Everyone was on edge.

Not only had Issac been kidnapped, but Lyris hadn't turned up after a job interview. The worst part was that it had been for Valentin Castillo. It wasn't hard to say that Lyris was most likely in the same place as Issac.

Callius made sure the other high-ranking Starfleet officials knew the subject at hand. Most wouldn't believe that Valentin was behind this, so Callius didn't mention those parts. He needed more evidence compared to the crumbled up drone, anybody would easily think someone was just trying to frame him.

Adeline Merlin had a been a nervous wreck and buried in equipment for tracking devices. The idea of her soon-to-be sister-in-law and brother both gone fractured her soul. She had the hardest time trying to comprehend the fact they had no lead to where they were.

Kevin Riley had been questioned dozens of times by reporters and inspectors once he stepped foot into the building. He'd only consulted to Cauis or Admiral Callius about his information. The rest of the time he was very humble and listened to what everyone else had to say.

In anger and bitterness, most thoughts for the Renegades were focused on finding evidence.

Valentin Castillo, Carson Grohl, The Krevian, and the unidentified member were all behind the crimes. They had to receive some kind of punishment for their injustice.

All the warring emotions allowed Cauis to focus on other things.

Cauis had found himself watching Katherine and Mason training to distract himself from the events. Preparing for a fight anytime soon. He carefully learned how to memorize effective punches and kicks, a few twirls with the sword.

He knew he probably had the strength of a coat hanger, but he knew that he'd have to learn moves to defend himself. He know knew that even though Issac had been well-trained, he'd been defeated as quick as possible. Cauis would have to prepare himself to protect himself from the unexpected.

There was a learning curve about fighting with his fists and using a cold blade. He had to comprehend for himself that at some point he may have to kill. Was he willing to put a bullet through someone's head or stab them? Could his body handle looking at that much blood spilled?

Not everybody else had found something to distract themselves.

The amount of hours flickering for evidence in documents and articles had consumed most of them.

Air patrols were interrogated by Alejandro for not having recognized a drone flying hours before the bar was destroyed. The news about Issac Merlin's capture was only for Starfleet's knowledge and not the public.

Cauis sighed as he was prepared to walk out the Renegade's building. He'd wanted to escape for some clarity and fresh air. He wanted to let go of his anxieties pressuring against his skull and build his way up to a new confidence.

He loathed Valentin. If there had been a greater word, he would've used that more than hate or loathe. The old boss of his was crossing all the lines and not leaving a single trail. Caus hated how clever the man was.

"Ahem!"

Cauis pretended not to hear, he didn't care if it was a Starfleet official checking out the building for an inspection. They knew Issac was innocent and had no traces of bombs that could severely deteriorate a building's structure. They knew that Issac was loyal to Callius and he's never act against him.

It was the propaganda that Valentin was spreading was getting into their heads as well. The simpleminded people on the streets easily fell into hatred against Issac. Starfleet was just trying to prove his innocence, but found themselves questioning his trust.

"Please! Mr. Lemuria!"

Cauis whirled around only for his eyes to widen in shock. He'd studied the blonde-haired woman with white jacket, so quickly that he reached for his gun instantly. Recognizing her allowed him to have quick reflexes.

He was prepared to pull the trigger, but a part of him wasn't. The thought of the blood spilling onto the floor caused him to feel squeamish and his guts to turn in disgust. He'd have to be ready either way.

"No, wait! Wait! Stop!" She screeched in alarm, "I come here to surrender!"

"Pardon?" He shakily kept the gun ready at her head.

"I came here to surrender!"

Against everything he was thinking, Cauis accepted this Sera's aid. After every crime and scraps of evidence of her allegiance to Valentin, he'd allowed her to follow him. He'd allowed her to even feel trusted, putting down his gun.

Maybe it had been the innocent eyes and young face that had melted him. She seemed like a girl who had cotton-candy dreams and wished upon stars. However, he was just judging by her youthful looks.

She climbed the stairs closely behind him, he'd decided taking the elevator would be too slow. With the dozens of Starfleet inspectors checking every floor, he presumed that some would be in line for the elevator. Taking the stairs was the better option.

The apartment complex was only 11-stories. It housed some training rooms and extra spare dorms for an unequal number of Starfleet cadets. The training rooms weren't needed when the one down the street was fully equipped to all of Starfleet's needs.

"I really should thank you for even wanting to talk to me-"

"Oh, it's not just me alone. I'm making sure that I can get Addy to set up a lie detector on you when we reach the main apartment room," Cauis almost scoffed.

"I guess that is fair," Sera felt her cheeks flush in embarrassment for thinking he'd be easy on her.

Her eyes flickered over to the tall window that cast down light onto the stairs. She could almost picture the sky's in being like a lemon tree above them. Beautiful, yet hung the sense of a souring situation

Like a situation she had felt trapped in for centuries.

"Of course though, l'll need to know your full name. From Valentin you probably heard my name mentioned quite a bit from what I learned from Mr. Riley."

"Sera Fletcher. If your friends usually address unknown people by last names is the reason why you want to know-"

"Record files. I need to see if I can find any information about you before Valentin."

"Then, you'll find stuff missing up until a few centuries ago."

Cauis paused on the steps as his mind began to mull over her words. A few centuries ago, but she looked like she could pass for a girl in high school or college. There was no reason why wrinkles shouldn't have appeared around her eyes.

That's when it clicked.

Youthful, the ability to showcase and extraordinary powers, and the mention of being more the a few centuries old. Such a familiar explanation to what Elsa's transformation and been.

"You're a recreation?"

"Yeah," Sera mumbled, remembering Arik Soong.

"Your creators one son of a bitch."

Sera felt a smile warm her face as she was happy to hear Cauis's remarks towards Arik's. She knew after his battle and hearing stories from Elsa that he'd have strong opinion. Seeing him as evil, abusive, and intelligent was the correct description.

"He is."

Cauis stopped on the eleventh floor, stepping onto fake wooden-designed floors. Passing by a cute set of photos hanging along one wall to indicate that this was the Renegade's floor. It all seemed like home to him.

Sera trailed behind, looking like a lost child as she caught glimpses of the photos. She saw all the smiles and cheerful looks in their eyes. A twinge of guilt squished her heart when she remembered she had been deconstructing their happiness. Her blood ran cold, sprinkling her with the pain she'd caused.

Cauis remembered as soon as he reached the door about the precautions Elsa had taken. She had the door to the main apartment room on lockdown, only activating when someone confirmed who they were on the other side. A little irritating, but Cauis put that past him.

"Elsa! I think I may have found some evidence and clues to where to find them."

The door hissed open, Elsa stood in front of the door. Her fingers letting god of the button that contained the door from opening and closing as freely as it used too. She only saw Cauis at first, ready to greet him with a face washed in relief.

Her lips parted in surprise when she finally saw who was beside him. Her fingers squeezed into fists as enraged flames began to tickle her skin. She couldn't believe who was standing behind him after recognizing the unidentified member to the first bombing.

"Cauis, what information exactly?!?" Elsa spoke through gritted teeth, "And why is she here?"

"She's the one who has the evidence-"

"Are you out of your fucking mind? This woman literally tried to kill us 24 hours ago by her friends!! And now you what to bring her in and in the same room of people she almost murdered?!?"

Cauis bit his lip, completely understanding why Elsa should be enraged. He was taking a massive risk. Bringing in a suspect, who was supposed be their enemy, would make it seem like he was some crazy lunatic. Just like he'd forgotten in the blink of an eye of what she'd done.

"Yes, yes I am. But for good reason—"

"You're nuts!! You're crazy!! You are beyond all sanity or-or-or any other phrases can't think of,"

Elsa exclaimed as she proceeded to keep the door blocked.

"Elsa, please, she can't harm us when you're around," Cauis waved his hand dismissively, "We can handle her if this is a small trap. You especially can."

Elsa could feel Sera's sinister face inches from hers, but she knew that there was no evil etched across the young woman's face. However, all the events of yesterday were fueling her distrust. The fact two of her friends were kidnapped by these woman's friends made her blood boiled hotter than the sun.

A tiny flame burst from in between her finger tips, showing some uncontrolled anger brimming to the surface. Carefully, she eased her gritted teeth into a a thin line. Her gaze hardened as she told herself to try and trust Cauis's word.

She rocked the small fire between her thumb and pointer finger. The motion slightly relaxed her, but sent Sea over the edge of anxiety. She knew very well that Elsa could make her explode into nothing, but ash.

"Fine, but if she starts throwing knives, don't expect me not to turn her into ash that'll belong in a fireplace."

All eyes rested on Sera, causing her nerves to squish and squirm inside her skin. The facts she was sitting in a room with some of the most well-respected warriors made her feel anxious. She had to stop herself from nervously beating her leg against the floor.

She was sorry-looking and nervous to the group. Feeling the hot glare from Elsa Engstorm and the awaiting faces of Cauis and Kevin. She could feel the mixture of emotions getting to her head.

The fact she was sitting in a lone chair while the others were on a long couch amde her feel vulnerable and alone. They would be able to immediately notice if she was lying. With the lie detector wrapped around her left shoulder, they'd know if she was wrong.

But she didn't come here to tell lies.

She clasped her hands together, "Well, for starters, Valentin has indeed been the one bombing buildings for the past few days. Mudd had a meeting with him on the first, it was one to showcase his return to thievery and criminal ways. The public thinks that bombing was all Mudd's fault. That was the plan at first. D, Kelly, and I were made to set up the bombs. D got carried away."

"Who the hell is D?" Katherine raised an eyebrow.

"D? His name's Doppelgänger. He's a shapeshifter."

"That may explain why I never sensed him being alive. He was under a different name," Katherine mumbled as Adeline nodded, she knew shapeshifter's senses well.

"I'm guessing Kelly is the Krevian?"

"Yes, we tried to keep species a secret, but she'd been fighting the thirst for human blood for a few weeks. She lost a bit of control at the first bombing."

"You're telling us all that this Doppelgänger or Carson Grohl, whatever he's going by now," Katherine asked, "Did this trick to confuse people? It was a last second thought when he shapehsifted into Issac?"

"Yes," Sera nodded.

She felt Admiral Callius's eyes hover back down to the lie detector. He watched as it flashed green, signaling that she was telling the truth. However, the fact he was a Starfleet Admiral made her practically start to sweat. Making her sweat made her wonder if they were believing her.

The Renegades had already allowed their senses to become reflexively alert, ready to start a fight or arrest her. They didn't know if they could trust her. She understood that it would be hard after the bombings and kidnapping.

"Did you know he had faked his death? Years ago, he was Carson Grohl."

"No, didn't know. I didn't know much about either of them. We lived in Valentin's mansion, spoke of the missions, and slept in separate bedrooms. Kelly was oddly close with Valentin, but she never too me, directly what their connection to each other was."

"Now what information could you possibly have?"

"Elsa," Alejandro quickly warned the redhead.

"I'm just speaking my mind. After all, it seems Valentin keeps everything under wraps.

How would you know where Issac and Lyris is?"

"I-I understand that it's hard to believe me and all, but I promise you that I'm getting there. After D morphed into Issac, Valentin allowed him to set the public against him.

He knew it would drive everyone away from questioning his part in the meeting with Mudd. He knew that the confusion would swerve over to every member of the Renegades. He knew it would become more important. The next act to seem like sabotage.was to destroy every file to Aril Soong, to destroy any connections to making deals."

"Arik Soong?" Elsa questioned, the sound of his name made her lungs burn.

Hatred began to pump adrenaline into her veins. Her hands tightened into fists, grinding against her skin. Just by how much anger was fueling her, she knew it could fuel an entire nuclear power plant. Every part of her body screamed from the memories coming back.

His abuse, awful words, needles stabbing into her body, and his southern drawl all came back. She could remember the physical pain being lashed onto her body.

Everything about him made her feel like he haunted her like a curse, reminding her of a past she wanted to forget.

The way he'd kept he locked up like a caged bird, claiming he was protecting her.

"Yes......Valentin....he's been making deals with him for years. Exchanging supplies to Arik for his needs. One time.....he wanted a Recreation," Her face was crumbling, emotions leaking through, "Arik for years had kept me as his little experiment prototype for handling some form of powers between cloaking and power blasts. That had a lot to do with needles and endless blood transfusions to keep up my strength with the experiments. A century later, he just walks in, grabs me out of the cell-like home, and plopped me in front of Valentin. I thought Valentin would be different, but he....he's just the same."

Tears watered in her eyes, but she knew she'd have to push through. She'd ran away, undetected from Valentin. He wouldn't know she'd swapped sides right under his nose, but she'd have to hurry to make sure that never happened

"He needed us three to do his dirty work for years. He would give Arik free workers from his work if he fired them for having some suspicions."

"No," Kevin breathed, "Clovis...

he was taken......you're telling me that he's-"

"Yes. I'm afraid it maybe best to assume that Arik is indeed his new boss."

Kevin wanted to scream, to tear at Valentin's throat, and jump onto a shuttle to Caera to find Clovis.

He couldn't come to terms with the fact he'd lost his friend. He couldn't embrace the truth.

Cauis, on the other hand, found d himself processing her words. He was reviewing every small detail and every single words she'd used. He tried to reimagine Valentin's mansion again.

He remembered so much about that artifact filled mansion. However, it had to be the place where Valentin he Issac and Lyris locked up. There could be nowhere else in the world that Valentin would house them. His workplaces and business buildings were filled to the brim, not good to hide two people from the rest of the world.

Cauis had trouble understanding the fact that he hand't tried to decipher this earlier.

"Basically ,from what I just heard, you are saying that Valentin has had a secret underground facility or prison of sorts underneath his mansion?"

Sera gave him an affirmative nod, "That's kind of what it is. I don't have the keys though or codes.

That was only entrusted into Valentin."

Adeline settled for rolling her eyes, "If this is supposed to help, then we need a better idea than listening to you give out information that won't help us track the, down in tha mansion. It would be physically impossible to go blind into a well-respected, revered businessman's mansion."

Doubt raised its ugly head inside of Adeline's chest. Cauis had to acknowledge that they would be as blind as a bat if they foolishly set out now. They'd have no way of getting in or out-

"Wait a minute!"

Cauis rushed into his room to grab something, he was as fast as a fox. The ret of the Renegades had their eyebrows drawn in confusion, heads cocked up in his direction. Even Sera was in the same level of confusion.

He rushed back out of his work room, carrying out an old map of Valentin's workplace. He displayed the map on the table, creasing the edges of the paper down. Allowing very one to gather around the table to catch a glimpse of what he was getting at.

His fingers traced down a normal hotel building and storage buildings. His eyes flickered down to the strange tunnel systems that led out the trash of the town. A new hope blossomed inside his chest when he looked up to meet Callius's eyes.

"There might be a way to get to his mansion undetected. This tunnel system he built underground is used for carrying out trays to a near facility, but his mansion also uses the same network."

"You are pretty much suggesting that we 'go through the sewers' and it sounds crazy," Katherine spoke up, "On the other hand, it's probably the only one we got."

"We could use...I'm guessing you still have an access coin of Valentin's?" Cauis watched as Sera unearthed a coin from her pocket, "We can use that to get into a hotel room, easily, correct?"

"As far as I know."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves!" Callius's voice boomed.

Everyone met the Admiral's eyes, knowing he had something to say. The silence was enough to show their respect and eagerness to hear what he had to say. This plan seemed rather risky and not exactly one Starfleet would approve of.

He was the final person who could approve of this plan.

No doubt, that this plan could be seen as sabotage. The Federation would see that Starfleet was being torn apart by the suspicions bubbling inside its members. They'd see that nobody could trust their cohorts or allies:

"We need to make sure no word goes out to Admiral Paris or Admiral Marcus of where we're heading. And please remember buying tickets for a train ride to the New York that Valentin controls is expensive. We need to buy those for tomorrow morning."

Valentin smiled as he passed by the separate cells of Issac Merlin and Lyris Hawkins. He wouldn't take chances of letting each other know where they were. That would've been typical for a soon-to-be married couple to do.

He'd blindfolded them each, not allowing them to see or try to comprehend where they were. Their bodies were tied to a single chair. The only thing they could move were their legs which wouldn't help removing their restraints.

A shining example of his intelligence.

Doppelgänger slammed his mouth shut from speaking a word. He watched with sort of admiration as Valentin inspected the cells. Carefully making sure that there were no tools to help the two prisoners out.

"Valentin!"

"Why Mr. Merlin? It's good to hear from you. But you know it's hard to believe that not only are you risking losing your tongue, but a valuable ally."

"You're not going to win. Cauis is going to be the one that brings the Renegades here-"

"You are wrong. Cauis won't have any known information to get himself here. I am always two steps ahead."