Brave New World: Black Lightning

Chapter 13

"What do you want?" Major Grey asked when Gambi and Lyla entered the room she was being held in.

"I'd be cautious if I were you major, considering the fact that if you weren't a criminal before, you are now." Lyla said.

"What are you talking about?" Major Grey asked.

"The ASA has been shut down and nearly all its members are under suspicion for criminal actions, though you are now definitely going to prison for launching an unwarranted attack on civilians, the use of illegally coercing a metahuman to do your dirty work and attacking the director of Argus. You'll be lucky to avoid a life sentence." Lyla said.

"I follow orders. It's as simple as that. Agent Odell is not to be questioned. I learned that the hard way." Grey said.

"Let's cut to the chase about why you're still alive, since there are several people in the next room that want you dead, myself included." Gambi said.

"I already know. You need me to get into the Pit." Grey said.

"Actually, we don't need you for that, or even to locate the Pit, since Mr. Gambi has already located it and gotten into your security, not to mention with the troops I have on the way now and the support of Black Lightning and his team, we have more than enough firepower to take the Pit and capture everyone in it. " Lyla said.

"Then why do you need me?" Major Grey asked.

"Because while we don't need you to get into the Pit, your knowledge as Odell's second in command would be useful to both us and you." Gambi said.

"And what exactly would I get out of it?" Grey asked.

"How about being put into a prison that isn't full of people you put in there, with Argus protective custody. You've made a lot of enemies, Major. Enemies that I'm sure would not hesitate to take you out once you no longer have the protection of an ASA badge and are on the same side of the bars as them." Lyla pointed out and Grey sighed and gritted her teeth, knowing that Lyla was right.

"That's a start, but I want something else in exchange too." Grey said.

"I'm surprised you're not asking for a pardon." Gambi said.

"I'm not that delusional Tailor. I know that I should consider myself lucky that Director Michaels is offering me this plea deal as well." Grey said.

"So what do you want?" Lyla asked.

"At my trial, I want you to testify for a reduced sentence, since I think that the way I'm cooperating now should at least warrant that." Grey said.

"I'd need more from you if you're going to request something like that." Lyla said.

"What about information on ASA strongholds and assets that are off book. Things that are only known to the highest level agents, like myself, know about. Is that good enough?" Grey asked as Gambi and Lyla looked at each other.

"If your intel is true, then yes. Who knows, I may even be willing to let you work off some of your time at Argus." Lyla said.

"I just have one more request about that." Grey said.

"What?" Lyla asked.

"Don't give Agent Odell that offer, since he'll likely have me killed for doing this." Grey said.

"Deal." Lyla said, but Gambi shook his head.

"There is one more thing I need to know before we agree to this." Gambi said.

"What?" Grey asked.

"Painkiller. Where is he?" Gambi asked and Grey laughed.

"If I knew that, don't you think I'd tell you Tailor? The whole reason Odell rehired you was because he thought you might be able to track down our rogue asset and before you ask, I don't know how he broke free of his programming, none of us do." Grey said.

"Well, you better hope we don't find him, since I'm sure that he'll be very eager to pay you a visit when we do." Gambi said as he and Lyla walked out of the room and into the rest of the Sanctum.

"You're really going to honor that deal you made with her?" Jen asked Lyla.

"Not all of it. If her intel comes through, I will testify for a shorter sentence and put her in protective Argus custody for her own sake, but that's all." Lyla said.

"She should count herself lucky we're offering her that much. She's not much better than Odell." Jefferson said.

"Agreed, but I had to offer her something to get her to play ball." Lyla said.

"So, when do we storm the Pit?" Anissa asked.

"Once you have a suit and our reinforcements arrive." Jefferson said.

"And how long will that be?" Jen asked.

"A few hours at most, since we can't keep breaching back and forth with large numbers, Cisco has other things to do." Lyla said.

"Well, hopefully that will give Grace some time to fully recover." Jefferson said, right as said woman woke up.

"That was uncanny." Jen said as Anissa rushed Grace's side.

"Grace, are you okay?" Anissa asked, wanting to cup her cheek in her hand, but wasn't sure if that gesture would be welcome.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Grace said groggily as her mind processed all the new information it had received while she was out.

"Do you know who I am?" Anissa asked.

"Of course I do. You're Anissa Pierce, the love of my life." Grace said and Anissa grinned as they kissed.

"So, what did I miss?" Grace asked as Anissa brought her up to speed.

"Sounds like it's a good thing that I now have control of my powers." Grace said and Anissa nodded, since she did seem a lot more in control now than she had before as the rest of the team smiled at their reunion, though Jen's heart was a bit pained, wondering if she'd ever get her reunion with Khalil.

"Okay anyways, let's get back to the matter at hand, since I want us to be ready to move on the ASA as soon as your troops get here Lyla." Jefferson said and they all nodded as they began to get to work.