Vriska walked for a long time through the cool dim Alternian forest before she finally made it to the place that Gamzee and Terezi described to be the rebel hideout. Of course both their descriptions had been a little skewed, which is something Vriska attributed to Terezi's blindness and the fact that Gamzee had spent his time with the rebels highly intoxicated, but once she got there, the marking on the trees were unmistakable. As an added bonus, the rebels appeared to still be there, preparing for their suicide mission. She had to admit, they were a noble bunch of fools, but they lacked a certain sense of craftiness that was necessary for things such as rescue missions and burglary. Luckily for them, she too had a bone to pick with the highbloods, and was willing to lend them to her assistance and expertise, if only to watch the Condesce lose.

She went to the hidden door in a very professional manner and knocked, six times slowly and nine times quickly. There was a pause of hesitation before a masked Nepeta opened the door a crack.

She looked at Vriska in surprise and lifted her mask. "Vriska?"

"Hello, Nepeta." Said Vriska casually. "May I come in? I'd like to wish you all my greatest condolences on your losses, and hopefully prevent you from having more."

Nepeta gave Kanaya a questioning look, and Kanaya nodded her head.

"Very well," Said Nepeta to Vriska, "but we won't take kindly to any tricks."

"I'm well aware." Said Vriska. "I'm honestly trying to help you this time, not as a favor, but because I too hate the empress. Also, Pyrope sent me."

"Pyrope?" Asked Sollux hopefully as Vriska sauntered inside. "As in TZ?"

"Yes. Apparently she's in cahoots with Gamzee, and they simply jumped on my offer to help them save Karkat."

There was a chorus of hissing and snarling from the group.

"We do not associate with deceitful Subjugglators." Spat Kanaya reproachfully.

"Oh settle down, fussy fangs." Said Vriska calmly. "He feels duty bound to help Karkat. Don't ask me why exactly, but I consider him to be invaluable to our cause. Not to mention, he's helped Terezi get back into fighting condition."

"That's great and all," said the Summoner, "but why do we need you?"

Vriska smirked. "Because Condy has a trap waiting for all of you, and I know how to get around it."

0o0o0o0o

Karkat was starving, but still he actively refused to eat from the golden bowl the Condesce had put his food into, expecting him to eat it on all fours like some kind of pawbeast. The food tempted him, but right now, his dignity, the remaining shred of it anyway, was still important. He had developed a very thick skin. He wasn't easy to break.

He sighed and leaned his bare back against the throne, trying not to get tangled up in his chains. The doors to the throne room opened up, and Karkat looked to see two sea dwellers, who seemed to be around his age, but he could never be sure, walk in. He stared at them quietly, pretending he wasn't even there.

"Listen, Fef, the trap is necessary." Whined the accented voice of the male troll. "We have to keep our dominance over the lowbloods."

"Blood. That's all you care about isn't it?" Countered the female troll indignantly. "Eridan, do you really think it's right to just trick them and lure them to the slaughter like this?"

Eridan frowned. His clothing and the violet streak in his hair suggested he was the violet blooded prince himself. "Feferi, I've already explained this to you. The lowbloods need to see what happens when you rebel. It's a necessary reminder so we avoid more annoying conflict. I have to hand it to the Sufferer. He did mess things up, but blaming the crackdown on him has helped exponentially."

Feferi flipped her thick, long, wavy hair over her shoulder. "I thought highbloods were supposed to take care of the lower castes, but instead we force them into subjugation. I mean . . . look at him for example." She motioned to karkat, and he gulped upon meeting the gaze of the empress's fuchsia blooded heir. "He's the Empress's pet right now, and we both know he won't last long in this condition."

Eridan scoffed. "Who cares? He's filthy, a mutant blood. There are worse ways he could die."

"But he did nothing to deserve this . . . you know what? I'm going to help him."

Eridan looked at her in alarm. "Fef! Are you fucking crazy?"

"I'm just going to see if I can help with his wounds and get him some decent food. Come on, we should do this before the empress gets back."

Eridan rolled his eyes. "This is terribly silly."

Feferi came up to him. "I'll give you a big kiss if you help me." She smirked.

Eridan blushed a little then looked away indignantly. "Fine, but it's your fault if we get in trouble."

The two highbloods left, and Karkat watched in fascination as they came back shortly after with some supplies. He felt like he should be angry that they pitied him, but this . . . well this was absolutely perfect. He'd play poor, helpless victim, and pull at the Princess's heartstrings, and maybe, just maybe, he could get her to help him even more.

"Hello." Said Feferi kindly as she came over to him.

"H-hello." Stammered out Karkat in his best weak and helpless lowblood voice, staring at the floor. The act left a bad taste in the back of his throat, but it was better than idly waiting to watch his friends die in front of him.

"I'm here to help you." Said Feferi, and she handed him some food before beginning to remove his bandages.

"Th-thank-you." He took a tentative bit o fthe food. "Why, umm, why are you helping me?"

"Because you looked like you needed it. My ancestor can be very cruel."

"So you . . . oppose her then?"

"In some ways. Why do you ask?"

"Well it's just . . . she's going to lure the rebels to their deaths. I'm really scared. I don't want them to die just because of me, but there's nothing I can do about it." That was completely true.

Feferi frowned. "Im so sorry. I wish there was more I could do."

"I-it's okay. I'm sure you've got much more important uses for your time. I'm a mutant blood. I'm inconsequential."

And there it was, that frown that told Karkat that he had definitely gotten to her. He wasn't a manipulative person, but this was a matter of survival. She didn't say anything after that, but Karkat really hope she was thinking about it, for all this sakes.

0o0o0o0o

Vriska returned to the palace after spending most the day directing and planning their rescue mission. The rebels were short on forces, what with all the members they had lost to the Empress. Even had dropped out of the fight to join his ancestor. They didn't have a very good chance on their own, so Vriska decided to get some inside help. She knew that Terezi na dGamzee would back her up, and that was excellent, because they were both strong and skilled fighters. Karkat, well he was a prisoner and probably would still be far too weak to fight even after they rescued him. He would most definitely need to be pulled from any violent confrontations and protected.

That left only two more people to ask, the blacksmith and her apprentice. It wasn't going to be easy, because they both had reasons to dislike her, but she did have Terezi on her side in this, and they needed them. Aradia, for her attitude and strength, and Tavros for his, well his special brand of sturdiness. Really, she thought of him as really useless and a weenie, but the Summoner would skewer her if she left him out. At least he had a tendency to stay by Aradia's side.

She sighed as she walked through the basement tunnels of the castle, and knocked on Aradia's door.