>>5177436“We’ll split into teams.” You announce, shifting our focus back to those present before you. “Tinker Tailor and Francine, I’d like you both to stay here and research the fragment a thoroughly as possible. November, stay here with B’ni, Uzu, Holly, and Johanna—you’ll be our shield against anyone dumb enough to think the Roost is an easy target.”
“Nobody’s getting through us, chief. Nobody.” Swaggers Johanna, leading the rest of the Dream Team over to the table from where they’d holed up in their room.
“That’s what I like to hear, solider.” November replies with an audible grin, returning Johanna’s stiff salute when it’s offered.
“After we finish things here, I’m going to give our collected allies a rundown of where things stand and what we’re up against.” You continue, surveying the table. “Paloma, the Midnight Crew…Julia and the Hyenas, too, of course. I’m hoping for the best, but given what we know of Behemoth? He doesn’t seem to be the most reasonable of the three, so we need all hands on deck with this one. That being said…”
Your gaze finally settles on the youngest among you, with Amara’s two-tone eyes going wide at the seriousness of your tone. Normally, you’d have taken her aside to have this sort of conversation, but time and delicacy aren’t luxuries you can afford right now.
Not with urgency carving away at your time by the seconds.
“Amara, I’m glad you said what you did. I don’t want to make Ziz fight, but it would ultimately be Ziz’s decision to help us or not. Just like you want to be included, I want Ziz to be included in a discussion that involves their sibling. Does that sound fair?”
She nods emphatically, clearly put at ease by your reticence to pull the thunderbird into a conversation instead of a conflict. “Alright. If nothing else, Ziz may be able to help us talk to Leviathan and figure out where the last of the three stands…or swims, as the case may be. To that end, I’d like for you and Dorian to go have a talk with Ziz, and Snowbird too, if she’s present. Brief them on the situation as it stands, then report back here.”
Then, to Dorian; “Once you’re back, I’d like for you to accompany me and Gina—the three of us are going to pay Leviathan a visit.”
Dismissing the meeting, your family members busy themselves with the necessary preparations while you step away to stand before the massive windows that open down upon the Rusted Town below, and across the rolling fields raw muscle that stretch as far as your eyes will allow. A pair of swarmlings scramble forth from your hive, the helmet of the Chitinous Stalwart armor clamping around your head to grant you a measure of privacy for the conference call you’re about to undertake.
(Continued)
