[COLOR=GRAY][indent][indent]The catwalk had collapsed that once held the Harbinger, though his body was likely no more than wall decoration at this point, Tad on the other hand stood a chance of surviving. His abilities allowed him to adapt, but Jim had never seen them proactively work, only retroactively and that’s what scared him. 

There was one relief in all this, with the Harbinger gone and the Black Site destroyed, hopefully, Pacific Royal had finally seen the last of both House Orcinus and Hyperion’s Children. 

Something hit Jim’s foot and he looked down to see the form of a man encased in stone. Focussing the last of his strength, Jim extended his field, covering Tad and dragging the younger man closer.

[color=#ffffff]“I’ve got you, boy.”[/color] He muttered before pressing the button as Torres had instructed.

[color=#ffffff]“Well I’ll be damned, you’re still alive,”[/color] Daytripper stated, announcing his arrival. [color=#ffffff]“Let’s go, looks like they got your kids free.”[/color][/indent][/indent][CENTER][COLOR=dimgray]
[sup]________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sup][/COLOR][img]https://i.imgur.com/uA98Dc2.png[/img][/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=silver][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]The Southern Plateau[/I] - [I]Dundas Islands, Pacific Ocean[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=silver][b]Hope In Hell #2.060:[/b][/COLOR] [I]In The End[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][COLOR=dimgray][SUP][sub]____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR][INDENT][sub][color=silver][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR] [I]None[/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=silver][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [I]High Hopes[/I][/right][/SUP]
[INDENT]Jim blinked and found himself in the fresh air of the Southern Plateau. Blackjack was being escorted out of the trial, every member of the team still alive though some worse for wear than others. He could see the bruises marring Aurora’s face, a fresh scar on Lorcán, one leg of Calliope’s A.R. suit was completely gone, the exposed skin of the leg underneath plastered in burns no doubt from the hard-light that was already blistering over her knee as she limped towards a care station. Though Calliope was in better shape than Banjo who’d likely be walking with a limp for the rest of his life given the wound he had received through his left leg. Gil had fared worse than the others however and was being carried out on a stretcher. Wounds covered his body, his breathing laboured on account of the punctured lung. Where others could be treated in the field, Gil was immediately rushed to the infirmary. 

Leaning down, Jim rolled Tad’s stone-encased form over, checking for any signs of life. The chest was moving, slightly but the pulse was very faint as his body had gone into an almost hibernative state. Shrapnel and debris were lodged in his torso between the rock-like plates confirming Jim’s worst fears.

[color=#ffffff]“I need medics over here,”[/color] Jim yelled as a pair ran towards him. Suddenly Tad’s hand reached out, grabbing ahold of Jim’s arm.

[color=#ffffff]“Bla… Hyperi… K-kck!”[/color] He managed to spit out before beginning to choke as crimson bled freely from behind his teeth and pooled over his lips. Tad’s eyes began to roll towards the back of his head.

[color=#ffffff]“We’re losing him,”[/color] A medic yelled, [color=#ffffff]“I need transport immediately.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“I’ve got you, gringos,”[/color] Daytripper interrupted, placing his hands on the medic and Tad before teleporting away. Jim watched them disappear in front of him, in five years it was the second time he had to watch his protégé fight for his life because of Hyperion, whether directly or indirectly and frankly, he was done with it.

[color=#ffffff]“Jim, they’re in rough shape,”[/color] Miranda stated, moving towards Jim before being cut off by one of the techs from the control room. [color=#ffffff]“Amma attacked Tyler, Calliope believes her leg is missing, and Gil’s unconscious and in critical condition. Most of the rest have burns and lacerations, and that’s not even beginning to unpack the psychological damage. Haven in particular got off exceptionally lucky, her neural uplink was ripped off seconds after Michael detonated the bomb. A moment sooner and she’d be catatonic right now.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“I need y’all to take Friend and get to the hospital, the Foundation’s teleporter just left with Thaddeus, he’s not in a good state, Miranda.”[/color] Jim ordered softly, before leaning in close to Miranda’s ear, [color=#ffffff]“Thaddeus tried to warn me about something before he went unconscious, do you know if he was chasing any leads.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“He verified the Orcinus greeting, you don’t think a member of Blackjack is…?”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“I’d hate to, but at this point, it seems all too possible,”[/color] Jim murmured back before letting Miranda go, [color=#ffffff]“Y’all best hightail it, best thing for Thaddeus right now is to be surrounded by loved ones.”[/color]

Jim bit down on his cheek, kicking his jaw to the side as he surveyed the team. He had known most of these kids from the first day they stepped foot on Dundas Island. It was hard to imagine any of them would align themselves with Hyperion’s Children and betray everything this school stood for.

[color=#ffffff]“Sir, you need to see this.”[/color] A tech interrupted, handing him a tablet with footage from within the Trial playing on it. Jim felt his brown furrow as he watched Rory Tyler dawn the same garb that Hyperion himself wore. He knew Tyler, Tyler while a natural leader was not the type to want to harm anyone. There was context missing, but what it did present was an opportunity. 

[color=#ffffff]“Torres,”[/color] Jim called, approaching the woman and Hyperman who stood beside her clad in his long red coat. 

[color=#ffffff]“Can y’all spare a moment, need y’all for a little ride along.”[/color] He stated before showing them the tablet. 

[color=#ffffff]“I don’t think Tyler is guilty, I do think though we’ve been presented with an opportunity. Clearly, Michael wanted to recruit Tyler to his causes and I have reason to believe someone on Blackjack was loyal to that cause. We’re going to take Tyler on a little ride-along and explain to him what’s going on. There’s a pretty high chance he’ll cooperate and help us catch the true member of House Orcinus.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“That seems like an actual plan, Chancellor, not very cowboy of you.”[/color] Torres allowed the corner of her mouth to turn into a smile before her face resumed its neutral expression. [color=#ffffff]“Very well, Hank, if you'd please lead the way.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“As you wish,”[/color] Hyperman bowed slightly before the three approached Rory. 

[color=#ffffff]“Tyler, you look no worse for wear, was wondering if you could give us a hand.”[/color] Jim stated, looking between Rory and Haven, the former having already been seen by a healer who had taken care of his lacerations.

[color=#ffffff] “Sorry to pry you away from Miss Barnes, but I assure you she’s in good hands.”[/color] The surrounding company of Torres and Hyperman left little room for the request to be optional.

[color=#ffffff]“We’ll bring him right back,”[/color] Jim promised as the four climbed inside a nearby Manticore. Jim was the first to speak, turning around to Rory, before presenting the tablet.

[color=#ffffff]“Firstly, y’all aren’t in trouble, this isn’t an arrest or even an accusation. We want y’alls help,”[/color] Jim stated, [color=#ffffff]“What we currently know is that a splinter cell of Hyperion’s Children was operating on campus as a secret house. Blackjack was specifically targeted by this sect and in our investigation we confronted the alleged leader and several of his followers. Unfortunately, he chose death by his own hand rather than to be arrested.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Based on the footage from the simulation,”[/color] Torres continued, taking the tablet from Jim and turning it towards Rory, [color=#ffffff]“It would seem he was grooming you. Or attempting to. Your faculty representative unfortunately is in critical condition but according to Ms. Rivers was investigating the possibility of there being a member of Hyperion’s Children on Team Blackjack.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Tyler,”[/color] Jim paused for a second before starting again.

[color=#ffffff]“Rory,”[/color] He spoke again, this time addressing the student by his given name, [color=#ffffff]“We believe y’all have the rather unique opportunity to suss out this person.  I’m hoping you’d be willing to be our eyes and ears, with Thaddeus in the hospital, you’re going to be without a rep until we find someone available and no one knows Blackjack better than you.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Take some time,”[/color] Torres interjected, [color=#ffffff]“Don’t answer now, take some time, think it over but we ask that this stays between the people in this vehicle.”[/color]

Jim offered a weak smile.

[color=#ffffff]“Including Hyperman.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Hank is fine, Chancellor.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Including Hank,”[/color]

Climbing out of the Manticore, Jim opened the door for Rory, motioning for the younger man to follow him back to Haven. As they exited the vehicle, Torres turned the engine over, the Manticore purring to life as the Foundation’s representative and her colleague headed towards campus. Jim broke the silence as he walked with Rory.

[color=#ffffff]“Again, think it over, y’all can always choose just to be part of the investigation or just to be your team’s lead in the interim. Let me know.”[/color] Jim said, patting Rory on the back upon delivering the boy back to Haven. 

Looking around the various students being treated for their injuries, Jim gave his head a shake. It wasn’t the tragedy of five years ago, but it was tragic nonetheless. These kids were supposed to be in the best year of their life and so far it had started with them being jerked around by their degrees being pulled, and now tortured by an enemy they didn’t know they had.

The semester had scarcely begun, and it had already been a year.[/INDENT]
[COLOR=dimgray][SUP][sub]__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR]

[INDENT]The sliding door of Torres’ balcony opened as a man entered silently, He walked into the living room where Torres sat reclined in a large chair, a satin robe draped over her figure while she aimlessly swirled a glass of red wine held haphazardly in her hand. 

Without a word, the man hung his jacket, exposing a well-tailored three-piece suit underneath before he approached the bar, picking up a decanter and pouring himself a neat Scotch. He took a sip of the drink, not a drop touching the neatly trimmed beard that accented his chiselled jawline. He remained expressionless while finishing his drink before Torres finally acknowledged her guest.

[color=#ffffff]“Miguel, [i]please [/i]help yourself.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]"I assume you brought me here to ensure the experiments don't start again."[/color] The Fist replied rhetorically before topping up his drink and taking a seat across from the woman. Torres in turn nodded solemnly before also shaking her head.

[color=#ffffff]"I did,"[/color] She answered. Hesitation hovered on her lips as Miguel’s keen eyes studied her with an intensity that was so familiar but yet escaped her at that moment. Finally, her lips parted, releasing the words she was so reluctant to speak.

[color=#ffffff]"But I fear we're much too late.”[/color][/INDENT][/INDENT][/COLOR]