Double Revolution, All the Way Across the Ranks

[Clara Hart]

Roy Calhoun was not the most memorable mage, even though he had hair that matched his emerald green eyes. He had gone along with the revolution mostly out of gratitude, being grateful just to have a roof over his head.

So Gloria had been somewhat surprised when Roy of all people had rounded up Sean, Amanda, Siegfried, and Omega in a secret meeting, not that long after Christian had escaped, and while the others were searching for him still.

"Now, don't get me wrong. I really, really appreciate what's been done for us....I've never had a proper home before, let alone a whole village, but...has anyone noticed Clara's been a bit...split personality lately?"

"I...I was beginning to think Siggy and I were the only ones who noticed." Mandy said. Omega emphatically shook her head.

"I know what you mean. She saved me from Mamba...but now in some ways, sometimes, she's kind of like them." Sean added.

"Okay. So...what can we do about it?" Roy asked.

"Not much." Siegfried said, his hand on Amanda's shoulder. "In fact, this meeting will do us more harm than good. What if one of us is Nathan? What if Rascal is using his power to listen in? I do not know what Clara is capable of doing, now, to those she views as disloyal, but..." He turned to Amanda, worry plain on his face. "...I do not want to take that chance."

"Well, maybe there's some way to stop her. Some way for us to stop her." Sean suggested. "She needs us to save her, from herself if nothing else."

"I'd suggest anti-magic." Roy began. "But Brittney almost never leaves Stefan's side, and Stefan...well, you know how he got, after he found out what Mamba was doing to Britt."

"Rascal's still pretty reasonable, though." Mandy countered. "Maybe we could convince him, and have him convince his boyfriend for us."

"Stefan has Ras wrapped around his pinky, my love." Sieg replied. "And the downside to having anyone do anything for us is that any one of the links in the chain has a chance of being Nathan. We both know no amount of convincing could have Nathan siding with us."

"Well, we could try! I mean, Brittney's a kid, and I can tell she doesn't like what's happening." Roy said emphatically.

"Brittney's powers barely phased Clara. Back before she was this powerful." Gloria said, suddenly entering the conversation. "And she'll heal any damage anyone does. I mean, you were the one who told me you saw Halcyon nearly tear her head off. That should have killed her." The blue-haired girl leaned back in her chair. "I think there's a god in her. As in, literally a god. And at first, she had all this power because of the god, but now it's come to collect. And we can't stop a god."

"Well then it's hopeless." Roy sighed, throwing up his arms in the air dramatically, creating a white flag in his hands with his powers.

"Which is why we should not be talking about this." Siegfried urged, starting to pull Amanda up. "The longer we speak, the greater the chance that Rascal or Nathan or one of the others will find us. And they WILL tell Clara."

"No, no it's not helpless." Gloria said as the others started to get up. "She's afraid of the alien ship. And I think the stronger she gets, the worse the ship can hurt her."

"That still means we can't do anything." Roy said, defeated. "We just have to wait for Hart to save the day."

Gloria shook her head. "No, we don't. We can help. I'm not sure how....and I'm not sure when, but an opening will come to us, one way or another. We have to take advantage of it, somehow." She stood, and held out her hand. "We all agree, here and now, that when the time comes, we'll take that opening. We'll save Clara from herself and the world from Clara. Agreed?"

All but Siegfried put their hands in, and then, reluctantly, he did as well.

"Alright then." Gloria said, hoping that she sounded at least twice as self-assured as she felt. "The revolution starts here."