Everyday Stresses of Kazuki - Sci-Fi Action/Intrigue Webserial

Blood was everywhere against the wall and on the floor. On him... Kazuki stood still, shaking slightly. He was getting a bit chilly... He turned to the voices... Fer-Charelota. It's the Marquis. Kazuki acknowledged the man.

Hmm. He might want Obadiah to live. Kazuki released the pressure on Obadiah's bleeding leg.

Kazuki looked over the room. Eliza was safe. People were entering the room on mass. Knights... Squires... a reporter or two. Kazuki walked over to the desk. He looked over at the carnage.

Six men dead - no. Seven?

Kazuki was immeasurably disappointed in the Seventh. It wasn't a disappointment for them, just… disappointment at the outcome.

That was Cyrus on the floor.

His death was... a massive pity. But Eliza's safe… Cyrus has fulfilled his obligation, his contract. His mission had been completed, but Kazuki's still continued. It always continued.

Kazuki couldn't think straight... Something was continually tugging on him. He turned to it... Oh. It was Václavos and Nihara. Kazuki uttered some words.

"Bag Huscarl," he said. "Just... get him out of sight."

Václavos nodded, and immediately got to work as he walked towards Cyrus' dead body. Nihara, meanwhile, stood still, lingering for a moment.

"He's..." she trailed off. "We're not seeing him again… are we?" For once, the monotone voice was hesitant.

Kazuki replied, "Dead." That much was very clear. "I'll let you two hold a funeral for him… Let the other bodies rot."

Nihara pulled away, helping Václavos with the cleanup. The Knights had secured the room, standing guard.

The Marquis grabbed onto Kazuki. He shifted him to face him... He was speaking.

Kazuki blinked a few times, squinting hard so that he could focus. "Kazuki, can you hear me?" The Marquis asked. "Listen to me… Can you do that?"

Kazuki mumbled something.

"Eliza is safe… You should at least say something to her," the Marquis said. "She needs you, my boy, not later, not soon, but now... Don't let her break at this very final moment."

"No." Kazuki shook his head with a quiet, solemn voice. No… What could he even tell her? He killed exactly twenty one people to get here? Blackjack? No. "I can't…"

The Marquis grumbled. "Fine, be that way, little Prince… but why was Lady Antiar out there, injured?" asked Fer-Charelota, his bright pink eyes staring into Kazuki's soul. "I am asking you this before the press wishes for an official statement - and from Sir Icarus."

He spoke clearly and in a hushed tone. Kazuki gave a dismissive response. "Injured..."

"Look, Kazuki, I need an answer from you this instant."

Lady Antiar... Oh yeah. She was injured fighting him. But she's good now. She assisted him in fulfilling his Contract… Sure, she nearly got him killed - but… so did so many of his allies…

Sato… nearly blew him and Archius up when meeting… Martinez nearly broke his back… Quinn, both drank to half-death.

Kazuki kept thinking through his delirious state. Damn. He should get something to eat. T'was hungry. Kazuki could only think of some base instincts. He wondered if ramen would do good.

Even so, he pulled together his mind for an answer. "She helped me," said Kazuki. "She helped me..."

The Marquis was convinced by his answer, but not entirely. "Then why was your Black blade stuck in her?"

Slowly, Kazuki's face scowled at Fer-Charelota. The Marquis was to bear the brunt of Kazuki's golden glare, piercing through several layers of ego and bureaucracy. No man alive without a complete dedication to his craft would have asked that question. Still, the Marquis asked, and that alone meant something.

The First Consul, Marquis Gilbera de Fer-Charelota, passed Kazuki's test.

"Do not pry," Kazuki demanded. "She helped me; that is all."

Fer-Charelota nodded, before turning back to the rest of the room. Kazuki ignored Eliza. In fact... He can't be asked to deal with her. He couldn't in the first place, even if he did this for her: he couldn't be with her. Never.

Eliza was crying… But Archius was spinning his tricks, she'll feel somewhat better.

Kazuki's head snapped to Obadiah. Ignoring Fer-Charelota, Kazuki rushed over to him. He lifted the half-dead businessman from the ground.

Obadiah was going to kill Eliza… He couldn't do that?! That's stupid!

The old fool was bleeding slowly, crying and sobbing in defiance as he screeched at Kazuki, "You'll pay, you poor fucking Prince! They'll have your head on a fucking spike!"

Kazuki drew. Firing a single shot, he kneecapped the fool. Obadiah wretched himself into another bout of wrath and screeching. "Poor choice of words," Kazuki sneered back.

Another bolt, Kazuki demanded. However, his hands faltered. No… A voice in the back of Kazuki's head hollered him to stop. "Shut up!" Kazuki grunted.

"Huh?" The Marquis started up.

Kazuki paused.

Was he hallucinating again?

"Kazuki, Eliza is safe… Don't make a mess of this any more than it needs to be."

"Why?" Kazuki asked. "History rhythmed. I must prove once more the error of their ways. Obadiah won't be the first body I've dropped here. If it were up to me, it will not be the last."

He'll make sure Obadiah dies slowly. After all, he nearly got Eliza killed. He's the enemy. Enemies must be crushed, lest their weeds and tendrils choke him in his restless sleep.

The Marquis grabbed onto Kazuki's arm. "We have rules Kazuki, I cannot allow you to make him into another Matt. Let me drag him through the mud, not you."

"What will you do?"

"Extradite him to the Belsaran Federation. I will assist the prosecution, we have enough evidence to place him in a space cell for consecutive undeath sentences."

"Why? Why do that? I can get what I want now. Then… He is of no use anymore." Kazuki pondered momentarily. "I want him dead." He tilted his head as his exaggerated cowlick shifted. For a brief second, Kazuki seemed almost innocent in his demand. "I want him with concrete lungs. I need an example."

Fer-Charelota sighed. "He will meet justice at the hands of the courts... Don't kill him here." Kazuki returned Fer-Charelota's words with a silent stare, he nodded to the room filled with people. "I don't care if you break into a Belsaran prison to kill him. But here, I will deal with scum as I always had: thoroughly and without a shred of mercy - who do you think protected Elizabeth after your mess last time!"

Fer-Charelota turned towards the rest of the room. Kazuki saw the press get slowly closer. Kazuki had to pause... Elizabeth was in danger, of course she was.

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Kazuki abandoned her. He left her. No. Kazuki thought he did not deserve to protect her. His time was over. It was time for another delegate. Maybe in a different time, things would go better, much better.

But that was not now.

"My information."

"Look at Obadiah… He's broken."

That was true… Broken minds don't tend to say much… Oh well…

"Once he's in chains and cuffs," Gilbera started. "I'll assist you in a very public display of justice. The courts… both in Belsara and Anagora… will show them that we deal with scum and do not allow them to persist beside us. He will spin his web, and we'll nip his attempts at each angle - remember this, Kazuki."

Not enough.

"Do you think you want him dead more than me?" Gilbera quietly snarled. Turning to the Marquis and First Consul, Kazuki saw glaring eyes. "That man had killed many of my own friends, colleagues… he was a Nasserite, and when the tide turned he let the gates open. He thought I'd forgive him because he betrayed my enemies."

This was the true face of the Marquis, the true reasoning behind everything this man had held together. The idealist was on for show, but beneath that was nothing more than cold vengeance.

"But betrayal does not wipe the blood," Kazuki added.

For once, the two resonated at their very cores. Kazuki wanted blood. His pact. His memories. Gilbera wanted justice. Vengeance. For brother and Republic.

These two men, of two different walks of life, understood the other.

"You want to humiliate him." Kazuki realised what Gilbera wanted. "I will allow it."

It was enough to convince Kazuki. Dragging Obadiah through the courts will humiliate him. That hurts Obadiah's reputation and legacy.

Kazuki liked it. He loved it... The idea of the squealing worm begging at the whims of a vicious jury... Kazuki could only hope to see it, knowing full well that he'd get Archius to... ensure the jury made the right call.

Always the right call, no matter the cost. Damned be if they had to drown ten more now-ex-partners.

Kazuki dropped Obadiah onto the floor. The Marquis breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you... Kazuki," he said.

He slowly turned, but now it was time for Kazuki to latch onto him. The Marquis turned slowly. Nimitz-Delia rushed into the room, seeing the carnage. Eliza was standing...

Archius helped her, as Delia, too, consoled her… Delia wrapped her arms around Eliza… It was… genuine, thought Kazuki. Perhaps Delia could be a mentor to Eliza… the 'mother' Eliza could not have had.

Some reporters tried to push their way to Eliza. Kazuki was just about to redirect his ire. Kazuki drew his pistol, reloading a new magazine into it.

"What's ten more bodies?" Kazuki snarled, before turning.

Sir Icarus caught wind of him. He placed himself between the press and Eliza…

Hmm. Kazuki gave Sir Icarus a nod. He nodded back.

"I need compensation," Kazuki stated.

"Didn't need to be said."

Ugh... His head was hurting. Victoria was talking to Archius now... Huh? No... That's not right.

Kazuki rubbed his nose and eyes, clearing the view… Eliza was talking normally now, giving Kazuki quick glances. She did so several times… but always looked away from his stare…

Yeah… Kazuki should have seen how awkward this would have been.

"Lives for his life," Kazuki muttered.

Fer-Charelota nodded, before stepping over to Obadiah's side. "Obadiah. Today is not the day you will die, but it might be… Listen to me: who did you work with?" The Marquis snorted in disgust at the… creature in front of them. "Oh? Did you think I was blind to your… little ring? Today is judgement day for them, yours will come later, after all that you built comes crumbling down."

Cruel words. The Marquis looked back to Kazuki, who gave an approving nod. The Marquis is a kind man, noble and respectable, Kazuki concluded. But kindness must come from somewhere, and the lines of respect may lead to contempt…

Obadiah was sobbing to himself, grunting and groaning with pain. The slug was still moving. Kazuki should kick it, and make it stop squirming about.

Give it something to really cry about.

No... The Marquis will not like that; the Marquis seems to want the same as Kazuki - so he'll allow him to take this lead. The Press would be like squawking birds if Kazuki killed Obadiah in front of them…

Maybe he'll end up on galactic television…

Obadiah pointed his remaining hand to the table. Hmm? Fer-Charelota took a calm walk to the table, slowly searching through the cabinets - all the while Obadiah kept groaning. With a small whistle, Fer-Charelota turned back to Kazuki, nodding to the right. He took out what seemed to be a holographic records column of sorts.

He offered it to Kazuki.

Kazuki grabbed onto it. He looked down and ignited it to life... Names. Faces. So many people… They will die in Obadiah's place. Someone must flip the bill for Eliza's pain and suffering. And these people will suffice...

"What were you doing?" Kazuki asked. He turned to Obadiah, looking down at him.

The slug looked back at him. He pointed at the Datapad. Kazuki flipped a few pages around. He scanned through the whole thing.

'SHIPPING REPORT. TO BE READ BY THOSE ONLY AUTHORISED. MISCHIEF BOARD PERSONNEL ONLY: SHIPMENTS OF LIVE MERCHANDISE TO EACH MEMBER OF THE LIST ARE TO BE PROVIDED WITHIN THE WEEKS. SHIPPING IS NOT SEARCHED FREQUENTLY. LIVE MERCHANDISE IS LOCATED IN LOWER DECKS. SEEK HANDLERS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.'

Human Trafficking... Kazuki's eyes squinted at Obadiah. He threw the datapad down at him. "You are very lucky," Kazuki said. "You get to live for what... another month? Long enough for a sham trial to humiliate you once more."

"Don't go slaughtering them just yet," Fer-Charelota said, attracting Kazuki's ire.

"Why?"

"I know what you will do, dash across the palace splitting their heads open wherever you find them," Fer-Charelota stated. "I wish for no more blood to be spilt."

"Snively."

"But I said nothing about surgical removal of them… From the station," Fer-Charelota continued, giving a small glance at the abyss of space beyond the windows. "Make the punishment fit the crime, right, Arbiter?"

Kazuki got what he meant. He nodded. "We're done. You have your support. I will get my information. Delia gets her profits."

The mere mention of profits collected Delia's attention. She waved at the two of them, and Kazuki nodded back. Delia and Archius seemed to escort Eliza out, just as Chloé arrived.

Her arrival also heralded a Garnet Justicar with her… A Bodyguard of the Theonar Royal Family… It blocked the view of the cameras, as Chloé embraced Eliza…

The sight made Kazuki feel cold… For some reason?

He turned and walked away. Fer-Charelota gave one lasting statement, "I look forward to the future of our… alliance?"

It was a question. Ally with the Marquis? Hmm. Kazuki's head hurt. It… Yes. It would be somewhat beneficial to align with him. He has proven himself a steadfast ally, willing to bend but not break.

Kazuki gave another nod. But he was not satisfied. He turned his head back to Obadiah, who whimpered to his glare. "My information. I want the summary. I'll be needing details later."

Obadiah choked out a few words. "The Board… It was…" The man was still struggling to speak… Kazuki probably shouldn't have punched his vocal cords.

It was enough for Kazuki. The Marquis nodded, acknowledging the confession. It was just that: a confession of the Board's involvement. Guilty. Guilty. All of them. Kazuki has another lead, now.

Definitive proof: something to work off of.

Won't stop Kazuki. Can't stop him. "Who?"

"One of us… Contract-Breaker," Obadiah said. One of them? "You'll never… make it."

So it wasn't Obadiah who was involved. It was someone he knew. It was someone at the top of the Mischief Board.

"We'll skin you good, boy," Obadiah sneered at Kazuki. "We'll gut you like we gutted the rest. We'll boil that girl alive with you as the fuel, Contract-Breaker. I'll make sure your daddy gets what he deserved!"

Good information. Details can come later, Kazuki was… tired.

Obadiah's jeers were worthless to him.

"If."

Then, Kazuki kept walking. He ignored everyone... The Press was the most adamant to stop him. He paused, turning towards the journalist. Their drones shone lights in his face.

"Excuse me! Mister Geminorum-Ryzaku! May you please comment on the situation?" she asked. "Arrests rarely happen within the Ball Palace, can you please give us some comments on what the situation might be?"

The situation? Oh... The investigation? That must be what she meant. Everything here was already cleaned up. Kazuki's mind wasn't fixing itself - still high on Overclock stims.

It was like walking on water. He knew it was wrong, but it simply happened.

Maybe some sleep will do it fine? No... But now is the perfect time… Kazuki must declare war - to face down all his enemies here and now.

"My name is Prince Kazuki Izumi of the Geminorum-Ryzakus..." Kazuki stared and sang to the music of reporters and drones. "Jessica Kiki-Louis was a perpetrator of the Ptolemy-1 Incident... Obadiah continued to resist me in my investigation of her accomplices. I declare to all those that stand against me... All those are in support of those who conspired with her. To you. I will kill you. Even if I have to die, I'll bury you - all of you."

A declaration to the galaxy itself was bold, Kazuki muttered to himself. He will prove everything.

Kazuki has both a literal and metaphorical laundry list to clean up with. By the time he'll be done with everything: Kazuki will ensure that justice has been done, because only then could Kazuki ever march onwards.