"It's wasn't your problem. It was a do or die situation, the latter happened, but they won't seen as anything other than heroes now. Thank you anyway. But never mind that for now, Let's talk business. " Christie said seriously taking another swig from the bottle and setting it down. She met Adries and Alan's eyes momentarily then turned back to face him.

Adries and Alan locked eyes before standing up, Alan taking his hard-drives with him. "You guys obviously have something to talk about, we'll just leave I guess," Adries said to them, not wanting to tempt fate by being in the same room as Christie and Jack for a 'conversation' that might just be about them. They quickly left the room.

Jack locked the door behind them.

"There now that I do not have to worry about interlopers, I have a question to ask. What would you say if, further down the line, I offered you Adries and Alan without a fight? All I ask in return is twenty minutes of uninterrupted air time on national television, and Alan's aunt's notes for those twenty minutes. I'm sure you could kill us all no problem, but I think you would like to avoid a fight just as much as I do. No point in lowering the survivor count of the city needlessly, correct?" Jack offered.

Ivan listened at the door. What he heard made him enraged. "Bastard!" He quietly seethed. "The fuck is he, a slave trader? Whatever, im making sure he never gets his hands on those two. Going down without a fight my ass. I'll give them the biggest fight they ever saw." He backed away from the door quietly and ran to where Alan and Adries are. He cooled down. He started to act normal. "Hey guys, how's it going?"

"Uhh...fine. Probably going to relax in the library before taking a nap," Adries replied, walking with Alan to the library. "Long night everyone had, you know?"

"I still don't know how we're still awake," Alan said, opening the door to the library and letting everyone in, "I'm assuming it was all that adrenaline, but still. We all went through a lot." He sat down at one of the desks, placing his stuff under his chair.

"My, my. Who's criticizing who's actions now? I kid. But correct, believe it or not, I actually believing those who can be saved and most of you fall under that category. Not to mention that I really don't feel up for a free-for-all slaughterfest considering the morning i've had. Adries and Alan are key for my situation, you'd be considered an ally for helping me and I would happily give you uninterrupted air time alongside a copy of Julia Bixler's notes. I need a copy for record. But if i might ask...Why the sudden change in heart? No less than 10 hours ago you were hiding together under ridiculous guises, covering each other's asses to speak." Christie asked, a mild feeling of surprise but satisfaction from this offer.

Lisa had made her way upstairs to catch up with the group after she had finished her pasta and did some cleanup. She caught Christie and Jack inside the chem room.
What's going on...?
She carried on up the stairs looking for any sign of Adries and Alan.

"I have realised that they were not the people that I believed them to be. I can handle them withholding information from me, it has happened to me before and will happen again. What I cannot and will not accept is them trying to cover their own asses at the risk of the team. Alan is by far the worse of the two, he has told me to stop seeking the truth and told me that I must 'Learn my place', in as many words. I do not appreciate myself and my team being treated as if we are expendable tools and that we are supposed to grin and bear it. They are becoming an increasing threat and it is something I must correct before someone dies because of it.

I was a fool to think they were ever on my side, but never again. I know you are not on my side in this, but if I am to make a deal with the devil, I would rather make a deal with the devil that at least is willing to admit it is a demon. They hide the truth and endanger us all under the rouse of protecting us. I will have no more of that. They tell me nothing of the situation at hand and expect me to come up with a plan to deal with whatever monstrosity comes next. They know more than they say, and I only care about getting the truth out and the safety of my team, and they will get us killed because one day I won't have a plan. Then someone I know will die again, and I will be having none of it." Jack said.

Christie laughed a little at that,
"Well, what would be the point in lying? Everyone is happy right? I get two of my key targets finished without hesitation, You manage to keep control over your group alongside keeping them safe, not to mention getting whatever you want in exchange. If you want my opinion- which I'm fairly sure you don't- you've done a hell of a job. Just from seeing the events of the past night, it's obvious you'd go through hell or high water to protect this group, you're quick to come up with plans which led to few casualties. My hat goes off to you. And what you're doing now shows that you've got the right frame of mind. Especially considering Alan. I was told to retrieve him at ultimate necessity but was told to proceed with haste considering what his actions would be..."

"I would ask what those actions are, but I'm sure it would be nothing good. I only wish for the opportunity to tell the public what has happened here, nothing more and nothing less. Adries and Alan would destroy all of it and doom us all to repeat the mistakes of the past. They would hide what I sorely need to know. With six corpses now on my conscious, the standby of protecting us is an obvious lie. I held on to hope that they might come to see my side of things, but I understand that they won't. I will need to tell my team of this, and I would like to know that at least one person will have my back should things go south. I am sure they will, but I will pray they don't. Shall we?" Jack asked as he got up and unlocked the door.

Christie gave a nod, standing and leaving the wine behind.
"I warn you though, this is the kind of situation where strong bonds are formed unintentionally. It's not going to be an easy choice for some. Things could turn messy, things could go quietly, but I will also bring out my taser if things get too out of hand. I hope that's understood?" She asked before continuing,
"I'd also like to clear up one thing. Those men died. There was nothing we could've done in that situation. We gave them retribution in my eyes by killing whatever killed them. I gave them the 21 salute through it's body in respect. Do not let this eat away at your conscience. It wasn't your fault."

"Those words are easier said then lived by Christie. I can tell myself it wasn't my fault, I can do that until the day I die. I will always feel responsibility lays on my shoulders because it was my plan that lead to their deaths, and I will always carry that with me. It is just who I am." Jack sighed as he walked out of the room.

"I don't care if you have your taser out, or if your pistol leaves its holster. I would only hope that it does not come to that, and that no one need be shot. If it comes down to it though, I will have my finger on the trigger and be ready to do what needs to be done for humanity. Even if it means I will never be able to sleep again, my life is second to my team's and the world. I would prefer to do this one by one, starting with your sister. She will understand best of all of them what I am attempting to do and how much I dislike having to do so." Jack said as he walked out of the room with Christie and started to look for Lisa.

((Sorry I keep asking this, but can someone please summerize what happened, when I left you guys were still battling the flame monster))

Christie had given a shrug to that.
"I passed her downstairs last time i saw her, she was going down for dinner, she could've taken her dinner to the nurse's room. To be honest I'm surprised by that she'd be understanding, considering how she seems close to the siblings. Who knows? She might've grown up from when we last spoke, but I'm not expecting much from her."

Lisa had started searching upstairs but thought they might've gone downstairs instead of upstairs. She needed to get Alan's painkillers before he slept anyway, she started down the back staircase to the nurse's room where she stored them.

((Alright summary numero tres:

We fought the flame monster and won. At the cost of six helicopter pilots, two of Alan's fingers among other injuries, and Christie has a third degree burn on her leg apparently.We came back to the school where Jack made dinner and snuck out to bury Adries' and Alan's father in a plot in the back of the school and they do not know where. Jack and Adries with Alan got into another argument and Jack now sees the both of them as a threat because of their continuous lies and sneaking around. Adries and Alan are planning on sneaking out to find their uncle sometime the next day. Right now though Jack has reluctantly allied himself with Christie and is going to force the school to pick a side.

Friendships will be broken, allegiances will be changed, and everyone will be forced into armed camps or be trusted by no one.

How was that?))

"I guess we should check the nurse's room first then, if nothing else she will return there sooner or later. On your point of her allegiance, she knows I don't do anything without reason. If nothing else she will hear me out on my side of the story. That's all I really ask of them, if the majority of the group sides with them though. I will be unable to get you Alan and Adries, and I'm sure you will cancel our deal. I would not blame you for it, as it is only business. So let us all hope people will see things through my eyes for a moment." Jack said as he walked to the nurse's room.

"Well I guess we will wait if she isn't here." Jack walked into the room and saw nothing so he sat in a chair and simply waited.

(Perfect, thanks)

Charles woke up, he looked around in a daze, wondering what was happening and what had happened. He looked down and saw that his bottle of painpills was open and several pills were strewen about the floor

"Oh right" he thought

He walked around for a little bit untill he found a his group of friends

"Hey guy, whats up?" he asked.

"I'm afraid things remain strictly business, If one side of the deal is unable to be fulfilled, I can't really follow through with what was promised. What do you think the chances are of this backfiring then?" Christie asked while looking through some of her sister's supplies.
Typical of her...

Lisa picked up some pace, heading into the nurse's room and gave out a startled gasp when she was Christie and Jack sitting there.
"Oh, Sorry. I wasn't expecting anyone. What's up Jack?"

Jack sat silently for a few seconds before beginning with a grim look on his face.

"I have made a deal with your sister where we will hand over Adries and Alan without a fight in return for twenty minutes of uninterrupted national airtime with a copy of Alan's aunt's notes. Before you say anything hear me out." Jack took out the printed conversation between Alan and his aunt he had kept with him the entire time.

"This is a transcript of a series of messages I found sent between Alan and his aunt. They talk about him getting his biotechnology degree and joining her in a project that will make the Bixlers famous. This is innocuous until you know that I have been pressuring unsuccessfully for Adries or Alan to tell me what has been happening in this city for some time now. I did not want to say anything because if they had decided to help us I did not want to foster mistrust among the group. They know what has happened in this city, and from the beginning they have covered it up. Adries told me it was to protect us all, but after six pilots died and Alan told me that 'at least he knows his place and what is going on here so I should just back the fuck off of finding the truth', I do not believe this any longer.

I now believe they are doing this for themselves or their family name while sacrificing all of humanity in exchange. I would hope that you and the others would trust in me as you have since you have joined the group. I am sorry I did not tell you sooner and that it has come to me making people choose sides, but it can wait no longer. I will need your answer now unfortunately." Jack finished, not even looking her in the eyes at this point. He hated what he was doing, but he knew it was necessary to make sure no one else felt the way he did today.

Lisa looked away for a moment, feeling numb at the words. She folded her arms keeping her eyes focused on blank wall while she considered the situation. Moments passed before she let out a sigh and turned to face Jack again, he didn't meet her eyes just yet, which made it somewhat easier for her to find the right words. Christie stared blankly at her younger sister, not giving any guidance.

"Jack, you know that i trust your actions and i know that all you want to do is help others. You're the like the working gear that turns all of us in the clockwork which has kept us alive this far. I normally follow your decisions without question because of this. But this isn't so simple...I can't in contribute to handing over Adries and Alan. I just can't. I want the truth as much as you do though, I'm sick of the lies. Please understand that I understand why you're doing this but I don't think i can help."
The words hurt to say, she reached into a hole behind the desk to get the pain medication and stuffed it into her pocket.

Jack looked up at her.

"I'm not asking you help us. I'm not even asking you to not treat them, I would never be so cruel. I only ask you not stand in the way when it comes time for the deed to be done. You needn't even be in the room when it happens, just please don't stop me. I'm asking for allegiance, not help." Jack said

"But that's the thing...I don't think i can join any alliance here...Don't ever think that I'm against what your doing...Look, Christie please leave for a moment." Lisa attempted to explain before turning to her sister.
"Hm. Something you need to say? Sister?"
"Just leave. Please?"
"No. This is part of a business deal and I don't need to leave."
"Christie will you leave the damn room?!"

"Christie, this is business, but it is also personal. I would appreciate it if you would leave. There will be other times for confrontational behavior, this is not one of them. If I need to I will tell you what pertains to business, this should be enough for you. You need not sit in on what is bound to be mostly personal affairs." Jack explained

Christie gave a mild scowl before leaving without saying a word.

Letting out another sigh, Lisa took a seat on the observation bed as the door closed behind her.
"Look. Are we sure there isn't any other way to work around this? The reason why I'm so resistant is because of her. She's going to kill them Jack. She's going to torture them and kill them. There is no way I'm allowing that to happen, I made a promise to Alan that she wouldn't get him or his sister. Your plan to get the information to the public doesn't show any flaws, but what if we trust her, hand them over and then she kills you in the broadcast? I just can't trust her."

"I don't trust her either, but I see no other options. I already have contingencies in place for the broadcast to make sure that she does not shoot me, though that involves multiple people at safe distances holding guns to her. If there is another option that does not include killing them and makes sure that Alan and Adries do not become a threat to the security of the group, then I would take it in a heartbeat. Adries and Alan though will stonewall me at any point they can to keep me from learning the truth, they would destroy my only chance to let the world know what has happened here today and not seem insane. I do not want to do this, but I honestly see no other option to get the truth out. Please if you know of some way to get them to help me, please tell me or do so yourself. I don't want to do this, but it seems I have to. If it comes down to them versus all of humanity, then I am going to choose humanity. In the long run, we are all insignificant, but we have a chance at making sure nobody else will feel the sadness and pain so many have here and now. I will not let this chance pass me by." Jack said, his voice becoming more obviously distressed as time went on.

Lisa felt a twang of pain looking down at the floor as she thought. She eventually met his eyes giving a small smile.
"I'm with you on the plan to help people generations from now. But right now, I'm all for finding an alternative to this. Have you spoken to them about the fact you have a deal ready between you and Christie? That it can be called away if they would help us out? I know this is utterly pathetic idea wise but well, that's all i have for now."

_{Got to get to bed, G'night.}

"I will see what I can do, but I doubt it will work. I will try your idea because it is better than working with her."

Jack walked out told Christie that Lisa was on their side and that everything was probably better left for another day, so he could figure out how to get the others on his side. Christie begrudgingly agreed and he went upstairs to find Alan and Adries. He had an idea of where they were after finishing his talk with Lisa.

Alan yawned as he got up from his chair and went over to one of the couches. He made himself comfortable before trying to sleep. It was a little hard due to the light, 'But I'll fall asleep eventually.'

Adries was tired but couldn't really fall asleep. 'I think I'll just take a nap on the way over there,' she thought, getting up and walking around the library to see if there was anything she'd like to read.

Jack made his way to the library and kept his finger on the trigger of the rifle. He walked in and immediately saw Adries and Alan. He walked up to them and didn't give them a single opportunity to speak.

"I am giving you one last opportunity to tell me what the fuck is going on here. You can thank my coming here to Lisa, so do not think I am doing this out of charity to you." He spat.

"I have a deal with Christie where if I turn you over, I get your aunt's notes and twenty minutes of uninterrupted airtime on national television. Lisa knows everything I do now, and if you refuse to give me more information I will make sure you are both captured. If you tell me I will break of said deal and deal with any consequences myself, but do not think I will let you destroy this chance for humanity. So make your decision now, and choose wisely." Jack pointed the ak directly at Adries face.

"I suggest you start talking." Jack spoke with uncontained hatred and venom.

"Holy shit! When did you get so fucking insane!?" Adries yelled, putting her hands in the air when she saw the AK pointed at her, "I mean, jesus!"

When Alan saw Jack walk in and point his gun at Adries he brought out his Desert Eagle and pointed it at Jack's head. "I advise you calm down and see that shooting us won't do any good. Especially since that's what we've been trying to avoid. Now put the gun down."

"Shit! Do you really trust someone like Christie Jack?" Adries asked nervously as she started to panic, "I thought you had a bit more sense!"

"I don't trust christie, but I would prefer to make a deal with a devil that admits what it is!" Jack shouted. His voice became deathly quiet.

"You have been lording your knowledge over me since I found out you knew. I was expected to have a plan and deal with the consequences of them. Tell me Alan, if I'm supposed to 'know my place' why the fuck am I stuck making the plans and feeling like shit when someone dies or gets injured because of them? When have either of you who have" Jack's tone became sarcastic "Oh so much more knowledge than puny little me, come up with a fucking plan. You treat us all as if we are some fucking servants who are to follow you and take orders with shit-eating grins, well no more! When we were attacked by that fire monster, who had a plan? When we were attacked by your cousin, who had a plan? I'm tired of trying to have a plan with no information on what I'm fighting, and now I will carry the deaths of six men and Alan's fucking injuries with me for the rest of my life.

You wanted to protect us, well you fucking failed okay, you fucking failed. I will probably never sleep or be truly calm again, thanks to the both of you. So if you want to try and tell me I'm worthless or weak, go ahead, but at least I've got a fucking conscience for the people I killed." His eyes shifted from Adries to Alan.

"You're a scientist, a seeker of truth, or have you forgotten that. You demand I give up what every scientist strives for, the truth. It isn't some goody two-shoes instinct, it is a want to learn and correct the mistakes of my peers as well as myself. Science has always been that way, we don't bury our mistakes, we expose them and learn from them so they won't be repeated. You aren't a scientist, not by a long shot. You claim to be smart, but stupidity is the repetition of the same mistake and expecting a different result. The last one was covered up as well, wasn't it? Look where we are now, and you would repeat the mistakes that led us here again? Tell me why I should listen to either of you right now!" Jack practically screamed the last sentence at them.

"But you're the one that is all hysterical," Alan replied back calmly. He slowly walked over to them, making sure to not make any sudden movements. "I'm not trying to have this whole debacle happen again. I'm simply trying to keep my family, or at least the ones I care about, alive. And you certainly aren't making it easy, constantly trying to get information from us...bringing Christie along.

You see. I guess myself and Adries were wrong when it comes to protecting you guys with this knowledge. I know for a fact that we are, however, trying to keep us safe by not letting anyone in on what the virus really is. And, even now, I still don't plan on telling you anything. That you'd have to force out me, just like the military plans on doing. I'd hope you wouldn't exterminate afterwards like they would, though.

I will say this. You won't have to deal with us much longer if you hand us of to Christie. However, we were planning on leaving anyways. The question is whether we'd leave as Christie's prisoners or it being simply another Bixler family road trip."

"Did you really think it would be that easy?" Jack said his finger tightening on the trigger.

"You think you can tell another lie and get out of this? I don't care what the government does to you at the moment, its more than either of you deserve. At least they'll kill you afterwords, what about those who you have killed or turned into those things? Whether you meant to or not, what will you do for them, how will you keep this from happening again? Remember now, I trust you less than someone I know would kill me in a heartbeat were it to suit their wants or needs, so make me trust you. I think you're going to head out, find your family and bury this as deep as you fucking well can. That solves nothing, and it will only cause it to happen somewhere else, whether it be a city or country it will happen again. You will be the cause of more death, more suffering, and for what? So you can save your family's fucking name?

I asked you if we were to bring Christie along, you said you didn't care. Adries was the only one with the ability to say no, so don't try and blame her coming on me. If one more person had said no I would have told her to fuck off, but you didn't did you? I promised you time and time again I would make no mention of your family, but you didn't trust me. I only wanted to know what virus this was. I wanted to know what changes were made to it to make it so virile. I only wanted technical information, but you were so mistrusting and blind you didn't see that. So I'm willing to kill for the good of humanity at this point, because I trust you now as little as you did me then.

As a direct result of your family's actions you caused the deaths of thousands if not millions. Among them,at least three students inside the school, numerous more students outside, six helicopter pilots for the US Army, numerous police and civilians, and most of all your own family members. So tell my, why is a family that commits mass genocide with no conscience or obvious remorse worth protecting? I'll do it, but I need a fucking reason. If you can't even give me a straight answer to that, you may as well shoot me." Jack shot back.

"No," Alan said simply yet firmly. "I still won't tell you anything. Just let it go man! Seriously, you know this stuff is not going to help you or anyone else in the least. In the end us with holding this info is only benefiting us. However it is the only thing keeping us alive. And, yeah I certainly care a hell of a lot more about myself and a few individuals. I'm selfish but I'm alright with that. Look out for number one and all that.

Jack, we're going to go because there is no point in this. How many times has this happened before? Numerous, and nothing ever happens. So, sorry you won't be getting your fifteen minutes of fame, but tough luck. Let's go Adries," Alan finished, putting his gun down and grabbing his stuff. Adries slowly inched away from Jack, following her brother's lead.

Jack hit Adries in the back of the head with the butt of the rifle, knocking her out and pointing the gun at the now disarmed Alan.

"You're right I won't shoot you, but I know someone who might." Jack picked up the desert eagle with his free hand and threw it far away.

"Now you can either walk, or I can knock your ass out and drag you it makes no difference to me." Jack said pointing his ak at Alan this time, knowing Adries would be out cold for at least a few hours. He moved his head towards the door out of the library. He knew Christie had followed him, so he already had a plan.

Alan looked infuriated. His raised his hands in the air as a sign of defeat, before lunging onto Jack. He grabbed a hold of Jack's AK and headbutted him in the nose, breaking it.

"Don't you ever do shit like that again!" Alan roared, tossing the gun aside and slugging Jack in fury with his now free fists. "How dare you! How dare you, you motherfucker!"