The three crouched low, listening as the guards told scary tales of Corvo and Axton Attano.

"Relax, one of the officers says they's dead. Poisoned and thrown into the river. If ya ask me, they's long gone. Threw masks in the river, pffft, left town."

"That's what rational men'll do. Not these guys. You have to understand the criminal mind. I hear they had to hide the Kaldwin girl from 'em the whole time, that they locked him in a cage and only let 'em out at night to kill people."

"Criminal mind eh? So what they's doin' now?"

"Waiting. They's probably watching us right now. With his crazy mask on, creeping closer, and closer, ever closer, until-"

"Cut it out. What's so impressive about Corvo anyways? Who's he gone up against? A couple of High Overseers? A couple of noblemen? He could never stand up to men with our training."

"Now I do hope he shows up. I want to see you run crying for the cover of the tallboys out back."

"Like you where? The other night?"

"What was I supposed to do? Stand there and be hit by rocks?"

"They were just kids."

"They were a gang. I hope Lord Regent Havelock sends the tallboys to level the place. It's gonna be a new era."

"Having a ten year old on the throne isn't gonna cure the plague."

"High Overseer Martin says it will. He says we were cursed when the Empress died by Corvo's black magic, and the rats are never going to leave until we had a real Kaldwin back. He says the Outsider follows Corvo around."

"Ha! I thought that other kid did. What's his name again? Aiden? Anton? Axton? Some name that starts with an 'A.'"

"That 'kid' as you call him is a Whaler. I hear he just appears and disappears, follows 'im around like a shadow, a wraith. They says he was Corvo's son, but I don't belive 'em. He could be the Outsider, or Daud himself. They says he just popped up one morning with the girl and claimed he was Corvo's son. Literally, popped. Came from fucking nowhere. And they says Corvo accepted him without even batting an eye. Like 'twas rehearsed. They says they preformed rituals to the Outsider together at night, killin' animals and stuff."

"Whaler, eh? I could see that. Who knows? Maybe Corvo was with 'em the whole time. Cozying up to the Empress then, when she least expects it-"

"Yeah, yeah, heard that one before. Before we go, I'm gonna stash a few bottles of wine from the cellar. Take 'em out of here with us."

"Just make sure they's aren't hiding down there first. Maybe you're right about those guys..."

All three glanced at each other. Silence surrounding them as they had no idea what to say. Then finally Axton decided to be the first.

"Well, guess I'm the Outsider now..."

"Or me." Daud pointed out with a smirk.

"And we spent our nights killing animals." Corvo said.

"Ah yes, killing puppies and saying the seven strictures backwards or whatever the Void these idiots think heretics do on their spare time. You know, the usual wholesome father-son bonding activities."

"But we're irrational."

"Oh yes, you know. Our criminal minds."

"I swear." Daud started, shaking his head as Axton and Corvo hid their chuckles. "The more I'm around you, the more you two confirm that you are indeed, related."

Corvo turned to him. "You really needed more evidence?"

"No." Daud relied. "But seriously, you two cannot be any more alike. And judging from my experience with Axton, Corvo you must have been a pain in the ass to raise. And I feel really bad for your parents."

"Hey!" They both say.

"Come on, that's enough fun for one night. We gotta girl to find."

~☆~

They searched Havelock and Pendleton's rooms with no luck. Both had been completely cleaned out with absolutely no trace of where they had gone. They came up to Corvo's room and stopped when they heard voices. They crept forward ans listened closely.

"Report."

"Our men are still trying to penetrate the workshop. Closed up tight. We think Piero Joplin's inside. That crackpot natural philosopher."

"There is evidence that Anton Sokolov was held here against his will for some time. We can't determine what happened to him."

"I'll bet my commission he's in that building with Piero Joplin. If so, arrest him. But I do not want him harmed until I can get to the bottom of all this. Careful, the place maybe boobytrapped, and I want him alive, what else?"

"Yes sir. The servants where all executed shortly before we arrived. Looks like a naval cutlass and a small bore-pistol. Looks like Corvo ran amok before he left."

"Again with me? They really love to spin their fairy tails..." Corvo muttered.

"And what about me?" Axton asked. "I am slightly offended right now."

"Turn this building upside down. It goes without saying, this place is sealed."

"Stiltwalkers at all points."

"And stay vigilant. Corvo's the most dangerous man in the Empire now. And he has no where else to go. Now, what of Axton? His son?"

"Still no sign of him. He's most likely back with them Whaler lot. If not then... let's just hope that he's back with them. I don't want to imagine what Corvo and Axton could do together."

"Well, if the two of us is a ghost story." Axton started, turning to Daud before continuing. "Then the three of us will be a living nightmare."

"We should check on Piero first. He might have something that could help us." Corvo said. Axton and Daud nodded. They peeked around the door frame then traveled out of the window, across the rooftop, dropped down to the metal porch and into the workshop. 

"It's refreshing to converse with someone on my own level."Piero's voice said from below. 

"I couldn't agree more!" Anton Sokolov declared. "Your expulsion from the Academy was a crime against natural philosophy itself!"

"Which you might have pointed out at the time. But it's pointless to hold a grudge-"

"Hello?" Axton called out.

"Axton? Is that you up there?" Piero called.

"Yeah, and Corvo." Corvo yelled back. 

"Corvo! Thank the stars!" Sokolov replied as the three made their way down the stairs. Piero and Sokolov came out from under their desks and stared at the trio with curiosity. 

"And I see you two made a friend?" Sokolov said, turning to the old assassin and frowning. "Daud. Curious but I shouldn't be surprised, It's good to see you again."

Corvo frowned and looked at Sokolov the back to Daud. "You two know each other?"

"Yes." Sokolov said. "We met at the Academy and I pained his portrait once."

"A contract?" Corvo asked. Daud shifted uncomfortably. 

"No..."

"Wait! Daud, the Knife of Dunwall himself, went to the Academy of Natural Philosophy?" Corvo asked, turning to Daud.

"Briefly. Very, very briefly."

"A pity. That." Sokolov mumbled. "You would have become a fine young philosopher."

"Philosophy just wasn't my thing... as you can tell."

"Okay, please." Axton started, his tone showing his discomfort as he held out his hands. "Enough with really... really weird thought of Daud's possible future...past... whatever, as a philosopher. Do you have any idea where they had taken Emily?" 

"No, however, I've completed Piero's work on an arc pylon. But only just," Sokolov started.

"With this device, we can send a powerful electrical signal through the nervous system, merely rendering our enemies unconscious. Or they can be reduced to ashes." Piero continued. 

"With whichever choice you choose, you three should be able to poke around freely, find what you can on where those snakes are burrowed."

"I've attuned it so we will be safe from the functions of the device. It will only trigger to the presence of our enemies. However, since Daud hasn't been considered an ally until now, I need you to come here so I can make sure you are safe from it's functions too."

Daud nodded and made his way towards Piero and they began to calibrate the machine while Sokolov described their predicament. He explained that they shown the Admiral the blueprints before the killing began, and that they hadn't seen them since.

"Oh, these?" Corvo then asked as he pulled the blueprints out of his coat pocket and handed it to Sokolov.

"Ah yes, thank you." He said, receiving the from Corvo graciously. Piero finished calibrating Daud who then made his way back to Axton's side. He peeked over Sokolov's shoulder, however, and halted. He frowned down at the blue print.

"You forgot an extra zero. 200Kv is what your current Arc Pylons functions with." He pointed out, as if to say his shirt was on inside out.

"huh?" Sokolov asked, glancing down at his blue print then chuckled. "Ah yes, you are correct Daud."

"I'm done." Axton said, throwing his hands into the air and turning away. 

"Alright, sit tight and we will add the finishing touches." Piero said. He grabbed the blueprints, and together, the two philosophers added the finishing touches.

~☆~

"The arc pylon is complete." Piero stated after about thirty minutes, getting the infamous trio's attention. "Now to activate it!"

"Right, let's put these bastards to sleep." Axton said, jumping off his perch on the table and turning to Piero. 

"Okay, we will be far away before any of them regain consciousness." Piero replied. He then calibrated the box and turned back to them. "All that remains is plugging in a whale oil tank to power it. Who will do the honors?"

Axton glanced at Corvo then Daud, then shrugged. "Guess I'll do it."

~☆~

The arc pylon worked, or it better have, Axton thought as he rose from being blasted backwards from the force of the shock-wave.

"Amazing! Simply amazing!" Piero exclaimed as Axton rubbed the back of his head from being thrown backwards. "It functioned beyond my greatest expectations!"

Sokolov followed with a thoughtful expression while Corvo and Daud appeared behind Axton, staring at the unconscious City Watchmen and tallboys strewn across the floor.

"It defies description! A device like this can ensure Dunwall's safety for a century!" He continued. 

"Right. Okay, Axton, you go search Emily's room. I got y room, Daud, do you mind checking the pub itself?" Corvo asked.

Daud nodded, and with that, the two other assassins vanished, leaving Axton to turn and try the door to Emily's room. It was locked. He considered picking the lock, but then again, what if someone was inside? So, he did the sensible thing and peeked through the keyhole. Callista was huddled on Emily's bed, fear written across her face as she stared at the door. Axton sighed as he rose, then knocked on the door gently and called, "Callista? It's me, Axton."

"Axton!? I can't believe your alive! They killed everyone Axton! Everyone to cover it all up, then they took Emily with them and left." She opened the door and stared at Axton with the saddest look he's ever seen on her face. Like the Loyalists had just taken her own daughter. "I couldn't do anything to protect her. Please find her! Make her safe."

"Corvo's alive too..." Axton said. She turned to him, a spark of hope filled her eyes at his words. "...and we brought Daud-"

"The infamous assassin?" She gasped, eyes wide. 

"Yes but he's an ally. He raised me." Axton replied. Callista clutched her heart and sat warily back down on her bed. "Poor girl, she's been through so much. So much... at such a young age too."

She shook her head, and grabbed a doll from the floor and stared at it, a lone tear streaking her face as she continued. "All his talk of being an honorable military man, but Havelock will use Emily like a puppet, to his own advantage." She then glanced at Axton, a hardness in her eyes. "Something changed in the Admiral as soon as the Lord Regent died. It had been building up. Martin was acting strange, going quiet if any of us were near. Whispering lat into the night with Havelock and Pendleton while you and Corvo were out doing the real work. I think they realized they where one step away from holding the same position the Lord Regent had. And worried they'd be held accountable for what they did here, as the loyalists. They would have killed me too, but Havelock spared me. Out of respect for my uncle, I believe. Please, talk to Samuel, or the others. Someone must know where they were going. Find Emily. She's suffered through so much and she's got no one else on her side except you and Corvo. Samuel set this here in case you both returned. You can use it to call him, and he said he'd come quickly. Hopefully there's a place he can dock where the watch-"

"There are no watch. Piero made an arc pylon that rendered them all unconscious. You can get out of here and find safety. Perhaps go find your uncle." Axton said.

"Thank you. I'll go right now. Good luck Axton."

With that said, she ran out of the tower. Axton walked over to the flair gun and shot the flair. He then blinked to Corvo's room, where Daud and him where conversing. The father turned to the son and said. "Their keeping her at Kingsparrow. Callista had just ran by and said you signaled Samuel."

"Yeah. I am going to check on Cecelia. Tell her the coast is clear then meet you two wherever he is docked." Axton said. Corvo nodded then said. "I'm going to talk to Piero before going down to the docks. Do you need anything?"

"A couple of sleep darts and normal bolts. Other than that I am good to go."

"Alright, meet you at Samuel's boat."

~☆~

Axton,

I'm going to make a run for it. I think that if I hadn't met you or Corvo, I wouldn't be brave enough to try. I'll try to find you again, someday when this is all over. There is so much more I wish to tell you. But all I'll say now is good luck, though I doubt you need it.

Cecelia.

Axton stared at this letter for the entire boat ride. Not participating in Daud and Corvo's planning nor in Samuel's small talk either. They let him be, knowing the look on his face. He was sad that she left without saying goodbye, but relived that she was hopefully somewhere safer. 

When this is all over, I swear I'll search to the ends of the world for you. He thought. Crumbling the paper in his hands and  placing it over his heart.

"We're here." Daud said gravely. Axton glanced up at the lighthouse. Despite the dawning sky, the place looked ominous. Like an abandoned warehouse that sat abandoned for years, with rumors circulating of ghosts haunting it. Axton subconsciously fidgeted with his wristbow, an action Daud hadn't seen since the boy was very young. An action he did when he was nervous about something. Samuel wished them luck and thanked Corvo for remembering what was important and drove his boat away. The three of them silently made their way through the fortress, like three phantoms in the dawn. 

They where able to slip silently through the soldiers undetected, but when they got to the elevator was where the issues began. The alarm blared to life, one of the Overseers realized that the elevator key was missing, and found the unconscious body of the guard in a hiding place. Daud, Corvo and Axton quickly jumped in and activated the elevator, going up. They knew that the guards above would be waiting, and prepared for it. 

"I'll hold them off." Daud said. "You and Corvo will go get Emily-"

"No." Axton said, shaking his head defiantly. "No way! You can't handle them all on your own! I'll help-"

"Axton no." Corvo said. "I'll stay back and help, I have-"

"No, Lady Emily needs the both of you." Daud said. "This old Knife is just that, old. No one'll notice if I-"

"NO!" Axton yelled. "Don't talk like that!"

"I'll be leaving Dunwall, Axton. It's for the best. I won't be killing anyone anymore. The Whalers are right, The Empress had changed me, made me soft. No one should have to kill and Empress. Especially her." He stared down at his hands. "These hands have spilt much high born blood. Enough for a whaling ship to be able to float on. I'm tired of it through with the killing, ruining lives for profit. And trust me, It's best if Emily doesn't see me..."

The lift stopped, and the door opened. A guard immediately rushed in, only for Axton to shoot him with a sleeping dart.

"Just because you are feeling guilty, doesn't give you a right to think that no one will notice or care that you are gone." Axton said. "You're just as important as me and Corvo. Daud, you raised me. If you think that no one will care if you disappear then you're dead wrong. Corvo is my dad, yes. But so are you. If you both think I am going to just sacrifice one of you then you're dead wrong. We fight through these assholes together." He then came running out, blade held high as he made his way towards open combat. Corvo and Daud followed afterwards.

~☆~

The stairs leading up to the first level was flooded with guards, Axton was up with his back to the crashing seas below. He had just killed two guards and was fighting the third. It was a struggle, Corvo and Daud finishing up their last few men and going to his aid when the unexpected happened. The guard lunged at Axton, grabbing him and leaping off the building!

"AXTON!!!!!!" They yelled, Daud decapitating the last guard before following Corvo to the edge.

~☆~

The watchman and the assassin struggled as they fell. Axton trying to escape so he can blink away while the guard was desperate to let him die along with him. They grappled, the guard slamming his leg into Axton's kneecap causing him to cry out in pain, black dots filled his eyes as the pain paralyzed him for several minutes. He growled as lifted his blade to the guard's throat. "I had enough of you!" He exclaimed and slashed his blade across his throat. He then activated his power and possessed his dead body just as it slammed into the frigid waters below. He came out of it and tried swimming up to the surface, but the current was strong and his broken leg didn't help. And the next thing he knew, rammed his body into the rocks causing him to smash his head. He felt the pain shoot throughout his body, darkness filling his vision as he became limp. 

He knew what was going to happen next, he will wake up in the Void with no return. He could feel his body go limp, his lungs stinging, begging him to take a breath. But then, black gloved hands reached into the waters and pulled him out and into the air. His vision was darkening, but he was able to make out the outlines of a golden mask and a dark, black coat.

"Thank you, Overseer." Was his last words, before allowing the dark tendrils of unconsciousness pull him in.

~☆~

"No..." Daud whispered as he fell to his knees at the edge. "No... it... it should have been me.... IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME! DAMN YOU, YOU BLACK EYED BASTARD!" He yelled, slamming his fists into the ground as tears poured from his eyes. Corvo slumped next to him, "My son... I... I had lost him again..."

Silence passed between them, then Daud spoke again. "He was so small... when I found him all those fifteen years ago. So young, so... scared. The scar still fresh, healing. I thought he'd just be another kid I'd save. Just another Whaler and perhaps my successor one day since he bore his own mark... I might have been trying to provoke you. But what I said was true..." He turned his red stained grey-blue eyes towards Corvo's brown. "He really did become like a son to me." He returned his attention to his hand, taking off his left glove and analyzing his mark as he continued. "The Outsider knew this will happen. Just like he knew what I'd become after giving me this... this accursed mark." Daud clenched his fist.

"Don't get mad at the Outsider, Daud." Corvo said.

"Your right, this is my fault to-"

"Not you either." Corvo said, Daud turned to him, eyebrow raised.

"If I hadn't have killed the Empress, none of this would have happened."

"Your right. I wouldn't be a dishonored assassin, fighting for vengeance and trying to place the rightful heir to the throne back on the throne. I'd still be at some boring parliament meeting with Jessamine and raising Emily. Secretly teaching her things that her mother would definitely disapprove of." He chuckled at that then sighed. "I'd still be a Royal Protector. He'd still be a Whaler. Despite how much I hate to admit it, you where right. Her death brought him into my life. Not that I'm saying that it okay, I still hate you for it-"

"Which is understandable-"

"But whose to say that if you hadn't have killed her... would I have even have met my son at all?" He turned away then sighed. "Though I wish you hadn't have killed her, I wouldn't trade the time I had with my son for anything."

"Me neither.... funny, I thought I was saving him all those years ago. Looking back... I wonder who did the real saving." Daud said, sighing.

"You know Daud, in another time, another world. I bet we could have been good friends." Corvo said. "However, under the circumstances of our meeting..."

"Agreed. I get exactly what you are saying." He replied.

"However, right now, our goals are aligned. If it wasn't for Havelock and the other's betrayal, Axton and I wouldn't even be here. We could have been crowning a new Empress, the five of us. Pendleton, Havelock, Martin, Axton and myself. But nope! They had to be greedy. So we shouldn't be angry at the Outsider or ourselves. We should be angry at them." Corvo said, rising from his spot. "And if you can't then think of this... This is what Axton would have wanted. He would want us to save Emily, and place her back on the throne. He'd want us to make these 'loyalists' pay for what they had done."

Daud rose too, staring at Corvo with new found devotion. He raised his hand up and looked Corvo in the eye. "For Axton."

Corvo clasped his hand, he too staring the Assassin in the eye as he gave a small, sad half smile. "For our son."

~☆~

The Overseer knew he was risking a lot driving his boat into the Flooded District. After all, he was going into enemy territory. He didn't know exactly where the Whalers' base was, he didn't really go over the siege maps. All he knew was that they where in the flooded district, and knew that they will find him before he found them.

He stared down at the Whaler in red laying down before him. His breathing had now become ragged, shallow. He needed treatment and soon, or he will die. He couldn't allow that, he didn't just owe him one, but two life debts. He remembered when he came back to the Overseers after Campbell's death and the New High Overseer came to power. Martin had pardoned many Overseers, including himself, hoping to gain favors rather than actually being generous. And for those who didn't favor him, he used Campbell's black book to blackmail them. 

The Overseer hated that book, in fact, he had stolen it from Martin and was about to burn it when he saw the Whaler falling from the top of the Lighthouse. At first, he thought it was perhaps High Overseer Martin himself and, pretending to be the loyal Overseer he was not, he saved his life. Instead, he found a Whaler in his arms. He was then conflicted, throw him back? Or save his life? But when he uttered those three words, he had recognized that voice. It was the voice of the Whaler in Black, or... in Red now. The one who had helped his sister and himself just a few weeks prior. Then, it was a no brainier. He had to help him, no matter the cost.

He heard the Whalers before he saw them. The sounds of their teleporting black magic whooshed in his ears as they appeared on the boat. They had their weapons drawn, but the Overseer remained composed, relaxed. He kept his weapons sheathed and stared at the Whalers warily. One was in dark grey, the other was in dark blue.

He motioned down to the Whaler in red and said. "He is in need of urgent medical attention."

The Whaler in grey bent down and touched his neck, then looked up to the one in blue and said, "He's breathing, but barely. Pierce, what should we do?"

The one in blue looked up at the Overseer. "Why did you save him? Who are you?"

The Overseer took off his mask, "My name is Overseer Berthold, and he had saved me and my sister's lives.

~☆~

Daud and Corvo barged into the penthouse of the lighthouse. Admiral Havelock stood at the fireplace, staring into the flames with a somber look in his eyes. 

"Oh, hello Corvo. You don't expect me to fight you, do you? Here's the key to Emily's cell. Kill me or take me to prison, I don't care anymore. And Daud. Yes, I know who you are. You aren't Axton, that I can tell. I can only assume you came because of him. And I also see he isn't with you two. So vengeance yes? Just kill me and get it over with, I've already done two thirds of your work for you... if you couldn't tell." He motioned to the bodies of Overseer Martin and Lord Pendleton around the table without turning his gaze from the fire. He took another sip of his whiskey, and made no move towards his weapons. Corvo turned to Daud and nodded, they both pulled out their blades and approached him. The Admiral only stared at the fire, unmoving, even after taking the keys from the table next to him. Not a flinch.

"You'll go to Coldridge for this you know?" Corvo growled.

"Yes, then I'll be executed along with the Lord Regent Hiram Burrows. Ironic, two Lord Regents being executed together. The one who made a coupe to bring down the other. Two usurpers who have betrayed the both, the Lord Protector and Lady Emily. Or Empress Emily around that time. I have accepted that fate now. I can't possibly beat two with the Outsider at their sides. Just take the brat and go. She speaks very highly of you, Corvo, she'll be glad to see you. Daud... not so sure she'd feel the same about seeing you... and I bet she'll feel sad for not seeing Axton. Devastated to hear of his demise." He said, still not looking at them. Corvo frowned, he had a bad feeling about this, but he turned around to get Emily anyways with Daud following close behind.

"Who's there? Corvo?" Emily called. 

"Emily! I'm here! I'm going to unlock the door, alright sweety?" He called.

"CORVO! YOU'RE HERE!" She exclaimed as the door flung open. She then tackled him in a hug. 

"Corvo, is it all over? Am I going be Empress now?" She asked. She then looked over Axton's shoulder, smiling as she expected to see Axton. But instead, saw the face of the man she'd never forget. His grey-blue eyes showing sorrow as they stared at the girl.

"YOU!" She cried. "YOU WHERE THE BASTARD WHO KILLED MY MOTHER!" 

"Emily! Language!" Corvo scolded.

"Yes. I am. And no words can express the guilt I feel..." Tears poured from his eyes as he turned away. "And I am a barer of even more bad news. Axton.... Axton..."

"Axton is gone, Emily. He was overwhelmed by guards outside. He... he fell to his death..."

"No..." Emily said, her eyes wide. She started to back away from Corvo, shaking her head as she looked between Daud's wailing figure and Corvo's own tear filled eyes. "No... nonononono NO! HE IS NOT DEAD!" She yelled.

They where so busy in their griefs, that they hadn't noticed that Havelock was no longer by the fire, he was stalking towards them, blade in hand, making his way towards Corvo.

"I am so sorry Emily..." Corvo said with a choked voice. "I wish I can say that he is still alive. I really do. But he's gone!"

Tears streaked down her own face as she rushed and hugged Corvo. They embraced and cried, Emily holding him tightly around the neck, eyes closed. When she opened them, she saw the Admiral charge at him with his blade ready to thrust. 

"CORVO LOOK OUT!" She cried out. Daud jumped up and pulled out his weapon just as Corvo turned around. But they barely moved a muscle when He suddenly stumbled and fell forward, a sleep dart stuck to his back. A shadowy figure stood at the door way, arm pointed out with an empty wristbow.

"Miss me?"

~☆~

After his head hit the rocks, Axton felt like he was falling for ages. It was only the sensation, for everything was dark, black. He had stopped screaming for a while now, it wouldn't help the fact that he was falling. Instead, he thought about everyone that mattered in his life.

Pierce. Emily. Corvo. Daud. Billie. Thomas. Cecelia... his brain shot out their names and faces in a n endless loop. Then, his vision started to be tinted with grey, and objects started to fly past him rapidly. he tried grabbing out or blinking at them, but they where just going too fast. whipping faster than his brain could comprehend. He fell closer to an exceptionally large piece of debris, and felt a sudden hand grab his wrist. It hurt, almost like someone yanking his arm out of it's socket. He grunted and looked up to see the black eyes of the Outsider attached to the hand that saved him. He stared at Axton for a few seconds, then gave a small, cold smile before throwing him onto the platform.

"Could you have been a slightly more gentle?" Axton asked, his head ringing from the adrenaline of the fall.

"Oh come on! That's one of my favorite animations!" The Outsider complained.

"What? I couldn't hear that?" Axton replied, trying to shake the buzzing out of his head.

"I said that you where falling a long way down here." The Outsider lied. Axton just shook his head and rose to his feet. "Am.... am I dead?" He asked, glancing around him with a frown.

"You are still alive, but just barely." The Outsider said, his arms crossed. "The Overseer who saved you and the Whalers are trying their hardest. But they can't save you. They are just delaying the inevitable. Too much fluid is entering your brain and it will eventually drown and with it, you will die."

"So, there is no point? I am just going to die?" Axton asked.

"Yes... but no. Not if I can help it." The Outsider said. "There is only one way to save you, but you won't like it. I am not giving you a choice in the matter because I like you... and because the fans and author would kill me if I didn't..."

"I'm sorry, can you repeat the last part? My ears are still ringing." Axton asked, cocking his head in confusion.

"I said, and because Daud and your father will kill me if I didn't." The Outsider replied. He then motioned to the landscape around them. "Look around you, a crumbling island at the very edges of the Void. But this one is special. It's the place my throat was cut four thousand years ago." He began to pace, hands behind his back as he continued. "This is where my life ended... and it began again. It's where they made me."

"Made you?" Axton asked as he vanished.

He glanced around and made his way forward. There was a table, or a wooden slab to be exact. The Outsider lay on it, and said. "Right up until the end I thought I'd find a way to escape." He started to sit up, continuing. "I fought but the ropes only cut my skin so I went limp."

He stared down at his hands, and continued. "And then the knife touched my throat and I knew I'd waited too long." He then looked up to Axton. "Then the blood ran out and I became a god."

"Those who come here can find secrets. Ways to draw power from here, rather than through me. Here, deep in the oldest part of the Void is were I, and all the others who where branded Outsider before me, had their identities cut by that very blade. Their names stripped as they bled out. Those who unlock the secrets of this part of the Void can become a part of me. Share in more of the power that I have. One will do this in the future. In order to receive more power. This is where you will become a part of me."

"Become a part of you?" Axton asked, then laughed. "Come on, I don't want this? How is that even possible? Thanks, but no thank-"

"Well, you see Axton. For the first and last time in your life, this is one thing I am not giving you a choice on."

With that said, the Outsider grabbed Axton's marked hand and yanked it over to the stone slab, summoning a wicked double blade in his other hand.

"Wait! What the-"

He turned Axton's palm over and slashed the blade across it. Fire seemed to sear up his arm and Axton let out a scream of pain. His mark was burning, the Outsider flipped his hand over and showed him his mark. It's pale blue glow started to be engulfed by a black smoke. He then released his arm, causing Axton to crumble to the floor. Visions flashing across his eyes of powers that he'd seen both Corvo and Daud use. Devouring Swarm, Windblast, Arcane Bond... they all flew before his eyes as he felt a surge of power rush through him.

"What the... what's happening to me?" Axton cried out, the darkness engulfing him and his voice sounding eerie and reverberating.

"I'm saving your life." The Outsider replied simply. "You're welcome."

The darkness dissipated and he gasped, finding himself on the cold floor of the Void with the Outsider staring down at him with no sign of emotion in his face. Axton shakily got to his feet and turned to him.

"What... what the hell? What's wrong with my voice?" Axton asked, the reverberating tone still present as he spoke.

"It will go away if you wish it to." The Outsider replied. "You are the only one I am willing to share my power with in such a way. Feel fortunate, Axton. So please, don't disappoint me."

Then the Void faded around Axton.

~☆~

Overseer Berthold refused to leave Axton's side. He prayed and prayed for Axton's life, desperately, he even prayed to the Outsider himself. Thomas and Pierce prepared for the worst. They where positive he'd die, they had done all that they could, and his condition continued to decline. 

"Should we tell him?" Thomas asked, staring through the glass at the Overseer praying over Axton's dying body. His eyes showed a sadness, as he gazed at his dying friend. Many of the other Whalers stood around them, silent. Paying respect to the son of the Lord Protector, the Empress, and adopted son of their master Daud, the Knife of Dunwall. He was a friend to them all, to some he was even closer than that. Like to Thomas, and to Pierce.

Pierce himself shed a tear as he saw the scene. Only Axton could do such a thing, make an ally with one who would be considered our enemy. No one, nothing can replace him. Please, anything, if you are listening, let him live-

Suddenly Axton's body arched, his mark glowing then slowly transitioning to a black smoke which enveloped him. Overseer Berthold yelped and jumped away. running to the other side of the room with fear in his eyes. He grabbed a vial of holy water from his coat and jumped on a book shelf, screaming the seven scriptures as he splashed the water at him. The scene would have been hilarious, if it wasn't also so terrifying.

Then, just as quickly as it had happened, it had stopped, and Axton lay back down like nothing had ever happened. Pierce and Thomas rushed into the room and stared down at him, eyes wide. Berthold slowly got down from his perch on the bookshelf and held the vial of water in his hand up like a grenade. The three of them started to lean closer and closer to him.

After a few minutes of quiet, eerie stillness, Axton lurched upright. Overseer Berthold screamed and threw the whole vial of water at Axton's face.

"Ow!" Axton exclaimed, his voice eerie and reverberating.

"What is wrong with your voice?" Thomas asked.

"No-" He coughed, cleared his voice and shook his head. "Nothing."

"Oh... okay... how do you feel?" Thomas asked hesitantly.

Axton swung his legs over the bed and stood, which caused Berthold, Thomas, and Pierce's jaws to drop.

"Your leg was broken!" Berthold cried.

"Your brain was swelling!" Pierce exclaimed.

"You where dying!" Thomas yelled.

"And now I'm better!" Axton sarcastically shot back.

"But-" Berthold stared.

"Thanks for saving me-"

"But-" Thomas said.

"And I really feel better-"

"But-" Pierce tried.

"OKAY BYE!"

And with that, Axton blinked away. Leaving a really confused Overseer, and two Whalers in his wake.

~☆~

"Miss me?" The shadow asked. 

He took a step forward and the shadows seemed to melt off of him, rather than him move out of it. They streamed off of him like droplets on a round, metal roof. The last to fade where his eyes, nearly making him look like The Outsider himself for a couple of seconds.

"AXTON!" All three of them cried. The first one to run up to him was not Emily, neither was it Corvo. Daud rushed Axton and squeezed him in a tight hug. Then, realizing that he looked mushy, one can suspect, he pulled away. He fixed his face into a scowl once again and slapped the boy upside the head. "DON'T YOU EVER SCARE ME LIKE THAT AGAIN!" Daud exclaimed, then hugged Axton again. 

Corvo started cracking up, having to take off his own mask to breath while Emily ran up to him herself. Daud pulled away so Emily too can hug him. But instead, she slapped Axton across his face. Tears in her eyes as she cried. "I told you! If you didn't stay with me, the next time I see you I will hit you!"

She then hugged him and wailed into his chest, gripping his coat tightly. Axton chuckled as he returned the embrace.

"Yeah, you did... didn't you?" He said gently. Not mentioning that she had actually said, 'if he didn't go to the Hound Pit's Pub with her' but he let it slide. This time.

Then, when they parted, Axton glanced up and saw Corvo staring down at him and Emily. He tried keeping a small smile, but as he opened his arms his bottom lip began to quiver. Axton then stood and walked into his father's embrace. Corvo broke down then, into his shoulder as he whispered "I thought... I thought I lost you... again...."

"Ah, you know... it takes more than a hundred foot drop to kill me." Axton said.

Then Corvo pulled back, then quickly slapped him upside the head.

"Ow!"

"I told you. They day dubbed named me your dad, I have reserved all rights to slap you each time you do something stupid. That, Axton Euhorn Theodanis Kaldwin-Attano, was royally stupid!"

And with that said, they all laughed and embraced Axton in a large group hug.

Just saying... I don't think Overseers have holy water, but I just thought that having Overseer Berthold throwing holy water at Axton would be HILARIOUS!!! 😂😂😂

And I liked Axton's full name! What about you?

Epilogue should be out either tonight or tomorrow...