Making their way through parts of the town, Tom, Derek, James, and Kiera walked along the sidewalks and asked people questions about how safe they felt and the security protocols to keep up appearances. Squirrel got many strange looks, but most people treated him like the group's dog as they walked. Some asked if they could pet him.

When they reached the edge of the city, they came to another of the security posts with two guards stationed there as well, both wearing tactical gear and carrying assault rifles.

"Afternoon gentlemen," Tom said.

The men nodded at the group.

"We just recently met with Edward. My name is Derek, and this is Tom, James, and Kiera. Oh and Squirrel." Derek said to the guards. "We are investigating some of the security methods used here in Decatur so we can make Dallas a safer place for its residents. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"

The men brightened at this and relaxed visibly.

"Not at all! I'm Tim, this is Jack," The man on the left said.

"It's nice to meet both of you. I noticed that you all are using the barrier arms, how do you make sure people don't come in at other points in the city?" Derek began.

Derek asked questions while Tim and Jack answered them all as they came up. They talked for about twenty minutes before Derek acted as if all his questions had been answered.

"This has been very enlightening. I truly appreciate all of your help. Your information will be instrumental in us keeping people safer." Derek said.

"It's been our pleasure! We really do enjoy helping people." Tim said.

"Do you all mind if we exit the town for a bit? We figure if we leave and walk around the outside area we can get a better feel for the size of the secure area and see the city from a different vantage point." Derek asked.

"Not at all! Feel free to come back through this entry point and we will be sure you are let back in with no issues." Jack said.

"You all are so great. I can't thank you enough." Derek replied.

Both men smiled as they opened the arm and let the group walk through. They walked about a mile until they came to an old abandoned church. It had white paneling along the outside with paint that was flaking off from age, stained glass windows, and a tall steeple with a cross at the top. There was a sign that said "First Baptist Church of Decatur" out front with a scripture reference under the church's name.

"How'd you know this was here?" Kiera asked.

"I saw it from the highway. Seemed to be the only church in the area from what I could tell." Derek said.

"What about those churches that meet in unassuming places they rent out?" James said.

"Patty said an old church. So this seemed like the most logical one." Derek said.

"You're really good at this," James said.

"At what? Paying attention?" Derek asked.

"Shut up," James said.

"At not talking just to hear the sound of his own voice?" Kiera asked.

"Hey!" James said.

"At making sure they listen to gather information and be helpful to the team?" Tom asked.

"What is this, gang up on James time?" James asked.

"At not mutilating people's genitalia for fun?" Kiera said.

"Now that was a low blow," James said.

"You're one to talk about low blows," Kiera replied.

"...That's fair..." James said.

"So what's the play here?" Tom asked.

"I assumed just see if we can talk to the guy. Knowing nothing about him, we have to feel it out. Hopefully, he is willing to help us." Derek said.

Reaching up and knocking on the front door, the team waited outside for an answer. No one came to the door. Derek knocked again.

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"What do you want?" Came a voice from behind them.

"GAH!" James yelled as they all turned around in surprise. "How did you do that?"

"Why are you here?" The man asked.

"We wanted to meet you," Derek said.

"Why me? I'm just some guy living in a church." The man said.

"I'm Derek, this is Tom, the scaredy cat is James, and this is Kiera," Derek said.

Squirrel growled.

"Oh, and that is Squirrel," Derek added. "And I think you know that if we are here that we know you aren't just some guy living in a church."

"You here to try to kill me?" The man said.

"What? No! Do people do that?" Derek said.

"They have tried," he said. "No one has succeeded yet."

"Obviously, since you're here talking to us," James said.

"Look, I don't really want to talk to people, can you just leave now?" The man asked.

"We really need to try to speak with you. We are on our way to try to complete the world quest and could really use your help in completing it." Derek said.

"I'm pretty busy. If you haven't noticed monsters appear here a lot," The man said.

"Can we at least get your name?" Derek asked.

"It's Seth," Seth said.

"Seth, this issue with the vending machines is making it so anyone left on Earth can't get the items they will really need to survive in this new reality. We need to see if we can help." Derek said.

"I also need to be here to help the people of Decatur," Seth said.

"So the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many?" Derek said.

"No, my ability to help the people here is something I can measure. And you don't know that others aren't going to complete the quest." Seth argued.

"And you don't know that everyone else in the world is staying home to do just what you are doing," Derek said.

Seth paused. He stared at Derek for a long moment, his face tightening in his attempt to rationalize the argument.

"What happens when I leave here?" Seth asked.

"I think these people finally have to stand on their own and learn to survive instead of just relying on you all the time," Derek answered. "Maybe these people aren't accepting the fact that something happened because you keep protecting them from it. Your dad is acting like he can just ignore everything and it will just not exist."

"You don't know anything about my dad," Seth said.

"I know he's a little delusional. He won't even admit that you're his son. He just tells people that he has no idea what is going on and then protects the town by taking anyone who is a criminal and setting them on the outside of the town and then hopes they don't go on a murderous revenge rampage by sneaking back into the town." Derek said. "He is actually putting people in more danger by ignoring the problem rather than trying to find a solution for it that will actually keep people safe."

"And what exactly do you expect me to do? Run off with you and fight off this monster and let the people here suffer?" Seth asked.

"I would hope first you would confront your father so he could put procedures in place to protect the people here, then go with us, and you can come back as soon as that is done so that hopefully the people here can arm themselves and learn to fight off the dangers as well. If they don't they will die eventually when you find a monster you can't beat and it kills you then finishes off the town." Derek said.

Struggling with an internal battle of what to do Seth stood there silent for a long time. One hand on the door he hung his head.

"He won't understand. He has this idealistic view of what the world should be and he will ignore anything to ensure that happens. It's why I have to fight to keep the people safe. He won't listen to me." Seth said.

"People like that have to experience the consequences of their actions," Derek said.

"At the cost of so many other people's lives?!" Seth said.

"If they aren't willing to listen as well and want to continue to ignore the world and its problems then they are just as guilty of it as he is," Derek said. "They put him in charge and just went along with it because it was easy. That means they are doing the exact same thing."

"They just want things to go back to normal," Seth said.

"We all do, but that isn't going to happen by ignoring the very serious crisis we are in now. The only way that can happen is if they make a new normal for themselves and work together to make it happen." Derek said. "Fighting is now part of life. I get it, most people never had to fight for their lives. They just relied on people like me in the military to do it for them. But the enemy isn't in Afghanistan, Iraq, Russia, or China. It's right outside their fucking front doors."

"Seth, our plan helps people more in the long run. You're fighting is barely a bandaid for the problem. And a bandaid can't heal the kind of giant open wound the world is experiencing now." Tom said.

"Why can't I just trust you all to go handle the issue?" Seth said.

"You can. But we aren't nearly as talented as you are. So we might get the job done, but that isn't a guarantee." Derek said. "We are strong because we are working together. We are just trying to be as ready as we can for the fight we know is coming."

"You are asking me to just let them die until I can come back," Seth said.

"What we are asking you to do is to go into town, tell them the truth, then let them experience it and make a decision on what they will do. They can fend off monsters together if they fight. But they will die if they ignore it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but if there is something out there strong enough to ask everyone in the world to go handle it, then something will eventually come along you can't beat. And when you die, they all die too. Guaranteed." Derek said. "But if you had people fighting with you, then you would be able to weather more storms to come."

"And you are going to be those people fighting with me?" Seth asked. "Fighting in this town?"

"We will be those people fighting with you at the Grand Canyon. But no not here. We have our own people to protect. But unlike here we set up teams that fight to protect people who can't. they are back in Dallas right now keeping them safe because they chose to accept this reality and defend people together, not just let Tom or me or Kiera do all the work for them." Derek replied.

"Hey, or James,"

"Oh please, you need us more than the people in the guild building," Kiera said.

"You left the people you are protecting?" Seth asked.

"We did. And we can confidently believe they will still be fine while we are gone because they are training and learning this Grand System and working to fight for safety," Derek said. "Our jobs are easier, and our survival chances greater because we are fighting together."

"So if I do go along with this, how do we tell them?" Seth asked.

"I have an idea for that. Does the courthouse have a bell system?" Derek asked.