Hydra Heart

Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter 34: Writing the Melody

November 2nd, 2076

Vesta came home to see Molly and Shay sitting in the same living room where she had met Tenra months ago. They both looked at her as she entered.

"Do you not have something to do besides wait for me?" Vesta asked.

"Well, we wanted to go do some exercises..." Shay said. "But, we aren't the most self-motivated people."

"I see," commented Vesta. Then, Florence walked in the room, interrupting them. He asked, "Is Violet in her office?"

"Yeah, you need Mom for something?" Vesta replied.

"I think the opposite is true. She will be needing us as soon as she gets the news." Florence seemed serious. Then again, he always did.

"I'll go get her," Vesta walked out to do just that, but stopped to knock at the door. From inside the room, she heard. "Alright, I will deliver the news." Violet came to the door.

Vesta leaned her head into the doorframe. "Hey, Mom, the Proctor was looking for you. Is something going on?"

"Yes, there is. Come with me." The two walked out and joined the others. Violet began. "Hirudinea has invaded the island of Redwood, and almost effortlessly retaken it. Our spies gather that already, in the few short hours they have been there, mining procedures have resumed, gathering resources for our old enemy. It seems that in spite of the gains we have made over the past few months, Hirudinea has not lost its appetite for conflict." Vesta looked at her feet, feeling shameful about her decision to involve Redwood.

"Florence-- sorry-- Mr. Proctor, would you tell us what you know?" Violet passed the attention of the room to him.

"Yes." He spoke to all of them, including Ozzy, who had just walked in. "Our spies knew quickly of the move they made. Hirudinea is operating out of a hovering, well defended aircraft called the Platform. When the invasion began, it was fully equipped with planes, and supported by a naval fleet storming the beaches. Now, much of the support has returned home, as the island has been fully locked down. The Platform itself remains. Though, Hirudinean media sources are broadcasting it. It has a magnetic base below, now established on Redwood soil, that keeps it levitating in the air."

"That sounds like a massive vulnerability," Vesta observed.

"Correct," Florence said. "All the more reason for us to be wary. Violet, my professional opinion is that this is bait. I don't know if it's meant for us, but that is what I think."

Violet scratched her head and sat down in a chair. "Florence, I agree with you. Just... We have to take it. Redwood is just off of Hirudinea's mainland, but it has always been an honorary part of Cremsillian, ever since it was under Alogan control. This is our place to intervene, and if we can take this Platform down... It might be worth the risk."

Florence nodded. Violet continued. "I have some calls to make. You four, go train your SOLE and bodies."

--

November 5th, 2076.

Shay was getting a lot of unwanted attention. Ever since she started carrying around Tenra's old rifle, people had recognized her as a Solis. If the attention at the funeral wasn't enough to drive Shay over the edge, then all the awkward conversations with Kit users certainly was.

Around two hundred were gathered in the undisclosed location for what would be the biggest operation in the history of the organization, and of Kit users. Most people brought personal tents, but Vesta and Molly had to set up the grand marquee where the main meeting, as well as much of the socializing, was taking place.