A dangerous decision

You've barely left the doctor's office when Ben almost collides with you, dashing along the corridor.

"{if Futa==true}Mikaela{else}Michael{endif}! I was just looking for you. Rachel says she's spotted the lawyers on their way - I think our time might be almost up on that contract thing."

"Where is everyone else?" you ask, following him as he sets off again.

"In the dining hall," he says worriedly.

After hurriedly grabbing whatever food they're serving at the canteen, you take the seat next to Sparrow, with Woodpecker and Foxgloves opposite you.

The blue-eyed girl gives a relieved smile at your arrival. "So, what's the plan?"

"I say we run," says Carly quietly, her eyes searching yours and the others'. "Form our own kick-ass vigilante network, and do what we want. They'd need an army to take us down - and they'd have to find us first."

"You might be overestimating our abilities," cautions Ben. "You and I might be able to survive gunshots, but Alpha {if Futa==true}Woman{else}Man{endif} and Sparrow can't."

"Well, we haven't yet had the pleasure of finding out," you correct him grimly.

"Perhaps we should keep pushing for a better deal," suggests Rachel. "{if Futa==true}Mikaela{else}Michael{endif}'s powers might be enough for us to persuade them to give us more autonomy and more rights."

"Or the third option." You turn round in surprise, as Hurricane deliberately takes the seat next to you. "We sign the contract, as it is."

Carly looks at the big guy disbelievingly. "You heard what Mr Lawyer said yesterday. They want us to give up all our freedom, all control of what we do with our abilities, so we can be the government's personal puppets."

Hurricane gazed at her steadily, holding the silence until the green-skinned girl averted her eyes. "We are in a base fortified with armed guards, two twenty-foot electric fences, and four thirty-foot watch towers. For its size, this base may be the best-armed in the country. If we refuse to sign, they will imprison us until they can **** us to do what they want. Or they will kill us."

"Sparrow could fly us all out, right?" suggests Carly, glancing to Rachel. Your girlfriend nods, though her expression is worried.

"Perhaps we would benefit from oversight. Being shielded from the fallout of our actions." You all watch silently as Hurricane takes a slow swig of his drink, then sets it gently down. "I've caused problems already," he continues, staring at the glass. "And been blamed for many more. Trust me - you don't want to go through that."

"I'd rather fight for what I believe in than hide to save my own skin," replies Carly brusquely, Ben nodding along vigorously. "But... I can see Hurricane has a point."

Rachel pipes up. "I think no matter what we decide, the most important thing is that we stick together." You and the other three murmur your agreement. "So, what's our decision?"

Everyone looks at one another uncertainly, but naturally, all eyes come to rest on you.