"Do we really have to do this?" Ketsia complains adding on to what seemed like an eternity of whining to Sega.
They were in Jaratan another independent state within Taabu which had propped itself up via trade both legal and illegal. This turned it into a safe haven for dredges of society of all sorts, political power was held by organized criminals and the leader of the state was the biggest gang boss within all of Jaratan and arguably Taabu.
Sega just stared at Ketsia with a disapproving look before getting on with making way to a café. Ketsia responds with a sigh. The whole affair didn't sit well with Ketsia because it was out of the norm for Sega. She was the type to come up with a plan and contingencies from alphabet B-Z and even more if she saw fit. She was a paranoid person and a strategic planner and this had always served her and hers well and as a result her sisters had fully entrusted her to lead them. This also served as a deterrent to enemies because as much as the Perils were powerful the thing that scared most of their enemies was their vicious nature and the cunning portayed by their strategies in war. With all that considered Ketsia was concerned because this plan seemed like it was off a whim.
"See reason. We are infiltrating enemy lines and of all the places The Throne of War and during the war festival no less. With just the two of us and four of them all at the same place together." Ketsia pleaded as they take their seats in the café.
"And that is why of all my sisters I want you there. Ketsia The Peril of War. The War Goddess of the south but it seems your faith in me is waivering." Sega responded looking dead in Ketsia's eyes.
"Its not that…I would never doubt you not when you brought me back from death when I failed you but surely this isn't like you."
Both paused their conversation while a waiter came by to greet them and take their orders. Sega ordered a coffee and Ketsia a fruit drink.
"Well then Ketsia you want to know why I want to infiltrate Throneram at this time?" Ketsia gives a nod for Sega to continue. "I don't know and it scares me."
"Well that is vague." Ketsia says rolling her eyes and leaning back.
"You didn't let me finish. The Dreamtaker. He participated in the military crusades like the rest of his siblings before the signing of the treaty and as you know to beings like us that might as well be playtime we rarely find a challenge in such activities unless we encounter each other on the battlefield but it cant be used as an accurate measure of strength." Sega pauses as the waiter comes by with their orders. She settles the bill there and then.
"Id say he's fairly up there. After all he was responsible for the events in what was Merisonara and single handedly at that." Ketsia says taking a sip of the juice.
"Yes but during our last battle with the Reapers he didn't stand out. He was majorly in the shadow of his siblings. So naturally its easy to dismiss him but with what he did in Merisonara and now adding what he's done to Rekonitri we cant afford to ignore him anymore. That witch might be keeping him and his abilities under strict supervision to use him as a trump card against us. I wouldn't put it past her I know I would do the same. I cannot account and plan for what I don't know not while going up against The Reapers. And we also don't know what spurred their breach of the treaty. The witch might have him shelved for now but if we don't know what he can do and he is sent our way… We have to learn from the err of our past ways." Sega said completing her explanation.
"If he comes I will strike him down." Ketsia said her temper flaring up.
Sega chuckled lightly. "You said the same thing about Grim.
Ketsia froze up instinctinctly reaching for her neck with her arm abandoning the action when she makes contact with the shoal she had adorned as a disguise.
"It was a mistake…I miscalculated."
"A mistake that almost cost you your life Ketsia. You went against the plan and bit off more than you could chew. If it wasn't for Olivia and Taxine that scar on your neck would've been your demise." Sega says downing the last sip of her coffee.
"So how are we getting there they have tight security at their borders and we cant sneak in without Charios noticing we'll have to use the entry points like everyone else." Ketsia said glad to change the subject.
"That's why the festival is key to my plan. During the festival thousands of vendors flock The Throne of War to make profit of the people who cgo to watch the fights. The security screening on the traders side is usually overwhelmed and henceforth bound to be lax." Sega says as she gets up and starts walking out of the café.
"That's why you insisted on stopping here in Jaratan. Cool but we aren't vendors and getting permits right now wouldn't help us much now would it." Ketsia says her voice still a little bitter.
"That's what those two lads are for." Sega says pointing to two young men loading up a truck with goods bound for trade. One of the men notices and waves awkwardly at Sega. She waves back her left hand covering her mouth feigning shyness.
"You cannot be serious!"Ketsia retorts.
"Ohh ! But I am so you better get with the gimmick." Sega replies as she starts to strutter seductively towards the men.
Ketsia mutters something inaudible under her breath but nevertheless follows suit.
"Well ! Howdy ? What are two good looking ladies like you doing stopping next to our truck." The elder of the two men asked them without stopping the process of loading his cargo.
"I'm not sure you have what we're looking for boys but I'm sure you could help us." Sega said readjusting her shoal to expose her cleavage slightly.
The elder of the two men blushed a little trying to avoid eye contact with the exposed bit of skin.
"Well I certainly hope you're as thick somewhere else as you are in the head."Sega said closing the distance between the two of them and placing her hand on the man's chest.
"I don't see why big boys like you are shying off."Ketsia said doing the same to the younger man.
"I…dddd…oo…"The younger man tries to say something but is stopped by Ketsia putting her finger over his lip.
"Why don't we start with your name love."
"It's James." He replies now getting comfortable with Ketsia's advancements.
"What about you?" Sega asks the older man.
"Its Chuck."
"Well then you wanted to know what we are looking for Chuck. We're looking to show the two of you a good time."
"We'd love to but we heading out to the war festival and we already latr so…" Chuck replied his tone portraying his state of dilemma.
"We could bring them with us Chuck. With them helping we'll sell everything plus we could…uuhhhhmm…have a good time." James pleaded.
"Im not really sure bout that." Chuck said scratching the back of his head his eyes fixed on Sega.
Before he could give his reasons Sega pinned him to the side of the truck and gave him a kiss.
"You still not sure?"
"Let us finish loading up then we can be on our way. You ladies get comfortable."
Within no time the truck was loaded up and they had started their journey toward Throneram. If all went well they'd arrive in Throneram before sunrise and by the time it was early morning they'd have their stall all set up in the capital. Sega and Chuck sat at the front while Ketsia and James sat in the back with the cargo to deter any bandits who might get any ideas. This was necessary because Chuck had decided to use the desert road instead of the main one to avoid traffic but this route was mainly used by weapon and drug smugglers hauling cargo to and fro Jaratan.
As soon as they had started on their way Sega had turned cold toward Chuck, she no longer saw the need to keep up the ploy. Chuck had grown comfortable driving in silence despite his best efforts to keep a conversation going. The silence in the cabin was suddenly disrupted by a loud back in the truck's back followed by a distorted scream that barely lasted a second.
"What the hell was that?" Chuck said slamming his foot on the brakes to bring the truck to a halt.
Sega responded by shrugging her shoulders but she knew exactly what it was. Might as well be now she thought to herself.
Chuck got off of the truck and started making his way towards the back of the truck. He had grown weary of Sega and Ketsia it all seemed to good to be true. He cursed himself for listening to James and for falling for a girl who had actively ignored his existence for the last two hours of the drive. The thought that they were raiders suddenly crossed his mind, he pulled his gun from its holster on his belt and pulled up on the back of the truck.
From behind the closed doors he could see blood trickling from the inside of the compartment. His stomach immediately ties itself into a knot. His fear had been confirmed they were raiders.
"James!" he shouts as he pulls open the latch to unlock the door. "James are you in there?"
Sega pulls up to the back of the truck too scaring Chuck who takes a step back from the door and trains his gun on Sega.
"Stay back you friggin raider b*#ch scum." He yells using the gun to signal Sega to step back.
"Funny you couldn't get enough of us back in Jaratan." Sega says stepping forward.
"I'm serious I'll shoot." Chuck says taking two steps back to keep the distance between him and Sega.
"And I wont die." Sega replies flatly.
"Hell you mean by that ! You'll drop dead like any other living thing!" Chuck said now ready to pull the trigger.
"Try me!" Sega said raising her palm toward Chuck to use as a target.
He takes the chance and lets off two shots one on the open palm and the other right between Sega's eyes. Both bullets bounced right off.
"What are you?" Chuck asked as he felt despair fill up in his gut.
"You were supposed to shoot my hand. Really Chuck I thought you were better than that."
"Please let me and James go you can have the cargo and the truck here have the keys." Chuck said pulling the keys out of his pocket frantically before placing them slowly on the ground.
"Ketsia what the hell are you still doing in there?" Sega asked her attention shifting from a snivelling kneeling Chuck.
Ketsia flings open the truck door completely flinging out James or what was left of him. Chuck immediately cringed and started to vomit at the sight of the mangled body. Its lower jaw was all that was left of the face, the tongue popping up like a pink island in a sea of crimson. He was missing the flesh on his right forearm and his torso was full of bloodied craters that exposed broken ribs and internal organs. His legs were broken in several spots as well with pieces of bone sticking out.
"You don't think you overdid it?" Sega asks Ketsia her gaze still fixed on the corpse.
"He tried to touch me plus we were gonna kill them either way so it doesn't really change much." Ketsia responds indifferent to what she had done.
"Chuck. This is how this is going to go. I need your trading permits and the keys to the truck. Hand them over and you can just walk, run or crawl away I really don't care." Sega said to Chuck who was having an emotional breakdown.
"Thee liiiii…cceeennssees are…are…are in…in the g…g…glove compartment." He replied amid sobs.
"Kindly leave the gun too before you leave." Sega added.
Chuck dropped the gun and got up unsure and afraid looking at both sisters but all he saw were two monsters he'd fallen prey to. He took his first step away and then the next and suddenly he was running. Where to? He didn't know but he knew he was running for his life.
"Are you really going to let him live?" Ketsia asked Sega confused.
"Of course not!" Sega replies picking up the gun and emptying it on Chuck's back. "He kissed me. No mere man deserves to be bestowed that honor and live.''