Attacking Seido's highest court had been an incredibly bold move by the Resistance, and one that would needless to say, hardly go unnoticed.
Loathe as Hotaru was to admit it, Darrius had made his point. The Seidan Guard no longer held the appearance of an unassailable force none could challenge. Criticism in the form of protests and formal complaint letters were abound. The whole situation was a mess.
Hotaru had travelled to the nearest Seidan Guard compound to file an incident report. Such was standard procedure for any altercation, big or small, that occurred.
When he entered the compound, rather than the usual sparse nature of Seidan Guard facilities, the place was remarkably colorful, decorated with a variety of plants from all across Orderrealm.
"Who is responsible for this?" Hotaru asked aloud.
"That'd be me, General Hotaru."
The answer came from a woman in the standard grey and gold armor of the Seidan Guard. Her hair was a silvery color like Hotaru's and the irises of her eyes a golden color.
"Aunor," Hotaru said as her name came to his memory. "Did you receive approval for this action?
She nodded. "Yes sir, from my direct superior. They agreed that this place was a little drab and allowed me to redecorate so long as it did not interfere with day-to-day operations."
"I see," Hotaru responded. "Carry on, then. I'm merely here to file an incident report."
"About the attack on the court," Aunor surmised, before quickly realizing from the expression that came onto Hotaru's face that he was annoyed by it even being brought up. "My apologies, sir."
"None are required," Hotaru assured. "Darrius and his band of terrorists are the ones who will be needing to pay."
"I'm sure we'll bring them to justice, sir." Aunor said optimistically.
He walked past her and began writing down his report once he reached pen and paper. Every once in a while, he'd look around him at the foliage decorating the room. It was far from what Hotaru was used to.
Aunor had always been a bit different from the average Seidan Guard member. More upbeat and inclined towards socialization and positivity. Such things were not prohibited, though they were not the norm either. The way she carried herself reminded Hotaru more of a civilian than a soldier, but he knew from experience that she could be relied upon when the situation called for it. Her parents had been respected members of the Guard and she had followed suit.
Just as Hotaru finished with his report, another member of the Seidan Guard came into the compound. Unlike Hotaru or Aunor, they were wearing their helmet.
"General Hotaru, sir," they said. "The senate wants to meet with you."
"I assume to discuss the recent attack." Hotaru surmised.
"Yes sir," they confirmed. "High Chancellor Abacus has requested a personal session."
Hotaru nodded. "Tell him I will be there with haste."
"Yes sir!" The Guard said with a salute, before turning and leaving.
Hotaru looked at the compound's personnel.
"I will require a security detail," he explained. "Aunor, you and those three behind you will accompany me to the Senate Building."
"Yes sir!" She and the other three Guards responded.
Hotaru and his security detail made their way to the Senate Building, located not too far from the recently attacked court and at the exact center of Orderrealm. The building was incredibly large, all of its walls a featureless grey. Not exactly to Aunor's aesthetic sensibilities, though she knew not to question it. The Senate's power over the realm could be felt by even standing in the presence of the massive building.
As Hotaru and the others approached the entrance, a bolt of red lightning suddenly struck near them.
"Lord Raiden," Hotaru said fondly. "I was unaware that High Chancellor Abacus had requested your presence as wel—"
Hotaru's train of thought was broken when he saw who was with Raiden: The revenants. More specifically: Kitana, Sindel, Nightwolf, and Kabal.
"At ease, Hotaru," Raiden instructed before the Seidan Guard commander could even comment on their presence. "They are my allies."
"I see…." Hotaru responded.
"This place is greyer than we are." Kabal joked as he took in the surroundings.
"Now now, we are guests," Sindel reminded him. "We should show our hosts proper respect."
"Whatever…" Kabal replied dully.
"Shall we, then?" Hotaru asked, motioning to the entrance.
Raiden nodded.
After all individuals present were properly signed in and it was verified that the appointment had been scheduled, the group was finally allowed to venture to Abacus's private chamber. The Guards that accompanied Hotaru were stationed outside the room.
"Abacus requested to speak only to myself and Hotaru," Raiden explained to the revenants. "Wait here."
Kitana and Kabal leaned themselves against the opposite wall to the Guards, the former crossing her arms and the latter relaxedly putting his hands behind his head as if it were a bright summer day. Nightwolf merely sat down to mediate and Sindel stood next to her daughter.
"You are certain they can be left to their own devices?" Hotaru whispered.
"So long as they are not provoked." Answered Raiden.
Hotaru nodded, still a bit uneasy about the revenants' presence.
The two entered Abacus's chamber. It was a simple room with a few bookshelves and a large black revolving chair in the center. Abacus was initially facing the opposite direction of them, but spun around to face the two, closing the book he had been reading and placing it on a table.
Abacus wore a featureless black outfit, somewhat akin to the bodysuits Seidan Guard members wore beneath their armor. His hair was stark white, long, and rather scraggly. He was clearly a much older man, with a short beard and mustache. His eyes glowed a bright white, brighter than Hotaru's eyes for certain. His expression seemed to be an eternal frown.
"High Chancellor Abacus," Hotaru said as he bowed in respect. "It is an honor to—"
"My court is burning and you believe that I have time to waste on pleasantries?" Abacus asked.
"Uhh—no sir." Hotaru replied. "My apologies."
"Hotaru, I placed you in command of the Seidan Guard because I sensed in you a dedication and willfulness towards bringing about Order," Abacus reminded, eyes narrowing with a harsh glare. "Have I erred in my assessment?"
"No sir," Hotaru answered quickly. "The revolutionaries are simply growing more bold."
"And why do you think that might be?" Abacus questioned.
"Their leader Darrius inspires them with his rhetoric." Hotaru attempted to explain.
Abacus shook his head, standing up from his chair and pacing across the room, hands behind his back. "No no. Darrius has always inspired their insurrection. He made them. We could kill him tomorrow and their will to fight would only grow stronger. Darrius himself made that point to you during your battle, according to the reports."
"Yes sir." Hotaru responded.
"No, the reason that the revolutionaries would be growing more bold, is because they feel that the Seidan Guard's attention is divided from being able to properly counteract their efforts," Abacus explained. "And that is where you come in, Raiden."
"With all due respect, Abacus," said Raiden. "The Seidan Guard aids me in addressing threats far greater than your revolutionaries. Surely, as Protector of Orderrealm, you would understand the dangers posed by—"
"I know the threats posed by Outworld and the Netherrealm," Abacus interrupted. "Examples of the Netherrealm's capacity for trouble are standing outside my door, are they not?"
"They are my allies." Raiden clarified.
"Yes, you seem to require an awful lot of those for your grand crusade," Abacus acknowledged. "You have the same flawed logic as Shao Kahn did when he usurped Onaga. Before the Elder Gods stripped him of his role as protector: You believe that warfare is the way to protect a realm."
"I fight so that no other innocent lives are lost to conquerors and criminals," Raiden corrected. "Do not compare me to Shao Kahn!"
"Temper yourself, Raiden!" Abacus instructed. "You are failing to see the bigger picture. You do not protect a realm by waging war against other realms. You protect a realm by creating a system in which every aspect of that realm is designed so that it may optimally defend itself and be insulated from potential outside forces.
Why do you think Chaosrealm is the only realm brazen enough to attack Seido? Because we have an army strong enough to defend against Outworld or the Netherrealm. And you are now taking that army and putting them on the offensive instead, leaving less troops here to deal with the revolutionaries and their heresy!"
"This is far greater than merely your realm!" Raiden shouted, lightning crackling from his fingers and eyes. "This is about the fate of all realms!"
"Then for the fate of all realms, get control of your Earthrealm!" Abacus advised, banging his desk in an uncharacteristic show of frustration. "In all the eons, I have never seen a more divided realm than that one. So many countries and governments, it is madness worse than even Chaosrealm! You wish to deal with Outworld and the Netherrealm, he my guest, perhaps it can be used as an opportunity to bring Order to that realm. But afterwards, you may want to take a good long look at your realm, and see if you are protecting your people from themselves. Perhaps if you watched them more closely, Earthrealm would not fall victim for holocausts and slave trades."
"I... will consider your perspective," Raiden conceded, doing everything in his power to keep his rage in check. "But I need the Seidan Guard if I am to succeed in bringing Order to Outworld and the Netherrealm."
"You may call upon my Seidan Guard only when absolutely necessary," Abacus decided. "You have other allies, and I would suggest you make use of them. We have a revolution to stamp out before it grows too strong to be controlled, and in the end, control is how we fulfill our duties of protecting our realms."
"Very well…" Raiden begrudgingly accepted. "Hotaru, I will inform you when your forces are needed. For now, keep the Seidan Guard contingent in Lei Chen actively monitoring the situation in Outworld until the time is right."
Hotaru nodded.
"On a more domestic front, General Hotaru," interceded Abacus. "I want you to focus on routing out these rebels. If they're bold enough to attack Seido's highest court, there's no predicting what they'll do next, and I cannot allow that kind of Chaos to reign over heads."
"I understand, High Chancellor." Hotaru responded with a bow.
Raiden and Hotaru stepped out of the chamber.
"I wasn't able to make out anything specific, but that sounded rough," Aunor sympathized. "You ok, sir?"
"I am well," he assured her. "I'll feel better when Seido no longer has to fear Darrius and his insurgents."
"I ...understand…" Aunor responded. In truth, she saw some of Darrius's points and believed Seido in need of reform. She did not however think that terrorism was the way to achieve those ends.
"Can we go now?" Kabal asked rudely.
"Have patience, my friend." Nightwolf advised.
"You're not my friend." Kabal countered.
"No," Nightwolf admitted. "But I consider you to be my friend."
"Yes," Raiden answered to stop their chatter. "Our business here is concluded."
Sindel walked over and shook Hotaru's hand. "It was wonderful meeting you and your fellows, sir. Visiting this realm was definitely a memorable experience. It almost reminds me of my own Edenia."
"Err ….thank you, ma'am." Hotaru responded, not sure what to make out of kindness from an undead.
Kitana tugged on Sindel's shoulder. "Come on mother, it's time to go."
"Oh, of course," she responded. "Our next destination is Outworld, yes?"
Raiden nodded. "I have a task for you all there."
"I assume you'll share more detailed information when we get there." surmised Kitana.
"Indeed," Raiden answered. "Let us depart."
"I do hope we run into your sister while we're in Outworld." Sindel said happily.
"Right…" said Kitana. "My ...sister…"
"Hopefully, Mileena will be wise. And not stand against us." Raiden said cryptically.
That statement created a certain amount of fear in Kitana, who remained silent as her fellow revenants were teleported away by Raiden's lightning.
Unbeknownst to Hotaru, he was not the only one who had been summoned for a meeting.
When Havik contacted Darrius and requested he come to Chaosrealm to meet another potential ally, Darrius was optimistic about the idea. Chaosrealmers were extremely unpredictable and it made this alliance precarious to say the least, but further allies in combating Hotaru and Raiden would always be worthwhile. He was aware that as a cleric of Chaos, Havik held a certain sway over the peoples of Chaosrealm, but this potential ally did not sound like they were any mere clergy member, and that fact had piqued Darrius's interest.
The two were now traveling along Chaosrealm's uneven, sometimes treacherous terrain. Darrius hated the uncertainty regarding their destination.
"I know giving a straight answer is difficult for you," Darrius admitted. "But where are we going?"
"We are going where we are not right now," Havik explained. "And when we get there, we will be there. Between you and me, I actually prefer walks with no destination at all. Just pure blissful aimlessness. Not a purpose or a care."
"Right…." Darrius responded dryly, snaking his head and wondering why he'd even bothered asking.
Eventually, they came to stop. The area was shrouded in a dense fog that seemed to have come out of nowhere.
"Ah, here we are," Havik declared. "That is at least, until we are somewhere else."
"Where?" Darrius asked.
As if an answer to his question, not like Havik was exactly reliable for providing one, the fog began to clear up, revealing what at first glance might seem like a gigantic pile of wood scraps. Upon further inspection, it was more like a temple. The strangest temple Darrius had ever seen.
There was no apparent doorway into the temple, although that problem was quickly alleviated when Havik took out his Morningstar and broke a hole through the wall, if the assembled scraps of wood could be considered a wall.
Havik and Darrius stepped into the place, which had no lighting to speak of, nor any furniture other than a slab of rock with a smaller rock on top that vaguely resembled a bed. Not one any sane person would ever sleep in, but Darrius knew full well he was not dealing with sane people.
Suddenly, there was a blast of green lightning that struck the wall near Darrius's head. He prepared to defend himself, but Havik did not.
Hand still crackling with energy, a man stepped forward. He looked incredibly frail, wearing a simple purple outfit and a hat like a stereotypical witch. His skin was oddly pale and his hair neon green and arranged in a tangled mess of a beard and a mustache with hair jutting out on either side like two needles. His eyes glowed a faint whitish purple and he had a maddened grin displaying several missing teeth.
"Apologies for the scare, I was just blasting that maggot," he explained, waving his hands in an arcane gesture. "It dared to buzz around in the home of the almighty Zaggot."
"Ah, Lord Zaggot! It is a pleasure to meet you!" Havik said with a reverence that Darrius had never seen from the chaos cleric before.
"This is who you wanted me to meet?" Darrius surmised.
"Well, aren't you quite an observant fellow," Zaggot commented. "With glasses that are a color that's not quite yellow."
"Why does he talk like that?" Darrius asked.
"Talk like what?" Havik asked back.
"I think he means my predilection towards rhyme," Zaggot assumed. "It's just something I picked up in my spare time."
"Alright, let's get to the point," Darrius decided. "My name is Darrius, I—"
"I know who you are," Zaggot interrupted. "Havik mentioned you once while we were at a bar."
Darrius raised an eyebrow. "There are bars here?"
"Alcohol brings on such splendid chaos," Havik said fondly. "It is only sensible to have an establishment where it is consumed."
"Right…" Darrius responded, unsure of how to react to that. "Anyway, has Havik told you of my cause?"
"You lead a revolution in the realm of Order," Zaggot recalled, idly stroking his beard. "It's a long time since one of your people has come within Chaosrealm's borders."
"Yes, that's because the Seidan Guard have recently aligned themselves with Earthrealm's protector Hotaru," Darrius explained. "Something that while advantageous for keeping Hotaru and his lackeys distracted, is something that can lead to my movement's destruction in the long run."
"I quite understand your plight," Zaggot sympathized. "Having to contest with such might."
"That's why we're here," Darrius clarified. "To ask for your aid against Raiden and Hotaru."
"I think you're missing the bigger picture," Zaggot suggested. "When it comes to Seido's oppression, Hotaru is not the main fixture."
"The senate's time will come," Darrius said confidently. "But I must weaken their defenders before I can strike them directly."
"The one you need to kill is my brother," Zaggot argued. "In Seido, the power is really held by no other."
"Held by no-" Darrius finally deciphered one of the madman's riddles. "Hold on… High Chancellor Abacus is your brother?"
"Yes indeed, my brother is your oppressor," Zaggot confirmed. "He treats you and I both as his lessers."
"What happened for you to end up here?" Darrius asked. "And...like this."
"Long ago, my brother banished me," Zaggot explained. "He intended to trap me, but I've never felt more free."
"Why?" Darrius then asked.
"Apparently I was a 'threat to his vision'," Zaggot answered. "Ironic then, that even without me, destroying him has become your mission."
"I'll admit, I'd never heard of you before today," said Darrius. "The senate must have wiped all records of you."
"Abacus did much to make it like I never existed," Zaggot surmised. "Nowhere in Seido will you find my name listed."
"So I assume you'd want revenge?" Darrius guessed.
"Ah revenge, a dish best served cold," Zaggot said fondly. "But to dish it out, one must be rather bold."
"How's this for 'bold'?" Darrius asked, smirking with pride in his deeds. "Just a few short days ago, I and my followers launched an attack on Seido's highest court, Abacus's pride and joy. That same court is now burning, bodies of Seidan Guard members strewn about. I even nearly bested Hotaru himself in battle. And I could do even more than that, if Havik and I had your help."
"Quite the strong case you make," Zaggot admitted, extending a hand. "This offer, I'd be a fool to not take!"
Darrius shook his hand. "Excellent."
"Our numbers grow," commented Havik. "And very soon, we shall bring chaos throughout all the realms."
"Remember our arrangement," Darrius advised. "Seido is to be left for me to turn into something better. The two of you can do as you wish with the rest of the realms."
"How dare you bind a man of Chaos to his word!" Havik shouted, suddenly entering a battle stance. I ought to free myself from this oppression!"
Before Havik could launch a strike however, Zaggot blasted forth another bolt of green lightning between them.
"Now now, we shouldn't be fighting," he said. "The downfall of Abacus is a story that needs writing!"
"Agreed, attacking me would be pointless!" Argued Darrius.
"Pointlessness is the way of Chaos!" Havik argued.
"That is most certainly true," Zaggot agreed. "But in this battle, we are only so few."
"Very well…" Havik conceded, returning to a neutral stance.
"I need to get back to Seido," informed Darrius, privately just wanting this whole affair over with. "I'll contact you both when I need you."
"I hope you fare well," said Zaggot. "Otherwise, you'll end up in Hell."
"If Raiden, Abacus, and the zealots that serve them get their way…" Darrius responded.
"We'll all be in Hell."