Petherick, Europe…The Redgrave Castle interior seemed more appropriate for haunting than inhabiting. Lance-wielding guards standing in pairs at each door served to be the only signs of life. The massive rooms carried an ominous, ghostly presence, and not just thanks to the dim lighting and aging architecture. For as long as the Redgraves have ruled Petherick, this castle has housed them. Many a Redgrave have gone cradle to grave residing in the stone walls of the family fortress, and it seemed soon another would join the ranks of the monarchy's dead. King Lucian lay fittingly like a corpse under the crimson bed sheets, wires sticking from his limbs, connected to machines that did little more than show the speed at which his body betrayed him. His skin was tight against his bones, his uncut black hair greying in streaks from scalp to shoulder. His blue eyes shone through the shadow cast over his face, obscuring the disturbing decay of his suffering skin. At the corners of his bed hove

The Crusaders' base… The Petherican Elites stood with their plasma guns at the ready, while Prince Arin stood with his hands behind his back before the kitchen bench, his chin raised in an effort to project an aura of superiority over everyone around him. Umi's head poked out ever so slightly from behind Hikaru, while Thomas and Gunk stood normally, Thomas being desensitised to the presence of royalty, and Gunk unfazed by the very concept. Starbolt came through the hallway door first, bowing his head at the sight of the Petherican Crest, followed by Techsmith, who did the same. Finally, in came the man of the hour. Once he stepped into the room, the thoughts Mind Master picked up from the Prince once he was seen entering hit him like a tidal wave, and he knew exactly what Arin had come to him for. His demeanour unchanging, he quickly pushed down his initial emotional instincts and kept his composure for the rest of the conversation. He attempted a bow, but Arin raised his hand to stop

Boston…Jimmy Nomad held his guns beside his head as he took a deep breath. The shipping container against which he leaned served as acceptable cover from the enemy fire for the time being. His one-man stakeout on the primary operating warehouse of super-tech dealer Surge in Boston was not going quite as intended, as his swift discovery set every thug on high alert. After finally gathering himself, he spun out from behind the metal box and fired away in an effort to divide the thugs. He was successful, as the trio of plasma gun-blasting thugs split apart. Jimmy sprinted halfway up the side of the container he was hidden behind, bounding off onto the top of the adjacent container upon which a thug reloaded. He fired three blue blasts from his right-handed revolver, striking his target in the knee, then the rib, then the chest to knock him down. From the corner of his eye, he saw a second thug climbing up the shipping container to the right, and quickly shot his left arm under his exten

The Crusaders' base, Los Angeles…Hikaru stepped through the opening metal door as Thomas fiddled with the dials on his new stereo while down on one knee. Thomas, as ever, barely acknowledged him, despite being clearly aware of his surprise guest. Hikaru's attention-drawing cough didn't stir him from his task of figuring out how his new technology worked, and thus he simply decided to speak under the assumption that Thomas was listening."I'd like to talk to you about something." He began amiably. Thomas' responding words weren't so warm."I thought you were just going stare at me as I figured out how this bloody stereo works.""It concerns you and the team. Specifically, your backstory. Gunk tells me you've been particularly secretive when it comes to your personal history, but it seems clear to me that the only thing keeping you here is the team itself, considering your training of Suzy and guiding of Gunk. It also seems clear that most of you know very little about one another on a

Andrew opened the door to see Arin before the bedded King Lucian. The dim lighting hadn't changed, not that he would notice."Andrew, my son." Lucian began. "Arin has told me of your…suggestions as to finding new methods of improving the quality of life in this land.""And what do you think?" Andrew asked."I approve, without a doubt. I'm willing to do anything to help pave the road on the path to peace. But as you can see…I'm hardly fit to lead this new Petherick. After all, it was under my reign that those terroristic rebels formed. My time on the throne has passed…but yours may yet begin. Andrew, in leading the new Petherick…are you willing to take up the throne as its monarch?" Arin looked away as he awaited his brother's answer, and he mentally assumed the worst. Andrew had been prepared for this question the moment he heard Lucian's approving words and he came out with a carefully formulated response."I'm sorry, father, but I cannot." Lucian and Arin both looked at him like a p