I do not own Chaotic nor anything related to it. It belongs to TCDigital.

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The Toast

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I've been back a week... A week of not having to look over my shoulder all the time... A week where the war with the M'arrillians is happening somewhere far away...

"Good morning, Daddy!"

I grunt and lift an arm up to shield my eyes. "Hera?" I mutter.

I start pushing myself into a sitting position. Then I feel something get placed on my lap. I rub my eyes and look down to see a tray with a loaf of bread and a bowl of porridge.

"Surprise!" Hera grins, looking very pleased with herself. "I heard the doctor say that you shouldn't have anything too chewy, so I made you this!"

I touch the bread. It feels hot, freshly baked. I look out the window to see the sun barely over the horizon. She had to have woken up early to make me this. "Thank you," I say before picking up the spoon next to the bowl.

The porridge is a little bland, and the bread is a bit burned on the bottom, but it's the best breakfast I've ever had.

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At my repeated insistence, I've been escorted to Shasta's bar. Many people are here to see me, but this afternoon there's only a few people I really want to talk to.

"Did you kick any M'arrillian a** while you were down there?" Sett laughs.

"Sett!" Ashley admonishes. "I don't think he wants to be reminded about any of that!"

Shasta passes by and drops a glass in front of me. "Welcome back," he says with a grin.

Malvadine tilts his head a little as he looks at the glass. "Is alcohol even safe for you to drink right now?"

"Michael only drinks on special occasions," Maliph laughs.

Sett smirks. "Today might very well be a special occasion. Shasta! How about a drink for everyone!"

Ashley slaps Sett's shoulder. "You can't have any hard drinks, remember?"

"I'll get him a fresh one," Shasta says as he passes by again.

"Is this a toast?" Malvadive asks.

"Why not?" Maliph grins.

Shasta brings a glass for everyone, and everyone raises their drinks.

"To Prince Osiris!" Sett calls out.

"To his safe return!" Ashley adds.

"And to the quick return of his health," Isis says as she sits beside me. "Good morning, Michael."

"Isis," I smile. "Glad you could join us. Was Jupiter causing problems?"

"He just always wants his mother all the time," Isis sighs. A glass is placed in front of her. "Thank you, Shasta."

"You're welcome, Your Highness," Shasta replies.

"We're just celebrating Michael's return!" Maliph beams. He gives my shoulder a solid punch-

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A solid punch dislocates my shoulder. Another blow to the side of my head makes me see stars. It's all good, though. As long as the punishment doesn't progress to-

Aa'une forces me to my knees, and he pulls his loincloth to the side with one hand.

No! Please, don't!

The M'arrillian Oligarch's other hand grabs the back of my head. He digs a finger into the back of my neck, forcing me to open my mouth and scream, then he pulls my head forward and stuffs his-

-\/-\/-\/-

Maliph stumbles back, his front all wet with wine. He sputters, "What was that for?"

I look at my arm. It looks like I splashed him with my drink. "S-sorry," I stammer. "I-I didn't know what I was..."

"He's having issues with being touched," Isis says as she takes the empty glass out of my hand.

Maliph stops trying to wipe the liquid off, and his eyes widen. "Torture-?" he begins before snapping his mouth shut. Everyone else looks a little sick to their stomachs.

I nod mutely. They don't need to know exactly what else happened-

"That's only half of it," Mudeenu's voice calls out from across the rooms. The words are pronounced with a slur, as if he was a bit drunk. Which he might well be.

Isis's eyes widen. "Mudeenu!" she shouts, "Stop talking! Now!"

The crowd starts to part, and Mudeenu stumbles through the gap in the crowd to the table I'm sitting at. He squeezes between Sett and Ashley and places his hands on the table. He's swaying a bit, looking like he's ready to fall over, and his breath smells like alcohol.

"Michael here's only telling you half of the story," Mudeenu chuckles as he points at me. I feel a chill fill the air around me.

Isis growls, "Mudeenu, drink until you pass out if you want, but do not finish that-!"

Mudeenu laughs loudly and says, "When I burst into the cell Michael was in, Aa'une was in there f***ing the s*** out of him!"

Many people stare bugged-eyed at Mudeenu, then at me. I want to just disappear right now. Isis, though stands up and starts to walk around the table.

Mudeenu continues loudly, "Really! Aa'une was right there just pounding away at Michael's a**, and Michael was just screaming and crying like a wimp-"

Isis walks up to Mudeenu and pulls her fist back. Then she turns, launching her fist at Mudeenu's face. Her fist collides with Mudeenu's nose, and he falls backwards, a spray of blood erupting from his nostrils. The large Mipedian hits the ground and stops moving.

Isis points at the crowd and moves her arm around, pointing at everyone. "What you heard does not leave this room," she hisses. "If I see this in any newspaper, or I hear gossip, or anything else about this, there will be severe consequences. Do not ask me what they are."

Everyone immediately turns to their drinks. Isis looks down, mutters, "You'll be perfectly fine the floor, Mudeenu," then walks back to her chair.

There's several moments of silence. Then Ashley whistles. "Wow."

"I can't believe him," Isis snaps. Her voice is low but firm. She turns to me and says, "He's been an absolute beast ever since Humans arrived in Perim, but these last ten solans have been the worst. He accuses you of making up a creature attempting to open the Doors, carelessly sends you alone to Jade Pillar, then accuses you of not trying hard enough to stop Phelphor when he learned that the Door were opened!"

Malvadine sputters, "But he's the reason Osiris didn't have help fighting Phelphor!"

The conversation turns quickly to how idiotic Mudeenu had been, which I tune out. I order another drink from Shasta, and later I put the glass to my lips-

"Prince Osiris?"

I set the glass down and glance at the door. Iflar is standing there, looking out of breath has he holds himself up using the frame of the doorway..

"You need to be presentable very quickly," Iflar gasps. "Danian ambassadors are on their way."

Well, this is unexpected. I grab my cane from the ground and hoist myself off my chair. "It was a pleasure to see you all again," I say.

Everyone bows their heads towards me. I turn and slowly walk towards the door.

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Up next: The Salute

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Like I said before, Chaotic belongs to TCDigital.

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