Rexton knocked the gun out of Cassius's hand. He pressed his own gun against Cassius's temple and dug the barrel in deep to make sure he realized what situation he was in. He looked up, expecting anger and maybe a hit to the face, but he was met with silence and a look of just pure disgust. It was interesting though he guessed it shouldn't be that surprising on the general's part. Cassius had shown defiance, breaking the trust he'd built. But it wasn't all on him in the end. Iza would be to blame as well as he was. He could see it now. Iza being punished for his lazy training. It wasn't a victory he'd been working for, but it was something.

When he looked right at Rexton, he saw everything he worked for come crumbling down. It was expected, really. Nothing good every came out from his choices and the world had proven time and time again that it wasn't in his favor. He was a Mekiah. No matter what he did, he could never escape that one fact. He didn't want to face what was to come next, he didn't think he would be able to survive it. The things they would do to him would break him. After that, they would throw him away and bring in the next Mekiah. They bred them for this purpose, to serve Xtavia and that was it. Beyond this world, maybe he could have had a chance. But this was his fate. Death was the next best thing.

The gun shook in his hand.

Rexton pressed the barrel harder. "Drop it."

His eyes narrowed. "Or what?"

He was met with bored eyes. Rexton's expression didn't even flicker.

"It's you who'll be quitting."

The gun was heavy, a brick in his hand. His finger brushed the trigger. It wouldn't hard to do what Rexton threatened, but it would be by his own hand. He could shoot him. Kill him now and face the consequences later. But Rexton's words wouldn't leave him alone. It was true. He'd be giving it all up in a split second just so he could die with the last word. They wouldn't care if he died here or if he died out on the field. He was a tool that they could replace when needed. If he stopped trying now, he wouldn't have another chance.

From the beginning, he'd been working towards some kind of escape. Whether it was to escape the base or Xtavia entirely, there was going to be an end to this story no matter what happened. He could die here or he could die later one, but the two were equal in the end. It made it so much harder to choose between the two. One by his hand or by a man who knew nothing about. He was starting to fully realize what he needed to do to truly be free of this chaotic world he was born into. It was just a scratch upon the surface, a mere speck floating above the source. He needed to go deeper than he'd planned, broaden his scope and become something drastically different than who he was today.

He'd lost today. But there was always tomorrow.

The gun was useless to him now. Just another reminder of his failure. He'd tried, that's all he had going for him. He loosened his grip and the gun fell to the floor.

Rexton kept his gun pressed to Cassius's head. The cool metal brought him out of his thoughts. They hadn't broken eye contact, their eyes blazing into each others'. There were so many things that he wanted to do to him. Cut his throat, smash his head in, desecrate his body until there was no telling who he use to be. The thoughts weren't of a man nor a monster they called him. He was no longer human, no longer a man this society could hold down by the constructs they built. That was the moment he swore he would let himself be chained like an animal, only because he saw a freedom in being caged.

He pursed his lips. A wad of spit built in his mouth.

He spat it at Rexton's shoes. Polished black leather, it was soiled by the stringy spit. He admired his work for a brief moment. It was art in its simplest forms and though he knew he was digging a bigger hole for himself, he felt nothing but glee. If he didn't get joy out of this, it would be harder to survive.

Rexton smacked him across the face with the butt of his gun. He was knocked to his side, jaw throbbing from the blow. By the morning, he would have another bruise to go along with cut on his lip and the injuries he endured from his escape attempt.

"Do us both a favor and pull yourself together. I have better things to do than babysit an ill mannered Mekiah." Rexton waved to the soldiers backing him up. Two stepped out from the crowd and grabbed Cassius by the arms, wrenching them behind his back. Two guns were jabbed into his sides while his hands were locked by magically enhanced cuffs.

The power hungry parasite shown through the mask Rexton wore. Whatever the Third Eye was hiding about him, it had to be the most foul thing Cassius would ever see. The longer he looked at him the more he was disgusted. It wasn't even the fight between dominance and the beatings he dished out. Those were things he was use to. Each of these generals or figures holding power, snapped from time to time. It was their way of holding their power. Never show weakness when someone stronger could come along and take it from you. Xtavia was full of power driven people, always looking from another shot of power. It was like a sickness embedded in each Remu and Exteru. A need to overpower and conquer those weaker.

Rexton was the worst case he'd ever seen.