Chapter 67: A Night of Dying (1/2)

Chapter 67: A Night of Dying

A coh the emptied-out dance floor fro in the sidelines, in the shadoaiting for Bruce Vane's speech to end, but now, everyone had disappeared

Casi back to the hts tracked his movements

When he looked down, he saw not the faces of the villains he had served throughout the years, but his precious staff, all those he had taken from the streets, froiven the and purpose

They looked up at hiht in a criminal underworld where darkness snuffed out even the sret deeply that I did not inform all of you of this turn of events beforehand," said Casimir "It is not that I did not trust you all, my dear, e of this surprise to a miniht choice, Casimir?" said Hirondelle She unpinned mauve hair she usually kept up tied in a professional bun, letting long, curled locks spill down to her shoulders, fraht violet eyes "With this, you have made yourself an eneet - ill all be targets"

"I have always said I do not take risks For the first time in my life, I have taken one

I

I can understand why those I thought once as i thelimmer of reward" Casimir's emote face smiled "But I understand not all of you are here to fall into these pits of risk withall of you the option to terer be affiliated with the Red Circle and I shall see to it that your safety is guaranteed

You need not walk through the valley of the shadow of death with uarantee you will fear no evil"

"Casih the floor, projecting with powerful lungs that made it seem as if he was on mic

"Yes, dear Walters?" said Casi this decision with your own mind?" said Walters

"Shall I be honest? At first, no"

A h his staff

"But I have war opportunity to those who have none," said Casimir "It touched upon what started an the Red Circle first as amyself out from the streets And when I was uplifted, when I looked back to see how many like me were still mired in the streets, waist deep in the mud of despair, poverty, and hopelessness, I reached out and pulled estured towards all his servers "And nohen I look upon what I have accoold and jewels, but what shi+nes to htest is all of you, my dears My treasures My flock of street crows turned to beautiful songbirds

But there is a ti you that opportunity now

Disassociate yourselves frouarantee it will be safe later"

"So long as you made this choice yourself, I will stand by you," said Walters

"We are not caged birds, Casimir, we are free, freer than we ever have been," said Hirondelle "And we choose to fly by your side"

All the servers of the Red Circle bowed their heads to Casile tear trickled out from under Casimir's

Then, his voice immediately turned stern and serious Almost militaristic in its efficiency "And noe es froainst any potential retaliation

Walters, engage Defense Alert Level 5"

"Understood" Walters talked into a hand radio "Initiate DA5"

Alhts in the Red Circle turned red, not the festive, sultry shade of red that it shone during clubbing nights, but a bright, alar red that incited not a dance, but a call to action

The Red Circle shook as e wide forcefield

In immediate and trained fashi+on, the staff of the Red Circle began tocybernetically ie drones," said Walters "Secure the perimeter"

Several fleets of drones fro, the barrels of energy weapons and guns gleaets

"Strike squad, assist in securing the perimeter with aerial support"

"It will be lowed violet, changing her into pure purple energy and burning off her unifore, ht

In this for waves "Strike squad, with ht capable fors Sos or thrusters to themselves Others floated in the air with the power of their minds

Hirondelle flew out with the airborne strike squad

"Elite security squads 1 and 2, with me We protect the head The rest of you, snipers, infantry, supply chain - take your trained positions Any threats that approach, eliminate with extrean toa monstrous half man, half lizard creature with spined tail, curved white claws, and rocky green scales

He iant leap to Casimir's side, and within a ht formation around Casilowing energy weapons and combat suits Others crackled electricity from their hands, some fire, soe and stood with Casiht"

"I arateful," said Casimir with a short bow

"You have no powers," said Walters with a distorted, inhu yellow reptilian eyes "You'll slow us down"

"Punch me," said Valera

"What?" A skin flap blinked over Walters' eyes in confusion

"I said punch runted before throwing out a sudden, heavy and powerful punch at Valera

Valera stopped Walters' enormous fist in her pal, but Valera stood there unfazed and sht

"Need I say any more?" said Valera

Walters withdrew his punch and nodded his lizard head "No"

"Tored alert lights above and sun"