Prison doors slid open in three alternating directions, vertical, diagonal and horizontal. Kurt and Komo stepped inside, and the cell closed in the opposite order. Sitting behind a table, the giant Stag nearly filled the small, metal room on his own. His armor remained on his body, mostly due to the heat radiating off of it from last night. Even though he had been unconscious from heat exhaustion, no guards dared to get near him or even open his cell. The risk was simply too great to take. Now the warrior faced his visitors, hands bound behind his back by stuncuffs.

"Hey, Xavier," said Komo, which the prisoner gladly welcomed. "Komo, I can't believe how much you've grown," he said, "You were only up to my knees the last time I saw you." "It has been ten years." The bulky girl put on a half smile, in an attempt to loosen up any hard feelings Xavier may have had from previous battles. However, all joy left his voice when he turned towards Kurt. "What's he doing here?" "Just visiting," Komo answered, "He's not gonna hurt you." The armored beetle let out a deep laugh, "He couldn't if he tried."

Stag's taunt got under Kurt's skin, but Komo moved in front before he could say something stupid. "I wanted to talk with you, catch up on lost time...Mind if I remove your helmet?" Xavier grumbled before saying, "Only if you shut that camera off." The device mounted in the corner of the room blinked red to show it was in fact recording, and Kurt used his long arms to unplug the cables. "There. Happy now?" he smarted off. "No, but it's a start."

Xavier returned his focus to Komo, who lifted up his helmet. The sight of his face actually put a real smile on hers. "You got a beard now?" "Yeah, but I lost everything up top, unlike your father. I've always been jealous of those locks of his." Both shared a laugh, while Kurt turned away. Fryste told me that Jang was executed, but they don't have to know that. At least not yet.

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Second period was about to start in Central State High, and students in white and teal clothes entered the classroom. Already sitting at her desk was Ellia, who stared with sad eyes at the empty seat Delle usually occupied. "Hey," said Gren, slightly startling her, "Mind if I sit here for a bit?" "Uh, sure." Expecting an angry 'no,' the boy welcomed her reply and sat beside her. "I know you're mad at me for how I've treated Delle, but I wanted to apologize to you too." "Save it," the pixie replied with some sass, "I've already forgiven you."

Gren's eyes opened wide at his friend's statement. "Really? No slap? Throwing a book?" "Keep pushing it, and I might. I...was kinda harsh earlier. It's not just your fault what happened to Delle. She gets in her own head, a lot, plus I know you're going through some stuff too." "Is it that obvious?" "Heh, yeah." A small smile came over Ellia, who extended her hand to the boy. "Still friends?" Gren mirrored her happy expression and took her hand. "Friends. And I promise, we'll get her back. If it's the last thing I...we do."

Having mended their friendship, Gren started walking to his seat across the room. "Hey..." He turned back to Ellia's voice. "...You're looking taller." The sudden compliment caused Gren to blush and scratch his messy hair. "Thanks, and you're being nicer." The girl's smile switched to an annoyed look as she asked, "What's that supposed to mean?" "Uhh, look! Class is starting!" As he hurried to his desk, Ellia shook her head. "Boys."

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"And when you turned four years old, your father gave you a shield bigger than you as a birthday gift." Xavier and Komo share another laugh, having reminisced on happier times. Kurt leans against the corner of the room, looking quite bored and annoyed. "Yep, I still remember the first time I saw you," says Xavier with a smile, "Pacifier in your mouth, crawling on floor. I vowed that day, that no matter how cruel Jang's training was, I would keep pushing through and get stronger for you." Komo puts on a sad smile as she replies, "I just wish he wasn't, you know, a terrorist." "Hey, that's a strong word. You know he liked 'visionary' better."

No one says a word for a moment, then the armored beetle sighs. "I swore to follow Jang. I owe him my life, but I never agreed with everything he said. He told us that everyone should defend themselves, but I can't just sit back and watch someone get hurt." "Like that woman you saved a few days ago?" asks Kurt. Xavier seems stunned for a moment, then answers, "Right. Guess under this tough armor, I'm just a big softy."

Somewhat losing his patience, the mentor steps closer and leans one arm on the table. "Well, softy, how 'bout you tell us what you and your buddies are planning?" "They're not my 'buddies', they're family, and I'm not telling you anything." Kurt grunts in frustration, but Komo once again moves him aside. "Well, can you at least tell me more about them? I can't remember that much since I was only a toddler." "Now that I can answer," Xavier replies.

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A young and eager Kronia stood at the doorsteps of her idol's home, axe and shield in her hands. "Kronia had dreamt of becoming Jang's sidekick ever since he single handedly ended the war," Xavier narrates, "But he didn't deem her as worthy." The teenage girl sat outside the house in the rain, her blue hair dancing in the wind. "That didn't stop her. She kept coming back, even following Jang on every mission he had, until one day her efforts finally paid off. She pushed him out of harm's way, but suffered a tremendous loss." Now with one eye missing, Kronia sparred against her master. "Jang finally took her as his first apprentice after that."

"What about Dolly?" asks Komo, "I vaguely remember her being in a wheelchair." A skinny teenager laid on the concrete next to her wheelchair, unable to literally stand up against her bullies. Long, orange hair covered her face. Xavier explains, "Dolly was bullied at school, but one day she had enough." With glowing, pink eyes, the girl screamed and forced everyone around her onto the parking lot floor. "Jang saw it happen, and recruited her immediately...but thing's took a strange turn after that."

Dolly's stitched up mask now concealed her face. "Jang told us that he was taking her to an associate of his, to help better control her Symbol. But when she came back...well, she was a different person after that. Her powers became so much stronger, to the point where she never had to use her wheelchair again. She wears the mask to hide the scar, but I think it's more of a...mental thing."

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Still in the cell Xavier looks down, seemingly in shame. "Can I see Jang? I'd like to talk with him about some things." After clearing his throat, Kurt answers, "No. Out of the question." "I'll talk. Everything you wanna know, I'll tell you. Just let me see him." Now Komo looks at her mentor. "I know it's risky, but it's the only way...and I'd like to see him too." Several lies float through Kurt's mind, but none of them are viable for an excuse. The truth had to be told. "Look, there's no easy way to say this...Jang was...executed." "What!?" Komo shouts, devastated from the news. "I didn't know about it either." Kurt defends, "I just found out yesterday when Fryste told me."

A rumble begins to spread throughout the prison cell, and Xavier's armor rattles. "He took us in. Gave us a family! And you killed him in secret!?" "Hey! Take it easy!" Kurt warns, but it's no use now. "I would give my life for him! And you took him away! YOU KILLED JANG!!" The stuncuffs on Stag's arms begin to shock him, to no avail.

The giant breaks out with ease, then charges forward with his helmet on. "Look out!" shouts Komo, pulling her mentor out of the way. Stag repeatedly bashes his body against the metal doors, smashing through each one. As he sprints down the white hallways, Komo and Kurt pursue. Red flashing lights and sirens fill the prison. "Call reinforcements!" the mentor demands to a guard, "Barricade the roads! We've got a runner!"