Etrius looked up as there was a heavy knock on his door. He turned the music off, and opened the door, to meet the tall frame of Boomer. "What's up ma nigga?" Boomer said, smiling slightly. Etrius smiled back. "Hey dude, come in." He said. Boomer looked at the chair, and then sat down on the bed, snapping open a can of beer disguised as soda. Etrius looked at the demolition officer closely, before sitting down in the chair. "Here." Boomer said, pulling the First Book out from under his black tee. Etrius looked at the red cover of the book. "Thanks man." He said.

Boomer shrugged. "I managed to get it off Romanov legally. I opened the cover, and I really don't know how you can read it. It's just like...symbols." Boomer said. Etrius frowned. He understood what it meant perfectly. "So, they have found the next Castle?" Etrius said, but to himself.
Boomer got up, and headed towards the door, leaving the can on the drawer. "Where are you going?" Etrius asked. "Me? Man, I have to get to the gym!" he said, a slight Swedish intonation in his accent. He left, and Etrius smiled. He put the Book down and looked at the beer can, at his reflection.

A lot had changed in the past three months. Nothing of the next Castle had been heard, and Etrius' impatience was rising once more. Lloyd had not died, but he had been unconscious for a long time. Since the confrontation, Etrius had not spoken to Lloyd, Beecher or the General, but he had frequently spoken to Romanov, Boomer and some Soldiers, in an effort to not cave in under solitude. He had remained because he knew there was more to the entire project than met the eye.

The door opened and another person entered. Etrius did not need to turn to know the person was Beecher. He could pick out the sniper's presence in any crowd. "What brings you here?" Etrius asked, not turning. "I brought your sabre." Beecher said flatly. He threw a package onto the bed, and then made to leave. "Sit down." Etrius said, and Beecher hesitated but complied, pulling up a chair. "And before you bring on the bullshit, there are two Mac-10's on the chopper."

The sniper didn't look to be in good shape. Facial hair dotted his face, meaning he hadn't shaved for a few days. The Beecher he knew would never have let it grow. In addition to this, Beecher was looking tired and even slightly drunk. A tense silence hung between the two men.

Finally, Etrius broke the silence. "For fuck's sake man, you still pissed off at me for breaking your jaw?" Beecher looked up, the faint glimmer of a smile on his face. "Dude...you did not break my jaw. If you had...I would have killed you. And anyway, I kept away from you so I wouldn't get the urge to kill you. Or vise versa." Etrius laughed. "I wouldn't worry about the jaw. You still look ugly anyway."

Beecher paused, and then laughed hard, putting a cigarette in his mouth. "You always were an ugly bastard." He said in retaliation. Etrius sighed, and said, "You're good?"
"I'm good. I wouldn't be smoking cigarettes otherwise." Beecher said, lighting it up.
"You'd be smoking those like hell." Etrius said, and then asked another question. "How is Lloyd?"

Beecher looked up, and said, "He is in the practice room nearly all day, every day. I think he blames himself for him and you falling out. One things for sure: he does not like the General. In fact, he has been involved in several cases of insubordination." Etrius sat down, and said, "What about Boomer?"

Beecher sniggered. "No girls, no videogames, no beer, and no football. But something else is keeping him happy, and I don't know what." Etrius got up to leave. "Another thing, the old man wants to see us." Beecher added. Etrius paused, and snorted. "I'll need to see Lloyd." Etrius said. And then he turned to look at Beecher.

"There is more to this entire project than what meets the eye. I don't trust the General, but that's not really news. I honestly don't trust the Swedish dude either. There is only one group of people I can put my trust in...and that is you." Etrius said, knowing what burden he was putting on Beecher's shoulders. "So when I retrieve whatever it is I'm being sent to retrieve, please. Make sure he doesn't get it."
Beecher looked at him for a long time, and then said, "Let's go."


Beecher, Etrius and Boomer stood side by side in front of the General. The General's face was hard; there was not one injury to be seen from three months ago, when Etrius had attacked him. When he spoke, his tone was rough and straight to the point. "We have, of course, located the Second Castle. A chopper will take you there, and extract you. If you succeed, you will hand over the next artifact, and you will be told then whether ops will continue. If you should fail...we'll send for a different team." The General inhaled his cigar as Etrius nodded.

Boomer made himself comfortable in one of the armchairs near the door. The General had not yet finished. "Etrius...I am proud to promote you to Captain." There was silence. Etrius was speechless: he looked as if he had just been struck across the face. He shook his head as the General offered him the epilettes. "No. No promotions until the job is done." The General waited, and then nodded his understanding. He put the epilettes into his drawer, and turned to Beecher. "Beecher, you have been promoted to Warrant Officer First Class."

Beecher came to attention, and took the epilettes awkwardly, not knowing where to look. "Also, Boomer, you have been promoted to Chief Warrant and Armoury Officer." Boomer got up quickly and nearly ran into the desk, coming to attention. He reached out for the epilettes, but the General continued speaking. "Do not use the explosives on people, and do not put them under officer's chairs and beds." Boomer grinned, and saluted.


Boomer clapped Etrius and Beecher on the backs as they left the office. "Well done." He said, before heading to where Dr Romanov was situated. "Gone to ask the doc for pills?" said Beecher. "Probably." Answered Etrius. He pictured it in his mind. "Dude, you have anymore pills?"
"Boomer, you must be careful. Over-consumption of these pills may be extremely dangerous. And I could be out of a job."
"Ok doc, ok. i won't tell anyone. I'll remove all the bombs I put under the dude's bed as well, if that makes you happy."

Etrius laughed to himself, and told Beecher he was going to find Lloyd. "Meet me at the helicopter, at 14:30." Etrius said.

Lloyd was spinning and slicing at empty air with his bright, cold katana. The elegant Japanese sword left traces through the cool air, burning afterimages into his mind. Etrius walked towards the swordsman cautiously; it did not pay to be slack when Lloyd was wielding a sword.

Lloyd whipped around with the sword and the edge of the cold blade stopped in line with Etrius' throat. Etrius stopped dead, looking into the cold gaze of his friend. After holding this position for a moment, Lloyd eased up and nodded at Etrius. Etrius spoke, noting Lloyd looked different. "Lloyd."

His arm dropped to his side. "Etrius." He said flatly. Etrius noted the tone of Lloyd's voice and shifted uncomfortably, not knowing what else to add. Lloyd moved past Etrius to get a drink from the other side of the room. Etrius noted Lloyd's dark hair was long, tied back into a ponytail, and he had a five o'clock shadow, which was unlike Lloyd.

Etrius spoke again. "Still holding what I did against me?" Lloyd did not look at him when he answered. "It's not that you nearly killed me. It's what you said." Etrius thought back. Nothing the bastard didn't deserve? "You actually heard me say that? Woah, I thought you were unconscious." Etrius said.

"Or dead." Lloyd nearly snarled. His accent was extremely clipped and sharp. "I can't believe that damned American actually thought I had died." Lloyd added disdainfully, looking at his reflection in the blade. "He is not just some damned American, he has a name." Etrius sighed.

"Whatever." Lloyd said dismissively, waving his hands. His light brown eyes were nearly gold in the shadow of his dark hair and eyebrows. He sighed and looked at Etrius levelly. "You did not hit Boomer, did you?" Etrius frowned. "No, I don't believe I did."
"Good. I was just about to say, if you have come to me for protection from him, you won't find it here."

Etrius managed to bring a grin to his face at these words. "You haven't got a sabre, so that means you are not here to practice." Lloyd said. "I just came to see how you were." Etrius said levelly, before Lloyd could ask his question. Lloyd laughed lightly, and then said, "So, you haven't killed the General yet."
Etrius looked closely at the swordsman, but Lloyd's face was hard, masking what he was truly thinking. "Do I have a reason to?" Etrius said, finally.

Lloyd didn't reply. He was lost in thought, and a troubled look was descending on his face. He was remembering something...Finally, Lloyd replied. "There are plenty of reasons. Reasons I don't want to divulge..." Etrius nodded slowly. "Hah, well, I need to report to him later. When you come back, visit me and we will practice." Lloyd said.

Etrius looked up once again, into Lloyd's eyes. "It's a promise. We will duel." Etrius said, holding out his right hand. Lloyd looked at it, and a period of time seemed to pass. Lloyd then clasped Etrius' hand and shook it.


Etrius called for Beecher at 14:30, and together they walked towards the helicopter. Beecher had a scoped rifle slung over his shoulder, while Etrius held his sabre in its scabbard. The cold feel of the weapon seemed to be the only thing he could feel as he looked at the chopper they were boarding. Suddenly, Lloyd caught up with them and casually nodded to Etrius. On his back was a katana, and he had an MP5 Sub-machine in his left hand, loaded. The helicopter left the ground, and silence descended on the team.