should go back to the Upside Down, she really did. But some people that were going to be going again were not in the mindset to go. They could jeopardize everything for the others.

And Andrea did not want anyone getting hurt because of that.

Eddie Munson made it very clear he did not want to go back to the Upside Down and Andrea couldn't blame him. After everything, he had seen? Eddie Munson had just been thrown into this world as of maybe a week ago, if that. He had never had these experiences and for someone new it was terrifying.

"What do you mean just a few of us?" Nancy had turned sharply as she looked at Andrea, "What are you insinuating?"

"That maybe you shouldn't go," Andrea didn't have any anger behind her tone, she didn't have any kind of menacing or mean expression, "With the state you are in..."

"I'm fine," Nancy snapped as she looked at her, "Don't let me agreeing that you were right in the first place get to your head. I can hold my own."

"I'm not saying that you can't. You said the same damned thing about me, I'm just trying to keep you and the others safe. Be glad I'm actually putting in an effort to care about you," Andrea's words held a tad bit of anger but for the most part she seemed calm.

Everyone looked at each other knowing what was about to happen. It always did.

"Guys," Max tried to stop it before it could happen.

"Hold your tongue," Nancy looked over at Max with a dangerous expression.

"Don't talk to her like that," Andrea let go of Steve as she rose to her feet, "Have some fucking respect."

"Like you do?" Nancy scoffed as she looked at Andrea, "This entire time you've known."

"And I fucking told you so but what was it you said? I was not normal? That I needed to shut up?" Andrea shot as her anger started to boil, "Damn Wheeler, I knew you had a victim complex but hell not this bad."

"I don't know what is scarier, the Upside Down or her," Eddie whispered over to Steve who watched the two in concern, more than a twinge of anger resting on the Harrington man's face.

Nancy let out a laugh, "Really? Like you are one to talk. You act as if you want to be the hero when really you are the one that everyone fears. You hurt everything that you touch."

"You're wrong," Dustin shot as he went to fight back for his sister, "She's never hurt anyone unless there was a reason."

Andrea paused as she looked appalled by Nancy's words, "You bitch."

"No wonder Vecna left you. He probably got an escape from the Upside Down," Nancy took her comment far, "As much as we all hate him if I had a daughter like you then I'd damn well follow his actions."

Andrea sucked in a breathe as everyone fell into a silence. Tears began to gloss over Andrea's eyes for the first time in a while. No one had actually ever made Andrea cry, until now.

"Hey! That was too far, man," Eddie looked shocked as his eyes fell over to Andrea.

"I can't believe you," Dustin shook his head, "You've been asking what got into Andrea but what the hell got into you?"

"Not everyone can have your life little miss perfect. Why don't I get you government bred and branded and let you become a fucking experiment and have nothing to do with the world and have no family, no life, no anything!" Andrea's voice shattered as she yelled, a few of the lights beginning to flicker until the woman began to leave.

"Andrea?" Lucas watched as the girl walked by him before walking out the door.

"Andrea?" Even Max tried to call after her. 

"If you keep being mean to her I will fuck you up," Steve snapped as he rose to his full height, glaring at Nancy as he held up his fist, looking as if he were trying not to punch her, "She has done nothing to you, everything she said, she had a reason for it. I love her, I actually love her, and you are nothing but my ex so either you fix your act or I'll fix it for you."

"When they come back in, we're talking about a plan and thinking this through, you say shit to her and I'll help Steve," Dustin tried to act mean but it really did nothing.

"We all will," Max gave her a firm look.

Andrea's eyes fell to the ground as she ran a hand through her hair. Nancy's comment had dug a little too deep in the woman. Not everyone could have the family of little miss perfect. Andrea held her arms crossed tightly across her chest as she tried her best not to let the tears fall. Moving her eyes from the ground to the sky as she tried to hold her eyes open.

At this point, any snide at her father would make her upset. He had done terrible things, yes, but even when Andrea had no clue who he was he cared for her. He had his issues and people played into them. 

Would Nancy Wheeler be the reason Andrea Harrington turned to the dark side?

"Hey," Steve slid out of the trailer, the sound of yells coming through the door before he shut it, "We're getting her shit settled. She's off the chain," Steve tried to give Andrea good news as he moved to stand beside her, "I'm sorry."

Andrea shook her head as she took a deep breath, moving her hands to sit under her eyes, "No, you have nothing to be sorry for."

"Here," Steve moved her hands as he placed his in place of hers, "You know it's okay to cry, I won't judge you. None of us will."

Andrea let her eyes fall to look at Steve who barely stood taller than her, just three or four inches, "I'd rather not give bitchface in there the satisfaction."

"If she even cracks a grin I'll swing," Steve said that way too seriously.

"You will not," Andrea looked startled, "Steve, you can't swing at a woman."

"But she's hurt you," Steve explained before he removed his hands and tapped the tip of Andrea's nose, "It's a free game at that point."

"Steve," Andrea gave him a look as her sadness began to burrow deep within, "You are not hitting anyone. If anything, I'm beating the absolute shit out of her," Andrea placed a hand on Steve's chest, "And you aren't gonna drag me off of her."

"I won't," Steve couldn't help but crack a small grin as he tilted his head down ever so slightly, "You know what she said isn't true."

Andrea made a face as she sighed, "I know, but that doesn't mean it didn't hurt."

"I know," Steve pulled her in for a hug, "I'd say that you were lying to me if you said it didn't affect you."

"Well, I'd obviously be lying since I nearly started crying," Andrea muttered as she was wary to hug Steve, lightly holding her arms around him.

"Guys," Max opened the door, as she peered out at the two, "Let's finish talking. We need to know what we are going to do and I for one want to listen to Andrea's ideas," Max leaned back inside as she clearly gave a look at the others, "Right, guys?"

"Right," Some sounded genuine but when all of a sudden one second later came this agitating grating voice that made Andrea want to throw some hands. 

And so the two walked inside. Andrea going in first while Steve kept a careful grip on her side. The atmosphere was tense as Nancy sat defeated on one of the chairs.

"You alright there, scarface?" Eddie asked carefully as he looked a little worried.

"Never better," Andrea gave a small smile as she took her seat beside him once again, Steve going to her side.

And so the conversation resumed.

"Let's think this through," Steve began as he looked at the Wheeler woman with a look of pure anger.

"What is there to think through?" Nancy asked as she held an incredulous grin. 

Steve's facial expression said it all as he took over the conversation, "We barely made it out of there."

"Yeah, because we weren't prepared!" Nancy exclaimed her side of the story.

"We were beyond underprepared," Andrea spoke with a look, "Look, we all struggled. I struggled. Least I've got the balls to say it," Andrea held a look as she glared at Nancy, "You barely did shit. You cried for Robin when that damned bat came."

Eddie let out a low whistle, "Shit."

"But this time, we will be. We'll get weapons and protection," Nancy began while everyone clearly looked tired of what she had to say, "We'll go through the gate, find his lair, and we'll kill him."

Andrea still was not sure how she felt about killing him. 

"Or he'll kill some of us," Steve retorted as he looked at Nancy as if she were insane.

"I don't see why you are so worried! She's damn untouchable," Nancy pointed at Andrea as she yelled, "He won't hurt her, and did she tell you he agreed not to kill you now?"

Andrea began to look around, "It's my way of being tortured. I gotta watch everyone die. I don't trust his word. He hurt him."

"The only reason you survived is because he wanted you to," Steve shot at Nancy, "And why he did was a surprise because if he knows all he knows how you treat Andrea. He's not scared of us."

Steve was now standing as he waved his arms as if trying to get the point through to Nancy. In all honesty, Andrea was quite surprised with how Steve was reacting. 

Robin shot up to her feet as she began, "And for good reason. We were wrong about Vecna. Henry. One. Andrea was right. Sorry, what are we calling him now?" Robin began to ask around.

"One," Dustin answered as he looked at his sister.

"Vecna," was Erica's response as she looked at Robin.

"Henry," Nancy responded as she looked at the others confused.

"Dad," was Andrea's response, "Or Peter. Whichever comes first."

"Right," Robin clearly was overwhelmed by everyone's answers as she continued, "We've learned something new about Vecna slash Henry slash Peter slash One. He's a number like Eleven and Andrea, only a sick, evil, male, child-murdering, father, version of them with really bad skin."

It seemed that no one was getting the fact Andrea helped kill the kids but Andrea was not going to add that in.

"He didn't look like that once upon a time," Andrea muttered as she played with her hands.

"But my... my point is, he's super powerful," Robin began to splutter out her words as she became more nervous, "He could turn us inside out with a snap of his fingers. It's not a fair fight and Andrea just plays cards with him might I add?! Cards!"

"So then why fight fair?" Dustin questioned as he looked over at Robin, "You're right. He's like Eleven and Andrea. But that gives us an upper hand," Dustin easily realized before he added, "We know Eleven and Andrea's strengths. And weaknesses," He pointed out.

"And I'm his actual kid. I'm the closest to a copy of him you will get," Andrea answered as her mind tried to sift through card plays.

"Weaknesses?" Erica asked as if that were absurd. 

"When El and Drea remote-travel, they go into this sort of trance-like state," Dustin began to explain as he held a small grin, "I bet the same is true with Vecna."

Andrea gave a slight nod, "Everyone was always the same way."

"That would explain what he was doing in that attic," Lucas realized as he pointed up to the ceiling.

"Exactly. When he attacks his next victim or he's just talking to someone, I'll bet you he's back in that attic, physical body defenseless," Dustin began to explain.

"Defenseless?" Steve asked as he motioned to himself, "What about the army of bats?" He began to make a hand motion.

"True. We'll have to find a way past them," Dustin realized as he made a face, "Distract them somehow."

Eddie then began to rise to his feet as eh entered the conversation, "And, uh, how do we do that, exactly?"

"No idea," Dustin seemed confused as he fell into thought, "But once they're gone. He won't stand a chance. It'll be like slaying sleeping Dracula in his coffin," Dustin exclaimed.

Andrea mulled over their words as she tried to come up with some sort of plan.

"That all sounds good in theory," Robin looked around, "But there is no pattern to Vecna's killings. I mean at least not one that I can decipher. We don't know when he's going to attack next. We don't even know who he's going to attack-" Robin stuttered out.

"Yeah, we do," Max spoke as she looked at the ground, entering the conversation, "I can still feel him. I'm still marked. Cursed. I ditch Kate Bush, I draw his focus back to me. Andrea can feel when he's near and he'lll call on her first."

"Max," Lucas looked worried as he looked at the girl he had so desperately fell for, "You can't. He'll kill you."

"I survived before with Andrea. I can survive again," Max nodded her head as she looked at Lucas before looking at the others, "I just need to keep him busy long enough so that you guys can get into that attic. Then you can chop his head off. Stab him in the heart. Blow him up with some explosive Dustin cooks up."

Now, that was going a bit far.

"I honestly don't care how you put this asshole in his grave," Max continued, Max was the only thing that was keeping Andrea from completely keeping anything from happening, "Just... whatever it is... whatever you do... try not to miss."

Everyone stayed quiet as they looked at one another. Steve looking over at Andrea as she rocked on her heels listening to Max's words. Everyone was thinking deep into this, knowing how important t was. 

"I can handle them, I realized something," Andrea spoke up, "They won't hurt me so if I go back down, I can hold them off. You get me into that attic, I can get into his mind too. I'll be in there before Max, and if it goes like it has been, when she goes in as well."

Andrea could see the worried look that rested on Steve's face as he listened to her words. She knew that he was worried for her, he always had been.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Dustin questioned, obviously worried for his sister as well.

"Yeah, are you sure about that? If there is any uncertainty..." Steve was clearly trying to show that he just wanted to make sure this was what was best for her.

"I can do it," Andrea gave a soft nod, "You all just have to trust me."

"Once Andrea goes under, we know that he's taken the bait," Max spoke as she looked over at Andrea, the two sharing a common look while nodding at the other.

Now they just needed to figure out what they were going to do about weapons. They needed to find some so that they could fight Vecna and win against him. They needed to free Max of this curse and they needed to save Hawkins and the world from this catastrophic event.

They needed to save all of the lives that would be affected by all of this. All of the death and pain that were slowly creeping up. They needed to get ahold of this as soon as possible for the safe of the entire world, the town was not the only place at stake anymore.

It never had been.

"Check this out. The War Zone," Eddie spoke as he placed down a paper, pointing to a section where it was a man holding a gun and the products that it sold.

It was an army, navy, and surplus store. Selling things like black powder, ammunition, firearms, accessories, and government surplus. Whatever the hell that was. Andrea could only tell you what firearms and ammunition was.

"I've been there once, it's huge. They got everything you need for, uh..." Eddie trailed off as everyone piled in a circle around the table.

"Mass genocide?" Andrea questioned as she tilted her head, "My favorite pass time."

"Andrea," Steve scolded the younger woman.

Eddie nodded his head as he made a face, "Well, killing things, basically," The man was clearly not phased by Andrea's words.

"You think fake Rambo has enough guns there?" Robin asked as she placed her hands within her front pockets while leaning into the group, "Is that a grenade? I mean, how is any of this legal?"

Andrea crossed her arms across her chest, "Anything is legal if you have the heart to do it. That's what I've said for years, I don't give two shits about the law since well... the government kinda made me a weapon."

The looks on everyone's faces at Andrea's words were priceless.

"Okay... remind me to give you a long stern talk later," Steve muttered as he looked at his wife who shrugged.

"Well, lucky for us it is, so... we don't have to follow Andrea's lovely advice with our hearts. This... this place is just far enough outside of Hawkins. As long as we steer clear of main roads, we oughta be able to avoid cops and, uh, angry hicks."

"If we're trying to avoid angry hicks, maybe we shouldn't go to some store called the War Zone," Erica sassed as she looked at them like they were dumb.

"Point there," Andrea agreed, "I mean what if others are buying pitch forks and shit?"

"Bright side, please," Steve begged.

Bright side? Nah, Andrea was content with the dark side of her words.