Back to the Future

Chapter 27

"I don't want to be the one that is drawing people away, not a part of the actual mission!" Sophie exclaimed, pacing back and forth in Gethen's office, "You're just like Forkle, trying to push me to the sidelines."

"Woah woah woah," Gethen said, putting his hand up, "Don't compare me to that man, and I have a reason for this. So, if you would take a seat and let me explain, then maybe you will be okay with this plan. If not, as I said before, you and I are partners and we can change the plan."

Sophie sighed and sat down in the chair on the other side of his desk, "Fine."

Gethen smiled slightly, "Okay. Sophie, you are the Lost Cities' number one villain right now and everyone expects you to do the first big thing, understand?" Sophie nodded, pretty sure she understood where he was going, "We need a chance to scout out some areas for our plans, so you are going to be the distraction. You will be in charge of planning everything, and when we actually make a move, trust me, you will be by my side in the operation. Now, is this all to your liking?"

Sophie rolled her eyes, "Yeah yeah, it's a pretty good plan, I'm still not super happy with this. But, let's get on with the planning, what's our story for my distraction?"

Gethen explained to her that her cover story was that she was going to try and sneak into Alluvaturre to get information. Of course they had to let her "secret" plan slip so everyone could get there and believe they were catching her.

When the day came, less than a week later, Sophie looked like a shadow of darkness. She wore a full black outfit, leggings, boots, and a dress. On top of it she wore her Neverseen cloak, the white of the eye symbol being the only way she wasn't able to completely disappear. She had already made it into the Alluvaturre location, but she hadn't made it completely inside. She didn't even want to make it inside, the point of this was to draw everyone to her, not hope that anything else could be gained from this.

After waiting for a while she heard some voices. She was hidden enough that when she peaked out there was still no way they would see her. She saw basically all her friends, Biana, Tam, Linh, Fitz, Dex, Marrella, Maruca, and a lot of bodyguards. She also saw Keefe who was standing farther away from the group and interestingly enough closer to her. She knew him well enough to know that he probably knew where she was.

"What's the best way to attack this base, and how would Sophie do it?" Fitz asked.

Wait, did they elect Fitz as team leader in her absence. What? He's barely qualified to lead some ants marching to get food.

"I mean she would probably use some sort of special ability, but I can't think of any power that she has that would help her," Linh said.

Fitz nodded, "Yeah, keep thinking about that, anyone else?" No one said anything, "Come on guys, no ideas?"

"Fitz, it's not that we don't have any ideas, it's just that we don't really feel right about this," Tam explained, "She was one of our closest friends and it's a little weird to be trying to hunt her down."

Fitz looked down, Sophie was pretty sure he was putting on an act of sadness because that day when she announced that she had joined the Neverseen he had looked ready to hunt her down and lock her up.

When Fitz didn't say anything Tam continued, "We also know that you two were pretty estranged because you had broken up and she chose Keefe," He gestured over to him and Keefe was silent, he definitely didn't want to get into a fight about this and she didn't know how many fights had probably already happened, "And we honestly don't think you should be leading this. We should have had a vote about who would be team leader instead of you just self-appointing yourself."

Fitz looked around at everyone who was nodding their heads, "Fine! Who do you want to be the leader? Keefe? He's Sophie's husband, he's not going to be able to get the job done!"

Keefe laughed, "It's not like anyone's actually going to beat her. You know what you all don't understand, Foster is extremely powerful and while she may not seem so I know that she's been holding back. We've been holding her back, and now she's been unleashed; I doubt there's anything anyone can do."

Fitz glared at him, "There you go, sticking up for your wife, what do you really know? I, for one, think she's brainwashed."

"She looked pretty in control in Eternalia when she revealed herself," Keefe countered.

Fitz threw his hands up in the air, "You know, you've only been dating, sorry married for a couple of weeks. Sophie and I dated for way longer I'm pretty sure I know her better, and she looked pretty mind-controlled to me,"

Sophie had to hold back a scoff, "Oh wow, I don't think I've ever heard anyone that wrong before. I'm pretty sure you think Sophie is being manipulated because she's acting independently and isn't hanging on to your every word as you try to control her. And maybe we've only dated for a short amount of time, but I've been with Sophie through everything, and maybe she was a little oblivious of the fact that I liked her, but I still know her better than anyone here. She's not brainwashed."

Fitz rolled his eyes, "So does this mean you want to be team leader?"

Keefe shook his head, "No, I may be fine going along with trying to catch her, but I love her too much to organize it. Maybe Bangs Boy should do it, and I wouldn't say that lightly."

Tam nodded slowly, "I'd be okay with that if everyone else would be."

Everyone else nodded and Tam started planning. After a couple of minutes they had decided they were going to station people at all the entrance and if Sophie showed up yell for help. Before Tam left he looked right at Sophie's hiding place and shadow-whispered in her ear, "I don't know why I'm not telling people where you are, but don't make me regret it."

I promise.

Tam had paired Keefe and Fitz up for whatever reason, Sophie was pretty sure Tam was a big fan of drama and just pretended he didn't care so people would feel free to tell him drama. Sophie slipped through the bushes to follow them, she, like Tam, knew something crazy was going to happen.

When they reached their post, they were standing in awkward silence. Keefe started drawing something in the sand with his feet.

After several minutes, Fitz spoke, "Maybe I should try and transmit to her."

"She can block you, it probably won't work."

"What? How did she learn that?" Fitz said, confused.

"Not sure, but at least I saved us 20 minutes of time by knowing that. You want to know how?" Keefe asked, smirking. Fitz tilted his head, as if to say continue, "You'll find, when it comes to Sophie, I can be very persuasive, if y'know what I mean," Keefe said, raising his eyebrows suggestively.

"Ew, bro I did not need to know that!" Fitz laughed, then paused, "I miss when this was natural,"

Keefe looked down, "I never meant to let a girl come between us. I tried, trust me. I did everything I could to resist my feelings. I was close too, but then I felt her heart's feelings after Lumenaria fell when she enhanced me. It reversed everything I worked so hard to forget."

Fitz sighed, "I shouldn't have been so possessive, Sophie isn't an object. I'm just so used to getting what I want, being a Vacker and everything, I hated having to fight for this. Deep down I always knew that you were the one for her, and there isn't a way to redeem myself. I have issues that are going to take me centuries to fix. Maybe someday we can laugh like friends again."

"Yeah, someday. Not today," Keefe affirmed, "You hurt Sophie a lot, and more that you terrified her. I love my wife more than I love our friendship. Don't blame her for that, blame yourself. You pushed our friendship to tatters by hating me when there was any hint that I liked Sophie whereas I only encouraged you. I may have tried to push down my feelings, but that doesn't mean that if I succeeded it would have been okay. If you can change, truly change, someday I might forgive you."

Keefe turned the other direction, pretending to be keeping watch, it was clear the conversation was over.

A/N: A little bit of Fitz redemption this chapter. I hate him as much as the next girl but I feel like he would at least try to apologize, albeit way to late. I hope everyone enjoyed!!! <333333