Trojan's Report
12 Oct 2020Aeryn Airstryder
Tiberius stood alone in the centre of the room, he couldn't see the outer walls, only a single bright light, directly above him was illuminated.There was a click, and a large blue holographic screen appeared in the air before him, no image, just a line that moved as the electronically distorted voice spoke:
"Your Report, Trojan!"
Tiberius opened his mouth to speak, closed it, gulped, and tried again;
"M-My lord, The...um...'The Fool', she...um...She...escaped...we have tried to trace her, but those protecting her...they have covered their tracks well..."
Something could be clearly heard smashing in the background, even through the distortion.
"My Lord there was a...Complication, August h..."
"I am already aware of August Arquette's betrayal Trojan"
Tiberius could make out the creak of a chair, and could envision his employer lacing his fingers and leaning closer to the screen, when he next spoke, his words were calm, calculated, and dripped with menace;
"I do recall tasking you, specifically, with ensuring that the truth behind the death of that hag Lady Arquette remained buried, and that one of the Arquette brothers killed the other, and I also remember specifically stating that under NO, circumstances were they to have the opportunity to have a nice little chat, the damage your failure may have caused is incalculable, At least, some minor good came from this ordeal!"
"My Lord?" Tiberius had his hands behind his back now, fingernails cutting into his palms out of total fear
"My spies tell me 'The Emperor is wounded and lies bedridden, his children march to war leaderless! This simplifies our plans for that system.
However a new problem has arisen, The Emperor's whore has made contact with the devil, and hopes to strike a deal that could have disastrous repercussions."
"What are my orders my lord? Find the devil? and deal with him?"
"Report to Vodan, he will contact you shortly with meeting orders, If I cannot trust you to capture even 1 little girl, and keep 2 men from meeting, then I cannot trust you to work unsupervised! And Trojan, Do NOT fail me again.
If you disappoint me for a second time, you will not have the opportunity to do it for a third."
The screen clicked off and Tiberius slumped to his knees hyperventilating clutching at his shirt, knowing full well that he was very lucky be alive, if his employer had given the order, he would not have made it five paces out the door before he had been gunned down.
Then he cursed, he'd never met Vodan, but already, he hated the man.