Heir Of Chaos

An uncomfortable silence fell on the room as Dale sat in the midst of the people who were after his life not too long ago.

It wasn’t like he had a choice though.

Sera watched him with an impassive expression. There were no traces of the bright golden wings but Dale was sure they were still there... somewhere.

"I think we should talk." She said it again as though Dale hadn’t heard the first time.

He leaned back as far as the restraints would allow. "I’m all ears. Not like I have anywhere else to be." He gestured to the constraints.

Sera’s lips curved upwards into a small smile.

She reached into the folds of her dark uniform and produced a thin folder, placing it on the table between them.

"Oh look, a folder." Dale deadpanned and Block grunted but said nothing.

"Our employer sent us here with a contract," she said, her smooth voice carrying no inflection. "A simple one. It was to ’eliminate’ someone in Watchtower One."

Dale’s eyes flicked to the folder and he chewed the inside of his cheek. They knew the name of the watch tower so there must have been some truth in their words.

He smiled wryly, "Let me guess. You had the wrong coordinates."

"We had the wrong person," Sera corrected. "The target was not you. It was someone else. A deserter who’d been using this watchtower as a hideout for the past six months. We were hired to eliminate them and retrieve certain documents they’d stolen."

Dale blinked. "So you’re saying this is all a misunderstanding?" He was curious about the deserter in question.

It was a military outpost for watching the worms so how would it be a hideout?

Toxin scoffed from the corner of the room. "A misunderstanding that cost Ghost his life."

Sera raised a hand, silencing her. "We were given incomplete intelligence. The deserter’s description was... less than specific. It only mentioned his age and height."

Dale stared at her and squinted his eyes. "What I’m hearing is that you made an assumption and tried to kill me."

"We tried to capture you," Sera corrected. "If our goal was killing you, you would have been dead before you realized we were there."

Dale scoffed but said nothing. It certainly checked out his previous thought as to why Ghost hadn’t killed him while he was asleep.

He couldn’t help the dry laugh that escaped him. "Yeah, I doubt that." It was naturally a bluff.

Block shifted in his seat and his massive frame seemed to darken the room. "He killed Ghost with his bare hands," he grunted. "He’s not just some random recruit."

Dale’s eyes widened as he heard himself being called a recruit. He looked at the uniform he currently wore.

Despite the tears and dried blood on it, it unmistakably bore the insignia of the Utra nation.

Sera nodded slowly. "Which brings us to the present." She slid the folder across the table toward Dale.

He didn’t reach for it. Mainly because his wrists were still bound, and he wasn’t about to give them the satisfaction of watching him struggle.

Sera continued. "Our contract remains incomplete because the deserter is still out there. We would have resumed but we are also now short a member of our team. Ghost’s abilities were unique. He cannot be replaced easily."

Dale’s jaw tightened as he realized what she was about to say, "You’re not getting a replacement. I’m not joining your little murder crew."

Sera tilted her head. "That’s not what I’m offering."

The room fell silent.

"Ghost was killed during a contract," Sera said. "That is the nature of our work so we hold no vendetta against you, nor do we seek revenge. What we do, is assess value — something you possess."

Her flattery was so good that Dale almost told her his name wasn’t really Ream but there was no point.

"Ghost was capable," she continued. "He was reliable, lethal, and skilled. His death is unfortunate but we need you because you have something he didn’t."

Dale’s eyes narrowed. "What? A death wish?"

Sera smiled but ignored what he said. "Survival instinct. Ghost had it too but he just wasn’t fast enough." She leaned forward, folding her hands on the table.

"I’m not asking you to defect from the military. That would be impractical. You are clearly embedded within their system, and your presence there is of no consequence to us."

"So what are you asking?"

Sera stared directly into his eyes. "I am asking you to become a contact for us. We are mercenaries, not an assassin group so we don’t need you to always be with us."

Dale stared at her. "You want me to spy on the military for you."

"No, just a cooperation. You’ll be a member, just less active than the rest of us."

Toxin stepped forward, her voice filled with ill-hidden disdain. "You killed one of us yet Sera is offering you work instead of beheading you. Count yourself lucky."

Sera raised her hand, "Ignore Toxin. She’s emotional about Ghost’s death."

Dale raised an eyebrow, "And you’re not? I thought mercenaries looked out for one another." Even if he was considering joining them, he wouldn’t as long as they showed no clear signs of loyalty or bonding.

For all he knew, they were held together strictly because of the fear of disobeying Sera.

Sera leaned back. "Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be? I feel bad whenever someone I’m acquainted with dies but there’s no use crying or seeking out revenge especially when your point of view is considered."

Dale shifted in his seat. "Irrespective, I am not a murderer." And he truly wasn’t. Ghost’s case was simply self-defense.

Sera smiled. "Nor do you have to be. The reward for capturing the deserter alive is much higher than dead. Help us. I’m sure you already know that I am Ascended, so imagine the benefits of me being in your debt."

He couldn’t lie, it was certainly appealing.

Dale groaned, "Fine. I accept."

Sera nodded at Toxin. "Undo his bindings." The latter seemed surprised but complied nonetheless.