NationStates Jolt Archive

"Sorry? Why on earth would you be sorry? There is nothing to apolgize for." Zealot said, as the Reverend closed the door and walked down the hall, laughing quietly to himself.

OOC: heh, 500th reply in this thread.

"I'm sorry for being an inconvenience." She said, bowing her head. "I was put in charge of watching the park, but I was unable to do it properly, and even was a hindrance to your friends. One of your friends even perished in the attack, and if I only held a firmer grip, perhaps your army would not have left you." She stayed in her position: head bowed lowly, shoulders slumped and her face invisible.

"There was no way you could have forseen or prevented that attack, you performed admirably, far better than I would have under the same circumstances. You are not, and never have been, an inconvenience." Zealot replied, stepping forward and placing his hand on her shoulder to reassure her.

"Thank you very much, Captain Zealot." She said profusely, strongly, with conviction, her head still bowed. "I will try to make up for it in any way I can." She said, standing still, awaiting her next orders.

"Try and get some rest, too much activity could cause you to re-injure your arm." Zealot said. He looked at her for a moment, then turned to the door, overwhelmed by the occurences of the past ten minutes.

"Please forgive me for my rudeness, Captain, but I am not tired." She said defiantly, sitting on the bed with her eyes piercing, powerful, and sharp. Sitting outside the room, ear pressed to the wall, Christina had a large, goofy smile on her face with Sekai sitting beside her, unable to convince his girlfriend to leave them be.

"You know, Christina, it might be best to let things go their own course." He said, as Christina smacked his head lightly.

"The guy's an idiot, do you expect me to lay down low on this? What we need are gangsters." Christina said, as Sekai inched away from her slowly.

"How ridiculous are your ideas? Don't you have anything more original?" Sekai asked, as she shrugged.

"I think Unity could take care of herself without any asistance from him in such a situation." Rev. Shmidt said, walking back to join the two, and pressing his own ear agaisnt the wall. "He'd better not screw this up, after I planted the idea in his head. Is he making a complete fool of himself?"

"Have any other ideas on how to get this thing off the ground, Reverend?" Christina asked.

"As a last resort we could always lock them in." he said, laughing. "The thing to do is to get him to quit being so self-contained and unemotional, a dfficult feat as hes already probably shown more emotion, other than anger, in the past ten minutes than he has in the rest of the past decade."

"What a...boring guy." Christina said, as Sekai placed his hand atop her head, where she swatted it away quickly. "What?" She asked him as Sekai nodded to the Reverend.

"Let's give it a try." Sekai said, taking his long sword, jamming it into the handle as it locked into the railing beside it. "Do you think this'll hold?" Sekai asked.

"Well, you have to take his past into account, he was probably forced to remain emotionless to keep his sanity.." The Reverend started, but stopped when Sekai took out his sword. "I was half-joking when i suggested that!" He thought for a moment. "It will probably hold, he wouldn't want to break the door down."

Inside the room Zealot was about to respond when he heard a noise from outside. "What on earth?" He said, going over to open the door and look out. The door handle wouldn't budge. "It's locked." He said, confused.

Shmidt doubled over with silent laughter, using his cross to support him.

"Permission to break this down?" Unity asked, her knuckles crackling with anticipation, thirsting to smash the door apart.

"Please dont. This is a free clinic, and they are probably hard enough for funds as it is without us destroying everything that we find to be inconvenient." Zealot said. He paused then began laughing. "I don't think the fact that the door is jammed is of as much concern to us as why it is jammed."

"Told you he wouldn't." The Reverend said, still laughing.

"I guess now we play the waiting game." Sekai said, as Christina walked up to the Reverend, grabbing him by the shoulder.

"Where's your heating control?" She asked him.

Within the room, Unity slumped down in disappointment. "Well, I guess we have to wait, or something. Do you have a phone?"

Shmidt chuckled. "In the basement, a boiler room. I can get a key." He beckoned for her to follow him and walked down the hall. "Good thing he left his phone in his car."

Zealot began searched his pockets for his cell phone, and couldn't find it. "Of all the times to lose my cell phone..."

"You're going to kill them, you crazy woman." Sekai said, another slap from Christina. "Ow. Why do you keep hitting me?"

"Not now, Sekai." She said, following the Reverend. "We need to hurry up before anything else happens."

"I can't have one, for fear of being tracked down." Unity said, groaning lightly. "I wish they had better security."

"It is a medical center, not a fortress." Zealot said, sitting down. "When was the last time a nurse was in to check on you?"

The three reached the reception area of the clinic and Shmidt accosted a janitor. "I need the keys to the boiler room, i must adjust the tempurature in room 15."

"Whatever for, sir?" The man replied, puzzled.

"For the greater good." The Reverend replied, his expression grave. "Please, it is of the utmost importance."

"Well, alright then." The janitor said, fishing a ring of keys out of his pocket and giving Shmidt one.

"Thank you sir, you are an asset to your nation." The Reverend said, and hurried towards the basement.

"Asset to my nation? Greater good? Why do all of the preists around here have to be completely insane?" The custodian grumbled, dipping his mop in a bucket.

"Not this morning yet, so I don't know." She said, sighing. "Though, to be honest, I haven't really checked too much since I wasn't really awake that long."

"So, how low shall the temperature go?" Christina asked.

Zealot tried to remember the nurse's shcedule. "I don't think another one ill be coming for at least four hours." He said frustratedly.

Shmidt examined the boiler controls once they reached the basement. "Forty-five degrees, that should make them plenty chilly." He said, re-setting the room's tempurature. "Now all we need to do is make sure they are not disturbed."

The radiator in Unity's room started making noises as it's tempurature rapidly changed. Zealot felt it for a moment. "That meddlesome old coot." He said in his native language before switching back to English. "The radiator tempurature is dropping."

"What?!" Unity said indignantly, as she rose up to the radiator, as if attempting to stare it down. "Damn it." She replied, smashing her fist against the edge of the bed, bending the bar slightly. "This is ridiculous." She grumbled.

"Indeed." replied Zealot, sitting down and already feeling slightly colder.

It was unknown how Zealot handled it, but Unity did not handle it very well. She had never been in cold climates, raised in the dune sea of southern Jagada, and she herself had difficulties dealing with the rapidly dropping temperature; her skin began to dry quickly, her lips starting to break and bleed, and her fingers were already turning a pale ghostly white in the frigid temperature.

"All you alright?" Zealot asked, noticing her condition. He walked over to her, taking off his cloak and draping it over her shoulders. Without the extra layer of insulation, he quickly felt the full effect of the cold as well, though he suffered far less from it than Unity did.

"It's okay." Unity said, wrapping her arms around him, the cloak she had recently acquired wrapped around them both. So close were their faces, the breaths of each other smoothly fell upon their noses, as Unity closed her eyes in stark expectation.

"Wow, she moves fast." A woman said, looking through the camera within the watch placed on the table beside the bed, tea in her hands. "The Mistress won't like this." With that, she pressed the communicator, before ringing the news in. "Tell Lady Lyre that her daughter is with an unknown man right now, and please notify her husband." The screens danced erratically in the dark room, and the smell of coffee filled it up nicely.

Zealot put his arms around Unity in turn, further lessening the space between them. He leaned down do that their faces were level, and softly kissed her.

Rev. Shmidt threw the key ring back to the janitor, who caught them and started grumbling about mad clergymen. Smith was sitting at a table in the clinic's tiny eating area and looked puzzled as Shmidt walked over to him. "Where's the Captain? He's not usually one to sleep late."

"We locked him in a room with Unity and turned the radiator in there down to fort-five degrees." The preist responded matter-of-factly. Smith roared with laughter, his chair toppling backwards and taking him with it.

"Are you sure about this?" Unity had asked, not kissing back. She had wavered her feelings, her heart, and her judgment, and she could not stop the overwhelming throbbing beating that resonated deep within her chest. "It hurts." She whispered softly.

Sekai stood outside the clinic, as Jormungand joined him, her arms crossed and his face stern. "This could be complicated." Sekai said matter-of-factly. "You are aware of the consequences of this union, aren't you?"

"Yeah." Christina smiled. "If he's got a problem with it, I'll put him in his place. I've gotten stronger since then."

"He's grown as well, you go. He's more brutal than before. He now can be on par with the Leader of the Generals, Lord Redeye." Sekai warned, as Christina frowned in disgust.

"I know. I know firsthand his sword. Unity's father." She grumbled.

Seven Years Ago
Jormungand sighed. The atmosphere was warm, no, it was burning, and she had enough of such horrid weather. Merely standing within a forest of wondrous maple, she sighed gently as her mind slowly crawled to a drawling slump. Immediately, she slashed. Her movements were incredible - she swung her blade with beautiful elegance, the shining silver ringing from the blade's farthest edge whispering gently in her wake. Jormungand sighed softly in return, the energy spent from her body.

She did not wear the garm she wore in the present - in fact, she looked much different than the Christina of today; her hair was long - waist length, in fact, and her body was much more muscular in those days, though her figure was still quite sensuous. Atop her head was a large hat that draped down curtains over her face, covering it in a wrapping cloth with her mind slowly under concentration. Crows and Ravens flocked to her shoulders, her shoulder pads already bent in slightly from their blunt talons, and her clothing was long, draping, and beautiful to say the very least - she smelled strongly of chrysanthemum, and the aromatic sweetness that emanated from her drew smaller animals to her heels. She swung again, the trees rustling loudly as the leaves were spliced away, a soft clapping noise heard from the forest.

Emerging was a snow-white and short haired man, his face serious, his stare monotonous, not a single emotion dancing on his face. "General Jormungand." He said, looking at her as he nodded appreciatively. "Your form is as pretty as ever. It is no wonder you have the title as the most beautiful and elegant form within the Generals' circle." He bowed, as she bowed back. Such formality was bristled by the rustling leaves and the deftly howling wind. "Perhaps you would care for a little spar with me?"

"Do you want to spar with me, General Fox Lord?" She asked him, as he nodded in reply. "I hear you yourself have a beautiful style, with wondrous fighting speed in your attacks. Are the legends true, that you yourself could be on the same level as RedEye if you had merely taken a more active and aggressive stance on things?" She continued, as he only bowed slightly.

"It is all up to interpretation." The Fox Lord admitted. "So, will you do me the honor of a safe spar? Our swords will be locked in their sheaths." He spoke, locking his handle down unto the scabbard, wrapping a long steel-like wire around the notches between his guard and his sheath. Jormungand did the same, and they both nodded to each other, the slightest of nods, to their respective opponents. Maple stirred within the forest, and the trees were a dense shade of pale crimson, with red hands flying through the gale. "Let us begin." He acknowledged, and immediately the Fox Lord rushed into action. His sword smashed into hers, and she ran her guarded arm along it, grabbing the edge of the handle as she tilted the point down with her fingers.

She lunged her blade, and the Fox Lord swung his own up to direct the swing, but she struck her center of gravity to provide a second faster stab towards him. The Fox Lord's momentum allowed him to twisted about in reply, his sheath aimed at her stomach before her leg rose up to block it, a loud smashing noise heard in the collision. It was a beautiful sight; both of them were elegantly clad, both of them feeling and going with the breeze of the wind, the maple leaves falling from place to place, with vermilion spirits howling amongst them, the pathway barely visible. The Fox Lord nodded in reply, and Jormungand nodded in her own accordance. Striking back, Jormungand kicked her enemy's sword away, before bringing her leg up for a drop kick, her sword preparing a thrust, but the Fox Lord had regained his attack and swung in a single fashion. Her leg smashed against his arm, and her sword was blocked by his. Twisting around, Jormungand slashed below towards his knee, and he danced atop the swinging blade and jumped high into the air.

From above, the Fox Lord stabbed down in a diagonal fashion, forcing Jormungand to dodge, before he twisted his body and swung like a windmill in a cyclonic fury before her. Maple leaves drew up in this tiny tornado of leaves, and Jormungand only was capable of waiting before he stopped that she launched a counter strike, Her stab thrust itself against him, but instantly the Fox Lord purposely put his sword atop hers at a perpendicular direction, pushing himself in an arch to her right side, his sheath swinging at her stomach, but stopping at the last second. Instantly, he stopped, and Jormungand nodded appreciatively. "You are very good. You had almost destroyed me at a few parts there." He said respectively, before Jormungand frowned at him behind her veil.

"Do not jest with me, General Fox." She said with a heavily covered, disgusted and hateful tone. "I know of your reputation, and I have studied your fighting style. This is not your fighting style at all, and you only took me for a child. I however, have taken you as your entirety, and yet I am given a half-needed performance?" She hated him for going easy on her, to give her the thought she had a fighting chance, only to find out that he had been handicapping himself.

"I don't understand." The Fox Lord said.

"I know you're wearing weights right now on your body, and you're hampering your attacking power and speed with those things. But I warn you," She threatened, "my student, the Lazy Dragon, will be the one who will crush you once and for all. He will defeat you Fox Lord."

"Then mine own, the Spring Demon, will act accordingly." He gave off a final smile. "Ain'cha thinksa, Genera Johmunga?"

"I've never been more sure of anything." Zealot replied. He did not try to kiss her again, but waited, as he didn't want to coerce her into something that she did not want as well.

Smith's laughter slowly ceased, and his expression grew more serious. "Still, she is one of the Sons of Sagacity, as are the other two. Why are we working with them, when they belong to such an organization?"

"Well, as the Hegemon is so fond of saying: Not everyone who commits evil is a villain themselves. Many are just in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong idea." The Reverend responded, smiling.

"Forgive me if I don't ascribe to your blind idealism regarding human nature." Smith said with a scoff.

"It's okay." She said, she whispered, her voice a barely audible shiver. "If it's you, it's okay." With that, she gave herself in.

Sekai frowned at the prospect of what Unity and Zealot could be doing in such conditions. "This is not going to be a pretty union." He said, as Jormungand nodded in reply. "Was this your plan all along, Christina? That you would use his daughter to unite with one of his Captains, to gain his ire as revenge for your humiliation so many years ago?"

"Yes." Christina admitted.

"But it was a mere spar." Sekai reasoned, before Christina shook her head.

"No, it wasn't. The Fox Lord destroyed me in his entirety once after that incident, when he banished me from the Sons of Sagacity with his student, and your brother, the Spring Demon." Christina explained. Sekai raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

"What...do you mean?" He asked her, as she looked at him squarely.

"The Fox Lord's student is the Spring Demon, and the Lazy Dragon was mine. There was never a bridge between me and the Fox Lord in skill, capability or leadership, but he acted as if there was to mock me. In response, I had thought that if I trained a student to crush his own prized student, I could gain some sort of recognition or seriousness from the man." Christina continued, sighing. "You have a strong brother, Sekai." She admitted.

"The Lazy Dragon?"

"He was my student. And he was more than a student very soon after I took him in. He was a weak boy when I first found him, but he was disgusted with his position in weakness. I don't know how and where he gained such horrendous ideals, but he quickly came to the conclusion that his position was unmaking of a man such as he, and he quickly gained in power, skill, and consequently, ruthlessness. He became a General only a few days after his insertion into the Sons of Sagacity, a record none have ever been able to break, and all done legitimately as well. In days, he killed so many people to gain and rise to his position, where he even slaughtered the previous Lazy Dragon without a single wound. How humiliating it must be a grown man to lose to a teenager admitted only days before." Christina told Sekai.

"But, the Lazy Dragon, my greatest student, was surpassed and defeated by the Fox Lord's student - the Spring Demon. And he continues to mock me now, with Crow, Medium and now Jormungand in the Generals' circle. More than half of the Sons of Sagacity's Generals were once students of his." Christina bit her lip in anger. "He's planning an overtake of the Sons of Sagacity. He's planning to take my advice from such a long time ago - he's going to take a more aggressive stance and knock Redeye off his throne."

Three hours later:

Rev. Shmidt sat at a table, several books in front of him as he took notes on a passage from one. He glanced up at the clock. "I think they've had enough time beign cold, we dont want to give them hypothermia." He stood up, and walked down to the boiler room, changing the heat in room 15 back to normal.

"Mistress, your daughter has been found in the embrace of a man. We are unsure of whether it was forced or not, but we do not know that her body temperature has been dropping." The messenger said, as Lyre clenched her teeth in utmost disgust. She was never a forgiving woman, and although she was a small thing, Lyre held incredible physical power.

"Where are they?" Lyre demanded, and the aide only responded appropriately.

Meanwhile, Christina walked up to the hospital door, as Sekai followed suit. The sword was still stuck there, and grabbing it by the hilt, he wrangled it free with little difficulty on his end. Quickly, she opened the door with a wide smile on her face.

Zealot was standing in the center of the room, dressed except for his shirt, when the door opened. He looked at the two for a moment, torn between annoyance, gratitude, and amusement. "Haven't you ever heard of knocking?" He asked before switching to his native language. "How did you get the keys to the boiler room?"

"Who knows." Christina replied back, with little words escaping her mouth. Sekai only looked at them with monotonous eyes. "Though, finish it up quick, because we have a little problem." She looked at Sekai, who nodded.

"We might need to transfer right now." Sekai said, turning around. "General Crow is extremely close, and if she should come here, I'll keep her at bay long enough for you guys to escape."

"She wont come here, if she does she will have to fight her way through the guards and while that may not be much of a challenge for her, it would be all over the evening news." Zelaot said, buttoning up his shirt. "Now, if you would be so kind as to leave this room and tell Shmidt and Smith to get everything ready to leave, I would be most grateful."

"Very well." Sekai confided, before walking off, his journey taking him to the front of the clinic, standing outside before the form of General Crow walked up towards the parking lot. "General." Sekai said, as Crow nodded in reply.

"Dollface, on my orders, move immediately." Crow demanded as Sekai shook his head. "Why do you disobey?" She had a tone of fear in her voice now.

"You're scared, aren't you, General?" Sekai asked. "You're scared that if I disobey, the entire fabric of the Generals will fall?" He held his sheath.

"Of course I am scared." Crow said, not budging. "But I can only do so much." Instantly, her hand began to hover over her waist. "My second and last command; move immediately, Dollface."

Shmidt looked up as Sekai walked outside. "Hey isn't that...oh dear God." He snatched his cross up and ran outside to join Sekai, Smith just behind. Once he had caght up, the preist straightened his clothing and spoke:

"Now, how much publicity do you think would occur if two heroes of the Sumguaian revolution happened to witness someone of your description commit murder just outside an AL clinic where none other than the former commander of the Royal Guard was staying, and told the media about it? Or better yet, if one or more of them died as well? I'd think such an event would be all over the news for days, especially with security camera footage. You aren't a fan of publicity, are you, General Crow? You could of course kill all of us here, but there is one of us who knows of the existence of your organization who is not here. If we were to die, what reason would he have not to tell the government and media everything that he knows?" He smiled. "Besides, I'm sure you will have plenty of chances to kill us all in the next few days where we will be more..out of the public eye. It was very difficult to convince the news networks not to report yesterday's events, I don't think they would be able to resist."

Crow didn't change her expression. She turned around, walking back as she her head swiveled slightly to reveal half her face to see them. "You make a pertinent point, good sir." She replied. "While I do commend on your reasoning, in return for your courtesy in logic, I will give you a piece of advice. Be aware of the Gauss. The Lyre is coming soon, and nothing exists her sword cannot cut. Although I will bane mine movements today, I make no promise to help you in your upcoming foe."

"Lyre is coming?! Lady Lyre?!" Sekai said, as General Crow looked back monotonously. "Damn it."

"Well, whoever this 'Lyre' woman is, she isn't here now." Shmidt said, turning to walk back inside. "Which will give us time to prepare." He laughed. "As we have just witnessed, not everything need be won with brute force."

Zealot walked to the window of Unity's room and looked out, staring at the horizon as the sun began to set.

"Your husband would be quite livid if he found out." Crow urged, looking at a doll-like woman. She was pretty, elegant, with wonderful curls and locks for hair, her face pale but smooth, shining with radiance and beauty, but it glittered deftly. She seemed fragile, and her movements were stiff. "I urge you to reconsider. Nay, I command you."

"My husband will be livid, but I can persuade him otherwise." Lyre spoke, as she got into her limousine. "I cannot trust you, General." She spoke with such a loathsome tone.

"What's going on?" Unity asked Zealot, standing beside him, her arms crossed as if in deep contemplation. "The war starts to turn ugly, doesn't it?"

"You probably know more about it than I do, but it would appear so." Zealot said, still looking out as the sky became a myriad of colors and the sun began to dissapear over the horizon. "I used to think that a sunset in the Empire was the most beautiful thing on earth...."

"It's a big world out there." Unity said, her hand grasping his tightly, affectionately, her eyes beginning to glaze over as the life began to slowly escape from her irises. "We aren't meant to be, aren't we?" She asked him resolutely. "You hate everything I stand for, everything I do. And my father, and my mother, they aren't going to enjoy your company, aren't they?"

"Melodrama is deft now." Christina said, in Sekai's old robes. It seemed to suit her - she was dressed in long, flowing silver robes dabbed with dried blood, a long curved sword at her waist, dangling in front of her like some sort of cane, loosely tied by a sash that was meant to be toppled atop her breast. She had her hair down, rather than her usual tied up hair, and she seemed very pretty indeed - but there was no exuberance that emanated from her; her presence was overpowering, destructive, warmongering in such a uniform. For the first time, Christina seemed to emanate such a powerful aura, and for the first time, there was no doubt that this amusing and joking woman could be once a powerful General. However, an eyepatch was cast above her left eye, most interestingly, and she frowned as underneath was a padding of white cotton that was visibly nothing less of bandages still covered in fresh blood. "Hurry. I lost an eye here, so you guys better quicken up the pace, because things are going to get worse."

"We will find a way." Zealot said to Unity as he threw his cloak on and strapped the sheath of his sword over his back in one fluid motion. He did not utter the statement as a hope or wish, but an undeniable and self-evident fact. He walked to the door, drawing his weapon as he did so. "Let us go then, is the parking lot clear?"

"Right now there is a little problem in the parking lot. Is there a back way out?" Christina asked, looking around.

In the front parking lot, Sekai had ducked behind a car, a ray of sunlight shimmering upon his shoulder as it lit up a red blotch of blood. There was a bullet wound in his back, and he groaned in pain as he slowly crept, waiting for another chance, another instance to strike back. Frowning, he stepped out a single foot before another bullet ripped into his toe, forcing him to bring his bloodied foot back. "Damn it." He said, gripping his rifle tightly.

Upon a rooftop, Medium was drowned out in music, as earplugs were dug deep into her ears, her head bobbing to the beat of the drums, her excited fingers dancing deftly on the trigger without pushing too hard as to foolishly pull it. She didn't say a word, but waited with her scope at the car as she only saw the shadow of Sekai creep out slowly from above the door blocking her vision. She just had to buy time until her strike team came in attack.

"Great." Was the Reverend's comment to himself as he stole a glance out of a window at Sekai and General Medium. "Where is that boy and his sniper rifle when you need him?"

Smith had dissapeared when the first shots of gunfire were heard, walking to a janitorial closet, opening it, and going inside. He came back carrying two assault rifles, one of which he threw to Rev. Shmidt, who looked out again from one of the windows as he talked into a cell phone.

"Get over here now, we are under fire. The clinic on 5th street." He said, then closed the phone. He broke the window open, took aim at the woman, and fired a stream of bullets in her direction. Tiles exploded on the roof all around the General as he emptied his clip at the roof. It was not a burst meant for accuracy, but disruption, to force her to take cover.

As the Reverend opened fire, Smith exited the building and sprinted towards Sekai, firing his own weapon up at the form on the rooftop.

"There are several ways out, the back entrance being a rather obvious alternative." Zealot said. "There is also a ground-floor fire exit, perhaps we should take that."

"Tch." Medium only groaned in dissatisfaction, looking at the heightened number of opponents against her. "They're like locusts." She said in disgust, firing back, as few shards of the tiles hitting her knee, one of them lodged in her thigh although she paid little attention towards it. She looked at her scope still, waiting for one of them to reveal their faces, so that once they were in her sight, she could press the trigger. Her finger was so very excited. Enemy gunfire rang back at her, and she waited slowly for her foe to reveal themselves, firing off a single shot at what she assumed was Sekai, but it had turned out to be a diversionary robe. She frowned.

"Damn." Sekai replied calmly, his rifle readied as he swept slightly to the edge, firing up into the rooftops quickly before ducking back, narrowly missing a straight shot that would have ripped through his skull. "That was close." He said, ready to move against before another shot blasted where he would have been. Had he decided a second sooner, he would have been dead. "Did she just predict where I went?" He asked, waiting. It was eerily silent.

Unity followed Zealot, as Christina was close behind. She ran absurdly quick, and her stamina did not give out whatsoever. Rushing along the route, thoughts ran through Christina's mind. The Lazy Dragon, damn. He's got General Medium on his side, too.

Zealot led them out of the exit. "Lead the way, Ms. McDonald."

"Where on earth are you?!?" Shmidt yelled into his phone as he reloaded. "Could you get a good shot at someone on the rooftops from there? Alright, stop there then, we don't have much time. Don't miss."

"You know me, I never miss." Johnson said, stopping his motorcycle several blocks away and taking his sniper rifle off of his back. He looked through the scope towards the clinic, searching for the target in question. He did not see the woman from his position, but noticed the front end of a rifle aimed towards the street, it's owner obscured by the roof. Laughing to himself, he aimed for the weapon's scope and fired.

The enemy rifle shot was certainly powerful, and being of high caliber, as the bullet stuck itself into her rifle, forcing Medium unable to fire from her rifle again. "Tch." Medium said, groaning loudly. "I can't rely on those idiots to show up on time." She complained, as from behind, she prepared a fully fledge javelin, aiming at the car that Sekai was hiding behind.

"That boy is amazing." Smith said behind the car as he witnessed the round strike Medium's rifle. He stood up and opened fire on her again, having reloaded.

Only the tip of the javelin was seen, as Medium's rocket launcher was aimed at the door of the car, looking intently through her scope as she waited silently for the moment that Sekai would show signs of movement so she could figure out where he was headed.

Zealot heard the gunshots from the other side of the clinic. "Perhaps we should assist with the situation at the front entrance?"

"No." Christina said, grabbing Unity's communicator. "Dollface, get everyone out of there immediately." She ordered. "We need to leave soon."

Sekai wondered why, before he saw the tip of the launching flashing at the car he was perched behind. "A rocket launcher?" He asked himself loudly, frowning. "Damn it."

Smith noticed the launcher and let out a stream of Sumguaian curse words. as he reloaded. "We need to get inside. An explosion out here could be passed off as an accident, but the media would have a field day with an explosion inside the clinic, as we can control them only so much. With any luck, this Medium person will realize that."

"Let's go." Sekai said, as Medium's finger pulled the trigger.

Christina looked onwards to find a familiar face sitting upon the stone seat-like objects beside her. "Stone." The voice said, as Christina stopped suddenly in the wake. "Christina Charlotte Macdonald. Formerly codenamed Jormungand. Daughter of the former Fox Lord. Former wife of the current Fox Lord." She chuckled loudly. "So what can your motive be?"

"Can you run with those injur.." Smith began, when the rocket fired. He reacted instantly, dropping his gun, picking up Sekai, and running towards the door leading inside the building. He stumbled and almost fell as the rocket hit the pavement behind him, burning the skin off of his back as bits of gravel embedded themselves in him. He regained his balance and kept running, seemingly unaware of his injuries. Rev. Shmidt held the door open for him as he ran inside, dropping Sekai roughly on the floor before doubling over, clutching his back.

Zealot's hand went to his sword as he waited for Christina to respond. ex-wife? Interesting.

"Quite a loud woman." Sekai said, trying to cock his rifle before it inconveniently jammed. "We should be safe inside the clinic." Sekai said, looking at the rooftop. "Damn that woman. Are there extra weapons around anywhere in the clinic?" He asked.

Christina stopped in her tracks, not turning around to face the woman behind her. "Yes, what about it?" She asked the Leper back, as the General chuckled with a bemused tone. "So what if I'm his ex-wife?" She had a strong defensive tone, almost hiding something.

"I'm just saying, the Fox Lord is an admirable man, and he's not half bad looking, I'd like to take him up - "

"Shut yer trap!" Christina roared distinctively, looking at the Leper, as she looked with hatred and disgust. "I will eliminate that man, with everything in my power." Christina argued, as the Leper frowned. "I will rip apart all my enemies, crush all my obstacles."

"Huh, obstacles?" The Leper asked. "You'll always be the weakest, Jormugand." She chuckled, looking at Christina with the faintest slice of amusement. "Well, worse than the Fox Lord, at least." She argued, as Christina's fist smashed into her stomach, sending the Leper reeling back in pain.

"So, I guess it's that much more difficult to keep a low profile, huh? And I thought it was going so well." Christina frowned.

Zealot laughed to himself as Christina lost her temper. "Come now, can't we speak like mature adults here, without resorting to insults and violence? I expected a bit more self control and composure from generals of the Sons of Sagacity."

"In the closet down the hall on the right." Shmidt said, pointing as he walked over to help Smith. "There is nearly every form of handheld weaponry in there."

"How is it?" Smith asked through gritted teeth as the Reverend examined his back.

"It doesnt look immediately life threatening, but I don't see how you are keepoing yourself from scremaing from the pain it is causing you." the preist replied, pulling out a peice of asphalt that had been was embedded Smith's back from the explosion. "Ungrateful scum, you just got your back shredded saving his life and he cant even bother with a 'thank you' before rushing off to get himself a new gun."

"You don't understand, Zealot, she is the real mastermind behind all this." The Leper said, looking at Christina, her fists readied. "Have you ever considered why the Sons of Sagacity, such a powerful organization would have made a mistake and sent someone unable to do it in the first place? If it was of this level, wouldn't a Captain ranked opponent be the one doing it? For success?" The Leper frowned. "There was no command from intelligence to take out the Leader of the Hegemony." The Leper frowned distastefully again. "All of this has been taken advantage of by Christina, former Jormungand. Do not fall into her trap. A General would not act this way."

Zealot laughed again. "Do not think me so naive as to trust any of you not to try and use myself and my..compatriates for your own ends. I have fallen into no trap, indeed, I hold more cards in this hand than you know."

"None can be trusted." Said a voice in perfect imitation of Zealot's from the hsadows. "Who then to beleive? It is quite the puzzle." Johnson was leaning against a wall, twirling a pistol in one hand. "I wish you would just let me kill them both, it would greatly simplify things."

"I am afraid that would cause more problems than it would solve." Zealot said. "These two arent among those actively trying to kill us, which is something that seems to be becoming increasingly popular within this organization."

"It won't be long before the Hand comes after you, Jormungand." The Leper said, as Christina stood there, looking at her dissappearing form, her shadowy body gone into the blackness. Standing there, Christina smiled, laughing with a chortled chuckle before her voice began to grow louder and louder and louder, more and more insane as time went on. She smiled with a fervent, dangerous smile, slowly growing more and more insane as she looked back at Zealot. Inching towards Unity, she looked into Unity's eyes, grabbing her face gently as her finger ran deftly upon her cheek.

"Zealot, take care of Unity. I'll need her soon enough." Christina said, running off into the blackness.

"You know, I'm actually embarrased to be of the same nationality as that woman." Johnson said, walking towards the two. "Should'a let me shoot her."

Zealot frowned. "This complicates things." He spoke into a small coomunicator: "Miss McDonald has become unpredictable. I think we may need some insurance."

"Will do." was the only reply. Zealot leaned against the wall of the building. "Your thoughts on the situation, vice-captain?"


Inside, The two men spoke for a moment in hushed Sumguaian, before each drew a handgun and approached the closet Sekai had been directed to. "I'm terribly sorry," The Reverend said, walking up behind Sekai, "but you are going to have to put down your weapons and accompany us for a while, I'm afraid."

Sekai frowned. "This is quite distasteful." He said, swallowing his immense pride before standing up. "I will co-operate, but do not think to throw a bone to a hungry dog that has not yet barked." He argued.

Unity did not stop to think. "My father can protect us in the meantime." She proposed.

The Reverend smiled. "Ah, good. Nothing personal boy, but Ms. McaDonald has unfortunately become something of a wild card, to put things mildly, and we cannot have her endangering our countrymen more than is absolutely neccesary for the common good. Hopefully your stay with us will be uneventful." he put the gun away, and turned. "We'd best go see the others."

"Your father?" Zealot asked, confused. "Who might that be?"

"Know that first and foremost, my loyalty is to Christina McDonald, and whatever side she joins, I am to follow most subserviently." Sekai spoke with a strong tone of dislike. "Do not be surprised if my blade to be at your throat so very soon."

"Sorry about that." Unity said, smiling nervously. "He's the Fox Lord."

The two men laughed. "Since when do insects such as yourself know anything about loyalty? If your blade is ever at my throat, boy, it will be while i break your ungrateful, arrogant little neck." Smith said. "You are no match for either of us, much less the Captain or Michael, so enough of the empty threats." He walked behind Sekai, and leaned forward to whisper in the man's ear. "I've spent my entire life killing scum like you. You are nothing compared to what we have faced, what we have done, and what we have suffered. You are pathetic, just a two-bit murderer with fancy swordplay and a huge ego. You'd better hope you die by my hand wehen the time comes, I doubt the Captain will be nearly as quick in killing you."


"Oh." Zealot said, his eyebrows raising in suprise. "Small world. I see what you mean now, about your parents' disapproval being a potential problem."

"I see verbal diarrhea is uncontrollable, when those like you even talk so boisterously. You can try, but the difference in ability will force you to consider otherwise." Sekai replied back.

Meanwhile, outside, Lyre had sat down on a bench, her sword hidden within a guitar case, her handgun in there as well. She seemed like a normal female guitarist, her years slightly upon her face, though still pretty and her skin still smooth. It seemed to many as if she was talking to air, but she had a small headset microphone within her ear as she listened and talk back. "Medium, did you fail in your job?" She asked, as a chuckled came back.

"No, unlike Jormungand, I don't fool around. Unlike the Crow, I don't take such brash actions in a secret skirmish, unlike the Leper, I don't play both sides of the fence, and unlike the Lazy Dragon, I actually do something." Medium chattered back. "Sekai is as good as dead."

"How so?" Lyre asked.

"Others who distrust him will kill him for me." Medium argued, as Lyre nodded.

"Unlike you, I actually will honor my foe by facing him face to face." Lyre spoke, getting up. "Do you know of directions to the Clinic?"

"My apologies." Smith said, amiling as they approached the door leading to where Zealot and Unity were. "You must forgive my outburst, but I'm rather irritated that the man who's life I just saved has the nerve to threaten me."

"You are far too optimistic, to expect gratitude from such people." Zealot said as the three came outside, having heard Smith's last comment. "Now, I think it would be best if we were to move somewhwere else, as this location is my no means unkown any longer." He nodded to Shmidt, who took a pair of handcuffs out from under his robe.

"Please surrender your sword and place your hands behind your back." He said, looking at Sekai with a mixture of amusement and pity.

Sekai followed accordingly, only if because Unity was within his presence. He knew that their last encounter was a resoundingly devastating defeat for him, and that she at the moment was the strongest one within the group. It mattered little now, as he was outnumbered and out muscled. "Vice-Captain, what is the meaning of this?" He asked.

"We will need to co-operate, Dollface." Unity spoke. "As direct relation to General Fox Lord, I will be vetoing the role of Captain Zealot temporarily to ensure that things run smoothly." She had looked at Sekai with stern, seriousness, her normal submissive manner gone. "Dollface, you will be placed under watch and apprehension for your extraction to the nearest Exkrucia hearing. Upon there your fate with your affiliation with the defect Jormungand will be decided." She spoke. "I implore that you take a more positive outlook at your situation." Unity ordered.

"And if I refuse?" Sekai asked, before a fist smashed into his stomach, blood ready to pour out, but he had closed so fast that his nose spurted it out instead. Unity frowned.

"This is not a negotiation. This is an order, as one of the Fox Lord's vanguards, Dollface." Unity spoke harshly.

Johnson laughed loudly. "An organization of murderers has a court system? Why, thats.."

"Hold your tongue, Michael." Zealot said, interrupting him. Johnson looked as if he were about to continue anyway, but apparently thought better of it and fell silent.

"Your orders then, ma'am?" Zealot said, turning to Unity.

"Unfortunately, Dollface is under direct blood protection with the Spring Demon's control over the Exkrucia. The Death penalty is impossible for this man, unless there is a higher authority that can veto the power of the Exkrucia." She looked at Dollface, before looking at Zealot. "We will be making a direct plea to the leader of the Sons of Sagacity, the only man who can override the opinion of a General. Dollface, we will take this issue up with Lord RedEye." She said, her hand on his shoulder. "I do hope that you can keep quiet the entire time, Dollface." She immediately smashed her fist into his face, sending him out as his body became limp.

"We will need to leave this country for a while. With General Crow in this country, there's little that Christina McDonald can do in the meantime." Unity said. "I will get in touch with the Leper General."

Unity was correct in Christina. Crow was unstoppable. As Christina stood there, her arms throbbing in pain, her shoulder still slightly misshapen and swollen, Crow stood without a single scratch on her, save a small nick on her cheek. "You're good, but not good enough to face me." Crow said, walking menacingly towards Christina, as Christina pulled out a gun, Crow having no hesitation to stab Christina in her fingers with tiny pins in her bracelet, pinning her hand down as she continued with every joint.

Christina frowned, looking back defiantly as she ignited a series of smokescreens from the bottom of her shoe, gas swelling all around them as a groaning noise was heard. Crow followed suit, following the trail of blood left behind by her prey.

"Very well. Will we be needing plane tickets or other services that my position within the Abrahamic League may provide, or is that already taken care of?" Zealot asked, as Johnson laughed mirthlessly to himself while leaning agaisnt a wall. Rev. Shmidt walked over to him, and spoke in a low tone that could not be overheard by the others: "Something bothering you, Michael?"

"I think the Captain may be allowing his emotions to hamper his judgement. He's just accepting her command without question, apparently forgetting who she is, and what she has undoubtedly done."

"Judge not, lest ye be judged." The Reverend replied, smiling. "Do not worry yourself with that which you do not understand, boy. I trust him, and if he trusts her, then that is good enough for me."

Johnson did not respond, but stared at Unity and Zealot, his expression unreadable. Trusts her? She has but corrupted and deceived him, it is through a veil of her seduction that he sees. I will destroy the source of this corruptio, and free him from his weakness.

OOC: Johnson idolizes Zealot, and can't bring himself to beleive that Zealot would associate with someone of Unity's background of his own free will while in his right mind.

"Location is not notified. I will have to call a direct shipment." Unity said, dialing the number into her cell phone. "We need to find a deserted place enough for a small plane to land."

Upon a dark island in the south east oceans, only an obelisk stood amidst the ruins of the forgotten city. Silently it stood, but the whirring and roaring of helicopters were heard as an entire fleet was stationed around it, a complete military force laying quietly in the waves. Battleships, carriers and destroyers, all of them multiple nationalities and makes, different from each other, unified under a single identity. From this obelisk, this ancient ruin, within it was a room, where the black circle gathered.

From here, eight seats were stationed, many of them occupied. In the center, a sickly man sat, still slightly connected to wires, his eyes still barely open. Beside him were the other Generals, as appropriate as they could be, the only one missing was the Crow as she continued her torture of Christina within onyx halls. "When Unity and Zealot get here, the decision will be put underway." Redeye spoke. "Take this position for me." He told the Fox Lord, getting up to leave.

Smith gently picked up Sekai's unconsious form as if he weighed nothing, apparently unperturbed by the injuries on his back, which were now caked with dried blood. The four waited patiently for Unity to finish her call, the Reverend cheerily humming to himself.

"Yes?" The phone replied back, the voice unfamiliar. Unity answered promptly.

"I want to schedule the hearing and subsequent execution of the one man named Dollface." Unity said.

"Understand. A plane will be coming." It answered. "Landing location?"

Unity cupped her hand atop the microphone, before turning to Zealot. "Location for pickup?"

"North Fork Plain, twenty miles due north of the Sumguaia city limits. There is an AL-owned airstrip there."

"AL-used?" She asked back.

sorry i didnt mean to reply

"AL-used?" She asked back.

"Yes, but sparsely so. Any AL presence there is of little importance, as we enjoy a status among the League that grants us a bit more freedom of movement and action than most. There will be no report of any plane landing or taking off with us on board."

"Reasonable. Then I guess it's feasible. What are the co-ordinates?" Unity asked.

OOC: didnt he just give the relative location?

IC:

"I am not sure of the exact co-ordinates, but it should be readily visible within a several mile radius. It would probabnly be best for an aircraft to flay towards the Sumguaia airport, then head due north away from the city until they spot the airfeild."

OOC2: I can edit the post if more information is needed, i created the location yesterday, so i dont have everything about it worked out yet.

"Aren't there airspace restriction laws to watch out for?" She asked readily in return. "Taking an approximate approach is illogical and inefficient at best."

"Well, of course you wouldn't want to get too close to the airport, i was just using it as a reference point. As long as it isnt armed though, a small aircraft shouldn't encounter much trouble if it stays a respectable distance from any areas of dense air traffic. I'm afraid i can do little else helpful regarding location other than show you a map of the area." Zealot said. "We could always just have it land at Sumguaia International Airport, though that would run the risk of attack, if Ms. Mcdonald is in anywhere near as good of a position as she beleives."

"Please forgive our lack of helpfulness madam," Shmidt said, laughing. "but none of us know anything about aviation."

"Logical." Unity said briskly, before turning on her cell phone. She waited slightly before beginning. "I want a plane on the on the N7 region, possibly away from as much human contact as possible. That is all." Unity clipped it closed, looking at Zealot. "Where is this airstrip?"

Meanwhile, Christina was sitting comfortably more than she had anticipated. She ran her finger across the photo of Sekai gently, looking monotonously and slowly as her eyes drifted, the swaying of the lake causing a soft bobbing on her ship. Her yacht was sizable, with a sturdy exterior that made it look like nothing for one of her position - it was derelict, broken down and rusting on the outside, but within it was a dazzling gallery that snaked down the steps onto a hardwood floor with an untouched and properly dusted piano. By the piano was a long set of tables and chairs, set out in a circular fashion before a long line of wines and drinks that were balanced exquisitely upon the ghostly white sheets. Atop, a giant shimmering chandelier with real candles danced merrily at the ceiling, wax icicles forming safely beneath its silver arms.

She sat there, as the suits began to walk in, men of all different forms and shapes, women of all constitutions and looks, all of them elegantly dressed, as much as she was. She waited, sitting on the balcony, hearing the shuffling of feet before she stood up, looking down at the small group. They looked up at her. "Let us begin the consultation." She said. "Bear arms." She ordered. This was not a mere formal party.

Quickly, every single body there revealed or unsheathed either a short sword or dagger, each engraved with an intricate symbol of a smiling chimera emblazoned in gold upon the tip of the hilt. Christina smiled. "Our first action is to get our comrade, former Dollface, back to our loving arms."

OOC: before i post, is she asking so as to further direct the plane, or to inquire as to their own method of getting there?

OOC: to further direct it.

"Twenty two miles due north of the Sumguaia International airport, on the southwestern edge of North Fork Plain, three miles west of the village of Nine Hills."

OOC: If that is not enough information, then please wait until tomorrow morning to post, as i will calculate GPS co-ordinates within such a space of time.

EDIT: my search for a GPS co-ordfinate calculator has thus far yeilded no positive results. I will continue looking, but may not find anything useful.

"I would need exact co-ordinates. Estimation can only get us so far." She argued.

"Why do we need to fly anwhere anyway?" Zealot asked, frustrated at the lack of available information. "Do we really have to all meet in person for this? Seems like a bit more trouble than is neccesary."

"That's true." Unity agreed. "A monitor conference it is, then. Is there a hotel room or some sort of private place we can use?"

"I have enough cash on me to rent a hotel room." Zelaot said, looking in his wallet. "Back to the Mariott, then?"

"As an alternative, I have an apartment a few blocks from here." Johnson added. "We could use that, I have more than enough equipment to hold a video conference." And to track the origin of all incoming signals.

"Alright, that makes sense. Let's go." Unity said, dialing in her cell phone as she walked.

Meanwhile, respective Generals in their own locations began to respond accordingly to the need of the monitor conference. When Unity's number popped up, the Fox Lord began to immediately sign as a General for the conference.

Meanwhile, Lyre and another, a tall, brute of a man, stood silently atop the rooftop where Medium had only a big before been crouching, firing off wildly at enemies as cops were there as well, assessing the scene. Lyre frowned. "She's too reckless, and will the end of us all." Lyre complained. The brutish man nodded.

"General Fox Lord's maneuvers are going into motion. General Lazy Dragon's plans are also into motion. We can do little but trust them that they'll destroy the defect." He spoke, as Lyre smiled. She was quite pretty, though a coldness surrounded her.

"My husband is taking his time, for whatever reason, but I know that Lord Redeye won't make his move in this country until the bitch in Rashajaka is killed." Lyre mentioned, as the man nodded. "Come, Mana. The time to dance nears. This silent rebellion is too quiet for me to hear."

"After you then, Michael." Zealot said.

"Very well, follow me." the man responded, smiling to himself as he led the way. Upon reaching the apartment building, he took out a ring of keys and walked to the second floor. "It is a bit cramped for space." He said, opening the door and turning on a light before walking in. Nearly the entire apartment was filled with electronic surveillance and intelligence-gathering equipment.

"Even I didn't have access to this much equipment, and I was the head of security for the Hegemon." Zealot said, looking in awe at the electronics around him. "Isn't this device illegal to own?"

"Yes." Johnson said simply, pointing Unity to a PC. "You set up the connections, and I will do the rest." He moved to another computer, and began opening a series of programs.

Unity did not shift her eyes, though she had little trust in the man. There is no way he would do this, especially when expressing disgust at my comrades, so he would have some sort of ulterior motive. I'll have to find this out. Immediately, she took her cell phone and began procedure, taking a cable and connecting her port to the computer's, waiting for the drivers to install. As it did, she pressed in what would seem to be the numbers, but flooded it immediately with blank, dummy data. What is it you want? She thought.

Johnson couldn't resist a chuckle as a program that was monitoring the other PC picked up the blank data. "What's wrong miss Unity, dont you trust me?" He said, closing the program and disconnecting the two computers. "Is that enough to content you?" He began setting up microphones for Zealot an Unity to use. So I won't learn the locations, I can live with that.

"It's a give and take system." Unity spoke. "When you have something that's of equal worth to my trust that can be taken, I will give you my trust in return. When there is nothing of the sort, I'm afraid I can't go through with trusting you." She spoke harshly, but blankly.

"Ah, but for me to give you something of such a value, I would have to first trust you." Johnson replied, laughing again. "Just establish the connections please, so that we may get this over with."

"Michael, would it kill you to at least pretend as if you didn't despise her?" Zealot asked, his patience waning. Johnson merely laughed again.

"I think he may be a bit of a loose cannon." The Reverend said to Zealot in a low voice that could not be overheard by the other three. "Is he really worth keeping around?"

"His skill in combat surpasses that of any of us here, and he will be extremely valuable to if we can keep him under control."

"That boy has never rubbed me the right way, he has been given too many resources and privelidge too quickly. I fear it may go to his head"

"Let us hope not."

It was not an arduous task, nor was it long, and immediately the screens flickered as multiple symbols flashed upon the multiple monitors. One was of a smiling fox, the other a sleeping dragon. Another was a twisting ebony flower. All of them were unique, the symbol nothing more than a simple picture upon a white background. Unity nodded. "I have brought this meeting here to address the situation of one such man, that goes by the Assar code CK-8ON. Alias and username, Dollface. Recommendation Assar code JH-44K. Alias username, Unity. With me is username Zealot and three other non-Sagacity members. Terms and jargon need not skimped." She spoke, as the screens were silent for a second. At first, it seemed as if it didn't go through.

"Three, you say?" One of the monitors chattered up - the symbol of the sleeping dragon. "Have them talk." It ordered.

"I am Michael Johnson, for now at least, and my companions are Jacob Smith and the Reverend Thomas Shmidt. We are agents of the Abrahamic League assisting Captain Zealot." Johnson said into a microphone, a smile on his face.

"Abrahamic?" An emerald eye spoke, a mocking noise of discontent. "Some sort of backwater religious affiliation?" Medium's voice chuckled loudly. The Leper's voice succinctly hushed hers.

"It's imperative that order be maintained, and if you are unaware of organizations that number more than us, then would it not be us who are backwater in this situation?" The Leper asked.

"Numbers are little importance to control. Size especially." Medium argued back.

"That's why you should keep your mouth shut when you have nothing useful to say. Then I will be justified in calling you a mute." The Leper snapped back, as the chuckling came from another monitor - a circular snake with purple fangs.

"It wouldn't be nice to be fighting right now." Jormungand offered. "We need to properly assess the intentions of these intruders, especially if they are aware of the Sons of Sagacity's power system. Isn't that right, dear Unity?" It asked.

Unity nodded, before replying to the monitors. "Assar code CK-8ON has been put under our restraint for proper Exkrucia hearing. Permission?" She asked, trying to keep the subject off.

The Spring Demon spoke up, his voice soft, but deadly, a sultry, dangerous tone. "What has happened to CK-8ON?" He asked, as Unity waited.

"He has been put under the control of JH-44K and restraint assistance of alias Zealot." She spoke, as a tsk was heard on the other end.

"No blank names on the line, JH-44K. Alias username is Zealot, Assar code is NB-443. Seek to remember that, JH-44K." The Lazy Dragon ordered.

"My apologies, 6B." She spoke solemnly.

"Well, aint tha' good issue solvd eh? Nutin's goin' anawhere 'less we getcha names fast." The Fox Lord spoke to the three non-Sagacity members. He cleared his throat, before talking again. "Why's ya helpin' good ol' JH-44K an' a little ol' NB-443. I's gotta talk to ya's, too, NB-443. Sumtin's about ya relashun ship wit' JH-44K."

"We are assisting these two out of loyalty to NB-443, as we are...old friends of his." Rev. Shmidt responded. At least one of them underestimates our power, good.

"Regarding your second statement sir, I would be willing to discuss that immediately following this hearing." Zealot said. How did he know that, is one of us bugged?

"That statement cannot be trusted." Medium argued, as a groan came from the tenets of the Leper.

"I agree." the Spring Demon spoke up, as the Lazy Dragon and Jormungand followed in his wake.

"Opinion on the trustworthiness of these non-Sagacity members is null before the hearing of CK-8ON." The Leper spoke, as lumps of approval were heard from all sides.

"Let us begin the trial of CK-8ON." Crow spoke. "Accuser, please bring forth allegations."

Unity nodded. "Assar code, CK-8ON. Alias name, Doll face. Service term, 8 years. Grouping, Squad 8O. Army label, 'Nihilist'. Permission to verify?" She asked.

"Granted." They all spoke, as Unity nodded again.

"Assar Code 99A, alias name, Spring Demon. 99A going forwards. Permission?" Unity asked, as they agreed once more. "99A, the accuser gives the charges towards Assar code CK-8ON the following charges." She began to run them off her finger. "Use of level 2 weaponry in civilian sight without proper approval of a General, single attack and burning of non-Sagacity member without proper approval of a General, one account of affiliation with a level 7 defect, former Assar code HM-5M4." Unity spoke.

"Is there a second?" Crow asked.

"Assar code NB-443, alias and username Zealot, seconds these accusations." Zealot said into one of the microphones. Meanwhile, Johnson switched off his own microphone and burst into laughter. It was a mocking laugh, with a hint of madness in it. "Those filth dare accuse us of being untrustworthy?"

"Does 99A accept the second?" The Crow asked.

"Accepted." The Spring Demon replied. "Allegation information and relationship?"

The other Generals promptly accepted. The Spring Demon spoke up once more. "Does JH-44K have any other accusations to bring forth?" The Spring Demon asked again, as Unity replied.

"JH-44K has none."

"Is there a a confirmation or a need to modify?" The Spring Demon asked again.

"None." Unity spoke back quickly.

"Per listed allegations, an accumulated punishment of torture and imprisonment will be underway. Will a General please second this motion?" The Spring Demon asked.

"Alias 17Z, username Fox Lord seconds this motion." The Fox Lord replied, though his voice was nowhere his usual slick tongued, heavily accented and lisped speech. He spoke smoothly, calmly, and coldly, without much emotion.

The Spring Demon spoke. "Motions seconded. Assar code CK-8ON will be placed under detention, interrogation, and torture, and upon determination, will be promptly executed for his transgressions." There was no compassion in the Spring Demon's voice, only a staunch, hard, stiffness that gave the idea of a strong willed man capable to send his brother to the firing squad for his crimes. "Second?" He asked.

"Nay." Crow, Medium, Fox Lord, Lazy Dragon and the Leper answered.

"Nay." Unity answered. I did not ask for his execution!

Zealot hesitated, looking at the unconscious form of Sekai and Unity in turn before speaking. "Nay."

At this, Johnson began laughing again, and the other two were obviously suprised. "You've never been one to show mercy to the condemned." Rev. Shmidt said, smiling. Most satisfactory.

There was a pause. "Then is it settled. By overall majority, the punishment as stated is withheld." Spring Demon said, before another channel opened - the symbol of a black dot.

"Assar code 1. Alias username Redeye." It spoke, a soft, but powerful, charismatic voice with a hoarse and malicious tone. "Override decision. Execution of Assar code CK-8ON will commence."

Unity frowned. "B-But Lord Redeye!" She argued, as a hissing noise was heard on the other end.

"JH-44K, blank usernames are not accepted!" The Leper roared, as Unity silenced immediately. "The veto has been put underway, and there is nothing that can be done about it."

"Surely there must be some logic behind this motion, 1!" Unity asked back. There was silence. "Friendly suggestion to force elaboration!" Unity asked.

"Is there a second?" Spring Demon asked.

"Suggestion is seconded." Zealot said. Johnson had stopped laughing, he was now watching Zealot, an expression of disgust on his face. Like a dog, unquestioningly obedient.

"Motion to request elaboration provided." Spring Demon spoke.

Redeye paused. "The elimination of one who has allied themselves with the defect HM-5M4 will drastically demoralize the enemy. Especially if they share such a relationship as the one between CK-8ON and HM-5M4."

"But Lord - " Unity began.

"Silence, JH-44K." Redeye commanded. The other Generals were silent, in fear of this horridly terrible voice, almost like some sort of deity furiously punishing his subjects. "NB-443, present."

"Lord Redeye?" he responded, his voice emotionless.

"No blank usernames on the line." The Leper snapped.

Redeye paid no heed this time. "Do you fear death?" He asked bluntly.

"No." Zelaot replied, equally blunt.

"Impressive. JH-44K, present." Redeye ordered.

"Present, 1." Unity replied.

"Kill yourself." Redeye ordered, as hissing came from the other ends of the Generals. "This is an override order." He spoke harshly.

The Fox Lord was silent. Unity was silent. She closed her eyes, frowning. "Commencing." She spoke solemnly, unsheathing her sword.

Zealot grabbed Unity's arm as he visibly paled, his other hand grasping the blade of her sword so tightly that it cut into his palm. "Point taken."

Redeye paused, almost mechanically. "Do you fear death?" Redeye asked again, as if nothing had happened.

"Yes." Zealot said. Shmidt smiled as he watched. You never cease to make me proud of you, Wall.

Redeye said nothing of the sort anymore. "The execution of CK-8ON will commence underway when the deliberation is finished amongst the Generals." Redeye spoke.

Unity spoke again. "The transfer of the points of JH-44K to NB-443, and the subsequent promotion towards General rank and the subsequent expulsion from the Sons of Sagacity on part of JH-44K." Unity spoke.

The Fox Lord paused. "Seconded. Does NB-443 second this motion?"

The proposal took Zealot completely by suprise. He did not show it in his voice, however. "Yes."

"Let is be recorded, that the transfer Assar code of NB-443 go to 9A." Crow replied. "Information will be sent accordingly."

"JH-44K, you are hereby labeled a defect level 3, and no longer a Son of Sagacity member." The Spring Demon spoke.

"Assar code 9A, username General Zealot. You will be further debriefed on your duties soon enough." The Fox Lord spoke.

"Very well." Zealot responded, then turned off his mircrophone for a moment and leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.

"Well, that's that." Unity said, looking at the monitor. "There's nothing left to do but wait." She replied.

"Well, that was most productive." Rev. Shmidt said, smiling. "I am quite thirsty though, would you mind showing me where the vending machines are in this building?" He said, walking over to Johnson and placing a hand on the amn's shoulder.

"But, there arent any.." Johnson began, but stopped when the hand on his shoulder began squeezing hard.

"I think these two could do with some privacy." Shmidt said quietly to him, a smile still on his face.

"Right, well, follow me then, I will show you where they are." Johnson said, and the two left the apartment.

"I think I may join them, It's somewhat cramped in here and I am getting a bit claustrophobic." Smith said, and walked out as well.

Zealot closed his eyes for a moment once they ahd left, then looked at Unity. "Thank you."

"No need. I'm at fault, in fact." Unity said, closing her eyes, sighing. "I'm nearing my limit." She spoke, her fingers running through her hair, before turning on her cell phone, dialing another set of numbers. "Hello?" Unity asked into the phone. "I'm near my limit." She said, closing her eyes, veins throbbing in her skull. "Send...immediately." She said, frowning, before turning her phone off. "Do you think feelings are transferable, General Zealot?" She asked.

"Not really." Zealot replied. "I've never been much of a beleiver in mysticism and other such ideas." He said, and laughed as he turned to face her, but stopped when he saw her expression. "Is something wrong?"

She smiled. "General, I really do love you, you know? Are you a patient man?" She asked again, her voice fairly somber. "I hope you have just as much luck as you did in the past couple days we knew each other."

Meanwhile, the medical team of the Fox Lord mobilized. A special business plane carrying sensitive equipment, the team rushed from the nearest bases that was within the General's reach, as staff, soldiers and suppliers all began their voyage to Unity's location.

"What are you talking about?" Zelaot said. "What luck?" As he spoke, he pressed the small cross pin on his sleeve.

"It would seem we are needed back inside." Shmidt said, as a light flashed on an identical cross on his sleeve. He and Johnson began walking back towards the apartment.

"I hope you don't think I'm easy to woo, now that you understand what makes me tick." She smiled, chuckling slightly, her vein throbbing. Her hand patted his head gently. "Please give me a proper introduction next time." She urged with a feint sadness in her seemingly cheery voice.

Meanwhile, cars rushed as quick as they could, medic-like personnel smashing their way through towards the apartment that Johnson was in, knocking loudly on the door. They came with utmost speed, and already half of them were stuck explaining their speeding charges to local police officers.

"Can you open the door?" Unity asked them. "I need them for something."

"Alright." Zelaot said, confused. He opened the door and stepped out of the way as he saw who had knocked, a look of worry on his face.

Immediately they rushed into the room, their equipment began to set up, taking Unity and forcing her down onto the ground, a syringe into her neck as she slowly dazed out of consciousness. They immediately began their procedure, quarantining an entire section of the room, cleaning and dusting and sterilizing, before a bright light encompassed a dreary maple curtain. The drill was prepared, and the knife was sharpened.

"Same procedure. Status?" One of the surgeons asked, as the others nodded. "Let's begin."

As they did their work, a woman in a fine crisp suit walked in, her eyes stern and professional, her face fleshy but and her large hands clasped together tightly. She looked with an airy stare, but desisted soon enough. Looking Zealot, she bowed. "General Zealot, how do you do?" She asked. "We will be done soon, my apologies." She spoke.

They continued operation on Unity's brain, a soft trickling noise audible.

As the woman finished speaking, Johnson and the Reverend walked through the door. The latter pushed a small button on hius cross as bvlades shot out of the ends, while Jonhson drew a pair of handguns. Zealot extended an arm to block their entry and interference. "What is being done, exactly?"

"We're clearing chemicals from her brain, simply put. Her multiple personality merging was not something was a be-all end-all sort of scenario, we found out. The only way to do this is to eliminate certain things. Every few months, we get rid of the same thing." She smiled. "Don't worry, the only thing we take away are the memories of what she's acquired in the past month." She spoke briskly.

"Oh Dear." Shmidt said, as Johnson smiled widely behind him. Zealot's face went white, and it was several seconds before he responded. "I see. That is...rather inconvenient."

"You got that right. My daughter's the one who has to go through this shit." A voice said, revealing herself to be Lyre, walking in as she waited patiently within the room, tapping her heels expectedly. Turning her head, she frowned at Zealot. "General Zealot, what are you doing here?" She asked.

"We had just finished a hearing regarding his fate when you arrived." Zealot said, gesturing to Sekai, who Smith had lain out on a bed. "Your daughter was my vice-captain until a few minutes ago."

"Tch." Lyre said, looking at the three others. "The hell are outsiders doing here?" She asked.

"They are agents of the Abrahamic League, and have been assisting me." Zealot said. "If you wish, I will have them leave."

"That would be a prudent action, but in this situation, I wouldn't know if they would leak information." Lyre spoke angrily. "Don't forget, you have a hearing to attend within a few hours."

"Will this hearing be in a similar fashion to the one that was just concluded?" Zealot asked, trying to concern himself with anything other than the fact that Unity's brain was currently being operated on.

"All hearings are the same. It's always an execution at the end, no matter what the product of it all." Lyre said, her arms crossed in impatience. "We'll get your hooked up. What's your cell phone camera's number?"

"The number for the camera? I cant remember it off of the top of my head, one moment please." Zealot said, and opened his cellphone. After pushing buttons for several seconds, he found what he was loking for, and took a small notebook out of a pocket of his cloak. He scrawled the number down and ripped the page out. "Here."

Lyre entered it into her own phone. "Alright, the hearing is coming soon." Lyre notified, as the plump woman escorted her out, before returning by herself. "General Zealot, not to be rude, but we need everyone out for them to do their work." She urged.

"Oh, of course, my apologies ma'am." He said, and exited the apartment, Shmid and Johnson following him into a nearby hallway. "I'm going to find Jacob, wherever he has got himself to." The Reverend sqaid, and walked off towards a flight of stairs.

As Zealot leaned against a wall and closed his eyes, Johnson began to speak. "So, she has lost her memory of you."

"I don't need to be reminded of that, Michael." Was the angry reply.

Johnson laughed. "Of course. You are now a General in the Sons of Sagacity, a perilous position at best, and one that will undoubtedly endanger all who are near you. Through her actions today, she is now finally free of that disgusting organization, would you drag her into danger and evil once more?"

Zealot did not answer.

"The decision you make has no bearing whatsoever." Lyre spoke, having followed them. She stood behind them, her eyes upon the wall ahead, staring proudly up as she frowned with a stare of dislike carved on her brow. "Unity has dishonored the reputation of my husband's name, and as the manager of the responsibilities of the current Fox Lord, I cannot tolerate Unity having broken her ties from the Sons of Sagacity." Lyre said, sighing through clenched teeth.

"I swear to you, General," She continued, "as a proud member of the Genekrexia, I will exact appropriate disciplinary action." Her cell phone rang. "It looks like the meeting is starting. You need to check your cell phone, General."

"I suppose it makes no difference to you then, that the Fox Lord was the one who seconded her proposal for the point transfer and expulsion?" Zealot asked rhetorically, then opened his phone.

"He can hide behind the band all he wants, but it won't be long before he forces me to act." She argued, walking off back to the room.

On Zealot's cell phone, a soft chattering and static was heard, before a blank silence was audible. Here, it was the familiar dull tone before it became nothing more than an eerie void. Immediately, the voices were heard.

"General Crow present." Crow spoke.

"General Fox Lord present." The Fox Lord spoke.

"General Jormungand present." Jormungand spoke.

"General Lazy Dragon present." The Lazy Dragon spoke.

"General Spring Demon present." The Spring Demons spoke.

"General Medium present." Medium spoke.

"General Zealot present." Zealot said into his phone.

"General Leper present." The Leper spoke. "Majority count recognized. Eight Generals present. The trial will begin now. Tried is the case of Assar code GH-449, alias username Black Ribbon. Charged on the rape and murder of Assar code E3-HL5, alias username Coniferii. Evidence presented by the intelligence department as a valid and genuine. Is there a suggestion of punishment for GH-449?"

"Torture and execution." Zealot said bluntly.

"Assar code 4N would like Assar code 9A to specify exact details of torture and execution." Crow spoke.

"Is there support for this motion?" Leper asked.

"I support this motion." The Spring Demon spoke up.

"Motion granted." Leper spoke. "Please elaborate, 9A, alias username General Zealot."

"Simulated drowning, sleep and light deprivation, starvation, flaying of the skin, acid burns, repeated breaking of the bones in the hands and feet, mutilation of limbs, eventual mutilation of nose and ears to destroy the ability to smell or hear, electrocution, constant holding of the subject in a stress position, and other such methods of causing pain. Execution would occur when the subject has passed the point of being driven into insanity and oblivion by pain, which, could take any amount of time between two days and two weeks, depending on the subject's mental endurance."

"Is there support?" Leper asked.

"I support this motion." Medium spoke.

"Amendment to the need for execution." The Spring Demon spoke up. "Elimination of execution." He spoke. "Additionally, I will add in another punishment. Castration of the subject." He spoke, as a chuckle came from Medium's monitor.

"Any objections towards this?" The Leper asked.

"No." Zealot replied. A punishment that fits the crime.

The rest replied expressing their agreement to subsequent punishment. "Very well." Leper spoke. "Assar code GH-449, alias username Black Ribbon, will be sentenced to torture and subsequent castration. Expulsion from the Sons of Sagacity will be withheld until further notice and deliberation amongst the Generals." With that, the noises were gone, and the conference feed was shut off.

"How was that?" Lyre's voice came from behind, standing with her arms crossed and her head tilted up at the wall again. "What is the fate of the Black Ribbon?"

"He will be tortured until his mind is broken, and castrated." Zelaot said.

Shmidt raised his eyebrows. "Castrated?"

"He raped and killed a fellow member of the Sons of Sagacity."

"An acceptable punishment. Still, I would have had him executed." the Reverend said, shrugging his shoulders.

"The Sons of Sagacity is overpopulated enough as it is." Lyre complained, sighing in discomfort and distress. "My daughter's just finished, so introduce yourself properly, General Zealot. She's still mentally fragile." Lyre spoke, walking off to Unity.

Unity was sitting upon a cot-like bed, blindfolds draped over her eyes and her mind, a small circular scar upon the back of her head visible, covered up a long flowing ribbon tied gently to the quick-healing scars. She carried her usual long hair, fragile figure, her fingers tapping gently as the doctors tested her toes and knees to ensure their neurosurgery was successful and nothing was out of place. She spoke with the gentlest tone, nothing like the compulsive, obedient Unity before or the dominating, stern Unity after.

Zealot followed Lyre to see Unity, steeling himself to remain unemotional, The Reverend waiting in the doorway.

"Mom, are there others here as well? It's unusual, I hear steely footsteps that don't belong to you." Unity said sweetly, gently, and softly, the blindfolds still on. "Hello, I am Maressa Galalencia Maria Aladassus. I am pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Idiot, this General Zealot from the Sons of Sagacity. He's taken time out of his schedule to meet with you." Lyre spoke, as Unity made a small peep.

"I apologize, General Zealot, for not expressing my respects for you earlier." Unity said.

"No apology is neccesary." He replied, his voice emotionless.

"Don't try and spoil the child, General." Lyre argued. "She'll become a brat growing up, just like her good for nothing father."

Unity made no noise, but her smile disappeared. "I'm sorry, Mother. I will try to act better in front of my superiors." She spoke mechanically.

"There's no point in trying if you can't do it. I don't know why your father keeps you around like those whores in his house." Lyre frowned, as Unity's chin slightly quivered.

"I apologize, Mother. I sincerely apologize, General Zealot for my rudeness earlier displayed." Unity spoke again.

"You apology is accepted." Zealot said simply, his expression darkening as he grew more angry with Lyre by the moment, but kept it out of his voice.

"Thank you, fair General, sir." Unity tried to thank him with as much expression as possible, but her nerves had not yet solidified. Lyre, however, did not enjoy Unity's softness.

"Damn whore daughter." Lyre spoke, frowning at Unity. "Wish he had a proper kid, not some damn defect. And I can't believe that you even...you know what? Forget it. General, I would like to have some time alone with my daughter." Lyre insisted.

"I am afraid that won't happen, ma'am." Zealot said, smiling, before lowering his voice and continuing at a volume that only Lyre could hear. "I don't think you are helping her to regain mental stability, Captain."

Lyre frowned. She fell silent at once, though her face showed distinct displeasure and hatred at the tone of Zealot's threat. Unity took note of Lyre's silence. "What's wrong, mother?" Unity asked, as Lyre frowned even more.

"Nothing, child. You're in General Zealot's hands now, not mine." Lyre harshly spoke, before leaving.

"Mother is quite busy." Unity dotingly spoke. "Am I being too rude to ask if you would know her business, General Zealot?" She queried.

"You are not. She is occupied with tracking down and eliminating the rogue General, Christina McDonald, the former Jormungand." Zelaot replied, sitting down in a nearby chair.

"Is that her name? What a plain name." Unity spoke, smiling gently. She pressed her blindfold gently, before a small lather of red blotches appeared on its white gauze. "Oh? It's not healed yet." She said to herself. "My mother told me you came out of your way to see me, General. Is there a mission I must partake immediately? If so, please tell me." She said.

"Your mother was exaggerating, I'm afraid, I was nearby already. You need do nothing now but wait to heal."

"Oh, okay." Unity said, smiling softly. "I can't see yet, but I try. Have you ever been blind, Captain Zealot?" She asked, smiling. "And how is Dollface?"

"What?!" Zealot said, nearly falling out of his chair in alarm. "You remember? How?"

"Dollface's trial? It lingers on my mind, but only fragments of it. I don't remember much of it, and barely anything conclusive. Can you fill me in, General Zealot?" Unity asked softly. "I feel like I'm missing something important, about everybody else."

"I can do more than just describe it." Zelaot replied. "Johnson no doubt recorded the entire hearing, i could play it for you. Weren't you supposed to lose all memory of the past month?"

"Modifying the human brain, I'm told, is an extremely difficult task, and even more difficult is to modify the memories of the human brain without lasting damage. This isn't the first time the operation has not completely done its job, and now leaves me with a wonder as to what I was doing in that trial. Can you please let me hear this recording?" She asked politely.

"Alright." Zealot said, and moved to one of the computers. It did not take him very long to find the appropriate file, and the recording began to play. He hit a button to fast-forward just before Lord Redeyes asked if he feared death, and the recording resumed play after the point where he replied "yes.". He stopped the recording as his voice said "Very well.".

Zealot closed the file. "I left two small parts out, as to reveal them to you at this point would be dangerous to your mental health. Do you have any questions?"

"You seem different from other generals, General Zealot." Unity spoke softly. "Why are you so worried about my mental condition? None of the other Generals are."

"You are in my army. I have seen your skill in combat firsthand and therefore consider you a valuable asset." He lied, managing to make his voice sound sincere through great effort. "Besides, I would not be a General but for you."

She smiled. "Thank you, General. I will do what I can to the best of my abilities." She replied, but then changed. "Oh, but you probably want results rather than effort like my mother, right?" She asked nervously. "And why would you not be a General if not for me?"

Zealot laughed. "Actually, no. I do not wish to demand more of my subordinates than they can accomplish, as to do so is my failure in measurement of their ability, not theirs in lack of skill. As for how you made me a General, it was the transfer of your points to me that allowed my promotion."

"Why would I do that?" Unity asked, uncertain. "I understand if you like joking General, but I don't understand."

"I am not joking. I'm afraid I never got a chance to ask you why you did that, as your operation took place almost immediately after the hearing. I have an idea, but again, to reveal it to you at this point may be damaging."

"Why?" Unity queried.

"It would come as..quite a shock, I'm afraid." Zelaot said. "I am afraid you will have to trust me on that point, as I can explain no further."

"Orders received, General." Unity spoke with lament.

"Patience, Unity, you will find out soon. When I feel you can handle it, I will tell you. If you are observant enough, you may find out sooner against my will." Zealot said, sounding even less pleased about it than she did. "That reminds me, you need not refer to me as General any longer, or obey any order that I give, as you are no longer a member of the Sons of Sagacity. Therefore I give you this offer: you may continue to assist me in a simliar manner to the AL agents who are accompanying me should you wish it, and although you would hold no official place within my army, I would treat you as if you held a rank above that of any of my captains."

"Is there a stench of nepotism...sir?" She asked, unable to address him properly.

"No." Zealot responded. "If your assistance were less valuable there would be, but you are better qualified for my position than I am. If anything my offer is less than what your ability demands." He paused. "You may refer to me as Wall, as that is my surname. I'm afraid I dont have a first name, and havent for the past fifteen years."

"Well, then, Wall, it's a pleasure to meet you." Unity said, as the door the apartment opened, as tall silvery haired man walk in, his stride long. He was a fairly tall, light haired man with black ebony eyes and a sharp but quite handsome face, his stare gentle and his body thin but still flexible and wiry. He strode over to Unity's side before his hands cupped into hers, and he softly ran his hand through her hair.

"Unity." He said gently, lamently. "My dear Unity." He turned to smile wickedly at Zealot. "You must feel very bored talking to Neanderthals." He spoke gently.

"Oh, is that you, Gem?" Unity asked, as he chuckled softly, but it was obvious he was faking it. "It's been a while."

"Of course it has been." He spoke.

Zealot became stone-faced as he watched the man. "And you would be...?" He asked, keeping his growing anger out of his voice, and ignoring the insult.

OOC: bump

"My name is Gem, a Genekrexia, my lovely General." He said, smiling, with a dearest but hateful tone in his voice. "Are you here to assist me?" He asked Unity, turning around.

"I don't understand." Unity spoke, frowning.

"Of course." He chuckled, looking back at Zealot. "Do you need something, General?"

"Not at the moment, no." Zealot replied. "If you are here to kill Ms. McDonald, then please inform me of any way in which I or my army may assist."

"Of course, Lord General." He obliged. "The Former Jormungand is a feisty one, and this will be a bit difficult to explain, but she has her own underground influence. We have recieved news that she plans on strengthening her hold on the vice of the underworld with her own private army. In that army, she has her own commanders. The Exkrucia and the Sakrianda are the ones in charge mopping those guys up. We, the Genekrexia, will be taking care of eliminating the defect herself. The location is not yet divulged." Gem spoke.

"I see. As you may or may not know, I have resources within the Holy Empire that are...seperate from the Sons of Sagacity. Should you require it, I would be willing to engage said resources to aid in your task, as I wish to see the former Jormungand dead for my own reasons." Zealot replied. "Is that all, or is there some other purpose in your being here?"

"Is it not correct for a man to visit his fiancee?" He asked, smiling evilly. "It was just a a bit now, too. I had the full approval of Lady Lyre."

Unity smiled. "Gem, did you really?" She asked, chuckling slightly. "I apologize for this, Lord General. He says some odd things at times."

"No apology is neccesary." Zealot replied mechanically. "Are you serious, boy?" He asked. His voice sounded amused, but his expression was furious, looking as if he were going to attack the man momentarily.

Gem smiled. "Why yes, of course." He said. "Is there a problem, Lord General?" He asked, pretending to be unaware.

Zealot stood up, struggling to keep his voice calm. "I am afraid I must excuse myself for a moment, I am feeling a bit claustrophobic." He walked out of the apartment. After doing so, he continued walking until he reached a bench, and sat down, burying his head in his hands.

"Something wrong?" Shmidt asked, who was standing nearby.

"Maressa is engaged." was the reply.

"Oh." The Reverend said. "And who is Maressa?"

"Unity."

Shmidt smiled widely. and walked over to clap Zealot on the back. "Congratulations! I'm sure you will have a wonderful life together!"

"She is not engaged to me." Zealot replied.

"What!?! When did this happen!?"

"Just now, her mother has apparently arranged for her to marry some man who calls himself Gem."

"Would you like me to ensure that his presence is no longer a problem?"

"No." Zealot replied. "I don't know all of the details yet."

With that, the two men were silent, as Zealot calmed himself down.

When Zealot left, Gem turned to Unity, smiling. Unity sat quietly, her blindfold still on her face, the silence unnerving. "Well, my dear." Gem said, pushing away his coat, his hand on a handle of a knife. "I apologize, but I don't think I can fight a General." He admitted, as Unity heard the singing of the blade, beginning to slowly realize her position, as she tried to free herself. "You see, you're a defect. We can't let defects leave alive." He explained simply. "Your mother's ashamed." With that, he swung, the sword smashing the bar, missing Unity's fingers, as she screamed, tied down.

She was too tired to fight back, unable to muster enough strength to combat Gem's assault.

The two men outside heard the scream, if only because they were both silent. "What was that?" the reverend asked, as Zealot drew his sword. Zealot did not reply, but rushed back into the apartment. Upon seeing Gem attacking Unity, Zealot rushed at the man from behind, slashing heavily at his back.

Gem moved in response, as the slash cut his side, forcing a generous spray of blood from his body as he winced in pain. He groaned and frowned, unsheathing his sword to swing back, slashing at Zealot. From within the apartment, rushing footsteps were heard pounding up the stairs. Someone was coming.

Zealot parried the blow, aiming another slash at Gem's neck. As he did so, Shmidt moved to see what the sound was. He didnt bother to interfere with the two fighting men, as it seemed to him that his help was not needed.

"Desist." The voice commanded, as Gem turned in the midst of the fight to see a long haired, frowning man with a scarred and lazy left eye, long gashes running down his neck into his chest as he wore an oddly robed uniform with a red shade. He carried a ridiculously long sword at his waist, and even he was unable to walk in the door without turning it somewhat to enter. "Gem, die." He ordered, as Gem's eyes widened in shock.

Instantly, Gem froze up, and in a brief second, his head burst apart as his blood splashed his brains everywhere. The man stood amidst the carnage, disgusted. "The woman has even infiltrated my armies. Disgusting." He said, looking Zealot. "Zealot, how are you?" He extended his hand. "My name is Rakshalia Chrakannuundei. I go by alias username the Lazy Dragon." He sighed. "It seems that even my ranks have been infected with the defect's terrible attitude. Right now The Fox Lord hunts Lyre, the Spring Demon is pushing the execution of his brother, and the Leper searches day and night for the Ballad." He said. "I was told that I was antagonized for quite some time before this entire debacle."

"Indeed." Zealot rpelied, shaking the man's outstretched hand. "Ms. McDonald was for a time attempting to use myself and my compatriates against you." He turned to Unity. "Are you injured?"

"No, I, I'm fine." She said, trying to smile again. The Lazy Dragon frowned. "Who is there?" She asked, unable to hear the first time.

"General Lazy Dragon. Know your manners, slave." He spoke with a strong, harsh tone, as Unity silenced at once. "The issues are dear right now." He pulled out a small piece of paper, revealing a tiny scribble in a list-like fashion. "The military of the defect is now clear, and we can begin striking almost instantly." He walked over to Unity, patting her head gently. "Tonight, I am going to kill your mother." He spoke to her softly.

"W-Why?!" She screamed back, as the Lazy Dragon paused for a second.

"She's a traitor. The Exkrucia are already moving. Right now your father is ensuring that you, a defect, isn't hunted down, but Redeye can veto that decision at any moment." The Lazy Dragon threatened. "It's best to let the adults do the talking from now on, little girl."

"Will you be needing the assistance of myself or my army against the defect?" Zelaot asked, frowning at the man's attitude towards Unity, but keeping silent about it.

At this time, Johnson and Smith walked back into the apartment. "That is going to take some work to clean up." the former commented, a look of disgust on his face as he observed the remains of Gem spread across his floor.

"It would be nice." He said, turning to Unity. "Your father wants to talk to you. He's been poisoned."

"Poisoned? Who by?" Zelaot asked, as Smith checked to make sure Sekai was securely bound to the bed he was in. Johnson smiled, watching Unity to see her reaction.

"My mistake. Food poisoning. He's been in bed for the last few days from it. His health is recovering rapidly, though we have been able to discern a trace of poison that Lyre attempted to slip in. As such, we want your cooperation, Unity." The Lazy Dragon ordered. "You will assist us in the capture and execution of your mother, Lyre."

"I will assist as well in any way that I can, if needed." Zealot said. Johnson looked disapointed, and moved to one of the pc's, where he began typing and opening a number of programs.

OOC: bump

"How full of zeal." The Lazy Dragon commented with a strong cynical tone. "Aren't you more worried about what would happen to your mother-in-law?" He asked with a mocking sort of voice.

"Well, I chose my alias for a reason." Zealot replied, chuckling until he heard the term mother-in-law. He did not say anything further, not wanting to call attention to the Lazy Dragon's choice of words.

"Unity has lost her memory of the past month, and is not currently in a stable mental state." Shmidt said coming up behind the Lazy Dragon, his voice low so that only the man he was addressing could hear him. "I think it would be best if you did not make a reference the nature of their relationship again while she is within earshot."

"I am completely aware of that. But she's subservient. So there's another way to get across that." The Lazy Dragon rushed over to Unity, his hand upon her head. "I have orders from your father." He spoke with a harsh tone. She turned her head, trying to hear once more.

"Yes, Lord General?" She asked him politely.

"As part of a political advantage against the Crow, you will have to act the part as General Zealot's lover." The Lazy Dragon spoke to her, as she nodded. "Do not disappoint your father."

Shmidt smiled, and began laughing softly to himself, as Johnson apparently became very frustrated with a program on his pc.

Zelaot stood, his eyebrows raised in suprise, as a wave of gratitude towards the Lazy Dragon swept over him. Of what concern is this to him? "In that case Unity, I apologize in advance should your task prove too difficult." he said, an amused smile on his face.

"I will try my best, General." She said, bowing her head slightly in recognition. "I will do my best, so please take care of me." She urged, smiling softly. The Lazy Dragon sighed.

"Well, this is boring, so I'm leaving." He said, as Unity turned to hear his footsteps.

"General, can you give Rachel my dearest regrets?" Unity asked, as the Lazy Dragon paused.

"Regret for what?" With that, he walked out, ignoring Unity's plea.

Zealot yawned, and looked at his watch. "Goodness, It has gotten late. I'm going to sleep, if there is nothing else that demands my attention."

"An exellent idea." Shmidt said. "I may turn in myself. Do you have any spare mattresses?" He asked, turning to Johnson.

"A few, follow me." The man replied, and led him into another room.

After they left Zealot sat down in a chair, propping his sword up next to him. "If you don't mind me asking, Unity, who is Rachel?"

"Rachel is the General Lazy Dragon's only daughter. She died when she was young, and he hasn't gotten over my involvement in her death." Unity summarized with a sad tone in her voice.

As the Lazy Dragon was walking down the darkened streets, a woman stood behind him, sitting down a bench as he frowned without turning. "Who are you?" He asked, as she began to pull out a gun before he slipped a needle from the bands on his wrist, and shot one into her eye, sending her reeling in pain and surprise. The Lazy Dragon turned. "If this is the performance of Christina's assassination squads, then she's obviously not worth my time." He said, unsheathing his sword before stabbing her.

Instantly, she dodged it with what she had left, aiming her gun before the Lazy Dragon cut her hand off. Blood spurted everywhere, and he looked at her with disgust and disappointment. "That woman sorely underestimates me." The Lazy Dragon replied.

"I see. Well, the past cannot be changed, no matter how much we wish otherwise. Try to get some rest." Zealot said, and closed his eyes, saying nothing further.

In the other room, Rev. Shmidt lay down on an inflated matress, an expression of contentment on his face. A most satisfactory end to the day.

Johnson did not sleep, but rather sat at a desk, filling a pile of small plastic capsules with a white grainy substance.

"I'm sorry." Unity whispered to Zealot, though she had made it barely audible it would have been difficult for him to have heard. "I'm sorry I lied to you this whole time." She smiled once before kissing him on the forehead, and then slightly slumped. She couldn't sleep at all.

"You're coming with me." The Lazy Dragon said, pulling the woman by her hair, her mouth muffled by tape and wire, her left leg cut off and her right hand lobbed as well, leaving her to try and get up, but she was unable to in the pain she was experiencing. "I'll have to disinfect you." He spoke sadistically.

Zealot did not hear her, having already fallen asleep.

In the other room, Johnson continued to fill the small capsules, his eyelids slowly becoming heavy. Ten minutes later, he was slumped over the desktop, snoring faintly. Unity was now the only person awake in the apartment, the screen of a pc that Johnson had neglected to turn off casting a dim light over the room.

The Fox Lord was a fickle man. He sat within the confines of his chamber, looking at the dark night pass by with the moon high in the sky. He felt a shivering down his back, as the goosebumps fletched up unto his skin. He shook slightly, and he fidgeted left to right. But there was no wintry chill nor spring time howl to make him so cold. He was a sick man, and the frost that he felt upon his back was the frost that emanated from his heart, his body weak and his constitution failing. He sat there, in the confines of his chamber, looking as the moon high in the sky. From there, came a clatter, a cackle from the wooden door as his mistress walked in. "Rose," said he, turning his head aghast to her.

Rose! A wondrous name for a woman, as she was a scarily beautiful girl with a lock of golden blonde hair and a dress that flowed elegantly from her waist and bust to the draping cloths at her feet. Satin silver silk bent and flowed with the bustling of the night's gentle breeze. She walked towards him, and sitting down upon the chair beside him, her hands unto his, she smiled only a warm and radiant smile that had already, in its short existence, it swept away the shuddering frost within his heart, before a cold metal pierced his skin. He looked down in shock, before looking up at her, and his blood was shining amidst the moon high in the sky. "Rose." The Fox Lord only said, breathing heavily in gasps, as his mistress stood up and walked away into the blackness.

For several minutes the apartment was completely silent. Eventually the door opened as Smith walked in, carrying grocery bags. He walked into the apartment's kitchen, putting the bags down. Out of the corner of his eye, he nocticed Unity. "Oh, hello miss, I didn't realize you were still awake. I had to take the body of that man who attacked you to the police, and I got some food for tomorrow. Care for some tea to help you sleep?"

"Can I ask you a question, Mr - " She paused. "I'm sorry." She smiled in the opposite direction, still with a blindfold over her eyes. "I don't know your name. Forgive my rudeness."

"Jacob Smith." He replied, smiling. "Not exactly a memorable name anyway." He flled a teapot with water and turned on the stovetop. A moment later, he walked over to a nearby chair and sat down. "What is it you wanted to ask me?"

"I hear a humming. What's that noise, Mr. Smith?" Unity asked, referring to the computer. As she couldn't see, she was unable to discern what it was.

"I hear a humming. What's that noise, Mr. Smith?" Unity asked, referring to the computer. As she couldn't see, she was unable to discern what it was.

"Ah, that is one of Johnson's PC's, he seems to have neglected to shut it down."

OOC: he doesnt know about the content of the recordings, as he was gone when they were playing.

"Oh, I see." Unity nodded in recognition. "Why are you up so late?" She asked.

"Oh, I see." Unity nodded in recognition. "Why are you up so late?" She asked.

"I have trouble sleeping most nights, I'm afraid." Smith said. "I rarely sleep more than four hours. I'm boiling some water right now to make tea, which for some reason helps me to fall asleep. I should be going to bed within fifteen minutes." He chuckled. "So what is your excuse for being awake?"

"I don't feel safe." She replied honestly.

"I don't feel safe." She replied honestly.

"I see. Well, If it's any consolation Shmidt, Johnson, myself, and Wall are all light sleepers." Smith said. "We wont wake at human voices, but any sort of other noise will arouse us instantly." He stood up. "I'm going to check on the water, is there anything you need?"

OOC: bump

"No it's okay." She said. "I might as well go to sleep." With that, she slumped down into bed.

Crow was sitting down in a park bench in her native country, looking at the stunning array of lights flash before her. It was a warm, but still windy night, giving an odd chill within the park she was in. Sighing and wondering softly, she stared off into the distance with her back stretched and arched, her arms hung over the end of the bench as she peered at the blackening lake. The small lights drifting on the glassy surface were nothing more than boats floating around in the darkness, and on the crescent hook of land she saw tall skyscrapers etch into the night.

Immediately, she felt a presence. Two, in fact, as she turned around to face two bodies - a woman and a man. The girl herself was draped with short, vibrant bangs, looking with beautiful emerald at the Crow as her hands were tucking beneath her sleeves on a porcelain sheath, her skin pale and bright yet her arms were rippling with a lean, thin and physically well sculpted figure. She carried herself with a unique elegance, and she was much taller than the boy beside her. Her partner, to Crow, gave off an aura of instability.

He had a perpetual smile on his face, his eyes like fox eyes - amber yellow with a black slit, and there was a distinct evilness within his stare that unnerved the hardy General. He had plain black and silver hair, and his sword was unimaginably bare of decoration - it looked like a normal sword of any make. Of his short stature and skeletal build, his legs were the most concerning feature - upon them were steel weights strapped with chains and felt. Both of them carried the same uniform - a black coat with long sleeves that carried zippers at the end, and both had ghostly white porcelain swords at their waists, and dangling at their necks like necklaces were eye patches with numbers. The boy's wasn't visible, but the girl's was - her patch was a red '8', as she put it over her right eye. "Miranda Escliasia?" The boy asked cheerfully and politely to the Crow, as she nodded sceptically. He smiled even wider. "We found her."

Instantly, the girl swung into action, unsheathing her sword and smashing the blade down against the General in a swift, fluid action. Crow only barely blocked with her gauntlet in time, trying to hold it off before her guard smashed, dodging the second swing. This woman swung at her neck this time, and the Crow did nothing less of dodging that one and smashing her hand away from the blade, but the woman caught it with the other hand. She swung down, but missed the Crow, a giant gash in the concrete bench. The Crow frowned in surprise, and she dodged the second swing, her elbow shooting up into the gut of the woman, as she reeled back slowly. There, she began her relentless advance. In that mere second of vulnerability, General Crow smashed her fists down upon the woman without mercy, bursting and bursting with hellfire from her fists as the attacker gushed out blood.

"H-Help me, Gengur." The woman said, on the ground, trying to get up. "O-Our orders need to be fulfilled." She said, reaching for her eyepatch. The Crow looked carefully. Instantly, the woman rushed, trying to ignore the pain, and the Crow dodged, but this time there was no avoiding her blade. A long line was seen across the stomach of the General, as a thin ray of blood seeped out gently, a look of shock and surprise on her face.

"That eyepatch hinders your depth perception, and weakens you, doesn't it?" The Crow asked, as the woman smiled back. "Who are you?"

"The Ballad of the Cerulean Crest. On orders from our leader, we are here to eliminate you, Crow." She said, but in that instance she was talking, the Crow had smashed her fist into her stomach.

"Don't talk. You'll make yourself vulnerable." The Crow said, before she felt a deep searing pain upon her back, her blood spraying out as the boy stood behind her with his sword sheath, yet blood dripped from his sharp nails.

"Try not to be a hypocrit, General." He said, turning around before picking up the girl, and dissappearing into the shadows, leaving the Crow bloody and on the ground in unconscious shock.

In the darkness, the woman crept into the room, her dagger ready before she plunged down into the formless mass. Instantly, her hand was cut, and her stump of an arm was bleeding profusely as the light had turned on. There, standing behind her, was Redeye with a sword, looking at her with disgust. "Backhanded tactics may have worked against the naivety of the Fox, but when you even fail to kill that man properly, do not think you have the ability to harm me." Redeye spoke, looking at that woman, seeing the '9' on her eyepatch. "So it seems Christina has begun to move her assassins. How primitive." He spoke.

I like her, they'll make a good couple if that bonehead ever manages to win her again. Smith thought, laughing quietly to himself as he stirred his tea. He's one of the best military tacticians in the empire, but he can't understand women to save his life.

After finishing his drink, Smith walked into the bathroom and shut the door. He took off his shirt, and began to change the bandages on his back. After this was done, he walked back into the kitchen, and within minutes was asleep at the table. The apartment was quiet.

The morning was beset with the wafting smell of pancakes and cream cakes, crepes and waffles. Upon each corner of bubbly and delectable slab of bread and batter was a deliciously seductive scent of chocolate and strawberries dipped in sugar milk and glazed with syrup and coconut, and melons and kiwi and honey melons alike were stuffed neatly into the sugar baby lined innards of the chocolate drenched crepes. A soft glaze of sticky cream was dabbled gently over the tops of the waffles, and within their insides were tiny fruit filled jams that oozed out softly with every bite. The table was full of delightful morning sweets and breakfasts, as the simmering of bacon was heard and the scent of sausage and eggs were slowly wafting together. Inside the kitchen, Unity was cooking breakfast.

The Ballad were not impressed. While the woman who had failed to fight off Crow was on her knees, Gengur was stubborn and obstinate to stand. He refused to kneel. "Anyone who wants me to kneel can try to make me kneel." He offered, as none came forward to try and force him, where he replied with nothing more than a smile. "I'm doing this my way." He said, looking at the woman, dragging her by the collar. "Don't bother me again."

Johnson was the first to awake, drawn towards the kitchen by the smell of the cooking meal, He stared in awe at the food on the table .upon seeing it After a moment, this expression was replaced by one of annoyance. "Woman used half of the food in my apartment.." He grumbled, walking into the bathroom and shutting the door. Over the next couple of minutes, the others filed into the kitchen, each with a similar intital reaction to Johnson's.

"My goodness, did you make this all yourself, Unity?" Rev. Shmidt asked, sitting down, as Zealot and Smith followed suit. "You didn't need to go to such lengths to cook us breakfast. It must have taken you hours."

"My mother is sexist, ironically. She's very hypocritical as well." Unity summarized. "As such, she taught me how to cook and clean, and she emphasized that my place was in the kitchen. When I joined the Sons of Sagacity, there was a big row with my father and my mother, and they haven't talked since. I feel that I should keep my abilities up to the level. With my expulsion from the organization, perhaps I should go into the culinary arts, don't you think?" She smiled, chuckling to herself slightly as she began to wash the pans and pots. "I'm an early riser, an early worker, and I've had to cook for much longer before. That's just how my family is." Her headband already been removed, and it was now visible that without her contacts, she was heterochromic - her left eye was a wonderful azure hue while her right eye was a throbbing vermilion.

While the Fox Lord sat within the hospital bed, reading a thick and dusty novel, Redeye emerged from the door, entering with his hands behind his back. "Your idiocy knows no bounds." He complained, as the Fox Lord laughed.

"Well, I guess you could say I've been hookwinked." He suggested, before Redeye sighed. "Did you take good care of her?" He asked, as the man nodded. "Thanks, Azra." He thanked, as Redeye nodded in reply.

"Old friends or not, if you die, I'm holding you responsible for being so weak and gullible. Don't be such a fool next time." He said, as the Fox Lord laughed again. "Your giddiness frightens me."

"It always does." He answered back. "Going to see the Crow?" He asked, as Redeye nodded, walking out the door. "You're a surprisingly caring guy, Azra."

"Well, I think if you did pursue such a career, you would be wildly succesful." Zelaot said. "The food doesn't look nearly this good even when the Hegemon has dinner with members of congress." He noticed Unity's eyes, and paused for a moment to look at them before catching himself and turning his attentions back towards the food.

"My wife would throw me out if I ever so much as suggested that she put half this much effort into making meals.." Smith said, as he grabbed a plate and began piling waffles and fruit onto it. "This is incredible."

"At least she will make them for you at all." Shmidt replied jovially. "I have to do all of the housework when I am at home, including cooking." He patted Zealot on the back, continuing in Sumguaian. "You are far luckier than either of us in that regard."

"No, I'm not." Zealot replied, his expression darkening a bit. "It was a miracle that I won her the first time, I doubt I can be so fortunate again."

"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure if I were you." The Reverend said, laughing. "It wasn't just circumstance and your ability to woo the first time. If it was you would never have won her, because you were completely and totally inept about it."

"It's the best I can do to repay you guys for having me here. I understand that harboring an enemy may be dangerous, so I'm trying to repay kindness with my own." She said weakly. Her throat was coarse, her voice sore, and she stopped a few times before resuming her duties. "A month, huh?" She asked aloud. "How well did I know you guys in that month?"

"You're quite pitiful, General Lazy Dragon." A sarcastic voice said, as the Lazy Dragon wiped the blood off his hands, turning his head to face the eyes of Gengur Ushuimaru, smiling back with creeping fox stares. "You didn't have to do that to her. Is it because you're not a man you think you can harm women?" He asked, as the Lazy Dragon swung his sword, but the boy dodged it effortlessly. "Ain't a tempered guy neither, are you?" He asked.

"What do you want?" The Lazy Dragon asked. "As a member of the Ballad, they want your head." He argued, as Gengur laughed. "You don't think I won't?" He asked.

"No, I think you would." He began to pull out his blade. "But I don't think you can. To threat and make through with that threat is an entirely different subject matter, and you, the Lazy Dragon, is given your title for your slothfulness will be your prelude of the fall." He spoke cryptically. And so, he smiled, putting his eyepatch on.

A three shined brilliantly.

"Well Smith, Johnson, and myself havent interacted much with you, I'm afraid." The Reverend said, smiling. "It was long enough however, for Jacob and I to take a liking to you, and Johnson to develop quite a bit of dislike towards you."

"Don't feel as though you are indebted to us," Zealot said. "your assistance has been invaluable. We are more than happy to have you here."

"You may be," Johnson said, walking into the room and sitting down. "but I am not going to pretend that I enjoy having her in my home." He smiled evilly at Zealot as he spoke. "But of course," He continued mockingly, "you would ignore any objection I made regarding her."

He was prevented from speaking further as Shmidt's hand closed round his throat and he was pushed backward, the Reverend having stood up and walked over to him as he was speaking.

"I will not allow you to ruin this, Michael." The priest whispered in Johnson's ear, smiling. Johnson looked up at him, fear evident upon his features as he fell silent.

OOC: bump

"Well Smith, Johnson, and myself havent interacted much with you, I'm afraid." The Reverend said, smiling. "It was long enough however, for Jacob and I to take a liking to you, and Johnson to develop quite a bit of dislike towards you."

"Don't feel as though you are indebted to us," Zealot said. "your assistance has been invaluable. We are more than happy to have you here."

"You may be," Johnson said, walking into the room and sitting down. "but I am not going to pretend that I enjoy having her in my home." He smiled evilly at Zealot as he spoke. "But of course," He continued mockingly, "you would ignore any objection I made regarding her."

He was prevented from speaking further as Shmidt's hand closed round his throat and he was pushed backward, the Reverend having stood up and walked over to him as he was speaking.

"I will not allow you to ruin this, Michael." The priest whispered in Johnson's ear, smiling. Johnson looked up at him, fear evident upon his features as he fell silent.

"It's alright." Unity confided. "If I'm unwelcome, I will find another place to live, and another host willing to take me in. I am grateful for your cooperation." She nodded curtly, before finished up the plates.

Meanwhile, Gengur was on the edge, trying to fend off his target. "Damn it." He murmured, his gun split in half, his rifle smashed to pieces as his sword was barely holding out. "What kind of strength do you have in those arms?" He asked frantically. The Lazy Dragon sighed.

"I'd have thought that Christina would have garnered stronger opponents for us to face." He prepared himself, before Gengur smashed him in the stomach, forcing blood from his abdomen as a hooked metal slab on his knee tore out his stomach. "Fuck." He said painfully, his sword swinging at Gengur, who dodged easily. "Fuck."

Gengur laughed, his sword prepared.

"It's alright." Unity confided. "If I'm unwelcome, I will find another place to live, and another host willing to take me in. I am grateful for your cooperation." She nodded curtly, before finished up the plates.


"You are welcome here, Unity." Zealot replied, looking at Johnson as he spoke. "And shall be welcome among us for as long as you wish to remain in our company. Is that understood, Michael?"

"As you command, your grace." Johnson said, sarcastically, standing up and bowing.

"Enough of your insolence, boy." Shmidt said. "Remember to whom you speak."

OOC: in Sumguaian society, reffering to someone as "your grace", "your exellency", ect. is an insult, as the culture holds disdain for nobility and aristocratic titles.

"Fuck, Oslun." Redeye spoke, looking as the surgeons fixed up the Lazy Dragon, his hands covered in blood, the juices of an eye splashed upon his finger, a bloodied eyepatch with a three dangling from his palm. "Were you that arrogant, to have been caught off guard?" He looked, turning to the newly recovered Fox Lord. "We've been lax in our security. Perhaps, it's time to initiate a full Generals' Council. Contact Crow, Medium, Jormungand, the Spring Demon, Zealot, and the Leper. Have a full on monitor's conference. Priority one, urgent." Redeye ordered.

"Sure." The Fox Lord confided, as calls every were initiated to the Generals, urging for an audio conference.

Zealot's phone rang, and he sighed in exhasperation. "And who is this then?" He asked rhetorically, opening the phone. This is the same number that called me for the disciplinary hearing..must be another conference call. He put the receiver to his ear. "General Zealot present."

"General Fox Lord, here." He spoke normally, without his gangling tone, without his broken speech. "We have an emergency conference to be held between Generals. I need you to hook up your cell phone to any possible electronic medium as soon as possible."

"Very well, one moment." Zealot responed, and put his hand over the mouthpeice. "Michael, I need to use one of your pc's again."

Johnson reluctantly stood up, and the two left the kitchen. As they entered the living room of Johnson's apartment, Zealot grabbed him by the collar, pushing him into the wall. "I don't care what you think of her, Michael, you will tolerate her presence and be civil towards her for as long as she is here." He said, bringing his face inches from Johnson's. "Wether you like her or not, her assistance is invaluable, and required for the good of our nation and our success in minimising the damage done by the Sons of Sagacity within the Holy Empire."

"So that is how you justify it?" Johnson said, smiling. "For the greater good? Do you hoestly expect me to beleive that? Tell me, if you want to destroy this organization, why do you do whatever you are commanded by them?"

"I have no other choice." Zealot replied. "Now silence yourself and help me connect this cell phone."

Moments later, the phone was plugged into a usb port, and Zealot spoke into the mouthpeice again. "Done."

"Assar Code 1, Username, Redeye. Greetings, Generals. I will be brief. The Lazy Dragon has just been attacked, and is under intensive care. The enemy, due to my miscalculation, has been much less ethical in their attacks than we believed. They take no safety measures to waging their war, and it won't be long before they strike again. Now, summary, please." Redeye spoke with a matter-of-factly voice. He wasn't happy, it was evident, and the Generals ensured to not curb his legendary wrath.

"The situation is simple - the enemy is split into an elite group of assassins known as the Ballad from what our observers have known. They are distinguished by rank of power, unlike us who are distinguished by joining date. A lower number denotes a higher rank, whereas a higher number denotes a lower rank. A number 1 would be the strongest." He paused. "I warn you all, the Lazy Dragon is in near terminal condition. The one who attacked him is ranked number 3, and we are all familiar with the Lazy Dragon's ability to fight off opponents. This number 3 is also nearly responsible for defeating General Crow."

"I would ashamedly admit that to be true." Crow spoke, as a murmur of interest was heard from the Spring Demon.

"Additionally, there are further news. Our headquarters in the Jagites have been bombed. I suspect a mole in our midst, and I hope that all Generals keep a wary eye on their subordinates, especially those in power. They only took one thing - Sekai Hamruun, the former 4th Sakrianda." Redeye spoke with shame.

"As of now, the Sons of Sagacity are going into full war mode. We will crush all remnants of this organization quickly and efficiently. All Generals are to mobilize their armies immediately. Are there any questions or objections?" Redeye asked.

"Is it known where the base of operations is for these assassins, if any central rallying location exists?" Zealot asked. So he has escaped. I should have just killed him when I was able.

"We've tracked down four main headquarters, all of them mobile and disposable central sectors that were abandoned when we have launched our raids. It's visible from this that there's a mole in our organization, so all Generals are to be wary of any suspicious activity between them. As for our next location, this mission is a Generals only activity. We will be launching a raid against the city of Semphras in the southeast seas within the Dominionites of Kannigsburg. Thats our next believed location." The Fox Lord summarized. "All transportation is being prepared, so all Generals please state the location of where you want to be picked up."

"The Sumguaia International Airport." Zealot said. "Gate C7 is rented for private use by the Abrahamic League, I can arrange for an opening in the flight schedule for a small plane."

"Blackhelm Private Airport C11 Sector." Crow spoke.

"Jagite Central Refugee Port, terminal 2." The Leper spoke.

"Very well. We will commence immediately." Redeye spoke. "That is all."

Zealot hung up the phone, and walked back into the kitchen.

"It would appear that you will have to handle your mother without me," He said, addressing Unity. "I have been assigned to another task."

OOC: get on yahoo when/if you can.

Instinctively, Unity grabbed the hem of his sleeve gently. She froze up, and in that second, there were no words. There was nothing to address her feelings at that moment, and perhaps, just perhaps, she knew all along what he meant to her. "Take me with you." She urged desperately. "Something...just something." Her speech broke. "I-I don't know what it is, but I know, for sure, you're not just another nobody." She didn't cry, she didn't say much, nor did she crackle or break in her speech. "Please?"

"I think perhaps we should leave them alone." Shmidt said, standing up. He, Smith, and Michael left the room, the latter looking disgusted.

"Of course. If that is what you wish," Zealot said softly, taking the hand Unity had grabbed his sleeve with into his own. "then there is nothing I would rather." He stood, looking into her eyes, unsure of what to do next, his concern for her mental health and feelings towards her silently battling within him.

A strong woman was to not cry, even in emotional distress. A strong woman was to never waver in her feelings, and a strong woman was to rely on a man as little as possible. But strong women could not feel the pain that Unity felt every day, not knowing the horror of it all as every second passed, the troubling feelings of being hurt by not knowing her immediate past. It hurt her beyond the limitations of a strong woman, and she cried finally, in all this time, when she held back all those tears, she cried. At the hems of his shirt, she moaned and sobbed and wailed, and she hugged his arm tightly to never let go, as if she would be torn apart had she loosened her grip.

The woman of a nerves of steel had broken, shattered into the hands of time, where she lived the majority of her life in blackness, as her memories were nothing more than fairy tales. She knew that she could only assume who this man was to her, and whilst her mind stayed static, her heart thumped crazily. "General." She said with a respectful admiration. "I'm a nuisance, aren't I?" She asked, smiling. "I'm grateful for your-your help. Everything I've done, was it for you?" She began to ponder, her words becoming more cryptic, as her mind danced upon the tightrope of sanity.

In the other room, Johnson began to laugh as he overheard. "Complete madwoman."

As he spoke, Smith punched him in in the face, knocking him down. "You idiot boy!" Smith said, leaning down to pin him to the ground. "Don't you realize that he will become as nothing if this should fail?!"

"And he would deserve it, for being so easily corrupted." Michael replied, continuing to laugh as he spit blood out of his mouth.

"I fear, my child, that you may be deviating from the path of righteousness." The Reverend said, as blades shot out of the ends of his cross. He pressed the end of it against Johnson's neck. "See that you do not let your hatred control you, lest you become a detriment to the good of humanity and a hindrance to the will of God." He smiled. "Oh little lamb, how you have strayed."


Zealot insinctively hugged Unity as she began crying. "You are no nuisance to me." He said, guiding her towards one of the chairs. "Sit down, try to calm yourself." As he spoke, his voice shook slightly, his fear for her showing despite his attempts to hide it.