The tunnel led into a large, expansive cave system which looked to be a developing town. Like, with actual people and businesses all interacting and existing. All beneath the city itself. Harlow snapped to Black Star. “W-what is all this?” She exclaimed. Black Star tilted her head, looking over everything. She pondered for a moment what to say. 

“Which part? Cuz over there, you’re gonna find a really killer bakery. But over here, you’ll find a pretty sweet arms shop. They also sell a multitude of ammunition or throwing projectiles.” She gestured for a shocked and bewildered Harlow to follow her again, not really leaving any time to question what she said. Harlow was still processing when they made their way to a pretty crude looking crosswalk area, complete with the lights and crowds of people to follow it. 

“Is this…a criminal base?” Harlow hissed at Black Star, who was now looking both ways before crossing the dirt road. She giggled and grabbed Harlow’s wrist and led her through the crowds. She didn’t even say anything, just occasionally scanned the area (to see if it was safe?) and then kept walking. Harlow followed along as quickly as she could, but was now really regretting wearing slip-ons instead of actual shoes. Even though they had blood on them. 

“Want to tell me where we’re going?” She muttered, looking around and trying to absorb all the sights. Unlike Graves City, which was almost always natural lit and covered head to toe in technology, this area seemed the opposite. It was filled with artificial light, mostly lanterns that appeared to be gas powered, and everywhere you looked there were natural paths and curves that made it look like the area was built to be part of the landscape. “Cassiopeia! Hello? Where are we going??” She asked again. 

“Why? Do your feet hurt? Shouldn’t have worn those cute little slip-ons.” She paused then turned her head to look up at Harlow, “Actually…you look really beat up, love. Maybe i should get you to a doctor?” She whispered the last bit to herself, but Harlow could still hear. 

“Hey, I’m not that bad-“ Harlow started, but Black Star lifted a hand to stop her. 

“It’ll be easier to gather intel, and to answer your questions, once we get to a safe place. I don’t mind that place being a hospital.” She interrupted, then dropped her hand. “It’ll be a little ways further, but I can always pass the time with a little light history. Are you ready?” Harlow’s groan made her laugh again. “Relax, you big baby. If i didn’t answer your little questions, you’d go mad.”

“Besides,” Black Star moved her hand back and poked her finger directly into Harlow’s injury, causing her to yelp in pain. Several people passing by looked in their direction. Some with surprised looks, some whispering to each other. “I ‘m not sure what what happened, but you’re already bleeding again.” She said. “If i tell you what this place is, you’ll tell me what happened?” Harlow winced, moving Black Star’s hand away from her. 

“Are you gonna poke me again if I don’t?” She stepped back, almost bumping into a couple and their baby. “Ah, oops, sorry!” She turned to apologize to them. Black star grabbed her arm again and began leading her away. 

“I mean, the idea is to trade information. So yeah? But I’m sure you wouldn’t withhold information during an investigation, so…you know what? Yeah, I’ll poke you again.”  She whispered as she dragged Harlow into another small crowd. Harlow groaned while Black Star hummed. 

Their walk was a quick one but even with the short amount of time, Harlow was able to see so much of this underground city. As different as they initial appeared, this was just as expansive and overwhelming as the city above. Some people seemed content to treat this place the same as the other and others were just as cautious as Harlow, if not more so. So, is this place an actual villain den? There are so many people. They can’t all be criminals, can they? 

Harlow watched Black Star maneuver the cave roads as if she’d lived here her whole life. She’d sometimes nod to people, or made Harlow give a wide berth to others. And in almost the blink of an eye, they were in front of a small building. It looked like every other slightly dingy building that Harlow had passed so far. This one was a little bit wider than the rest, with two sliding door entrances on the front right and left sides of the building. People were rested outside the building on little benches and they all looked so miserable. Like they’d would hope it wouldn’t come to this. “Ah, it’s a hospital.” Harlow muttered aloud before being dragged inside. 

Black Star didn’t bother with the front desk like everybody else. Nor did she just wait in the obvious waiting area like several others. Instead, she just kept on the main hallway until she reached what could only be described as a mining elevator, and Harlow hopped that was because they were underground. They stepped on and Harlow watched as the elevator moved exactly once before opening again and the two spilled out. 

Harlow could barely register all the different doctors offices and waiting rooms. The hospital wasn’t as impressive as others she’d been in, but it was constantly packed with both staff and patients alike. Before she could decided if that was even a good thing, Black Star had plopped her down on an examination table. Well, it felt like an examining table, but it looked like a hospital bed which did not make her feel any better. 

“Doc’s coming back here in a sec, but this is the perfect time i bet”  Black Star grabbed a remote on the foot of the bed and turned on a TV that was placed in the corner. It was in the middle of some news broadcast.

“—But her recent whereabouts are unknown. If you find any information about the deserter Hero, Technomancer, please call the local 888 line or bring the information to the citadel—

Black Star then dropped the remote on the bed, and folded her arms. “So, you haven’t seen the news then?” Harlow felt something fall in her stomach and it made her feel ill. She slumped over, hands over her face, while she tried to wrap her head around the words. 

Deserter.

Deserter Hero. 

They…they fired me…? Or did they temporarily suspend me? Well they probably fired me now thanks to the stunt outside my apartment. She shot back up, looking at the news broadcast through her hands. And now she was seen colluding with a known supervillain! 

“Ugh…I’m gonna be siiiick…” She groaned out. Black Star just shrugged. She walked around the room, taking a look out a thin window that was parallel to the hospital bed. She took note of nothing in particular, at least that’s what Harlow thought. 

“So, what? This is what you wanted me to see this whole time?!? That I’m considered a murderer and a deserter??” She exclaimed, slamming both hands down onto the bed. “Why didn’t you just say it before? Gosh, and Miss Magia and the others, they didn’t think I deserve to know what was happening?” She glared at the back of Black Star’s head. She was still looking out the window. She didn’t say anything for what felt like a long while. 

“Is it really that bad?” She finally said quietly. She didn’t turn around, but she spoke slowly like she was considering the best way to frame her words. “Now you know that those three, hell the entire citadel, would turn their back on you without a second thought.”

Harlow felt her face burn. This was her way of seeing the silver lining!? “Maybe you didn’t give a damn when it happened to you! But I am a great superhero!!” She clenched her fists. “Why’d you even come to my apartment anyways? To gloat? To make fun of lil’ ol’ Harley because she wants to be a superhero?? To drag me around your little criminal base to show that you were right and I was wrong??” She was struggling to contain her anger now. Black Star, no Cass, was always like this. Any time they found each other face to face, villain to superhero, it was always some spiel about how the citadel didn’t care about her. OR that she’s being naive. Then she wouldn’t even fight and disappear. 

Except she wasn’t disappearing now. Black Star didn’t say anything. She sighed, then walked around the room to the door. Stopping in front of the door, then sighed again. “I’m gonna get the doctor. If I can’t find her, I’m gonna remove the bullet myself.” 

“Just hang on til I get back, Harley. You need to rest.” 

Harlow bit her tongue before saying anything else.