[HEADING=1]THE ASHLANDERS - CHAPTER 3: Land of Confusion[/HEADING]
The thirty floor elevator ride down below the surface passed in a blink compared to that of the trip Dio had made to the facility. The small room he stood in was a relic of a time long passed, featuring technology he had only the faintest understanding of. This would be his second trip to the facility within the last month. The project had hit a few snags these past 5 years, but after recent developments things were starting to look up.
The digital display read "B30" before the elevator came to a stop and the automatic doors opened. He dismissed the two armed guards escorting him as he crossed over the threshold and into the large, black room before him. An older man with short, cropped grey hair and a beard approached him from the darkness. He was dressed in a well-kept suit and tie. The man smiled as he offered Dio his hand, "Not used to seeing you down here this often. Is this about that train heist? Heard they took your girl."
Dio shook his hand and chuckled, "'My girl'? Hardly, she doesn't even hold a candle to Margaret's body. Her family has been pushing her on me ever since she started bleeding."
The bearded man shrugged and withdrew his hand, placing them both in his jacket pockets, "Give her some time. Who knows, there may be a beautiful vixen hidden in that kid."
"Hardly," He said dismissively, obviously trying to get the conversation back on track. "Progress report?"
"Phase 2 is all but complete. We still have some additional R&D to do on the neural connection, but it should pass testing within the week." Dio smiled, happy with the news. "What did you expect, Boss? You assemble the greatest minds on the Rock and I'd hope you get results."
Dio nodded, "This is good. Very good."
"Have you identified a candidate for Phase 3 testing? I heard you might---"
"Yes, I have," Dio interjected. "I have been in talks with the Yamato family. Their premier swordsman is up for the task."
The bearded man's eyes widened. He was concerned, "Yamato? You went to the Yakuza? You sure you can trust them?"
Dio laughed, "Who said anything about trusting them? You said the neural link would give us direct control, correct?" The bearded man nodded. "Well then, what's there to worry about? If Masakado receives the treatment, the enhancements coupled with his refined swordhand will make him an unstoppable killing machine. Under our direct control, no less."
The bearded man began pacing, nodding to himself. After considering the idea he came back to Dio, "Alright, okay. As long as we can keep a dagger out of your back I think we'll be okay there." He paused once more before continuing. "So..."
"So what?"
"What of the smokescreen? We have our resources committed still. Should we call them off?"
Dio offered an insidious grin, "Yes, cancel that operation. We will no longer need it. Whether she realizes it or not, the Bandit Queen's actions have helped us tremendously. It has moved our timetable up, there is no question of that, but it still serves as a better excuse than anything we could have fabricated."
"So that's why you sent bounty hunters after her... you're looking to set the whole planet ablaze, aren't you?"
Dio's devilish grin turned into unsettling laughter, "Chaos, my friend! Chaos is exactly what we need!"
"I don't know, boss... once the flame's started it's going to be hard to quell. What's to say we won't get burned before this is over?"
"Oh, I am sure we will to some degree, but you have to appreciate its usefulness. Chaos is a ladder my friend."
The bearded man shrugged, "Sure, but someone's got to hold that ladder for you right?" A sly smile appeared on his face.
Dio laughed, "Of course, my friend! Leave the chaos business to me. The domino effect has already begun, you see. The battle to take down the Maiden will reach everyone's doorstep. Everyone has something to prove by goig after them. Once the bandit families get out of hand and begin quarreling amongst each other the oligarchy will no longer have the ability to control their rabid dogs. The system the nobility has grown so fond of will crumble over night."
"Yes, yes, makes sense. Then I suppose it falls on me to make sure I deliver before the clock runs out. While all the nobles are running around like headless chickens we can move into the final phase unhindered." The bearded man put a hand on Dio's shoulder. "Trust me, Boss, we will deliver."
Dio smiled, "I know you will. To the new world."
"To the new world."
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Twelve hours is a long time to stay cuffed to a metal bar, and as you could imagine, Lord Bart was delighted to see they had finally arrived. Still several miles outside the city, Sprout read his topographic map of the region to locate a small cave they could use for the night. A short time later, Sprout and Lilith had set up an environmental tent in the cave. Sprout came back to the crawler once camp had been made to get their hostage, "Come'on now, sir. It's gonna get dark soon an' we can' have ya' go'n freeze on us."
Bart scoffed as the boy un-cuffed him and escorted him to the tent. After securing him inside he stepped back out to the mouth of the cave to join Lilith, "You ready fer tomorrow, Lily?"
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A short while after Fenrir squad departed Pixie made her way back to the bridge of the Iron Maiden. Walking down the abandoned hallways felt... lonely. She didn't let it get her down, however. It was actually kind of a relief. The pressure she felt from her crew these last few days was becoming unbearable by the time she'd kicked them all off the ship.
As she crossed the mess hall to reach the bridge she spotted the Gentleman sitting in the corner, alone.
Fuckn' weirdo. Don' midn if I join ya'.
After procuring a bottle of bourbon from the heist stash she walked over to him, plopped down in the seat opposite him and threw her feet onto the table, "Hey, Gents." She said as she leaned back in the seat, taking a large swig of her booze. She offered a cruel smile as she giggled. "I won' lie, I feel like a huge weight's been lifted off'a my shoulders. Sometimes I feel like the world's most deranged nanny."
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Bennie had stayed up all night on watch. They may have arrived in Boomhower incognito, but it was still a dangerous time to be here. The banditos were biding their time, waiting for the Maidens to show up. It didn't bother him too much though. He'd grown used to these kind of jobs. In fact, sitting at a window all night with a shotgun in his lap kind of reminded him of past stakeout jobs he'd taken.
Kayneth must have been bored out of his mind waiting around in a shitty inn all day long.
Fuck him.
Bennie had no respect for the man he pretended to befriend. He was nothing more than a means to an end to him. A way to get in contact with his former crew.
The suns were getting ready to set once more when Bennie came to Kayneth in his room, "The banditos have been more active today, I think we can expect our friends to show up sometime tomorrow. Will you be ready?"
