S C O R P I O N 

I took point marching my personal guard and the Empress to the doors of Kuzo's. His first night club. His beginning in Sector 48 and his ending. My body was ready for it. The serum sang in my veins. A potent combat enhancer our people had developed for situations like this. A perfect answer to what would have otherwise compromised me.

I didn't have space for emotions to cloud my judgement. I had an opportunity to secure the most successful partnership in Merridian and remove an enemy all in one go. As I had let it wash over me last night I had removed the feelings by this morning.

My gaze was sharp on the doors not yet lined by bouncers for the night ahead. He would not get a night ahead.

I dropped a nod and my guard rushed to the sides. The Empress was a firm presence at my side. It was surprising to see someone from such a background take to the streets with her men. More still to see the calm over her face as she watched thermal charges line the doors.

Makayla was somewhere close to Artella behind but I couldn't think on her now. I didn't need to think about her hurt. My blood sang with the rush and power for the mission ahead. I dropped a nod and the charge fused brightly before the doors exploded inwards. Crypto grenades flew in soon after and the space beyond was stark white for whoever was left.

They didn't draw weapons. They didn't scream but I did not trust them for a moment.

I swept in behind my guard as they trained weapons on the scantily dressed women behind the bars and on chairs.

"Hold the room." I murmured in comms as I walked past and eyed the dark furniture and bright lights. The cavernous room was mostly empty save for his trained girls. I stopped before one who watched me back impassively. Leant against the bar in nothing to her name but corset and black lace.

"Did you need something, Scorpion?" She uttered suggestively immune to the trained guns and blown out doors. Her dark coated eyes played a different game.

"Where is he?" I asked slowly.

She pouted and put a hand on my chest running it down. I answered it with a blade against her throat. She stilled and finally decided to look uncomfortable. She was aware Scorpion did not bluff.

"I think you'd enjoy me more..." She whispered, daring to move her dark lips closer to my ear.

I kept the metal hard against her skin and drew a drop of blood.

"Last chance." I stated without emotion.

Something hit my stomach and she collapsed against me as the shot rang out. I stared at her lifeless eyes as she dropped to the floor and then at the blade that was stuck in my Vanguard.

"Don't touch it." I barked, staring at the faint edge of black. "It's poison."

Artella moved to yank Makayla back before Proximo strode forward lowering his rifle. He stared at it a moment as I ripped it out with a gloved hand and threw it on her corpse.

"They have Vanta fish venom." He growled.

"Looks like Kuzo isn't the only traitor tonight." I answered in a bored tone.

My arms dealer had taken a step too far. Xafra could wait his turn.

"Watch their hands." I spoke calmly in the comm as I stared at her body below me. "They are armed with a poison that can kill you in sixty seconds."

My guard hardly looked concerned. They looked damn right insulted.

I kicked her out of my path and strode onwards. "Line them all up and get me someone who knows where Kuzo is."

The Empress appraised the woman on the floor with curiosity before she came to my side. The rest of the guard were grabbing dancers and tenders and forcing them onto their knees in line. I already felt Makayla's eyes burning onto the spot the blade had been but I kept my eyes sharply ahead.

"The same venom that killed my predecessor." She noted.

I met her eyes with a curt nod.

"Your weapons are impressive, Scorpion–but falling into the wrong hands."

"That's where you'll help me next." I answered, scanning the line of Kuzo's workers.

"I can do that." She answered with a small smile. "The rumours about you appear true." She added staring at my stomach a moment. I followed her gaze and looked at the small section of compromised Vanguard that stopped lethal venom from taking my life.

"And what rumours are those?"

"That you are as fearless as you are lethal." She stated, turning her gaze ahead. "You didn't even need to speak and your man had her on the floor. Your people respect you. It's why this will work between us."

"Don't get ahead of yourself."

But I could already see her point. Her own guard were throwing my men curious looks between us and collaborating closely in the face of their leaders. Their resolve unwavering. People responded to control and power like it is the air in their lungs. They trust it to keep them safe in this city and make the hard calls. This woman stood with her own. A first in many respects for Sector 1.

Proximo snapped to attention and gestured behind him.

"Care to do the honours?"

I scanned the rows of them a moment before shaking my head.

"The Empress will."

She didn't flinch. She simply stepped forward under my word and drew two of her men to her sides. It was interesting to see someone powerful that could take orders directly.

She didn't waste any time. Five fell to the floor coldly staring ahead before the sixth cracked in line and gave us what we wanted. And that was only because she held the very poisoned blade meant for me near her neck. Just a kiss from the metal would do it.

She rose from her crouch and flung the dagger to the ground with as much nonchalance as she could muster. I cracked a smirk and tucked my hands behind me expectantly. She worked effectively and didn't waste time.

"Level 15. How many more thermal charges do your men have?"

"Enough." I answered, flicking a hand to the doors at the back.

They streamed past me intent on our purpose. Only a few remained to guard the remaining women on their knees. Some stared ahead and some regarded their fallen friends. All were not to be trusted. I turned to the doors.

"You're going to leave them?" But what she meant to say was, you're going to let them live.

I watched Makayla pass with Artella involuntarily. Her mouth a firm set line and no emotions on her face. Despite the focus that serum gave me my chest stabbed briefly. I ignored it and levelled the Empress with an indifferent look.

"I don't have time to make an example." I stated, nodding ahead. "Fall into line, Empress."

She twisted her lips with a thoughtful look. Her eyes scanned my face intently and then shrugged.

"As you command, Scorpion." That knowing smirk was there again and I tore my eyes off her all together. 

I looked back to Proximo and he watched me with a nod. The serum sharpened my focus again as I scanned the room. I had to wonder how many times he used it on our missions–given the amount he had stocked in that Falcon. It removed anything that clouded the mind. Like alcohol and emotion.

It was the first thing he suggested the moment he found me. He knew how I worked and how he worked. Instead of doing nothing we could do something useful. The bright purple vial was barely the size of my finger and another sat in my pocket.

The Empress walked ahead. Slipping her hand along her hip checking her fusion pistol. I flexed my hand tracing along the edges of her armour. Well made. Well trained and focused. Another secret Sector 1 kept hidden away. An elected leader instead of one born into it.

"Quite the potential ally." Proximo murmured, following my gaze.

"Still unproven." I answered, watching her turn before the doors guards held open for her.

"How many of our enemies will you have her remove to gain a seat at the table?" He asked merely curious.

"Let's start with Kuzo and Xafra. Then see where we stand with her."

"If that slime truly did arm them with venom I cannot wait to watch." He growled, spinning a blade in his fist. I met his cool stare and tipped my head.

"Patience. The day is still young." I answered devoid of anything.

He scanned my face more closely.

"I see it's working."

He didn't even need to mention the combat serum for me to understand his meaning.

"It's good to clear my head for once." I agreed simply. Makayla was long gone ahead and I didn't look for her.

"You know where to get more." He grunted.

"Was Art the reason you started in the first place?" I blurted my thoughts directly. It still made him stiffen beside me. It took him off guard a moment. His silence spoke loud volumes to me.

Without warning he strode ahead leaving my words hanging in the air. Combat serums were perfect for the perfect soldier. One that wanted to focus on task and not on compromising factors like feeling. It didn't damage the body like alcohol did on the way out. My scientists made sure of it. It just served its purpose and only released you after twelve hours.

I stared down at the woman that had tried to end me not minutes before.

She reminded me of Florence in many ways. Beautiful and tempting on the outside. A killer within. I looked up at Proximo's back as he went through the doors. You trust one beautiful thing and get stabbed in the stomach. I understood him so much better when I saw it first hand.

* * * * *

We cleared floors rapidly and effectively. Our teams closely communicating and our aim always finding targets.

When we arrived at level 15 he was waiting. Expecting.

He had more than enough time to prepare for it. Our men didn't have anyone to force their way past. He sat alone before his desk with a fusion pistol pressed under his jaw. I walked slowly and appraised him.

"Now, now Kuzo... don't jump the gun." I said pointedly.

His hand was shaking as I walked into his office calmly and dropped my hood. Dozens poured in around us and trained weapons on his head. The Empress was silent beside me.

"Why was my second the target?" I asked, taking a seat before his desk.

He let out a shaky laugh as he glanced around the room.

"All this effort for me? You shouldn't have Scorpion." He spat.

I leant back in my chair as I watched him and his eyes flicked up past my shoulder to the Empress herself.

"I thought you preferred blondes." He snorted as more sweat ran down into his shirt.

I leant forward on my knees and spoke plainly. 

"I can adapt."

The room was deathly silent behind me but I knew who the words hit the hardest. I smiled darkly at him and nodded to his weapon.

"Put it down."

"I'm a dead man anyway–this is my choice."

"Yes it is. Like the choice you made to betray us–"

"That wasn't a choice." He grit out.

"Then who made you?"

He laughed like a mad man.

"You always think there needs to be some master player manipulating your enemies. You can't fathom some people growing tired of the Division with all their fucking collateral damage." He snarled, pressing the gun closely when my men twitched their guns closer.

"You think the Division creates collateral?" I demanded quietly. "They were the only thing stopping upper Merridian from annihilating entire sectors–"

"To get to you Scorpion." I stilled under his accusation and stood from the chair. "Think it over. Powers will always rise to meet the ones on top. All anyone can do around you is try to survive." He whispered.

Then he pulled the trigger.

I stared at his body as it slumped over the desk. My guard slowly lowered their guns and took positions around the room. I kept staring at him. Hearing his words circle around my head.

Powers will always rise to meet the ones on top.

My eyes shut as I let it bleed over me. Another truth about what we were. Another truth about what I was.

"Spoken like a man that has never had to lead."

I looked up and saw the disgusted expression the Empress wore. She glanced down at me.

"We don't get the luxury of having such a fine moral compass when we're busy keeping a city this big from its own chaos." She stated, drawing a fist and assembling her guard at the edge of the room. I glanced between them and her. "I now know who I stand with to achieve that, Scorpion. The question is, do you?" She offered me her gloved hand and I stared at it.

I stared at that hand and saw the future. Saw all of those troops and many more behind her that would stand with us for once. Saw my people and her own crossing through Sectors without the distrust and hidden weapons. Saw the Sectors being less about upper and lower Merridian and just being Merridian.

I clasped her hand tightly in mine and met her eyes.

"You may not have given me his head but you were prepared to take it." I answered darkly, watching the confirmation in her eyes. "For that you have a chance. We have a rogue arms dealer in the wind named Xafra. You'll join us back at base to plan our next course and then, Empress. I'll see to it that the Imperials and the Division get to know each other much more."

Her answering smile between our hands was as bright as the promise of the future.

And for a moment it stole my mind away from the darkness that had plagued my waking night alone on a Falcon jet. It reminded me of a vision I had when I first took the throne.