Cornelia was on a warpath for them. Patrols ran day and night without let up; a curfew was instituted; Syndicates were being raided every other day, private homes, businesses, factories. The Iron Dame was determined to smoke them out by any means necessary.

Edward disappeared ever since the new members came. He trapped himself in his room, perhaps on Master’s orders. I wouldn’t know, Master has been reclusive as well, only keeping to the upper levels. I hope Eiden doesn’t think too much of it; otherwise, he might-

The doorbell chimed. Percival’s hand seized up; the pen fell out of his land. It rolled off the table and onto the ground. “Master?” He asked aloud. The tick of the clock answered it; the butler twisted his head to see the time: twelve till six. It was too early for his morning medication. Percival shook his head; there was no time to waste. The chair screeched against the wooden floor; he bent over to pick up, his lower back still had the ghost of rubble on it. He gasped but continued for the pen, taking it into his hand. As his back inched its way straight the pain turned into a dull throb. He placed it next to the unfinished page. Percival smoothed out the wrinkles in his pants and made for the door.

Percival walked down the empty corridor, the air conditioner hummed above. The air stood still despite it, strange, the butler thought. The closer he got to the elevator, the more it felt like he was talking through jello. The old man trudged his way to the lift, he pressed the up-arrow, and within seconds the steel doors opened. Percival stepped into the box, on streaks of light were painted on the wall. The butler looked around, trying to see where it was coming from; it wasn’t from the elevator itself. Moments later, his eye caught it, he bent down, his back again protested. It was glass; he held it in the light. The shard glittered in every direction, its edges sharp as a knife. Eiden must have broken a drink, although the butler couldn’t recall when he did it. Percival shook his head and placed it in his pants pocket. He pressed the button; the box jumped upward, taking him to the apex of the tower. The air got stiffer and stiffer; the higher he went, it was almost unbearable. Then the thought occurred to him; why was he seeing Master? Right, the man rang for him. His mind was hazy, it was early for him to be up and about.

The elevator door opened, the air was frozen. He was worried, there was no reason to be, save for the early call. The butler took in a deep breath and started the trek through the hallway. The haze in his mind increased, putting one foot in front of the other became a challenge. It was like he was walking towards the epicenter of an explosion. Percival looked out the window; the sun had not yet overcome the horizon. He stood before the door; he knew not what to expect when he knocked. Silence. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead. “Master?” Percival asked through the door. No response. The butler gulped, “I am coming in, Master.” He placed a cold hand on the doorknob, with the cautiousness of a snake, he pushed open the door. Percival braced for whatever sight he was about to see.

The lights were off, only the faint glow of twilight illuminated the room. The silhouette of Master stood by the window, his back facing the butler. The man glanced around the room, it looked like a bomb did go off. “Percival.”

Master’s voice jarred Percival, but not for long. The man bowed, “Yes, Master?” He was grateful Master was alive, he was foolish to think so, that man was too stubborn to die.

“Bring Edward to his room, give him whatever he needs,” Master said, without turning around.

Edward? Was Edward here? Percival looked around, how could he find that little boy in all of the knocked over furniture. How did the furniture even get knocked over? “He is here?”

“He is.” The man made no move, no indication he was going to explain. Percival moved deeper into the room, he couldn’t concentrate on searching for the boy with the debris. He needed to clean, it was almost as bad as Eiden’s messes. He picked up the fallen chair beside the chess table, his arms were about to go for the second one, but Master stopped him. “Stop cleaning.” Percival froze. “Just get the boy to the quarters.” His tone felt like knives cutting through his heart. Master hadn’t been like this in a long time.

Without a word he got, he got back to searching. As he neared the epicenter of the calamity, a small outline of a body came into view. His steps slowed; the boy lied on the ground, unmoving. The sight he saw made him ill, Edward was dead. At least he looked the part. His skin was pale, so pale that he could see the blue of his veins. Only the slight rise and fall of his chest gave him a reprieve. The boy looked like he’d been starved to the brink of death. What did Master do to the teen? Percival scolded himself, he should not question Master, Master was never wrong. The butler placed one arm under his back and another his knees, and lifted. Edward was heavier than he looked; his lanky body made it all the more cumbersome. He was cold, frozen almost; how was he alive?

“He should recover in a few days, be careful around him,” Master warned Percival.

That made him feel no better about the limp body he cradled. “Yes, Master.” Percival stopped short of the door and looked at Master, then back at Edward’s. It was for the Empire; he reminded himself. The air was no longer still in the hallway, yet the haze in his mind got worse.

The butler’s mind drifted toward how to best take care of the child. Blankets, he would need blankets to bring up that temperature. Water and food were a given. Percival struggled to click elevator buttons, but with enough maneuvering and awkward positioning, he managed to get into the elevator. Now he had a better look at the boy in the fluorescent light; there were no signs of injury on his legs nor his arms. His throat was a different story. It had red and blue bruising in the shape of hands, with minor cuts where the fingernails would have been. Percival needed to get to the medical bay first, then to Edward’s quarters. The butler tried his best not to think about how he got those lacerations, it wasn’t his place.

As the elevator began its descent, his arms started to shake under the weight. He leaned against the wall, using it as a crutch. Even with the elevator, the trek to the medical bay wasn’t a short one. By the time the doors opened, he didn’t think he could make it. Percival closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on the task at hand. The man felt like he was about to collapse.

“What happened to him?” A voice asked.

Percival opened his eyes. Alarm bells started to go off. It was Alexa. No! It was too soon for anyone to see him. Master is going to be disappointed. The man’s thoughts sank lower and lower. He sputtered out nonsensical words in the vain attempt to justify what he was doing.

Alexa looked confused and perturbed at the sight; her blue eyes looked him up and down. Yet, she didn’t comment on Edward’s injury. “Do you need help getting him to the medical bay?”

Percival thanked her internally, thanking her for being one of the more level headed members. He nodded. In short order, Edward was in Alexa’s arms. “Thank you, Alexa.” Alexa wasn’t the worse person to see Edward’s face. Master had spoken of a plan to use her in conjunction with Edward. He just wished that she didn’t see him torn up without reason, himself not knowing made it even worse.

Her eyes occasionally flicked down at the boy, every time her face contorted. Percival couldn’t tell what she was thinking; perhaps it was better that way.“Is this Ghost?” The girl asked, breaking the silence.

“Yes, it is,” Percival answered. He begged her not to pursue the topic. The group was no stranger to violence, but seeing a child like this would shake anyone.

Alexa frowned, “What’s Eiden’s next plan? Must be something big if he called a meeting.”

The switch in subject caught Percival off guard. Eiden had never discussed any plan with Percival, neither a meeting. What was that teen thinking? Percival cleared his throat, “I was not made aware of Eiden’s intentions going forward nor that there was any meeting.” Percival would need to speak to Eiden about the lack of communication later.

“Is Eiden always this transparent with his second-in-command?” Alexa laughed.

Percival couldn’t help his chuckle that escaped his lips. She had no idea. Working with Eiden was never easy. If the butler was honest with himself, he was annoyed with the teen that he didn’t tell him about any plans, especially since it had been weeks since their last operation. The pair reached the medical bay, Percival held the door for her, she walked in without a hitch. He walked in behind her and headed for the first-aid closet. Originally the room was for utilities, with the three of them having to go underground Percival converted it to a makeshift hospital room. It had the necessities, bed, sink, first-aid, basic surgical equipment, and plenty of morphine. “Lay him down on the bed, please.”

As she did that, he got out petroleum jelly, a cup of water, and bandages. He placed it all on a metal tray, along with a towel. Percival approached the bed before he could begin the familiar task. Alexa took the cup and towel before he could object, she got to work cleaning the cuts. He observed her actions, taking note of how the girl took care of cleaning every last wound. Percival proceeded to uncap the jelly and prep the bandages. Oh, he thought, he forgot scissors. The man got up and revisited the closet, before he got to it, the tearing of gauze stopped him in his tracks. He turned to see Alexa already wrapping the bandages around his neck. She slid the pocket knife she must’ve used back into her pocket. The butler went over to her and inspected her work. He tugged at the bandages, she made them tight enough to stay on, but not enough to choke him. “Impressive,” he praised.

Alexa shrugged, “It’s nothing. I just hope there isn’t internal damage.” Her eyes stayed on the child longer than he would’ve liked.

Percival agreed with her, there was little he could do himself if it damaged his windpipe. “Let’s get him to his room.” She nodded and scooped Edward into her arms. He envied her vitality of youth. They stepped out of the room and towards the elevator. The butler looked down at her once more, she still held a troubled looked. “Is something the matter, Alexa?”

The girl bit her lip and readjusted Edward in her arms. “Is it alright for a kid to be involved in all… this?” She moved the teen as she gestured to the entire building.

“He is sixteen you know.” He clicked the up arrow to the elevator. The noise of the elevator rose from the levels below.

Alexa looked at him bewildered. “He is?” Percival nodded; when he first saw Edward he thought he couldn’t be over twelve. The teen broke out of her amazement. Shook her head, her ginger curls swayed about. “Well, that’s not the point. Getting children mixed up in a revolution, or whatever you are calling it.” She stared into Percival’s eyes, making her point as clear as possible. “I don’t like it.”

The elevator doors opened, and the pair walked through. The group had taken shelter in the tower for several weeks and the butler had not heard these sorts of thoughts from her. Usually, she and Kevin kept to themselves, throwing darts in the bar, or being an absolute nuisance to Eiden. Her complaints were valid, Percival thought, although only from an outsider’s perspective. How could he put her mind at ease, without revealing Edward’s true nature? The elevator dinged, and Percival figured it out. “I wouldn’t worry, Ghost will no longer be at the front lines. He will be far from danger.” The latter part was a lie. Percival knew how Master felt about lies, but it would have to suffice.

Before she could respond, an almost inhuman noise came out of Edward. “I can take him from here,” Percival stated. He didn’t take Master’s warning lightly, Alexa had already seen too much of him. The girl looked like she didn’t want to hand him over. The butler frowned and took Edward without her consent. Alexa mirrored his frown. That was no good. “When is the meeting?” Percival switched the conversation.

She switched to a contemplative expression, she tapped her chin. “Six-thirty I think.”

“And when is that?” Percival hoped it was soon. Maybe then the teen would think to leave for herself.

Alexa checked her watch, her eyes widened, “In two minutes.”

Percival gave her a knowing look, “Well you had better get going. Tell Eiden I will be there shortly.”

She nodded, the corners of her mouth didn’t quite reach her mouth. Alexa stepped back into the elevator, and Percival turned around. He walked down the barren hallway, Percival had not been on this level ever since he had first shown it to the child. The butler had much cleaning to do judging by the amount of dust, and cobwebs. Edward grumbled, this time it was more intelligible. Something about lies. Perhaps Edward had received the lesson on lies, Percival gleaned as he pushed open Edward’s door. The boy’s room was remarkably clean, everything was in its place, save for two books on his desk. The room was dim, the only light source was an old lamp Percival dug out of the basement.

The man placed Edward onto the bed with as much care as possible, the last thing he wanted was for him to wake up. Eiden was not one to keep waiting. But, of course, things went to the contrary of what Percival wanted. The boy’s pale blue eyes cracked open. He expected the blank stare he had become accustomed to, maybe a sleepy one if anything. What he saw was anything but.

His eyes told Percival a story of utter pain, betrayal, and anger. “He lied to me,” Edward said weakly. “He lied to me,” The second one came out stronger.

Percival was confused. “Who lied to you?” His words came out calmer than Edward’s, he needed him to calm down.

Edward didn’t answer and tried to get up, repeating over and over again that someone had lied to him. Tears streamed down his skin, the boy’s mouth quivered.

Percival kept him down on the bed. “You need to calm down, you are too weak,” he hissed.

The boy struggled against his arms. Edward refused to relent. “You don’t understand. You don’t understand.” The boy was hysterical. Edward tore himself from his grasp and ran for the door. Percival whipped around and caught the sleeve of his shirt. “Let go of me!” The child cried out.”

Percival grit his teeth and swung Edward back towards the bed, unintentionally slamming him into the bed. “Stop it, Edward,” he ordered, talking to him like a parent talking to a disobedient child. What was going on with him? Where did this emotion come from?

“No! My brother is alive! Leo is alive!” He argued.

Percival stopped. And thought about it. Brother… Leo… Then it clicked. The A.I. Project. He understood that is why Edward is so special to Master. “Who lied to you, Edward?” He asked in a restrained voice. Regret filled the man as he looked down at the injured child. The poor child was shaking, confused, and afraid. Bandaged and broken.

“Master,” Edward whispered.

Percival nodded, “Did he ever say your brother had died?” The boy shook his head yes. The butler knew this to be untrue, Master would never be as foolish as to lie like that. He gave him a steady look. Edward looked down, fingers gripped the carpet. The child shook his head no. Percival sighed, “That’s what I thought.” He took one last look at him, pity flashed in his eyes. He had to leave.

Edward turned into full panic mode, “No! Don’t leave me.” Percival kept walking despite the child’s cries. “Please don’t!”

“Stay here,” He ordered. The man walked out of the room and closed the door behind him. Percival cringed at the wails that reverberated through the door. All he could do was to keep walking. He would return to Edward once he had calmed down. Percival made his way to the elevator and ascended to the ground floor.

He heard the yelling as the doors opened. His eyes closed and mouth sighed, “From one battle to the next.” The butler pushed against the wooden door that led to the bar. It opened to a sight he would not soon forget. Bar stools laid strung about on the floor. In one corner there was Baethen, the man yelled obscenities, a single vein popped out in the middle of his forehead. His hands were balled into a fist, ready to strike. Harry and Thomas, both close associates of Baethen, held him back. They pinned him against the wall, the man struggled against their grip, threatening to break free from their grasp.

In the other corner was Eiden, he had his jaw clenched, eyes looked for the blood of Baethen. Kevin looked like he was playing tug of war with one arm, and Alexa the other. The enraged teen did his best to pull away from them. Anna, a petite female, stood in his way. She waved her hands, attempting to calm him down. However, the short brown-haired, and blue-eyed, the girl could do little against the fire of Eiden.

Henry stood in the middle of it all, the man looked like he was trying to take control of the situation, but to no avail. The other five sat on the couches; Felix and Cassius were in a heated debate. Percival presumed it was the same topic Eiden and Baethen were fighting over. Vitus, Eleanor, and Robert were all at varying levels of tired and annoyed. He could’ve sworn that Robert was asleep.

When Henry’s hazel eyes looked ready to surrender; Percival decided enough was enough and intervened, “If you cannot have a civilized conversation, you can have it somewhere else! Not in my bar!” The old man’s voice boomed over the fight. His throat was left in tatters, a small price for order. The entire room ground to a halt. All attention was on him. His eyes swept over the room in indignation. None of their eyes met his own, Percival sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Can anyone explain what happened?”

Both Eiden and Baethen started speaking, each rose their voices to drown out the other.

“Explain in a controlled matter, anyone,” he emphasized. Percival could handle personality conflicts, but this was too far. Completely unacceptable in Percival’s mind.

Henry was the first to speak up, “Eiden proposed to us a ‘brilliant’ idea. Baethen said some choice words about it.” He pressed his mouth into a thin line and gestured to the two of them.

“I wouldn’t call it ‘brilliant’, more like suicidal,” Kevin mumbled.

“Sarcasm, Kevin. Sarcasm,” Alexa commented.

Percival nodded and glanced at the tv of static, and then back at the group. “What was the plan anyway?” The butler gave a warning look to Baethen not to interfere, or say anything. He turned his attention to the troubled teen, “Eiden?”

The teen tore himself from his captors, taking a moment to catch his breath. “Every year all the Governors go to Washington. And since we are so close to the Capital, Talin goes by train,” Eiden explained. “Looks like a good opportunity to me,” he ended his idea with a shrug and glared at Baethen.

Percival contemplated the idea, it certainly was a good opportunity. But the challenges and falls in it were visible. He then asked Baethen, “What issues do you have with it.”

The man shrugged off his associates and returned the angered expression. “Well for one it’s suicidal.”

“And the attack on the Gala wasn’t?” Percival countered. Although the butler had his own issues with the plan, it wasn’t anything that couldn’t be worked around.

Eiden smirked and Baethen did a double-take. “Do mean the plan that didn’t work?” Cassius asked from the couch. Baethen pointed at Cassius and looked directly at Percival. “Why not have the person who planned our rescue do this one? It certainly wasn’t Eiden who plotted that.”

Percival facepalmed, did he really to say the last part. Eiden sneered at him, “I just hear a lot of whining. If it’s so bad why isn’t anyone coming up with another one?” The room was dead silent. The butler could feel the wheels turning in the others’ heads. As the seconds ticked by the more Eiden’s idea became legitimate. Legitimacy through of lack of a rival, Percival chuckled to himself, a very Master way of ruling. Eiden was trained by the man, it was to be expected.

A quiet voice came out of the corner, one Percival couldn’t quite make out. All heads swiveled to the source. It was Eleanor. “Can you say that again Eleanor dear?” He asked, as considerate as he could have.

She smiled at his considerateness, “It’s not a ‘bad’ idea.” Baethen looked like he was going to interrupt but, she pressed on, “I was wondering how killing the Governor is related to showing how ‘the Empire only is concerned with itself and not its people’?”

Eiden was quick to answer, “The Dame will save the Governor, she doesn’t care about the bystanders. It’s just how things work.” Even though Eiden’s tone was somewhat lighter, his deep-seated anger towards the Empire flickered through. The word ‘bystanders’ hung in Percival’s mind. Would Eiden- would Eiden target civilians? The man could barely stomach the thought. Never again, Percival thought. The man could barely stand keeping those prisoners hostage at the Gala, even if they were part of the elite.

The girl nodded, but still looked unsure, “What happens after that?”

Another valid question, Eiden thought the opposite. “So many questions; we’ll get there when we get to it,” the teen growled in response. What little patience he had visible slipped away from his face.

Alexa jumped into the debate, “It isn’t bad per se, I just wonder how we can get Cornelia to save the Governor, at the cost of civilians?”

“Even though he has a private entrance in the central station, he is in the public eye for a very brief moment when he boards the train,” Henry stated. By his tone, the twenty-year-old was growing on the idea.

Baethen’s face fell at the loss of support, he looked between Thomas and Harry. He ran his fingers across his light brown hair; his hand made visible a few white hairs, “I suppose it is possible. Civilians will make it harder for the security to pin us down.” Eiden showed his teeth at Baethen’s surrender. The teen always seemed to get his way in the end.

Percival took this opportunity to intervene, “While I do agree in having civilians an obstacle for the Dame, I do not agree in threatening them directly.”

The teen leader threw a look of annoyance at the butler but said nothing. Henry had a puzzled look on his face, “Why not?”

Percival sighed internally, young people never understood the cost of life. He would need to choose his next words carefully to sway opinion. “If we target civilians, we would only be making enemies out of them, destroying our cause before it has a chance to accomplish something.” The room contemplated the words, save for Eiden, who looked bored by this point. This gave Percival the courage to continue the argument, “If we were to hold some of the Dame’s soldiers hostage, whilst having civilians close by… I believe it would achieve the same effect.” The butler glanced at each person, gauging their response.

Kevin gave him a thumbs up, noises of agreement came from the couches, some reluctant and some earnest. Henry gave him a curt nod as well as Alexa. She was looking at Eiden, seeing what he would do. The teen just rolled his eyes, and breathed out a ‘whatever’. The three men did not object, thus giving their support.

Alexa’s fist shot up into the air, “Down with the Empire!” She cried. The room repeated the chant, even Eiden. His smile grew and grew as the chants increased in volume.

Percival knew that Eiden wanted the Empire to be destroyed more than ever. The butler hoped that this was his chance to achieve it. He once again looked at the T.V. in the corner, he wondered what Master thought about all of it. Surely he was proud of Eiden. The teen was his heir anyway.