Imperial Castle, Security Room A05 Concealed beneath the gel of his doppelhusk, Lark sat in the fifth room of A sector security. Here he monitored various feeds of the Imperial prison and other places of interest, while simultaneously helping with the daily data entries that were literally never-ending. Here he could keep a good eye on Markus Gibrani, or anyone else who could compromise his mission. Just then a series of subtle anomalies occurred on the security feeds. Several cameras blacked out for a moment or two, while others appeared to adapt odd movement patterns. Lark had memorized the routine of things by now, and his instincts were suddenly telling him that something wasn't right. He calmly spoke aloud, to be overheard by those in the room and in all other relevant A-sector security rooms. "I'm noticing some odd patterns on the security feeds. Can someone confirm if our systems 1 through 14 are operating smoothly?" Several others noted similar inconsistencies, and the security personal began basic troubleshooting. One person even mentioned possible flow disturbance. Another suggested that security may need to be tightened. Lark thought for a moment, then rose to his feet after closing his file. "I'm going downstairs to double check some things. Has Markus Gibrani been interrogated yet today?" Another said that yes, he had been questioned several hours earlier, which meant that they typically wouldn't bother him again until the next quarter. Lark replied, "I may go down regardless. I'm done here, so I'd like to finish up a bit early if I could." Internally, Lark was concerned. There was ample reason to believe that someone may try to assassinate Markus before he spilled any beans to the Imperium. By paying Markus a visit now he could ensure his safety through any perceived threat. ... "Your men are being slaughtered. If you were to just give us the information we want, many of them may be spared. There is no chance for any of them if you refuse to cooperate." Markus spit at his interrogator, a bad habit he had developed whenever in the presence of an Imperial figure. The saliva disintegrated on an energy field casing his cell, reverberating some ripples across Lark's reflection. A few minutes slowly passed. Questions were asked, and asked again in various different ways. Several interfaces monitored Gibrani's every expression, to calculate everything from body language to rises in brain activity. Lark occasionally lied to elicit some sort of response, like "We already know about your intel on Paradisus, Eden. Whether you give us the codes now or not, we will have full access shortly. Ease the suffering of your sons and citizens." Markus was characteristically stubborn, and Lark was satisfied with this. If old Gibrani broke and anything leaked, it could be to the severe detriment of Lark's own ambitions. "Do you have reason to believe that there may be an attempt on your life?" Markus finally looked Lark's doppelhusk in the eyes, appearing amused by the question. "Oh, probably. That zombie Armek will meet the dagger far before I do, though, be assured of that. I will yet die a peaceful man." Then it occurred to him: What if someone had infiltrated to end the life of the old God? Were someone to slay Armek, Lark would be largely indifferent. Still, it would raise a lot of hell, create a lot of loopholes. Opportunities abound in chaos...
The Imperial Palace "I'm noticing some odd patterns on the security feeds. Can someone confirm if our systems 1 through 14 are operating smoothly?" A guard heard the request over his comm and went to investigate. The first camera he saw was ripped off it's axis, another was aimed at a bush. "Alert, alert. Possible intruder on the grounds." As soon as he got done another call came through. "INTRUDER IN THE THRONE ROOM!" The Throne Room Tezz walked in, right up to the guards, looking awestruck. One of them immediately called the alert, while another raised his rifle. "Halt!" He cried and moved to subdue Tezz. Armek from his throne was startled to see the figure so brazenly stride towards the throne. "How did you get this far!" He bellowed, his deep voice echoing through the massive throne room. As he uttered the words a sense of dread filled him, and a flash of prescient knowledge entered his mind. The flow had just showed him his death... Tezz made his move. Edge of The System The carrier 'Falling Midnight' still lingered at the edge of the system, waiting. In a large stateroom with black walls, a figure suddenly sat bolt upright from a bed. Through his mind raced an image of a dark skinned, light haired youth killing the God-Emperor Armek. If he had a mouth, he would have smiled.
Tezz vs the emperor It was now or never." The guard was about to open fire when he was suddenly launched far across the room. The other gaurd began calling for help, his voice cut off as Tezz destroyed his transceiver and his only weapons. His eyes were fixed on the throne. "No...I will not die." The emperor summoned his vast knowledge of the flow and began the try crushing Tezz with his power. Tezz raised a large force of flow against the emperor and an epic struggle began to ensue! Both seemed evenly matched in their power, the room and castle shook as the two colossal forces collided with one another. The ground ripped apart, and all objects from the fragile to the sturdy were ground to dust under the immense power. A large shock wave resulted from the struggle blowing out windows and waking up all who slept. Tezz dashed to the side using flow to increase his speed, The emperor shot oversized shock waves at him, that tore up the ground. Tezz danced around them evading attacks with speed and firing flow bolts from his mind, blue streams of energy crashed into the emperor. The emperor just smiled. "A barrier..." Tezz growled. Tezz was suddenly hit from below by a chunk of earth, he flipped twice and landed on the ground. The emperor then tried dropping the boulder on his head. Tezz rolled, levitated to his feet and with a roar tore a large piller that supported the throne room and threw into his foe. The forced crushed the pillar to dust but the barrier was unaffected. Suddenly, another attacked Tezz from behind, it was the emproros royal guard! The man lunged for him a powerful weapon he brandished. Tezz had no hope of winning up close. He dashed forward towards the emperor and away from his new assailant. The emperor sent another huge shock wave at Tezz. It was over, Tezz was sandwiched between a lethal spear and a powerful shock wave, he coudn't doged! he couldn't block! Tezz glowed for a moment, then warped! The very fabric of space ripping as he managdrived out of range. The emperor's royal guard was now on a head on collision with the emperors own attack! First the blast from Tezz warping rocked the guard's armor then he was crushed by the emperors shock wave! Then Tezz appearing behind the guard blasted him again! Obliterating his armor, and squashing him between two flow waves like a man would crush a bug. By now the soldiers flooded the throne room, but a wave of flow sent them flying in the air, hitting the ceiling and crashing back to the ground. Tezz would not have them interfere! The noise of titanic battle awoke the citizens living near the dome, and news anchors started rushing to the scene, what was happening? As they began to try filming they were blown away by what they saw. The palace ceiling was blasted completely off as these blasted completely off as these too masters continued their epic duel! The chaotic flow blew aside bullets and soldiers were helpless, all they could do was watch. At home thousands turned on their TV to see the spectacle, the new spread like fire. "Someone, was battling the God emperor, someone dares to challenge him." Another pillar landed on the throne, and smashed to dust! Another shock wave that Tezz evaded. That barrier...how would he get past it? Summoning his strength Tezz, began trying to crush the throne with sheer power, the emperor resisted, dust began to cloak the area, then suddenly with a smile Tezz warped! He figured it out, the barrier would stop anything from the outside world, but could it stop things entering from the flow verse? Tezz appeared Inside the shield! The emperor gasped, his eye grew wide, but he would not give up his life easily! Tezz went for his neck, the emperor tried blasting him with flow. It pushed back Tezz against the insides of the shield, using flow Tezz fought back! Pushing towards the emperor, it was like an arm wrestling match, but this one between flow. These fighting to reach the emperors britle throat. Dust finally settled over the battlefield, for 1 minute nothing happened. No one could see anything. Then Tezz stood, up he was bleeding but smileing, in his hands. The emperors head, "Gods don't die!" he perclaimned to all who were present, he had done it. He had killed the deathless one. But the battle had drained him, and still holding his head Tezz colasped.
Veeta Of course the so called God Emperor's death new traveled to all the points inside Surmanack and even more. So when Veeta came to know that new, she couldn't hid an smile on her face, and signs of success in her eyes. It had happened, at last, things are indeed moving, all the pieces that support this society are collapsing one by one. I'm every moment closer to my dream. This is just magnificient!!!..... Earth... was such a nice planet isn't said that? She danced to the music playing on her room with a glass of wine in her hands. Indeed, she was happy, first Suvos Mactan, now the God Emperor, and all at a fast pace, things couldn't be better to her.
Imperial Castle in Shambles, Markus Gibrani and Lark take their leave. The whole structure of the Imperial Palace shook from the violence of the duel. The majority of the Imperium personnel beat a speedy evacuation, leaving only the prisoners and duty-bound behind. Markus Gibrani grinned. "Sooner than I thought!" he said. "You and I both.." Lark concurred. Lark took in his surroundings. Only one guard remained at the entrance to this prison sector, and judging by the look on his face he was more concerned with his own safety than anyone else present. Lark stood, still shrouded in his doppelhusk, a full three inches taller than he was within it. "We won't get a better opportunity. Your transport is waiting just outside the walls." Markus looked perplexed a moment, and then a look of understanding replaced it. "So you're the one he sent, eh? Good lord boy, did you have to sell the act so hard? Those interrogations were hell!" Markus roused himself inside of his cell, though he was visibly a little weak from all the abuse he had endured. "Lead the way." Before the security guard at the end of the hall had noticed what was happening, Lark had gained password and DNA clearance into the cell. The energy field dropped and Markus stepped out, only to face the barrel of the guard's plasma rifle. "W-what's the meaning of this?! Eric, who authorized his release?" the guard yelled. Lark stepped forward, and the guard twitched his firearm to him instead of Gibrani. "Eric's been dead for eight days. My deepest condolence, but we must pass.." Just then, the face of Lark's doppelhusk froze in place unnaturally. Then the entire flesh construct began decaying at a rapid rate, as if it were aging one thousand years in the span of a few seconds. The husk began to peel off from his spine, allowing him to slip out the back of it, and the decomposing shell collapsed to the floor with a sickening squish. Before the guard could react, Lark had struck him in the solarplex with the hilt of his shortsword. The guard gasped and collapsed from the pain. Lark and Markus proceeded out into the ensuing chaos, where they would board a private Gibrani craft and make their escape. --- Galigut pursues Inirum Veral like a hungry hound. The conflict between Gibrani and Imperium raged on, despite the fact that Armek had just been destroyed. Gibrani gunships traded with those of the Imperium, and ground forces from both sides had collided in full force. In the heart of it all was Galigut and his remaining Duren, who were holding their own against Inirum's personal militia. Inirum Veral had been drawn out when his gunship was grounded, and the Duren mercs sensed the glory to be had in taking his head. The Duren were berserkers, and charged with no fear of death. Some moved in evasive patterns, utilizing chameleon shields to blend with the smoke and dirt, while others fired explosives at Inirum's front line and the ground before them to blanket the battleground in ash. Galigut was amidst Imperial soldiers, cleaving his mallet Ytono through any body that dared approach him. On either side of the mallet were energy "shocks" that would bounce it back up every time he swung it down, enabling him to couple crushing power with lightning speed. Ytono whizzed by one mans shoulders, taking his head clean off. The mallet dropped onto the knee of another man, splitting his leg into splinters. Galigut fisted a grenade down the spurting neck hole and punted the body further into Imperial soldiers, then launched himself into the air with his thruster boots. As the body exploded, spreading gore and shrapnel all around, Galigut soared overhead to crash down on another pile of men. "INIRUM! COME FORTH AND FACE ME!!" On the center of Gali's head rested a third eye, which had been surgically graphed into his skull. This had been the eye of a powerful flow user, and connected to it was the brain matter from that same individual. Both were implanted into Galigut's own brain, giving him heightened awareness and the ability to sense flow. Duren were naturally resistant to flow, but none had been able to utilize it until now. And neither could he, for the powerful conscience of the flow users psyche still repelled him from that precious knowledge. What it couldn't stop, however, was Galigut's overpowering fury to find and slay Inirum Veral. And it had found him, like an x-ray piercing through all over bodies but his. It's pale blue color indicated the sort of clarity that could come forth from it, and such a thing was dangerous in the hands of a tyrant.
The Imperial Palace A troop of heavily armed shock troopers armed with kinetic rifles and Flow Dampening Shields moved into he wreckage of the palace. All the reporters and bystanders that had gathered outside were moved back. The advanced with slow precision, through collapsed columns and rubble. Finally reaching the throne, they took in the scene. The throne itself was intact, but in it sat the headless corpse of the Emperor. "Command, we have confirmation, the Emperor is dead. Awaiting further instructions." The squad leader radioed to the Principe Militum Command. "Has the assassin been secured?" "Affirmative." "Secure the area and await further instructions." "Yes sir." The soldiers began moving through the rubble, but so did someone else, unbeknownst to them. A cloaked figure, obscured by the flow slowly crept to the throne as the soldiers searched other parts of the palace. Waving his hand he opened a hole in the Field and crept through, going to the Emperor's headless body. Riffling through his robes, it produced a small leather bound book. It went out the way it had come, and quickly moved to a large piece of fallen marble in the far corner. Going up to it, the creature lowered it's hood, revealing it to be a Sanhedrin, and struck it's face on the chunk of rock three times, opening a few large cuts. Then it took a step back, and raised the rock a few feet in the air, placed it's leg beneath it, and let it fall. It showed no sign of pain at all. After a moment it called out in its omnipresent voice, "Is anyone there! It's Atrus, My leg is pinned, help!" The Battle at Gibran "INIRUM! COME FORTH AND FACE ME!!" Inirum heard the below, saw the charging Duren warlord. It could be no other than Galigut himself. As the battle raged on around them the two charge each other. Inirum with his mighty armor and sword, Galigut with his brute strength and hammer. Galigut swung at him, Inirum dodged and aimed a sword strike at the Orc's leg. Galigut sidestepped out of the way, transferring the motion into a heavy hammer blow that knocked Inirum from his feet. He rolled out of the way of another attack and kicked out Galigut's knee. Meanwhile, the Gibrani forces were slowly being pushed back, their Gunships had retreated behind the shield wall, and the Imperium forces were beginning to deploy ground troops. The heavy artillery batteries in the country side started hammering away at the City Shield, but it held firm, at least for the time being. Gibrani guerrilla teams had begun harassing the artillery stations, attacking and falling back with minimal casualties before anyone knew what had happened. Their resilience took the Imperium totally by surprise. They were used to steamrolling their enemies beneath overwhelming force. Never had they met an enemy that was so well equipped and willing to fight back. They would still win, but it would take time and manpower. Suddenly, every comm in the fleet lit up with a broadwaved message on all military channels. "ATTENTION ALL PRINCIPE MILITUM FORCES. RETURN TO CORANUM IMMEDIATELY! THE EMPEROR HAS BEEN ASSASSINATED, REPEAT, THE EMPEROR IS DEAD. REGROUP IN CORANUM IMMEDIATELY." The message sent a ripple of uncertainty through the army. The gunships began collecting troops from the ground and packing up the artillery. Inirum and Galigut's duel still raged on, with neither really gaining the upper hand. Then Inirum heard the message, and froze for a moment, long enough for Galigut's hammer to crash into his shoulder. He flew several feet before crashing into the ground. His armor plating was shredded and his arm wouldn't move. Just then, a Drop ship started spraying the area with high caliber rounds, shredding a few Duren, forcing the rest to retreat. Taking the opportunity, Inirum pushed himself up and ran for the gunship. Leaping into the open bay, flanked by twin gun turrets that were unloading at the Duren, he ushered his remaining men aboard. Locking eyes with Galigut for a moment, and holding his broken arm, he called, "Till next time you green bastard!" With that, the bay door closed and the ship lifted off, along with the rest of the imperial forces.
Renaith Nelvas "But I'm sure that you have more important people that you need to see given the situation Ambassador, and thank you for your concern. I assure you I'm alright." Before Renaith could answer, the Lord Wilhelm Foresyth appeared at the ruined Suvos Mactan Temple, visibly shaken at the tragedy and wondering if his son had survived. Soon after, Joshua ran towards his father and they shared a tearful reunion. The Isthian diplomat left the father and son alone, giving them some much needed privacy. Besides, he had other pressing business to attend to, and he could not afford to waste another second. Not even when the priestess Kalara, in a fit of apparent divine ecstasy, urged her survivors and onlookers to seek out the Church for salvation did Renaith turn back. He had to head for the Imperial Palace and warn the Emperor before it was too late. As he sped towards the Palace in his shuttle, he listened intently to the news feed, hoping that there would not be yet another tragedy that he was powerless to stop. He wove in and out of traffic, his piloting far more reckless and urgent that it normally was. "Please let me get there before it's too late," he prayed. "Please..." When news broke that an assassin had breached the throne room, Renaith's heart sank to the pit of his stomach. Even though Emperor Armek was well protected by the Flow, the diplomat knew deep down that his nightmare would come to pass. In a minute, it was over: the God-Emperor was dead after centuries of rule, and the killer apprehended. The vile creature would be executed for high treason, of course, but it was scant comfort to Renaith. Coranum and all of Surmarack would be in complete chaos now. If the past day and night had been trying, the months and years ahead would be all the more difficult. Renaith knew that, even though he had failed to stop his visions, he was still needed at the Palace. He had to do something to restore calm and order to the people. But how would he put on a brave face in light of such terrible tragedies? His thoughts were interrupted by his sister's voice, reaching through to his mind telepathically through the Flow. "Brother," she cried out, "where are you? You must come home!" "Telluria," he replied with as much composure as he could muster, "I am on my way to the Palace. After what happened...after the Emperor's assassination, I must--" "Renaith, no! You must return here! It's...it's urgent." "What happened?" "Someone came to the house earlier, while you were away. He gave me this letter and told me that you needed to read it right away. He said that no one else could open it." "Telluria, I am needed at the Palace. Surely you can drop by my office to give me the letter." "No, the man said that you had to read it at home! He said that no one at the Palace could be trusted. Please, brother," she begged, "come home! I...I'm frightened." Renaith hung his head low for a moment as he pulled over. Telluria had always been a delicate creature and prone to dramatic outbursts, but she sounded genuinely upset. He had already been too late to save the Emperor; surely his duties at the Palace could wait a little while longer. "Very well," he finally replied, "I will be there shortly." A few minutes later, Renaith landed his shuttle in front of his house. As he stepped out, Telluria ran outside to greet him, her long black hair trailing behind her and her brown eyes stricken with fear. "Thank goodness you're here, Renaith," she said breathlessly. "I was so worried..." "Did you see the man who gave you the letter?" he asked. "No, he was hooded and I could not see his face. I am sorry..." "No need to apologize, sister. You did nothing wrong. Where is the letter?" "In your study. I did not touch it afterwards, I swear." Renaith nodded silently and headed inside the house. As he entered his study, he noticed a white envelope lying on his desk. He took it in his hand and turned it over a few times to examine it, hoping to find some clue as to the identity of the sender. However, he could find no distinguishing marks or seals, and there was nothing written on the envelope itself. "I suppose it cannot be helped," the Isthian said to himself. "This envelope must be opened." Gingerly, he tore the package open and took out its contents, a single page with a single line scrawled across it in haste: The Free Pillar of the League knows the secret of the burning tower. Renaith mulled over the cryptic contents for a few moments. The burning tower was a reference to the attack on the Suvos Mactan Temple, of that much he was certain. However, the rest of the letter was more of a mystery. Who or what was the Free Pillar of the League? Did it have anything to do with the group formed by most of the great houses of Surmarack? If so, why would the League be implicated in the attack, and which house was behind this? Gibrani was the first suspect that came to mind; but Markus Gibrani was imprisoned and the entire house had fallen out of favor. Gibrani was hardly "free". But then, who was? The other major house who was a known member of the League was Sorven. The diplomat considered this carefully. If this letter was implying that House Sorven was responsible for the assassination of Ankani Din and the deaths of innocent Suvos Mactan clergy and faithful, then something needed to be done. But yet, given the method this letter was delivered, it seemed the utmost secrecy would be needed. But why Renaith? What made the sender seek him out in particular? Renaith slipped the letter back into the envelope and hid it in one of his desk drawers, locking it to make sure that no one could find it. He would need to look into this somehow, but how would he find the strength to carry the burden of his duties and this investigation? All he knew was that he had to find it, and quickly.
Lark and Markus arrive in Gibrani Capitol. Lark and Markus wasted no time in escaping the Imperial palace. Shrouded under the chaos of Armek and Tezzriac's duel, the bedraggled Gibrani was easily ignored. Before the literal dust had settled, a private shuttle whisked them both towards Gibrani capitol. Though the trip back was not a short one, time past quickly as Markus got up to speed on current affairs. "What of my capitol?" said the old man while Lark communicated over a wrist terminal. "It appears Gibrani held. Imperium has just retreated; Inirum heard the news no doubt." "Our ships?" "Two destroyed, including the suicide vessel." Markus seemed satisfied, and hungrily questioned about other priorities. Lark gave an account of the information he had extracted while under the guise of an Imperium official. "Imperium have not been overly concerned with Alouda, or any pursuit of Sol. It seems they've relied on terminating any confirmed suspicions until now." "The arrogance of a Man God." said Markus. "It was Armek's undoing to believe that his grip held all things. I am only one of many loose strings." Lark paused until Markus' smug expression faded, then continued. "I was only able to secure level four clearance. We know what families they're targeting, and their likely next move." During the remainder of their flight, Lark detailed more of his findings. Included were blueprints of latest technologies, and in addition locations of off-ring hangars and construction sites. They would need to act soon in order to capitalize on any of it. Imperium wouldn't be crippled for long, and Gibrani wasn't the only family smelling blood in the ether. They arrived privately in Gibrani. Despite his peoples anxiousness to discover his fate, Markus understood that time was priceless. Preparations needed to be made, and so a celebration speech could wait. "Caius is waiting at temple tower." Lark said, pacing behind him as they moved into another vehicle. "Good, I'll meet him immediately." Soon thereafter they stood on a sky-level council floor within one of the tower spires of Gibrani capitol. Before them was a broad circular table with a digital interface stretched across it. Behind stood Caius, a man of Markus' age. Though not sharing the blood of the Gibrani's, Caius was an intimate adviser to Markus himself. In addition, Caius Gibrani headed their development program for off-ring development and procuring of technologies. "What a rare pleasure to see you on the ring. Then again, the occasion is as exceptional as it gets." Caius nodded his head, lowering his gaze to the interface. "Indeed. I trust my agent treated you well?" "No!" teased Markus. "You train them too thoroughly. He was every bit a cold Imperial dog." As reassurance of his teasing, Markus put a hand on Lark's shoulder. There was no response from the young man, only a bated expression as he waited to hear about their next move. Both elders took this queue willingly. "We've begun moving our needed assets off-ring to moons Picaro and Yclet. Judging from my agent's intelligence, the other families will be taking similar precaution. We've gotten what we need from Imperium. If war is to follow, I believe we're best off preserving our might until the weaker forces consume each other. Now..." Caius enlarged a map of the stars. "If I may, your military should position away from our moons. Right here, in order to keep my location concealed, but close enough that they can respond if need be. It is on Yclet that we've begun construction of a voyager. The technology that we still require will be extracted by my associate, with the location intelligence he's salvaged." Markus wore a look of acknowledgement, though many independent thoughts fired as well. "Thank you Caius. By all means move ahead for now. I must rest and make a public address." "Until I arrive on Yclet, then. Farewell." "Farewell friend." Markus took his leave, and Lark remained. Taking one final look to see that he had left, Lark then stepped forward to the interface. Caius spoke. "Imperium remains unaware of our shadow group. This distraction with Armek was pure providence." He slid a digital document across the interface, and Lark lowered his wrist computer to it. It was instantly downloaded. "A time of great chaos is all that can follow a long reign of order. You must complete your mission before these ripples become a great wave. Now, we must leave the ring." Lark's face betrayed a smile. All his training, isolation and patience had led to this probability. He, nor the many spies in their group before him thought that such a time would occur in their life. Now was the time to execute.
Markus Gibrani gives an address. Several hours passed in which Markus rested to regain his strength. In his stead, Gibrani officials arranged for a public address to be held on the great balcony of temple tower. This tower was the tallest of three who's height and architecture distinguished the entire capitol. Markus slept little, but his bed was comfort enough compared to a cold cell. Too much excitement filled his old bones, too many thoughts jolted his mind with new life. He lived for the grand speech. He was a hubris old fool, born with a mouth far too big for his own good. Lucky for him, he would say, that he was born into nobility, or he'd have been long dead. Or tongueless. At last he could hear it. The faint murmurings of conversation, the bustling of a mob and media. People gathered on the streets before the towering balcony, and media ships began to hover closer to temple tower. Handsome men and women of news media checked their cues, and informed streaming audiences that a speech was forthcoming. It was now or never, lest Markus make a public fool of himself from lack of sleep. He quickly cleaned himself up and dressed in a long formal suit. Presently Markus stepped onto the balcony, and all variety of light bathed him. His countenance still bore the look of a man abused, but his eyes held a rare youth; Fodder for the high-res cameras that focused in on every pore. Gibrani natives erupted in cheers. Despite his obscenely foolish acts that almost cost the capitol, he was now regarded as a rebel hero. Armek's death had made a pariah out of Markus Gibrani. Against the weight of all the eyes on him, he spoke at last. "It fills me with pride to hear your cheers! My imprisonment was harsh, but never did I lose the hope of returning to a victorious nation! I beg the people of Gibrani to forgive my brash actions. It was I who brought this conflict to a head, but it was Armek himself who created it! In my absence, the Imperium sought to audaciously claim our capitol as their own. But we proved to them that we are a nation of strength! No longer will they bully us into subservience!" "Now, Armek the God-King is dead. The circumstances surrounding his murder are shrouded in mystery, and I am aware of the suspicion cast on my family. People, of this I can assure you: While we rebelled against Armek's unjust treatment of our families, House Gibrani had nothing to do with his murder. The man who took Armek's life must pay with his own. Such is balance, and balance is what we must work towards maintaining in the trials to come." "Now is the time to take destiny in our hands. Mankind has no need for God's! Such shackles have haunted our entire history as a race! Let us not repeat these cycles of control and ignorance, where tyrant's may take advantage and deny us our free will! People, I say now is the time to cast off all uncertainty! Let us embrace true brotherhood and the pursuit of our dreams!" Markus was received well enough, and he paused while another roar of cheers rose and fell. "We, as a people, have much to discern and there is work to be done. I extend a gesture of peace to the other families, that we may join hands and work together! I vow to keep open dialogue with the media, so that you all may have an integral part in what decisions need be made. Now, however, I must beg your pardons. I am an old man in need of rest. I assure you, I am a man of reborn mission, just as our nation's freedom is reborn! Only in a world free of tyrants and limitations can we realize our true purpose! Celebrate your possibility! Celebrate the moment!" ... Off-ring, listening to the speech on a screen, Caius could only stare with a look of slight disgust. "Markus wishes to fill the seat of Armek. He would become everything he now decries, and far worse. The only worth of a man such as him is his ability to shepherd the ignorant." Lark was the only other occupant in the room, and he sat in silent thought. Caius broke from his thought process and turned to him. "I trust you're familiar with your mission. We've hired the Duren to act as your decoy. I am sorry about that, but I trust you'll find a way to avoid him entirely." Lark nodded. "Of course. His kind has no concept of subtlety. That third eye, however..." Lark stood and turned to leave. "I will be careful."
