Author's Notes:

Wow, it's been a while, and this is the only chapter I've added so far this summer. But um, that's all.

Final Preperations

News spreads quickly, especially within an enclosed area. Everyone wants power, and in a place where information is power, information is considered their currency. Words circulate like cold hard cash, payment usually being of the same nature (or a service performed, if that's more the merchant's fancy).

And through this network is how the secret spread of Gordon's trial being postponed. By now, it is common knowledge. Every person has heard the whispered words that 'Gordon blackmailed the elders'. But as to how, now that remains an enigma. For whoever started the rumor (and based on said rumor one could only assume it was Gordon himself), kept certain parts to him or herself. It had been a carefully planted seed, to leave everyone wondering what happened; deeper still, impart fear into those who knew the truth.

Now, everyone awaits the trial, even chameleons thought to have gone missing had returned. Somehow, the rumors within the Shinobi had even spread to them, and they had dawdled home in hopes of learning the secrets of their clan.

The Bride of Constant Vigil had become even less social than normal. True, isolation had always been a part of Shinobi culture. But the Bride was supposed to be their bridge between the clan and the rest of the world. Needless to say, her solitude raised more than a few red flags. The charge against Espio was rape, and the purple chameleon was the personal servant to the Bride. Espio's disappearance and then sudden reappearance with 'amnesia' wasn't exactly helping to allay any suspicions either.

Rumors of Espio being a terrorist sent to destroy the clan had also been implanted into the minds of the common chameleon. Other rumors claimed that he and the Bride were lovers, and that instead of rape, the two were about to make love. But if that were the case, why act in public? And more importantly, didn't that mean that the Bride was no longer fit to rule, for she had an identifiable weakness?

But, regardless of all the issues coming to a head, life still continues on. The days to Espio's trial can be counted on a single hand and the final preparations were being made: the truth would come to light soon.

Gordon had acquired numerous cronies willing to lie before the court. This group of about five chameleons met often and had already drafted out the perfect story. They had come up with every possible scenario incriminating the male chameleon and had created strange plot holes. In fact, by now, the team was already planning their celebratory feast. Hell, everything was going so smoothly that they had already started talking over who would take over the clan.

Espio, on the other hand, was struggling. With his friends gone and any major allies he might've had missing, there was no one willing to stick with him. Furthermore, his only trump card, revealing himself to be the son of the Bride, was without a doubt out of the question. Not only would that push his mother out of the position if she confirmed, there was also the chance she would deny it and leave him to suffer an even worse fate. So, this left the chameleon with no story and no way to claim his innocence.

The Bride herself sat rummaging through old papers. Her world was slowly crumbling down around her, and thoughts of returning to a better time coalesced into a tornado inside her head. Yet, she could not bring herself to remember those simpler times, as even those were swept away by the tornado scrambling her thoughts. The woman could barely remember her name, her parents, who she was, and what she wanted to be before becoming the Bride. The job had swallowed her whole, taking away everything she ever was and reforming her into something new.

However, Constant Vigil could not complain. She had taken the job, the oath, willingly, and even though the job is demanding and required numerous sacrifices, it was worth it. Having no friends, not understanding the concept of love, removing herself from her son's world, every moment was worth it, because it was all for the bigger picture. The bigger picture that had yet to be drawn.

~.~

It's not like Conquering Storm enjoyed the pain of her enemies, she just so happens to thrives off of it.

Things were playing out in ways too perfect to be explained. Constant Vigil allowing herself to spend time with her son in a clan like the Shinobi was too good to be true; she was practically handing over her position on a silver platter. Constant Vigil had set herself up to fail, and Conquering Storm had a front row seat to the action.

However, this is simply a battle in a long, hard war. True, this battle could mark the turning point, but she could not spend all her resources there. She had to keep her focus, keep moving forward. There are higher mountains to climb just around the corner.

So even as she took her time to celebrate the small victory, she resolved to move forward once more. If everything goes according to plan here (and there is only a little chance of it not), she will need to be ready to make the decisive play. And if something should go amiss, then like any good Raiju, she needed to have a backup.

~.~

It had been quite a while since anyone has been in the dungeons of the Raiju Clan. Prisoners were all but forgotten, and only few members had access to said dungeons.

Sarah walked past the cells diligently, her mind set on one thing: answers. Being a subordinate is hard enough as is, but if there's one thing that Sarah hates, it is being left in the dark. Moreover, not knowing of Espio's lineage is bothering the girl to no end. She sure as hell isn't going to come out without an explanation.

She makes a sharp right turn, flashing a guard her badge before making another right and then a left. The further she goes into the caverns, the more guards she has to pass. This is where the dangerous enemies are stored.

One last flashed badge and she was in, standing before the chameleon who had taken her place in the Shinobi, the one who had stolen we shot at brainwashing the confused Bride's son when he had first returned to the Shinobi.

Liza lay dormant in her cell, chains binding both her legs and arms to the wall. She's looks exactly like the robot she was forced to become. Sarah stalks through the oversized cell to where the girl is chained. Grasping the girl's head, she snaps the unconscious girl's head up so that the pink chameleon is facing the red's. Unresponsive, the girl doesn't move, her cybernetic eyes remaining close lidded.

Sarah tsks in annoyance, tilting the girl's head from side to side in an attempt to wake the girl. Once again, nothing happens. Annoyed, Sarah pushes the girl's head back, allowing her head to hit the stone wall behind her.

Stalking slowly around the large cell, the chameleon quickly sweeps the room, eyes narrow as she moves. Then, she sees it, a small switch on the wall of the cell. It is hidden in plain sight, the same way weapons are generally hidden by the Shinobi.

Flipping the switch, Sarah turns to stare at the other chameleon. She isn't moving. Annoyed, Sarah switches the flip off and on again. Nothing happens. She continues, flicking the switch repeatedly, waiting for the other chameleon to finally power up. Eventually, sick of waiting for the girl to awaken, she turns to leave the room, leaving the switch on.

~.~

The chameleon storms through the dungeons, passing the corridors in a flurry, stirring angry prisoners she crosses. No one is suicidal enough to stop her. It's obvious that she's dissatisfied and that now probably isn't the best time to distract her or bother her with petty things.

By the time the girl has made it to the surface, she goes straight to where Conquering Storm should have been waiting, only to find that area devoid of any life. The woman was probably doing something important and forgotten to tell Sarah yet again. Forget to thank her or take into consideration everything she has done for the Bride thus far. It's okay though. Sarah will find the information she wants, and she will find a way to make the others pay for not giving into her demands.

For now though, she has her part to do in the master plan, and she will do her apart until...well, as long as she gets a higher position, she doesn't care what she has to do.

Author's Notes:

Remember, there's only two weeks left to the poll, and next chapter will be the beginning of the case. I guess this was just…whatever it was… filler. It's a filler chapter.

So Review please.

And the poll.