Chapter I
Embers of the Past
Episode 2
A single button outside of the cell was pushed, a button on the wall with a wire running through to a box inside the cell.
“Good morning Cortez,” the Warden of the prison spoke, “I have a special guest for you.”
“Open Cell Z-56,” a voice spoke from just beyond the duo.
In mere moments a loud buzz was heard, and with the buzz a rolling. Before the group the very glass divider had begun to sink into the ground, or at least a part of it. A small section, big enough only for a large man to step through dropped out to give entry inside. The warden himself took a step back with a slight side glance and a nod- to which the Dragon General stepped forward.
His steps carried him, clunk clunk clunk.
And then clang clang clang. Across the metal grates and into the cell where there hung the man. His face draped, a wash of anguish as he strolled slowly forth to the suspended elderly man… and then his stop.
Stop.
A pause, a pause to the extent that there were no other sounds within aside from the electronics beeping and pulsing. No breathing from any within, at least not audible. Outside of course the facility was continuing on as normal- albeit with an eerie quietness to it. The only sounds heard outside were that of the guards moving about and little else.
The stare, his gaze bordering on a cast of rage upon the bound man. The ‘blank’ returned expression with a mouth slightly draped and the eyes still cloth-covered. Though as both ‘looked’ upon one another, it was the old man who had begun to stir first. A husky hoarse grunt and his mouth opening, the slightest of twitches of the head allowed.
“… Well… certainly an unexpected honor,” grumbled the elderly man, “The Great Earth Dragon… Gideon Ezdorth.”
“Cortez. It’s certainly… been awhile, hasn’t it? How do you do?” the General replied with a slight head tilt.
“Sorry to no-doubt disappoint but… I am doing rather well, all things considered,” the bound man replied, still a little slow and hoarse.
“Yes, considered. Being bound and drained must be uncomfortable. If you would only allow yourself to die of age, this might be over for you.”
“Right- and how about you General? How fair you this day?”
“Enjoying my freedom, thanks,” he spoke spreading his arms out, “A few ups and downs, politics and the sort. Certainly better than what fate has dealt to most of your kind.”
“Riveting,” Cortez muttered as at that moment General Ezdorth began to pace around behind the platform, “You are no doubt here for more than simple……… small talk. Might I inquire, as to why a man of your stature has brought himself to this… exquisite winter home?”
“Ah, right, about that,” he began still pacing around, stepping around the cords and panels behind the bound man, “You see- I’ve come to personally give my condolences, first of all.”
“Condolences?”
“Yes,” he continued, passing around on the right and walking right before Cortez once again, “You see, after a lot of consideration and nudging, your execution has finally been authorized. Personally I think it took them perhaps a little too long to decide this but no matter.”
“Capital punishment? And here I thought you Lightonians were better than that. To serve the Light and whatever other rubbish. Seems like a stain on goodness if you ask me.”
“You would object but lest we forget, dear friend, that you of all people most certainly are a flight risk that we can’t keep contained.”
“Flight risk? You have me bound in a cell that drains my energy constantly, all the way out here in the middle of a frozen hell. I am but a frail old man with nowhere to go.”
“Rather comical, hearing you refer to yourself as such. Though I suppose the years of solitary have not been kind to you.”
Stomp!
A slight turn round with the wave of his hair as he spun.
“Regardless, your fate is set. You understand why the lot of us feel such right? Your kind did damage, yes; but you in particular… Cortez Macabre, the Phantom Commander of the Dharkanians. One of the greatest threats we had ever had to deal with.”
“Hmph, I once was certainly what you say. Now though I am far from... and I must say- I’m disappointed that it took you fools this long to determine my fate.”
“Fools eh? And yet, we are the ones who stand atop now,” the General stated, turning back, “And speaking of fools and foolishness, are you not the fool? One careless mistake led to your capture by Lady Bell. You’ve been locked up for so long that you’ve begun to age. You should be grateful to us for granting you this mercy, Dharkanian.”
“My my. Even after all of this time your commentary still bores me to death Gideon. If you keep this up you’ll be able to cut the execution expense. Though I suppose such ignorance comes naturally to mindless lapdogs such as yourself.”
With his conclusion, Gideon’s gaze narrowed greatly, his hands tightening up, teeth grit ever so slight as he spun back around yet again, “You’re one to talk you bastard. Feel around you Cortez, you’re locked up airtight with dozens of your own pets and mindless followers. Blood suckers, flea bags, lizards- even your own brothers and sisters, and I’m the idiot here?! Recall your place Cortez-”
“Have I struck a nerve? Well regardless, the situation has not been lost to me.”
“Exactly, so zip it Cortez and face the facts. Your era has ended, our victory all those years ago sealed it. And look at what we have built since that accursed conflict. We’ve built a legacy, unlike anything your kind has ever managed!”
“You continue to allow yourself such frivolous bragging whenever you are within my presence. It truly shows what a wounded cur you remain to this day. You talk of legacy- might you mean a legacy of speciesist propaganda and arrogant ideals, courtesy of the prideful and corrupt body of government that your kind put in place. You are spot on, something we would not ever attempt to-”
“Don’t you dare Macabre,” Gideon hissed, walking forward and resting right in Cortez’s face, “You people are… bah! There is NO victory left for the Dharkanians!”
“Nothing is ever truly decided until the absolute end. I taught you that years ago, didn’t I?” Cortez questioned with a growing grin.
“BAH!” Gideon spat, turning his back with a twirl and beginning to walk towards the cell door.
“Had your people learned that lesson, they might have not lost Sillith. As I recall, we still own it.”
The General’s steps stopped before the doorway, his head turned back only slightly, his fierce eyes glaring back, “I’ll be sure to tell the executioner to drag things on for as long as possible. Say hello to your daughter for me, see if she’s still as air headed as the last time I saw her.”
“Ah, I will certainly ask. Shall I also say hello to your wife when I get to Hell? If my child has her bullet hole, then I assure you that your wife should still be in pieces. As I recall it, the blast left so little that it was hard for you to mourn the loss, was it not?”
“PISS… OFF!” the General spat, storming out of the cell, his steps echoing as he rounded the corner and went on his way.
The rattle of the door could be heard, the glass rising back up into place with a clank. This left Cortez once more alone in the cell with not but a smile crossing his face.
“Are you truly so bored that you would come this far and pick such a small skirmish with me here, Gideon? Well no need to worry, I can assure you. Your life will be livened up soon enough. Nothing stays the same forever.”
