Author's note: Hello again! This is my favorite chapter so far. Just had to say it. Reviews are greatly appreciated- thanks! Oh, and this also contains made up characters- although just mentioned at the moment. The other Captain is a 'rumored' character, but I just made up something for him, so he may or may not belong to Naughty Dog…. Ha. I'm done. Happy reading!

"You're late."

The voice was flat, somehow twisted with a hint of discontent. Torn grimaced; he hated this.

"Why weren't you here on time?"

"Ran into a few problems," Torn answered through gritted teeth, "A few 'friends' of yours decided to buzz me on the way over here…"

Errol sniggered. He stood before Torn, his hands behind his back, chin up. The latter narrowed his eyes.

"It's been a week. What do you want?" he huffed.

"Where is the child?"

Errol leaned over the table expectantly. Both men were inside the Palace, at a private meeting room for the Krimzon Guard. Torn remembered it well, but he did not like what they'd done to the place.

"I haven't been able to locate him," he answered tersely, "the Underground people aren't stupid, despite what you think."

"But you must know at least one of the places he's been," Errol said, his impatience beginning to creep in.

Torn smirked. "They're very secretive about everything- too many places to count."

Errol sighed, discouraged. He shook his head, pounding his fist on the polished wood table. He closed his eyes as if to ready himself.

"Every time you come back it's the same! We gain no new ground and end up losing more. You haven't even found the HQ for the damn worms-" Torn's fingers dug into the armrests of his chair. "They could be anywhere! You had to have at least seen the boy!"

Torn shook his head. Errol heaved a sigh.

"The Baron won't be happy with this…"

"The Baron can kiss my ass," Torn laughed.

He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. Errol glared at him. Torn bit his lip to keep from laughing again.

"Do I have to remind you that the only reason you're alive is because of your past in the KG?"

Torn shook his head, avoiding Errol's gaze. "I didn't come down here to talk about that."

"Then what did you come down here for, Torn? Because I don't see the point of having a spy who can't produce evidence!"

The ex-Guard placed his feet up on the table, remaining silent. Errol cringed; his boots were filthy. Torn pulled his curved blade out from the scabbard on his back, running a finger along the steel.

"You should know I'm not cut out for this sneaking around crap," he told Errol. He looked thoughtful, then said, "I'm more of a reconnaissance kind of guy…"

Errol narrowed his eyes. "Yes, I'm aware of that. Perhaps if you weren't so self-righteous, Captain Phoenix would still be around to tell you what a mess you've made."

Torn felt a knot of anger form in his stomach.

"And you have room to talk about Phoenix?! After all the bullshit he went through trying to help-!"

"Enough!" Errol shouted, "You better have an improvement in your information the next time you come back."

Torn ran his finger along the blade a second time.

"Or what? You'll challenge me to a race?"

Errol clenched his jaw. Torn raised his eyebrows; he'd struck a nerve.

"You idiot! Things might get a bit hectic for that little girlfriend of yours."

Torn's heart sped up. He took his feet from the table, sitting upright.

"Leave her out of this," he warned.

Errol leaned even further over the table. "You've forced me to take drastic measures, Captain," he sneered.

Torn tightened his grip on the combat knife. Errol continued.

"If you don't up the ante soon, your "precious" Ashelin will be stripped of her authority- or worse."

"You can't to that," Torn said venomously, "The Baron would never-"

"If she's committed treason, I'm sure he wouldn't hesitate," interrupted the Commander.

He circled the table, Torn watching.

"That is, if you come don't come back with information about where the child is. Knowing who is leading the whole movement will also help."

Torn stood up out of his seat, noticing how much taller than Errol he was. The commander flinched, but only briefly.

"Why don't you do it yourself? I'm sick of being your damn errand boy. Find someone else."

Errol appeared unfazed by his statement. He fixed Torn with another icy stare.

"You can't just leave. The Baron has you marked; you won't be able to go anywhere without him knowing."

"I don't care. Find someone else," Torn repeated. Looking about the room in disgust, he added, "It's sad what you've reduced the Guard to."

Errol was seething now, watching incredulously as Torn turned his back on him and began walking out of the room.

"I will kill her for this!"

Torn stopped walking. Errol smirked slyly.

"You'll be dead before you even see her coming," he said, not wanting to look back.

"I don't think so," replied Errol calmly.

Torn shook his head. "Why would you do that? After all that we went through in the past few years…with Dead Town-"

"None of that matters now! Ashelin has been nothing but a thorn in my side from the beginning; I'd love to be rid of her for the rest of my life," Errol said, a wicked grin on his face.

In one swift movement, Torn pulled out one of his twin Eco pistols, and pointed it right between the commander's eyes. Errol hadn't had time to ready himself; he stood motionless, rooted to the spot. They were mere feet apart.

"Don't feed me that old 'arrogant bastard' shit. I'm not a man who likes to play games," he leaned forward, still keeping the pistol leveled, "Especially with sniveling little pretty boys such as yourself."

Errol appeared more nervous than scared. He still looked up at Torn defiantly.

"You realize as soon as you walk out that door, no one you hold dear is safe."

"I don't believe you," Torn hissed.

Errol managed to regain some of his pride. "Yes you do. I know everyone you could possibly love- Ashelin, Hector, Libby," he grinned evilly, "Tess."

"You wouldn't!" Torn growled, clicking a round into place.

Errol swallowed hard, but he didn't lose that smile.

"Whatever gets you to understand," he said, "Consider both Ashelin and Tess marked."

"You're a bastard," snarled Torn, "How could you even think-?!"

"Either you continue to be our spy, or I'll be forced to end the lives of all your friends. Your well-being, or theirs."

Torn hated everything about this man; the way he spoke, the way he took advantage of everyone; the way he made a mockery out of the position Torn had once held. He wanted to kill him, make him be the one who would have to lose everything.

Torn's hand began to shake, and his grip on the pistol loosened. Errol watched as the barrel of the weapon trembled before him. The ex-Guard lowered the gun with great difficulty. The Commander gave him a satisfactory smile.

"I thought so," he mused, "Come back with more information, Torn. The Baron and I will be waiting."

"F--- you," Torn returned, his voice racked with emotion.

He quickly found his way out of the Palace, jogging down the stair case. He jumped on his zoomer and drove, letting the wind sting at his face. He never wanted to see that place again.