Jarvan stood in the outer hallway of General Lorcan's suite of offices, moving slowly along the carpeted hall, his eyes settling on one painting for a few moments before moving to the next as he passed. A door opened at the far end of the hallways and a young officer stepped out. He strode up to the prince, clicked his heels together as he fell into attention and then saluted smartly, holding the salute. Jarvan turned and responded with a salute of his own before dropping it and clasping his hands as the small of his back.

"Yes?" Jarvan said officiously.

"General Lorcan will see you now, sir." The officer announced stiffly.

"Of course, thank you." Jarvan said, nodding. He raised an eyebrow and watched as the officer gestured for him to proceed. I was summoned here by the general, yet his assistant makes it sound like I requested this meeting. Jarvan frowned slightly, shaking it off and then nodding his head as he gestured for Delancey to follow from where she stood at the opposite end of the hallway, standing guard along the main entranceway. She moved quickly forward, falling in slightly behind the prince as they moved towards the office doors. Jarvan's gait slowed for a brief moment as his eyes lingered on the decorative sword that hung on the wall, a sliver of its blue-hued folded-steel blade glimmering in the soft light.

I need to check and see if that is the same make of weapon as the one that killed Deadeye… Jarvan grimaced. I need to see them side by side though, I can't be sure.

"If you would, sir." The officer gestured for the prince to step into the office. Jarvan nodded tersely, moving in and approaching the general's desk. The short general sat behind the massive wooden desk, reading a piece of paper, holding it in front of his face as his eyes danced over the lines. His spectacles shimmered ominously in the light as he twirled the tips of his mustache, a frown on his tightly pursed lips.

Jarvan approached the desk and saluted smartly. "Lieutenant Colonel Lightshield, reporting as ordered, sir."

Lorcan glanced up and saluted casually, a thin smile forming at the respect Jarvan showed, dropping it as he went back to his paper. "Have a seat, my boy. I'll be with you in a second." He looked to the officer and then back to his paper as he adjusted his glasses. "Kelvney, perhaps you could fetch some refreshments for the prince and his friend?"

"Of course, sir." The guard spun and disappeared out of the main door, shutting it behind him. Several moments passed in deathly silence before Lorcan looked over the page at the prince.

"How goes your training, your highness?" Lorcan said, finally putting down his papers and looking up from behind his desk. He gestured to the chairs that sat before the table. The prince nodded his thanks and dropped into the seat, sighing heavily, watching as Lorcan's eyes narrowed behind his glasses. "I see you've managed to pick up a few new bruises since the last time we talked. I hope you've had them treated?"

"Of course, general." Jarvan chuckled, shaking his head as he ran a hand along his jaw. "We had Elvarran set a couple of broken bones, and she healed a few cracked ribs as well."

The general turned slightly, looking to the prince, his glasses shimmering. "Elvarran? Your now ex-fiance, the doctor?" He adjusted his glasses slightly. "You should be very careful with how you tread, Prince..."

Jarvan frowned slightly, his mouth working for a second before his shook his head. "I have no desire to betray Shyvana in such a manner, general. I'm insulted you would think me capable of something like that."

The general chuckled softly and shook his head. "I meant no harm with my words, boy, just the teasing of an old man" A smile had blossomed beneath his mustache as he tugged on one end. "You may wish to ensure you did not insight unwanted emotions though, the heart of the fairer sex is easily swayed."

"I am well aware." Jarvan said softly, letting his head hang slightly. "Shyvana, while she was robbed of experiencing any semblance of a normal childhood, is still very much innocent at heart despite the fearsome appearance and her distant outward manner. She is angry with the treatment shown to her by the world and those in it, and she has hardened her appearance to match, but beneath that facade is a scared young woman." Jarvan voice trailed off slightly. "Perhaps my sense of pragmatism got ahead of my considerations of her feelings. I shall have to make it up to her." Jarvan glowered at the ground for a moment before he sighed softly and shook his head. He looked back up at the general, getting a slow and approving nod from the general. "Aside from the light wounds, training goes well, sir. Shyvana has made a lot of progress very quickly." Jarvan paused, looking around the room for a moment before looking back to the general. "She learns extremely quickly, and her prowess and adaptability shows she is far smarter and more creative than anyone gives her credit for at first glance. I'm confident that she'll succeed versus the Seneschal."

"Oh?" Lorcan raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Such confidence in your confidant. It is good to see her fighting prowess is increasing, but you should also see to it that her mental prowess in exercised just as much. If her emotional health and fortitude is as—I regret to use the term—as under-developed as you indicate, you may wish to take some time to address any issues that may arise. The Demacian court is no easy lifestyle to get used to, and while she had adapted well so far I do think it would behoove you both to establish a baseline of sorts. It will serve to strengthen your trust in each other and I do think that may prove to be a greater tool to both you and her in the long run." He chuckled quietly to himself as he turned his chair and stood up, moving towards the window. Beyond the glass panes, much of the palace was sprawled out below and beyond the palace's main palisades lay the barracks. "I only advise you ensure she gets plenty of rest after the ball, the Seneschal is no push over. Be careful how much of the night you two spend under the influence of softer subjects and finer drink."

Jarvan fought not to roll his eyes. "I'll take it under advisement, sir. I still wish to let Shyvana enjoy herself."

"Of course, of course." Lorcan said, clapping his hands cheerily. "Now that I have finished my sagely words of wisdom regarding love, where is the young'n this morning? It's strange to see you two away from each other when the king or I haven't dragged you apart."

"Her commanding officer summoned her back to the training company for the morning." Jarvan said shrugging. "It's not something that can be avoided unfortunately."

"Unfortunate, yes." Lorcan said, nodding his head thoughtfully. "I still have yet to meet this amazing young woman." He shrugged, again a thin and almost menacing smile playing over his lips. He raised his hands up and then pressed them against the desktop as if to halt the conversation. "But alas, that is not why I called you here today, young man."

"Of course, sir." Jarvan said, nodding his head as he sat up slightly in the cushy chair. "If I may ask, general, what exactly did you call me here for?"

"Straight to the point as always." General Lorcan said nodding. He sat back down, perching himself upon the edge of his chair in a fashion that could only be described as graceful. "What do you know the current situation regarding the recent assassination attempt that you faced?"

"When I was shot within my room?" Jarvan said, sitting back and furrowing his brow. General Lorcan nodded. "Well, most of the night is blurry, but I do remember getting shot when I jumped in front of Shyvana to protect her." Jarvan blushed slightly at that admission, he knew that it would have been smarter to knock Shyvana out of the way, and he had acknowledged his own fault there. "I vaguely remember several intruders, one of which I've come to suspect was Lee, but I've never actually been able to confirm that through either Lee himself or General Jormander. I also know there was at least two others involved besides Vorscham, Delancey and Alicia. The sharpshooter, who I later came into contact with, and another infiltrator who was shot and killed by Deadeye. He was struck by a bolt that exploded and incinerated him and all of his possessions instantly." Jarvan paused and then shrugged. "Next thing I remember is waking up in the Hospital with Shyvana. Then I had my little run in with General Jormander, and I haven't had much chance else to deal with it."

"I see." Lorcan mused. He sighed heavily, turning his chair to give Jarvan his profile as he looked towards the window behind his desk. "While you have been training your dragoness, my staff and I have been doing some investigating of our own into this mysterious character that was residing in Demacia under the guise of 'Sergeant Wallace Lee'. Between myself and my most trusted men, we've torn apart Jormander's records and his office looking for information pertaining to his origins and identity, but whoever he is, he is exceedingly sharp. We've found several instances of doctored records where the changes look clean, but the information didn't quite line up, most likely due to a rushed but professional job. If nothing else, Jormander was exceedingly meticulous in his record keeping."

"I think I've come across a number of similar records and errors." Jarvan said, nodding his head slowly. "Though I have yet to really make sense of them…"

"You speak of your web of incidents?" Lorcan said, offering the prince a thin grin.

"Yes sir." Jarvan nodded. "There is a trail of occurrences and oddities that are leading somewhere, but I don't know where... and that's what worries me."

Lorcan sighed softly again. "I looked upon your map, and I have several theories about what may have happened." He paused, glancing down at his desk. "I will state this directly, your highness, this discussion is not to leave this room. The implications that it may carry, and those who may be involved will strike out violently and brutally to defend themselves if they know of what we speak."

"Of course, sir." Jarvan said, his brow furrowing again.

"I need you to tell me you understand." Lorcan said fiercely, his voice cold and angry, devoid of the welcoming joviality it had carried before. "This is not something for your bedroom, for your father, for even your subordinates." He sighed softly and turned to Delancey. Her face had paled and her normally colorful hair seemed to have wilted in its body and color. "If you so much as utter a word of this outside this room, I will have to drug into the street, branded a traitor and shot dead before you speak a second word."

"I understand sir." Jarvan growled basely. Delancey managed a bare, quivering nod of the head.

Lorcan collapsed back into his chair, sighing heavily and running a hand over his face, under his glasses and over his eyes. He massaged his eyelids as he sunk a bit in his chair. The age showed in his face more so that Jarvan had ever seen before. "After looking at your heat map and time line, I made a series of connections with some of my own personal records. I keep tabs on every Noxian officer that I can who looks to display any sort of prowess as they come up the ranks. Swain was an officer I marked early on in his career due to two things: first was his ruthless determination and prowess. Never have I seen a military officer so driven and underhanded, even among his fellow countrymen. Noxians and Demacians fell around him like flies; anyone in his way ended up dead. The second was his abrupt appearance into the Noxian chain of command."

"There aren't any records of him before his supposed promotion to Colonel." Jarvan concurred, grimacing. "Save one that appears to be field hospital records of when he got his leg splinted improperly. The only reason it seems to exist is the surgeon's noticing the man's utter detachment from the pain of his injury. It seemed to fit the bill of Swain in my mind."

"I agree with your conclusions, and my research matches what you've said." Lorcan said, steepling his fingers in front of his face. "The lack of records is what worries me. Often times, upstarts and officers who prove their competence in the Noxian Command Structure are scouted early and either crushed or recruited into one of the many camps of the Noxian command structure. If an officer isn't recruited by another, higher-ranking officer and doesn't turn up dead in the gutter, they don't last long. Swain is the only officer who owes no allegiance to another officer of a higher status."

"Who does he ally himself with, then?" Jarvan said, frowning and thinking back.

"I was hoping you might have some insight into this." Lorcan said, his glasses glimmering menacingly as he looked at the prince. "I was wondering if you would enlighten me about your time spent in Noxus? I found it slightly disturbing you didn't include much information about your time outside of captivity within the city, especially your liaising with the new master of the Du Couteau household."

Delancey sat up and blinked several times, looking over to Jarvan in shock.

"You know about that, eh?" Jarvan said, sinking slightly in his seat, running a hand over his jaw. Lorcan nodded and gestured for him to explain, a cold glimmer in his eye.

"Perhaps you'd like to say some words in your defense?" Lorcan mused. "I won't subject you to the humiliation that Jormander attempted to incur, but I would like an explanation."

"Yes, sir." Jarvan said, pushing himself up. "There are some… complications first, that I must explain."

"Complications?" The good general raised an eyebrow. "What sort of complications?"

"First of all, I would like to state that I still don't fully understand all of what I'm about to tell you. This was something that more or less fell into my lap, be that by chance or by someone's hand." Jarvan took a deep breath and set his jaw. "While traveling through Great Barrier, the remainder of my men and I made a brief stopover in Kalamanda. Shyvana had joined my… company at this point and Valin Isaacs was still alive. While staying at an Inn there, I met a young ranger who I hired to track and guide us to the location of the dragon who had killed Shyvana's father, Faust. While conversing with her, I managed to overhear a conversation between Katarina du Couteau and her retainer and adopted brother, an assassin by the name of Talon. This was my first run in with them."

"First?" Lorcan mused, tugging at the edge of his beard thoughtfully. He raised a hand to excuse himself. "Please, continue."

"While we listened, it became apparent that they were following my company, hoping to glean information as to the location of her father, the now missing General Marcus Du Couteau. We departed the following morning, making north-north-east towards the Iron Spike Mountains, chasing after the dragon's trail. During this period of travel, heavy rains set in and I got separated from the rest of my company. I was knocked from my horse by a low lying branch, and when I came to, I was in the company of Katarina and her brother."

"And you made an alliance with them in exchange for supplies, directions and the like?" Lorcan suggested.

"No, actually." Jarvan said, frowning as he looked at his lap. "I refused their taunts and attacked, hoping to drive them away, however they seemed to relish the fight and decided it within their interests to try and beat the information I did not poses out of me. I fought them as best I could, but they eventually began to overcome me. It was at this point that Shyvana arrived and sent them packing, unfortunately it was too late."

"You knew something about General Du Couteau?" Lorcan said, sitting up abruptly.

"Not exactly." Jarvan said, looking at his hands. "I was careless and frustrated in my fighting and the wounds were …severe. To this day, I still think I died in that forest, cradled in Shyvana's arms. I remember a bright white light and then nothing." Jarvan's voice trailed off.

"Are you a zombie?" Delancey poked the prince in the arm, unsure of what to expect.

"Has anything I've ever said or done give you any sort of hint that I was a zombie." Jarvan said, rolling his eyes. "And there was no necromancy, either." He shook his head and sighed softly. "I remember some of the dreams I experienced, but what happened to me in the real world, I don't exactly know, I never found out." He shrugged. "While I was… out I was told many things that I didn't understand. Supposedly, the dragon, Kampf, was trying to start a war between Noxus and Demacia. I didn't know why at the time, but later I learned he was being directed by another. I didn't know who the voice belonged to, so I shunted it away at the time, but the voice then directed me through a pair of massive doors. Something about facing my fears…"

Jarvan shivered.

"When I woke up, I had been buried in a pine box. Luckily someone was able to dig me out when they heard my screams. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a platoon of Noxian soldiers. I killed a few with a shovel before they managed to subdue me."

"A shovel?" Lorcan scoffed, shaking his head. He sighed softly, a conflicted expression on his face. "Impressive, and while your story is fantastical, I have heard wilder stories that I know to be true. I assume at this point, the story resumes as per your report? You were captured to be executed, correct?" The prince nodded. "I see, well… aside from your otherworldly experienced, I am curious about who this manipulator who managed to control a dragon was." A toothy grin emerged from beneath his mustache. "Well, aside from you of course."

"I do not know who it is even now, but I shall explain what I do know in time." Jarvan said, nodding his head to the general. "We escaped from the Noxian Arena by way of Shyvana carrying me on her back. We wound up crashing into some gardens deep inside the city, and in the rough landing Shyvana was knocked out. When I managed to recover, Katarina was once again standing over me. She again explained that she wanted information, in exchange for sheltering us from the Noxian guardsmen. With Shyvana unconscious, my armor in ruins and nowhere else to go, I had to accept her help or die."

Lorcan ran his hand over his face, and sighed. "Anyone else and I'd have to have you tried and executed on treason." He grimaced after a few moments and then waved his hand, a bit of frustration on his face. He sighed. "Continue."

"Katarina spoke of how things are changing in Noxus. She fears something is happening in the Noxian High Command that threatens the very livelihood of her nation. She spoke of plots and rumors of a coup d'etat passing through the troops. She explained that my interaction with the dragon, Kampf, was disturbing this plot though, and she spoke of how Swain was tied into the very depths of it. He controls much of the Noxian Military, mostly indirectly, but he has earned many, many favors and had left a surprising portion of the army in his debt. Darius, another prominent general of Noxus, sided with Swain as well, though why Darius joined she did not say. I learned later that Swain and Darius are stockpiling arms and armor, as well as increasing their training regimen. I didn't believe it at the time, but…"

"Swain is aiming to usurp control of Noxus?" Lorcan said, his eyes growing wide.

"Katarina certainly believed so." Jarvan nodded. "His main obstacle is General Boram Darkwill, and the general's successor, his son. As it turns out, Katarina had been following some of Swains men in Kalamanda when she stumbled across me." Jarvan shrugged. "While Noxus is a member of the Institute of War, she did not believe it would matter when Swain made his move. The position he holds in the Institute already may mean he's begun to spread his corruption there."

"So you plan to join the League of Legends then…" Lorcan said, sitting back slightly as he sized the prince up. "You want to try and best slow Swain's ascent where you can, yes?"

"I don't think Swain will be able to make a successful move any time soon, as long as Darkwill is in power, that is." Jarvan growled, frowning. "With all eyes on Kalamanda, and subsequently Demacia and Noxus' part in the negotiations, I hope that Swain will refrain from doing anything brash. He wouldn't have spent this long working for his goal to lose it all with a failed coup attempt." General Lorcan nodded slowly.

"You're much more knowledgeable about politics than many give you credit, your highness." Lorcan said evenly. "Did Miss du Couteau state anything more about her father? I'm curious if there is something more there, and I fear that there may be a larger player at work behind the scenes. Swain may be a tactical genius, but I doubt he's able to bend a dragon to his will so easily."

"I don't think so, but her concerns over the safety of her father seemed to be tied to her concerns about the war." Jarvan said, leaning forward and grimacing. "I don't know whether Katarina's motives are entirely personal or what, but from what little time I've spent with her, she seems genuinely concerned with both the longevity of her nation and the safety of her father. I do not think she wishes to see Noxus go to war with Demacia, despite her ties to the High Command and her involvement in this plot."

Lorcan nodded his head slowly, tapping a finger against his chin. "It seems Swain wishes to start a war…" Lorcan said thoughtfully. "That explains some things, but not everything. Why a war? What does Swain stand to gain by restarting another war?" Lorcan glowered for a moment. "Noxus is weak right now. She lacks for resources and morale. Her people are struggling to get buy and if a conflict did break out, the Institute would likely step in and Darkwill would ensure the peace as he did before. If that happens, Swain gets nothing." Lorcan sighed. "Just what the hell are you thinking, Swain?"

Jarvan let the general think in quiet for several minutes, but when it looked as though there was nothing further he was needed for, he cleared his throat. Lorcan started briefly before crossing his hands in front of himself to calm his nerves. "General Lorcan, I have a question to ask of you." Jarvan said, sitting up slightly. The general looked surprised, pushing his glasses further up the bridge of his nose.

"Of course, please, speak." Lorcan said, hiding his surprise as best he could.

"That sword that hangs upon your wall in the hall, it was crafted by the man you called 'Constantin Steelsword', correct?" Jarvan asked evenly. The general nodded his head slowly. "That was not his original name, was it?"

Lorcan fitted the prince with a dark frown, but when Jarvan did not falter from his stance, the general sighed, deflating slightly. "Your wit is painfully sharp, my prince. No, Constantin was not originally of the surname 'Steelsword'. His real name has long been erased, and for my own peace of mind, I ask you not push any deeper into the subject." Jarvan set his jaw.

"He was originally from Noxus, wasn't he?" Jarvan said, frowning.

The general faltered, his mouth hanging open for several brief moments before he snapped it shut. "So you knew?" The general shook his head. "I suppose it is my place to ask that you not disclose this information. I have long served Demacia to the fullest of my ability, striving to be a paragon for the people to follow, but there is only one bond stronger than that of my ties to Demacia."

"Blood." Jarvan said softly.

Lorcan nodded and sighed. "He is my son-in-law. I don't know where they met or how they came to love each other, but my daughter sought my help many years ago when she and Constantin desired to move forward with their lives together. I resisted at first, but I had the power to make it happen as I was then in command of the Demacian Security Forces. I performed the operation under the guise of securing an informant, secreting the man away in the night and bringing him to Demacia, where I destroyed all record of him. I would ask you please explain how it is you know of him and his background?"

"Shyvana and I spent an evening under the care of Katarina's staff and Talon's watchful eye." Jarvan said, a wistful look in his eyes as he gazed off towards the window. He dropped his gaze for a brief moment before looking back to the general. "It was an all too brief respite, but it was interrupted by assassins."

"More assassins?" Delancey said raising an eye.

"Yes." Jarvan said, nodding. "I dispatched them easily, killing one and knocking the other out. Their armor was new and clean, much cleaner than either one of the men who wore it, and with them they carried a peculiar pair of weapons. The steel they carried was extremely high quality, much finer than anything available to all but the Highest Noxian generals. It bore Demacian insignia, and there was a distinct pattern in the blade. At the time I knew I had seen it before, it carried the similar shimmer of other Demacian craftsmen, but at the time I couldn't place it exactly. And then I visited your office for the first time."

"The sword upon the wall." Lorcan said, closing his eyes and nodding. "Constantin presented it to me as a wedding present, along with the painting…"

"Of the two ships, yes, I recognized it." Jarvan said, softly, looking to his lap. "I saw another just like it hanging in the parlor of the Du Couteau mansion."

Lorcan's face formed an impenetrable mask of a frown. Jarvan waited in silence for several moments, but Lorcan appeared lost in thought. "With your permission, I'd like to inquire with him-…"

"No." Lorcan said firmly. "This is my issue to deal with." The general shook his head.

"Yes, sir." Jarvan said, eyeing the general with a frown. "When we tried to interrogate the man, we initially didn't get anywhere." Jarvan had regained the general's attention. "After some convincing from both Shyvana and Katarina, The man finally told us who was behind it all."

"Who was it?" Lorcan asked hurriedly, his eyes growing wide. He sat back and tried to compose himself slightly.

"He only managed to get a single syllable out before he was killed." Jarvan growled. "There was a constriction charm cast upon his neck that strangled him before we could get anything important from him. He only gave us a single letter… 'L'."

Lorcan's face went a ghostly pale white.

"'L'?" Lorcan repeated. "Are you sure he said the letter 'L'? I need to know that without a doubt the letter you speak of was 'L'."

Jarvan frowned but nodded his head. "I remember watching him die like it was yesterday. I'm sure."

Lorcan got to his feet and then moved towards the door. "I need to check several things." He shook his head, as if he were going over something in his mind. "I want you to speak of this to no one, you hear me? I shall contact you when I get this figured out. For now, lay low and do not do anything foolish. If this is what I think it is, not only is your life in danger, but the entirety of Runeterra may be at risk."

"General…" Jarvan said, getting to his feet as the general pulled on his overcoat and wrapped a cloak over his shoulders.

"If there is more, I no longer have the time." Lorcan said, shaking his head as he looked down at his quivering hands. He clasped his fists and hid them in his pockets. "If my suspicions are realized…" he paused for a brief moment before shaking his head again. "I fear that Runeterra may be in grave danger." He ripped the door open, surprising his assistant whose hand stood poised over the doorknob, a maid behind him with a tray of tea and biscuits. "Stay and enjoy the refreshments if you like, but I must go. Stay safe, your highness." With that, the general swept out of the room with a swirl of his cloak, his cane clacking upon the marble floors with every step he took. It quickly faded from earshot.

Jarvan looked to Delancey and back to the hallway and then sighed, glowering and shaking his head. "What the fuck is going on…" Jarvan growled.

"I don't know." Delancey said quietly. "I don't want to know. I'm just going to sit here and pretend I didn't hear anything, and just go back to doing my job."

"Del…" Jarvan started to say, but he was stopped when she raised a hand.

"Sir, with all due respect, do us both a favor and shut the hell up." Delancey shook her head violently. "I really, really like my job and I like having my head properly attacked to my body even more. I don't care about what happened before you returned to Demacia, I've served with you enough to know I can trust you." She paused for a moment and then shook her head. "At least I hope I can. After all this nonsense with Lee and this stuff… I think that if you're not you, then whatever." He tossed her arms up and shrugged. "Fuck it. This shit is way above my pay grade."

"Thanks, Del." Jarvan said softly, shaking his head as he sunk down into the chair. "I wish things weren't this complicated.

"You're telling me." Del muttered, shaking her head.

"Let's go." Jarvan said, turning and making for the door. Delancey watched him, her brow creased slightly, but she followed behind him. Jarvan turned left out of the office, picking his pace up as he started moving along the hallway.

"Your office is this way, sir." Delancey said, glancing beyond Jarvan.

"I'm aware of that." Jarvan said, pausing and looking back at Delancey. "I'm not going back to the office yet. I'm going to visit your boyfriend. I need a favor."

"Forsythe?" Delancey repeated, surprised. She blushed slightly. "But he's not my... wait, what do you need a favor from him for? He only work in the personnel and records offi-..." Her voice trailed off as Jarvan nodded.

"Exactly." Jarvan said, starting down the hall again.

"Sir, this is an invitation for trouble, we were warned to stay out of this." She muttered, shaking her head. "The general warned you not to do anything stupid..."

"I'm not doing anything yet." Jarvan said, shrugging. I was told to trust no one. Forsythe is one of the few people I know I can trust. "I'm just gathering information for now."

"Sir..." Delaney murmured, unease in her voice.

"You don't have to come if you don't want to, Delancey." Jarvan looked back at her, meeting her gaze with a serious frown. "I won't force you to do anything you're not comfortable with."

Delancey sighed, and let her shoulders sag as she ran a hand over her face. "Let's just hurry." Delancey muttered, shaking her head. "Either way, I'm screwed. Violating orders or dereliction of my duty to guard you."