Author's Notes:

Concerning an anonymous review Quote: "How supernatural is this story going to get? Is this going to turn into shadow warrior or bioshock?"

I don't know shadow warrior, but i certainly know bioshock, both the rapture one and the columbia (Infinite) one. That game is more science fiction than supernatural. But if you were to categorize Ajay's time jump as supernatural and not science fiction then yes. As for how supernatural, you need only wait and see.


The quiet unknown valley rung with explosions mixed in with inhuman screams of the entity being chased by one man.

The entity, taking the form of a seductive woman to lure travellers to its quarters to consume had invited this quiet man into its house to spend the night. When the time was right, it pounced upon him only strike thin air. At first, it thought it was a mere luck that he'd dodged. But then the man unleashed an array of powerful talismans and seals.

It could only be one of them, a demon banisher. The acolytes to the master of the underworld and to the cycle of reincarnation. The brethren thought long vanished from the earth to seal away that demon under the mountains. Since then, evil spirits were not afraid to roam the lands to prey upon people although they stayed clear of the lost valley. But the condition was that people needed to acknowledge their existence, it wasn't hard when the inhabitants were believers in a heaven and earth, there was also the existence of demons, spirits and discarnate souls.

A few flying swords impaled into the creature's limbs as it floated away in a hurry to get away from the dreaded exorcist. It strained itself to fly up into the night sky where the swords could no longer reach it. And it almost escaped out of his grasps hand he not finished the incantation and shouted the word that put it out of its misery.

"Seal!"

"Naaaaahhhhh!" The entity wailed.

Like gravity suddenly affecting its physics, the materialized evil spirit slammed into the ground.

The demon hunter walked towards the severely weakened possessed spirit.

(Ancient Archaic Tongue Rant)

The man chanted the mantra to stabilize his inner chakra before reciting the incantation as he pulled out a talisman to bind the evil spirit to his will.

"And neither should your kind." He answered the creature's denial of the demon banishers' existence.

Darshan threateningly raised his fingers towards the damaged entity, it could feel the powers of destruction churning into his fingers. But could not get free due to the sealing power of the talismans that had been snuck onto its body. It watched helplessly as Darshan ended its existence in a single word.

"Incinerate!"

The entity burst into flames at the command, screaming its last agonizing wails as its existence was being wiped out of the earth. The fire extinguished as if it wasn't there to begin with and what came out of it was a ruby stone. Darshan had synthesized its life force into a physical object that empowered his items and abilities. It was what gave his wooden swords the ability to slice through the beings from another realm and fight for prolonged periods against foes by absorbing the essence. Darshan looked towards the mountains where a strong presence failed to hide itself from his enhanced perception. He'd repeated these processes for over sixteen years of gathering and cleansing the mountains of the evil taint, sixteen years' worth of resources had been collected. And the question he asked himself all the time….

… Was it enough to fight a being like her on his own?

"Or do I need his help is this…..?"


Today, Ajay woke up to a different view from before. A foggy surrounding blanketed the roofs of the houses of the Capital of Papir, the City of Bhagawan ka Nivas. And beyond it was the misty mountain range filled with lush forests that populated eighty percent of the Papir Republics' territorial boundary. It was why the state of Papir never experienced hunger when the forest provided many foraging and hunting opportunities for even the simplest of civilians.

Ajay got to see all that from the VIP suite for foreign dignitaries and royalty that President Dhir offered to him. Again, with the baroque-style design found throughout its furnishings and interior deco, Papir seemed very well off compared to its neighbours. But even they had issues that their current resources couldn't manage such as facilities to train personnel like Kyrat had. With its vocation schools and advanced military training centres, Papir was on a demand for a competent workforce to continue to meet their growing needs. Literacy rate had a huge gap here as Ajay learnt for Agarwal who took him on a tour around the city.

"Mmmm…"

Along with the other occupant who shared a bed with him. He sat on her bedside, next to her as he ran his fingers through the hair on her head, the hand rested on her cheek. His eyes ran from her snowy white feet exposed to the elements thanks to the thinness of the blanket for the nights tossing and turning, up to her slender figure hidden beneath the sheets. A sight for sore eyes, if Pravindra ever saw her in this state his entire brain would overheat. If he knew the stage of relationship he was with Saras in, the poor man would probably cry himself to sleep.

Yet it wasn't as if he hadn't been informed by Ajay during the award ceremony that he would also be pursuing Saras. At first, he thought he was kidding until Ajay clarified to him of his change of heart towards Saras over the course of the war and perhaps even before she left for Maharashtra. Pravi laughed at him and told him good luck, in his eyes perhaps the thought of Ajay with Saras was too humourous to describe. Ajay didn't know whether to laugh or be frustrated with that denseness of his, his co-pilot Arun shook his head.

Pravi left them to talk about his exploits to the young women that got to meet the ace pilot protecting the skies of the Himalayas and pressed him to talk about his life in the Air Force. It was a bit contrasting when he said he was only interested in Saras or he didn't see other women as an object of affection any longer and more like a friend or acquaintance.

"(Sigh)…. Don't come crying to me later on." Ajay sighed as he left yesterday, his co-pilot encouraged Ajay to pursue Saras surprisingly. His reasoning was that there were plenty of fish in the sea for Pravindra, but Ajay might only have her. Ajay laughed at Arun's remark, it was both complementing his partner's ability to sweep women off their feet and also sort of pitying Ajay. So Ajay was not at all bothered about Pravindra's likely reaction later, he won't believe he was Ajay Ghale either if he ever told him.

"Rise 'n shine, beautiful." Her eyes popped open slowly with a smile planted on her in an instant.

"Good morning." She got up to kiss him. Ajay responded with a passionate french kiss which made her chuckle with glee.

"Easy there, tiger! Or you'll get me in the mood again." She said as she weakly held him back.

"And what if I do, what if I make you want it but force you to wait the whole day." He said with a mischievous grin. Saras tapped his head.

"Pervert."

Ajay walked over to get dressed in the traditional Papirese clothing that the resort staff provided to their guests. It consisted very heavy clothing to guard against the dampness in the air. It was apparently a popular vacation spot for the Kyrati high society as well since the City was laden with merchandise they'd gone out of their way to acquire. Chiffon had sent his intern, Chang-san to gather all the fashion accessories for his works here in Bhagawan ka Nivas. Saras had been here once with her mother before her request to join the army.

A set of clothing for Saras was also available, he tossed it to her to get dressed. They weren't staying in Bhagawan ka Nivas for another day. There was the state of affairs that were waiting for him back in Kyrat, including a prison visit. Kamran had promised to pick them up in the morning as he ferried the rest including Pagan back home with a few other dignitaries so there was no space for Ajay and Saras. As unique as the Pagancopter was, it had limits to carrying capacity as well. But carry twenty-two passengers back to Kyrat it did. Pagan didn't question him as he kind of got the idea and smiled as he left.

Ajay was busy sorting through his effects into a duffel bag. The last item to enter the bag was his newest purchase, something he had done at a specific craftsman's store. The result of the craftsman's work was kept inside a small box to keep the precious work of art safe. It had cost him a considerable amount even for his standards but as Chiffon recommended him to the craftsman, it would be worth every rupee. That being said about money, there was to be a conference to discuss the exchange rates of the respective currencies of the four pillar nations. Each adorned with the face of their sovereign or founder. There were rumors going around that there was to be a universal currency to be distributed to them, similar to the euro. Hopefully, the sovereigns weren't going to fight over who's face would be on the mint and notes or who was on the thousand dollar note and the one dollar notes.

It caused a spike in cash spending throughout the four nations, it was good and bad onto itself. It allowed an increase flow in cash spending and flow, but it also saturated the markets and inflated the prices of some items and daily necessities in some places which wasn't particularly good for the lower-income families.

"Ready?" Saras nodded.

They met up with Kamran waiting for them patiently but upon seeing them gave a dastardly smile at them, indicating that he knew it was more than coincidence they were left behind. If that were the case, then why did they let baby Nanda go ahead of them. She was currently with Maya whom she wasn't uncomfortable with either. The helicopter quickly left the City of Bhagawan ka Nivas in its wake as it flew for home, a hundred and fifty kilometres North. It took less time then was expected but not too troublesome considering that Papir Republic or Kumsa wasn't exactly far from Kyrat, only Yinke was at least a few hundred kilometres from both.

As they flew over the borders of Kyrat, Kamran keyed in the air traffic codes to his special envoy mission to the strategy air defense network. A series of protocols had to be followed now when entering Kyrat by air or risk being shot down by a QRF flight of Su-30 interceptors or by the long-range surface-to-air missiles slaved to the radar that could detect anything in a four-hundred-kilometre radius from the Command centre. But their destination wasn't to the Royal Fortress Command, nor back to their homestead in Lakshman. They landed at the border of Kyrat and Pakistan below Pacchim Valley.

There standing on the other side were the people who had called a meeting between each other. Accompanying said person beside his heavy-lifter transport helicopter were pixel uniform cladded special forces soldiers, at least two dozen surrounding him. All armed to the teeth with machine guns, hand-portable artillery and a variety of small-arms not publically seen by Western analysts. Ajay almost felt they were overdoing it, but it showed the concern Dmitri's higher-ups had for his safety. It was more likely he held intel and had seen too many classified documents that they couldn't afford to lose him here.

When the helicopter landed, Ajay stepped out with Saras staying back. The Kyrati Border soldiers were looking nervous at the large intimidating specops soldiers glazing in their direction. It made them unconsciously put their fingers in the triggers. Seeing Ajay arrive gave them a sigh of relief.

"Won't be long." He assured Saras as he made his way to the fences.

Ajay crossed the border line to the undefined borders that faced Pakistan. A specops soldier, likely the team leader stood in his way.

(Russian speaking) The associate told the specops leader to leave him be. The huge bear of a man stepped back though reluctant it went against his routine and procedure.

"Dmitri."

"You've certainly been busy, Badala. But to think you would do something so-….. how do you say…."

"Reckless?" Ajay provided an adjective.

"Foolhardy, but considered brave only because it worked out in the end. Moscow can't take their eyes off you now, the President is most concern."

"….."

"You didn't just stir the hornets nest, my friend. You broke it. And now all the angry little insects look to eat you out from the inside for breaking their little walls of comfort."

"Thanks for disrupting the Chinese Satellites." The one major reason the Chinese weren't prepared to fight in Yinke was because GPS and satellite imagery modules had been disrupted by an unknown jamming frequency that denied them the use of their own satellites through radio transmission. Going in blind without onsite assets which Gary's spies had dispatched and electronic intel being denied, going up against four armies was something the PLA were unwilling to do since it would be the first time the PLA mobilized since the Korean War. The Theater Commander wisely pulled back his forces after justification for withdrawing was suitable for them that it wouldn't affect their standing reputation.

"Your welcome. Although Beijing will have likely noted our intervention in this matter."

"You win some, you lose some."

"Quite. But question is, what did Moscow stand to gain from this?"

"You get to supply equipment not just to the humble Kyrat now but an entire coalition force, almost four hundred thousand soldiers combined. And knowing who our likely opponents are, I think you get the idea of the quantity and range we're asking. Full monopoly on Aviation hardware and more recently Armoured units in Division strength." At present, the Yinkian Armoured Division was the most powerful land force of the combine armies.

Dmitri nodded his head in acceptance of the situation changed for the better. Meaning he approved of the changes in supplying hardware to Kyrat and its allies now. But it also meant that the quotas of aluminium they wanted would increase.

"I have a letter from the Kremlin addressed to you." But as he took it out, he planned to read it out instead of hand it to Ajay. As Ajay stepped forward the specops giant stood in his way again.

"Dmitri, tell me. Which part of the human skeleton must not be broken if you still want to remain in the active service units of the GRU?" The specops soldier failed to hide his astonishment behind the ski mask to Ajay's open threat that he would break a bone of his, but was furious at what Ajay had said. He clearly hadn't heard enough about Ajay and even if he did, he would probably think he could take him on.

Dmitri had to shout to order the man to step back.

"I am sorry about soldiers conduct." He said as he passed the letter forward to Ajay.

"That's alright, we were just making a point that's all."

On the seal was the imprint of the Russian star, sickle and hammer with the background of a globe. Ajay briskly read through letter. He had to give it to the formal writing style of the Russians, there were more formalities and pleasantries in the letter than the actual point. As if to create loop holes for them to exploit if their deal with Kyrat turned sour then they could leave at the first sign of trouble. But he got the point.

They wanted to take the "wait and see" approach to the development of the Himavana Alliance, India supporting Kyrat wasn't enough for them to commit. But it made perfect sense, two UN security council members already had beef with Kyrat in general. One was official while the other wasn't in the black and white. Being seen supplying them was considered Russia siding with Kyrat and put them in a strained relation with West and China should other worldly events happen they would intentionally put Russia in a disadvantageous position.

Yet they couldn't afford to let the supply of aluminium fall less their economy and raw material supply to manufacture new military hardware come to a halt, then they would be in a worst situation than before. Their meeting had another purpose, they wanted to remind Ajay through Dmitri that these dealings were out of both of them in a consensus agreement and not because one depends on the other.

After reading the letter, Ajay took out a lighter and burnt it. The associate and Ajay watched carefully that every scrap was destroyed. Russias involvement in the Himalayas was to remain anonymous and unrelated until such time that the Himavana Alliance had gained the worlds' recognition.

For the first time, Dmitri smiled thoughtfully. It was almost a shame that he didn't smile more be it because of culture or his line of work.

"I'll see you on the flipside then."

"I will bring family recipe Vodka for us to celebrate with then."

"Mmm. I happen to have something of that category as well."

"Until next time, friend."

And just like that, Ajay had finished his business with the associate. He'd given Moscow his answer and clarities to their relation. That was all that they wanted to hear, now it was Ajay's job to make their plans reality.

"Rumors have been circulating you know of man named Jackal." Dmitri asked before he left.

"Who's that?" He blatantly denied knowing Dmitri knew he knew. Ajay left him to return back to the helicopter with Kamran and Saras. He had just one more thing to do before visiting that certain someone at the new Vyatha prison. Which was to introduce baby Nanda to her new home and family. Although he knew they wouldn't refuse, he wondered if this child could heal them of the loss after his indifference had cost him the life of their daughter, Kamala.

Dmitri laughed, thoroughly entertained as he boarded the large transport helicopter with his accompanying armed escorts. He thoroughly enjoyed their meetings, and it made him feel a shift in the current stagnancy of the world.

Whatever was about to happen, the epicentre of that earthshaker would be in Kyrat.


Vyatha Prison, what was once known as the City of Pain before its occupants the renegades had abandoned it with the apparent news of the Lanka night assault failure and the unleashed firepower brought out by the hidden Air Force. All it took was a fuel-air bomb or laser-guided 1000lb bomb to their living quarters to end their miserable existence. After the captured citizens had been imprisoned had been freed and been taken into protection and government sponsorship to repair some of the irrepairable damage that was done to them. It had undergone a heavy overhaul to its structures and compound to that resembling a prison city to give the inner inhabitants some bit of autonomy. Those that had been spared the rope became the new occupants of the Military Prison, Golden Path, renegade or deserters. This Included the former-Deva Vasu Sen. Before his abandonment for a mere trinket Badala gave to that little whore Vel.

But whatever it was, that item was precious enough for her to give it her full attention. And why did Badala exchange it for him? He knew the answer to that, even if he refused to acknowledge it over and over. Vasu felt a disgusting feeling he owed Badala for breaking that curse upon his life, yet completely humiliated it was him of all people.

(Tap) (Tap) A baton was banged against his cell bars belonging to the prison attendant.

"Oi! Former Deva, you've got yourself a few visitors. Stand against the wall." The prison guard ordered him to face the wall for him to be searched before leaving.

After the guard had done what needed to be done and cuffed his hands in front, he was led through the unfamiliar walkway to a room with a reinforced door in case a prisoner got the wise idea of taking a hostage and breaking out. He was surrounded by five guards everytime he left the cell for both his own protection and the other prisoners' safety in case they brawled with him.

They entered that room with him and to his surprise it turned out to be a conjugal room with a row of seats with a bulletproof glass to divide the inmate from the visitor. On the other side on one seat was a face he hadn't seen since he left the household. The old man had aged considerably since he last saw him, but then so had he. Upon noticing Vasu's arrival, old man Bibek smiled with evident joy in his face. He finally had a chance to see his student, charge, son safe and sound. The guard tugged him to sit so they could lock him to the seat. Then, they left for their privacy sake.

Bibek had already pick up and placed to his ear the two-way telephone.

*Hello son….* Vasu picked up his telephone and spoke to his mentor for the first time in twenty years.

"…. Hello, old man." Bibek looked as if he wanted to cry upon hearing his voice.

*After all that has happened over the years, and most recently….. know that I will always be on your side.*

"Be on my side? Be on my side?!..." Vasu's temper flared as he recalled how Darshan had trumped them sixteen years prior and recently Badala had also exhibited strokes of Four Seasons Pandemonium added to his already warped nature with the demon god Yalung. He dreaded how far he'd gotten in the forms, had he surpassed the bottleneck of the first stage that so many before him failed to comprehend?

"Then why was I facing down your students?"

Bibek didn't answer, he knew that whatever he said next would cause his anger to rise up again, making it almost impossible to talk to him again. Vasu had always been a quick-tempered child for things he didn't feel were right.

*The house of Khati will not shy away from requests for help, the Khati household will do everything in its power so that all who come to them seeking shelter, aid or a way to defend themselves will be given all they need before being on their way.* With this, Vasu could not fault him as it reminded him of how a middle-aged man welcomed a homeless child of Sen into his household. The child of his rival House that had opposed them for as long as the Devi bloodline still existed.

*Darshan, a tragic soul looking for a way to confront his past and enemies. Badala, the demon of Lanka, the boy who didn't want to be king yet wanted everyone to live in peace and harmony under his protection. And the Heir of Sen, the lost child looking to restore his identity in this cruel world.*

"….."

*But if there was one thing all of you had in common, it was your courage and strong will, striving to achieve your goal with all you had. But where the three of you differ is in your regard for those around you.*

*Darshan cared not for anyone save the fragments of his former life, all he had was a heart of hatred and that was why he was never able to comprehend his failings. You were too earnest at what you do but you ignore the people around you thinking they had only themselves to blame for their actions, only looking at one side of the coin. Your lack of exposure caused you to be suspicious of other's intent and never seeing others for who they want to be but instead who you think they are.*

"And Badala? How is he different from the both of us."

*At first, he was not so different from Darshan. He held a great animosity for someone in the Golden Path and the cause in general. But as suffering mounds a person's character, so did his. When I look at his eyes, first I saw a lifelessness, now I see belief in them. Believing that he could make Kyrat a better place, believing he could be more. I'm glad he didn't get trapped in the same chasm of despair and revenge that curses Darshan's every living day.* Bibek's smile widen as if he reminisced some nostalgic thoughts.

*Almost a stone throw away from my life before my beloved Aasha came into my life.*

"You?" Vasu couldn't believe what Bibek was saying, he was like Badala? That persona was never seen by a young Vasu, only the loving father and mentor he always remembered.

*The tales of my valour and chivalry far obscure all of the true bloodshed that I've caused in my campaign to restore order to the Kyrati Kingdom. It is why Utkarsh which was once a City home to the nationalist movement is now a mere Town. The Hunic people who used to be a minority of a hundred thousand, now they are barely ten thousand.*

*You must be wondering, how did things turn out written differently in history I suspect. Because all that matter is what happens at the end of the day, child.*

Vasu did not make his confusion hard to conceal.

*Because in seeming despair, we will always look for hope in a cesspit of a situation. When the Huns marched for revenge against the sovereign Shukoh Devi, people looked for a savior to protect them from the vengeful hordes of mountain savages. People looking for hope will never look to despair.*

Vasu thought for a moment, it sounded rather familiar.

It sounded like what had been happening in Golden Path when Mohan came to the scenes. When running from the demon's presence they sought hope, and Mohan conveniently arrived at the right time. In regardsto that, Badala was his exact opposite. He challenged their methods but never declared himself the righteous nor justice-bearing. He warned them with an oppressive might and almost never involved civilians until they took up arms against him. Unusual behaviour for one herald as demon, even though it was a title given by Golden Path he took to the persona on his own accord.

In truth, Golden Path since Mohan appeared had changed dramatically. At first, he assumed it was a necessary measure to take in the presence of a danger as great as Badala. But in truth, the Royal Army had never made a move before they mounted an attack. Which was strange for an army bent on hunting Golden Path.

Vasu, who never thought too deeply about these things thought about them now and forever more seriously.

Bibek was patient in his waiting as he'd always been.

"Why am I here?" He had found it weird he was in this military prison instead of the Gulag or worse, Durgesh.

*… I asked Badala to bring you home.* Bibek didn't need to explain or elaborate on why and how.

*I want you to have a second chance at living if anything. Living a life for a cause where death is certain is no life at all. Merely living the role of a tool to another. I want what all father's want for their sons, I want him to be happy.*

It had been the first time in sixteen- ney, twenty-six year that anyone had wanted something for him, he had completely forgotten the feeling. Vasu felt his eyes welling up and quickly hid it from sight by turning away.

"I'm sorry….. but I can't…. It's already too late for me." Vasau had recalled the horrible things he'd just ignored and had even taken part in. He remembered the soldiers who valiantly stood in his way at Lanka. Kul and that Commandant who refused to comply.

-I deserve my just desserts for all I've done. I should start paying for it slowly now.-

"Is it?" Came a voice by the door where he entered from. Vasu turned his head to find the one person he knew would visit but not under these circumstances.

"Badala…. What are you doing here?!"

"I'm here to pass judgement upon you, your rights are in my hands." Ajay held up a paper with the stamp of the Supreme court chief justice crest on it. Vasu got up unconsciously as he approached but was held down by the cuffs and shackles.

"Did you come to mock and humiliate me further?!" He eyed him was a glare.

"So prideful…" Ajay rolled his eyes as he walked closer.

"What?"

"Bibek Khati can stay to be witness, will that be alright, sir?" Ajay turned to Bibek who nodded.

*I wasn't able to intervene in his imprisonment the last time. I want to be there for him now.*

"Former-Major Sen of Royal Guard. The jury has decided upon your sentence to remain as life imprisonment without parole."

Vasu huffed a sigh, it was considered light for what he'd done and who he was.

"However, with an appeal from Former General Bibek Khati, the board committee has decided to review your sentence based upon his service to the country. And with my vouch, we've been able to come to an agreement. You have two choices, Vasu Sen." Vasu looked at Ajay with a complex expression, what could they possible want from him at this stage?

"Option one, the reactivation of your military status in the Royal Kyrati Army. You will be put on the first plane to the active unit locations and your end of service date is indefinite. Only in death does your duty end. However, you will be given all priveleges of an officer of your rank, this includes salary, leave, and housing benefits as well as your citizen rights as a Kyrati. Option two,… you already know what it is."

"Hmph…. So fight alongside you or remain in prison for the rest of my life, huh?"

"I personally would prefer to cut off your head the instant I saw you, just like I did with the the rest of your brothers. But what do I stand to gain from chopping it off, only a grieving father and mother. And the outstanding problem of Golden Path getting weirder still remains, which is becoming a hassle even for me. Between you and me, we're the only ones that know of what the Golden Path has truly become. You know the danger it poses to the Kyrati populace and now not just Kyrat but every member of the Himavana Alliance. You know they aren't very forgiving to civilians who turn away from their requests, I just hope you haven't forgotten your original vow as a Royal Guard to defend the country from aggression."

"And you agree with this?" Vasu looked to Bibek for advise.

*If it is a way my boy may be set on the path to finding redemption, then yes. You should not be denied the chance to let the warrior's blood in your veins be wasted in idle.*

Vasu turned back to Ajay who was three feet from him.

"I most certainly hate you, if you every give me the chance I will strangle you to death."

"You've already lost that chance when you failed in Lanka. Not even I can kill me now, if you know what I mean." Ajay gave hints of the demon's influence preventing his demise.

"…." Vasu knew that better than anyone how difficult it was to kill him. Only Vel seem to have been able to trump him once. Looking back at the events, he did owe Vel for her betrayal even if she was enacting the mistress's will on her behalf. She still caused him to be severed from Golden Path, what did Mohan think of this, he didn't know.

"So you want me to swear allegiance?"

"What's the point if you don't even mean it." He thought he had to kiss that blade with Pagan's markings but shockingly enough Badala wasn't making him do so.

"So then what does that make me?"

"A warrior." Vasu was baffled, what difference did that make?

"Soldiers follow orders to the death, but warriors follow their hearts." As if reading his thoughts, Ajay gave him the answer.

"I'm not going to say you won't face men and women you once called brother and sister."

"I know."

"What do you want to do then, Vasu Sen?"

Vasu pondered deeply, with a troubled look on his face. In normal circumstances, he would have asked Ajay to drop dead. But after the talk with Bibek he felt as if he owed the old man for keeping him alive to this date even when he wasn't grateful for that all this while.

-If there was one reason I fight, it would be for you, mentor.- He reminisced a younger Vasu declaring boldly to Bibek during his youth. Now what was he? A criminal, an enemy of the state, a terrorist in the eyes of the common folk. But worst of all, he too believed he was.

He had seen unsatisfactory things within this new order of Golden Path. The renegades kidnapped the citizens, the Golden Path looted the houses and slit the throats of surrendering soldiers, the slaughter in Lanka. Yet, during this entire time Mohan had never intervened in their actions nor spoken against them like he used to. If it were the old Mohan he would have protested against these acts of aggression against common folk. But this was no longer that Mohan, Vasu had always assumed it was because of that betrayal by Ishwari that set him on this path. To destroy everything that Ishwari created and Pagan cherished.

He was dissatisfied with the way Golden Path was no longer the Golden Path he wished to tread. Yet, in his heart, he wished that the souls of those still inside were salvageable like he was. Would Badala be so generous? Perhaps this was his chance to save as many like himself who doubted the Golden Path but were too afraid to leave.

"What would my priorities be then?"

"I have three rules for you. One, won't do anything beyond what I say. I will kill you on the spot, so don't make me. Number two, serve the public and protect the innocent, even if it leads to your death. Even if I'm not around, you will abide by that rule as a citizen of Kyrat."

"What's the last one?'

"Don't die." Vasu's eyes widen when Ajay of all people told him this, even after he'd threatened occasionally he would kill him. Why did he give such contradictory statements for him to follow?

"This life doesn't belong to you any longer. When you signed up with your mistress, you sold your soul to her. When Vel transacted you, I owned it. Don't waste the life that cost me a boon."

*Son, whatever you do. Know that I and Aasha will always have your back.* Bibek said on the other side of the glass.

To have his mentor's encouragement at a time like this, it was thirty years late but even so, he wanted it.

"What was it that you exchanged for me?"

"You don't wanna know."

"It was worth my soul, tell me and you'll have yourself a deal."

"This isn't a deal to begin with, this is an ultimatum for you, choice a or b. That's for you to chose."

"Even still, I'd like to hear it. Consider this putting your trust in me. We will be working with each other in future so I'd like a bit of trust in this decision."

Ajay sighed and walked over to the P.A and switched off Bibek's telephone. Then told Vasu, Bibek tried to lip read out of curiosity. Vasu's eyes widen with shock. All Bibek could decipher was something- flute- …. Hunter's call. Before he knew it, Ajay turned back on the two-way telephone to hear them.

"You have my assistance in this fight." Vasu said with renewed vigour, Bibek could see it in his eyes. The same glitter as in his youth, despite his age.

Ajay nodded and walked to the door and tapped it. "Guards, free this man. I'll be taking him back with me."

The Guards disappeared for a moment before returning with the keys to unlock Vasu's shackles and cuffs.

Vasu was being released to his own surprise of the turn in events, his father was laughing heartily. Not because he was free, but because he knew what Vasu would do in time to come would make him proud.

They left the room and out of the prison where Aasha had previously waited for her husband to come out. Only to find both him and her adopted child had been released thanks to Ajay. She cried as she embraced him like a son returned from the war, at the point Vasu's heart truly melted. He still had misgivings about joining the Royal Army and fighting his former allies. But as it stood now, they were doing things that went against his conscience to allow any longer. Even when the brigade that fought in Xue Lu had fully changed, he had no power to protest as he'd already undergone a binding to the mistress. A thought would erase him from existence.

A vehicle convoy came to pick them up. Bibek and his wife rode separately from Vasu and Ajay in the other SUV.

"I would like to swear allegiance." Vasu suddenly said on the way somewhere.

"To whom?" Ajay asked casually as he looked at the scenery of the developing town of Hubris they passed along the way. The Tiger militias were out and about in the construction of many houses and buildings. Ajay had thought about where Amita was in all of this, probably busy directing the Tigers around like she usually did.

"I didn't thank you for releasing me from that binding."

"So you did sell your soul." Ajay said with a grin.

"…. I…. wasn't in the right state of mind at the time."

"And neither was I when I killed your brothers- don't bullshit with me, Vasu. If you did it just say you did it. Not admitting it is equally shameful. When I killed, Bhishma and Sanjeev, I felt nothing, because they had little consequence to my intent." He said sarcastically followed with seriousness at the end.

They remained quiet for a while before Ajay spoke again.

"I've already mentioned, I own you."

"Still….. I wish to make in voluntary."

Ajay looked in his direction and looked at his eyes to see the truth of his intentions.

"Are you sure, you want this for yourself? Words aren't easily taken back."

"I know."

"Do you?" But Vasu's eyes remained firm.

"I wonder, how far you're willing to go to since you've already conveniently sold your soul once."

Ajay took out the Royal kukri that Pagan had given to him for safe keep, but also as an indicator of who would have the throne. After all, the blade was the royal seal of the King's authority.

He cut his finger and allowed the blood to drip into a cup that he'd previously filled with with Baijiu. As ritualistic as it seemed, this was the best example of an allegiance of oath Vasu asked for, instead of saying it. Ajay handed to him the cup and didn't need to tell him what to do.

Vasu didn't even hesitate when he received it and drank it down. A warm fuzzy feeling brewed in his stomach due to the drink and his conscience being relieved.

"Actions speak louder than words, always. Today you've taken an oath of allegiance with me through your own voalition. If you ever harbour thoughts of ill intent to me, be sure than you strike yourself first before you think of doing that to me. From today onwards, Deva Vasu Sen no longer exists." Ajay placed a seal in Vasu's hands, a bronze badge engraved with the Royal Throne's coat of arms. Ajay had one of his own, and so did Saraswati.

"… Only the 4th Kshatriyan Lord, Vasu Khati."


Much had changed in the layout of the Arsenal the last time he was here. Elina had done some micro-management changes over her own to improve the working layout and efficiency of the staff employees. But Vasu was more impressed with the fact that such an operation even existed in Kyrat, and to think there were three more like this one scattered around the nation.

Lot of eyes landed on Vasu in particular, many seem to think he resembled a certain someone in the wanted posters around the place. But none really knew who he was, only that he was an associate to their lord.

"A fancy seeing your grace here. Didn't know you still had time for us." A certain executive of his Arsenal operation said to him from the catwalks.

"Elina, nice to see things are going well for you. I'm just getting our newest member geared up."

"Mmmm. It's good to see you as well, Badala. Mm?" Elina noticed the person next to Ajay and took a while before she realised who it was.

"You." But Elina didn't seem pleased at who she saw beside Ajay as her previously good mood became a frown of disappointment on her face.

"Elina….." She walked up to him and-… (Slap) Gave him a rather hard smack to his face that everyone stopped working to see what made that loud sound.

"Right, back to work everyone. There'll be a box of Shangri-lagers before you head home today."

The workers cheered and laughed as Ajay generously gave them a treat to look forward to at the end of the day.

It didn't really click with him at first, but Elina was Bibek's blood daughter and Vasu was his adopted son. There was no way that neither of them hadn't seen each other in their childhood or mingled. Somehow it felt as if it was something more to Ajay as he watched Elina fiercely stare at Vasu.

"If you'll excuse me, I have reports to file-."

"Elina."

"No! Shut up! I don't want to hear your excuses!" She ran off covering her ears. Now Ajay felt there really was something going on between them before. Perhaps a secret lovers?

"(Sigh)." Vasu looked thoroughly fatigued even though he hadn't been through much movement at all.

"Let's go, I'll talk to her later. But first, we need to get you equipped and armed."

"Couldn't you just issue me what you do with the soldiers?"

"You're a Kshatriyan Lord of Kyrat. An Apex in military prowess, and a heavy investment by the Kyrati Army. If I don't equip you as such then I'm just wasting resources."

"Do you trust me that much?"

"What? Are you saying that blood oath meant nothing in the end? My poor finger." Ajay chuckled at his own poor sarcastic humour.

"…." Vasu kept silent as it was useless to contradict Ajay.

They entered a private armoury in one of the many maze like corridors. In it were three individuals.

Samar, the Royal Armourer. Chiffon and Chang-san as Ajay introduced them.

They were just as astounished to see him there and hear of what had taken place. Samar scratched his head as thinking about it was complex. Chiffon just chuckled away, it was the least expected thing to happen. Could the Golden Path fighters imagine it in a lesser fashion? Probably not.

It would be the most demoralizing thing to see. "A Deva has defected!" Word passes around quickly in the Golden Path. To hear that one of the strongest Generals had turned on them was a gruelling sign that Golden Path was hitting rock bottom once more but with certainty that it was finished. Probably why Ajay had decided to give amnesty to him in the first place.

Chiffon unhesitantly went about measuring Vasu on the stand. He was thouroughly delighted, because with Vasu, it extended his collection of combat couture to different physical proportions, after all not everyone was Ajay's lean fit size. Vasu had considerable mass that he could be in heavyweight. Chang-san was up and above taking down the measurements and mulit-tasking with bringing over the pins and fabrics for Chiffon.

"You need something to kill what?" After Ajay gave Samar a list of requirements, the later had trouble imagining. While Vasu was being fitted, Ajay discussed on his ability to kill Golden Path with more conventional small-arms than his unconventional slayer and high-powered bow. Only, he didn't say it was Golden Path as the primary victim.

"It's better if you didn't know."

"Fine. You just want something damaging to living tissue and rated against 12.7mm or .50 cal. Madarchod, what are you fighting against?" Samar left him to find something in the armory which was once Longinus's stake out

Samar returned with a case and opened it to reveal boxes of ammo inside.

"7.62x51mm Sabot-light armor piercing with incendiary compound. What we in the workshop also call Armor-Piercing High-explosive or APEX rounds for short." Ajay picked up a casing and studied it, it looked rather familiar.

"You reverse-engineered the CNS operatives' sabot ammo." Samar nodded with satisfaction. That rifle firing 4.1mm sabot rounds Ajay brought back with the camo cloak invisible or rather null to thermal readings. Speaking of which, he still had no intel on where they buggered off to, but they had most likely accompanied the Golden Path to the mountains between Yinke and Kyrat.

"Made a few modifications to increase lethality, but they're hard to make I'll tell you in advance."

"What's the ballistics like?" Samar beckoned him to follow with the case to the range. He brought with him a customized HK417 rifle from Pagan's collection of firearms. After loading a few rounds and setting a frozen pig-carcass target, he fired away single-shots at the target with an armour plate rated to stop heavy machine gun rounds.

The round pierced the plate sending sparks flying out from the entry, but that wasn't the end of all it did. When the bullet entered the target, pieces of frozen meat were scattered around the place.

"How's that for ballistics?"

Ajay received the rifle and examined the load again.

"Effective range out of these are four hundred I'm afraid. The stabilization of the projectile by fins instead of spin limits its max range. Your bullet drop will dwindle pass three-fifty. In exchange, anything within that effective range will get minced even if he's behind a steel plate."

"That's fine, my engagements aren't that far anyway."

"You haven't answered my question yet. What are you going up against that could possible require this kind of damage to put down, a Rhino?"

"Golden Path's been distributing a combat stimulant, old recipe that nullifies pain to the extent that they could move with holes in their body. Employed as a last ditch at dire times, they'll die the next day." Was Ajay's justification, but of course the truth was far from that. What he wanted was something to kill the "warped ones" besides the power of his slayer double-barrel. They were effective but costly and limited in supply.

Ajay examined the flesh on the frozen carcass. What he found were burning fragments scattered throughout the wound cavity.

"Yeah, not something that really aligns with Hagues or Geneva. So I stopped."

"I have a building order for you."

"Ok?"

"Fifty thousand rounds, send it to the Garuda Legion in Yinke."

"Are you serious? I already said, they were overpowered-."

"They'll do. Have them shipped ASAP in batches along with the supplies flying over." Samar didn't question further, if Ajay thought they needed it then they needed it.

"You wait just a second, I have a little something your Russian friends sent us together with their crates."

Ajay waited patiently, while doing so he was thinking about returning back to the apartment that old Miren and Aryaa Malla lived in. Currently, Saras was helping them settle their newest member into their home. Though their meeting was brief, after his explanation they seemed delighted to care for her. Miren was reluctant at first, but seeing that smile on her face made his heart soften. Nanda had done well in winning their hearts.

In their hands, he knew that Nanda would grow up being loved just as Kamala had grown up loving her parents. Monetary issues would be his problem from now on.

"Ajay." He heard Samar call him after being patted to respond a few times.

"I'm here. I'm here, what is it?"

"I've got what I was looking for. You alright?"

"Nothing, just dozing off. What do you have for me?"

Samar placed a simple-pump action on the table.

"Really?"

"If it were a normal shotgun would I be so insistent?" Ajay picked it up and noticed something weird about it, it felt enlargen in his hand. He hefted the simple shotgun which had a larger than 12 gauge bore for its calibre.

"Right, tell me the magical aspect of it." Ajay asked for specs.

"KS-23, if you've heard of a bigger bore shotgun than this whooping beast, then you don't belong in Planet Earth. Fires 4 Gauge shells the size of micro grenade rounds, used by Russian police and specops. You get hit by this, you'll get rekted. There are no second chances with this thing, that's why there is only room in the tube for four plus one in the chamber." Samar placed an example of the buckshot shell on the table with a normal 12-gauge shell next to it. The 12 gauge was half the size of the 4 gauge which told of its yield instantly.

"I've got the appropriate ammo types as well, solid-slug for piercing body armor, dragon's breath incendiary for burning fools, and double' o buckshot to give them a double tap surprise." He described them colourfully.

"I know it's a hassle to load and fire only two rounds from that double-barrelled so this would make a fine subsititute."

"I'm not discarding the slayer, its kept me alive in more situations than I can name." Ajay objected to his suggestion. In fact, the appearance of this dreaded weapon and its iconic boom was what made the Golden Path recognise him in the heat of battle.

"Compliment then." Samar passed over a box containing a variety different shell types.

Ajay was starting to feel he was carrying too many weapons at this rate. The slayer, his compound bow, his 1911 shadow handgun because he gave his HK45 to Jagriti as a side compliment to their deal. Now that HK417 battle rifle and this beast of a shotgun, he had to decide which he liked and what was more suitable for the engagements ahead of schedule.

*I shot the sheriff…* His Mobile phone went off, informing him of a call. *But I didn't shoot no deputy…*

"Aren't you gonna answer it?" Samar asked him annoyed by the tone of Bob Marley.

Ajay used various ringtones for each of his contacts based on his personal profile of their personalities, like Pagan's was Kanye West's song, Power.

But in this instance, Bob Marley was a representative for Paul Ferenc's laidback attitude. Ajay picked up the call, since it was rare for Paul to even call him when he usually met him at the Crazy Cock bar like all the other Lupus Caelum mercenaries loved to rendezvous at in their down time.

"Badala speaking." Ajay answered.

*My main man! Got some news for you, bro.*

"What? Did Mossad decide to fire you?" Paul laughed in his laid-back tone.

*That's harsh, bro. No, they wouldn't do that less some unfortunate sod wants to do this crappy job in place of me- not saying its crap, I love it here. Don't need them knowing it's a little paradise if you know what I mean-.* Paul was getting off track easily in his conversations.

"Get to the point, Paul."

*What? They charge by the second here? Come on, you don't call for a month and expect me to live like this. I called you like ten times, man. Its Michelle….. I think she's coming on to me.*

Ajay sighed, even if he was the only good Paul out of the three, with one dead and the other missing why did he have to always drag conversations and only tell the important bit at the end. He knew it was important or else he wouldn't call. But every time he did, he exploited it to talk. Like they didn't talk at all in the bar.

"Paul!"

*Right- Right! Ey, relax. Everything's under control. So where was I….. Ah! Yeah! Its concerning your ex, the beacons showing a positive signal.* Ajay's expression grimaced as he asked with a serious tone his next inquiry.

"Where?"

*North-East of that charming lil' city called Pada Mo. About seventy clicks. When you heading out?* Paul asked as he was pretty much been roped into this for possessing the tracking beacon in the first place when he gave it to Ajay.

"As soon as possible."


Author's Thoughts:

On Ajay conferring Vasu the 4th Kshatriyan Lord title even though he has sinned against the Kyrati Kingdom. (HALO 2)

Elite Vasu: "What use am I? I can no longer command ships... lead troops..."

Ajay, Prophet of truth: "Not as you are- no. But... become the arbiter, and you shall me set loose against this heresy (Golden Path) with our blessing."

Elite Vasu takes up the armor of the Arbiter.

Arbiter Vasu: "What would you have your arbiter do?"