13 Opposition (1/2)
AFTER A FEW HOURS OF bathing, changing, cuddling and kissing, Raven and I finally step out of our bedroom and head to the meeting room. We walk hand in hand and we sure earn wary glances from some of our ”concerned allies” but I don't mind as long as Raven doesn't and by the way he holds his chin up tells me that he doesn't care.
The atmosphere was getting cloudier and cloudier as we get nearer to the room. Somehow, I can feel the aura taking me in its grasp and I can't ignore the strong pull that's making my feet walk closer and closer. I don't know why but by the time that we reach the door, I am sweating all over and I feel nauseatic. My heart is pounding inside my chest as Raven pushes the door open. We were greeted by worn-out faces, some look at us--or rather--look at me with horrified expressions, I feel uneasy under their gazes. Raven's hand tightens around mine as we step inside, he must've felt my uneasiness.
The Head is sitting--as usual--at the tabletop. Her hands are clasped together and she has this serious expression on her face that tells me something bad is about to happen. Raven and I took our seats and The Head resumes what she was saying, ”As I was saying, we are taking precautionary measures right now. Our initial plan was to have our 24 bests inside the city but we cannot take that large number inside so instead I am planning to just take the 10 of you inside including Ellie and Raven.” A loud sarcastic laugh echo around the room causing us to turn our head in that direction. Ila sat cross-legged near The Head with her head tilted slightly to add more to her dramatic interruption.
”I have some better ones in my group, why not take them in instead of these two? My mates are a lot more practised than them,” She spits the last word like it's something foul and dirty. She glances at me then to Raven. ”Besides, we don't know what they could do yet.” I catch a little fear in her voice and I agree with her, for once, with the latter part, they don't know what I could do. Only one person in this room knows what I hold inside of me. I steal a glance at Raven and caught him watching me. Probably thinking the same thing.
The Head nods once after Ila spoke. ”You're absolutely right and that's one of the main reasons why I chose them to come instead of our trained ones.” When Ila began to intervene again, she holds up one hand to silence her. ”I get your point but the ones outside are going to play a more vital role in this mission. The Government is being more rigorous this time, they are putting a lot more warriors than the normal count. They are putting at least a hundred or two in each gate. 10 at each Bell Tower, and they are even placing a lot of warriors in underground or secret passageways so we can't use them as our escape routes.” Murmurs ran across the room but only one voice booms out.
”But how the hell did that happen?” Ila exclaims. ”It's like they know that we are going to tackle their forces that day.” She runs an exasperated hand over her hair. Despite her annoyed expression, The Head remains calm and placid.
”We don't know if the news leaked out--which is very unlikely to happen--or they are just simply being attentive,” she said in a low voice.
”Or,” Ila's eyes dart around the room. ”Someone is spying for them.”
”We can't avoid that possibility but we can't also make an intuition.” She regards the room silently as if contemplating on whatever Ila had said. ”Now,--” she said, finally breaking the silence.--”Viola, I want your troops on the North Gate and North Tower, Ciara, South, Lilia, West, and Sheena East. Lei, air. Mica's and Milo's will be staying here, informing us. Mice's and Nikki's will be surrounding the city. You know what to, I don't have to elaborate anymore. Raven and Ellie, I want the two of you to be the ones to free the exiles.” I have to bite my tongue so hard to keep myself from barking out when I heard their snickers.
”No,” I replied calmly. My voice echoed around the room, silencing their snickers. They look at me like I am being ridiculous for opposing The Head's idea but I know better than to listen. ”You shouldn't place different squads on different gates or towers nor should you place the same squad on the same place. You are making the operation vulnerable and reckless at the same time.” Gasps fill the air. It seems like she doesn't usually get an opposition but I held her stare equally.
”Oh,” I wince at the sound of Ila's voice. ”Care to tell us what you think?” I bite my lower lip to calm myself down.
”I think we should attack full-force.”
”You think we're not acting on full force?”
”No. I think you are overusing your powers. I am not saying that your strategy might not work but base from it, it seems like you're underestimating your opponent. The warriors intake medicine. This certain medicine is what makes them powerful. It makes their vision clearer at night and sharper during day time, they can feel your presence even though you stand 50 meters away from them, their brain works faster than combining all of you, and that's make them dangerous. One look at you and one shot at your abilities and they will instantly know your weakness. And if your information is right, then they will come more prepared than you are, and if you want to go on with your plan, I assure you, you will be dead before you even reach passed the gates.” By the time, I finished talking I am short of breath like I've been running. I look around for their reaction. The Head is looking at me through narrowed eyes, Ila's scowling at me the whole time I've been speaking, Mica looks worried, Mice seems confused, others look interested while some look at me suspiciously. I can feel Rave's eye digging at the side of my head and I swallow the lump in my throat as the silence stretch and stretch into almost forever.
”Where did you get this kind of information?” The Head's cold reply cut through my gut but I chose to stay intact.
”That is not for you to know.” I retort in an equal cold tone. Her eyes turn into small slits as she regards me silently. Then she throws her head back, one fist covering her mouth, her shoulders shaking as she laughs. Yes, she's effing laughing. She continues to laugh while I stare at her, dumbfounded. I look at the others' expression but they seemed just as surprised as I was.
”Attagirl,” she said as she slows her own laugh. ”I like it! Now I am more interested at what's about to come out of that clever mouth. Tell me, what is your plan?” This woman's mood is changing like mad, one moment she was laughing then one second she was dead serious again. I cleared my throat.
”You were planning to do this during night time but just like I said earlier neither night time or day time is the best time to do this so I suggest we act mid-day. The warriors have their energy full during the day and they will replenish it during the night. They aren't allowed to take another one if the serum in their body is not fully gone yet. It will mess up their system and they will go mad. The serum will slowly makes it way into their brain then they will start losing control until the serum is riding their body completely so attacking them during mid-day with the serum wearing out of their body will be the best decision. They will be force to take another one so that they can fight us. I am not saying that making them lose their minds will be the best way so we still have to stay cautious. We have to fight while they are losing their control and not after because that will be putting us in a more risky position.”
”And what about the people around the city? It's mid-day, won't they be busy to get ready for the Grand Ball? Although they are citizens of the city we cannot risk their lives either.” A soft voice speaks up. I glance at Mice, she still won't look at me though and guilt is slowly eating me.
I try to keep my voice calm, ” Yes, you're right, they will be busy but I can only say that they will busy preparing inside their homes. The citizens of the city are rich enough to have their own designers coming to their houses.”
”Then what about your idea regarding the placement of our troops?” The Head asked.
”Okay, so, do you have someone who cannot only make a person invisible but she can make the sounds, footprints and smell go unnoticed too?” A trembling hand shot through the air.
”I...I...I am practising for it. I can only make the smell go, I am working for the sounds right now.” She stammered.
”Uhm...okay. But that's not enough. Uhm, have you done it with another person?” She shakes her head, not quite looking directly at me. I blew out a sigh. ”I don't know what each of you can do so I don't know what troops to place where. Can you show me your abilities? Each of you?” They turn their heads toward--of course--The Director, seemingly waiting for her approval. She nods then they begin introducing themselves and their powers to me, informing me every detail I need to know about their ability including their weaknesses and strengths.
VIOLA - The Right Arm. Can move an object within a hundred-meter radius and can also make a person her puppet.
MICA - Vision and strategist. She can know the ability a person has and her weakness in an instant.
MICE - The Soothsayer. She can manipulate time and can tell the future.
CIARA - The Wrecker. She can summon catastrophic events.
LILIA - The Green Panther. Can call upon nature.
NIKKI - The Observer. Can turn a whole battalion invisible.
AIDA - The Magician. Can remember everything in just one glance and can make an illusion.