The Black Rose
was one of the most prestigious restaurants in the city. Iamthey,
taking observation of Matthew-Kaine's symbols, decided it would be
the ideal place to wait. The room was plush. The floor was a thick
red carpeting, the walls wood-paneled, the lighting was a dimmed
glow; to the normal eye you would only be able to make shadows.
Iamthey, at one time, had been a powerful warrior, just like Dogbert
and his staff. However, that was all over now. After the war, the
leadership took on the role of politics, and left fighting to those
who could afford the risk. Over time, their powers diminished and it
became tiring at times to simply teleport oneself. Fortunately,
Iamthey still possessed a higher sense of sight, and was able to
clearly make out faces with in the room. A waiter approached his
table from behind. "Sir, a fellow asked me to give you this; he
said to tell you that he was from the Council."
"Alright,
thank you." The waiter walked away leaving Iamthey with a large
envelope. He flipped it over in his hand, on the envelope was the
seal of a rose in black wax. Opening the envelope revealed the
following:
I would very much like to be discussing the
situation in greater detail with you, however the Black Rose is not
the place. To your left is a team of assigns that are targeting you.
It appears that the Emperor is getting nervous about your knowledge.
Leave now, and lead them into the alleyway behind the restaurant.
Sincerely,
Matthew Kaine
Attempting not to draw
attention to himself, Iamthey left the tip on the table, and made his
way outside. Trailing behind him were the several members of Omega.
Omega was a dark secret; this selection of hitters seemed very ironic
to Iamthey, who had been instrumental in the agency's creation. He
had hand-selected and trained most of them himself. Although they
were not immortal demigods like Dogbert and Iamthey, they were the
best killers around. What seemed even more ironic is the fact that
Iamthey could not be killed. As he walked outside, he oriented
himself for battle. He no longer carried his sword (scimitar), and
his rifle for political reasons, and common sense told him not to as
well. In this city, there was no real reason for weapons of that
capacity. No, instead he carried two desert eagles and a small knife
that could double as a throwing knife. As he walked around the
building, he slowly removed one of his desert eagles, and kept it
concealed at his side. The night are began to gust, and the soldiers
behind him quickened in pace. Walking into the ally, he flipped
around and emptied a shot into the head of the hitter on the right.
At the same time a second man slit the throat of the left.
"Greetings, Iamthey." It was Matthew-Kaine.
"Yes thank you,
It appears you were correct, Dogbert has been lying to me."
"Yes,
I find that odd that he would keep one of his close advisors in the
dark. I can understand the public's not needing to be aware, but
his Head of Council." Matthew-Kaine replied, shaking his
head.
"What do you suggest should be done; he has denied it up
until now, and after the hit group there is no real way he could
claim his innocence, with that. Check their pockets." Iamthey
requested.
"I already did." said Matthew-Kaine, handing
Iamthey a thick packet of paper. "The hit order is among that
collaboration of papers."
"Very well, I am going to take care
of this personally." Iamthey stated, and then disappeared into the
night.
Summoning up his energy, Iamthey flew into dust on the wind. He knew that there is one person he must speak to before he confronted Dogbert for the second time. That person was Count Confusion. Iamthey appeared inside the Council Hall and entered his chambers. Quickly, he changed into a suit of camouflage and fully armed himself with his rifle, desert eagles, and his scimitar. He again turned into an invisible stream of dust and left the city.
The Separatists leader, Count Confusion, had an unusual day.
But then again, what days are normal now? He entered into his
spacious office at the center of his HQ, a large subterranean bunker.
The floor was tiled with black marble, the walls were blood red, and
at the center sat a semi-modern, black marble desk. There was poor
lighting due to the lack of energy, most of which was generated 5
floors bellow, causing the corners to be shadowed. As Confusion sat
down he heard a familiar voice from one of the corners. "You were
right, Dogbert has been lying to the council, to his Hierarchs, and
even to me."
"I knew you would be back here sooner or later,"
Confusion said with a slight smirk on his face. "He has been
playing you sense the beginning. My suggestion: kill him. End his
miserable life now, and claim HA for yourself."
"No, there
must be some explanation."
"There is. His greed; his lust for
power have driven since he took power."
"YOU LIE!" Iamthey
yelled as he drew his sword and swung in a wide arc, slicing the
Count's head off of his body. However, Confusion was not a mortal;
his body began to regenerate. As he did, Iamthey dematerialized, and
immediately returned to the city, just outside Dogbert's main
Living area. He was now enraged; his clothing had transformed from
the HA army uniform to the robes of deity. The robes were blood red,
and there was a white cape hanging off his right arm. He was now at
his full level of power. Removing his sword, he smashed through the
heavily reinforced door of Dogbert's chamber.
Taking out his
knife, he threw it just past Dogbert's hand. "All this time, all
this time you have had me living in a fantasy world, all of us."
Iamthey flamed, as he stormed up to the Emperor's desk. "You have
kept us in the dark; you even tried to have me killed. I have met
Confusion. I know you are lying; now explain the situation!"
"All
I can offer is explanation for my actions; nothing more. You want to
know why; I suppose you must know. But first of all you must
understand, Iamthey, the public is not ready to hear this, the
Council is not willing to hear it. This must stay between us.
Understand?"
"I understand your need to keep the public in
the dark, but why your advisor?"
"DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?"
"Yes,
I understand - the truth that you reveal will not leave this room."
