The shoreline near the walled city was a bit different from the facility Alexandria was contained in for so long. There were no stairs leading up to the city, just a solid wall of rock and a small cove with jagged rocks ready to rip their ship to pieces. “There is no way we can get up to the city this way, captain. Should we find another way around or go back for now to make a plan?” Tyra asked a firm hand on the rudder so the ship didn’t drift into the cove by mistake.

Alexandria thought for a moment trying to get her bearings since coming up on the front side of the walled city would be a death sentence. She also didn’t want to go back to the island without a solid plan especially after hearing how shaken up Eve was about the whole idea. “We should find another way to get onto the island and keep a lookout for any scouts. If you see a guard, take the kill shot.”

Tyra was always happy to hear she could kill on sight. That meant Alexandria wasn’t playing around and she wanted this to happen no matter what the cost. Of course that didn’t mean losing anyone that was close to her. Tyra kept her rifle at the ready as she steered the ship to follow the edge of the island trying to find a way to get onto the shore.

A smooth way to land was looking to be impossible as they started to sail along the edge of the island. Alexandria was studying every inch of the island just to see if there was even a small spot even a longboat could get to. They had reached the halfway point and were about to turn around when Alexandria spotted a small cave that went into the side of the island. “Tyra take us as close to that cave opening as you can.”

She nodded, moving the rudder and pointing the ship at the opening. It wasn’t the largest opening but it was big enough that a longboat or two could get through. Of course they needed to figure out what was in there and where it might lead too. Tyra picked up her rifle, securing the rudder in place so they didn’t drift. She sighted the cave opening with her scope and peered into the darkness.

Alexandria waited patiently for Tyra to get something good. V was perched on Alexandria’s shoulder pacing back and forth. She was glad that V wasn’t making noise since it always annoyed her if V was too loud. The moments were starting to seem like days or weeks. There wasn’t much shore left to explore that wouldn’t leave them open and exposed trying to get onto the island.

Tyra breathed deep, lowering her rifle and turning to Alexandria. “I have good news and bad news. The good news is the cave does lead to the surface of the island. The bad news is it is a water canal so there are bars at the other end. It would also bring us right underneath the walled city. That would mean only a small group could go, which as you know is a risk.” Tyra wished she had better news but there was nothing more to say at the moment.

A silence fell on the deck of the ship. Alexandria knew that if she could only bring a few with her through that opening it would have to be Isa and Lyric. Valentina would be more useful on the outside. Of course slowing time for a whole city was a huge task. She let out an exasperated sigh. “Well if we do this a distraction would be paramount. That would mean some of the fighters might be wounded or even killed waiting for the cave team to gain entrance and open the front gates. You would also need to find a good sniping point to back everyone up.”

There had to be a way to go about this without anyone having to get hurt or even killed. Tyra knew there was always a perfect sniping spot you just had to know where to look. Eve would be the best person to get onto the island and find the best spot. The girl had a knack for finding those places. “Well for right now perhaps we should get back. If we come back when it is dark we might have better luck finding a different place to land.”

Alexandria nodded in agreement as the ship was turned around and they headed back for their base island. She was determined to find a way in so that this walled city could be laid waste. There was no way she was going to allow anything to be rebuilt on the ashes. The only thing that would remain there would be a reminder to anyone that dared try to rebuild the city. Alexandria wrinkled her nose looking back at the walled city as they sailed back home.

Hopefully when they returned there would be more done. She wanted to see the spender of what the group of people she brought together could accomplish. It was also something to take her mind of how difficult taking this walled city was actually going to be. They made good time back to the island, pulling into the dock a few hours before sunset.

Lyric was waiting for them, grabbing the rope and tying it to the dock post. She didn’t have her usual smile painted on her face. “Alexandria we can’t get Eve to leave the watchtower area. On a more positive note the basic structure of the fortress is completed. All we need to do now is the details.”

Alexandria let out an exasperated sigh glancing back at Tyra. “Do you want to go talk to her or should I?” She knew that at some point figuring out what was wrong with Eve had to be done. However Tyra had a connection with her and right now that just might be what Eve needed to get back in the right headspace.

A soft chuckle escaped Tyra’s lips as she swung her rifle over her shoulder. “I already told her we would talk when I got back so I will take care of this one.” She started to walk away in the direction of the watchtower. After a few moments she stopped turning her head to the side. “However after all this is taken care of you need to figure out for yourself what is wrong with her. That is your job as a captain. Remember if you start slipping I will take my rifle and my abilities elsewhere. Please don’t force me to do that.” Tyra continued to walk forward leaving Lyric and Alexandria with that chilling thought.

It didn’t take Tyra long to get to the watchtower. Eve was right where Tyra had left her hours ago which wasn’t a good sign at all. She needs to figure out what was wrong quickly because Alexandria was going to call for the planning meeting in regards to the assault on the walled city. "So I take it you stayed here the entire time I was gone? Are you going to come to the planning meeting or are you going to stay here and not tell anyone what's going on with you so that we can figure out how to solve the issue?"

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She didn't have time to baby Eve. They needed her for the upcoming battle and if there was something that she needed to get off her chest it needed to happen now. Tyra moved closer to her and tapped her on the shoulder. "Giving me the silent treatment won't work either I will find a way to get to the talk or I will drag you kicking and screaming to that meeting."

You pulled out one of her knives looking up at Tyra with a sly grin. "Are you challenging me to a fight because that'll get me out of my funk?" He flipped the knife in her hand letting out an exasperated sigh looking down at the ground for a moment.

Tyra let out a hearty chuckle and gave Eve a soft punch on the arm. "If that'll get you away from this watchtower and to the center of the fortress I will do whatever you want. Of course I would like to know what is bothering you so we can get past it and work better as crew members since without you we won't be able to get inside the walled city smoothly."

Eve looked up at her, raising an eyebrow. "If you're trying to say that y'all mean me and can't do this mission without me, nice try come back with something that has a little bit more meat to it if you want me to talk."

Tyra was glad that he was giving her a little bit of a fight. She didn't want this to be easy but she still wanted to figure out the situation quickly enough so that they could get to the task at hand. "You didn't start acting like this until you found out our target. What is your connection if any with the walled cities?" He wasn't trying to be blunt into the point but there wasn't any more time. You've had hours to sit out here and think now it was time to either get over it and not tell anybody anything or let her crew know what was going on so that they could help.

Eve didn't say anything for a moment. She closed her eyes listening to the sounds around her. The wind blowing through the trees and the soft splash of the waves slamming against rocks on the shore. Perhaps it was time to finally open up about her past if she was going to be a part of this crew she needed to be in it for the long haul and not just act like this was just another pit stop and that she'd be on her own it was just a matter of time.

"I was born in a walled city. My parents were actually pretty important people. It's one of the reasons I speak so well and I'm able to blend in with any type of crowd. My ability wasn't noticed for a while since they just thought it was part of my personality. Of course the first time I changed my appearance in the blink of an eye was when they knew I had something. That's when they sent me off to a facility." Eve was speaking as if nothing was really happening. It was a monotone voice and it sounded like she had recited it in front of the mirror a thousand times.

The silence between them just grew and even nature around them became still at the seriousness of the situation. Tyra didn't really know what to say. It was amazing that Eve had somehow got away from her facility and was just roaming around the world stealing things and just blending in in any place she encountered with anyone. Her ability is probably what got her out of the facility in the first place All she really had to do was plan it out and walk right out the door like she was an employee.

Eve looked up at Tyra rolling her eyes a bit and giving her that trademark sly smile. "No reason to worry though I've survived this long and the walled city that I came from is very far away and much larger than the one we're about to attack. I think it was the fact she mentioned we were going to raise it to the ground that pulled me back to the memories of living there and being in the facility and usually when that happens I just find a nice place to lean and stay there until it goes away." She paused, flipping the knife in her hand looking up at the swaying trees in the wind.

A cherry chuckle escape tire is lips and she gave Eve a pat on the back. "you can tell the others when you're ready it's not my place to do so. Alexandria will probably talk to you soon if you can open up to me and you can open up to her. If you really do want to be part of this crew like I can sense that you do you need to tell the captain what is going on I won't do it for you I'm not your mother I'm not your grandmother I'm your comrade I can only tell you which direction to go but I will not walk that path for you. Of course I could be persuaded to walk it with you." She let out another hardy chuckle motioning to the path that led back to the fort.

"How about we go back and plan this out from the Intel Alexandria and I gathered it is not going to be easy and we're going to need your abilities to get inside." She started to walk slowly down the path just waiting for Eve to follow her and whether she did or not was up to her she had set her peace and now Eve had to take the first step forward.

He flipped her knife in the air one last time, opening her jacket and catching the blade inside its sheath. She let the jacket fall back down in its place and snapped her fingers. "All right let's go so tell me more about how I am vital to this upcoming mission."

It was Tyra's turning to roll her eyes as Eve caught up with her and they started walking in step towards the fortress.

Alexandria was waiting by the flag she had planted looking around at the fortress's main structure. It was about three times the size it was when they attacked; everything was reinforced and the ram parts were made a lot sturdier. This fortress would be able to withstand a siege and once they were able to construct some weaponry they would be able to defend it even better.

The cruise started to arrive. Isabella was invited as well. The rest of her settlers and the defenders they had gained from seizing the different islands around the area continue to work on different projects around the island. Tyra and Eve for the last two to arrive. Alexandria smiled nodding in both of them as she brought everyone closer motioning with her hands.

"All right everyone the fortress looks amazing and it is going to be a great asset moving forward. However we are here to talk about the walled city that I promised Isabella and her people we would destroy. It is not going to be easy and everyone's going to have to be on their a-game I'm going to put out some of my ideas and then I will open the floor to the rest of you to either tell me what you don't like Tell me what you do like or add something to the plan All ideas will be considered and at the end we will decide on one and we have about a week to execute that plan." She looked around the group as everyone nodded in agreement. Now it's time for them to find out her idea to get in.

The next moments would shape the rest of this era in the world. This one operation was going to tip the scale one way or another whether the city fell or Alexandria's crew failed.