Sickness had engulfed Johnson & Freedom. Prisoners had been falling ill and taken to Dr. Roxenburg for treatment.

The cafeteria was sparse, a few empty tables sprinkled throughout. Gabriel ate the day's final meal with Bryce and Jon. Their mother, Sheila, was noticeably missing, and Bryce updated Gabriel on what little he knew of her condition.

"How bad was it?" Gabriel asked.

"Pretty bad," Bryce answered. "She couldn't even stand on her own."

The day Sheila was admitted into the medical ward, she had barely touched her food and gave her grape pastry to a voracious Jon.

Bryce continued, "Something's going on. Prisoners are getting sick, but the guards are just fine. They're doing something to us."

There was one guard Gabriel caught looking at him. He was a new guard who arrived a week prior. What Gabriel didn't know was that guard had a history with Solomon and had been in contact with the Chief Principal.

Jon was so melancholy, he did not finish his mashed potatoes. "I want to see mommy," he said.

"I told you, Jon, we can't right now," Bryce said, agitated.

"Why?" Jon asked.

Bryce had enough. "We just can't, okay?! You're so annoying! I can't deal with you right now. Go sit over there!"

Jon walked over to an empty table and pouted in his seat.

"That was harsh," Gabriel commented.

"Do you know what it's like having a little brother?" Bryce asked. "They're annoying. It's their job."

"Sorry," was all Gabriel could say.

Gabriel had never seen Bryce angry, but he understood. It had been three days since Bryce's mother was taken to a restricted area, and no one updated him about her status. In fact, there was secrecy about the condition of everyone who had fallen ill.

"I'm going to get her out of here," Bryce said. "I don't know how yet, but I am."

"You could fake being sick, you know," Gabriel suggested. "Like, get the guards to take you to a nurse, then bam! Beat everyone up, save your mom, and take your brother out of this dump."

Gabriel was so used to vocalizing his strategies with an Eon Viant, he had forgotten that he was speaking with a human civilian.

"Forget it," Gabriel said. "It sounds stupid."

Bryce really thought about it. "No. No, that's a great idea! Thanks, Gabriel."

Bryce was already on his feet when Gabriel tried to dissuade him by saying, "We're a teenagers, Bryce. We can't fight adults. You're going to get wrecked--"

Bryce plopped to the ground loud enough to get everyone's attention. Guards hurried over and rushed the "ailing" Bryce through the doors. Gabriel worried he'd never see his friend again.

*****E V*****

In his cell, Gabriel was completing a set of 400 push-ups. He had an extra-boost of energy, even more than a few days ago when his interfacing was partially restored. Cye had reflected on the young Eon Viant's plan.

"I urge you to reconsider," Cye pleaded. "Warden Pearlman may tolerate your training, but she won't feel the same about a breakout. Who knows what she'll do if you get caught! Wait until you've fully recovered your interfacing."

It would be too late, Gabriel reasoned. The prisoners at Johnson & Freedom had been without hope long enough. Although forgotten by society, they held out hope for a savior that was never coming.

Until today.

"More and more people are getting sick for no reason," Gabriel said. "Cortez is behind this, I know it. I won't just sit here and pretend that I can't do nothing."

"Let's say you break everyone out," Bryce said. "Then, what?"

"Then, I find Cortez and end him. I can't change what happened to my mom. But, I can still make Cortez pay for what he did to her and every other innocent person he murdered."

Cye was uncomfortable with his next suggestion. "Have you considered the possibility that Cortez was not the catalyst for your pain?"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Catalyst?" Gabriel asked, confused. "Why do you have to use big words?"

"What if Cortez didn't kill your mother?" Cye suggested. "Think about it. Cortez told you he had nothing to do with Grid 0047's bombing. That House of Knights guy you mentioned said the same thing."

An entire city was destroyed and only someone as wealthy as Cortez could avoid punishment. And if he could callously have a city destroyed, he'd have no problems poisoning prisoners, Gabriel reasoned.

Although Gabriel only knew Cye for a short time, he was drawn to him, respected him. He was all the more confused why Cye didn't accept his offer to escape. "The things I've done, I'm not proud of. It's better for me to be in here," Cye told him.

Cye believed a person should be rewarded for heroic deeds and suffer for treacherous ones. And there was nothing more treacherous than turning on his own.

*****E V*****

It was time.

Having grown a makeshift sword and mace from the ground, Gabriel took the armaments and jumped, smashing through the ceiling.

In the floor above, frightened guards were in disarray. The young Eon Viant quickly silenced them. Without anger, he had more clarity than ever. He felt stronger, faster.

With the alarm blaring throughout the building, Gabriel ran down a hallway and upon turning a corner, he wounded the arms and legs of a couple of guards. It was instinctual. They were enemies, and it didn't mean they had to die.

After kicking down the door to the control room, Gabriel grabbed a guard by the hair and pressed his face against the console.

"Let the prisoners out! Now!" Gabriel demanded.

Cell doors simultaneously opened, allowing the reluctant prisoners to step out. Guards barked orders, but the prisoners did not return to their cells. In mere seconds, the guards were consumed by the wave of freedom-seekers.

A line of guards blocked the main doors to the outside world. They wore riot gear and were armed with automatic weaponry. Gabriel landed in front of the crowd just as the guards opened fire.

Using his power, Gabriel caused a dozen medieval-like shields to sprout from the floor, protecting the prisoners from endless bullets. Some prisoners, unfortunately, didn't make it to refuge in time.

Gabriel's mind raced, trying to formulate a plan. He couldn't protect the prisoners and fight the guards at the same time.

*****E V*****

Suddenly, one-by-one, the guards were taken out by a pair of blurs wielding swords.

The sight of Jyn and Asha recalled bad memories for Gabriel. He presumed they wanted to finish the previous fight.

Both of the large doors had opened, allowing a blinding light to flood in. Within that light was a shadowy figure, and as it got closer, the light eased, and Gabriel got a clearer look at Solomon who was being escorted by Odom. Behind them, sprawled out on the ground were additional guards. The House of Knights had neutralized their enemies without taking a single life.

"Seems you already handled the hard part," Solomon said, referring to Gabriel freeing the prisoners.

Gabriel was confused, reluctant to respond. He kept looking over his shoulder, anticipating a surprise attack. Then, Solomon just blurted instructions to his team: "Get these people out of here!"

Jyn would lead the evacuation, with Odom and Asha watching the backs of the prisoners. As the crowd flanked Gabriel and Solomon, the two remained as still as statues.

"So you're not here for a rematch?" Gabriel asked.

"I'm here to discuss a proposition," Solomon replied. "But perhaps you could agree that we had a rematch. And during said rematch, the prisoners mysteriously escaped. You wouldn't mind that happening to a corrupt place like Johnson & Freedom, would you?"

"Uh, no," Gabriel said. "There are some more prisoners in the medical ward."

Solomon finished with, "I trust you can get to them."

Gabriel felt a comforting vibe around Solomon. Rejuvenated, the young Eon Viant searched around the crop of shields. Jon was sitting, his head tucked, knees pressed against his chest. His fingers were interlocked, his hands trembling.

Gabriel kneeled and holding out a hand, he said, "It's okay. I'm going to take you to Bryce and your mom."

Jon looked up with his big, brown eyes and considered Gabriel's hand before finally accepting it.

*****E V*****

The medical ward was in a panic. Armed guards prevented the staff and patients from leaving. One guard even went so far as to severely wound a doctor.

Gabriel literally knocked down a wall and dispatched all resistance. Hearing the stories about Eon Viants was one thing, but this was the first time everyone there witnessed the stories.

With Jon's hand in his grasp, Gabriel pushed through the bodies fleeing for the door. Before them was a pair of familiar figures in hospital gowns; Bryce was holding up a weakened Sheila.

Jon couldn't contain himself, broke free from Gabriel and grabbed onto his mother's leg. With her free hand, Sheila rubbed Jon's head.

A relieved Gabriel tried to get closer, but he was immediately met with hostility.

"Get back!" Bryce said. "You're one of them. You're an Eon Viant."

"I am," Gabriel confirmed.

Bryce was conflicted. Eon Viants were the bane of existence, and the guy he thought of as a friend deceived him.

There wasn't time to try to reason, so Gabriel simply stepped aside, giving a clear path to the exit.

*****E V*****

After Bryce's family departed, Gabriel immediately caught sight of Roxenburg waiting down the hallway.

"It's a shame," Roxenburg said. "Specimens like you should be treated with more reverence."

The young Eon Viant closed in on the scientist, who had a nervous smile.

"Did you do this?" Gabriel asked. "Did you make the prisoners sick?!"

As he backed away, Roxenburg held out a hand hoping to stop Gabriel from getting closer.

It was useless.

"That wasn't the goal!" Roxenburg said. "I told them there was a chance that some immune systems wouldn't take to the new product."

"What product?!" Gabriel pressed. "What did you give them?!"

Roxenburg was now completely backed against the wall; he heard his heart beating loudly.

"The dessert!" the scientist said. "The grape pastry. There's a special mineral inside. Its origins is not of earth, so there's not much of it. A human body can only process it in small doses. Not an Eon Viant's though. Your immune system instantly fights it."

"You gave them that crap knowing what would happen?!" Gabriel exclaimed, fed up with the scientist.

"I didn't have a choice! He told me to!" Roxenburg said, reeling back, preparing for a strike.

Gabriel presumed Cortez had bribed the staff to poison the prisoners and was certain more than ever that Cortez bombed Grid 0047. He lied simply to avoid death, Gabriel reasoned. But, one question remained.

"Why would Cortez want that?" Gabriel asked.

"Cortez?" Roxenburg replied. "Kirby Cortez? He's got nothing to do with this."

Emerging from the shadows of a doorway was Oliath. "Hello, Gabriel. We need to talk."