"What is this place?" she demanded; her voice level. She would not show fear. That, she felt, was the only thing that mattered.
"The Second Realm, the subconscience as some call it," he replied.
"Really, who's? Mine or yours?"
"There is only one Second Realm, a universe only few can access at will. Neither of us are materially here, we exist only as essence."
"So why am I here, why don't you just kill me and be done with it?"
"I would not think of doing such a thing, do you not realize the significance of your gift? You are quite possibly of the last generation of Endowed."
"Oh goody, then it's just a matter of time before your evil bloodline dies out."
"Not blood, but Aura, pure energy. It is what links Him and the Children; through their subconscience he taints their minds, manipulates them. But yes, you are right, soon the planet will be swarmed with pathetic commoners. But before so, I was hoping you and I could have a chat, maybe even rid you of the foolish notion of rebellion."
"Yeah, sounds like fun," she stated blandly. "Oh c'mon, you wouldn't want me anyways. I don't work well with others and I have a thing against power hungry dictators."
"Don't we all," he grinned, taking a step towards her. "But tell me, how do you know that He would be any better? You make such efforts in hopes of earning him his freedom."
"As a matter of fact, there are records of His rule and good deeds. Just like there are records of how you slaughtered him and millions of innocent people."
"Records, really? And have any of you actually seen these records?"
"You think everyone is just going to fall for all the propaganda, the shameless lies? A scam of such a grand scale can not be kept secret forever!
"Yes, yes…I heard you the first couple of times," he sighed.
"The conspired death of the world's greatest leader at your-"
"Still avoiding the question eh?" he cut short her speech.
"Although I haven't seen the actual records, obviously they are highly classified, we both know what I said is true! You cannot deny that-"
"I never said it wasn't," he smirked.
"Ha! You just admit it, you murderer!"
"Oh no, whatever shall I do now?" he said sarcastically.
"What, is this some kind of joke to you?" she grimaced, then realizing how different she imagined their conversation to be and how she, like all others, have known to fear him. Those feelings were all too quickly forgotten while she concentrated on proving her point and he treated her in such an unconcerned manner.
"Now what am I going to do with you? I can't just let you run off after all this can I? The Council would give me hell for that."
"I thought you could do whatever you wanted," she remarked.
"But I can," he leaned towards her and kissed her lips.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
"You are late," Braun remarked; his voice hoarse and raspy, giving away his old age.
"My apologies Minister, but I'm sure you wouldn't soon forgive me if I didn't stay to investigate a certain matter regarding Nurse Hawkins," replied a gangly scaled creature with a rather devious grin, tightly clutching a package as if someone would rip it out of his hands as soon as he loosened his grip.
"Get on with it Crictly, what is your report?" Braun's ear twitched with irritation, showing his disdain.
"Hawkins, apparently of the rebellion, was brought before the Council on an unfriendly notice and has yet to return. But before so, she managed to save one of the so-called 'impure' children. Suspecting the summit wouldn't go to her advantage, she entrusted the child to a Mr.Gaoh."
"Hawkins, I have not heard of her, is she known to the Ministry of Arquand?"
"No, sir."
"Why have we not been informed of her earlier?"
"She was kept under watch yet we were not certain of her loyalties, until of course it was too late. Her body was never found, as if the bodies are ever found, but it would safe to assume the worst. It is questionable what goaded her to act. I never even considered her as one to be so reckless; this outburst may well be an act of suicide!"
"Then there is nothing we could do for her now," Braun replied. "Except ensure the safety of the child. We must send out an elite squadron to bring them in."
"I took the liberty of searching his name through the central database."
"And?"
"I have located his residence, in the shabby part of town just as I presumed. And don't have a fit; all traces of my ID are erased from the computer's user memory."
"Are you certain you won't be tracked, what if there is a backup?"
"Oh Braun, you're always one to worry. I'm the best in the business, the best money can buy. Besides, I know the system like the back of my hand."
Braun did not reply but it was easy to that no amount of assurance could put his mind at ease. The smallest slip could jeopardize the entire operation. After a rather awkward moment of silence, Crictly brought it upon himself to speak.
"Well, now all that remains is the small matter of payment," he said with a smirk.
Braun tentatively drew a brown package form his pocket, handing it to Crictly who wasted no time in tearing off the parchment. What he found looked much like a rectangular glass tile with a web of wires inside it. Crictly ran one hand over it and neat stack of red tiles fell form the bottom onto his other palm.
"Only ten Sethils? And here I was thinking you might give me a bonus for that extra tidbit of info," he joked, merging the stack with the glass tile and carefully placing it in the pocket.
"The payment is nonnegotiable, as stated in the contract," he stated flatly.
"Oh well, it was worth a try," he remarked, although Crictly knew him well enough to expect such a reply. Braun wouldn't spare a Sethil more than he had to and Crictly wouldn't accept a Sethil less.