Taking a seat in the last of the three rows of seats that made a semicircle around a table positioned at the front of the room. Scanning the room, Elysia could tell that there would be about ten teams of four being sent out to the Capital. Most, if not all were higher ranking than both Elysia and her two friends. “It looks like we’re swimming with the big fish now.” She said with a slight whistle as she wondered if there would be a fourth person added to trio to complete their team since most teams that were formed during the advanced training course stuck together throughout the years with substitutes added when needed. 

“I know what you mean.” Carter said with a slight smirk, his excitement over the sudden promotion obvious as he watched as a small team of people at the front of the room prepare the 3-D hologram for their presentation. “I wonder if our team is going to be sent out or are we here as substitutes?” Carter said, equally excited with either choice. 

“With something this important that they’re bringing in all these high ranking teams, granted we’re a bit short due to war and with teams being deployed elsewhere, I’d say we’re going to be used as substitutes especially since we’re down one man.” Emma said with more self-control than Carter, if not a little down after speaking about having one less member on their team. 

“That’s true.” Elysia said with a nod as she glanced towards her right hand. Although it had already been five months since the mission at faction four happened, the events that took place felt like they occurred much earlier. Many difficulties and troubles came due to that day and many lives were lost. However the hardest loss for the team was losing the fourth member of their team in battle.Oldest from the group, he was from the same graduation year from the academy as Emma, the two were close friends even before the formation of their team, which troubled her comrade even more over the loss than either Carter or Elysia.

Although it was a close call, Elysia was lucky only to come out with an injury. With her right hand and arm severely injured to the point that it was beyond being of use, she was glad of the medical and scientifically advancement those on her planet made which allowed her to have her arm and hand reconstructed, along with a few extra perks usually seen in the enhancements giving to children after graduating the academy. Along with the advancements she received as a child with her eyes, the two worked out quite well together on the field.

“It appears that we are all here so let us begin.” A voice said from the front of the room, breaking the silence between the trio after mentioning the fourth member of their team. “I thank you all for being able to arrive here hastily after the sudden summon.” A man nearing the age of retirement said as he looked around the room. “However due to the times we are in nowadays, we must be prepared for haste as we must be prepared for whatever the destruction the Resistance will try and bring to our society.” A small cheer followed from the crowd which was quickly silenced as the older man raised his one of hand, motioning for silence. “It is not the time for celebration. We are facing another grave situation as we did with the fall of the fourth faction. The Capital is under attack and from what we can see, they are quickly making their way to the Council. We have tried to make contact with the council but all communications have been shut down throughout the Capital and the guards stationed there won’t last forever under attack. That is why we are sending you guys out.” Pausing a second as he waited for the hologram to appear with a map of the building that housed the Council as well as surrounding streets, which was followed by a chart showing up beside the map with a list of ten team leaders with a color dot representing each team. 

“Hey look, you made it as a team leader Carter.” Elysia said looking towards the other two, knowing that it meant that the three would stick together. In the column followed by the turquoise dot, another unfamiliar name appeared showing the fourth member of their team. “Do you guys have any idea of who he is?” She asked which both replied with the same confusion as she had.

Before they could figure out who the fourth member of their team would be, hologram changed to enlarge the map but this time with ten dots spread within the map. After about five minutes of the man briefing them on their mission and looking at the man that showed them visually what they would do, everyone was ready. Elysia and the rest of her team wouldn’t have a huge role in the mission with those with a higher rank going to the Council room. However it wouldn’t be without danger as their team would be working on the first floor escorting any civilians as well as fighting the Resistance that would be on that floor or any that would try to escape from the upper floors where the Council and other important officials would be. 

As the trio waited as the rest of the teams started to file out of the room, a man that appeared to be a few years older than Emma approached the team. “Team turquoise I’m guessing?” The man said asking the three of them. “I’m Dex and I’m guessing you’re Carter.” The man said looking at the team leader.

“Yes.” Carter said with a nod, his goofy, jokester side of his personality gone now that a mission was a hand. “Let’s get acquainted with each other as we go. The sooner we get suited up, the sooner we can head out and finish this thing.”

[center]~.~[/center]

It didn’t take long before her and her team was ready and headed towards the launch site, a place that in the past that connected all the factions and the Capitol together for quick travel. However travel for civilians had discontinued at the beginning of the war causing them to take other less favored options. It was a highly monitored way of travel due to the fact of it being an easy way of travel if the Resistance tried to use it. Less than a minute later, her and her team arrived at the Capital blocks away from the Council. 

“Alright, let’s move to our position.” Carter said leading the way. Emma took the rear as usual and due to her enhancement, Elysia stayed to the right as Dex stood on the opposite side. A grim silence followed the group as they saw all the destruction of the once beautiful Capital now destroyed by the Resistance. “Hey, whatever happens makes sure that you keep yourself focused.” Carter said glancing towards Elysia, knowing that danger her grandfather was in could be problematic. 

“I’m not one of your students Carter, I got this.” Elysia said with a slight snort of disapproval. She knew that he meant well but she knew quite well that her objectives came first before pointlessly getting her emotions wrapped up in the situation. There were bigger issues at hand, knowing quite well that the Council would be handled appropriately. If she was lucky, she might even have the chance to find Phil, the man that murdered her parents, or better yet she might even find the unnamed ringleader among the Poets that freed Phil twenty years ago. 

Entering from one of the back entryways, the area was surprisingly clear. Off in the distance, they could hear a battle raging between the Resistance and the guards already there but seconds later the sound of the battle changed as teams started to infiltrate the building. With her gun her left hand set to stun, Elysia readied herself for any oncoming attack. As they turned the corner, they could see a small group of the Resistance, possibly guarding the hallway. Specialized in short ranged attacks and equipped with an electrical charged baton and enhancement to his skin protecting him from pulse guns, Carter rushed towards the small group as Elysia and Dex covered him at a distance as they slowly made their way towards the group. 

“Guys, we got company.” Emma said as she readied herself for an oncoming attack.

“Go help her, I’ll cover Carter.” Elysia said in which the man responded with a nod before heading back to aid Emma. Continuing forwards, Elysia could see that Carter had made it to the group as she moved to taking care of any outlying members. While Carter was specialized in close combat and Emma as the tech genius, Elysia was specialized as a marksman and with her ocular enhancement allowing her to hone in on her targets, she was quite accurate. 

It didn’t take long before the hallway cleared up and the team came in front of a locked door, impenetrable by any force for security measures. However, this time it turned out to be counterproductive. 

“I can see if I can open that.” Emma said pulling out a tool and started to work on the keypad. As she did so, the others watched the hallway for any oncoming attack when suddenly a loud crash was heard that shook the building momentarily, causing Elysia to stumble forwards. 

Yells could be heard coming from the other part of the building which was followed by a lot of traffic coming through her earpiece as Elysia listened to the urgent calls coming from other teams. The Resistance were gaining the upper hand. Reinforcements were being called but it would take time before help could come. 

“Should we help them out?” Dex asked looking towards Carter.

“No, we have to follow our objective.” Carter said, obviously unhappy about the decision. 

With a nod, Elysia kept her position as she waited for Emma to finish her work as she listened to her earpiece for any progress in the rest of the team. The chatter was suddenly cut short and Elysia looked towards the others with a raised eyebrow wondering if they had the same trouble as well. 

“Everything seems to be working but it appears that no one is transmitting anything.” Emma said looking towards Carter. “Try and say something.” Although Carter was talking into his mic, nothing could he heard in anyone’s earpiece. “I think someone muted everything.” Emma said with confusion as she wondered who would stop all transmission. 

“You are running out of options…” A male voice said, breaking the silence. “We have taken out many of your men. It’s pointless even if your numbers are greater than ours when source of power is greater…”

“That man, I think I know who that man is.” Elysia said with slight uncertainty as the man spoke. It has been many years since she heard the voice but the longer she heard it, the more positive it was the man whom she had been searching for. “No, I know that that is the man I think it is. I know who he is. We need to go there.” Elysia said looking towards the others.

“…You might think your military, this world’s system is stronger but our resolve is greater. Not only do a few from your Council was a just cause and has supported us in our endeavors…

“No, our orders are here Elysia.” Carter said taking a few steps towards Elysia.

“…even your everyday man has seen the troubles with the state of the world, something those who’ve fallen between the cracks have seen…”

“If we don’t do something soon, we won’t be a way to follow our orders. I’ve dealt with these people before. They’re dangerous.” Elysia said as she took a few steps down the hallway before turning towards the others. “The Poets are out again and this time I out to stop them.” Turning back around, Elysia started to run towards the closest stairs. From all the time she spent in the building due to her grandfather’s job, she knew the layout of the building very well.

“Elysia! Elysia get back here.” Carter yelled down the hallway. “Come on, we can’t let her go on her own.” Carter said before he and the other two ran after Elysia.

Running up the stairs two at a time, only slowing down as she reached each floor to listen if anyone was nearby before continuing upwards to the fifth floor, the council room where the Council met for meeting and where they juried major trials. Although the man didn’t give his location, she knew that would be where he would be. Below, she could hear her team start to climb the stairs as they tried to catch up to her but without waiting, Elysia made her way down the hallway as she switched her gun over from stun to kill.

“My my, you have grown since the last time I saw you.” A man said as Elysia opened the council room door. The room was empty besides the man, the same man that barged into this exact room twenty years ago during her parent’s trial. 

“Where are they?” Elysia asked as she raised her gun towards the man.

“Who are you looking for, the Council members or your grandfather? Or perhaps it’s the other poets that are more of an interest to you or maybe it’s the one who started this all, Phil.” The man said with a chuckle.

“Elysia!” Carter yelled from down the hall as he and the others started to approach the room.

“Yelling yelling, what a shame
Close the door to play the game”

With a slight smirk, the man watched as is couplet came to life and locked the door behind Elysia. “There, that should give us a little time to wrap things up and end this chapter between us before back up arrives for my escape.”

“You poets are all the same, nothing but trouble. However, it won’t last forever.” Elysia said. She was hoping for her team to back her up when she went up against the man but now she was alone. She only hoped she could stop the man before he could stop her with his poetry. 

“Yes, things are going to change between us, today to be exact.” The man said looking at Elysia, intrigued at what she said. “I’ve observed your work throughout the years and your hatred towards poets is quite noticeable. It’s been quite fun watching you grow after the loss of your parents and when everyone believed that the incident we caused was nothing more than an overactive imagination but do you know what is the most amusing thing? It’s your grandfather. We have quite a history, the two of us. Did he ever tell you of Skylar?”

“Skylar?” Elysia asked confused, a little surprised at the sudden turn of the conversation. 

“After all these years you would have thought I would have at least been mentioned.” With a slight snort, Skylar shook his head. “However, I should have known especially with him holding the position as Grand Councilman. Information leaking out about him being connected to me could be quite dangerous, don’t you agree Elysia” 

“What connection are you talking about?” Elysia asked although she already had a sinking feeling that she knew where he was leading off to. Was her grandfather involved with the Resistance? He didn’t seem like a man that would have traded sides but was there something more that she didn’t know about. “Has he been affiliated with the Resistance?”

“My my, is that all you got. I would have though you would have known your grandfather better than this.” Skylar said with a chuckle. “Since you don’t know should I tell you? Spoil the secret.”

“Listen I don’t know what you are inferring but this ends now. I’m not letting you get away this time. I’m not letting you cause any more trouble.” Elysia said with spite in her voice before pulling the trigger.

“M.I.S.S” Skylar said a chuckle as she spelt out the letters after the gun missed him. “You should really learn how poetry works if you are wanting to stop it Elysia.” He said inferring to his prior statement in how the beginning of each sentence started with a letter that created the word ‘miss’. “Your grandfather knew it quite well. So well in fact that he taught me how to use it.” 

“A poet? That’s impossible.” Elysia said with anger as she listened to her grandfather being accused as being a poet. It couldn’t be true, it seemed impossible for the man that she knew for all of her life to be a poet. It couldn’t be true; Skylar had to be lying to her for one reason or another. 

"Is it?" Skylar asked with a grin. "Too bad it's too late for you to find out the truth about your grandfather because our story ends here between the two of us. The time has come for me to take my leave and I can't have any loose thread this time around." Skylar said followed by a few lines of poetry.