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

Fine music and fine dining were all these people will ever know, no hardship or sacrifices. Simply greed and gluttony, the beloved siblings. And what a shame it was!

Sadly: it will be the last thing they ever know. Not the embrace of their 'loving' children, nor that of their lovers... It was quite fitting, Archius thought, getting all the scum in one location. He looked over his ICAPAD from the railings up above the banquet.

Many of the individuals present had masks over their eyes and noses. None were over their mouths. That'd be rather redundant, given the banquet, it was a cabal of initiates for the Mischief Board.

They had ties to the main cabal, investors and influencers within the Board, but these were merely the sacrificial scraps. Archius was sure that… their removal would not be too bad, though the gun had been brandished – never to be holstered again.

Even if the banquet was lively, the music did not reflect that.

It was sharp enough to strike Archius' spine. It was a mirror of all these scum's lives.

It had the names and faces of every person the Marquis sacrificed for Obadiah's life. Of course, Obadiah will have it much worse, but then again... He's from Belsaran space, those people are pigs in the galaxy. Some down there were feasting as if nothing was wrong! As if they're merely the same as the rest of the insane fucks all over in this place.

Luckily for Archius, they were all wrong. He even scouted a few of them beforehand, some here were at that auction long ago back before Kazuki ignited a whole hostage crisis because he couldn't express his fucking feelings or whatever he did this time....

Looking across the rafters, Archius saw several armoured men, hiding within the shadows. He peered to his side, seeing Nihara and Václavos readying up. "On my mark," Archius said, walking off.

"Which... is?" Václavos asked.

"You'll know when it happens," Archius replied, causing him to sigh in frustration. Walking down the stairs, Archius slid a holographic scrambler over his neck and arms, triggering them. He peered along one of the various mirrors by the decorated walls, he looked like the spitting image of Obadiah Cariana-Slynt.

Of course, he wasn't as fat and had to mind the arm that Kaz cut off, but these fuckers are all superficial, they probably won't notice. Straightening his suit, he entered into the banquet hall.

Archius whistled as he activated his ICAPAD, walking down the aisle of seats. Krystalink injected into dozens of devices, lighting up before falling to sleep. Just some extra information to harvest before they're inevitably put to rest.

Walking to the high table, Archius placed his 'remaining hand' in his pocket, before picking up a glass of wine from a serving drone. The drone's eyes were blue, with a hint of red deep within. Good, seems like preparations have been made.

He turned back to the rest of the room, raising his glass to the air. Eyes slowly turned towards him and the room fell silent, all wondering what the so-called 'Obadiah' had to say. "Gentlemen! Gentlewomen! It has been a very busy week, but I have negotiated my way out of the tendrils of that Contract-Breaker!"

A few claps came, though most listened in silence. Turning back, Archius sat down on the table. No one sat there but him, with some curtains covering up what should have been a small stage behind him. He clicked his fingers and the music stopped, those in the upstairs railing prepared.

Archius cleared his throat, downing the wine. He looked at the glass, before placing it down on the table. "I swear, that head of mercenary scum will pay for crossing us! We fine nobles with our fine tastes cannot be disturbed by mere upstarts!"

A few cheers were thrown here and there from these scum, these... benefactors of Obadiah's criminal machinations. Something about this ached Archius in the wrong way! He didn't know why... but it just did. He placed a hand to his head, wracking for answers as to why he was so pissed, but found none.

One of the fools jeered loudly, "We'll ensnare that brat sister of his to send him a right message!" After that, the room burst into a cacophony of pompous and arrogant laughter. Archius smiled gently, hiding the disdain on his face. "Like that... like that Máwti slave you so wonderfully provided me, Obadiah."

"Of course," replied Archius, pretending to be Obadiah. "I hope it is to your liking..."

The disgusting fool nodded. These rich benefactors were magnates, scions and pawns in a larger game. Some were aristocrats, whilst some were commoners, many had ties to the Board and the Under-Senate... They were all united by Archius' disdain.

"We'll make whoever we need whole... Military, militia, intelligence specialists, hell, even the CRIS or the Board! Anything to bring us all the prestige of taking that boy's head!" Another man raised his voice, a well dressed old man. Overtly admitting to corruption and bribery? Well, it's the Republic, that was a given. There are only degrees of corruption - never true innocence.

Well, may justice be upon them all, or whatever... "Now, then... Sadly, my freedom has not come for free," Archius informed them. Archius gesticulated a bit, might as well have some fun while doing this. Then, the face scrambler flicked offline... showing a Máwti man, with dead green eyes staring into the room.

"You really should have noticed that I was taller… and not a fat fuck like Obadiah," said Archius. "Though, I guess that'd mean you're actually his friends if you do… Actually, point removed!"

Murmurs and whispers eroded the tranquillity of this place. Archius slid across the table, tearing down the curtains to reveal Obadiah... In chains, strapped to a chair. Lady Antiar was beside him, with one hand on her sword. All murmurs were turned to silence, jaws were wide open - staring at Archius...

Archius grumbled and shrugged. "What the fuck did you think was going to happen?! Are you actually all that fuckin daft to think you weren't going to die coming here?!" He started to laugh and a few rose from their seats, looking towards the door.

"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!" one shouted. "LADY ANTIAR! DO SOMETHING!"

Lady Antiar sighed. "The Marquis has authorised an extermination of the pests within the Ball Palace, this is merely a part of the extermination process." She placed one hand on Obadiah, who was shaking in fear, some bits and bobs on hims were missing. "The Marquis Gilbera Fer-Charelota, Primus Consul of the Year Four-Nine-Two-Five, sentences you all of absolute guilt, executively."

"Damn be to due diligence, the average folk don't get it, so neither are any of you." Archius did have some fun getting some information, but he couldn't exactly display the wide plethora of tools that the CRIS had at their disposal... "Are you sure I can't question them?"

The Imperial Knight sneered back, "Interrogations are out of place for a place like this. You will not as long as I am here."

Archius rolled his eyes. "The Marquis is very inclined to know about the cabal, that deep state, you know?"

"I am…" Lady Antiar paused. "Unless I have directly authorised, I cannot allow you."

Despite both logic and reason, the Knight held to her orders. Archius groaned, having been called for his bluff. He wanted to gain knowledge on the Cabal at the heart of the Republic, and its many tendrils.

These people have… tacet connections. That was enough, he thought. More than enough, actually, and with a little bit of torture it'd make them all the more willing!

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Archius placed a hand on his chest, clearing his throat. "I'm from the CRIS if you couldn't tell. And I'd like to congratulate everyone here…"

Lady Antiar gave Archius a cold glare. "Don't play games. I don't know how it's done on Excalio, but we have standards here."

What a shame, but Archius will have a chance later after the Belsarans do their mock trial. He nodded. "Yes, yes, I digress. I am here to award everyone seated the golden accolade so many journalists and scientists yearn for: the CRIS' medal for excellence!"

To the continuation of mockeries, Lady Antiar merely gave a small sigh. "Let's get this over with. Let justice be done…"

"You heard her," Archius continued. He sat back down on the table, making sure his fine clothes weren't creased in any way before crossing one leg over the other. "There's no escape, so... don't even try it. Wait. Actually, someone try it!"

He raised a finger to one of the random people standing up, some fuck adorned by a beard and over-compensating suit.

"You, hundred-metres-from-a-school-zone!" Archius called to him. "Try running for the first time in your life, who knows… The exercise might be needed… and lethal."

That person was caught dumbfounded... He looked down to what seemed to be his wife, or probably some young harlot, then back at Archius. She said something, and then he ran - to her surprise!

"Wow! What a betrayal!" Archius smiled, clasping his hands together. Just when the man reached the doors to the room, a bolt rang down from the railings above.

The man dropped dead on the floor and no one screamed or... whelped, or said anything. "Ah, this brings me back!" Archius exclaimed to the whole room. "The whole... killing a whole room of scumbags, not exactly the uh... this." He gestured to the captured Obadiah.

"Now then, you know the award, but why do you think you've earned such a prestigious accolade?!" Archius raised his voice.

"BASTARD! YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS!" an old man rose to his feet, cowering beside what seemed to be a younger woman. She tried to rip herself away from him, but he wouldn't budge. "One word from any of us and the Board will have your head!"

"Oh... the Board?" Archius pretended to be confused. "Sorry but uh... They're not coming to help you. Your man Obadiah has fucked up badly, the Board will bark, but their bite is reserved for important people, not uh… nonces like you… I think that's the slang. Is it?" He turned to Antiar.

She gave a subtle glare, but her head tilted slightly in agreement.

Silence... Absolutely wonderful, even a few sobs and cries from the pansies here and there. "Please... my family..." one called out.

"Oh, family?" Archius raised an eyebrow. "You didn't seem to care about the family of those lobotomised freaks you bought... hmm? Strange, isn't it, that immoral people can easily switch and lie about morals on a single Standardi. Agreed?" He turned back to Antiar, who grunted in neither agreement nor disagreement!

"Who the hell will raise my kids!" she once again shouted. "You vile... sick fuck! Placing your bullets down our throats!"

"Bullets?! Who said anything about executions?!" Archius chuckled. His chuckling was perfect enough to make them feel uncomfortable with the situation, but confident enough for them to know do anything stupid. After all, the grand finale hasn't even happened yet! "And what is it with you and your damn family! Thousands are dying this very second, but boo hoo, your family is the only one that matters!"

She pulled out a pistol from her handbag... The fool! Archius waved his hand at the sight, and a bolt slammed directly into her head. Her brain matter poured onto the table.

"So uncouth," Archius said. "I don't know what that means, but let's continue! Obadiah, point to five of your favourite people in this room!"

Turning back to Obadiah, Archius moved some of the chains so his finger could move. At first, Obadiah did nothing. He stared directly into Archius' eyes with hate and malice. "Don't look at me like that, you did this to yourself!"

What seemed to be a sigh later, Obadiah pointed out our five people... Archius clapped his hands twice, and their heads exploded with consecutive bolts from above. "You said no executions!" the old man shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Archius. "You'll reap your sorrows!"

"Oh. I lied. And yes, maybe, one day I will," Archius said, placing his hands together and stretching them. He walked over to the man and dragged him up the stage, with that prostitute or whatever he was holding onto. "But not likely, after all: this galaxy's too cruel for justice, isn't it? Well, justice for you at least!"

"Psycho!" the man shouted, trying to rip himself from Archius' grasp, failing all the way. Archius was a bit smaller than him but had far more strength. Throwing the man onto the stage, Archius gestured to the audience, and then to the old man. "I am Beverara Von Ulia-Zaro! You think you can manhandle me!?"

"I... just did," Archius sighed. He turned to the crowd with a gleaming smile, circling one finger around his head to say that the... Bevara... Bevera? Archius didn't care, the old man! The old man was clearly crazy! "Now, for speaking out of turn, we need some punishments, like dealing with kids in a classroom."

After saying that, Archius slit Beverara's throat, letting a gush of blood rush out onto the floor. Some got on Archius' face as the old man came reeling to the ground, choking to death. What a shame... Blood on the carpets! Archius rolled his eyes and kicked the man off the stage.

Wiping the blood off his cheek, Archius stared soullessly at the remaining participants. "Now, for your cooperation in today's feast... We won't be putting bullets in your head. A light warning may do, hmm?"

A few heaved sighs of relief at that sight. "Thank you!" one shouted.

"Yes! Yes! See, finally! Someone with civility in their tongue!" Archius raised his voice in fake jubilation. "However... I am a fan of dramatic irony, and irony in general, you know? I had an acting career... Some of you might recognise me, hmm?"

A random person pointed a finger at Archius. "Wait a minute! You're that... That Máwti star duo..." He spoke as if Archius didn't just slit some random guy's throat just a moment before.

Archius clicked his fingers. "Bingo... That's me. Yousef, that was my stage name." It was different from the name he now goes by. "Though, most people forget easily! You'd be surprised at how many people DIDN'T recognise me... Sadly... I don't like telling people that."

Those words wiped off any smiles and relief from their faces.

"I, actually, would have preferred if none of you knew that," Archius said. "Which is the kicker... None of you can now leave this place alive with that knowledge! After all... a similar group of people like your own got my other half... my duo, killed." His eyes fell with his facade.

Jas died that night, Archius reminded himself. A walking corpse is all that remains, incapable of thinking or remembering anything important. A mockery of Kazuki's own masterpiece... Tch. He sighed and looked up at the ceiling, taking out a cigarette and lighting it.

Placing it in his mouth, he took a long puff... Dozens of thoughts and memories dozed into Archius' mind, but those are the past! He now has something else to deal with, for the only person in his life that Archius has left, his brother by action - Kaz.

"We... We won't say a word," another spoke up.

Archius clicked his fingers. "Aha! But a moment ago you guys were all up in arms about telling the Board about me! How am I supposed to think you'll keep your word with integrity like that!"

"I..." they continued. "I loved Midnight Galawinds, alright! And... I always wondered what happened to y'all... so..."

"Well then," Archius cut in. "You know now!"

"Dude! I... the way you sang man... it was just something else, alright!" he shouted.

They were stalling... How pathetic yet understandable; might as well indulge them a little bit here and there, they won't be long for this galaxy soon enough. "Jas was the one who came up with that, it was a mess before we did some edits to it! Anything else you gotta get off your chest?"

They opened their mouth, but no words came out. Perhaps they finally ran out of things to say. Oh well...

Archius nodded, and a few dozen bolts of electricity came thundering down from the railings... Screams and cries sounded throughout the room before silence was the new chatter amongst them. "They're not dead, right?" Archius asked, peering at a group of unconscious people.

"NO!" Václavos shouted down. "You think we'd load lethals?!"

Up and above, members of the AGENCY peered down at the room of stunned people. Looking up, the only ones that Archius could recognise were the two guards Kaz always had.

"Alright," Archius started. "Clear things up. I'm done here!" He turned back to Antiar and Obadiah, the businessman was staring blindly at the carnage in front of him.

Was that regret Archius saw? Interesting, but nothing too intriguing, he thought. Patting Antiar on the back, Archius said. "That's it, so what now? You send Obadiah to prison and he gets off on a technicality?" Archius asked.

Antiar sighed. "I hope not," Lady Antiar said. "But I will not allow that to happen. Times are changing... Things are changing... Your friend, he is your friend, right?"

"Could say that," Archius said, not letting off much to the imagination.

"Kazuki Izumi Geminorum-Ryzaku has done much damage already to the established order," she said. "What else will he do?"

Archius shrugged. "How much ever he decides, I suppose." With that, Archius left the stage, walking down the aisles of seats, as AGENTs collected the unconscious and dead.