No pressure... really.

[All-Marshall Evaine]

Evaine stood on the crevice of wanting to run in the other direction as she looked at the doorway about to be encroached on by her high heels. The man behind those doors was the scariest man within the Force and here she was requested to leave the comfort of her ship, her Fate and lastly her power to greet his man of men. She had hoped for more time to gather her forces and situate herself within her rank first before being manhandled by any of the other All-Marshal's. But no, she was called to the forsaken planet of Ebonron... for what reason? Only for a meet and greet as far as she understood but from what she could understand, it was to instill fear into her. This planet was more foreboding to say the least. Half the planet covered in night for half the year as it orbits the single star within the system. Six moons encompassed the planet, creating crazy weather patterns... basically leaving the planet to rely on outer supplies if the sunnier side was having a bad harvest.

The creatures on the planet followed the night, dangerous and eerie they glowed in the night and had claws longer than any dagger she laid eyes on. The population was mostly subdued and just as eerie to be around. Quiet and glowing eyes that followed you with skeptical eyes. Why Raum had chosen this place on the cusp of the Force's control to meet she had little idea. Well, not true... she could think that he wanted her to use her voice for compliance over the populace... or something of the like... maybe he just happened to be 'in the area' and thought... Hey this would be a great time to see my new All-Marshal... let's invite her for tea and cookies!

Ha... it was laughable yes, but it gave her courage. Courage she didn't feel to have at the moment and she had yet to step into the room with the man. Geez... she had been in rooms with mass murderers, rapists, terrorists and most evil of people to glean information from them. Without blinking an eye she could walk into those rooms without pause and be perfectly fine... so why in heaven's name was she having such difficulty placing a single hair in the room before her? Because he makes my hair stand on end...

She shuddered at how creepy she heard tell of him. "Alright Evaine... get a grip...." She gave herself a mental shake and placed her hand on the door knob, turned and promptly stepped through the frame. The room seemed colder on the other side of the wooden plank, bringing back that chill up her spine as he placed one foot in front of the other to walk before Raum. Her eyes wanted to go about the room but last second she diverted her attention to the form before her, not wanting to see anything ...unusual and lose her nerve.

"All-Marshal Raum... It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Evaine Faulkin reporting." She gave a nod to him, her beautiful voice husky and like a jazz singers rasp with her voice modulator over her throat. She'd dare not come without it least she give the wrong impression and her voice actually worked on him. The thought had her imaging what the turn out would be if it did. Ugly...

[All-Marshal Raum Mammon]

The room itself was little more than something out of a dark fairy tale.

The lights were dim. He liked the dark. The only light source came from two wicks that were giving off wisps of some luminescent smoke, giving the room an even eerier look than it had before. In this rickety building, which he had taken for his own, nothing seemed comfortable. The floors were creaky and dusty, the walls were peeling, the ceiling's lights flickered or were dead, and regular holes spilled dust and dirt down onto the floor below. The spider-webbed glass window that stared out into the ghoulish town of Ebbervon was like a window into a nightmarish painting. The town was small and just as rickety as the building he stood in now. Rain whipped at the leaning buildings, turning the crude dirt road into thick, bubbling mud. The inhabitants lingered on the fringes of the buildings and roads, lurking in the shadows, their glowing eyes darting back and forth in the night.

The newest All-Marshal entered and greeted him.

Chains rattled as the twins stood up from their position in the corner, their own glowing eyes studying her from the shadows. They tasted her life, the energy pumping through her veins. They wanted to drink it. They wanted to gorge themselves on it for Raum's sake. Raum had to admit, the idea was something of a temptation, but...But but but...No. Not yet. She was new, she was young...She was...Impressionable. She was something of a weapon to him now. He meant weapon, not ally, because allies were temporary things...Fickle in nature, you could never predict how long an ally would be just that. Allies were just friendlier enemies...Or tempting victims. It was usually the latter in Raum's case.

"Yes...Of course you are."

"Of course...You are...Of course... The twins mimicked in their haunting murmur.

A servant sidestepped from the shadows, behind Evaine, his glowing eyes gazing at her for a long moment before darting out of the room. These people on this planet...They were most interesting to Raum. And not only did their fear feed him, but the environment was akin to his home...The one that he hadn't seen in centuries. The frenzied weather, the darkness...Everything. It was like a dull memory...A faded photograph to him. But it was better than nothing. So he took it as he could. He folded his hands behind his back and turned to look at her. She was pretty...Her pale frame was like a beacon in the small amount of light. He took two creaky steps towards her, his eyes squinting, studying her more closely.

"Your sister. She proved most useful to me. I trust you have no intention of doing otherwise? It would be..." He placed a long, sharp, index fingernail on her cheek and ran it down her face.

Wasteful. WASTEFUL! Waste not the life granted you, Slaved One. The twins finished his thought.

"Yes...I believe my pets have taken the words," he paused, putting his hands to his mouth and then lowering it, "from my mouth...That is a saying amongst your kind, correct?"

By her kind he meant Mortals...They had so many peculiar sayings and traditions. It was one reason he knew his home was superior...They had history, yes, but things changed so often that you could not hold onto something as fickle as traditions. Only the strongest, most important of rituals and traditions survived, everything else was weeded out to make room for the strong. Not here. Even the weak had their ways...It befuddled him, but...There were, surprisingly, things that he did not understand about these things...these creatures...these mortals. He turned from her, petting Philatanus on her matted head. He turned and looked at the wall to his right, where one of his large paintings decorated the wall. A portrait of Inapace burning...A demon standing in the background, arms raised in triumph, flames glowing in his hands. Beautiful.

"The Force, Evaine. Tell me about it."

The twins crawled towards her, the chains slinking across the floor, rattling occasionally.

Tell us about the Force...Tell us...Evaine...Tell us...Slaved One...Teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell!

[All-Marshall Evaine]

It happened, she looked about the room and suppressed a shudder at the bleak and freaky room. The flickering light caused her gaze to move from one corner to the next, seeing the room for what it was, a prison of the utmost atrocity. The chains brought up this as clear as day to Evaine... too bad day wasn't coming until another 4 more Ebonron months.

Slaved one? Ugh those twins gave her the creeps, as for why he held them so dear to his chair she had no idea. They were disgustingly dirty and chained as they were, she could not understand why they were not more better treated if he took them everywhere with him. They seemed to hold something meaningful for him, you'd think they would want to be treated better by him for all they were so intuned with their master. Her examination of their relationship gave her a few seconds of pause, then a headache... giving up on sorting out the complexity and instead chose to keep quiet as he approached. Placing a harp nail to her cheek gently. as he spoke, she wanted to flinch away, keep her distance from him, but she dare not. She didn't even have reply for his mild sarcasm on her greetings.

"Whatever my sister was to you, I shall not disappoint in taking her place." She almost wanted to say on how her voice was stronger than her sister's but to make such a boasting accusation wasn't within the red head. She doubted that Raum had a sense of humour that he would take it as a joke as she would have meant it to be. "If she was useful then I'll be nothing but useful, but yes I do believe I've hear that saying." She felt awful saying those words, like she his toy... like the Force was his and everyone under him was nothing but his own personal army and chess pawns. His threat was obvious in the way the twins and him confirmed that if she didn't be 'useful' she'd be expelled in some manner.

She shifted uncomfortably on the spot as he moved away... the twins eying her with a sort of hunger she couldn't explain. "The Force sir Raum? " What an odd thing to ask of her, but none the less she frowned lightly at trying to form the words she wanted for a description. "Unity... strength, peace, and law, sir Raum. Especially law. Keeping the peace of the people and lawlessness at bay. This by far it has been the most successful at keeping it to a minuet. From petty theft to war any who wish such things are brought to justice by the Force and stamped out by thus." She paused in the answer... knowing somehow that it not what he wants to hear but instead something of more truthful statement.

"But that is the text book explanation of what you asked isn't it... If i were to go into complete detail it would serve as a waste of time as it seems the Force has changed in the past while. For whatever the Force is or was, I am a part of and will do what must be done for our goals. So rather I can tell you the status of the Force which seems more prudent... if you like." She swallowed harshly, hoping her words had not offended. She was not not trying to sound presumptuous or be a know it all... just trying her best to answer his rather vague question. Leaving the goals and direction of the Force open to interpretation as she was more awaiting to hear what he thought the Force truly was. Her people followed the Force for their unity and she was no different in her people's belief that the Force was right in every way.

The fact that the twins had begun to crawl towards her made her wish to change her answer, or not have opened her mouth at all. Should she move away from their grasp? Stay put? She didn't want to show fear or weakness in front of Raum... regardless she felt unsettled mostly and slight fear of the twins more than anything. She knew she should have been more afraid of Raum... but it was the twins that made her want to run screaming from the room. They were too much like this creepy planet... like that servant that dashed from the room upon her arrival. Even though this planet was much like her own with darkness most of the time... they still had light in the streets and homes, looking like daytime most of the time. Ebonron however... was just the opposite. "I may be new... but I have seen much within the ranks and behind the scenes..."

[All-Marshal Raum Mammon]

He folded his hands behind his back again and stared out the window into the rainy darkness once more.

"Ah...Yes. Textbook, I agree." He paused, waiting for the twins to chime in, but to his surprise they did not. Their thirst was winning over their usual chorus. That was fine with him for now...He knew the chains would hold. So he picked up where he left off. He would tell her how he felt. It was a bold move, but he had a feeling that she would take his side. Her sister had. Despite the fact that he was grateful for her death, she still had had some use in her before her untimely demise. Her sister would fill the shoes for the time being, and then she would take the fate her sister was intended to endure. A martyr...For the greater good, as it was.

"The Force, Evaine...Is a fickle thing. Your people, you have twisted it, you have crippled it. You have changed it from something real...Into some ideal thing that you can never implement. Peace is for the weak. War is for the desperate. None of the others see the logic in this. Your sister did. She wanted what I want. I want vigilance. I want continuity. Your sort will embrace it. It is known."

It is known...Delicious one. Embrace what is known!

"Rebels. They erode the fringes of the Force. When I aided this movement...200 years ago, has it been that long? Decades drag on for me nowadays...But" He held up his hand, cutting himself off, "Back to the matter at my hand...The Force is weakening. Buckling under its own weight. Your sister was the first support to collapse. I trust you will not be the second."

Or your grave will be shallow...The worms will have no feast that is worthy of Queens! The twins' eyes shimmered in the dark, their glowing eyes like two flickering, dead flames. The licked their lips, trying to catch a taste of her life force.

"The others must be removed. The Force cannot be allowed to fall from an outside hand. It will be destroyed from within. The Phoenix will rise from its own ashes, but it must choose its demise, its fate cannot be forced. Do you understand this?" He waited a moment, but before she could answer, the twins answered for her in their ghoulish whisper.

"Of course you do...Of course you do..

"The others must be dealt with. Veros, Zalixa, Cam'rov...The others as well. Death or obedience. They are no longer fit for their roles. The position of All-Marshal is too weak...It cannot be relied on to deal with the plagues that weevil their way into our system. You must understand this."

The chains creaked and rattled as the twins finally exhausted their slack. They were at the ends of their restraints, only inches from her ankles, their dirty teeth filed into points, blackish green slobber bubbling down their chins as they yapped at her longingly.

"You will understand...Speaker...

He made his way across the room once more. This time he spoke into her ear, knowing she would not move. He crawled his hand up to her throat, where the ingenious device was fastened. He almost dared to remove it, but at the last moment pulled away. His lips grazed her ear as he spoke, slowly, clearly, making sure she understand her options. He would not kill her for refusing...That wouldn't be fair...No no...He would do something much worse...

"You will understand...Speaker...Or I will let them taste you...We will eat you...We will drink you...Till there is no more." And he ended his sentence by looking her in the eyes.

A silent, empty punctuation.

[All-Marshall Evaine]

The whole time she awaited his response, she was holding her breath and doing her best to ignore the twins creeping ever so much closer to her. She was sure the chains weren't long enough to reach her, but almost every so often she would glance down to make sure. Doubting herself again and again that yes, she had enough room for them not to reach her. It was chilling to think that if they touched her, even in the slightest, something horrible would happen. And not not just dirt smeared across her skin. So stalk still, she hoped and prayed she had enough room between them... that they wouldn't pounce at her while his back was turned. Nasty as they were, she had to hold her ground... never show weakness.

She was relieved however when he agreed with her, allowing some breathing room and her heart to restart it's natural rhythm from it's frozen state just seconds before. She was so caught up in trying to be composed that she nearly missed him continuing on, going on into his own meaning of the Force. She had to agree with him, as she had noticed the very exact same thing he was talking about. Like the rot was starting from the bottom to rise to the top of the tree. You had to cut the bad roots to allow the tree to live. She smiled inwardly at this analogy. The Force was crumbling...

"I have seen this as well sir Raum... Fickle is a good description... " she nodded and once again, glanced down at the twins.. mere inches from her. She swallowed and took a deep breath, trying not to shake at the thought of them so near. Instead focusing on how he mentioned rebels gnawing at the Force like a dog vying for the last bit of marrow from a bone. Unable to reach the middle but attempting none the less. Blue eyes narrowed, they killed her sister and a brief light of flame scorched her chest with vengeance. Raum worked with them? Nearly 200 years ago? He would know how they function then... that would be of help to her... but dear heavens... 200 years? He looked younger then that and sure people lived that long on her planet but still... to look so young for over 200. She could imagine the power he would have attained since then. A shiver wracked her body...

"You are suggesting a Coup sir Raum?" she raised an eyebrow a sly smirk on her face as she thought it over... more power, more control... she liked the idea. Her head inclined, indicating that she was indeed listening for all her worth. Interest shining in her depths. Even as he made his way to her and came to her ear she stayed intent on hearing more. A gasp rang up her throat, fearing as he went for the modulator on her neck... praying for him not to remove it and somehow relishing the touch of him. Power ... was a heady thing. Even coming in a threat it was a thrilling experience.

Only now, she understood a little more about the pets he kept at the end of chains. She did not want to know what they ate... or the fact that Raum would join in the feast. The two emotions battled against each other. Desire for more power... and fear of being eaten as just said. She stared back into those fathomless depths and wet her dry lips with a dart of her tongue.

"I understand... if there is not to be All-Marshal's ... then what is there to be? A single ruler has it's short coming's as well ... But I do not think that is what you're aiming for either..." she tilted her head to the side, as if trying to see past the hidden layers of his inner plans. It was a brief pause, as if letting her examination go further on in her head before coming to a decision. "The Force needs change and these rebels needs to be dealt with... so... what would you need me to do?" She had many more questions, but felt to ask them would make that sharpened nail at her throat move 6 inches sharply to the left to let the twins simply feast, as he so eloquently put it before. Not a way to go for a pretty corpse like her.

Why confide in me if my role is to be... extinguished in the end? He means to change the entirety of the Force, but how? What am I to become? Was this what my sister died for? questions racked up in her mind but she availed that Raum would explain further and not just threaten her.

"In order to take the Force in a new direction, there must be a destination in mind sir Raum... and I... can help that 'choice' for such a crumbling fate to take place..." Whispered and hushed, the jazzy sound of her modulator helped to extenuate her meaning. Using his previous choice of words from earlier to imply she knew she'd have to use her voice in making the Force turn in on itself. If her guess was right that is.

[All-Marshal Raum Mammon]

He shook his head as he retreated from Evaine.

"There is no need to call me...Sir...That is a moniker that your people use to identify one another. I am no sir. I am Raum Gaap Mammon. We are equal...But you are not my equal. Do not put yourself lower than me, but do not assume I am not above you..."

He walked around a table in the middle of the room with a map of some city on it, markers indicating only he knew what.

"Power, Evaine, is a thing you and your sort know little about...despite your complete obsession with it. A single leader, no...Your kind would never take to it. Too many of you monger for power. In the future, there will be no leader. There will be no councils. There will be fear. Fear and Obedience will rule in the aftermath. But...I will elaborate on that later...And you will see, Evaine...You will see what I mean..."

Yes Evaine....Evaine Evaine Evaine...You will...Evaine..

"The rebels have done the first step for me...A regrettable loss for your sister, but it has proven useful. The other Marshals are worried...They are panicked. My forces...Outside the Force...They are stirring. They want blood...And I shall give them that, because I do not deny anything to those that wish to help me." He turned from the table and once more looked out the window, looking out at the spectacle. He beckoned her with one long finger, knowing the twins would not be able to reach her on her way over to the window.

The view was beautiful.

Beyond the cracked window smeared with rain drops, the dark streets were now illuminated, but not by torches. Not by lights. The dark streets were now illuminated with the glowing eyes of a horde of local inhabitants. They stared up at Raum's window patiently. This was the first step...Things would move quickly...He needed to make sure everyone was ready to do their part. That meant Evaine...That meant Sly...That meant Marcoux...So many gears turning in place to assure an easy transition into what would soon be.

"These will not be enough...I know your gift. It is unique. Muster those you can. I care not the price we must pay. Muster them. Mercenaries, criminals, I care not who. They will meet their ends one way or another, but we will expunge every last ounce of worth out of them before they pass. You will return to Inapace and do this...And start the process of wilting the capitol from within. The others will bend knee or perish...I care very little which. And when it is done, you will oversee the capitol...I trust you can manage that much. You are capable after all."

What she didn't know was what else he had planned.

His hordes on Ebonron didn't like the light. That wouldn't be a problem...Everything here had an expiration date...Everything was perishable. It almost disgusted him. Everything died...Even stars. And when those stars winked out of existence, darkness would envelope the planets he needed...They would like the darkness...He turned to face her. Of course they didn't understand...they were below those of his kind. But he would guide them on the right path.

"Your kind pray to gods, do you not? Revere them with fear and respect...For they hold infinite power, correct? Then answer this...Why should they not rule? If they are undeniable, if they are everlasting...If they are allpowerful over those that pass into death...Why should they not rule? They are the only ones fit to rule. They know power...They know how to control it." That was his plan. He would show these mortals the true path...Not this horribly malformed...thing...they took so much foolish pride in.

"The time for peace is over...Soon...Soon it will be a time for fear."

[All-Marshall Evaine]

Blue eyes watched him move across the room, nodding at his request to not call him sir. The only indication of question was within the slight raise of her brows. equal but not equal... She hardly thought was a riddle worth delving into further. She was useful to him so long as she did his biding... equal until proven useless. He cared not for titles or rank, in which she was merely showing respect to him, but thought of a better to do as such. Obedience... Oh fear she knew, for she was breathing it right now with the ever pressing knowledge those twins were mere inches from her ankles. Obedience on the other hand she could do... but the way he twisted what the Force stood for shook her unwavering faith in her servitude. He wanted to abolish the forces that ruled thus far... no councils? No leaders? Then what of the point for the Force? What was it to be in the future?

Further elaboration was indeed making her impatient. Raum's wayward and vague explanations were hard to follow, like deciphering the text of Che'tael at home. Nothing made sense until several paragraphs later, divulging what lay in the first paragraph you started out with... ten pages ago.

The mention of her sister gave pause. Regrettable? He was talking about her sister! She was pawn to this as well? She took a deep breath to steady any anger she felt for all the new twists and curves she has thus come across. She believed what Raum was proposing... she died for it... and he was talking about her like a thing. Her eyes closed briefly as she thought of her dear sister. They were family... she had to remind herself that Raum was stranger to that. What family he had was null according to any records of him... he was stranger to ... her kind, as he so puts it. So she melted any resentment that rose up to pool in a darker pit within herself and let him carry on. Following around the safe route to her beckoning digit. The sight outside greeting her with chills and an unnamed fear, like the Bogey man awaiting to pounce from the closet.

"The capitol will not be a problem for me... any that do not fall under my voice could easily be taken care of." she said the words without emotion, without thinking... she knew it was what he wanted to hear, but it truly what she wanted to say? All this seemed too much. A Coup would be easy... but what Raum was suggesting the Force become sounded much like rabid dogs going about to instill fear in the people, to be fed to the twins if they do not become what Raum wanted. Much like what she was being threatened with now. Was that the perfect Galaxy? Tyrant's in control? The old word Communism came to mind. World's filled with eyes glowing like unmoving fireflies, monsters in the dark awaiting for your toe to over step the line.

She shivered... It would keep peace... but Raum spoke of no peace... just fear. "I beg to ask... you speak of fear ruling... no peace, but isn't fear a way to keep the peace? Or is there nothing to be had but monsters beckoning at your door for blood, an ideal Galaxy?" She spoke more to the window than to Raum, the imagery of such a thing making her skin crawl. She turned to hi after a moment, "I ask because my voice does not always work in the way of 'listen to me or else', I must have something to convince them with other than no rulers or councils and fear and obedience... brainwashing needs a basis and using that a new order is coming... the Force is crumbling only goes so far." she placed her index finger to her cheek in thought as if pondering herself what she might use to persuade others and crumble... she was imaginative.. but to just tell the them to follow Raum, again wasn't the best method.

She thought this to get more of an explanation, for it was true.. what was she to turn them against? They all thought the Force was for peace. Her inner thoughts were diminished as he asked about the gods. A smile crept up her lips. "I suppose many do believe in the Gods and that they once ruled or created their race as just... some reason or another. But I'd think being a God ... would be terribly boring managing the lesser beings in their problems and daily lives. Most consider it beneath the Gods and even bothersome to be wasting their time in ruling... unless it's an evil God which ends up smote by another more benevolent one." She shrugged... as if it did not concern her about the gods... "However. If ... one were to become a God... one who actually sought to govern and rule... then yes, I'd say it'd be in our best interest to abide by a ruling as such. Seeing as the current Gods are having no interest in ruling."

Although she liked the idea of becoming a Goddess, she doubted Raum would even consider having such a title... or would he? Why even bring up the Gods if he didn't mean to become one himself... the dark evil God coming to rule the underlings... Oh yes, she could see that. His dark minions coming to instill fear across the way and pave their ruling with a bloody start... Well Coup's never were easy to start, they were in itself bloody for the rulers simply did not just step down. She held no qualms over that, the Force needed a change... she just wasn't sure in what direction. She had to trust that Raum had a better idea... maybe fear was a better method. But if you asked any of the citizens... they were afraid of the Force ... so what other fear could there be?

Her eyes flicked over to the map curiously, before glancing at the twins she had cautiously avoided coming to Raum's side. She was glad to be further from them, and no longer at the end of Raum's pointed nails. "Is there anyone else in knowledge of this change?" She'd hate to try to persuade someone, have them reject out of secrecy and have eliminated for denying her... Hey.. it's happened before to Evaine... an interrogation gone awry.

[All-Marshal Raum Mammon]

Yes...A mouse in a maze. That was what Evaine was. Only she was more useful.

"Your...Gods...are fragile, as fragile as your kind's hope. One example that disproves their existence" He motioned with his hands, crumbling a figurine from the map into dust, "and people turn to panic. What I speak of is the power to control the galaxy, and the means of implementing that power. Where people acknowledge who rules over them, and they beg for that ruling. They will revere us as gods because we are the only ones capable of ruling them. The maggots that crawl in the streets, believing they are living for a greater purpose...They need us, Evaine. Without us, they will not know a true existence. When we are finished...They will be apart of something. Those who are not, will only be fuel."

He took a small figurine that looked a little too much like Evaine, and moved it onto a space on the map that had Inapace scrawled across it. As the figure was placed, the words ignited in inky flames.

"Perfect...And yes. There are many others. Fate Loveless is busy at the Spire of Wishes, convincing the Fates to follow us. I'm sure she will succeed. I have an agent of chaos, as well...Who will begin rooting out the rebels. And when the others are dead, when the rebels are crushed between the illusion of an enemy they are so adamantly fighting, and the true threat...We will be all that remains. And it will be because of you, Evaine. You will be a conduit for greatness. They will write histories of your deeds."

"Yes..Yes...Yes Evaine....Many stories of your...many...many deeds. Delicious deeds....Delicious life. It will be known. It will be...Knooooooown.

"You will have a liaison in the capitol. While he isn't working to dismantle this...rebellion...They have a name for themselves, but I forget it..." He paused, fingers at his temples, trying to remember for a moment, and then gave up, "Aengels...Oh I haven't heard that name in some time....BUT" he held up his finger, finding the place he had lost, "he will be accompanying you, when he is not busy with them...He will be my eyes and ears with you...Because" He cupped her chin with an icy hand, "We cannot afford to make mistakes, Evaine." He shook his head gently, like a mother chiding a child.

He turned from her, back to the horde of glowing eyes, that was only continuing to grow.

"But do not be mistaken, dear Evaine. I will never be blind nor deaf. The walls are my soul...The floor my being. Where you walk, where you sleep, where you breathe...I am always where you are."

"Yes...Yes...We are where you are Evaine...Always where you sleep..."

[All-Marshall Evaine]

She had a rough idea now of what he wanted her to say to those within the capitol. Making them believe the All-Marshalls have fallen, are not what they want and to have the true rulers come forth from hiding. Once extinguished she would then influence the people the same way without worry of those loyal to the current structure of the Force coming to stop her. It all sounded so easy... Che, ya right... it was going to be a lot of work on her part. Probably a lot of attempts on her life to those that catch wind of her influence.

Thank goodness she had just acquired the prodigy Fate for herself. She'd much rather live this life offered to her. If Raum was not going to take it back from her once her job was completed that is. Coup's were rarely shared... and more implemented into the vision the instigators wanted. She watched many a movie when the brains of the operation killed off all his helpers in the bank robbery so that he didn't have to share his part of the loot. was Raum the same type? She very much thought so... No worries... she had time to work that out.

His mention of gods again, she wanted to correct him in that area. She did not have any belief's like that and merely used it as a conveyance of their conversation that she understood his meaning. She shrugged off the urge and suppressed the want to roll her eyes at the twins. Where they are scary, they were annoying in their copying of Raum's every word. Like she didn't get the meaning the first time. Although she wished they would have conveyed what the burning figurine of herself meant... that was eerie.

"Aengels..." She repeated the name, tasting it on her lips with a sneer. They killed her sister and her ears perked up at the mention of an inside member. A mole to dig his way inside and crumble from the foundations. Much like Raum had done 200 years ago. Her attention grew at this and stuttered her heart as he was placing her within his care. Spying on her if you will for Raum to ensure her part was being kept up. Not that he'd need someone to spy on her she thought...

Her eyes met his, with her chin in his cold fingers how could she not? "Of course not... No mistakes."

It was confirmed then that indeed Raum held many a way to know what she was doing. This meant extra caution in securing that she indeed keep her half of the bounty after the rebuilding started. She was not about to leave this empty handed as she was positive that Raum was intending. By no means was she going to back stab him... just to bury herself into his skin so deep he couldn't cut her out without harm. A splinter with benefits. She nodded, acknowledging the spy assigned to her. "I do hope he isn't the jealous type... I've also enlisted extra security. Fate Tensenryou had proven to be valuable."



She glanced at the figurine's once more, plotting in her own mind. "Did you have a specific target in mind to start out with? A thorn in your side more painful than others?" She suspected Zalixa... a hard nut to crack but others would be easier.... only it would leave the hardest for last... letting him create a foxhole if suddenly the others were picked off first. "Might I suggest Zalixa?... Rumors are so easily to keep going... there is already a rumor about my sister's death was an inside job, started by the Aengels none the less... already aiding us in the long run it seems. It just needs a little more guidance I should think."

She could hardly see this deed being written about.

[All-Marshal Raum Mammon]

Raum wasn't one to normally demonstrate fickle emotions such as...Anger.

But that name...It rattled his cage, as some mortals said. Zalixa. How foolish that bloodline was. His own father, Nergal, was a Champion of his realm, conqueror of the Seven Teeth, Destroyer of the Fifth Age, and Defiler of the White Light. His mother was a muse that made even the rats dance, her harp turned flowers to thunderclouds, her voice melted the weak metals these people worship for their technologies and structures. His father had put down the Demon Overarch Nihilip Faas. His father had raised the Angel's Scream Arch over the Boiling Hills in honor of the Great Ea'a. His father...He composed the memories and emotions bubbling inside of him. The past did not matter, at least not in this realm. What did matter was that the Zalixas were a poor excuse for a ruling family. The daughter...She was dangerous, but her father...No no...He was not fit to rule.

"Yes...Yes...Of course...Him. Zalixa. We will take him down first. But don't you worry about him...I have a present for him. Something he will not refuse...You will go here." He put a claw-like nail on the map.

"I want you there, to end the life of All-Marshal Begor. He will be busy putting down the stirrings of a rebllion on Merdian. I trust you are an assassin enough to deal with him and his petty guards? Of course you are...I would not" He stepped closer to her, put a long nail on her chest, tracing around one of her breasts, the fabric starting to smolder and sizzle as it burned through slightly. He licked his lips. He continued his sentence, focusing on her eyes now, "deem you so valuable if you could not manage this...Correct? You will prove, I trust, to be a suitable replacement for your sister."

He turned from the map and her, with a grim smirk on his face.

"I also trust you know about All-Marshal Begor, and your sister? Evaine?" He took her brief silence as a No. "Begor wanted her in the worst ways...Some would say they were the most dangerous games in the galaxy, the way they toyed back and forth...He took her for himself once..." He picked at one of his nails nonchalantly. A lie to him was nothing more than breathing was for these mortals. "She confided in me...Begged me to end him...I promised her this opportunity, but she obviously missed it...Do her this in her memory...Put her..." He had to search for the silly word they believed in so strongly..."Soul to rest. It's what she would want, you know that Evaine. I trust you will not fail."

Trust...Another fickle thing these mortals practiced. Another lie. Another breath. But to him, he didn't need trust. He needed only fear, and if Evaine Falkuin did not fear what would become of her if she failed this mission, she should be.

Yes...She needed only be afraid...Fear itself would accomplish the mission, or he would have to find someone else who would. And with that he knocked over a piece on the map.

All-Marshal Begor would die.