Requiem of the Broken

Chapter 44: A Bargain Upheld

"We'll be safe here right?" asked Mrs. Kato, after she and her family had been escorted to a safe house.

"Yes, Zeus won't find you here. This same system kept people safe during the war. Despite attempts to track those people down, they never got close. Until Zeus is apprehended, you won't be able to go out though. We'll have people drop off food and supplies regularly, and if you need anything, feel free to give them a list." Said Hawks, standing by the door as the family explored the safe house.

"Thank you again for rescuing us." Said Mr. Kato, walking up to Hawks and giving him a deep bow.

"It's all part of the job, we're just happy to know that all you are safe." Said Hawks, smiling and bowing back.

"I'll leave you to get settled, but there should be another visitor in the next few minutes. And don't forget to give that number a ring if you need anything or have any questions." Hawks said, opening the door and heading out.

As Hawks stepped out of the apartment, he made his down the hallway, passing by a dozen cameras by the time he got to the guard's station. The twin guards looked over at him as he approached.

"How'd it go?" said the first guard.

"Bout as well as one could expect. They're still a bit shaken up but hopefully, after a few days, they'll be able to relax some. Anything I should know before I head out?" he asked, signing his name in the logbook.

"Nothing new. Gochō Ahmya should be here any minute, the psychiatrist should show up sometime this evening, and the supplies later tonight." said the second.

"In that case, I'll be leaving. Later." He said, walking towards the door that would take him to the exit tunnel.

It took him a couple of minutes to traverse the length of the tunnel but eventually, he got to the exit. He blinked when he opened the door as the sun shone directly into his face, but quickly put on his goggles. He flew up into the sky and looked back.

The abandoned prison turned into an apartment/safe house for civilians needing protection looked absolutely decrepit on the outside. Vines grew on the outside and signs saying CONDEMNED in big letters were hanging on every door. The exit tunnel lead away from the prison underground and led to a nearby power plant. This way, they could disguise any travel to it as inspections or normal supply deliveries. Given Zeus had once tried to blow up a power plant during the war, the government had mandated an increase in inspections nationwide. They also allocated funds to renovate and retrofit the nation's power plants to be more resistant to tampering by people with quirks.  As Hawks flew away from the power plant, he saw a normal delivery truck pulling into the plant.

"Probably that QSU operative Ahmya." he thought to himself as he continued his path back towards New Tartarus. He'd need to be present for the meeting between Nezu and Fenrir now that they'd secured his family's safety.

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It was fortunate he could fly, otherwise, he'd have gotten held up in traffic. As he looked down at the road below him he could see a crash had caused a substantial pileup. He shook his head as he started his descent. It took another ten minutes but he eventually landed next to the vehicle that Nezu and a few others were waiting next to by the shoreline.

"Ah, you've arrived. I trust Mrs. Kato and her family arrived without incident?" Asked Nezu.

"No problem at all, her sister should have arrived by now as well and should be helping out."

"Excellent. Now then, I believe we can go." Said Nezu, hoping down from the hood of the car and hopping inside.

The others followed suit and then they just had to wait while Nezu gave the proper access codes to the prison. After that, they waited a minute while the codes were verified. Then two poles extended up out of the ground, red lights flashing.