The original task that had been set for Elijah was to find out about the infected solution. He needed as much proof as possible regarding what NIRV was doing to put pressure on the large corporation.
The main reason why NIRV used other gangs in the first place was because they could wipe their hands clean of everything. Even now, Elijah was pretty sure there would be no links left behind, or at least no one with knowledge. With Vlad, there would at least be a bit of proof, and they could investigate further into just what the solution did.
Unlike before, it was clear that the infected solutions were getting better and not driving the host mad as they would do before. Everyone had turned to Vlad, expecting him to answer, to speak up about what he thought about the whole thing, but there was silence on his end.
"Are you sure you're able to protect him if we did that?" Kai asked. "I have a feeling that if you did bring him in, then it would be under the guise that he was a criminal, which is not the case at all.
"You said it yourself just now, he is someone that is very important to you. So I doubt you would ever let him step foot out of the White Rose base. For a kid so young, do you think that's the kind of life he should live?"
Elijah was tensing his face because Kai had hit the nail on the head. He wasn't confident in protecting Vlad, and he had thought about his goal in the White Rose rather than Vlad's own situation in all of this.
"I apologize for what I said and what I am about to say," Elijah stated. "Things are difficult, but he is an infected Altered, which shows the same signs as a crazed Altered. He might be okay now, but there is a chance that his situation could get worse. White Rose has the expertise for someone to look after him, can you guys do the same?"
The question was reversed to their group now. Were White Rose able to protect him? Probably not, but they had a chance to help him unlike the Howlers.
"Wait?" Gary said. "Actually, I think we do have someone who could help Vlad out. It will be as good as someone practically having someone at NIRV, and he's a very close friend of mine."
Leaning into Kai's ear, he whispered the name. "Tom."
At the moment, Tom was working for NIRV, and he had already seen some of the things that they had done, and knowing the type of person Tom was, he didn't agree with them at all. His dream job turned out to be a shambles.
At the moment, they didn't have enough funds to ever build a corporation like that of NIRV, but perhaps they could at least get Tom to check on Vlad and find a way to remove the infected solution.
If they needed some money to build a small lab for one Altered, then that would be fine as well. It was good to have Tom in NIRV to know their secrets, but at the same time, it was dangerous. He was Gary's best friend, and if they found out who Gary was and what he had done, he had no doubt that they wouldn't give it a second thought and try to use him.
"Maybe I should try and convince Tom to leave NIRV sooner rather than later," Gary thought.
Kai was smiling as he was thinking the same things as Gary after hearing the name. Tom would indeed be a great addition to the team, but he also liked the idea of having ears and eyes in different places.
With Elijah with White Rose, Tom with NIRV, and even Innu and Blake with the Altered Hunters, they were in a good position to protect themselves from an attack on all sides.
"I see, it seems I underestimated this gang of yours. With that, I think that my presence is no longer needed," Elijah said, standing up. "Good luck to the two of you." Elijah bowed, and then turned to Gary. "It was good meeting you as well, and you managed to show me what it's like to act on your own, to act when you think it's the right thing to do.
"It's quite amazing that you can do that. I'm quite jealous at how free you feel here; now I understand why you like your group so much."
With that said, Elijah gave another bow before he walked off and made his own way, while the other two had remained at the table.
"So I guess it's just you now," Austin said, his voice breaking a little. "Have you decided what you are going to do, Vere?"
"Do I have a choice?" Vere gave a half smile. "I've been keeping in contact with Vivi; she updated me. Nox is dead. A representative from NIRV was sent, and they want to make one of my sisters their next point of contact.
"Although I could probably go back, if I did, it would be in hiding. If Nox was still alive as well, I probably would have made it my goal to head back and get the job done, but now, what can I do? If I go back, it will just be a harder life for me."
"You don't have to join the gang," Austin said. "You can stay here and just work like the others and can live a normal life."
Vere tilted her head back and started to laugh again. "You know, part of the reason why I beat up those school kids back in the city was because I enjoyed it. So don't go counting me out or trying to protect me just because I'm a girl. I can handle myself. Which means I have decided that I'll join the Howlers."
She then straightened herself the way she was sitting and looked straight ahead. "So is this how it works, right? I just have to officially ask the boss if I can join?" Vere asked. "I wish to join the Howlers gang and promise to be loyal and a valuable member to you!"
She said the words strong and loud, while looking right ahead at Kai the whole time.
"I think you've made a bit of a mistake here," Kai said. "I'm not the boss of this group."
Both Austin and Kai's eyes moved toward Gary, who was sitting at the end, and Vere's mouth was left hanging wide open.
"Welcome to the team," Gary smiled.
*****