Last part, after having a talk with Aphrodite that helped Prósopsi regain his composure- he went back to the meeting room with him, his Commanders, and a high-ranking strategist named David. They then started discussing logistics about the resources they've prepared, as well as more about their plans for taking on Metallic and his crew in general.

Taylis' P.O.V.

While poor David keeps giving his monotone updates about their plans for taking on King Metallica and co., I'm using a fraction of my blessing to control a micro-drone that's recording the criminal crew's every move. Which I've secretly been doing for a while now, thanks to the micro-drone being too small for Elio to detect with his blessing.

Unfortunately the crew seems to be really close to going through with their plans to get to the teleporter to Dalkan now. Which sucks- since I've admittedly gotten a bit attached to them, after watching so many of their private moments together. They're definitely mentally sick for the most part, but I've come to see that most of them really do have some redeeming qualities.

...I don't get the final say in their fate, though. So like I was told to do, I use another small fraction of my blessing to remotely open up one of the many app's that Hopian's made. This one just lets me and him text or call each other on a heavily secured, and private, network. And so I remotely click the "call" button, and the ringing of the call only blares through my head for 2 seconds before he answers. Haha, punctual as always.

"Hello dear." I hear his voice come through the computer I'm remotely controlling, with the audio then being transmitted to my thoughts thanks to my blessing.

"Hey. I think it's time. Seric and co. are putting on all their gear, and just finished their planning too. They seem to be aiming to run for the teleporter within 10 minutes." I reply to him "telepathically", but in reality I'm just remotely controlling a text-to-speech program- that's turning what I remotely type out into audio-files for Hopian to hear.

Tech aside he says back to me, "I see. What is your plan for letting Prósopsi know you found them? Remember, you must to make it believable that you just located the crew right now."

"I'll act surprised, and tell them we need to act right away. I remember the script you gave me on what to say, I read through it 57 times." I reply.

"Good. Yes, we do need perfection here unfortunately. Prósopsi is already suspicious of all of the resources we have access to, after you convinced me to help him with the protests..." He says, hiding some disappointment at the end there... ouch.

"If you didn't help, I'm not sure that I could've gone through with this plan babe. We're treating both the Commanders- and Seric's crew- like puppets. It feels wrong. Both sides have genuinely good people, or at least people who are trying to be better. And now we're just going to make them fight to the death, before those people even have the chance to redeem themselves. It feels barbaric." I reply, venting a bit more than I usually would since his last comment there really rubbed me the wrong way.

"Barbaric? Don't be foolish. Remember, the "fortune-teller's" notes told us that Prósopsi and Metallic clashing someday needs to happen. So us choosing how, and when, that fight occurs will make it much less damaging in the long run. And besides, Seric and his crew themselves chose the "hard path" by working with Quilline. They are far from innocent." Hopian replies in a stern tone, which makes me want to stay quiet. But my morals are stronger than that feeling,

"It's not like Seric, Karia, or Elio wanted to choose that path-"

"But they continue to work with Quilline nonetheless. They directly work with monsters just to keep themselves safe. They're selfish and stupid criminals." Hopian says which makes me have to hide a frown.

"And what about my duties as a Commander? Purposely hiding that I already know where the crew is has let hundreds of people die, and even more civilians will probably die during the fight between Seric's crew and Prósopsi's team. Plus, that's not even including that me and you are working with a monster too-"

"Do NOT talk about him. That is a very different scenario, you know that." Hopian commands in a tone that makes me shrink down in my seat a little, even if he isn't here in front of me. Attractive, but still a bit scary...

I stay silent and so he continues, "That aside. People have only died due to the failures of Prósopsi's army. All we've done is stand by, while still giving Prósopsi considerable amounts of help. Surely even you can see that the Army needed this wake-up call, so that they can find their weaknesses- and improve upon themselves. Times of crisis are often when humans become the most motivated after all."

I take a bit of time to think on that, then reply, "Right. That's true, Hopian. All I'm trying to say though- is that I feel like things aren't so black and white. We aren't completely good people either, so I think it's a bit mean to just call Seric's crew "selfish and stupid" criminals. Especially when a lot of them are just stuck in bad circumstances, same as us."

"...Insightful response, even if I do not agree. But insightful or not, you're still going to be following my plans dear. That is an order. Things will be better after this, I promise." Hopian says... which makes me feel a little better at least.

"I know. But this hurts. I-"

"No more debating, you need to let Prósopsi know that you've found the crew's location within 2 minutes. Also- remember to only turn off the drones surrounding the teleporter once the fighting is over, so that Seric can hopefully go through. I'm sure you remember the plans to help him survive, even if we're not permitted to outright save him?" Hopian asks.

"I do. And one last thing before I go. Am I right to guess that you've got some turmeric tea, and Smacker's cinnamon flavored crackers ready? As snacks for when you watch the upcoming fighting I mean?" I ask, just to lighten the mood and to show him that I'm not actually mad at him.

And thankfully Hopian chuckles, "Yes. You know me well. And I know my words may be harsh but, I am still sorry that you feel so distraught. I don't fully agree with you, but that does not mean I want you to hurt."

I quickly say, "Right. Love you, bye."

"You as well." Hopian says, and I wait for him to hang up the call before I get back to focusing on the task at hand.

I start by zoning back in on the meeting, which seems to be just about wrapping up now. No better time to do this then I guess, and so I put on my best pretend-scared face and get ready to give them the groundbreaking "news".

"Taylis? Something up?" Prósopsi asks- that was fast.

"I found them. Six people, all grouped together with codenames, in a private room at Fixed Reality Casino's Ticket to Dalkan Event contestant's lobby. Serreno, Kaitlyn, Matteo, Emilis, Amelia, and Queta. They're getting ready to go to the teleporter in less than ten minutes." I say which makes Prósopsi's eyes open wide- and just about everyone else's too.

"How?" Prósopsi takes a deep breath and asks, and so I reply with the response I prepared,

"Recordings from security cameras. They tried to hide their real voices- and even got completely new appearances, but their real voices still came through at points when they weren't being as careful in "private". Body-mannerisms also match their old self too-"

"Sorry to interrupt sweetheart, does the "how" really matter right now? If they make it to the teleporter to Dalkan, the Dalkan people- and my brother Domino- are screwed. We need to go NOW, and get the Casino under a damn lockdown. Especially since even I know that any kinds of teleporters don't even fully shut-off after being destroyed, they still leave a portal open for a long-ass time. Let alone the fact that the crew has access to someone who can do a lot of funky shit with technology." Ontarus says as he's already unwrapping his curved, pretty, blue metal sword from his waist. AKA Bahari.

Pretty weapons aside Fondrayan nods and starts heading to the door, "Agreed, we leave now! I'll get that invisibility suit from that fat-man and-"

"WAIT. Taylis. We do need to act immediately, but we need to be sure these are the right people if they really are wearing disguises. Are you 100% sure on this?" Prósopsi asks as he's already starting to walk to the door that leads out of the meeting room as well, which Fondrayan is already impatiently holding open.

"Yeah. 100% sure." I reply, while sending some warnings to both Ufisator who's already "luckily" stationed at the Casino- and the Casino's security hotline too.

"Alright. Aora- are you coming with? If you don't think you can handle it, don't come." Prósopsi asks as Aora finally moves off of the wall she's been leaning on.

"I will come. At worst I'll simply be a target, even if... that woman Quilline teleports me. I am not a coward, she does not scare me anymore." Aora says which makes me feel a bit bad, since I really don't want her to die...

"If you say so. Ontarus! Once you get outside, use Bahari to summon some waves that'll carry both you and Fondrayan to Aeko's residence. After Fondrayan's suit is ready- get to Fixed Reality ASAP. And don't worry about damaging roads by ripping the sea-water out of the pipes beneath the continent, infrastructure damage is meaningless at this point." Ontarus quickly nods, then bolts out of the meeting room with Fondrayan.

Prósopsi turns to look at Aora, "Aora, I'll carry you with me when I fly over to the Casino. And Taylis?" Prósopsi says my name last, and I already know what he's going to ask so I nod and reply,

"I know, I'll be working on the sidelines. I've already let Commander Ufisator know that the crew is there with him, and I've alerted the Casino's security hotline about it too. Both Ufisator and the security forces at the Casino should be able to hold them off from the teleporter until you all get there. Plus I've got gun-drones on the way to the Casino to protect the teleporter too."

"Thanks. After we get our equipment on and head out, keep in touch with us through our earpieces- especially to let us know exactly where the six of them are in the Casino." Prósopsi says and starts walking out of the room, but suddenly stops and spins back around,

"Wait! Damn- tell Ufisator to hold off on confronting the crew until they try anything, and tell the security team that too. Just realized, if we're very lucky and I get to the crew before they know that anyone is on to them? I might be able to burn them to a crisp before they know what hit them, assuming we can clear out the area surrounding them at least." Prósopsi says, and I let out a fake smile at that.

"Sure thing." I reply as Prósopsi finally runs out the door with Aora, and then send the messages to hold off to Ufisator and the security team.

I'll have to find a way to let them know Prósopsi is about to kill them all if they don't notice before then, I guess...

Sheesh. This is it. Can only hope that the people who I think are the most redeemable make it out of this alive. Since as much as I love him, Hopian could really use someone aside from me that could teach him more about empathy.