Akame ga Kill: Clockwork

by Dark The Relentless

Amongst the corruption of the Capital, two men within plot to overthrow the current system in the hopes of restoring the former glory of the once mighty Empire. (AU. Contain spoilers!)

30. The Moon Swallows The Sun

One month ago, Hidden Storage Room. Revolutionary Army HQ...

Tatsumi and Walker sat around this secret storage room for what felt like an hour or two. The forward sitting at the only desk, patient but bored while the latter continued to stoke his seeming paranoia at their hosts: The Revolutionary Council, true intent.

"I'm telling ya, this don't sit right." Walker proclaimed for the umpteenth time. "Keeping us out of sight, away from everyone in an abandoned part of the base."

"Give it a rest Walker." Tatsumi said in reply. "You're worrying too much over nothing."

"Been too long in this game ta know when things don't add up, youn'in." Walker scuffed. "You'all be telling me I was right soon enough."

Tatsumi rolled his eyes, tapping his finger nail on the desk for a few minutes before his stomach growled. Embarrassed, he leaned his head over his shoulder.

"I'm gonna order some food. You want anything?"

"Water and an apple." The merc soundly replied. "Nothin too fancy."

Tatsumi nodded, picked up the phone hanging on the wall in front of the desk, and dialed in 154 as he was told should they need anything.

The phone picked up, a moment later the screen attached to the device lit up. A man with blond, spiky hair, sideburns leading up to a beard, and a four pointed star-like scar on his nose appeared. The man was looking down, but Tatsumi could make out his brown eyes and the dark khaki military uniform of the RA.

"Yes?" The man replied, focusing his gaze upon whatever task he was currently occupied with.

"Ah..hi." Tatsumi started. "I was told to call this number should we need anything during our time here."

"This is the direct line to the head of the Department of Logistics." The man replied. "Whoever gave you this line must have given you priority to jump the line during this critical time of preparation for the upcoming offensive."

"Yes, it was Cesare head of Dark Ops."

The man formed an "ah" with his mouth. "Then that must mean you are our esteemed guests from Night Raid." The man leaned back, finally raising his eyes to Tatsumi. "Very well, tell me what you..." His eyes widened, mouth agape as words failed him.

Tatsumi raised his eyebrow, confused at what caused such a reaction. "Are you ok?"

The man blinked a few times, shacking his head slightly before placing a hand on his face. "Ah...I'm sorry you just...remind me of someone I know." He lowered his hand, forcing a smile. "Now, what do you require?"

"We'd like some food sent up, haven't eaten since we got here haha." Tatsumi began. "A pitcher of water with two cups, an apple, and cooked meat if its not too much trouble."

The man on the other end nodded. "I'll see its brought up within the next 20 minutes."

With that, the man hung up the phone. He let out a breath, rubbing his face as he tilted his head to the ceiling.

"He failed to tell me how similar he looks to Axel." Arthur said, muffled by his hands. "That Cesare will be the death of me, I'm sure of it."

After taking a few minutes to compose himself, Arthur placed a call to order the two from Night Raid's meals stressing that the one to deliver said meal be someone who can keep his mouth shut.

With that done, he continued to work on all the minute details he could handle before the Council meeting later today that would bring about greater ramifications then anyone would dare imagine...

---

2 hours later...

Their meal long complete, Walker and Tatsumi continued to idle away their time until a knock came from the hidden doorway.

Walker moved to the side of the door, pulling out one of his twin guns. Tatsumi shook his head as he approached the doorway. The merc did the same thing earlier to the one providing the meal and nearly had the man piss his pants.

"Yes?" The young man spoke.

"Hey, are you guys ready?" A voice they didn't know answered. "The meeting is set to start soon."

"Of course." Tatsumi answered. "Come on it, we've been waiting so long I've almost fallen asleep."

The outside voice laughed. "Ah how I can relate to that sentiment. I'm opening the door now, glad to finally meet a hero of the shadows."

The door open and a figure nearly recognizable stepped inside. A man with brown, medium length hair and a long, youthful face wearing the dark khaki military uniform of the RA with a red cap featuring golden outlines and straps.

Tatsumi's eyes widened a tad in surprise at the alarming similarity of this man to Cesare.

Walker lowered his gun, aiming at the man's head. The latter glanced at the merc, smirking. "I don't blame you, I'd be on guard too given the cold shoulder treatment we've given you thus far."

He returned his gaze to Tatsumi.

"My name is Caesar, head of PR and founder of the Revolutionary Army." The man said with a smile. "As you noticed, I look shockingly similar to Cesare. The answer to why is simple; we're twins."

"Oh that's great." Walker said. "You as shady as your brother then?"

"People tend to compare us as night and day." Caesar chuckled. "I'll leave it to your judgment to decide for yourselves." He held out his hand to the young man. "Long overdue, but on behalf of the Revolution I thank you for all your hard work up till this point. Truly, it is a pleasure to meet the unsung heroes of this war."

Tatsumi smiled, grasping the outstretch hand with his own. "Thanks, and I'm glad to meet one of the founders of the very same side I'm fighting for."

Caesar pulled Tatsumi in, alarming Walker as he tighten his grip on this gun while almost drawing the other. Caesar wrapped his arm around his shoulder, patting it with a laugh.

"Please, I've barely done anything worth such words. Best I'm good for is keeping spirits up." He jerked his head to Walker to follow. "Come on, like I said earlier I'm here to escort you to the meeting you all requested."

As the pair walked out, Walker shook his head cursing silently. He holstered his gun, following close behind while keeping an eye out for any potential ambushes or tails.

Caesar, still with his hand around Tatsumi, leaned his head closer to the man's ear muttering advice as the continued at a reasonable pace.

"Fair warning, there is a hard ass among the council. Commander Bifrost is an intense man who styles himself as our no-nonsense leader, and he has a lot of pull in the army. Whatever you are here to talk about, if you have to convince us of something, you'll have to try the hardest against him."

Tatsumi gulped, nodding in acknowledgement. "Thanks for the heads up."

"No problem, my friend." Caesar winked, pulling his head back. "I wish you luck in your endeavors, whatever they maybe."

The trio walked along for a few silent moments, Walker memorizing all he could of the route and comparing it to the mental map he made of the base the last time he was here.

"Tell me somethin." Walker spoke up.

Caesar around, walking backwards. "What's on your mind?"

"What's with the lack of people in this part of the building?" The merc asked. "For an army about ta march out, it's surprisingly quiet."

"Part of the reason is the majority of the work that needs doing is in an entirely different section of the complex." Caesar answered. "The other part, my brother's orders. He wanted to insure you guys' privacy or so he says."

"In other words, ya don't really know yourself huh?"

Caesar shrugged his arms, holding his hands up to their shoulders as he gave the man a silly smile. "I tend to be left out of many loops round here."

Walker shook his head. "And you're suppose ta be the leader round here."

"Never said I was the leader." Caesar turned on his heel, walking forwards once more. "Just the founder is all."

The rest of the walk was relatively silent, with the occasional small talk between Caesar and Tatsumi.
Walker continued to scan the area, eyes darting this way and that without moving his head. The merc didn't notice anyone tailing them but he did notice the cameras posted here and there. All of which were tracking them.

To say this didn't help his growing paranoia was an understatement.

"Here we are." Caesar announced, coming to a stop before a pair of finely crafted doors. "The Council Chambers, or as some of us call it the Try Not To Nap room." He turned to look at Tatsumi and Walker in turn.

"Most of us are in attendance, only missing Arthur who's excused to catch up on his growing pile of work and Miss Fortune who is in the middle of one of her divination rituals. You'll find out quick who holds the most sway here, as well as the hypocrisy of a council of equals."

The serious tone of their escort didn't put either member of Night Raid at ease.

Caesar placed a hand on the door and pushed it open a crack. "I'll enter first, wait for the doors to open on their own then double time it inside."

With a nod, he moved inside and door closed behind, echoing through the empty halls.

20 minutes later, both doors opened wide.

"Time ta face the music eh?" Walker tilted his head up. "Ready, youn'in?"

Tatsumi swallowed a lump in his throat, nodding in affirmation. "Let's go."

The pair walked inside and were greeted by darkness. Their footsteps echoed off the stone tiled floor, adding to the unknown dread the young man had felt since coming into this room.

Without any direction, the pair continued forward until a deep voice called from the darkness beyond.

"The Council welcomes the heroes Tatsumi and Walker, from the infamous Night Raid." It said, lights turning on the moment the voice finished.
7 spotlights cast yellow light upon an equal amount of individuals gathered in a circle or the chairs that normally would be filled with these important figures and the round wooden table before them.

An 8th, larger spotlight illuminated the open space before them, catching Tatsumi and Walker in its light.

The pair quickly noticed Caesar and Cesare among the 5 present as they quickly glanced at the faces of those around them.

"While we are not in full attendance due to the circumstances relating to this critical time, the majority of the Council agrees to the request of Tatsumi to conduct a discussion imperative to the future of the revolution, or so said operatives thus claims." The same voice, belonging to an older and the most intense looking male of the group, continued.

He pressed his head forward, as if to get a better look at the pair before him with squinted eyes.

"For the record and so this young man understands, if this proves to be a waist of our time you will be punished severely. Is that understood?"

"Clearly." Tatsumi replied, meeting the eyes of the intense man before him.

"Very well." The man leaned back in his chair, eyes looking disinterested as he moved his gaze to the side. "Then, step forward, and let us hear what you have to say so we may cast our judgment accordingly."

The young man took a breath, breathing in and out, before taking two steps forward. Standing in the center of the illuminated open space, Tatsumi let out his honest concerns.

"Do you recall, a few months ago, the orders you issued concerning a group we encountered referred to as Clockwork?"

The intense man with blue-grey hair lowered his eyes, frowning at the young man.

"Enlighten us, for I tend to forget the minute details in my old age."

Caesar chuckled, which earned him a nasty glance from the intense man.

"I believe he is referring to a set of orders issued quite a few months ago." Cesare cut in, sparing his brother from the old man's wraith. "A set of orders I signed off on personally."

The intense man raised his eyebrow. "Seeing as you are in a talkative mode, Director Cesare, explain the details of these old orders that have come into question today..."

"As you wish," Cesare bowed his head. "However, context is needed in this case. Allow me to explain who this Clockwork is, the orders I issued relating to the group, and my reasons for acting thusly."

The head of the Revolutionary Army's DarkOps smiled coldly, locking eyes with Tatsumi who has turned his head towards the man at this point.

"For those among us who failed to or have forgotten the reports: Clockwork, is an organization within the Capital. They are a collective of individuals whom take issue with the current government and aim to turn back the clock as it were. Meaning, they wish to restore the Empire as it once was."

"This goal, while providing an excuse to collaborate due to our mutual foe, similarly provides a conflict of interests. We aim to start fresh while they wish to remove the decaying bits."

"Thus, to avoid the emotional attachments that would no doubt be formed should this Clockwork and Night Raid agreed to the propose alliance set forth by the former only to end in regretful bloodshed, I deduced the best course of action would be to forego such a situation and treat them like any other part of the Imperial Military: To be eliminated upon earliest convenience."

"Those very orders are why I requested this audience." Tatsumi stated.

"You find an issue with these orders?" The intense man questioned, pinching the end of his beard. "From what Director Cesare has thus far explained, his actions are reinforced by sound logic. While we have a common enemy, our interests are different. Best to nip a treat in the bud before it's left to grow beyond control."

"Shouldn't we choose the best course of action that benefits the people?" Tatsumi countered. "Making a new government or removing the corruption plaguing the current one, which would the masses prefer?"

"Careful, boy." The intense man narrowed his eyes. "You are treading dangerously close to treason."

"Commander Bifrost, this is unbecoming of you." Cesare spoke up, confirming for Tatsumi that this was indeed the man he was warned about. "Tatsumi here is one of our best operatives. His only concern is the potential collateral damage of the conflict with an organization that also seems to have the peoples' interests at heart."

"Didn't the reports state that these Clockwork agents possess a number of Imperial Arms? Several powerful ones at that?" A new voice rich with wisdom cut in.
The man was another elderly gentlemen with elegantly kept, medium length white hair and goatee. He has blue-green eyes that seem to glow up in the light.

This elder adjusted the square framed glasses he wore with his white gloved hand before continuing. "If I recall, one was a fire user...The very same that confronted General Esdeath and fought her on equal footing...Such a foe could devastate our forces quite easily."

"Which is why they must be dealt with now." Bifrost stated. "We can ill afford a war on multiple fronts, even if they could prove to be fruitful allies."

"But they have been aiding us!" Tatsumi cut back in. "They have provided plenty of help over the past year, even after the orders to eliminated them have been given!"

"Are you admitting to a dereliction of duty by willingly ignoring orders?" Cesare asked, eyebrow raised in curiosity. "I must say, for someone to come all this way just to confess to a crime punishable by death is not only a first, it is an act worthy of a fools respect."

"I have come questioning orders that I believe to have been issued in error." Tatsumi shot back, glaring at his boss's boss. "I joined the Revolutionary Army to make this country a better place, not to slay those that have a similar goal to ours."

"So it's a question of morality..." Cesare folded his arms together, resting his chin upon them. "For an assassin, that is more a hindrance than asset. Perhaps a transfer to the army is in order?"

"We could make use of him in the new Imperial Arms Corps." Caesar causally stated, folding his arms across his chest. "It would be a waste of a talented warrior who has mastered Incursio."

"I concur." Bifrost said with a nod. "Make arrangements for his transfer, inform General Najenda by carrier pigeon, and have agents collect any personal belongings he possesses to be transported to his assigned barracks."

Tatsumi's head swam in a current of confusion as these men talked about his fate without his input.

Transfer? Removing him from Night Raid without allowing him to say a single word to his friends?

All because he has a goddamn conscious?!

Anger boiled up in the young man. Clenching his fists, he was about to explode upon this Council exactly what he thought about all this...

At least he was, until someone beat him to the punch.

"Now hold just a damn minute!" Walker shouted, stepping to Tatsumi's side. "What the hell are ya'll talkin about?! Transfer? All cause he wanted clarification on his orders? The hell is this, the Empire?"

"And who the hell are you?!" The one who hasn't spoken up till now shouted.

The person in question is the only female in the room; a tan skinned woman with many scars spread across her entire body(least as far as one can see, with a rather nasty one on the left side of her face), short gray-brown spiky hair and black eyes. She rolled up the sleeves of the typical Revolutionary Army Uniform everyone in the room was wearing, only hers is colored red and black.

"Me?" Walker tilted his head up, glaring at the woman. "I'm the only one with any goddamn sense in this entire room!"

"That's a bold claim." Caeser half muttered with a smirk.

"One that isn't far off the mark..." His twin replied with his own sly smile.

Commander Bifrost narrowed his eyes at the merc. "We will not stand for this insubordination-"

"-No, you listen ta me you goddamn fossil!" Walker shouted, pointing a finger at the muscular man.
"All of ya! Have ya'll lost sense of reality?! This kid here only wants a revaluation of his standing orders as the situation has changed since they were first ordered, and yall're talking about taking him out of his unit cause he has a sense of morality?! Without even giving him a chance ta say goodbye?! Do you understand how that makes ya'll look?!"

"Irreverent to the matter at hand." Bifrost stated.

"Now, now, he has a point." The other elderly man with glasses chimed in. "We are being rather cruel to the young man."

"Well..." Bifrost leaned forward. "I didn't know we gave out concessions to insubordinate soldiers. Tell me, when has that policy changed, General Hemi? Or is this simply one of your grandfatherly tenancies to spoil you own men like they were your own sons?"

Hemi remained silent.

"I thought as such." Bifrost straightened his back. "As one of our most recent defectors from the Emprie, and our newest appointee to the Council, I suggest you remain quiet on matters that do not concern your station. I offer the same advice to General Nakaido, before she tries to fight either of our guests for being disrespectful..."

The tan woman -Nakaido- let out a tisk, sharply turning her head away.

"As that has been clarified..." He turned his gaze to Tatsumi.

"Young man, let me make things clear for you." Bifrost folded his arms together in front of him, surprisingly lowering his tone as he spoke like he was talking to a young grandson who didn't understand how the world works.

"While you have been involved in a rather decorated unit who conducts themselves with far too much liberty for my liking, you signed up for the army. You gave up your rights the moment you joined up. Now, we are your superiors. WE, not you, decide where you will go, what unit you are attached to, and when you will fight for our cause."

"As for the other matter." Bifrost turned his gaze back to Walker. "Guards, remove this insubordinate soldier. I shall deal with him personally at a later date."

"No. Ya'll deal with me right goddamn now." Walker said with cold determination, drawing his twin guns and aiming them square at Bifrost head.

Bifrost, unmoved by the threat, tilted his head. "From insubordination to treason. What an eventful meeting this has become." He eyed Cesare. "Who is this man?"

"A mercenary named Walker." The latter replied with a smile.

Bifrost closed his eyes, letting out a sigh. "Ah. One of the lesser filth we had to accept into our ranks...That explains this gross misconduct..." He reopened his eyes, glaring daggers into the merc.

"You do realize you will be shot for this?"

"Aye, that did cross my mind." Walker smirked to the bewilderment of Tatsumi who was blown away by his friend's bold and suicide act.

"No regrets then?" Bifrost leaned back.

"I've lived a long enough life. If that's the price ta pay for ya'll stubborn asses to listen for once so be it." Walker nodded to Tatsumi. "Go ahead kid."

Tatsumi shook his head, snapping him out of his stupor. "Thanks Walker, I won't let this go to waste." He said low enough so the merc could hear.

"Members of the Council, I possess intelligence on the true nature of the leadership of Clockwork!" Tatsumi began. "I wish to share this information with all of you, so you will reevaluate these standing orders with new perspective."

"By all means." Bifrost waved a hand. "Your companion literally has us at gun point."

As Bifrost offered this dry humored jest, Caeser and Cesare tilted their heads forward playing close attention.

"The leadership of Clockwork informed me of their intentions. They plan on launching a coup within the Capital with the intent of wiping out every corrupt official within the Palace." Tatsumi started. "They have powerful forces at their beck and call, with methods to flawlessly persuade others to their cause. I have no doubts they will succeed in their plans."

"Such confidence from so little details." Cesare commented.

"I would have more details on how if my orders were of cooperation rather than elimination." Tatsumi shot back, getting an amused smirk from the man.

"So...you are suggesting what exactly?" Caesar asked, rubbing his chin. "What would cooperation with Clockwork look like?"

"Well...the details will have to be hashed out through dialogues with their members..." Tatsumi lowered his gaze.

"In other words, you don't know." Cesare concluded.

"I do know that they will be looking for individuals to fill all the positions currently occupied." Tatsumi tried to rebound. "Everyone here represents the wishes of those who cry out against the injustice of the Empire! You all can help guide the Emperor down the right path and ensure nothing like this happens again!"

"Tatsumi, are you trying to bribe us?" Cesare laughed. "There are no depths to which you won't try to convince us of this path, are there?" He looked to Bifrost. "I change my mind, I'll keep him after all."

"Well that presents a problem as I am currently debating on shooting him along with this scum pointing his firearms at me." Bifrost replied.

"I'm liking this plan, as it gives the young Emperor a valued reason to stay alive." Caesar smiled. "Perfect, I didn't want to punish a boy who doesn't know any better for the sins of his puppet master."

"Don't lead us to this discussion again brother." Cesare closed his eyes, placing a hand upon his face. "How many times do we have to cycle back to this?"

"To spare us from that headache," Bifrost cut in. "I present a question to you, Tatsumi. Who is the leader of Clockwork? Is it this Joker stated in your report?"

"Ah no, he's a public face for the field team, I think." Tatsumi started with a smile, finally getting some progress with the Council. "The real leader is someone deep within the upper ranks of the Capital. A man the Prime Minister trusts to keep his political enemies at bay."

Cesare's eyes widened with the sudden realization, quickly raising from his chair. "You couldn't possibly mean-"

"THE FLASH DEMON?!" Bifrost slammed his fist hard enough to splinter the fine crafted table, causing most in the room to flinch. His nostrils flared, eyes livid with unending rage. "YOU FOOL! DO YOU NOT KNOW AN OUNCE OF HISTORY, BOY?!"

Tatsumi blinked, not realizing the critical error he had made. "I...don't understand. Why does it matter that the leader of Clockwork is Chairmen Fuyu?"

A long moment of silence lasted as these two individuals held their gazes in breathless suspense. Tatsumi's question lay to sulk in the minds of all present.

"I knew it." Bifrost stood up, placing his hands upon the table. "He got into your head."

"You are a compromised agent working for the very people you have sworn to defeat while being fooled into thinking you are upholding your word. That is his style. He tricks people with his complex strategies, twisting right and wrong, moving hundreds if not thousands of people to carry out his will while barely lifting a finger. Even as a politician, he hasn't changed. If anything, he's gotten worse."

Tatsumi was taken back by this unexpected reaction. "Do you...know him?"

Bifrost stared into Tatsumi's very soul with his coldest, rage filled glare yet.

"Knowing him is an understatement..." The Commander-in-Chief began to slowly unbutton his uniform. With both hands, he pulled the uniform aside revealing his bare chest.

So many scars.

Parts of his chest and stomach completely missing or dug in so deep they look like a meteor crater.

Not a single inch wasn't marked by oddly healed wounds.

"All of these marks. Every. Single. One. I received through that man's schemes..." Bifrost stated.
"They weren't called the Tyrant Duo solely due to the amount of enemies that fell to their might. They willingly sacrificed countless Imperial lives to obtain victory no matter the cost. Total decimation of loyal forces, entire legions chewed up to ensure the complete submission or extermination of whoever the Empire deem its foe."

"Ruthless, demonic siblings who only cared about war and bloodshed."

"I know that man -and I used that term loosely- better than anyone else in this room. I hate him more than anyone else in the entire Empire. As long as that man lives, I cannot sleep without the nightmares creeping up every time I close my eyes. Of the hell we lived through thanks to him and his plans."

"To ask us to ally ourselves with that demon is the most deranged idea I have ever heard in my long life."

"And as so long as I draw breath, the Revolutionary Army will never conduct such a self destructing act. In fact, every resource we have shall be use to wipe this Clockwork from the face of the planet."

"Is that clear, young man?"

Tatsumi's eyes widened as he took in both this startling revelation and declaration of intent.

The hate radiating off Commander Bifrost's aura was suffocating. He turned his head left and right, gauging the responses of other members of the Council.

Every face he looked was plagued by some form of fear, distaste, concern, or anger.

It was in this moment, the young assassin knew he failed with no hope of salvaging his aims of resenting the orders to terminate Clockwork. In fact, he accomplished just the opposite.

Fuyu was right, these people were blinded by fear and anger. If only remembered that warning sooner.

Tatsumi miscalculated and now they would all pay the price for his failure.

"That's...an alarming bit of intel." Cesare said as he settled back into his chair, breaking the silence that lasted since Bifrost's declaration.
"If the Flash Demon has prepared such assets...He must have a grand plan in mind...We could pretend to side with him for the time being, if only to grasp the full extend of his plan and enact some countermeasures."

"I'm fine with whatever can save the life of the Emperor." Caesar added.

"Brother, please." Cesare sigh. "Learn to take a hint."

A ray of hope, however small, filled Tatsumi with renewed energy.

He should have known better.

"ENOUGH!" Bifrost slammed his open fist upon the ruined table. "We will have no more of this farce!"

"If you two think I will permit such a devastating decision, even if you claim it to be a farce to learn what cards lay in his hand, you grossly underestimate the capabilities of that demon!"

Walker, maintaining his cool and aim this entire time, leaned over to Tatsumi "I can put one between his eyes right now."

The latter turned his head to the merc. "What?"

"Stubborn brute stands in ya way, really the only major resistance ta what your trying to convince the others." Walker locked his eyes with the young man. "If ya want, I can remove that obstacle right now. Course, we have ta deal with the aftermath. Probably face a firing squad. Still...Ya might be doing these guys a favor removing him. Your call."

Tatsumi shook his head. "We can't." He simply stated.

Walker kept his gaze for a few moments. "Like I said, your call." He let out a sigh, holstering his twin pistols in an unnecessary flashy way. "Just hope ya can live with the consequences, Tatsumi."

"How considerate of you to lower your weapons instead of shooting our Commander in Chief out of spite." Cesare said with the tilt of his head. "Really shows your integrity."

"He is nothing but a filthy mercenary." Bifrost said with scorn. "Only useful for filling the ranks until better quality and loyal troops can take their place."

"I beg ta differ, your imperial majesty." Walker took off his hat and gave an exaggerated bow.
"We mercs are loyal to the money. Many of us would do suicide things if ya give us enough intensive. Soldiers, unless trained ta a zealot type of loyalty, wouldn't do half of what the best of us would do. Even given a noble an' just cause such as what you lot have here, if those poor souls realize their leaders are old goats who's heads are stuck so far up their own asses to see the reality of the situation...Well, ya'll be wishing ya had more mercenaries to carry out your senile orders."

Bifrost's nostrils fumed as he exhaled deeply. He gripped onto the ruined table, cracking the wood further to the point that he broke off a wide chunk that he shattered into splinters a moment later.

"REMOVE THEM BOTH! NOW!" He screamed in such a volume that those near him had to cover their eardrums.

Guards flooded the room, grabbing both Tatsumi and Walker. They dragged the latter out first, who did his lazy best to be dead weight. As Tatsumi was pushed out, he turned his head toward the twins.

Cesare simply frowned as he watch the man went, finger tapping on his folded hands. Caesar mouthed something to the young man, silent words that he barely caught before being thrown into the hallway.

I'll do what I can to save your lives.

---

Two hours later...

The meeting lasted for another hour after Tatsumi and Walker were forcibly removed from the chambers. True to his word, Caesar pleaded with Bifrost to spare the lives of the two.

After facing the rare wraith of the fearsome Bifrost, the founder of the Revolution proved to all that he was far more stubborn than the old soldier even dared.

Still, he only found partial success.

Tatsumi would live, placed under arrest until they can determine what punishment would be proper for his conduct.

Walker however, would face a firing squad.

The two were separated and stripped of their weapons; the young man placed back in the hidden room they were originally brought to while the merc placed in an improvised holding cell.

It should be noted that the Revolutionary Army had no plans to hold prisoners here in their HQ.

Now, Cesare and Caesar were once more debating the events of the previous hours. Arguing on what to do given the unfavorable situation they found themselves in...

---

A scene played far too repetitively in the lives of these two twins.

Caesar, hopeful and stubborn, stuck in the old black and white ways of right and wrong, paced back and forth in his brother's soundproof room in the space between his work desk and bed.

Cesare, pessimistic with repressed, unstable anger his brother always manages to bring out, completely understanding the world runs on shades of grey, sat as his desk working while listening to his brother utter his stubborn comments on how the world should work.

The only difference was the addition of a particular item upon the latter's desk: The "key" to Tatsumi's Imperial Arms.

The sword form of the mighty Incursio.

"It's not right." Caesar stated for the uncounted time this hour. "Just not right."

"You are correct." Cesare replied, also for the uncounted time this hour. "Disciplinary actions always come off as being wrong, but necessary for a proper army."

"I given him my word Cesare!" Caesar spun to face the back of his brother's head. "That I would do what I can to save their lives!"

"And you have kept your word." Cesare replied with a slight sigh, signing his signature on another set of orders before removing the paper and replacing it with a new set. "You have done everything you could and partly succeeded."

"It's not good enough." Caesar shook his head. "I have to save them both or what was the point?"

"Walker pointed a gun at our Commander-in-Chief, knowing fully well the consequences of such an action." Cesare stated, matter of fact-like.
"Even if he didn't, you know as well as I Bifrost's bias towards mercenaries. You are stubborn brother, surprisingly so that you convinced that uptight man to spare the boy. Even so, you will not get him to change his mind on the other."

"Right...I realize that." Caesar placed a hand upon his brother's shoulder. The latter raised an eyebrow, removing his gaze from the paperwork before him and staring at the hand.

This was new.

"I realize I cannot do anything through proper methods." Caesar started. "Which is why I'm asking you to do something about the whole situation."

Cesare let out a deep sigh, placing his pen down as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I was afraid the thought would cross your mind." He turned in the chair, looking his twin in the eyes for the first time since they returned from the meeting.

"And what, pray tell, do you intend for me to do?"

Caesar gave his brother a wide smile. "I knew you would come around!"

"I haven't agreed to anything yet."

"Oh don't be a stick in the mud!" Caesar smacked his brother's back. "I knew I can count on you for anything brother!"

"Within reason." Cesare corrected. "What you might be asking me is where I have to draw the line."

"Don't say that." His brother frowned. "Don't shut me down like that without hearing me out first."

"Which is the least, and possibly most, I can do for you in this case." Cesare rose from his chair. "Brother, you do realize that what you may be thinking would be considered treason? That whatever you may ask of me could tear apart the very foundations of the Revolutionary Army?"

"A necessary price to bring about some good in this world." Caesar soundly replied. "Besides, any army that condemns good men to needless deaths doesn't deserve to exist."

Cesare placed both his hands on his face, breathing deeply. He was struggling to suppress his anger at his twins utter idiotic comments.

Doesn't deserve to exist?

The army he built though painstaking efforts?

That he paid parts of his soul to bring about and thrive to this point?

THAT HIS DAMN BROTHER NEEDED TO BRING ABOUT HIS DEEPEST WISH IN THE FIRST PLACE?!

Cesare took in another breath, willing himself to stay calm even though he knew if would be completely rational in this case.

"Your naivete is astoundingly frustrating." Cesare spoke between breaths. "Alright, let me hear whatever idiotic plan you have for me to magically carry out before I tell you it can't be done."

"Its simple really." Caesar started. "Just need to make Walker disappear is all. Grab him, make it look your carrying out the sentence, then throw him out the HQ. Easy."

The look on Cesare's face was the equivalent of someone telling him the reason why the ocean is salty was because the gods spilled mountains of salt into it. "...Really? That's your plan?"

"Figure I leave the details to you." Caesar smiled.

Cesare's mouth dropped at this spectacular stupidity.

"You do realize that they can easily find out who broke him out? That's we'll be trading one life for several? That such an act will be like personally signing our own death warrants?"

"Doesn't righting a clear wrong that make it worth the sacrifice?" Caesar replied to his brother's dismay.

"Gods above, brother you are being unreasonable!" Cesare sat back down at his desk. "Forget this unreasonable plan of yours! The only thing it will accomplish is adding more bodies for the firing squad. You've done everything you can. Period. You've saved one of them, that's better than nothing. Know when to cut your losses. You'll live longer."

Caesar frowned at his brother's back. "When we started this army, I didn't think we would end up compromising our ideals."

Cesare pinched the bridge of his nose again. "Don't."

"That we would grant needless death to men who would place their trust in us and give everything they have to make the world a better place."

"Brother. Please."

"That we would sell our souls on an idea we would prove hypocritical on with our actions-"

"Enough!" Cesare slammed his fist down. "You have no idea the prices paid to bring this all about! To give you the army you wanted to create a new world! Goddamn brother, I'm trying to protect you! Why can't you see that?!"

Caesar crossed his arms. "We then...maybe I don't need your protection anymore."

That stung.

Cesare balled his fists up, eyes focusing on one particular item placed upon his desk.

"Why don't you get what I'm trying to say?" Caesar continued, waving his arms to his sides. "This Revolutionary Army you helped build is suppose to stand against injustice and corruption. If we are to stand against the Empire, to prove ourselves worthy of the peoples' trust after decades of tyranny, shouldn't we show benevolence?"

"If we strike down those of us who rightfully question orders that seem to counterman our goals, to those that try to talk sense in those of us too stubborn to see another path, then what's the point of this army at all?"

That, was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Cesare, blinded by anger brought on by his brother's own unreasonable demands and naive stubbornness, shot up from his chair while reaching out and gripping an item tightly with his right hand.

"The point-"

He spat, chair falling and causing his brother to dodge left. Cesare spun around to his left with force, turning to face his brother with unleashed anger-

"-is sacrific-"

-and cut himself short as the sword of Incusio, the item he grabbed before, pierced through Caesar's chest and out his back. An unfortunate accident brought upon by miscalculation and blind anger.

Both twins' mouth dropped in this shocking, unexpected and unintended event.

"Brother?" Caesar said in disbelief, legs loosing strength and fell to his right toward the bed. His twin followed him, both hitting the bed as blood spilled down the sword and stained the sheets.

"Caesar! I-I...!" Tears ran down Cesare's face as the gravity of his mistake hit home. "What have I done?"

Caesar exhaled in that strainful manner those who can't breath properly do, looking down at the sword piercing his chest. Slowly, he looked back at his tear faced twin, smiling as best he could as his face began to lose its previous glow.

"It's...it's ok brother...I...forgive..."

The light faded from his eyes, the color of his skin already starting to turn pale.

"No! Nonononono!" Cesare let go of Incusio's handle, before placing both hand on his brother's body and shacking him.

"This is a joke, right? I couldn't have-! Caesar? Caesar! CAESAR?!"

He let go, Caesar's body rolled unto its back but otherwise stayed still.

Cesare got up, desperate and denying the truth before him, placed his hands at the base of the pierce would of the sword without removing the blade as he knew that would make the wound worse.

He spoke reassurances, mind refusing to accept the truth as the blood flowed from the corpse before him.

Time passed, his brother's body started to loose heat as the blood ceases to flow forth.

At that time he accepted the truth plainly before him.

His brother is dead.

Killed by his own actions.

Cesare, hands covered with the blood of his brother, gazing upon this stained, trembling hands, did what anyone else would do:

He screamed at the top of his lungs, repetitively and in mournful terror as the tears flowed like mighty rivers.

As he fell into despair and mind struggled to stay together, a plan formed in his shaken mind.

A plan his brother would absolutely hate.

A plan that could fulfill his last wishes, given luck.

A long shot to freedom that would condemn the innocent.

A solution to this grave mistake that would leave his position intact.

The cost to carry out his brother's dream. His legacy. A vain attempt to make amends.

Would be his sanity, soul, dignity, his entire being really. Damnation of he and two others.

A price he thought he was ready to pay, but hadn't realized the toll until just now...

For the dawn of a better tomorrow...Indeed...

---

Walker sat on the floor of his cell, or the closest thing to a cell the RA could offer: A small closet like room without even so much as a door under the supervision of two clearly bored troopers.

At least they cuffed his hands and legs, otherwise this would just be asking for an escape attempt...

"I gotta pee." Walker stated, the closer trooper with his back turned let out a scuff.

"Gotta hold it." He said, shaking his head.

"What, ya wanna step in a puddle when ya'll come to pull me out?"

"Saying that it won't be long before you get shot, so not worth it."

Walker smirked, gaining an idea of a timetable before he's called to the firing squad.
"Hey, if yall're into steppin in shit, let me roll over. I got a really nasty one in the works." He said, tilting his body to the left before letting out gas.

"Disgusting." The trooper half turned around to look at the merc. "Goddamn mercenaries. Bifrost's right about your kind."

"The hell's his problem with mercenaries anyway?" Walker asked, centering his body one more.

"Loyalty to a cause." The other trooper leading against the far wall answered. "Says you guys flip sides at the offer of even the slightest increase in profit."

"That's true in part." Walker leaned his head back. "Some are that dirty, others only change sides when the tide turns or their employer's a goddamn idiot. The diehards follow the contract ta conclusion regardless of circumstances."

"Yeah well, we professionals are worth more than you goddamn mercs anyway. Glad we're gradually fading your kind out of the army." The first trooper said, turning back around to face his partner. "Also, what the hell crawled up your ass and died? Gods above...Hey, switch with me?"

"Not on your life." The second trooper replied, pulling out a cigarette. "Rather not ignite the whole place with this baby." He chuckled, lighting the bud.

The first trooper grumbled.

A few minutes of relative silence passed, only broken by the breaking of wind by Walker.

"Goddamn it, what the hell?" The first trooper bitched, waving his hand over his nose as he started to cough. The merc and second trooper chuckled while the forward spoke up.

"Told you, I gotta go relief myself." Walker smirked, flashing his teeth as the trooper turned to look at him again. "Not my fault ya'll are lazy."

"Listen here you scum-"

"-Just take em if you're gonna keep complaining everytime he breaks wind, Jenkins." The second trooper cut in, exhaling a puff of smoke. "Not like he's gonna be put on the line within the next hour."

The first trooper - Jenkins - shot his partner a glance. "If we get chewed out, your taking the fall."

The second trooper waved dismissively as he agreed. Jenkins turned fully around to face Walker, stepped up to the older man, and pulled him to his feet.

With Jenkins guiding/pushing him along, Walker shuffled in the direction of the bathroom. In a few minutes, the pair arrived. Jenkins, grabbing Walker by the back of his neck, guided Walker into the facility and to the first unoccupied stall.

"In you go, nasty." Jenkins shoved Walker inside, nearly causing the man to fall head first into the bowl. By the time the merc caught himself and started turning, Jenkins slammed the stall door on the man.

"You better hurry!"

"How the hell am I suppose ta drop my pants with my hands cuffed behind my back?"

"Figure it out!"

Walker grumbled a few curses at the trooper. He tried to shimmy down his pants, gaining some results for his efforts when he heard a familiar sound.

The sound of someone's windpipe being crushed and the struggled effort to breath.

Walker stood still, listening to the almost soundless struggle. Whoever this was, they were a pro.

He heard shifting now, the body being dropped as genitally as possible, along with an exhale. "Never liked him anyway." The voice of the second trooper muttered.

The stall door open, revealing Walker's savior.

"Turn around, I got the key." The trooper said and the merc complied.

His legs and arms free, Walker let out a grunt. "Sweet freedom." He stated, rolling his arms around. After a few moments, he turned around to the trooper.

"You one of Serpentine's?"

The trooper shook his head. "Na, but he's my contact. Name's David, just a lowly human caught up in all this and paid very handsomely by our mutual friend to aid you in a very discreet manner."

"Right, well David thanks for both the save and making Bifrost eat his own words." Walker gave the man a half-smile.

David turned his head to spit. "Commander Bifrost's a tyrant. Screw him. Now Caesar, that's a man I'd get behind. Too bad he's too goody-goody to tell that pompous old man off."

"I got that feelin from him." Walker nodded, rolling his hands one at a time. "Charismatic, but holds himself down from putting his foot down. Least in public."

David nodded in agreement, placing his hands on his waist. "Ready to bust out of here?"

"Sure thing, cept there's one thing I gotta take care of first..."

"And what would that be?"

"I wasn't kidding when I said I gotta go." Walker slammed the door shut. "Give me...ah...20 minutes, maybe 30!"

David blinked a few times, letting out a slight laugh. "Right, suppose I should hide poor Jenkins here too. Take your time, merc. According to the schedule, we have that shit to spare."

---

15 minutes later...

Tatsumi, escorted by two troopers, headed towards Cesare's personal quarters.

The young assassin hoped this was news on what happened to Walker, their so called punishment, or anything relevant to the current situation. Maybe even about his Imperial Arms.

He wasn't in the mood for a check up. In fact, he was considering resigning from the Revolutionary Army after all that had happened.

How could the leaders of the revolution be lead around like sheep by a single, stubborn man who wields his authority like a tyrant?

Who dares to pretend that he lets the others have say in matters concerning the whole army?

Who degrades any who goes against what HE thinks is the correct course of action?

What was the difference then, between Commander Bifrost and Prime Minister Honest?

Fuyu's way looked more and more enticing by the moment.

Perhaps...

When he could get away from this place...

He would talk to the Chairmen once more...

With these thoughts in mind, the group arrived.

"Ok, we're here." The escort in the front announced, snapping Tatsumi back to reality. The young man glance at the elegantly crafted door before him as the escort who just spoken paced to the left side of said door.

"We'll be here to escort you back when you are done." The escort behind said, pacing to the right side of the door. Both escorts stood at attention, staring ahead.

Tatsumi took in a breath, composing himself before placing a hand on the door handle. With a look of determination, he stepped inside.

Into the trap he never expected.

Closing the door behind him, Tatsumi blinked a few times as his eyes adjusted to the dark.

"Director Cesare?" He called out, hearing running water nearby. He took a few steps inside looking around for the man in question.

"What?" Tatsumi's eyes widened as he saw the body. He rushed to the bed.

Ceasar, with Incursio sticking straight out of his chest, face long since paled and cold.

Without thinking it through, Tatsumi grabbed his sword and pulled it free, shocked by what he had seen. Blood, cold and wet, splattered from the blade and caught purchase on Tastumi's open hand and pants.

"How did this-" He started, turning his head when he heard footsteps.

"Apologies for the wait, I thought it best to refresh myself." Cesare started, pacing into the room with that same smile he always wore. "Never ending paper work tends to drain-"

The look of absolute horror Cesare's face morphed into startled Tatsumi to his very core. The twin of the dead man screamed in anguish at his brother's murder and apparent murderer.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" He screamed, backing up to the far wall. Without the young man noticing, Cesare pressed a hidden alarm -one of many- installed for instances just as this. "Tatsumi...my brother! How could you?! Why did you-?! WHY?!"

"No wait!" Tatsumi raised his hands. "It's not what it looks like!"

"Is that not Ceasar's blood on your hands?!" Cesare screamed, throwing a hand wide to the side. "Is that not Incursio, your own Imperial Arms and the weapon you used to murder my brother?!"

"I just arrived and found him like this!" Tatsumi pleaded. "His blood is already cold-" Realization grasped Tatsumi as he cut himself off to look at his blood stained hands.

"His blood was already cold." He muttered, clenching his hands in tight fists. Assumptions, logical assumptions formed in the young man's mind.

Tatsumi snapped his head up, flashing his teeth in fury as he glared daggers at the panicking Cesare.

"How could you-?!"

The door slammed opened as multiple RA troopers stormed into the room. Many gasped at the sight of the beloved Ceasar laying dead upon his twin's bed, at the sight of Cesare's collapsed form as he had sank to his knees, holding his head in his hands, shacking and crying at the sight of this tragedy.

And most importantly, at the sight of Tatsumi, a member of the infamous Night Raid and rising star in the eyes of many revolutionaries, covered in the blood of the founder of the very movement they sworn to fight and die for.

Grief and fury were words that failed to properly define the collective feelings of those gathered there.

The first question of course, was the obvious.

"HOW COULD YOU?!" Many screamed at the young man before he found himself a fight for his life.

Tatsumi blocked the opening strikes of a trio of troopers that attacked, their faces filled with tears, pulsing veins, and/or snarling teeth.

"I didn't do it!" Tatsumi shouted, throwing the three back. He followed them forward, rushing for the door.

"Like someone who didn't commit the crime would run away!" One of the troopers shouted back as others quickly blocked the exit.

Flashing his own teeth in frustration, Tatsumi knew his hand had been forced. Still he had to try.

"Get out of my way!" He shouted, swinging his sword at the closest trooper.

They didn't back down, much as the young man desired them too. Barely, his target blocked the blow but was pushed outside along with the others he stood alongside.

The other troopers rushed after them, surrounding the pair soon after they came to a halt.

"How dare you?!" The trooper he locked blades with shouted, tears running down his face. "How dare you kill Ceasar?! He was the one who looked after us! He gave us hope! We looked up to him! We wanted to bring about his dream of a better tomorrow no matter the cost! AND YOU KILLED HIM!"

The trooper pushed back, surprising Tatsumi as he jumped back in the center of the surrounding force. He turned his head left and right, taking in all the furious and morning faces directed at him. Listening to all the accusations and hate sent his way.

Tatsumi flashed his teeth, absolutely furious. His grip tightened around his sword, knowing fully well he had no choice left to him now.

And when these troopers he once called comrades launched themselves at the assassin, the young man did what he had to.

He cut them down.

Every last one that dared attack him.

Blood covered the halls, scattered in the open room, and bathed his person as he stopped caring about those he was once ally to. Who now desired his death for a crime he did not commit.

All he could hear in those few moments were the rage filled screams of the dying.

All he saw in those few moments was red.

As the last would be attacker fell, Tatsumi ran as fast as he could. He knew he had to escape, had to rescue Walker and leave this place as fast as their legs could carry.

"After that traitor!" He heard the few remaining troopers yell, chasing after him. "Sound the alarm! Don't let that murderer escape!"

As the beginning of what would dictate the course of this nation's destiny played out, Cesare rose to his feet.

He did it.

He placed the blame on his mistake, his sin, on the shoulders of another.

The only way he saw Tatsumi and Walker escaping what Bifrost desired of them.

Their freedom, at the price of damnation and strife. Just as his brother wished.

Cesare slowly dragged his feet to his bed, laying down by his brother's still body as tears continued to silently travel down his face.

He tortured himself by keeping his eyes glued on Caesar's pale face, by taking his brother's cold hand in his own.

In the time it took for Cesare to compose himself back when he set upon this plan, for events to register with the Head of DarkOps, he realized something.

The prophecy Miss Fortune had shared with the twins had come true.

Tatsumi, the passion of youthful vigor, failed to convince Bifrost, the old guard, to ally with Clockwork.

And thus, for the dawn of a better tomorrow, the moon has swallowed the sun.

He was right in assuming Caesar was this sun in question. What he failed to predict, nay even consider, was what became reality.

That he, Cesare, was the moon. That he would kill his own brother in order to bring about a better future.

What sorts of gods are there who determined such a sacrifice necessary?

What destiny dictates that family blood be shed to do what is right?

Whether gods, destiny, or fate, Cesare cursed them all knowing full well that if in the impossible chance he meet whoever was responsible he would unleash his full fury upon them no matter who or what they are.

And so, as the entire base was thrown into chaos, Cesare remained still next to his dear, beloved twin. Loathing every moment that he remained living and his twin did not.

Yet, Cesare would not end his own life. Not yet.

He still had an obligation. One last dream to fulfill.

While his part on this day had come to an end, Cesare, nay, everyone save three within the Revolutionary Army HQ never expected the events he helped set in motion would bring about further tragedy on this dark day.

For an additional member of the Council is set to die.

---

Tastumi had to admit one good thing came out of the events that have transpired so far: He knew for sure the true nature of the Revolutionary Army.

On the surface, it was an army of individuals who truly wanted to bring about a better nation for the people who have suffered under the corrupt rule of the politicians of the Empire.

At its core, it was run by a tyrant too stubborn to look past his old grudges to see reason, a collective of individuals too scared to speak up for their views, and a man who would willingly sacrifice his own twin to get rid of trouble makers!

How the hell are these people any better than the Empire!?

He should've listened to Walker when the man said things weren't right, instead he had to take everything in good faith like a damn naive kid!

Tatsumi cursed as he ran, done with everything. Tired of having his good nature taken advantage of.

He didn't even feel remote regret as he cut down these unaware puppets who tired to take his own life without questioning the facts. Their blind loyalty, their inability to questions orders that didn't add up.

No, it wasn't that he didn't care anymore.

He hated them.

Hated that anyone with a conscious was put down, framed for crimes, and executed as a example for the justified rule so called leaders.

Hated that he and his friends have sacrificed so much for a goddamn lie.

If this was the reality of the cause they fought so hard to uphold, then what the hell were they doing?!

What the hell did Sheele die for?!

As these infuriating thoughts circulated in Tatsumi's mind, mercilessly cutting down any trooper that dared stand in his path, a familiar voice called out.

"You look like hammered shit, boy!"

Tatsumi stopped suddenly, turning to the source of the voice. A few troopers following behind the young man surged forward at this opportunity, aiming to cut down the traitor. They were cut down by the precise aim of the Imperial Arms known as Lock-On, currently in its default twin pistol form.

"Hell of a time we're having huh?" Walker grinned at the boy, turning his head to the RA trooper standing behind him. "Where ta now, David?"

Tatsumi paced toward the merc, stating how glad he was to see him alive while keeping an eye on this RA trooper known as David.

David noticed the young man's death gaze and nodded. "Relax, I've been paid to help you guys out a bit." He looked around quick, motioning with his hand for the two ta follow. "My role's coming to an end after this next bit though. That said, this should set you all up as unbelievable as that sounds."

Tatsumi looked at Walker. "You trust him?"

Walker laughed. "Not on your life, but I trust we can use em. Sides, we got no choice since we're playing things by ear deep in hostile territory."

Tatsumi nodded, heading off to follow after David first.

The next few minutes were spent tiptoeing around troopers rushing this way and that aiming to find Tatsumi as they traversed the halls of the Revolutionary HQ. Funny how a single incident could bring such activity to a purposely abandoned area.

The trio slid down a side passage, dodging another patrol. "Fools don't even check corners." Walker whispered.

David grunted an acknowledgement, peaking his head out. "They never trained the rank and file in counter infiltration methods, though Cesare's men are experts. Good thing they are all out at the moment or we would've been screwed from the start."

The trooper dashed across the hall, settling next to a particular door. Tatsumi and Walker followed, stacking up behind their collaborator.

"Our mutual friend gave a set of instructions I've been paid to follow very specifically." David whispered, slowing opening the door and peaking inside. He turned his head back to the pair behind. "Three inside, I'll go first and take the farthest one on the right. Count to eight before coming inside and offing the poor saps."

"What's inside? And who is-" Tatsumi was cut off by David's extended hand. He pulled the same hand to his face and extended one finger for silence, winking at the man.

He then stepped to the front of the door, brushed off some part of his uniform to make himself presentable. He opened the door, greeting his fellow troopers as he stepped inside.

"Hell of a situation we have here huh?" David said.

"Hell ain't the word." The trooper sitting down replied, turning back to the device before him. "Who would've though a member of Night Raid would betray us like that?"

Tatsumi tensed at hearing those words.

"We're about to put out a general bulletin for the whole base." A new voice added, closer than the last. "Which begs the question, why are you here?"

"You have something to add to the message?" A voice sounding father than the first asked. "Commander Bifrost want to add how much he finds this all an affront to our honor or something stupid like that?"

"Yeah...something like that..." Came David's cold reply.

"Eight." Walker whispered in Tatsumi's ear. The young man raced inside the room as David left the door wide open. He took in his surroundings, racing toward the nearest, surprised trooper and cut him down.

Walker came in a second after Tatsumi, pistols drawn. He kicked the door closed and shot the trooper who rose from his seat in simple order.

David had a thin, wire rope around the neck of the third trooper. He pulled the trooper off the ground, rope digging into her neck and took a few moments before the light left the woman's eyes. David threw her down, pacing to the equipment set up before him. "Mind shooting her in the head? Make it look believable for my cover story."

Walker complied, then paced over the the man's right as Tatsumi moved to the left. David moved the man Walker shot over a bit, setting the stage for whatever cover he had planned, before setting down in the chair before what could now be recognized as radio equipment.

"The hell is this David?" Walker asked, left hand moving to aim his pistol not quite at the man's head but enough to give a hint.

"Relax, this is part of the plan." David replied casually.

He pulled out a small, folded note with one hand as he gave the equipment a quick check. "Good, everything is set." He rose from the chair, unfolding the note. "Would one of you kindly read this over the airwaves? Can't be me, plausible deniability and all that."

Walker and Tatsumi looked at the note over David's shoulders: It was some sort of coded message filled with words and numbers.

"This a message to that mutual friend you mentioned before?" Tatsumi asked.

"Not quite, though this is a message from him." David shrugged. "No idea what the hell it means, just know it has to be said over the base radio."

"Let me see..." Walker held out his hand, to which David placed the note and stepped aside. Walker slumped into the chair, reading the note.
"Yep, its a code but not one I recall." The merc shrugged his shoulders. "Not much choice then. How long till the troops get on top of us once we start broadcastin?"

"Not long, but not quick either." David answered. "Several broadcast stations place here and there, all connected to the PA system. Unless they get lucky, it should be a few minutes."

"Fine then." Walker said with a nod. "We'll do-"

"Hold on." Tatsumi cut in. "What the hell is this all about? Really?"

"We-No, I'll explain everything later. Right now, we have ta follow these instructions...Bizarre as hell they maybe be." Walker answered.

Tatsumi shook his head. "How are we sure this isn't just another trap?" He placed a hand on Walker's shoulder. "How the hell do we know this isn't another one of the Council's lies to make us look like the bad guys?"

"That would be impossible." Walker let out a sigh.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Cause this is all from the same guy who hired me ta escort you naive ass down here in the first place."

Tatsumi took a step back, blinking. "What?..."

Walker looked over his shoulder for a moment. "Like I said, I'll explain everything once we get the hell out. Now, I got this damn cryptic message ta send."

The merc nodded at David, who promptly turned the device on.

Walker cleared his throat, then spoke the words that would trigger a portion of the secret weapons set long in advance by a man who planning seemed to be damn near clairvoyant.

"Alpha, Delta, Beta Red, 35, 32, 126, 356, Contingency, Gold 3, Omega 6, Wuzo 12, Carry Out My Will, Queen's Guard."

David set the message to repeat for the next few minutes before turning to the pair.

"My role in this is all over, just one last detail before I set you two loose." He motioned Walker to rise, then sat down. "Need you lot to knock me out, make it look good."

"Plausible deniability, right?" Tatsumi said, moving over to the collaborator's right.

"Cover story would be sound that way." David answered with a nod. "Don't worry, next steps are in motion now to make sure you guys get to see another day. Good luck."

Tatsumi thanked the man, then delivered a hard blow to the side of David's head. He hit his head off the stand, then slammed to the floor with a bloody face.

"Should be convincing enough, right?" Tatsumi asked, turning his head to Walker.

"Yeah kid, might have a hell of a headache when he wakes though." Walker paced to the door, opening it slowly and was greeted by a most unexpected sound.

"That sounds like a battle..." He muttered, twitching his head for Tatsumi to follow.

The pair rushed out into the hall, where shouts, steel clashing, and gun fire could be heard echoing from all directions.

"Who are they fighting?" Tatsumi asked after a few moments of taking in this surprising turn of events.

"Don't know. How bout we go find out?" Walker answered.

The two headed off, not sure which direction was the exit but eager to find out who would be attacking the Revolutionary Army within the own base on such short notice.

---

Axel stretched his legs and arms in the chair he had been sitting in for the past half hour, bored and tempted to take a nap.

He'd been left here, seemingly forgotten by his hosts. Expected, given their whole planned offensive about the launch but still damn right rude.

"Welp, they can't blame me for stretching my legs." He said to himself, hoping up from the chair and heading off to the door.

"Where do you think you're going, Axel?" An all too familiar voice from the past suddenly spoke aloud. A monitor behind him flashed online, revealing the face of the RA's Head of Logistics and Diplomacy.

"Can't a man go out for a stroll without being pestered?" Axel replied, looking over his shoulder.

"Not when your a guest within a heavily sensitive and restricted area."

"Oh I'm just going to walk up and down the hall, the hell is wrong with that?" Axel shook his head. "You're so nervous about it, assign me an escort to keep my nose of of your sensitive and restricted areas."

"I...We can't spare anyone at this time."

Axel raised an eyebrow, turning his body half around to face the projected Arthur. The look on the latter's face was telling: Stressed, alarmed, shocked and other signs that showed something was very wrong.

Interesting...

"What could be so important that you'd try to hid it from me, Arthur?" Axel half smirked. "Something that could change diplomatic ties between the two factions we represent?"

Arthur returned the question with a deep, glaring look. One reminiscent of the past.

"There's an internal problem ongoing. We are working to contain the situation."

"Ahhhhhh." Axel tilted his head. "So you're embarrassed I might see some petty squabbling and that'll reflect bad on the treaty you lot are trying to form with the Southern Confederacy. Well you can relax, The Reaper doesn't care about some internal discord between potential allies. Not until it becomes a problem that escalates to civil war."

Axel turned back around toward the door. "Hell, I do you lot a favor and help quell whatever disturbance you have going on."

"That would be must inappropriate of an emissary of a foreign nation."

"Then consider my actions that of an individual bored out of his goddamn mind." Axel opened the door, immediately blasted by the sounds of battle. He blinked a few times.

"The hell?" He turned his head back to the monitor. "This isn't a disturbance, its a goddamn mutiny-hell a rebellion even!"

"Exactly...which is why I advice you to remain inside-"

"No dice." Axel smirked. "Its a goddamn carnival out here! You're crazy if you think I'll stay cooped up when there's so much fun just outside!"

"I'm warning you- Axel!"

From the other side of the monitor, Arthur watched Axel completely ignore him, closing the door behind as the man headed out into the chaos that had spread through a portion of the base.

Arthur slammed his fist on his desk, cursing at that insufferable man.

"No choice then..." He muttered, knocking over his chair as he stood up and marched off to fulfill the promise he made the day before.

---

Tatsumi and Walker found themselves in an even more confusing and chaotic situation than they ever thought possible.

Everywhere they looked, groups of RA troopers fought amongst themselves. Many were as confused as the pair was by this unexpected uprising, as shouts of surprise and questions yelled at these individuals who suddenly turned hostile.

Even with this ongoing confusion, it didn't take too long for the fugitives to be noticed.

"There they are!" A trooper yelled, disengaging from his current fight and rushing towards Tatsumi and Walker. He was joined by a dozen others as they ran headlong towards their targets.

"Make them pay for-"

Boom! Boom! Boom! The sound of several rapid fire machine guns ran out, cutting down the charging troopers from the side.

Before the last body fell, the gunner squad ran into the main corridor from an adjacent hallway, taking up positions to the left and right.

One of the troopers ran over to Tatsumi and Walker, stopped a few feet from the pair and saluted.

"We're here to assist in your escape, sir!" He said, lowering his hand and standing at attention. "Hallway behind us is clear, head down it and you'll meet the squad that'll escort you to the nearest exit! Watch your step though, few bodies past the next junction."

Tatsumi and Walker exchanged looks before returning their attention to the trooper.

"Thanks trooper." Walker started. "Risking it all in a coup like this...What do ya'll get out of this?"

The trooper blinked, a flash of pink light appeared in his eyes for the briefest of moments. "What do you mean, sir? This is all for a better tomorrow. You two have a vital role to play in bringing that about."

Walker frowned, but walked past the trooper without saying another word. Tatsumi followed after a moments hesitation.

"Did you see that light in his eyes?" He asked, walking around the others gunner troopers and down the hallway their were directed to travel through. A few RA troopers broke off and tried to follow but were cut down by gunfire.

"Pink flash? Yeah, I saw it kid." Walker replied, easing his way down the hall with guns drawn. "Proves ta me what the hell that code was."

"What?" Tatsumi asked with the tilt of a head.

"Activation code for a'bunch of sleeper cells." Walker answered. "The guy who hired me ta protect you on this trip really prepared for the worst. Goddamn, didn't think he infiltrated the RA ta this extent..."

"That's the second time you said someone hired you for this trip." Tatsumi said as the pair picked up the pace. "Who exactly is this guy anyway?"

"Someone you've meet and who we're going to see after we get the hell out of this swamp." Walker answered. "I'd say more, but right now we have more important things ta worry bout..."

Ahead they could make out the squad tasked with guiding them out of this hell hole.

"Make haste, more troops are mobilizing to put down our Patriot forces." The squad leader stated once Walker and Tatsumi stepped out to join them. "We don't have the men to hold them off longer than 20 minutes at the most. Gaps are expected so chances are high we'll run into enemy-speak of the devil."

Her head turned towards an approaching group of three RA troopers rushing towards them, one with a communication device in his hand. Walker quickly shot the device, then the troopers in quick succession.

"Might've gotten the word out." Walker said, keeping his guns out.

"Which way?" Tatsumi asked, to which the squad lead motioned them toward the opposite direction.

The next dozen or so minutes consisted of running past ongoing battles, sometimes picking up fellow "Patriots", sometimes some of these troopers diverting to intercept RA troopers they didn't have time to deal with.

By the time they stopped to take a breather, their numbers had grown to as many as 30 and currently shrunk to a solid 10, 4 men more than what they started with.

The squad leader was reviewing their route out, looking over a map she had on hand.

"OK, from here we need to turn left and-"

"-turn yourselves in before you made things worse for yourselves." A voice called out from behind. A voice Walker knew all to well.

With eyes wide, he looked to see the man he never thought he'd see again.

A man with long, brushed, dusty dark mop head of hair wearing a loosely secured dull silver cloak with white triangle stripes along the bottom, a black shirt with matching pants black fingerless gloves, brown work boots, and a small, dull gray worn out fedora with one side folded up at a 90 degree angle atop the right side of his head.

A man welding a red spear Imperial Arms he gave the younger man as a reward for a past job.

Another survivor of the North Star Shooters...and the one who blamed Walker the most for its disbandment.

"Stinger..." Walker muttered as everyone around him settled into a battle stance.. "Didn't know ya'll we're hired by the army."

"Thought you were the only one?" He shot back, pointing his spear to the old merc. "Not that you'd hear of it, since I specifically asked it be kept quiet from you. Care to guess why?"

"Yeah yeah, I get it." Walker shook his head. "Shame ya can't forgive me like Rook did. He turned into a goddamn saint for that."

"I agree, you need to be a saint to forgive you after that botched up last job." Stinger lowered his spear. "Rook doing well?"

"Right hand man ta Lord Fairchild himself."

"Path of Peace Fairchild? No shit." Stinger smirked.

"I know, couldn't believe it myself. Course I guess that's what happens when ya find it. Religion, I mean."

"Religion can do that to some people." Stinger shifted the red spear to his shoulder. "Heard from Ratchet? Doya?"

"I was hoping you'd hear on the forward." Walker scratched the side of his face with the palm of his hand. "As for Doya..." He frowned, squinting his eyes a bit in anger. "She's dead. Kill by this little brat the Imps use as an assassin. Uses her corpse as a damn puppet fighter now. I plan on killing the bitch for that disrespect."

Stinger didn't reply for a few moments, tilting his head in silent acknowledgment of another he knew had passed. "My condolences, Walker. She was a good lace. Regardless of our bad blood, know I'll do what I can to avenge her."

Walker chuckled. "Hey know, don't go saying that like its part of my damn obituary or somethin."

"Yeah well, that depends on you." Stinger shot back. "You can surrender and live a bit longer."

"I was set for da firing squad before all this." Walker shook his head. "Ya think I'd fair better if I surrendered now?"

"Thought it be worth saying so for old times sake." Stinger answered. "Rather not kill the few left from my past, regardless of how shitty they might be."

"Sorry ta disappoint, then."

"Yeah, that's all you are. Apologies and disappointment."

Walker glanced down at the ground, letting out a sigh.
"Look...I messed up plenty, I own up ta that. The choices I've made earned my place in hell or whatever afterlife bastards like me end up after fuckin up so bad. I get that, and for what's it's worth I am sorry."

He raised his head. "I'm sorry for taking away your home, your mates. I'm sorry I let our glory get ta my head and tacked a job too much for all of us ta handle. I'm sorry about those who died for my hubris."

Stinger closed his eyes, letting out his own breath. "Big of you to admit your mistakes...You've grown up a bit, bout time old man." He reopened his eyes. "Still...too soon to forgive you just yet."

"Figured as much but still had ta be said." Walker replied. "Appreciate ya didn't stab me the moment ya saw me too."

"You know as well as I that this spear can easily make that happen." Stinger moved the red spear to chest level, crouching a bit as he settled into a combat stance.

"All done, sir?" The squad leader asked. "We have to deal with this before you can escape."

"Agreed, but best you leave it ta-" Walker cut himself off as four troopers rushed Stinger. "Damn it, don't-!"

Stinger rolled the red spear around his neck, shifting hands and extending it out toward the nearest of approaching trooper. A moment after, the spear extended rapidly toward the man.

Before he knew it, the red spear pierced his heart. The tip pulled back that reacted like a snake, racing toward the next trooper and stabbed her through the neck.
The remaining two troopers backed off, but it was too late: The red spear returned to its normal size, Stinger shifted hands, and it launched itself out in a matter of seconds.

The two troopers died, both being stabbed in the heart by a spear that moved like a snake.

"What the hell...is that thing?" Tatsumi asked as the red spear returned to normal in Stinger's grasp.

"Gae Bulg." Walker answered. "An Imperial Arms in the form of a red spear. It can change its size before you can blink and its slippery than any damn fish you try to catch by hand. People think its a living thing cause of how flexible it be, though like everything else it has a limit."

"Unfortunately for you, you're all in my range." To sell the statement, Stinger threw his arm forward. Gae Bulg expanded and pierced the head of the trooper closest to Tatsumi.

The young man's eyes went wide as be backed up on reflex.

Walker glanced at Tatsumi, then returned his focus on his old buddy. "Stinger, why not let the boy go? Sure as shit Bifrost will be glad ta have me."

"No deal." Stinger shook his head. "Sides, wasn't it you who told us a merc has to stay loyal to the contract once they've been paid?"

"Suppose I did say that once upon a time." Walker placed his twin guns together, the pair combining into the image its user envisioned. "Which is why I'm not gonna quit either. Contract says I keep the boy safe till we get out of here."

"Guess that means we're at an impasse." Stinger stated.

"Reckon so." Walker added, twirling his new combination in his hand.

Stinger's eyes went wide for a moment. "You're joking..."

In his hands, Walker held a white and green replica of Gae Bulg.

"Its not called Infinite Combinations for nothin!" The old merc said with a wide grin.

"Interesting, and insulting." Stinger frowned. "Lets see what that imitation can do!"

Both threw their arms forward, unleashing their spears. The matched each other, blow for blow, counter for counter.

It was like witnessing a battle between whip users, but sounded like a clash of steel.

Minutes passed, sparks flash, and neither side showed to be gaining any ground.

Stinger retracted his red spear, Walker did the same with his white and green one.

"I'm surprised that an imitation can keep up with the real deal." The forward said.

"Hey, hey, don't count out copies." Walker grinned. "Sometimes the imitation can prove ta be better than the real thing."

"I'll admit, that spear has the same capabilities as my Gae Bulg." Stinger leaned the Imperial Arms on his shoulder. "That said, how bout we settle this in the traditional way?"

Walker blinked, then laughed. "Ya do know what ya'llre asking for right? Back before I found these beautiful guns, I used ta know my way round a polearm."

"Key word is used to." Stinger smirked.

"Ahhh I see how it is." Walker thumped the bottom of his spear to the floor. "Smug little shit, this old man'll teach you a little something bout respect." The merc looked over his shoulder toward Tatsumi and the remaining 6 troopers.

"Go on boy." Walker said with the nod of his head. "Me and old' Stinger here have some business to attend to. Don't ya'll worry, I'll catch up."

Tatsumi frowned, but didn't complain. "You better be right behind us!"

Walker waved lazily with his free hand. "I won't tarry too long, now get!"

Stinger and Walker waited a few moments as Tatsumi's group headed off.

"They won't get very far." Stinger said, breaking the silence.

"What cause ya gonna blow past me?" Walker asked with a tilt of his head.

"No." Stinger raised his spear. "I simply bought enough time."

Walker's eyes widened, reflexively turning his head back to warn Tatsumi when Stinger dashed forward. The mercenaries clashed, in close combat, with their spears. Stinger kept up the presser, preventing Walker from turning his focus from the assault else he end up dead.

As this went on, 4 of the remaining 5 Patriot troopers rounded a blind corner, the squad leader advising Tatsumi to let them take the lead as his live is to valuable to risk.

A series of loud bangs rang out, louder than standard guns, echoed as the last trooper rounded the corner. Two instantly fell dead, a third screamed as she hit the floor, the fourth leaned against the near wall. Each had at least one half fist size hole through some part of their body.

He turned his head back, looking at Tatsumi and his squad lead with pain stricken, shacking and bloodshot eyes. "Get back!"

The trooper yelled, barely audible thanks to the ringing in the latter two's ears before the same loud bangs rang out once more. The trooper dropped, his head gone from the metal ball that destroyed it utterly.

The now squadless leader pushed Tatsumi back out of the hall they were in and into the open area where Walker and Stinger fought.

Following them were RA troopers equip with large, rectangular shields and short swords. Behind them were more RA troopers holding hand cannons - an obsolete form of firearm before guns were properly invented.

There were 30 in total; 10 armed with hand cannons and 20 wielding shields and swords.

And marching behind them was the man Tatsumi had seen on a monitor earlier.

Arthur, equip with his own large shield and sword sword, joined the center of the formation. The hand cannons reloaded as the shieldmen closed ranks.

All the while, the ringing in Tatsumi's ear hadn't died down.

"Goddamn it." Walker muttered as he caught a glimpse of the enemy, bouncing Stinger's spear off and counter attacking. The latter backed off after blocking several blows, creating space between the two.

Stinger glanced over at Arthur and his men. "Not who I was expecting, but it shows how important the job is if a member of the Council personally joins the fray."

Arthur nodded in agreement. "I never intended to involve myself in this incident. Preparations for the coming offensive are stressful enough you see. However, someone particular involved themselves in this mess. My men and I tracked him as best we could, and here we find the two who started this whole mess."

"Thought it is unintended and my quarry lies elsewhere, I am here and have an obligation to see you all brought to justice for you actions."

Tatsumi's hearing recovered enough to make out the last bit of Arthur speech. Flashing his teeth in rage, the young man exploded in verbal rage.

"Justice?! What do you know about that, huh?!" He shouted louder than he heard himself.
"You claim to be on the side of justice when people on your call comrades frame others for crimes they didn't commit!? You claim to bring justice to the innocent who's only crime is defending themselves from false accusations?! Damn you and your justice, then! They aren't needed in this world!"

"What do you mean by-" Arthur felt something grab onto his leg. Alarmed, he looked down to see the bleeding out form of the wounded traitor trooper that fell wounded earlier gripping his leg.

"I...I'm not allowed to die...! Not until...I see them off...safely!" She shuttered out, blood poring out her lips. Arthur glanced behind him, noticing the trail of blood this suicidally, determined traitor left as she crawled over with no hopeless regards to her own well being.

Without a word, the former general spun his sword in his hand and stabbed the traitorous trooper in the neck.

"Determined to the point of zealotry." Arthur, spinning his sword back around, returned his focus to Tatsumi. "I know not what words you've used to turn these troopers in such short a time, but I shall pay no head to whatever you may wish to say. Surrender or die, those are you only choices here."

Tatsumi didn't say a word, only raged at how he fell for the deception that is the Revolutionary Army. Of how these people were no better than the Empire the swore to fight...

With sword in hand and his body partly covered by the only remaining Patriot trooper between him and the enemy, Tatsumi prepared to unleash his Imperial Arms...

He let out a breath, tired of the endless frustration he found here. He wanted to know the truth, and that's what he got along with disappointment and disillusionment.

Stinger glanced over, noticing the young man's movements and instinctively knew trouble coming.

"You said your job is to protect that guy, right?" He asked, cracking his neck. Walker didn't reply, least not with words, as he settled into a striking pose.

"The job comes first no matter what. Lets see how you can uphold that statement."

Stinger feinted a strike at Walker, the struck from the opposite direction. Walker dodged, then stabbed forward. Stinger took the blow after diverting it to a part of his body that didn't have anything vital, grabbing onto the fake Gae Bulg so it remained still.

As Walker, caught off guard by this move, struggled to break free. Stinger, without showing even a hint of pain, aimed his true Gae Bulg at Tatsumi's back.

"STINGER, GODDAMN IT NO!" Walker shouted, letting go of his weapon as he moved to block Stinger's next attack.

He failed, Gae Bulg scratching Walker's shoulder as it snaked it's way through towards an unsuspecting Tatsumi. Walker commanded his Imperial Arms to deconstruct and form into something else, even though this freed the weapon from Stinger's grasp it was too late to do anything to stop the attack.

As the red spear raced to strike at the heart of the young man, a miracle happened.

CLANG!

A loud noise echoed as a hatchet perfectly aimed at Gae Bulg's spearhead knocked the blade far off course. The blade attempted to redirect and was intercepted again by a double bladed axe chained to the pants of a man with a grand smirk on his face.

A man who looked a lot like Tatsumi.

The man Arthur was looking for.

As the young assassin turned around, the man who saved his life turned his head towards the youth. The reptilian scaled eye patch covering his right eye threw Tatsumi off, but he suspected who this was.

No, he knew. Knew, but couldn't believe it.

Familiar dark green eye, medium brown hair formed in that similar spiky style, dressed in a black coat over top a sleeveless dull white shirt, black pants with armored knee guards, armored boats, fingerless gloves and strapped with belts holding dozens of throwing knives, hatchets, darts, and other such weapons.

The man pulled the chain connected to his axe, catching it with his right hand.

"Looks like you're all having some fun, killing each other." The newcomer said, walking towards the bewildered Tatsumi. "Normally, I'd have no problem letting you all at it but someone here is rather important to me and I can't quite having you all take him out while I have anything to say about that. Not till I have a proper talk with him, anyway."

Arthur let out a tisk, frustrated at this turn of events. He had an idea the relationship between the two, given the similar appearance, but he had to be sure. More importantly, he had to defuse the situation even though he knew the effort would be futile.

"As I told you before, this is an internal affair." Arthur started. "It is bad enough you left to, have fun, as you put it. Now, you are directly interfering in the judicial process of the Revolutionary Army. The Southern Confederation will answer for this political incident, as will you unless you step down now!"

The man laughed as he closed the distance left between himself and Tatsumi. "Are you threatening me? Oh that's rich!" He slapped the young man's shoulder. "Get a load of this coward who fled his nation to run away from the likes of me, suddenly growing a pair! You're a few years too late there old Lepidus, to be talking so big."

Arthur let out a low growl at the use of his old name. "Then, may I ask why you are interfering? You actions jeopardize years of diplomatic work between our two factions. Please tell me this wasn't just on a whim, Axel."

Axel.

Tatsumi's eyes widened at the mention of that name.

This man was Axel. Axel, the person that spine chilling woman back in Kyoroch.

That's impossible...

It had to be, as this man is-

"Now, what sort of father would I be if I let my own flesh and blood die before my very eye?" Axel replied, gripping the Tatsumi's far shoulder. "Isn't it the duty of every parent to protect their children from danger? Even a negligent father like me who hasn't seen his son in over 11 years."

The strength in Tatsumi's knees gave out as his world was shattered for the second time this day.

Axel and the remaining Patriot trooper caught the young man and picked him back up.

Tatsumi's mind went blank.

His father.

His dad, now known as Axel.

After 11 years, suddenly reappeared and saved his life.

He didn't know what to say or how to act. He had long assumed his father was dead, killed failing to acquire medicine for his mother.

All Tatsumi could do was stare at this man, his father, with tearful eyes as he struggled to speak on this unexpected turn.

"D...Dad?" He managed to say, on the verge of tears.

Axel gave his son a warm smile. "Hey there, Tatsumi. You sure have grown up, haven't yeah? You're...17 years old now? 18? Man, the years have really gone by huh?"

Wide eyed, Tatsumi could only reply with the question that plagued his mind. "Where...where have you been all this time?"

Axel nodded. "Sorry bout showing up 11 years too late. Its a long story and we'll catch up after all this. I promise." He slapped his son's shoulder once more. "Right now, let me take care of these guys up front. How bout you take on that guy back there who tried to take a cheap shot at you?"

Axel walked forward, smiling at the RA troops before him. He could tell these men knew him; the weapons they held were weapons used by the Romanian Empire.

"So you brought your private revenue with you when you went into exile." Axel swung his axe in the air. "Explains those hand cannons, and the fear in their eyes. They know exactly who I am. They know what I've done to your armies when we rolled right over your empire. Perhaps...they even know the old man."

Axel stopped, shifting his axe to his left hand.
"Ahhh I see it. Some of your men know who I'm talking about! The man you killed, the man who struck fear into the hearts of your legion after you cut him in half. The old man who looked after me when I didn't even know who I was for a time, who took care of me like I was his own stubborn ass son, hahaha."

He scratched his nose as he looked into Arthur's face with his one good eye.

"I dedicate this battle to him, knowing full well you'll all be joining him in hell."

Arthur gripped his shield tight. "This is you last warning. You'll be causing a diplomatic incident with reputations beyond your understanding."

"You know fully well I couldn't give a rat's ass about that."

"Don't do this Axel!"

The latter laughed hysterically for a long while.

The man who took one of those he respected most in this world away, begging for him to stop taking revenge?

What else could one do in that situation but laugh?!

Axel calmed down, taken hasty breaths filled with half laughs while settling down. "Boy, do I have a surprise for you. See, you left right when things were getting good. You remember how I used to have two good eyes, right? Ever wonder what happened to my right eye?"

He waited for Arthur to reply. After a few silent moments, Axel continued with a shrug.

"I was born and raised here in the jolly old Imperial Empire, stupid name by the way, yet I acquired new found powers deep in the south. In a place you may have heard of once before: The Badlands."
He smiled wide as he removed the eye batch covering his right eye. "I got this after two near death experiences and now I'm standing on the same plateau as The Reaper himself."

Axel's right eye, now exposed, opened. It was a completely different color; Yellow with a black iris. Black scales grew around the eye and began to multiply, occupying half his face in a matter of moments.

"See, I became his lefthand man and got this new power after tangoing with a nasty bitch known as Victoria and her crazy strong brother who's name I didn't catch."

Axel continued as the right half of his body transformed, growing larger and covered in black scales. Half the teeth in his mouth morphed into sharper fangs, his right hand transformed too as bones popped as they were reformed into a black claw. A similar metamorphosis took place with his right leg.

Yet, surprisingly none of his clothes ripped in any sort of way. In fact, it appeared that Axel's clothes were transforming with him. Receding and reforming to perfectly fit with his new form.

Arthur's jaw dropped, his men muttering in panic to themselves as they could barely hear each other due to the ear plug each man inserted before they headed out.

He heard the rumors, of a curse from the Badlands. Of men becoming monsters.

It wasn't until he fought the old man Axel mentioned that Arthur thought those rumors held some merit. Of turning the men who lived in such a hostile land into a harden folk of warriors.

Not this. Not of becoming monsters in the literal sense.

And so he feared the form of Axel before him now.

The form of a half human half monster.

The form of a black scaled dragon.

"We men from the Badlands are monsters in human form! We fight countless monstrosities who would make men like you piss in fear! Even half dead, we still slaughter our foes!" Axel shouted once his transformation was complete, repeating the final words the old man shouted after Arthur cut him in half from the waist and he still leaped around slaughtering men.

"If you think you have what it takes to fight such a foe, then came at me! I'm right here!"

Screaming, the hand cannon user fired over the heads of their comrades, whom flinched at the unexpected move.

The small metal balls raced towards Axel. He flashed his teeth, moving his black scaled right arm up to cover his face.

Four metal balls impacted upon the arm.

Four metal balls dropped straight down to the floor a moment after.

A fifth ball was grasped in Axel's hand. Lowering his hand to his chest, he threw the ball up and down three times before crushing it in his grasp.

Pure concentrated iron, crushed to half its size by a simple closing of one's fist.

It was no wonder why fear gripped the 30 former soldiers of the Romanian Empire who now turned and fled, dropping their weapons as they screamed in panic.

Arthur turned his head back, equally filled with fear but still holding his ground.

"Hold formatio-"

"-Too late for that, Lepidus." Axel's voice accompanied a pain deep in his chest. Arthur turned back around, looking down at the black scaled hand barred deep in his chest after blowing through his shield.

Axel pulled the hand back in as easy a motion as cutting butter, side stepping the ruined shield as it fell along with Arthur.

"You just hold on for a little while longer." Axel near whispered to the speechless Arthur. "You're turn is up after I kill your men..."

The next few minutes were filled with the screams of the men who accompanied Arthur-Lepidus- on his exile 5 years ago as each one was hunted down by Axel and his inhuman speed.

By Claw, by Axe, by Fangs and other blades, all were killed in such short a time Arthur thought he was in a nightmare.

The clawed foot of Axel returned to his view, followed by the rough picking up of his body as Axel forced his long time foe to stand straight even for a moment.

"Didn't I tell you I would kill you someday." Axel said as he continued to try and make Arthur stand straight. "Though I doubt either of us expected it to be this soon after we been reunited after so long, eh General Lepidus?"

Arthur's head wobbled this way and that, he was cold and loosing feeling in various parts of his body.

Still, he hand the strength to speak. "I told you...not to...call me by-"

"I couldn't give a rat's ass about your new name. Doesn't change what you've done in the past, doesn't change what I'm about to do now." Axel cut the dying man off, holding him with claw and lifting his double blades axe up in the air.

"This one's for the old man."

And he swung the mighty weapon down, splitting Arthur-Lepidus's skull in two.

Fresh blood splatted on Axel's already blood stained face. He pulled his axe out, letting go of Lepidus's body and watched it hit the floor.

"Gods that was long overdue." Axel said, letting out a sigh. "I have a bad habit of those kinds of things, huh? Hope you saw that, whichever afterlife your raging around in, you old bastard."

The half dragon Axel turned towards his son, the latter simply staring at him from the spot he was before with jaw dropped.

Guess meeting your long lost father, on top of him showcasing crazy ass powers will do that to you.

He looked to the other two having a stand off. The older cowboy looking man held a pair of pistols in his hands, aiming them at the other holding a red spear with one hand covering a wound on his left side.

Both had a look of shock on their faces as they no doubt observed the entire slaughter.

Cursing, Stinger turned and ran down the alley directly behind him.

Walker aimed in reflex, then lowered his twin pistols.

"Sure you wanna let him go?" Axel asked with a teasing note.

"Old comrade o'mine." Walker replied. "Didn't even wanna fight'em in the first place."

"Fair." Axel said and was done with it. He returned his focus to his son. "So Tatsumi! What do you think of your old man being a badass half black dragon?"

"I...You...are nothing like what I remember..." Tatsumi started. "You do look cool though, but its like I've meet a different person with the face of my father."

"Like I said, its a long story." Axel replied, placing the eyepatch back upon his right side. As he did, the transformation reverted as quickly as it came, turning the man back to full human.

"So much happened these past 11 plus years, I'll tell you all about it once we get out of here." He continued, crossing his arms. "Speaking of which, either of you know how? Cause I haven't a clue."

"Allow me." The female trooper spoke up, the only one seemingly unphased by the past few events. "We need to hurry before reinforcements arrive. This way."

She headed back down the passage with the blind corner, Tatsumi and Walker followed suit.

Axel jogged after them, nudging his son when he caught up. "OK so who is that? I thought the entire army was after you or something...then again I did fight all those guys who were killing each other on the way here..."

"Its a long story too- wait did you say you killed everyone on the way here?!"

"Yea but to be fair I didn't know you were here, let alone some of them where on your side. Also they attacked me first, so self-defense Tatsumi."

---

The following morning...

"How many?" The question came from the stern lips of Commander Bifrost.
He stood overlooking the carnage of the battle where Arthur lost his life. The bodies have been moved some time before his arrival, but the blood stains remain.

"8% of our forces within that block sir, total casualties exceed 15%." A trooper behind him holding a clipboard answered.

"That is a company and a half lost due to this insurrection." Bifrost muttered. "Any leads on why those men betrayed us?"

"Negative. Not that we can interrogate any of them as those who haven't been cut down committed suicide when cornered..." The trooper replied.

"And it further puzzles matters when every one of these troopers have shown steadfast loyalty to the cause." The voice of Cesare added. Bifrost turned around to face the approaching man.

"I thought...you were still recovering?" Bifrost carefully worded, showing a rare sign of concern for his fellow Council member.

"Yes, well...We all have a job to do, regardless of personal feelings." Cesare replied, taking the clipboard from the trooper and dismissing him in turn. "The lost of men aside, we've taken quite the blow."

"Arthur...and your brother..." Bifrost crossed his arms. "I...still can't believe it. I never thought Fuyu's machinations could be this complex. To compel those two in assassinating two members of the Council."

Cesare stared at Bifrost with lifeless eyes. His brother aside, Arthur's death has been confirmed to be by the hands of another.

"So, we're ignoring Stinger's report that Arthur and 30 other men, all of which died in this room, were slain by the envoy?"

Bifrost shot the man a look, but eased back a bit out of respect for the departed.

"We cannot afford a conflict with the Southern Confederation...No, the official record will state that the mercenary Walker assassinated Arthur and the others as they made their escape. That is the only way we can avoid a war on two fronts and rally the troops against another common enemy."

"Oh how devious of you." Cesare attempted his usual teasing nature, but his heart wasn't in it.

"Perhaps, though we have little choice." Bifrost said, scratching his beard. "What of our deployment? How far behind are we now that we lost Arthur?"

"Well...given we have to train a proper replacement at such a critical time, along with everything else, I'd estimate we'll need a month, maybe two." Cesare flipped through the pages before him. "That time is including the reorganization needed to shift around men to replace the casualties and vent everyone in this block for further traitors."

"I heard they called themselves Patriots."

"Yes, I heard the same."

Bifrost shook his head. "I trained these men. All of them. To think there were traitors..."

"About that..." Cesare meet Bifrost's gaze.

"Reports mentioned a voice speaking a coded message through the PA system connected to this block. Perhaps a sort of key for a set of sleeper agents, that would certainly explain a few key bits...Investigations revealed the location of the broadcast, all save one of the personal were found executed. Questioning the survivor revealed the need to keep him alive to operate the equipment, then they knocked him out and moved on."

"Even if that is true, it seems suspicious he remains alive." Bifrost turned his head away. "Best keep an eye on him."

"My thoughts exactly, though he did seem genuinely surprised when he learned of my...his passing."

Bifrost exhaled. "Regardless, it warrants further observation." He turned his head back.
"As for the reorganization, simply assign everyone in this block and anyone else aside from members of the Council and those we explicitly trust to keep a secret who may have learned of the Arthur's true assailant through that mercenary to the vanguard and be done with it. If they turn traitor, so be it. Better to face an enemy at the front than behind your back."

"It shall be done." Cesare said with a nod. "And of Stinger himself?"

Bifrost tilted his head in annoyance. "Let that, mercenary, have the...privilege of commanding the vanguard as just reward for his cowardly actions. In fact, throw all remaining mercenaries in the vanguard as well. Let them be the tip of the spear, the blood price on our path to the Capital."

"Hardly fair to word it such when one faces with a half dragon monstrosity." Cesare tapped a finger on the clipboard.

"I have no idea how to even begin to process that..." Bifrost turned around to face the spot Arthur's body was found. "I would dismiss it as simple delusions, however the fragments of the crushed cannon ball, the pierced shield, even the reports of Arthur's chest wound...Gives me cause to give the claim some thought..."

"What will you have us do in the chance we find this Axel?" Cesare asked after allowing a few moments for the last statement to digest.

"Nothing." Bifrost turned to his left, facing the most direct route to head to the Council Chambers.
"Even should he be with the two traitors, no one is to touch him even if he assaults any teams sent to bring them to justice. This order will be followed without question...now come, we must decide the proper response for this travesty...along with the fate of Night Raid."

As Bifrost and Cesare headed off, elsewhere in the RAHQ another noteworthy figure took action.

As one of two woman included in the Council, she was easily recognizable. As a member of the leadership, she enjoyed certain privileges.

Privileges such as access to the carrier pigeon room. Privileges such as unrestricted usage of this method of communication.

Privileges such as requesting absolute privacy.

She places a message written during the chaos of yesterday within the small cylinder attached to the specially trained pigeon's leg and seals it shut.

Taking her time, she walks up the adjacent tower where the carriers are received and released as needed.

Upon reaching the edge of the open tower, she pets the head of the bird with two fingers before releasing this particularly trained pigeon to find a particular person.
A pigeon trained by Bifrost to deliver his ultimatum to the man he loathed most in this world or more specifically his home, now utilized for a different, devious purpose.

"The moon has swallowed the sun." She muttered, watching the carrier pigeon fade from sight. "When will a better tomorrow arrive? I wonder...will I fight against my destiny and live to see it the new age or fulfill the prophecy to become the sacrifice necessary to discredit the moon?"

"Do you know which it will be, Chairmen Fuyu?"

---

8 days after The Revolution began. Morning at Fuyu's Mansion.

Fuyu hummed tonelessly as he finished up his morning meal, thinking back on his great fortune during his trip to the south...though the foursome he had last night did cross his mind time and again, causing him to chuckle on occasion.

The great fortune laid in the last fortress that stood between the Revolutionary Army and the Imperials. Waiting for him as the gates was unexpected boon, one that greatly accelerated his aim to turn Tatsumi into a potential successor.

A way to show the true nature of the so called Council in front of the young man's very eyes.

It would be harsh, cruel even, but necessary. And for once, this particular plan wasn't his whole idea...That was a co-opted gift from an unexpected collaborator.

To think, there was someone who desired to become a necessary evil to bring about the greater good within that army of naive hypocrites...

"Master?" Air popped her head in. "Are you finished eating?"

"Ah, my lovely Air!" Fuyu smiled at the adorable pink head. "You timing is excellent, I have just finished."

Smiling, Air entered the room with a tray held tight to her chest. She stepped over, placed the empty dishes upon the tray she now balanced in one hand, then looked at her master once finished.

"There's a letter that arrived for you some time ago." Air started, blushing slightly as she reached inside her bosom with her free hand and pulled out the letter in question. "The Head Maid thought it best to wait till the morning after your return to present it to you."

Fuyu mouthed an ah as he gently took the warm to the touch letter. "Thank you my dear Air, oh and you haven't cut yourself did you? I didn't think your chest was big enough to pull items out of it..."

Air puffed out the side of her check in annoyed embarrassment. An adorable response, least by Fuyu's tastes.

"It's only a jest!" Fuyu laughed. "Forgive me."

Air closed her eyes and smiled. "I could never stay mad at you, Master Fuyu." She leaned in and boldly kissed his lips. Fuyu smiled, watching one of his favorite maids turn and leave.

Focusing upon the letter, he opened it casually. As he read the written words, Fuyu couldn't help but laugh as everything went as his collaborator planned down to the minute details.

It seems the ability of clairvoyance cannot be underestimated.

"Good news, I take it?" The voice of familiar shinobi asked, calling from the same section of wall every shinobi leaned against when in this room.

Serpentine.

"Everything is going as planned." Fuyu replied, burning the letter. "Our willing collaborator has informed us of Tatsumi's predicament and disillusionment of the Revolutionary cause."

"You really are impressive, human." Serpentine said with a chuckle.

"The amount of influence you possess to influence events to the far corners of the Imperial Empire is comparable to my ability to witness everything simultaneously through he collective eyes of my hosts. Only it is more impressive as you have no opportunity to change anything should thing go array...and yet at a near 100% rate everything falls neatly into your plans...Such a feat would be considerably impossible to pull off in the many ages I have witnessed."

"It is only a matter of thorough preparations, hard work, a silver tongue, the ability to understand human nature, and the will to do whatever is necessary." Fuyu replied. "If anyone with a brain had half of what I to work with, they could pull off similarly impressive feats."

"If you wouldn't mind," Serpentine started. "might you enlighten this oh so humble, manipulative creature on the particulars?"

Fuyu chuckled, raising from his seat before walking over to the nearest window. He looked below, taking in the sight of his staff working on the backyard and garden.

"Like you, I have worn dozens of faces across my many years in the Capital."

"I've promised revenge, salvation, justice, redemption, resolution, love, sex, monetary gain, a home, and so much more to such a wide cast of people that any average person could never wrap their head around the intricate web of connections I have built. The schemes within schemes that have been laid down for the betterment of a brighter world with so many intricate parts all working in sync it would make one mad trying to grasp it all."

He raised a hand and clenched it.

"I took it upon myself to right what I believe is wrong with this country, for yes that what this is all about: What I believe is right and what is wrong."

Fuyu spun around to face the shinobi host.
"Everyone has their own opinions on what is right and just and fair. The opposite is true for evil, wicked, and wrong. Everyone else thinks they know what is best and starts off believing they are the only one who knows right from wrong."

"That is why everyone with sense will use whatever methods available to convince others that they are the one who is right, that they will do everything they can to bring about what the majority want. Even if it is a lie, as long as you can convince enough people of that lie it will eventually turn to truth. Your truth."

"All thanks to power, influence, money, vocal skills, sex appeal, and any number of other such methods one can use to sway others to your cause."

"As long as you keep feeding your truth, as long as other believe in your truth, one could make nations into however you desire. If one is skilled enough to maintain their truth to the masses, you could rule for decades."

"However, as it is fundamentally tied to human nature, conflict is inevitable."

"Others like yourself will rise to power, convincing others that they are just, that they are fair, that they are right and you are evil, wicked, and wrong. If lucky, one side will convince the other through more soft power means and be absorbed."

"Unfortunately, we deal in reality were people who have grown in power are too stubborn to admit they are wrong. Thus, assassinations, brutal repressions, even war become justified methods to prove you are speaking truth and the opposition lies."

"We are competitive creatures with a lust for combat we can't quite shake no matter how hard we try or lie to ourselves that we are something more."

"Faith, destiny, will, whatever you call that driving power that ultimately will decide who is just, and right, and who is evil and wrong will show its hand when the dust settles. For the one who is just and right and fair shall be the victor, even if they used every dirty trick in the book or sacrifice everything to win in the end. For that is the greatest hypocrisy of the human race. The greatest lie our species continues to tell to this very day."

Fuyu smirked. "I know you realize just how hard I am doing my damnedest to make sure I am that victor."

The Chairmen of the Senate turned back towards the table, pacing to and past it as he headed out to start his busy day.

"For the Restoration of our glorious Empire, for true prosperity of the established system and the people that reside in this nation, no price is too steep to pay."

---

AND HERE ENDS ANOTHER ENTRY TO AKAME GA KILL CLOCKWORK!

Goddamn this one took longer than I wanted, but that's ok cause it was worth the work!

This is also the longest chapter I've written to date for this story, in fact this is the largest entry I've written ever for one of my stories on this site.
Wow, yay records! Hell of a way to start 2024 :D

Anyway, yeah this was the big special to reveal all that happened one month before the Revolution began, the leadership of the RA along with their true nature, showcasing how even the good guys can be the bad guys, and what ultimately happened to Walker and Tatsumi!

This was a big point I really looked forward to writing and I hope it was an entertaining mind bomb for all you lovely readers!

As always, and questions feel free to comment and I will answer in due course.

Next entry we'll be going back to a few plot points left off: Night Raid's reaction, the battle between the Path of Peace and General Heiscliff's forces, and more!

Thanks again everyone for reading, and look forward to the next one :D

The prophecy comes true!
A web of lies and deceit pulled by the strings of puppet masters far beyond the sight of those involved continues its machinations as everything is maneuvered for the betterment of all or so their truth states. True natures are revealed and disillusionment of shallow causes run rampant in a nation facing civil war! Who should the masses believe in when everyone speaks lies?

Tatsumi and Walker are on the run after being framed for crimes they didn't commit, what will they do know with those they thought friend turn foe?

What of the Empire and their plans to stop the Revolutionaries in the South, the Barbaric Hordes of the West, and the Religious Zealots accompanied by Angry Mobs in the East? Can they stop these forces aimed at overturning the corrupt government from without?

And what of the plots to change from within? How much longer to Fuyu's coup can commence?

Only one thing is certain: War.

The Revolution continues, next time on Akame ga Kill!