PROLOGUE

JANUARY 2084

EDWARD AND GAVRIEL CROUCH behind the shrubbery, studying the Emperor of Japan as he takes a lone stroll through his enormous gardens. Every now and then, the frail old man leans down to caress a flower or inhale the floral aroma. It is hot out today, the temperatures in the upper nineties despite it being early in the year. In the distance, Edward can still hear gunshots and missiles flying.

A young boy runs up to the elder with a piece of paper in his head. "Sir, the enemies are getting closer," he tells him in his native language, but every experiments knows majority of the world's tongue. He cringes at the sight of boy's wide, innocent eyes.

Because of what he and Gavriel have come to do.

"Yes, I'm aware," the man replies with a crinkled nose.

"They're coming for you, sir."

The man offers the boy a small smile, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It will all be okay in the end, my boy."

"What if it isn't?"

"What is to be will be. We cannot change the course of the universe."

"But sir, you will die."

"I am not afraid of death, Akito. Let me have my last moments to myself amongst my livelihood, please."

The boy seems on the verge of tears, but nods reluctantly. "Yes, sir."

When the emperor is alone against, he sinks to his knees before the fountain and cups the clear water in his wrinkled hands. He heaves a long sigh before closing his eyes, splashing the water into his face. He repeats the action three times.

Gavriel nudges Edward, gesturing that they move in. The experiments roll their shoulders back and sneak stealthily from the brush, rising to their full height right behind the emperor. The emperor pauses, like he knows he is no longer alone. His palms press flat against the side of the fountain as he pushes to his feet, slowly turning around to face the two of them.

He smiles weakly. "Do be merciful," he says in broken English.

Gavriel does the talking, as he always does. "We are not here to terminate you. Our Master would like your company to negotiate terms."

"I've said everything I needed to say to him," the emperor replies. "I do not wish to meet with him again."

"My apologies, Emperor, but your wishes mean nothing. We will take you forcefully or willingly, however you decide."

The old man exhales another great sigh. "Then I suppose I shall maintain my dignity, at best. What is the way?"

Gavriel bows his head respectfully, though if the doctor had seen such an action, he'd have Gavriel executed for it. "This way."

"Would you give me a moment?" the emperor asks, gazing sorrowfully at his beloved plants.

Gavriel frowns in confusion at how flowers could be treasured so, but he nods again nonetheless and takes a step back.

The emperor reaches into his robe pocket. Edward hears the clink of glass against the emperor's fingernails, but he is not fast enough. The emperor pops the cork out of the small bottle and downs the translucent liquid in one gulp. He sits down amongst the roses despite the thorns, and gradually begins to sway. Within moments, he falls backwards.

Dead.

Gavriel and Edward gape at the scene, unsure of what to do.

"He really didn't like the doctor, did he?" Gavriel attempts to joke, but there's a dark look in his eyes.

Edward swallows, clenching his jaw. He snatches the bottle off the ground and shoves it into his pocket. "Help me with the body."

Gavriel helps wiggle the emperor out of the bushes, his old face covered in thorns from his fall. Edward doesn't know why he does it, but he picks each of them out. It leaves little red specks behind, but the blood will dry and stop flowing soon enough. He lifts the body easily into his arms as Gabriel begins to lead the way back to camp.

"What do you think he'll do?" Gavriel asks quietly a few moments later.

"Punish us," Edward says coolly in return. "We should have been paying closer attention." He doesn't think so, but the doctor will. There hadn't been time to stop the inevitable, but the doctor will disagree. They should've been faster.

"Lashings, do you think?"

"Six, at best. Maybe five if he's in a good mood."

"That's tolerable..." But Gavriel grimaces as he says it.

Edward scrunches his nose. "Self-inflicted, probably."

Gavriel deflates completely.

The rest of the walk is in total silence aside from the trees rustling with the wind. They walk briskly through the forest, back towards the constant gunshots and bombings. As they get closer, they cautiously watch the ground for laid out traps that could set off. Sweat drips down Edward's forehead due to the blazing sun above, his clothes sticking to him annoyingly.

A few paces from the camp, the two experiments pause. Neither want to face consequences for actions they could not have prevented. However, both force themselves to continue on anyways with the knowledge that they have no other choice. There is nowhere to run. There is nowhere to hide. The doctor would scavenge the ends of the earth for them no matter where they attempted to flee.

It is 752--or as he recently named himself, Micah-- who sees them approach. He glances at the dead body in Edward's arms with a scowl. "You fool," he snarls. "You've ruined this entire mission for us all. Can't you do anything right?"

Gavriel narrows his eyes. "Do not forget who lost his temper and killed the prime minister last week, Micah."

Micah grumbles under his breath and turns away.

The two walk dreadfully to the doctor's tent. Gavriel takes in a deep breath, then calls for him. A moment or two later, he pokes his head out. Edward can't bring himself to look the doctor in the face, so he stares the emperor's frozen one. He digs the bottle out of his pocket with one hand so the doctor understands what happened.

When the doctor does not speak, Edward nearly loses his nerve and takes off running. He plants his feet firmly in the dry dirt, clenching his fingers around the emperor's silk robe in anticipation for the anger to come.

"Explain," he finally says in a low tone, a dangerous one.

Gavriel clears his throat. "He was going to come willingly, but before 748 or I could catch him, he took the poison. It took effect almost instantly."

The doctor hums and Edward dares to look up. He pulls back the tent flap to allow the experiments inside, which is a horrible sign. He doesn't want onlookers.

Bracing themselves, the two step in.

"Set him there," the doctor says and Edward does as he's told. The second he stands upright again, his cheek stings from the doctor's palm striking him hard. He does the same to Gavriel, who does not try to avoid it knowing that he can't.

"Do you fools understand what you've done?" he snaps, trying to keep his voice low yet struggling. "Japan could've been our strongest ally and now they will turn against us!"

Neither speak, well aware it would only cause more damage. The two hang their heads shamefully.

The doctor curses under his breath and slaps the two again out of sheer frustration. He rants to himself, kicking the emperor's body as if he'll jolt back to life. After a few minutes of letting out his anger, he groans and straightens his spine, composing himself. He turns to the experiments once more, loathing in his dark eyes.

"You two have severely ruined my plans. I cannot let that go unrecognized. We will keep this knowledge to ourselves, but you will never forget the mistake you've made. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Master," the two say simultaneously with their heads still down.

"Come with me."

Edward's stomach begins to churn as they walk far from the camp, into a dead forest where the sun shines the brightest, the hottest. In the middle are four tall wooden posts with fraying ropes bound around the top and bottom. Gavriel tosses Edward a wary glance as the pieces begin to connect in each of their heads.

The doctor has the audacity to look sympathetic as he says, "Shirts and boots off."

They do as they're told.

"Backs to the posts."

They do as they're told.

The doctor binds them to the wood, the sun already scorching their bare skin. With their arms straight above their heads and their ankles tightly tied together, they're both terribly uncomfortable, not to mention the wood splintering their backs. Neither had any idea that this was another option of punishment here. Neither had needed to be punished before.

"I will tell the others you have been sent on another mission. You are not to break free. You will hang and think about your mistake. You will never make the same mistake again. I will retrieve you both in two days."

The doctor walks away.

Gavriel and Edward do as they're told--they hang.