[url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/246624086/0/0]Table of Contents[/url] [i]“Miss Avery,” the aging man greeted, bowing slightly. He adjusted his armor uncomfortably as he rose. “Mr. Chanely,” the Exo returned as she stopped in front of him, along with a young man and a woman. “Please,” Chanely insisted, “Just call me Daniel.” “Don’t count on it,” the young man chuckled, stepping up next to the Exo. Daniel’s smile faltered as he nodded, “Hello, Rotan.” “Who’s in there?” Avery asked, gesturing to the door behind Daniel. “Thomas, Levi, Vladston, and Lord Chril,” Daniel listed. “Hm,” Rotan hummed with satisfaction, “All according to plan, right Avery?” “Um, Avery?” Daniel added, glancing to the door nervously, “This is risky, isn’t it? What if someone’s given us away already? They could be expecting us.” Rotan planted his fists on his hips, “I don’t know, Avery, that’s a good point. I would love to spring a trap.” The woman looked to Avery, “What are the chances?” “Zero,” Avery stated firmly. “Well, there you have it,” Rotan shrugged sarcastically, “We can’t possibly be betrayed.” “Morgan, you’ll take Levi,” Avery instructed, ignoring Rotan. “With pleasure,” the woman smirked, nudging Daniel playfully, “Wish me luck, old man.” “Good luck,” Daniel said grimly, pushing the door open and moving out of the way. Avery, Rotan, and Morgan entered the room. A throne dominated the large space, occupied by an armored man with a heavy cape draped over his shoulders. He was speaking to three guards, and his eyes darted to them briefly. “-down the trail. Cheshire will have to come past it,” he finished, turning his attention from the three guards to the new arrivals with a concerned frown, “Morgan? Avery? Rotan? You didn’t send any messengers. Why are you here? Is something wrong?” “Yes, my Lord,” Avery replied, “There‘s been a mutiny.” “A mutiny?“ The Warlord blinked, “And it has been dealt with?” “Yes, my Lord,” Avery confirmed, “It’s all under control.” “Good,” the Warlord sighed, leaning forward, “Well, who was it? It must’ve been widespread if you were all involved. How many? What damages?” “Eric, Ferdinand, Lionel, and Afanasi were all killed, m’Lord,” Morgan listed. “I-“ the Warlord gaped, then curled his fists and spoke in low tone as he suppressed his anger, “All of them? Who was responsible?” “Well, that’s the thing, Chril,” Rotan said, striding closer, “It was us.” Lord Chril’s eyes widened with realization and he sprung to his feet, reaching for his weapon. Rotan was faster, drawing his revolver and shooting the old Warlord in the stomach. One of the guards rushed forward, but Morgan quickly put a hole in his head. The guard crashed to the floor as Chril sunk slowly into his throne. He pressed his hand against his bleeding wound, taking ragged breaths. Rotan kept his weapon trained on the dying Warlord as he approached, plucking the old man’s sidearm out of its holster and tossing it aside. The remaining two guards watched as it clattered across the ground. “You were supposed to kill him,” one muttered. “He’ll die, Thomas,” Rotan assured offhandedly, standing over Chril, “How does that feel, findin’ out everyone loyal to you is dead then gettin’ killed by the last people you trusted? I’ll admit, I may’ve had a little too much fun doin’ this.” Chril’s mouth moved as he searched for words, and his eyes slid down to Avery. “It-,” he coughed, “You. You did this?” Rotan scowled and finished off the Warlord. He holstered his pistol and growled at the carcass, “It was me, you old tyrant.” No one moved until the door creaked open. Daniel peered in, taking in the scene, then nodded, “It’s done, then.” Morgan holstered her weapon. Rotan reached around Chril’s body and unfastened his cape, bundling up the thick black material before tossing it to Avery, “You should keep that. It suits you.” “And Hilton is mine,” Morgan declared happily, “This was a good plan, Avery. You deserve some reward for all this.” “I’m content,” Avery declined, “Chril is dead. That’s all I wanted.” “Now now, Avery,” Rotan encouraged, strolling closer to the pair with Thomas and the other guard, “I don’t think there’s any point in pretendin’, anymore. Tell her.” Avery glared at Rotan and scolded him sharply, “Keep out of my business, Rotan.” Rotan’s smirk only widened as he shrugged cockily. “Please,” Morgan offered, turning to Avery, “What is it? I’d be glad to help.” “Thank you,” Avery accepted grudgingly, swinging the cape around her shoulders and fastening it. She tipped her head to the guards, “Vladston.” Morgan didn’t even have time to look before she was riddled with bullets. She gasped and crumpled to the floor in a heap. “That’s a shame,” Rotan commented slyly as Vladston lowered his rifle, “I kinda liked her.” “She was too dangerous,” Avery muttered, stepping away from Morgan’s corpse, “And I don’t appreciate your games. If you had tipped-off Morgan or Chril too soon, we all could have died.” Rotan laughed, “Surrounded by your pawns? It was all under control.” Avery stopped, facing Chril’s throne, “Leave, Rotan. All we want is Hilton. Take the rest and leave me be.” Rotan threw out his arms, “So it’s ‘we’ now? Maybe one of them wants Hilton all to himself?” He waved to the others. Thomas, Vladston, and Daniel. They only watched him in silence. “Leave, Rotan,” Avery repeated, turning the emotionless glow of her orange eyes to him, “Now.” Rotan scowled and backed away. Daniel pulled open the door and stepped aside. “I’m Lord Rotan, now,” Rotan sneered, then pivoted and stormed out of the room. Daniel followed him out and shut the door. “Finally over…” Thomas muttered. He dropped his rifle, letting the strap around his shoulder catch the weight, and complained, “Just the thought o’ that fool bein’ a Warlord makes my skin crawl, you know.” “He’s always made your skin crawl,” Vladston retorted. Avery had moved to stand in front of the throne. She looked down into Chril’s lifeless eyes. “Was this all worth it?” Thomas questioned, “Ferdinand was a good friend o’ mine. Now he’s dead ‘cause o’ this.” “‘Course it was worth it,” Vladston retorted, “Chril’s dead. We’re gonna fix Hilton up right. Gonna be the best place in the whole system.” “But shouldn’t we ‘ave killed Rotan, too?” Thomas pressed. Vladston couldn’t think of a response, so he looked to Avery for help. After a moment, the Exo turned her gaze away from the dead Warlord and spoke, “We need him. To take the power. We’ll be safe behind him.” “But what if-“ Thomas began. “He won’t betray us,” Avery interrupted, “Not yet.” “Why’s that?” Vladston asked. “He doesn’t have the power to attack us, yet,” Avery said, pulling on Chril’s carcass and letting it fall to her feet with a muffled thud, “He’ll be a perfect Warlord, that much is clear. He already has support, and we just gave him a territory. But he’ll need time to build his strength. And we‘ll use that time.” “Meaning?” Thomas asked. “Meaning we’ll be too powerful to attack by the time he’s ready,” Avery finished, sitting on Chril’s throne with a flip of her new cape. “So, what now?” Vladston queried. He had a thought and smiled, sinking to one knee. He bowed his head and added, “My Lady.” [/i]