I'll be the Bad Guy

Chapter 23: It Was Never About Promises

"This is Monty Green. I'm calling from Mt. Weather. Do you read me? I repeat, do you read me?" Monty speaks into the intricate microphone connected to the advanced walls of computers and screens in the control room.

"Monty!" A voice exclaims over the intercom.

"Abby? Kane? Is that you?"

"Yes. We're here with Sinclair and Muir. Are you alright?"

"Yes. We're fine. Everyone is here."

"I'm here with Jasper and some mountain men."

"Oh. Ok." Abby says hesitantly.

"Hello." Abby says first.

"Hello Dr. Griffin. We are pleased to be introduced to you. My name is Dante Wallis and I'm the President of the people we house in this mountain."

"It's nice to meet you too."

"You know her name?" Kane asks.

"Yes, we do Marcus Kane. We know much about you. I have to say, I'm impressed with what you've done." Dante expresses.

It's silent on the other end of the line for a while.

"You have our people. What do you want in exchange for them back?" Kane negotiates coldly.

"We aren't here to negotiate your children." Dante laughs.

"They are our guests. And we'd like you all to become our guests too."

"What are you talking about?"

"You and your people donate blood to us and marry into our population, and over the generations we will make our return to the earth. You give blood: We get to go outside."

"I don't quite understand."

"You're aware of our radiation problem, correct?"

"Yes."

"Your blood would immunize us over time."

"We have an extraordinary complex. Right Monty?"

"Yeah. They have marble floors, Monet paintings, and cherry pie!" He exclaims.

"Come live with us. Leave those blood-thirsty savages. We have all we need to protect ourselves here."

"Will you think about it?" Dante concludes.

"Yes sir, you've given us much to consider."

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Back in the dorms, Jasper cranks the music up loudly and stands by the fans.

"What do we do now?"

"While the old man was talking, I was studying their technology."

"And?"

"First I'll loop the cameras, then give me 20 minutes in there and I can create a private line to Arkadia or any of the radios and we can tell them what's really happening."

"Damn you're good." Jasper sighs.

"I know." He says, nudging his best friend.

"We'll go tomorrow."

They exchange their odd high-five and disperse back to their beds.

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The sun sets on the horizon as slow, calm smoke comes into view.

Hidden in a small valley lies a rather large looking village. Homes are made of the rubble of an abandoned city mixed with other materials like wood and stone. A farm travels lengthily through the center of the village and a large bonfire gathers citizens in the heart of the establishment. The thousands of warriors set up their tents on the outskirts of the village, while very few make their way inside, possibly to their families or homes.