Spargus

Torn walked into the elevator flanked by two guards, who, to his surprise, didn't shove or push him at all. They were standoffish, but not disrespectful.

He remembered, when he was young, that the guards had been like that. Damas had only rarely exiled people, but it hadn't been the spectacle it became under Praxis. There were no jeering crowds or cruel soldiers. Everyone had still been afforded dignity.

That was what it was, he realized-or one of the things-that made this city so different from Haven. Damas' powerful presence, his dignified and measured air, had spread over this place. It was a town where you held your head up and spoke your mind. Not like Haven at all, where you kept your face to the ground and did what you were told.

The elevator ground to a stop at the top floor, and he blinked in surprise. Fountains and pools of water, and actual green plants-this far out in the desert, it was a palace indeed.

Damas was waiting, sitting on his throne with his fingers curled loosely on his staff. Torn felt like an ant under his gaze, but met his eyes anyway. He had sworn when he left that KG that no one would make him less than he was ever again. Not Praxis, not Erol, and not Damas, no matter what came.

"What is your name and rank, soldier?"

"Torn Warren, your highness. Second-in-command of the Underground."

Damas raised his eyebrows.

Torn decided to play the only card he had before Damas threw him in a dungeon somewhere. "Sig can vouch for me, sir."

And Damas' eyebrows shot up to his hairline.

"Sig?" he asked, with the same even tone.

"A Wastelander who works with the Underground. Before I arrived here, I had always just assumed that he was unusually resourceful. But it makes a lot more sense that Spargus would be his home base, given all the artifacts he's brought over the years, and his knowledge of the desert and the metalheads. Besides, it would also make sense, from a Spargan perspective, to get him involved with the revolutionary elements in the city. Next best thing to installing him in Praxis' throne room."

Silence. Torn held eye contact with the king.

"Am I wrong?"

Damas gestured to one of the warriors flanking his throne, who handed him a communicator.

He punched in a few numbers and held the device in the palm of his hand, waiting. The soft hum of static didn't do anything to alleviate Torn's nervousness. Finally, the speaker crackled with noise.

"Damas? What's wrong?" Sig's voice was tight, businesslike.

"Nothing yet," the king replied, keeping his eyes on the prisoner.

"You've never called me, Damas. What's going on?"

"I have a newcomer to Spargus that claims you can vouch for him. One Torn Warren. He's told me he's second-in-command of the rebellion. Anything to say, Sig?"

"That son-of-a-bitch made it to Spargus? He's alive?"

"Apparently."

"Let me talk to him."

Damas tossed the comm over to one of Torn's guards, who held it close enough for Sig to hear him.

"I heard that, you know," Torn told Sig dryly.

Sig laughed. "It is you. Congratulations on staying alive this long! Damas, I vouch for him. He's who he says he is."

"Sig, how are things there? What is the Underground doing?"

"What you told them to do. Tess was named second-in-command last night by the Shadow. Good call on that, by the way-I would have chosen Tess too."

"Are the others going to listen to her?"

"For the most part, I think everyone agrees that she deserves it. There was a little bit of grumbling in the ranks, but the officers have all agreed to respect her leadership, and everyone seems to be following their lead. Jethra's come out as Tess' strongest supporter, and you know she's universally respected."

"She would have been my second choice. Glad she's helping Tess keep order," Torn said. "And Jak?"

Torn didn't really care what Damas or the guards thought about him checking in on his boyfriend. He needed to know that Jak wasn't about to go out and get himself killed.

Sig was quiet for a few moments. "Well. He's doing about as well as could be expected."

"Try to talk him into staying out of trouble. I mean, you know how I feel about him-but Tess is going to need him to fight Praxis, too."

"I read you. And I'll do my best. For what it's worth, he does seem to listen to me. Sometimes."

Torn scoffed. "That makes one of us."

"Gentlemen," Damas said, "I hate to interrupt. But I need to have a private discussion with Commander Warren. And Sig, I expect you'll be back here at the previously agreed-upon time? I will allow the two of you to speak more then."

His tone brooked no argument. Torn, to his surprise, didn't resent the intrusion. Damas wasn't being controlling or unreasonable. Just calm and authoritative, assured of his own weight with his people.

Though Torn knew he wasn't among those people yet. Did he want to be?

"Sure thing, Damas. I'll be back on time with a full report. Sig out."

The communicator was tossed back to the guard who'd given it to the king in the first place. Damas stood, and motioned to Torn's guards to leave the room. The warriors by his throne headed out too, though one stayed at the far side of the room next to the elevator.

The king moved over to sit near by one of the small pools, and gestured for Torn to join him. Torn sat, but kept a respectful distance. He didn't want anyone thinking he was going to try and assassinate Damas, least of all Damas himself, whose arms were about as thick as Torn's neck. He didn't just command an army of warriors; he was a soldier himself.

"Commander."

Torn sighed. "You don't need to use the title, your highness. It's not mine anymore."

"Yet you still have something of it about you."

"I was caught and exiled. I had prepared for this possibility, but it means no one answers to me now."

"I'll address you that way, still. There might be more truth to it than you think. In any case," Damas said, "I would like you to brief me on the situation in Haven, including the rebellion, as of your exile. And your own personal background would be welcome, if you don't mind. I need to know what kind of man you are."

Torn scowled. "And you'll, what, just take my word for it? If I tell you I'm trying to do something good?"

"How the story is told reveals much about the teller. But yes, Sig will be giving me a full report later, and I'll compare the two," the king replied, inclining his head.

"Fine," Torn replied. "I hope you're comfortable, because this will take a while."