The grey ventilated shafts of the maintenance tunnel were only dimly lit by the neon white hues from the circuitry below. Another cramped space, Archius has been in many places like this - spying and keeping tabs on his eyes during the rebellion. Well, it wasn't exactly too cramped. Unlike the aquarium's tunnels, this had human ergonomics in mind in its creation.

Archius listened into the conversation happening across the station, from a micro-camera stuck to Noah's clothes. One of his eyes had planted it, the accidental bumping trick always works. " Alright, playtime is over, let's see what's actually fucking going on," he said to himself. He got up and started to walk around the maintenance shafts.

It was a series of interconnecting tunnels across the station - with many control panels and meters for display - a spy's wet dream.

'Kazuki... I've marked my location, you might wanna be interested in this,' Archius informed Kazuki. He won't reveal it just yet, though.

A reply came coldly, 'What? Is it that important?'

'Duh!'

'Fine... I—'

'Catch you later!' Archius cut in, cutting his uplink chatter. He'll need to concentrate if he wants to listen into the nitty gritty conversation.

He really did benefit from some extra intel, after all, it did lead to this…

'Obadiah,' Noah said. 'Eliza's here. I think you know how this will go.'

'Who's that big guy!?' Obadiah shouted out loud. 'I said no one but you two!'

The microcam slowly slid to reveal Cyrus, taking up the whole fucking camera with his large stature.

Seems like Obadiah was objecting to Cyrus' involvement. 'He's my bodyguard,' Eliza said. 'He stays...'

'No problem with me,' said Lady Antiar. Archius could see Obadiah give her a side glance, why a member of the Seven Criminals was with Obadiah in the first place should be investigated - but Archius had some personal fishes to fry first.

'Your role here is to advise and to protect me! Is that correct?' Obadiah asked. 'Remind yourself, Lady Antiar, that you are a Seven Crim, you have a responsibility to uphold that.'

'Yes... sir,' Lady Antiar murmured, seemingly taking the piss out of him.

Noah glanced towards Eliza. 'Lady Antiar,' Eliza started. 'I thought you would be on this side of the table... given your responsibility to myself and Fer-Charelota.'

Lady Antiar did not answer the question, instead simply remaining quiet whilst slowly nodding. Obadiah seemed impatient, tapping two fingers against the desk.

It was clear what Obadiah was going to do, but whether Lady Antiar would follow through is another question. Archius prays for her safety that she makes the right choice: that being to not fuck with the Contract-Breaker. Whatever the choice was, Archius could see it clearly written on the office's black walls.

'Lady Antiar... explain it to them,' Obadiah said. 'We should not keep secrets from one another, after today: we will all leave this station with profit.'

The Imperial Knight hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded. 'I am a member of the Seven Criminals... I got it after killing the last one for slaving children... As a Knight, I protect. But I must also look to my other roles, as this status comes with many benefits…'

She bit off that last part, her orange-slit eyes glancing at Obadiah. Ooh, Lady Antiar seems very sharp on the nose, for whatever reason.

'I am here under orders of the Board,' she continued. 'Don't worry, it's merely a formality, Eliza, as soon as these negotiations end, I'll go back to protecting Senator Delia and the Marquis, I will escort you to them if you request it. First and foremost, I am an Imperial Knight, protector of the innocents and defender of justice.'

'Why…' Oh? What was Eliza going to say? 'Thank you, I think I'll take you up on that offer.'

It was a bitter sentence, Archius thought - lacking the normal tact that Eliza had, replaced with venom… Seems like she finally does learn. Took her long enough.

Archius snickered at Lady Antiar's very cheesy comment. It was true, to some extent, but they were IMPERIAL knights. Given the fact that practically everyone at some point was a bloodthirsty murderer in history.

'The board has been very clear on your parameters, Lady Antiar... do not breach it,' Obadiah said, ignoring the three people in front of them.

Eliza cleared her throat.

Lady Antiar snapped back, 'And remember yours. After everything and the suspicions... you are lucky they have only assigned me to... look over and after you.'

Interesting! A three-way power struggle between Lady Antiar, Obadiah and the Board? His security was in the crossfire of the drone attack. Would Obadiah get himself into such danger? Knowing such a cowardly man, no. But would such a man do something this foolhardy and arrogant? Probably.

Archius would definitely pay to watch a struggle between Lady Antiar and Obadiah - of course with Lady Antiar eventually killing Obadiah… Just like how she killed the last people who tried to run a slave ring.

'Tch... I am not the one you are seeking,' Obadiah sneered at Lady Antiar, turning his chair towards her. Lady Antiar remained calm, though her glare was placed on Obadiah. 'I am innocent of that... you fool... you don't see it as clearly as I do... just another pawn.'

'The Contract-Breaker and the B—'

Noah coughed loudly, clearing his throat for both of them to hear. This stopped Lady Antiar from speaking. AWH! She was just getting to the good stuff as well.

'Lady Antiar... Obadiah... please, if we may!' Noah shouted. 'This is a meeting, is it not? Bicker in your lover's quarrel elsewhere.'

Rather thorny response, Archius thought.

Noah glanced around at the guards in the room - uneased with Obadiah by his uproar. They were probably there to protect against Lady Antiar if she ever decided to detain Obadiah. There were a few stationed closer or behind the three 'guests'.

They were essentially hostages, with the guards there so Eliza would be in the crossfire of any… disagreements.

'My... apologies. I was merely having a few disagreements with my associate,' Obadiah said. He flicked something up from the table. He looked to be sweating... He flicked it over to Noah. He remained silent for a moment... 'My private storage is DK-05-AB, stick that into the container and bring it over here... It is of importance if our plans will succeed… I have no doubt that there will be those against me and you, this item will ensure our safety, the decisive step in it.'

'What am I, your mule?' Noah sneered back.

Eliza patted Noah on the arm as if reassuring him of this. It was a foolish move... Very foolish. Archius formed up a cringing face at her practically poor political performance, and Kazuki's not even here! Did she finally decide that she was big for her boots and run off again?

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Archius grumbled and groaned audibly. "The last time that happened, Kaz started a war…" his grumbles were only to himself, after all, Kaz wouldn't care: the end is all the same to him.

Noah slowly got up.

'Just do this for me... please...' Obadiah said, as if begging. Was he… actually begging? No! Of course, Obadiah wouldn't. But Archius sensed desperation in his voice, no artificial creations either.

Lady Antiar stared intently at him, suspecting him of something. Archius also suspected Obadiah of this... but it was too easy! For someone less astute, this was evidence enough... But, sadly, this was the only evidence available - and Archius must go on facts.

'I have no doubt the eyes and ears are aware of this meeting, and you must make do with haste,' said Obadiah. At least Obadiah wasn't stupid enough to think he was beyond the purviews of spies.

Even if his guts weren't fully convinced.

'Fine... but don't talk until I get back,' Noah said. He turned, and left the room, whispering something into Eliza's ear, 'I'll be back, stay safe.'

Eliza replied quietly, 'I have my bodyguard with me... he'll do good.'

Of course, he would, against anyone else that wasn't Lady Antiar fucking Kelebori.

Noah, convinced of her safety, nodded and left. Obadiah's private storage... That'd be in the higher end of the security zone. Archius couldn't get a good look at what Noah was holding on.

The two rarely spoke now, it seems that little incident in the brothel had caused him to be distant, though more out of awkwardness than any malice… Archius understood it, even Kaz was weirded out a bit at times by the lengths Archius would go.

Archius started to move, mirroring Noah towards his location - the storage lockers. Up the ladders, and through hallways, Archius made sure every move he made was following Noah. Archius might not have Kazuki's memory, but when it comes to it he can remember a lot.

Give or take a few minutes, and Archius was practically on top of Noah… Metaphorically of course.

Surprisingly, there were practically no guards. The Imperial Knights must be stretched thin, Archius thought, and the Squires were probably manning the shitty posts - but this place seemed to be an even shittier posting.

Tailing Noah was easy, no need for an ICAPAD, or sneaking around corners and stupid shit that people would see on the screens, he was doing this logically. He was simply walking above him, on the walkways within the depot, a large storage place that made even a small void vessel puny in comparison.

"Oh... where are you going..." Archius said, sighing as he yawned. "Just get to the place already, or Kaz will kill you."

After a bit, Noah stopped. Finally! He turned towards one of the private storage crates and opened it up.

Taking a small device out, Archius hooked it to the banister, before clambering and falling off the walkway. A cable extended out from the device, rappelling Archius down.

Thank fuck it wasn't faulty… Archius landed on the crates below… It would probably have been a painful fall if the cable was faulty. Or lethal.

Archius walked across the top of a few crates, the mechanisms within them moving towards the hall side. Archius could see Noah's section of crates moving up and down, left and right. It was a jigsaw of movements until it stopped.

Noah will have a lot of explaining to do. After all, Archius caught a small glimpse of what Noah was dealing with… Binary codes that were linked towards one particular category of commercial items.

Defender drones. So dutiful in their defence that they caused so much death.

"So... Noah!" Archius cried out. Extending one arm out, he waved.

Noah twisted to look at Archius, just as he injected a device he was holding onto into the crate... Shit... Archius could hear a series of beeps, rising in volume.

Noah opened his mouth to speak, only for him to be cut short by a knife throw. The throw sliced through the device, disabling whatever the crate had in store… The rumbling of beeps came to a deathly halt.

"ARCHIUS?!" Noah shouted, reeling from the knife throw as he glanced back at the crate, then at Archius. "What are you... here? What? Did.... you do?!"

"I stopped you from doing whatever the hell Obadiah told you to do," Archius responded. "Come on... don't think I haven't been keeping tabs on you. Ever since that little thing in the red lights district, you've been acting strange."

Noah could only let out one word, "Huh?"

Archius sighed and lied, "Look, I'm worried about you. It also seems that you got Eliza in trouble as well… She was with you, wasn't she?"

"None of your business!" Noah snapped. He looked towards the crate, trying to see if it was working or not. Clearly, it was not. Whatever he was sent here to do, it seems like it has failed. Archius rolled his eyes. "You've been spying on me! Let me guess… you're with that dirty fucking Contract-Breaker!"

"Oh, spying?! Me?!" Archius chuckled. "No... No! I'm just a worried friend, a friend with a particular set of skills that make me good at knowing who is worried and who is not."

Noah replied, "Sounds like you've been spying on me, fuck…"

Well... It was nice to play nice with Noah, but it seems like he'll have to use the stick and not the carrot. Archius approached, clenching his fists. Noah saw this and prepared to fight him. Very bad move, Archius thought, watching Noah place both his fists in front of him.

At least he had some form…

Noah swung. Archius didn't even have to think to duck beneath the attack, grabbing his hand and immediately uppercutting him. Noah let off a muffled cry, tumbling backwards.

Now it was time for Archius to go on the offensive. He slammed his fist in a flurry of attacks, not even allowing him a moment to rest. "Bad idea, Noah."

"Gah, I'll… Get you!" Noah managed to scrape together a few words, in a small lull as Archius relented.

"Foolish!" Archius shouted, before laughing his head off. "Look, you're fun, and you're funny to watch as well, don't end it like this."

"You..." Noah trailed off, as Archius kicked him away. He recovered quickly, rushing to tackle Archius.

Archius stepped to the side just as Noah got into range. He kicked upwards, straight into...

Oh... Jeez. Archius gritted his teeth as he took a few steps back, Noah started to cough up in pain. "Oh! I did not mean to hit you there... I'd tell you to get a free hit on me, but you'd just return the favour.

Noah crumpled out across the floor. Archius turned away. Ugh, how long will he keep doing this? He asked himself. For a few seconds, he kept thinking, only to hear running behind him. Archius gripped his fist, twisting and preparing to land a counterpunch.

But Noah didn't even try to gain any counterplay.

He was running! Noah was just fleeing from the fight! Archius shook his head, more frustrated than anything. "Noah! Don't do that! I don't have many restraint-type tools on me… I might end up killing you!"

Noah kept running. Archius sighed and started to chase after him.

"How much stamina do you have?!" Archius shouted at him from behind. "You sure do like running!"

"STOP FOLLOWING ME! GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!" Noah shouted back.

Archius kept up the pace until Noah fled into a twisting maze of smaller warehouse chambers, filled with shelves and sneaky tunnels. "Come on! Don't make this hard for all of us!"

"All of you?!" Noah shouted back.

Noah kept running, until: a dead end. It was between a bunch of shelves and a few exits and maintenance tunnels above. Archius looked up, at the open hatch above Noah.

Yikes.

Well... "Nowhere to run, Noah... you know you can't fight me," Archius said. "Dude, really, I don't want to kill you, honest, on my dead mother's bony corpse, and my brother…"

Archius started to list things off on his fingers, using a duodecimal counting system.

"Father… other brother… and… sister."

Noah got ready to fight again. In his condition, bruised face and wavering arms and legs - Archius knew it was going to be a one-sided slaughter. To make things worse, Archius can't get away easily here… But if Noah tattles… that's a different story.

"Noah, don't move," ordered Archius. Archius felt a cold rush across his skin.

The hairs on his arms stiffened. The air was cooling. And death approached.

He replied, "Why should I do that?!"

"I... really mean it. Do. Not. Move."

Noah's eyes moved down to the Black blade held on his throat. It was tight, one movement was all it took to kill him - the straight-edged blade was already digging into Noah's skin.

Behind Noah was a figure, a well-dressed, suited figure. A level of malice permeated from his mere presence, exemplified by the aura of his golden glare, directed to Noah. A dead face followed, the look of someone very much not willing to negotiate, and someone much crueller than Archius - in some aspects.

For a moment, Noah's hands moved, only for one to be frozen in fright and panic - whilst the blade pushed deeper into his neck. Noah froze... "I..."

"I told you, don't move, good warning, right?" Archius smiled, before chuckling. Then, he dropped the formalities and facades, his face receding into a death stare at Noah - and Kazuki. "It was a good warning, wasn't it? Or no? Maybe I should have put some more flair into it…"

Kazuki asked, "What is this?"

Archius' lips curled into a very much real smirk. This was amazing... The manipulator, the secret keeper and the man who knows it all. All in one room, Archius was very pleased with this, all answers will be revealed here.

Whether Kazuki or Noah likes it or not... Both have stories, stories that they will spill on each other's behalf… Such perfection, Archius thought.

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