29th of Marsie, 0000 AC

Evening (8.50 p.m.)

Vice President’s Safe House, Barnes Road, Ravissant Brotherhood.

Jacques raced into his father’s room, but couldn’t find him. Having looked everywhere in the apartment, he went to find the Safe House manager. While running through the corridor, he saw a figure lying on the floor, with someone standing above him.

“DAD!” he screamed. Blood was trickling out from under Pierre, caused by the dagger stabbed into him by the man dressed in black.

Enraged, Jacques drew his blades and leapt onto the murderer. The man drew out another dagger, and blocked Jacques’ attack, but his blade managed to slice open his hood.

*

Falcon was aghast at having his face revealed. He quickly front-kicked the vice president’s son, and leapt out the window, assisted by Lucifer’s boost. He deeply felt sorry for Jacques. He was a good customer, and a quite nice kid. Falcon almost went back in and apologised, but he steeled himself, telling himself that the murder was justified, that the mission was more important than his guilty conscience.

*

Jacques knelt by Pierre’s side, fully aware that it was too late to take him to a hospital. Pierre, extremely weakened, looked at Jacques and feebly muttered, “Protect the President.” Pierre’s head fell limp.

Jacques screamed, screamed loud enough for the Brotherhood to hear. At the same time, lightning flashed around him, and a figure materialised from this air.

It was other-worldly. The figure had crimson glowing eyes, and its skin was of a purple hue. Lightning crackled around its form.

Shaking back tears, Jacques asked, “Who are you?”

The figure smiled kindly, “I’m Raitoningu, the Goddess of Lightning.”

“Oh please,” Jacques was sceptical. “Prove it.”

“Very well,” the ‘goddess’ emitted a pulse of blinding lightning that ripped throughout the hallway, but leaving Jacques unharmed.

“Fine,” he gasped. “I believe you, but why are you here?”

The goddess looked downcast as she said, “For thousands of years we’ve watched humanity run amok, without checking them. Because of this, so many wars occurred and millions died. But last year, a god interfered with the human world. He gave powers to a normal man, starting a series of events that would definitely end in mass destruction.”

“Who is this man?” Jacques questioned. The goddess replied with one word: “Lucifer”

A chill ran down his spine at the mention of the name. “So what do you want me to do?”

“I want you to heed Pierre’s last wish. Protect the President,” she answered. Jacques looked down in shame, “But I’m not good enough.”

She grinned, raising a hand that had pure energy crackling around it, “You will be.”

29th of Marsie, 0000 A.C.

Evening (8.50 p.m.)

President’s Safe House, Barnes Road, Ravissant Brotherhood.

Roi was tied up to a chair, and glared at Lucifer, seated in front of him, calmly munching an apple. The ropes were unnecessary, of course: Lucifer had him under some magical bind.

“Currently,” Lucifer mentioned conversationally. “All your nobles are being murdered. You’re the only one left. And that’s because you’re the only one useful to us.”

“Oh really?” Roi spat. “And why’s that?”

Lucifer leaned forward. “We want you to restore the tax rate to what it used to be. Return the livelihoods to the people.”

“Impossible!” Roi shouted, only to have a dagger pressed to his cheek.

Lucifer tutted. “We need you to be more cooperative. Or we will kill you.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” Roi wheezed. “You need me to lower the tax rate.”

Lucifer laughed out loud. “Not really,” he sneered. “You see, I’m giving you a way out. Either you lower the tax rate and remain president, or I will kill you, and overthrow the government.”

“Do whatever you want!” the President of Ravissant Brotherhood roared. “I’m not handing this city over to you!”

Lucifer’s eyes flashed. “Wrong answer,” he grinned as he lifted his dagger.

A lightning bolt sliced through the air and struck Lucifer’s on the side, sending him toppling over a table. Standing at the doorway was the vice president’s son, cloaked with electrical power, bolts flying around him…