When the shot was fired, it felt like a heavy silence filled the open plaza. All of the guards had dropped down to the ground, expectant of the bullets to rain down on them, but even the building where Overture and Finale were stationed had become quiet. Their eyes, even Rest's, had turned over to the uncovered stage with their breaths lodged somewhere between their lungs and their teeth. There was a scream and there was blood, but it wasn't Gordon's.

Rest couldn't believe his eyes. Grave had missed.

Immediately the guard that was now crouching beside him whipped his head over to the building where the trail of smoke from the sniper rifle was still lingering in the cold air. He took out his walkie talkie and began shouting in it. "Jordan, Reis get over to the governor now! Evac immediately! Eyes on the building six o' clock! Squads two and three, get on the ass of that damn sniper now! Cover the exits! Go, go, go!" The black forms that littered all around the open plaza sprung to their feet, a great number of them moving before the the captain, at least Rest assumed he was, gave them orders. Open shots were fired at the building where Grave was.

This was bad. Even the bullets that were being fired from where Overture and Finale were had stopped, meaning they too were pulling out. The only shots that were being fired now were from the ground up and even those were beginning to disappear into the two buildings were the rest of the Circle was hiding. Time to get out of here. Rest flipped himself to his front but could do no more than push himself to his feet before the captain behind him grabbed hold of his shoulder.

"Hold on, boy!"

Rest turned a wary eye over to where the captain held him, unsure whether the man thought him as an accomplice to the assassination or not. The captain stopped another guard that was running past him. His expression, though far from friendly, wasn't hostile. "You'll be safer with us." The captain shoved Rest towards the other guard, Rest's expression anything but reassured. Even if their intent was protecting, Rest was basically being captured. His mind was frantic for a solution. Could he play the role of wacky but innocent journalist for a bit longer?

The guard took hold of Rest, giving him a stiff nod and an assuring pat on the shoulder. "Stay close. We're not out of the fire just yet."

Rest forced a smile onto his face. "R-Right." He had to play it cool. He might not make it to the rendezvous point, but it was better than taking a chance with the armed and dangerous officials.

The guard hadn't responded for a moment, his eyes drooping down towards Rest's belt. Whatever semblance of a reassuring smile on his face had dropped off completely. "Is that...?"

Rest's eyes dropped down to his own belt now and his blood turned to sludge. His jacket was parted, the butt of his pistol, sitting neatly in its holster, was now completely revealed. His eyes darted back up to the guard who had also done the same, matching eyes with Rest now.

Rest didn't waste a moment. One of the guard's hands was still resting on Rest's shoulder, leaving his weapon only lightly supported by his other hand and a strap that was slung over one elbow. Rest slammed his shoulder into the guard's chest, slipping his hands around the rifle. The guard let out a sharp gasp, stumbling back. Rest did the same, already fumbling with the weight of the weapon.

"Hey!"

By the time the captain, who hadn't moved far from where Rest was taken, turned around to see the journalist now armed with a rifle and his own man stumbling back to catch his breath, Rest had already fired a round in his direction. It was purely an accidental shot, not that it made any difference. The bullet hole was no where near its intended target. The captain had dove out of the way, but with little in the means of cover present in the open plaza, his only option was to fire back. Which he did.

The first two shots were far from its mark. Rest jerked himself out of the way, pulling in close to the unarmed guard. Before the captain was able to release a third shot, Rest grabbed the unarmed guard and swung him towards the captain. Within seconds the two became a pile of cursing bodies lumped on top of each other. Rest spun on his heels and ran for the first cover he could find, which, unfortunately, were the buildings that lined the area. The roar of a car engine was already resounding in the open plaza. Rest had to bite back his frustration. Gordon was going to escape soon. Ten minutes soon. At most. If they were lucky. The men he left behind were shouting after him.

"Dammit, he's getting away!"

Gun shots flew after him. Rest ducked around the rim of the stage, diving straight into the plume of ash that was still blanketing the area. It was either kill Gordon himself or escape the scene before he was caught. One way or the other, Rest had to move quick.