The Reckoning

[Raven]

"We can't function without you, Joan. So be smart, please. Ryan can't give orders on point, and neither of us are equipped handle that. Sit down and let's get this taken care of."

[Gifted]

Joan sighed and sat down to let them look at her leg, though it was clear she wasn't happy about it. She should be out there doing her part to help Katrina right now...

[Raven]

Adam did what he could to fix up her leg, stitching it together and then bandaging it up. "How's that?" He asked.

[Gifted]

"Yeah, I think that's okay." Joan nodded. "I'm not going to bleed to death, at any rate." She'd calmed down a little in the time it took her to get patched up, if only because she realized that she shouldn't be angry with her friends when she was deliberately preventing them from knowing what was actually so goddamn important.

[Raven]

"Alright, keep us updated," he said

[Gifted]

Joan nodded. "I'll see you two later." She headed out to look for a base and, more importantly, a suitable cell for Crucifix.
Iris looked over at Adam after Joan walked out. This was clearly not normal behaviour for Joan. What was going on with her?

[Raven]

Adam shrugged slightly, glancing after their leader. Whatever it was, Joan could take care of herself. Hopefully she wouldn't overestimate that.

[Gifted]

The sun was setting in Darwin by the time Kailen saw any orphans again. Passing the orphanage on a walk, he saw a gang of four orphan boys along the side of the building. No, a gang of three orphan boys, with a fourth backed against a wall that they had surrounded. The boy they were attacking looked awfully familiar.
This was clearly not Liam's first fight, but three on one nobody could expect him to be winning. He was bruised, battered and backed against a wall, but he gave as good as he got, swinging his fists at the three boys surrounding him. Interestingly, he was the only one there who didn't look utterly livid.

[Raven]

Kailen was shocked. What the hell had happened to provoke this. He quickly approached. "Break it up!" he commanded. "Before I call enforcement."

[Gifted]

"Who the hell're you?" One of the three demanded.
"Yeah, we're just teaching mister high and mighty here a lesson." The second one said.
The third one did what was apparently supposed to be a mocking impression of Liam. "Oh look at me, I'm an Epic's son, I'm so much better than all of you! Isn't that right, Liam? Huh?" He threw a punch, which Liam blocked and returned with one that hit him in the jaw. The other two joined in to start actually landing blows.

[Raven]

Kailen strode forward. "Hey!" he shouted. "What the hell did I say?"

[Gifted]

When Kailen wasn't leaving and seemed to actually be serious, the three kids looked at him. "Why the hell are you protecting this arrogant slontze?" One demanded. Liam was using the pause to catch his breath.

[Raven]

"I got orders from Recollector, but if you wanna be the one to piss him off, be my guest," Kailen said.

[Gifted]

That was all it took. All three went pale and looked at each other before scurrying off back into the building. "We'll still get you back for what you said, Liam. You just wait." One said as the departed.
"Whatever. Go on and run then." Liam snapped harshly. The three disappeared. Liam looked critically at Kailen, and there was a cool confidence about him that definitely hadn't been there the last time Kailen had spoken to this kid. "So did my dad actually send you to come get me, or did you just say that to make them go away?" He asked, his brow creasing as if annoyed.

[Raven]

"I just said it. Why?"