Jack's Craft Shack, Outskirts of Manhattan
October 26, 2029
7:55pm

Cole sat by the upstairs window of Jack's place, his eyes watching the streets carefully for signs of DMA activity. Where he'd expect to see a squadron of DMA soldiers he only saw a group of thugs or a prostitute at the corner. He hated this place, the slums, it always felt as though you'd get stabbed or shot the minute you stepped outside. Most days Cole would stay inside and talked with the others to pass the time. But nowadays Cole stayed to himself, this place reminded him of home and it hurt to remember. The nights he'd spend sleeping on a couch he'd dream of Lauren or Haven and wake up in panic. Unsure of whether or not anyone was here Cole got a coat and headed outside, he needed to get some fresh air and get his mind off of the current situation. 

It was easier said than done, as Cole walked the streets he could only think of the Blacksite attack and what would come after. The news had spoken about the blacksite being attacked and a group of metahuman terrorists freeing their fellow insurgents. In truth it was really just a group of people saving a friend. Of course the world didn't see it that way, they hated the metahumans and after it was revealed that a top DMA operative was killed during the attack the public was even more enraged. The news stations manipulated the story to make it seem as if it was a bombing of a humanitarian center or something. Now as a result the DMA has dispatched an entire battalion of Wardens to quell the insurgency in Manhattan. Eight-hundred highly trained gifted-hunters stalking a city under martial law. Reports began to pour in that the Wardens had eliminated 63% of the metahuman population in the city and once it was done there the movement would go on to other major cities. 

Cole didn't regret attacking the blacksite, they saved Jessica and the gained another member to the group. What he did regret was letting Cia fight Pariah. If he knew she'd do what she did to the Warden he would have pulled her out. As much as he hated Wardens that kill was too messy, the public hated messy. If they knew she was killed they'd be angry but the way she was killed is what got them riled up. It was clear now that this group alone couldn't stand up to the DMA. They needed support, first they had to take back Manhattan, then they had to eliminate Mallory. Only then could they make an actual difference.