The Olympians: The Fall of Kin

The Bond Between Brothers

The next day

"So, everyone is here, plus that Bartholomew Black guy." Clarion said. He stood in front of the entirety of the team, all of which sat on the ground, eating old chips that were found in town by Apollo.

"Everyone except Juzou and Liam." Tempest said.

"Yes...sadly, after the battle in Seattle, I lost contact with Liam. Juzou disappeared in the field. Haven't seen him since. Can't contact him either. And, as worried as I am about them..." He didn't want to say what needed to be said. Clarion cared too much about them. About the team he'd spent the better part of a decade building. The family he had built. Even if he did rule by fear. 

"They're not the highest priority. You can say it." Tempest said. "Everyone knows that."

Clarion sighed as he lit up a cigarette. "You're right. So, I guess let's move on. Our newest—" all eyes moved to Bartholomew Black. "—acquaintance has made us aware that Kyn's brother, the mastermind behind the attack on Washington and Seattle, has acquired the final piece of some artifact. A weapon that is supposedly capable of pushing Adastros past Dystopian Level. Obviously, if that happens, we're not likely to win."

Athena continued, standing beside him. "On top of that, the intel we were able to obtain before our access to intelligence servers was cut has made us acutely aware that Adastros is planning something for the UN conference, which is only a few days away. Whatever it is, it can't be good. Also, this girl," Athena pulled out her phone and showed a picture of a short redheaded girl with bright neon green eyes. "Delilah Jones, daughter of the infamous bank robber that was better known as Neon, mysteriously went missing several days ago. Reports say that just before her disappearance, she was visited by a man who bears a striking resemblance to Kyn. Accompanying him was Kirin Carnacious. We're not sure what he has planned for her, but we can only surmise that it's related in some way."

Tempest grimaced.

"It's not your fault." Thane whispered to her, rubbing her arm reassuringly.

"All that, and more." Spade said. He stood and moved to stand in front of the large group. "This day proves something. The assignment that I took to observe Roman Titanus' activity—an op that lasted for nearly three years—bore fruit. He was suspected of all sorts of criminal activity, illegal weapons trade, Godkin Slavery, you name it. But the coup dé grace was what I'd discovered on my last day, before I'd been called back: The reason he's lived over 200 years longer than most humans, is due to something he's referred to as Project Titan—yet another of his illegal activities: Illegal Titan DNA experimentation. Today, he was involved in the attack. That leads us to believe that everything he's been working on is somehow tied to—" Spade's eyes drifted to Kyn. For a moment, they bore nothing but hatred, but it soon passed to his usual calm. "Kyn's brother. It seems that this plan, whatever it is...has been in play for a very long time."

"So, what are we doing about the UN meeting? It's happening in less than a week, all the way on the other side of the country. We could always take our plane, but I doubt we'd be inconspicuous." Artemis said, chewing on stale graham crackers.

"What can we do? With her slowing us down, we might not get far any other way." Thane gestured to the prisoner, Curie's estranged sister.

"Should be more than one. I hope he's dead." Athena whispered to herself.

"Thane has a valid point." Kyn said. "If we take buses, we're guaranteed to draw attention. If we take cars, we'd be separated. Weak with the injured. Not to mention, I doubt we'd get there on time. There are bound to be military checkpoints everywhere. Sure, we could handle them, but it would slow us down."