ZOMHELL

Just as Johan was about to swing open the truck's door, Maarg stepped forward, blocking the way. The air, already thick with the morning humidity, seemed to crackle with an unspoken tension. He turned towards Carla, his expression serious, his gaze unwavering.

"Before we move another inch towards the Vipers' base, we need to clarify some things," Maarg stated, his voice firm, cutting through the low murmur of anticipation. "We can't afford any confusion or problems later on, not with what we've been through and what's at stake."

His eyes met Carla's directly. "To be honest I see Cobra as a cunning and shifty person," he admitted, voicing a suspicion he knew others shared, even if they hadn't dared to articulate it so openly. "He plays his own game. So, here's my question, Miss Carla: if Cobra decides not to cooperate with us – with this Group – will you cooperate with us instead?"

A ripple of agreement went through the group. The casual atmosphere of the morning preparations vanished, replaced by a collective sense of unease about their destination. Others quickly chimed in, voicing their own concerns, their faces reflecting the apprehension that had been simmering beneath the surface.

Andy, ever the opportunist, spoke up next. "Look, Maarg's right. I'm glad we rescued you, Carla, truly. But me and Johan… we don't want to be part of the Vipers. Our deal was getting to a safe zone, not joining a new militia." Johan nodded vigorously beside him, his easygoing cheerfulness replaced by a determined frown. "Yeah, we're drivers, mechanics. Not soldiers for Cobra."

Then, Henry, usually calm and reserved, stepped forward. His expression was grim, his eyes holding a haunted look Maarg recognized from his own nightmares. "And I'm sorry but I no longer wish to work for the Vipers, either," Henry stated, his voice low but resolute. " It's not that I hate Cobra personally but my reason is simple, I've seen good people die under Cobra's command, used as disposable assets in his convoluted schemes." He paused, his gaze hardening. "Tara and Mark's incident... that was a wake-up call for me. Seeing what Gunther did, what Cobra allowed to happen in his pursuit of... His goals. I won't be a part of that anymore. My loyalty is to this group, to survive, not to some leader who sees us as tools."

The sudden unanimity of their stance hung in the air, a clear challenge to Carla. They had risked everything for her, but their trust in the Vipers, and especially Cobra, was irrevocably broken.

Carla stood silent for a long moment, her gaze sweeping over each of their faces – Maarg's intense stare, Jack's weary but firm expression, Andy and Johan's quiet resolve, Henry's steely determination. She had been loyal to Cobra for years, believing that what cobra did was for his family and his men. But the past few days, the horrors she had witnessed, and the unwavering courage of this small, disparate group had chipped away at her foundations. They had saved her when her own husband had, in essence, abandoned her.

A slow, deliberate breath escaped her lips. Carla's shoulders, which had been tense, relaxed almost imperceptibly. "Kai is... pragmatic," she began, her voice carefully measured, betraying none of her internal conflict. "He makes difficult choices for what he believes is the greater good. But I understand your concerns. I've seen the cost of those choices, up close, now." Her eyes lingered on Maarg, then on Henry. The raw pain of Tara and Mark's fate was a fresh wound for all of them.

She looked at the ground for a moment, then met Maarg's gaze directly, her own eyes clear and resolute. "My loyalty has always been to the mission: to rebuild, to protect. But that mission means nothing if it sacrifices the very people it claims to save." She paused, a faint, almost imperceptible tremor in her voice. "If Kai chooses not to cooperate with you, if he puts his own agenda above the safety and well-being of this group... then my cooperation is with you. All of you. I won't stand by and watch good people be sacrificed for a cause I no longer recognize."

It was a quiet declaration, but its weight was immense. Carla had chosen. She was no longer just a Viper operative; she was part of their cohort.

A collective sigh of relief, subtle but palpable, passed through the group. Jack, however, still had one vital point to make, a heavy truth that had been gnawing at him since their escape.

"And," Jack interjected, his voice firm, drawing everyone's attention, "we also need to keep in mind that Sammy is still held back at the base." The words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the leverage Cobra held, and the unfinished business that tied them, however reluctantly, to the Vipers. Even if they didn't want to join Cobra's ranks, they couldn't simply abandon Sammy. Her safety was paramount, a silent, powerful obligation that weighed on Jack's every decision. Her presence at the base meant their return was not entirely voluntary, but a necessity, for now.

With everything mostly resolved, at least for the immediate future, Maarg finally smiled. It was a genuine, open smile, devoid of the earlier tension. He sidestepped away from the truck door, gesturing for them to enter. "Then we should get back and get Sammy back, huh?" he said, his voice carrying a renewed sense of purpose.

One by one, the group began to board the truck, the heavy door groaning as it opened. Jack climbed in first, followed by Carla, who gave Maarg a brief, appreciative nod as she passed. Andy and Johan, their faces still etched with a touch of apprehension about the Vipers, were the last to approach.

As Andy and Johan stepped up, Maarg put his hand firmly on Henry's shoulder, stopping him for a moment. Henry, who had been focused on his mental mapping, looked at Maarg with a questioning glance. Maarg's smile deepened, a conspiratorial glint in his eyes.

"Listen," Maarg said, keeping his voice low enough so only Henry, Andy, and Johan could hear him. "You guys don't need to worry about being caught up with Cobra's nonsense." He paused, letting his words sink in. "I know a place. Somewhere safe. A spot where the three of you can stay while we – while Jack, Carla, Gabby, and I – go in and make the deal with Cobra and get Sammy back." He wasn't just offering a suggestion; he was offering a tangible escape route, a way for them to avoid being pulled into the Vipers' potentially toxic orbit while still ensuring Sammy's rescue. It was a risky proposition, splitting the group, but it acknowledged their very real concerns and offered a path forward that respected their boundaries.