P R O X I M O

I despised that her words still clung to me.

That eventually I would start extending impossible amounts of trust upon Florence if this progressed too much. It was already too much having her here in my damn quarters. Too personal.

I kept good distance for multiple reasons. What we had before was working... Now it was–problematic.

I was giving half my attention to my wrist holo on supply route changes and Scorpion's personal guard placements when the lift doors opened and Makayla stood before me with two trailing recruits. 

A quick scan over them all showed me a portrait of what exactly she had been busy doing. Blood. Bodies appearing half alive. Lee.

I shrugged and stepped to the side. 

Whatever effort she had gone to, to give that weedy youth a chance here wasn't my concern. Her partnering with Dex was more curious...

After I informed her of our looming trip to Sector 1 her face became slack. I could see the mixture of fear and confusion there so I simply smirked, drawing my wrist back to conclude my previous conversation while she shouted and swore at the closing lift doors.

But my smile quickly faded. The conversation I had put off with my sister was inevitable now. I had to do something before Scorpion lost patience or wrapped her up in another wild intervention. The lift doors opened to one of the lowest most secure levels. A few facial recognition scanners took in my face as I strode and deactivated plasma turrets. I scanned my palm and retina and the doors opened to a large furnished cell.

Dazz was slumped in the corner with several smashed bottles. I raised an eyebrow not buying it.

"Redecorating?" I drawled.

A bottle swung from her hand and tried to make it to my head. I watched it smash at my feet.

"I don't remember authorising alcohol in here." I said low, smelling the rich wine on the metal floor.

She raised her head slowly, black hair a mess and sleepless marks under her eyes.

"It seems Scorpion doesn't care if I drink myself dead."

I snorted humourlessly and dropped down to the side of the stained wall beside her despite the smell. I spread my legs and regarded the bookshelves and potted plants. I had been in worse holds.

"You're being dramatic. We both know our limits."

She rolled her head towards me with a glare. "Stopping acting like my brother." She spat.

I didn't flinch. I mirrored her move and let her take in my tattoos more closely as I turned to her. Those steel eyes stared back. Not the false ones–not the falsely dyed blue hair–but the real true Dazz. The one I could not end in that room of screens.

"Hades is dead." I stated without remorse.

A collection of things rushed her expression. I saw shock, fear, anger and something deeper. Before she finally sighed and a broken laugh left her. She stared ahead of us.

"I suppose that's a relief."

I froze, scanning her face. It seemed genuine.

"What. Do you mean?" I grit out. "He was the side you chose–"

That broken laugh turned into a grin and she met my eyes again. "You're still such a meat head. How you've run this empire so long is outstanding..."

I threw my fist into the wall near her head and she didn't bother to flinch.

"Dazz why are you relieved he is dead?" I growled intently.

That infuriating grin remained and she shook her head. "Because he was blackmailing me you idiot." She sighed.

It felt like the air had been sucked right from the room. This could easily be more deception. I was long used to so much from her now... But to know what it was that drove her to his side was also something I had longed to know.

"What could he possibly have on you?" I demanded.

She dragged up another bottle to her lips and took a long drink before setting it against her knee and thinking for a moment. "That's not the right question. Try again."

"You mean you won't answer because the truth is too ugly?" I asked calmly. "Because of you Sector weapons fell into the hands of a psychopath and were almost used–"

"Why is it do you think they were never used?!" She blurted with disbelief.

I stilled and decided to let her say it. I could pick apart the truth later but the resign and unhinged nature of her at this moment was dangerously close to self exposure.

"–why is it do you think that Hades never found your base of operations?" She laughed again and shook her head. "I made it so god damn obvious." She muttered, drinking the rest.

"Dazz you made it clear how much you wished to end Scorpion and our empire." I murmured.

This made something flash in her eyes. She quickly met my gaze and nodded with a slow clap.

"Well done keep going..."

I remained calmly watching her and she mirrored it. Things trying to come into place.

"You agreed to send Makayla and Scorpion off the grid but didn't critically fail that pod when you could have." She nodded, enjoying my words. "–you didn't capitalise on her disappearance from the city when you knew exactly where our new base of ops was and its inner workings." She rolled her wrist for me to continue. "When Hades had control of the inner Sectors weapons systems you didn't use them on us... Why?" I spoke quietly now.

She finally lost her smile.

"My hate for the Division is focused. It's not insane. I knew removing her would just cause another even worse to take her place and seek revenge." My blood felt cold but I let her speak. "–So I helped put the right person on the new throne of Sector 1. The only way to balance this hell hole we call Merridian."

"Dawn Guard." I whispered.

She grinned and plucked up a new bottle with a sloppy salute.

"Well done brother dear. Amazing what you can do when you use satellite weapons as a bargaining chip."

"What does that gain you? Was Hades not the shining knight you thought him to be?" I snapped, swiping the bottle from her and launching it against the wall. She watched the dripping crimson wine like it was his blood.

"I hate Scorpion. But unfortunately... I still care for you." She almost growled, avoiding my eyes. "It was becoming clear that he was going to use those weapons on you. On an entire Sector. So I sent him on a long ghost run around the city for your base of operations. I thought Hades would be the right balance of chaos and order. I was mistaken." She finished curtly.

"You still haven't answered the most important question." I spoke slowly. "What did he have on you to make you turn on me?"

"For fuck sake, Proximo!" She snarled, "–You. He had you. If I removed the Division's leader you would be off his list. You're her god damn second what did you expect? You weren't meant to make it out of that tower alive when the Emperor fell!" She pushed off the wall and strode for the alcohol again. "I changed that!"

But I was on my feet faster and grabbed her arm turning her back. She tried to punch my jaw but I slapped it away with little effort.

"You didn't think to come to me with this?" I growled down at her. "You didn't think to bring this to me directly so I could deal with it–"

"So you could protect me again." She snorted, shoving off me. "We're all grown up now brother. I made my choice and I didn't get what I want. Scorpion still lives."

"But Hades is dead. You owe him nothing."

"I kept him from you and it cost me my purpose." She snapped.

"Can you even hear yourself?" I demanded. "Scorpion is not the enemy she is the only thing keeping the outer Sectors from the chaos Hades sought! You said it yourself–someone much worse would have taken her place!"

She was silent but I could still see the same burning anger and hurt in her eyes as I did when I first left. When I chose a different life.

"It's the same reason isn't it." I whispered, standing back and scanning her. She sat herself down at the only standing chair and tightened a hand. "It's because I chose the Division over you. You still haven't let that go–"

"I think we're done here." She stated with no emotion.

"You know one day you'll need to stop pinning our past on Scorpion and just say it to me directly–"

"Get the fuck out!" She shouted, grabbing another glass and throwing it. I blocked it with my arm and turned from her. 

"Same old Dazz." I muttered, heading for the door. "Afraid of the future."

Her silence was louder.