Fawn stood in the train car and buckled the utility belt she had been given. It was still pitch black outside and everyone was trying to be as silent as possible. Fawn insides panicked with anxiety. Fighting like this just wasn't suited for her and she wished there was a way around it. Unfortunately, it was clear there wasn't. They had all been given earpieces that they could communicate with, just in case anyone ran into trouble. Fawn glanced at Travis, he was expressionless, moving silently and swiftly. Once everyone was suited up, they left the train cars. Travis helped Fawn get down from the car. Claus looked at them, though it was hard to read his expression in the dark.

"Follow me, and no talking." He whispered and began down the side of the rode at a jog. Everyone followed him, moving at the same pace. Until they got away from the road, they were all open and vulnerable. Claus motioned them over to a spot beside the road and paused. There was a small dirt path that wound through the brush and in the distance Fawn could see the wall that surrounded the White Palace. Claus began trekking through the undergrowth, telling them to be careful and watch where they stepped. Fawn felt Travis reach back and he grabbed her hand, partially leading her. Fawn squeezed his hand, trying to convey how worried she was about all of this. He noticed, slowing his pace for a moment and looking back at her.

"We'll be okay." He said, Fawn barely catching the words. They continued weaving along the path until Claus told them to stop again. He pressed his ear piece.

"Night Squad, you got that opening cleared for us?" He asked. Everything was silent for a minute before he pressed his ear piece again.

"Copy, we're coming in. Keep an eye on those walls." He told whoever led the Night squadron. Claus looked at the group.

"Alright, we have a clear entrance, but we have to move fast and we have to move carefully. They've got some patrols on the lawn so make sure to stick to the shadows." He stepped forward.

"Let's keep moving. Remember, Fast and careful." He whispered before taking off. Fawn followed at Travis's heels until they were at the wall. Clause led them along the cold stone until there was a gate that appeared before them. It was open.

"Once you go through, head to the left and duck into that undergrowth to wait. I'll send each of you in separately. Sean, you first." Claus said, stepping toward the doorway. Sean stood beside him. He put a hand on his back, waiting a couple seconds.

"Okay go!" He said quickly. Sean ducked through the doorway and disappeared on the other side of the wall.

"Willow you're next." Claus said. Willow stalked forward. He sent her in after a few seconds. Everything continued that way until it was Fawn's turn. She felt her breath quiver. Travis had been sent ahead of her so that it was just she and Claus left to get in.

"You and I are going in together so wait for me to tell you to go." Claus said, pushing her forward a little and closing the gate behind them. Fawn noticed why he paused to send them in. There were three guards walking across the lawn, scanning the area with flashlights. Garth wasn't taking any chances. Claus tensed slightly.

"Go!" He said and pushed her forward. Fawn moved as swiftly as she could, heading toward the undergrowth that Claus had told them to. A twig snapped behind her and she heard Claus curse.

"Duck!" He hissed to everyone. Fawn crouched low, inching into the brush. Travis and everyone else was ducked down. A flashlight beam scanned across the trees in front of them. Everyone froze and Fawn held her breath. After sweeping across the bushes and the trees twice, the guard shrugged and turned back the way he had came. Fawn let out a shaky breath. That was not something she wanted to experience again. Claus inched in beside her. Nathan looked over Travis's shoulder.

"What now?" He asked Claus. Claus leaned back against the wall.

"We wait until dawn." He whispered. Fawn closed her eyes and leaned against Travis's shoulder, she just wanted this to be over. They were still just getting started. Travis's arm wound around her waist.

"You scared me for a second." He whispered. Fawn let herself relax into him.

"Sorry." she apologized quietly.

"No talking!" Claus hissed harshly. Fawn could have sworn she saw Travis roll his eyes. It was a waiting game now and the sun wasn't rising quick enough.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The sun was barely peaking over the horizon when Claus finally pushed the communicator in his ear.

"Are all squadrons in position?" He asked. There was a long pause.

"Good. I want the snipers to go first. Have them take out anyone that's walking on the lawn or standing on balconies." Fawn shivered. This was really happening and there was no return once the fight started. Claus resumed talking.

"On my count. Three. Two. One." Fawn looked up as she watched guards suddenly slump to the ground, hit with lethal blows. None of them got back up.

"Move that chopper in now!" Claus said quickly, not caring about being quiet now. He stood up and cocked his gun.

"Alright guys. Once that chopper starts firing you run to the entrance. Stay behind it so you're not in the line of fire. It will make sure we have a clear path to the doors." Fawn could already feel her stomach rile with nerves. Travis helped her off the ground. Angry shouts came from inside the building and people came rushing out the door. Their shouts were drowned out by the roar of an engine and suddenly the chopper appeared.

"Run!" Claus shouted and took off. Everyone surged forward, Fawn out of pure panic. She saw more than just her group emerge from the brush. There were at least fifty of the rebel group storming the lawn. The Black Ivy soldiers began firing, but the chopper was making quick work of them. Fawn tried not to look while people were mowed down right before her eyes. A few managed to get shots off before the helicopter silenced them forever. Fawn looked to her left, seeing someone fall, they didn't get up. Swallowing back her fear, she turned it into determination, running hard. The Black Ivy's soldiers were now either running back in the building or being shot down by the group's plane, leaving the entrance to the palace clear for the rebel group to get in. When Fawn's steps finally hit the stairs to the entrance, she fumbled for her gun, knowing it would be needed inside the building. Gunfire erupted around her and she could see people standing on the second floor, hiding behind the rail of the marble staircase. Someone grabbed her arm and Fawn was aware of Travis dragging her toward the hall under the staircase. He was using one hand to fire the gun he held. They pelted toward the hall, bullets landing inches from where their feet had just been. Travis pulled her underneath the staircase.

"You okay?" He asked her, quickly loading another clip into his pistol. Fawn nodded in answer. Soon Sean, Willow, Leslie, Nathan, and Claus joined them. Claus looked at the group.

"Is everyone good?" He asked, looking to make sure they were all present. Nathan was cringing in pain, keeping weight off his right leg. Leslie looked scared. Nathan glanced up, seeing everyone's concerned looks.

"It just grazed me, nothing too serious." He grunted.

"You sure?" Claus asked. Nathan bit his lip and nodded. Claus took the moment of unsettled peace to address them.

"Next move, we get to that throne room. The surprise has worn off and I expect the Black Ivy will start rallying. We need to be careful. Panicked people are dangerous people. Make sure you-" He paused as his earpiece rapidly blinked red. Suddenly, he crouched, pointing his gun down the hall.

"We're about to get some company." He said. Fawn quickly cocked her gun. Travis pushed her behind him in a protective manner. The sound of running footsteps touched Fawn's ear and a group of at least ten people rushed around the corner. Guns sprang to life when the group's spotted each other. Fawn began firing, adrenaline rushing through her attempting to overtake her fear. She wasn't really sure if her fire hit anyone, but bodies began falling down. Something familiar caught Fawn's eye and to her horror, she recognized Lucas as one of the shooters. He was positioned around the corner, making himself harder to hit. Each of his group was being picked apart until he and one other male was left. Just when she thought they were about to give up, Lucas fired another round. Fawn heard a thud behind her and then a scream.

"Nathan!" Leslie's panicked scream rang out. Fawn risked a glance and saw the overseer lying limply on the floor. Blood was beginning to stain the side of his black suit. Leslie had dropped her weapon and was shaking him. Fawn trained her eyes on Lucas, seeing a small grin on his face. He stepped out from around the corner. Fawn's fingers pushed down on her pistol's trigger without much thought. Lucas's steps halted and he looked quite stunned. Blood seeped out of a hole in his chest. The boy stumbled backwards and then dropped down, his eyes unblinking. Fawn let out a breath, realizing what had just happened. The person that had been left standing with Lucas, ripped off their helmet. Fawn realized with horror that it was Ashton.

"Lucas!" She cried, dropping her gun and sliding down beside his body. Claus's group was mostly frozen. Claus and Willow were bent down, examining the extent of Nathan's injuries. Fawn looked at Ashton. The girl was crying, her hands covered in blood as she tried to wake Lucas up. Fawn knew he wasn't going to.

"Ashton..." Travis said quietly. The girl yanked her head around, her eyes beaded with sorrow.

"You killed him!" She screamed at Fawn. Fawn's gun felt heavy in her hands. Fawn felt like she was going to pass out.

"Ashton, I had no-"

"Shut up!" The girl screamed, leaning over Lucas's chest and crying out in horror. She suddenly picked up his gun and Travis pulled his out again. She didn't aim at them though. The girl put the gun to her temple, cocking it. She still cried, tears streaking down her face. Fawn stepped forward.

"Ashton please-" The sound off the gun firing stopped Fawn in mid sentence. Blood spattered on the hallway walls and Ashton's body fell limply across Lucas's. Fawn shrank back, dropping her own weapon. She started breathing heavily, panic coursing through her. Fawn's vision blurred. Travis caught her just before her body hit the floor.

"Fawn!" Travis exclaimed. He shook her, trying to bring her out of her shock. Fawn felt numb. What had she done? She hadn't asked for this. Her stomach's contents threatened to spill out.

"How's Nathan?" She managed out. Travis still held onto her. Willow looked up.

"He's still breathing, but we have to get him out of here." She said somberly. The urgency in her voice brought back some movement to Fawn's body. She planted her feet to steady herself. Leslie was pressing her hands into Nathan's sides to stop the bleeding.

"You guys keep going. I'll stay here until someone comes to get him." She said. Fawn looked at the girl.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Fawn asked, knowing it left Leslie quite vulnerable. The girls features hardened.

"I'll kill anyone that tries to get near him." She hissed with venom seeping through her voice. Claus stood up.

"We need to keep moving before move Black Ivy recruits arrive." He said solemnly.

"Go." Leslie said, nodding at them. Claus let out a long breath then stepped forward.

"You heard her, come on." Fawn started forward, but Travis pulled her to a halt.

"You should go." He said, his green eyes flashed with anxiety.

"No." Fawn ground her teeth. Travis was afraid.

"You're clearly shaken from what just happened, you should stay with Leslie." He said in a level tone. Fawn pulled away.

"He started this and I want to be there when it ends." She said. Travis swallowed hard.

"Alright. Just stay close to me." He said and kissed her quickly.

"I love you." Fawn kissed him back.

"I love you too." She said.

"Let's move!" Claus commanded. The group started forward, walking past the slain bodies of the two Section 6 overseer's. Fawn didn't want to look at them, she refused to. She differed from Travis in one definite way. There was no way she could forgive herself for what she had just done.