The group approaches the heavy, rusty metal doors of the former factory building, and as soon as they reach them, Brandi knocks on the metal doors without hesitation. On the other side, a gruff voice calls out, “What's the password?” Brandi sighs, 'If you've been cast out, this nest will tend to your wings.’ The doors begin to unlock as two young men hold one of them and allow the four inside. Upon entering, the four see a group of at least 40 different people sprawled out, staring at them. Brandi looks around, a bit puzzled by the sheer number of people. “There are way more people than when I used to run with these guys.” “What is it that you used to do exactly, if you don't mind me asking?” Brandi sighs, “burglary, though just to clarify, we'd never hit a target that would affect the working class; only the rich were ever financially harmed.”

One of the random members spoke out, “You guys, recruits or something”? “No former member about 2 years ago. I need to speak to Reggie, and my companions will be right out.” Brandi said, looking more so to the office door ahead than giving the two muscular men the time of day. Not believing the young woman has any real connection to their boss the two guards look to remove her from the The Nest however, before doing so the the office door behind them swung open, out came a young man with a shaved head and dark brown eyes with a scar over the left of which "You morons better stop she'll break your arms in seconds if you touch her." Brandi sighs, "You're painting me in a bad light, you know," she says, walking past the two guards standing in front of Reggie. "I need to talk to you." Reggie doesn't say a word, waves the group into his office and closes the door, and everyone gets seated. Brandi cuts straight to the point, "I need some info on a former criminal by the name of Alexander Alwitz," she says bluntly. Reggie fakes a sad face in her direction, "I can't even get a 'hello' first? You haven't been here in 2 years, and all" Brandi sighs in response but plays along. "Hello, Reggie, how are you doing?" she says, unamused by the charade. Reggie smiles, knowing that's about as good as he's gonna get. "Thanks for indulging me now about your guy..Alexander is a former assassin who turned himself into a god of some sort. Nia speaks up in response, wanting more info, "What kind of religion,n, if you don't mind me asking?" Reggie takes a second to think before responding, "Well, if I remember right, it went by the name Lady of the garden." Everyone in the group gives each other a look of notice, knowing they are dealing with a  fellow Spirit Hunter, albeit an unorthodox one from the sound of it.  "So tell me..Reggie, how did you come to learn about that anyway?" Brandi said, probing for more answers. "You know you're being awfully pushy to an old friend that you haven't been around to see in a long time....So, how about you answer some questions from me and we go back and forth....it's the least you could do," Reggie said coldly in response. Brandi signs in annoyance before acquiescing to his request, "Fine, I'll go tit for tat with you." "Tit for tat, you sure sound old as shit right now," Gabriel said with a side eye, which was responded to with a swift kick to the young man's shin. "Aughhh, learn to take a joke, will you?" Gabriel says in pain. "Back to the topic, though, how did you know about Alexander's deity?" Brandi asked again. "Believe it or not, one of our former guys recently quit to repent with him. The kid's name is Nico. Apparently, he almost mentioned something  about the garden lady and convinced the kid he could change his life around." Everyone takes note of the second Spirit Hunter. "Alright, my turn. Brandi gave me a legit answer. Why did you leave us?" Reggie asks with the utmost seriousness. Brandi closes her eyes and breathes in and out "Like I told you the first time, i wasn't happy with the way i was living, so i left for something i found something for compelling" she said softly. Reggie rubs his eyes clearly a bit frustrated before his eyes meet hers with a tinge sadness in them "and that's what I take issue with, what about it causing you to feel discomfort was the job itself...or the people you were working with?" Brandi's eyes go from stoic to sympathetic immediately. "Of course it was just the job, what on earth would make you think I disliked you that much?" she said, feeling guilty about her previous offputness. Reggie sighs in relief and smiles a bit. "I figured it was the former rather than the latter at first, sure, but the new kid we took in, Nico, said about the same when he left, and it made me wonder, was it me who was pushing the birds out of the nest?" Brandi reassuringly grabs Reggies hand "The Nest was a beacon for me in a low point of my life, i may not be here anymore but rest assured i loved my time here i promise, i just thought you were still upset at me for leaving in the first place i suppose we could have done a better job of talking this out huh?" she says laughing a bit at the situation. Reggie also laughs, "You could say that again, if everything is really ok between us, then Brandi, I have a singular favour to ask of you." Brandi nods, agreeing to hear out the request. Reggie smiles, "Since you guys are looking for Alexander, be sure to check on Nico if he's there, it will kill me if he's in trouble." Brandi accepts in a heartbeat, "Of course, birds of a feather and all that." After the conversation ends, everyone leaves and heads back to the car. Upon everyone getting inside, Andre calls up the others back at the base, filling them in on the current info they have. At the same time, Nia adds that they can obtain records that could show almost all the churches registered in the city from the police department. Whilst Gabriel looks over to Brandi with a bit of concern as she is staring out the window, seemingly distant, “Yo, Brandi, you all good?” Brandi nods. “Well, yeah, it's just I was worried that this wasn't going to go so well. It feels good to be able to keep the people you choose in your life, you know?” she says, looking back with a warm smile as the car drives to their next stop for the investigation.

Chapter End