---

Slowly Theo stepped through Colony Square as he walked down the aisle, taking in the muse-crafted, ornate wedding arch. The chairs that surrounded the arch would no longer be empty at sunset. Observing the setting of his future wedding, Theo stared at two figures standing beneath that arch. The first was a seven foot male, bulking and shirtless, the other was female, but not Isabel. No, this other woman blinked with hazel and blue eyes that Theo could never forget even if plagued with amnesia. Theo shook his head, stirring away the alternate fantasy from his mind.

This can only be as good as you make it.

His inner voice vibrated in his mind and his heart in the form of the kind of encouragement he could grip, that he will grip. He had to let go of Cassie and cling to Isabel. The only way this thought would matter is if it was more than just a thought and instead a feeling. Action was the answer if that was to ever happen.

Thus, instantly as Theo heard footsteps behind him, he tugged and threw off his Spartan helmet before racing towards Isabel. It seemed to her that in mere seconds, Theo was literally sweeping her off her feet. And while she was in his arms, Theo leaned his forehead against hers whispering, "Hi, wifey." Was he tempted to have a Phantom of Opera moment and rip off her mask? Yes, but he understood how his passion could translate as disrespect to a muse.

As it was with any major occasion, the illustrious Renaissance was outfitted in distinguished apparel, though this day was clearly one of the most important she had ever known. As such, Isabel was especially bedazzled with elaborate extravagence, the likes of which that had been worked upon my the most gifted seamstresses within the colony, to best accentuate the young woman's delicate beauty. A long, red-pasteled gown flowed to the ground as she stepped gingerly down the aisle toward the man who she was destined to marry that upcoming evening. In a great flash, however, Isabel's senses were quickly sent into disarray as she felt her body lifted, and land upon the two muscular arms of Theodore.

Staring up in slight shock, Isabel felt the gargantuanly-sized man touch his head to hers, letting the brief greeting fall upon dainty, deaf ears. After a brief moment, Isabel shifted her gaze into Theodore's vision, their bright blue eyes meeting one another just barely an inch apart. "Well, I... Certainly wasn't expecting that," though her tone came across as sarcastic, her expression remained stuck on a mixture of confusion and mild shock. Lifting her arms around Theo's neck, Isabel locked her fingers together, more as a means of extra support lest she fall rather than in a romantic sense.

Theo chuckled, feeling her arms snug around his neck. "Hey... Don't worry I won't drop you," he reassured her kindly. "Can I kiss you?" he asked directly, impulse pumping through his veins. Isabel felt a wave of heat pass over her face, knowing that her pale-white skin was turning a bright red from the sudden request. Eyes widening further, she stuttered slightly, trying to stammer out her words in as respectable a manner as she could muster.

"I-- I would th-- think it best if, well-- we are only a short ways from our wedding," her flustered speech only showed a glimpse of the racing thoughts going through Isabel's mind, unsure of how best to address the situation, especially concerning how she was being held a good distance from the ground. "I mean-- it isn't I wouldn't like to, its only..." Isabel's face reddened even further, not sure of how to go about her next statement. "I, ehm, haven't much experience in such matters." Keeping her eyes locked with Theodore's, Isabel tried her best to calm herself, but felt her heart beginning to race as their lips still remained only inches apart.

"Ah, well if it is your first kiss, then I'll wait till the--" Tenderly, Theo pecked her on the lips. "Ha, me wait? Now, that's funny. But that wasn't a real kiss, we'll save that for under the arch, in front of everyone... in front of the materminds..." Theo snarled as he said the fanction's name. Though he brought them up simply because they were nuisance to him, stressing that this marriage could only be a political affair. He so badly wanted to prove them wrong.

"No, no. I bet you're tired of hearing about it. I won't bring up anything political." After the kiss, as careful as reckless Theo could, he softly landed her back down on her feet. "Today, is all about us, remember that." Once she was back to her feet, Theo offered Isabel his elbow for her to grapple her hand around as they began their stroll through the colony that remained asleep at such an early hour.

Unsure of how best to respond to the incredibly brief kiss, Isabel remained silent as she placed her feet delicately upon the ground, taking hold of Theodore's elbow lightly as they began walking away from where they were destined to meet again that evening. The sky remained dark and still twinkled with the occassional star as the twilight hours began creeping toward sunrise, filling the air with a cool breeze that just brushed lightly at Isabel's tightly knotted hair, stirring up a few strays that landed across her face. She did little to adjust them, letting their soft ends tickle at her cheek as they continued to stroll, waiting patiently for her companion to speak first.

"I broke your lute..." he said a matter-of-factly. "By... accident... because of... anger." Theo pressed his lips together in a puff up expression weighing in between a smile and a frown. "Um... Yeah... this is why I'm not allowed to go inside your guys' gallary... without supervision." Perhaps Isabel was not quite familiar with the fact that Theo could be such a manchild, though he hoped she would find it more endearing rather than bothersome.

Though the immediate statement had caused her to frown a bit in disappointment, as Theo continued on, Isabel felt her mood lighten significantly, even causing her to let out a short snicker at the final phrase he had spoken. Feeling a tad bit embarrased at having laughed at Theo, Isabel collected herself to respond. "I suppose the lute can be repaired, or at the very most, replaced. I imagine it held more sentiment with the crafter, but we don't need to tell him what happened to it," Isabel smiled softly, placing her feet carefully as they continued along.

"The Gallery is certainly lovely... I'll be putting a new work in there soon, if I can make my peace with how it turned out," Isabel's eyes fell as she remembered the painting she had been working on over the last several months, each thought of it making her want to only cut it up and start again. Declan - dearest Declan, the only one she could trust - told her it was perfect, but she felt something was off about the way the thin, dry layers of paint were stuck to the canvas. She had stared at this same painting for hours the previous day, looking for where it went wrong, what she could try and fix. Isabel shook her head as she felt her mind wander away, trying to remain focused on her conversation.

"If it would please you, I could always go with you to the Gallery, and keep the sculptures from popping out and frightening you!" Isabel laughed, hoping the man would recognize she only meant her words to be taken in jest.

"Hah!" Theo laughed loudly. Isabel did not poke fun at him nearly as hard as did the vanguards, or even just Cassie for that matter. Humor, even if it was in the form of teasing, is what carry those soldiers to survive, or at least forget fear for a mere moment. "I bet that's Tinkerbell's-- I mean Declan's work." That was as much as Theo knew when it came to Isabel's right-hand other than his skills in acting and what crime he commited. A convict's crime was regularly known by others, because one way or another someone always finds out. But even though it is common to know another's past crime, it is also common courtesy to never hold it against that person, or at least not bring it up in front of them. "Since I'm such a towering figure myself, maybe you should put a statue of me in there. Say yes right now and I'll pose nude for it later," Theo joked as he flexed his arms, striking a pose before her.

Pausing for a moment to scan the large, muscular figure, Isabel blushed just slightly as she blinked the vision from her mind before turning her gaze back down the path they had been travelling. "How tempting of a proposition... Perhaps I'll have to consult Tinkerbell about having him model you," putting emphasis on the demeaning nickname, Isabel began walking away slowly, almost sounding patronizing as she finished speaking. She meant no harm by it, of course, though she hoped pointing out this minor blemish would keep similar mishaps from occurring in the future. If she was to be married to this man, he would have to at least attempt to be considerate of her own feelings, if only just slightly.

"Ha... Heh... heh," Theo awkwardly laughed, trying to take what she said for humor, though he could obviously notice that she was not quite so fond of the nickname. In fact, she seemed annoyed by it, and not in a good way. As they continued strolling through the colony, Theo briefly glanced down at Isabel. Yo... This chick really isn't Cassie... that thought was not revelation for him, his next thought was, Yeah... I better stop treating her like she is.

It was with that thought that insecurity brought tingles down his spine, causing him to straighten up and stiffen up. Especially now that he felt so under-dressed compared to his bride, for she was fashioned in a fine red gown, whereas Theo was shirtless in cargo shorts and combat boots.

The soon sun rose, and thus the sunlight signaled that it was time for them to make their way to the theater, to which they would watch a play.

---

With heavy eyelids, his head repeatedly dropped downwards followed by Theo bolting his head back up during the progression of the play. In all of his attempts to keep himself conscious while seated at the very front of the theater, he lacked the strength to do so. It was throughout the performance of Declan's original play that Theo snored in his unwanted slumber, his head leaning against Isabel's shoulder.

Isabel sat calmly alongside the large Spartan, allowing him to drift in and out from slumber throughout the entirety of one of Declan's finer works, knowing that she shouldn't have expected nearly as much enthusiasm for the dramas in someone who crafts his own art with the barrel of a gun. Several times she noticed a few members of the cast on stage glancing down upon the couple, frequently with a look of disgust toward Theodore and worry toward Isabel, as if she would be tainting the great gift she had by marrying someone of his character. Isabel simply smiled back to them, once even letting her small, delicate hand slip under Theodore's thick, leathery palm in defiance of their scowls.

Despite the Muses' apparent disdain, Isabel knew that for the most part, they were in support of the decision she had made. She had heard gossip among some of them already wondering if there were plans for a child, to which Isabel responded with bright-red cheeks and a dismissal to her chambers. She knew that some of the women Muses even hoped for there to be a child coming from the marriage, in hopes to prepare another great festival for its birth.

All of the attention she had been receiving from the other Muses recently had elevated well beyond what was usual, drawing time away from her work as she met them for feasts and social gatherings, always being asked of what her plans were for the marriage, and whether she was worried of what the Masterminds would say. To every question she would respond as vaguely and as pleasantly as she could manage, though now that the marriage was officially set for that day, she knew that soon enough she would be confronted by even the Masterminds as to what she hoped to achieve from this endeavor, beyond the alliance between the two factions that was being formed, as well as have to attend even more gatherings, which would take away even more time from her projects.

Isabel shook her head as she caught her mind wandering yet again, bringing her back into reality. The play was drawing to a close, as the King's son was pronounced dead - this was one of Declan's great Tragedies - and the many actors that had performed all clambered onto the stage for the ending lines. Isabel shook her shoulder a bit, hoping to stir Theodore from his slumber, as it would only be fair for him to at least applaud their performance, despite the fact he probably had no idea what the play was even about.

Even with her nudging Theo remained in his sleep. It was not until the the applause vibrating throughout the theater that Theo awoke, though not gracefully, not even in the slightest bit. It was not the sound of clapping that initially clicked inside of his head, it was gun shots. Theo battled with his own trauma as he gasped in shock. It was by his war-torn reflexes that he gripped Isabel's shoulder, the person nearest to him that by instincts struck him with the fear to fight for his life lest his throat be slit in his sleep.

After staring into her blue eyes, realizing this was no face-painted Outsider, Theo loosened his grip till letting go and slowly easing back to join in on the applause. Isabel stared back for a moment, her brow pressing down to a worried expression that kept her from glancing back toward the performers, where the Muses directly in front of them were looking quizzically at the scene below them, but continued to bow through the applause.

As the curtains dropped and the other members of the audience began to disappear through the door to the world outside, Isabel remained seated as she kept her gaze locked upon Theo, keeping silent as the noise of the hall began to dim. Her shoulder began to feel stiff and ache, as the pressure the man had put on it with his hand had been so immense. Isabel shifted slightly, knees aimed toward Theo's legs, her hand pressed against the armrest separating the two of them.

"Shall... Shall we continue on, then?" A gentle smile worked its way onto Isabel's lips, trying to ease the strange tension that had grown in the air around the couple.

"Yeah... Um--," Before Theo was spared the chance to choke out another single word, the haunting echo of a bell rung distantly throughout all of Churchill. Theo bounced out of his seat, panting harder now with blue eyes that bugged out with both fear and slight blood-lust. That was a bell from the colony' watch tower located right by the gate entrance. The ringing of the bell equaled the presence of an unwelcome visitor, a visitor that could potentially be an outsider or an army of them. "So, wifey," Theo spoke sharply with volume raised, not as gentle or soft as he spoke during their stroll. "You have three options because I'm storming out of here one way or another to see why in the world that bell was rung. Option one: You can run like hell and try to keep up with me. Option two: I can carry you out of here, or option three: You can stay here. Make your choice now."

Isabel sat still for just a moment, her thoughts beginning to race as to what the bell's toll meant. Though it was faint, there was a mixture of shouts and orders being announced by figures running around outside of the theater, which only allowed her mind to spin faster. Taking a deep breath, Isabel stood from her seat, a determination ablaze in her eyes. "I'm going with you," she let out in a huff, taking Theodore's hand in hers. "Though, I'd rather you not carry me around like a child, if you wouldn't mind."

"Actually I'm your husband, let me be hella heroic," Theo hooked his large hands under her slender arms, lifting Isabel against his broad bulging chest before cradling. "Buckle up." And though he put the effort to not bulldoze over anyone, a giant like himself cannot afford to be absolutely graceful, especially in such a frantic circumstance. With Isabel's ear pressed against his heart, she could clearly hear like a war drum the booming beats amidst his adrenaline.

"You bumpkin, put me down!" Isabel glanced about with wide eyes as the world around her zoomed by, making her a tad bit nauseous. Granted, at this speed they were set for their destination a good deal quicker than if she had simply ran on her own, but she still felt frustrated by how Theodore had blatantly refused her request. She didn't necessarily want to cause any offense, but if this kept up, she didn't know what else would work.

"But the train doesn't stop here," Theo continued carrying her until he locked eyes with his First Sentinel. "Sheriff, what the hell is going on?" as he questioned the British cowboy, Theo released Isabel from his arms by steadily positioning her back on her, "Was you not using your feet really that bad?" he muttered under his breath while landing her down.

Isabel stepped away from Theo with a puff of air escaping her lips, lifting her hands to comb the hair from her eyes that had swept into her face during the run. Glancing about, Isabel noticed how out of place she appeared, as most of the other colonists had fled indoors, leaving mostly the brutishly clad Vanguard outside to protect the camp. Isabel took a step back, placing herself beside Theodore, folding her hands together in silent observance of what was occurring.

Theo turned around to only burst with laughter. "HAH! Ha! Didn't think we were expecting you? Regret hooking up those Collective monitors into OUR little humble abode?" Yes, the colony, and specifically Theo was well aware of the aggressive decay, for when Churchill was first settled, the Collective believed that though the convicts are located on another planet, they are still apart of the nation, Collective news would remind them of that. Collective television screens were present in each of the faction's hideouts. Catching his breath in between his yelling and laughing, Theo lowered his volume "I knew if you dropped in any earlier than three months, then it obvious, the Overseers are screwed with the last resort of what? Oh wait-- the colony they have been PISSING on for EIGHTEEN years!" Theo marched over to the one and only Captain Overseer, "Aw... The Big Bad Wolf ain't so big and bad now, is he?!" Theo patted Thrax's head, petting him with mockery and fake pity.

---

---

Thrax’s crimson uniform always seemed to be stained with ash. He kept himself healthy, and his attire crisp, but a stray flek from his cigarette would often worm its way through the air, leaving a small white smear on the otherwise pristine suit of red.

The Captain of the Overseers took one last drag from his cigarette, feeling the grimy rush of nicotine flood back into his lungs, before casting it to the ground, and stomping out the final hiss of flame with the heel of his boot.

Brandon Karras rounded the corner a few moments later, slipping into a patch of artificial light, and wading over to the smooth stone wall that Thrax was stood by. He was a tall, broad man. Bigger than Thrax, with coarse brown hair, and a scarred face.

“You’re brave to come alone.” Karras grinned, flashing a sharp, white smile.

“I could say the same for you.” Thrax replied in his usual dry manner.

“You trying to scare me, hawk?” Karras snapped, something feral flashing in his dull grey eyes.

“What’s this all about, Karras?” Thrax asked calmly, unflinching in his demeanor “I can’t just slip away without being noticed.”

“Thought I might call in a little favour, Thrax,” Karras said with a dark smirk “given how me and the boys helped you out with Mister McGarth, ‘un all.”

Thrax sighed internally.

“I don’t have time for this, Karras. Order needs to be maintained.”

“Oh, you’ll make time for me, father hawk,” the large man hissed “or there will be repercussions.”

Thrax paused, slipping both hands into his pockets.

“Was that a threat, Karras?” He asked, raising one eyebrow.

“You bet it was, hawk.”

Thrax’s eyes flickered shut, as he afforded himself one brief moment to simply relax and breath.

“That’s all I needed to know.”

With a flash of steel, Tiberius Thrax bolted forwards, the blade of his combat knife swooping through the air, as it came sweeping out of his coat pocket. Before Karras could react, the cold, sharp steel was biting into his neck, digging through flesh, whilst an eruption of dark red blood bubbled out of the neat tear that the blade had made.

Karras swayed, but Thrax caught him as he fell, wrapping his arms around the larger man’s body, and slowly easing him to the ground.

“That was a rather stupid thing to say, Karras,” Thrax sighed, as the convict coughed and jolted, blood trickling out of his mouth “and I’m afraid it's cost you dearly.”

---

About a week or so later, Thrax was taking a drag from his third cigarette of the day, stood not too far from one of the Muse's theatres, as a steady procession of colonists began to file into cover, spurred on by the dull ringing of one of the colony's watch bells.

Out of the rabble came Callahan, the so-called "Spartan King" of the Vanguard.

"Aw... The Big Bad Wolf ain't so big and bad now, is he?!", the Spartan chuckled, patting Thrax on the head.

"How about you keep your hands on that lovely wife of yours, and away from me, Callahan?" Thrax snapped, shrugging the vanguard off "Last time I spoke to one of you types I was a hawk, but now it seems I'm a wolf. If only your kind were half as good at doing your job, as you were at forgetting which type of animal you've decided to brand me as."

Reno, commonly known as Tombstone to the locals sat in the bar around with a crowd of workers who had set up a blackjack game. Currently the sheriff was bankrupting the locals of the scavenged tech they bet, the sheriff using whiskeys as his bet. Almost every man in town found one way or another to play with Reno Wylde because beating him meant a bottle of the good stuff.

The rundown saloon looked like something out of wild west movie, with its own stills in the back to produce the moonshine the workers downed when they came here for music. Some nights a muse or two would perform but usually the place had the local band play, some nights before he started drinking Reno would borrow a guitar play with the band. Others when drunk he'd sit at the piano and play tunes for the whole bar, even lead them in some of easier tunes.

However currently Tombstone was cleaning up, already winning himself parts for a new air filter for his home, and the bottle Jack Daniels Old number seven still firmly planted on the table. However holding a losing hand, he frowned and just before the dealer could make the call for the flip it happened. A man came rushing in, a messenger, young boy couldn't have much over eighteen. "Sir! Sheriff!" He panted running up to the table the dust cover boy said pulling down the bandanna on his face coughing. "The Wardens here... Thrax himself, someone sent for Theo to go meet him."

"Awww hell! Melody, keep my winnings behind the counter." He grabbed the bottle pulling on his long coat on and resting his hat upon his head. The crowd at the table jeered, but knew this could turn bad in an instant if the sheriff wasn't around. He pulled his double barrel from its spot at on Charlotte's saddle loading two rounds of buck shot as gave his horse a kick. She started right towards Theo and Thrax as the sheriff held his shotgun, as usual it would be up him to play peacemaker.

The horse cantered to a stop just before the two men, the shotgun plain to see to both of them. He knew both had a temper, and did not like one another so getting off the horse slowly shotgun clutch down by his side. A bottle of Jack Daniel in hand as he looked between them. "Gentlemen! I have brought refreshments... Why don't we talk away from the ash? Enjoy some fine liquor while we have a friendly chat." He looked to the giant man as if to tell him to calm down, because where Thrax additional collective soldiers were sure to follow.

Lily looked over at Alfie, the poor guy clearly conflicted over his own feelings. She smiled softly at him before taking a quick glance over at Thrax. "You kow, you don't have to be ashamed to feel scared. Fear is an emotion we all experience, and a rather important one at that. Think about it, fear is one way we prepare ourselves for danger, the same way a prey does when faced with a predator." She paused for a moment to wonder whether she had made sense, but she knew Alfie was intelligent enough to understand. "To be totally honest, I'm scared as well," she continued, leaning closer to Alfie to be just out earshot, "but it's how we react to the situation that will define whether or not we manage to survive."

Gauging his undecipherable expression to what she had just said, Lily gave him a playful nudge before she whispered "You'll be okay" in a rather low voice. She then rubbed her eyes, the situation they were in slowly getting to her. But rather than allowing Alfie to see her stressed out, she stood up and started pacing around the cell. Thrax still seemed to be lost in his own small world, and she didn't dare disturb him. She knew better than to not respect his own personal space.

"What a time to be alive," she whispered to herself, leaning on the cell door opposite of Thrax, watching the guards make their rounds. When they were first detained, they had found the small bottle of liquor Lily kept on her most of the time, and those bastards even had the nerve to give her a smirk as they opened up the bottle to smell its content. There was a small possibility that she could have poisoned the liquor just to spite them, but doing so would have unleashed an immediate retaliation against them, and no small bottle of liquor was worth such trouble.

Her anxiety still not easing, Lily walked back over to where Alfie sat and rejoined him as she got comfortable, bringing up her knees to her chest in a unconscious protective gesture. "Gotta love playing the waiting game."

---

Declan Terry

---

The war room had never been so tense. To be honest, it had never been used to discuss a war before. Well, a real one anyway. Turf wars were common, but more often than not the room was used to discuss battle on a small scale. Divine and artful moves that accomplish a great task with hardly anyone noticing that anything occurred. After all, people die all the time, even during 'peace'.

Declan, sitting directly to Isabel's right, offered her a china cup, hardly chipped at all, and filled to the brim with a slightly bitter tea. The last thing he needed was for Isabel to vanish or become overly anxious. "Hydration is key in these trying times," he said softly, as Theo started his tiresome rant.

"Theo," said Declan softly, his hand resting just blow his half-faced black and dazzling red mask. "Your offer of Alfie is very tempting and generous knowing the shared history he has with the Muses," he said, letting the statement hang in the air a moment, his hand half reaching out to Isabel, as though to take her hand in comfort, but decided against it at the last moment. "But as we are now united as both Muses and Vanguards, do you think it wise to show such a clear division of justice?" His eyes flicked towards Isabel with the show of asking for permission to continue. "At this time, we need to show that the marriage was more than a stunt to irritate the masterminds and that it is meaningful to the very culture of Churchhill," Declan paused again, taking time to dust off his suit, a suit that looked remarkably similar to the one offered to Theo. "Perhaps Isabel will disagree with me and I am merely playing devils advocate , but don't you think the judgement should appear to fall from a force much stronger than any single faction?"

"A second reason that stands. As absolutely horrid as these men have been, they are still high ranking officials among their own men. The actions we take against them now might very well define the culture of Churchhill for generations to come. As a very closely tied allied, I would sleep better knowing that the punishment and judgement of Tiberius and Lilliana was well thought out and administered in the right way. I refuse to accept that what is to come happens because you were upset when you did it, Theo. After all, the details matter,"

Declan paused again, this time as though reading the room. He then shifted his look, almost judgemental. "To put it simply," he said. "and I am certain that Isabel will have her own opinion on this, but the Muses need to have a say on the fates of Tiberius and Lilliana. Whether that is in public or from behind closed doors has yet to be decided,"

---

---

Understandably, Tiberius Thrax did not appreciate being locked up in a cell beneath the theatre. The Overseer Captain was far more used to springing traps than being the one caught up in them, and his already lacking fondness for the Spartan was rapidly depleting.

“Keep your heads on straight, everyone,” Thrax ordered, pulling a cigarette out of the carton he kept on him, and igniting it with the click of his lighter “the barbarians have us at an undeniable disadvantage, but nothing we’ve been through worse.”

Thrax slipped the cigarette between his lips, taking a long drag.

“I suppose it's something of a blessing that the marshal is involved,” Thrax grumbled, blowing a plume of white smoke out into the cell “but these up-jumped convicts don’t know who they’re fucking with.”

The Overseer Captain kept his eyes on the guards outside of their cell, watching them stand sentinel in the corridor beyond.

“Keep your wits about you,” Thrax instructed his fellow prisoners “and let me worry about the rest.”

---

---

Silently, Isabel nodded in deepest thanks to Declan, taking the cup of tea into her hands and wrapping her fingers around the stained porcelain to warm them. Her eyes fluttered closed as she breathed deeply of the steam rising from the drink, letting the scent ease her racing mind as she exhaled. Sipping delicately at the tea, Isabel would shift her eyes back and forth from one character to another, listening to each phrase as it was spoken, yet seeming to focus her attention on each individual as her gaze landed upon them. For the longest time, Isabel kept her vision locked upon the other woman in the room, who she knew only by name - Cassandra Voss, Spartan's right-hand. Indeed, she had heard the rumors that had been circulating between some of the more petty Muses, speaking of Cassandra's possible affection for Theodore, but Isabel never paid it much mind, as she had never witnessed it herself. Still, now that all of them were trapped within the same room, she couldn't help but let her mind wander to the sheer possibility, which she now found to be a tad bit upsetting as she was now to be married to the man in question.

Perhaps to keep from drawing too much attention to herself, Isabel shifted her gaze down toward the table after a short while, sipping again at the tea in her hand, feeling her tongue scrunch in light distaste from the bitter drink. As Declan finished his speech, Isabel blinked and lifted her eyes from the mahogany wood, glancing about the room in silence before finally speaking. "I would think..." she began quietly, before shifting in her chair to sit in a more upright manner. "It certainly would be nice to perhaps try and have the Overseers think better of us, rather than worse. In fact, I think it would do us a service, to show some deal of mercy in their favor, rather than downright destroying any feeble care they have for us.

"Of course, it would be wrong of us to entirely forgive them, after the way we have been treated..." Trailing off, Isabel flinched as the memory of cruel steel striking exposed flesh jumped toward the front of her mind, though she seemed to otherwise keep her composure as she sipped a bit more tea. "But we must also recognize that we are now on equal footing with them. They didn't return to us for any reason beyond seeking our aid. There is certainly an irony to their efforts, I must admit, but it is still commendable that they would do so," Locking eyes with Theo, Isabel continued with a more pressing tone. "I wouldn't want to spoil your fun, darling, so I would think it perhaps best that you do get this last chance at redemption. However, I would also rather you keep your head when doing so, and bring the Captain and Corporal a just trial, and then treat them on equal terms once you are finished. We have no need for more enemies, as the Masterminds may very well soon be just that, if they aren't already.

"As for the Lieutenant..." Isabel once again let her speech fade, looking now toward Declan as she opened her mouth to speak. "I must think on such matters." Tilting her head back slightly, Isabel finished the last bit of her tea before placing it onto the table with a delicate *clink*.

---

---

With wide eyes, the Renaissance kept her body pressed against the back of the wooden chair, her hands having folded together against her chest as the situation had escalated. Turning her head to the toppled table, Isabel gazed down at the shattered porcelain cup that was strewn across the floor, her brow only furrowing further as she glanced back toward the towering Spartan who had seemed to be filled with an immeasurable rage just seconds prior, yet was suddenly speaking as if nothing wrong had occurred.

Taking a deep breath, Isabel closed her eyes, tilting her head forward as she continued to let the cool air ease in and out of her lungs. Finally she lifted her head, looking up to Theodore with a disappointed glare which pierced through the slim space separating the two nearly-weds. Almost in defiance of her delicate demeanor, Isabel shot up from her seat with a huff, taking a step forward to close the already brief gap, leaving the only distance in the immense height difference between the two faces.

"Your spontaneity may get you whatever you wish with the Vanguard, sir Spartan, but your childish antics of shouting and throwing objects to justify your cause only irritates me," though her voice shook with anger, Isabel kept a restraint in her composure, keeping her cold eyes fixed upon Theo as she continued. "Perhaps it would be best that I would act on a similar level to you, battling to see who's voice is the loudest, making sure that I get my point across to you despite having already made myself perfectly clear. Don't belittle me as if I wouldn't know what it is like to kill someone you care for, as if I could never understand what such a thing could do to me! You act as if I've never lost anyone dear to me! Take a gander at the whole of our quaint little colony, and tell me that you know anyone here who is content with their life. I see in the Overseers the same as you do, and I have the marks to enforce my disgust!"

As she continued throughout her speech, Isabel's eyes began to fill with tears, and her voice cracked, until finally her vision blurred and she felt herself fall backward. Declan started moving towards Isabel before she started falling. Well-practiced hands caught her lightly around the waist and shifted her, lifting her slight frame into a 'bridal' style carry and set her lightly on her abandoned chair.

"Well, this has been quite productive," he said with a smile - one far too happy for the situation. His hand navigated to her shoulder, holding Isabel still until her eyes flickered and opened. Glancing about in confusion, nearly that of a trance, Isabel slowly shifted her body until she sat upright, lifting a hand to touch at her temple as she slowly came back to her senses.

"I... I have to apologize... I'll try and keep the rest of our discussion as civil as I can muster," with calm, quiet words, Isabel kept her eyes locked upon the floor, glancing at the boots of Theodore as she spoke. "I... Must agree with you. It would be best that we find out what the Overseers want of us, before we decide what to do with them. Using the Sheriff would be our best course of action - they have no bias against him, and he's almost always looked upon in favorable terms. I will trust you on this." Gracing her fingers to touch at Declan's hand, Isabel slowly lifted her head until her eyes met Theo's, a deep sorrow still stuck within her own gaze which couldn't be covered with the mask she wore.

---

---

---

”I’m on it,” Cassie said, gathering her bag with one hand before she headed towards the exit. Part of her was glad that Theo had reached an understanding with Isabel. This new transition into sharing such power was sure to have its setbacks, but maybe those two could work it out just fine after all.

Cassie headed towards the entrance to the cells, catching Reno leaning against the wall tinkering with one of his weapons.

”Hey. Theo sent me to let you know to go ahead and interrogate the prisoners. Him and Isabel came to an understanding and that’s the decision they made.”

"They came to an understanding? Way I heard, it sounded like an immovable object met an unstoppable force." The gunslinger sighed spinning thunder back into the holster. "So any guidelines for this? I am not Theo, I don't do the whole rage and scream thing." The cool young man answered, moving from his spot on the wall.

"So what shall I be talking to our fine Hawks about? Gas prices? The weather? What color hat goes best with my horse?" Reno liked to talk a lot without saying anything, but of course Cassie knew that. The man wasn't used to people and so he didn't ever really say what he was thinking; he just gave knowing looks and stood beside you.

"Don't be a smart-ass," Cassie replied, unable to hold back some of her laughter. "You just need to ask them why they're here, and where their ship is. Theo and Isabel will take it from there. But just do your thing--no violence or threats have to be made. That's why the Hulk over there asked me to tell you to do the job."

Cassie took a few steps towards Reno with her arms crossed, her voice just a bit lower. "But yes, he did break the table in that room and for a moment he looked like he was going to attack Isabel. I had to intervene because I seriously thought he was going to do something to her. I know he doesn't turn on his own kind, but add everything else going on like the wedding festival, and one could very easily act without thinking."

"Cassie you wound me! I could never be anything more than the smartest of asses." He smiled at his friend before nodding at her request. "I thought he might have broken something, again. Keeping your cool is the most important part of the job, even when you're staring down hell itself." The gunslinger drew his flask from inside his jacket and took a sip before offering some whiskey to Cassie.

"How are you taking all this? I know it's rough on you, but if we get some time tonight I shall treat to whatever you want out of my collection of fine intoxicants." He moved, patting her shoulder and looking down the hall. "Want to tag along, or does Achilles need your presence again?"

"Yeah well..." Cassie shrugged, her expression turning solemn as she looked down at the ground, "I would have rather had him marry out of love, not for politics. But believe me, I know the sacrifices we have to make, so it is what it is."

She then was able to show a slight smile.

"But I'll be better once we drown ourselves tonight in whatever poison you have laying around. Come on, I'll accompany you. I don't think they need me back there."

"Life is like poker, Cassie. It's always a decent start, the draws are random and the house always takes it at the end of the night." He spoke as he curled his left hand back, tapping his index finger on his pistol. "Unless you're me of course, after all I made poker an honest trade in this town." The gambler smiled, heading down towards the cells.

The Sentinel office was across the hall from the cells, while Reno usually didn't occupy the office it did see use by his deputies. "Now, when we get down there, let me do the talking... If they get out of line, feel free to remind me to give them a slap. Otherwise you stand there, pretty and mean as hell." He added the compliment to try and cheer her up.

"Being pretty and mean is what I'm best at," Cassie replied, giving Reno a wink.

---

---

Cassie arched an eyebrow, her eyes darting from side to side as if she couldn't quite make out where the voice was coming from. She then turned to Reno, a rather exaggerated and confused expression on her face similar to that of someone who had witnessed an impossible magic trick.

"Hey, do you hear that?"

Cassie then turned to face the lieutenant, pretending that she had been startled by his mere presence.

"Oh, it's you..." Cassie didn't hold back the disdain that just oozed through her words. But that was simply it; the lieutenant and her never did see eye to eye, to say the least, and to have them be within such close proximity of each other always invited these little unpleasant exchanges. Cassie slowly approached the cell door, enjoying watching Alfie be stuck behind bars. It was definitely a welcomed change for her as she looked down at him.

"What's the matter, chickenshit? Your daddy isn't giving you enough love these days?" Cassie motioned towards Thrax, well aware of the fact that she was probably pushing his buttons too, but she really couldn't care less at the moment. Cassie was enjoying her brief interaction with Alfie. "That doesn't mean you gotta take it out on the rest of us."

Cassie looked over at Reno, who appeared as if he wanted to burst out laughing but was attempting to keep his cool at all costs. "I honestly don't know what to do with these guys," she went on with her sarcasm, now staring at Reno with her back towards the prisoners. "We try to show them mercy and they have to guts to come here insulting everybody left and right. I guess some people just don't know any better..."

---

---

---

Rylan Kane, or by what the First Combatant is better known as, Cap'n Hook, only ever returned to Churchill with grave warning of potential attacks on the colony or to lead his soldiers home, their home. This was not home to him, a fox-hole was, or a bullet riddled tent. But he arrived now, because things are different, that could mean dangerous. He felt the dire need to speak to Cassie about a threat, a threat that was unlike the many he has faced outside Churchill, because this threat lied only on the inside. And no this was not about the Overseers, they were of no concern to Cap'n.

He waited for the second-in-command while overlooking "the Crater", a dueling pit dug twelve feet deep into the Vanguard pit. His eyes squinted, watching intently as two young men, likely Initiate rank, practicing a bit of sword-play. Cap'n touched the hilt of his cutlass. He could teach them a thing or two about life and death between a blade, but that is not why he came here.

Soon he heard footsteps approach from behind. Cassie, she was finally free of the interrogation she aided the Sheriff with. "Cass..." Cap'n greeted the Right-hand with an honorable bow, which may have felt a bit awkward to her since there was once a time that she took order under his command. If there were any man deserving of all respect within the Vanguard faction, it would be Kane. It is because of that man that Churchill has not crumbled under the Outsider ambushes or attacks. Throughout all of his time within the Vanguards, Cap'n has been offered the rank of Spartan many times. However, he could never take the position, Churchill was not his home, the field was. "Rest easy yer star-buzzin' heart, thar be no trouble beyond these walls." Cap'n paused, no that was not a valid statement made. "Well... I trust that cannot be completely star-buzzin' true. Thar's a reason why I'm here... Why I come t' you, not-- "

"Cass! CASS!" It was Theo calling for Cassandra... again. Except, this time, he came running to her, rather in a hurry, and dressed quite strangely compared to what Theo often outfits himself with. That same tux that he snickered at right before the sun rose, yes, he was wearing that now. Though, it did look a little tight for the big man. "Cass! Cass!-- Cap'n Hook!" Theo ran, opening his arms up to capture Kane in a welcoming hug, "Wait-- Nope, can't do that, can't break the suit." Yes, the tux was quite restricting when it came to stretching, thus Theo was forced to simply give up on his friendly embrace. "Cap'n, how have things been-- Wait, no. Can't talk. In a rush. Can't risk keeping Isabel waiting. I want to get there early. So, we'll talk about the interrogation later-- Um... um... Do either you know how to... um... tie a bow-tie?" Apparently the knotted piece of black fabric tied around Theo's neck was in fact the bow tie, however he has tangled himself in a mess trying.

"Err... Bersek... Theo, hook, remember?" Of course, Cap'n clearly couldn't tie Theo's bow tie.

"Oh yeah... right... Cass? Help please?"

Cassie couldn't help but roll her eyes, a slight smile forming as she turned to Rylan for a moment to give him a certain look.

"Come here," she motioned for Theo, watching him as he walked towards her in his tuxedo. Cassie could barely contain herself; it wasn't everyday she witnessed the Hulk himself walking somewhat funny due to a wardrobe upgrade. But Cassie bit her tongue to prevent herself from laughing as she knew that otherwise, it would just make Theo self-conscious.

"You're moving up in the world, kid. I'm so proud of you," Cassie said as she got to working on his bowtie. Oddly enough, Cassie was somewhat relieved to see Theo worrying about his appearance. It could very well mean that he wanted to impress Isabel, and that was a start.

Once she was finished, Cassie swiped away a little bit of dirt sitting on the front side of the jacket, just below the shoulder.

"All done." she said, taking a few steps back to stand next to Rylan. "Mind if we talk for a few moments now? Alone..."

"Um, yeah, I was just about to leave-- Uh, wish me luck," In between his own anxiety, Theo forced a smile in, it was an inauthentic symbol of joy to him. As Theo took his depature, Rylan turned in response to Cassie's question, "Aye, shall we speak in th' war room, not a soul shall be a bother t' us thar?"

---

At the center of the vanguard war room was a rustic square cedar table. The reason why this table was still stable and standing was because it was bolted down into floor for obvious reasons if you knew Theo. Laid out on the rustic table was a map of London, similar to that in the muse war room, however this one had upon it figurines symbolizing the vanguard outposts. "Har har, ye know when Bersek rose from th' rank o' Initiate t' Combatant, I thought he was bein' a smart-arse by askin' about uniforms. 'Uniforms?!' I barked back at 'im. 'tis th' star-buzzin' post-apocalypse, not th' pissin' Collective army!' Har, I wasn't mad at 'im, he thought o' us that official-- glorified us, he always has been one hell o' a soldier. Even wit' th' man's tantrums you know he can fall in line, why? 'Tis that good soldier in 'im. But..." Cap'n rested his hook against the table's surface. There was a reason why he wished to be alone from the ears that may accuse and confuse his concern for treason. "Who must he be loyal t' now? Not you. You may be at a lower rank than 'im, but every vanguard has always seen you as our secret queen. 'Tis wha' kept peace between those who thought you should 'ave been Spartan aft Emery died. Hm, you jus' saw 'im, how he squeezed into that small-arse suit, why? 'Cause he's a good soldier, 'n that, what you just saw, was his uniform." Cap'n lifted his hook from the table as he folded his arms, stepping towards Cassie. "What's that Ole Earth sayin'? 'No man can serve two masters.' Theo will forget about you."

Cassie was growing uneasy by Rylan's statements. Not due to her personal feelings for Theo, but simply out of concern that she would turn into his personal assistant as the power that came with her rank slowly diminished. In the end, would Theo and Isabel be the only ones in charge of the vanguards? And if so, where would that leave her?

Cassie attempted to come up with any valid counterargument, but unfortunately, she found herself at a loss for words. The sadness that was washing over her becoming evident on her face.

"What do I do now then?" she whispered, looking at Rylan for answers. It wasn't typical for the woman to wave the white flag right away, but the thought of her becoming useless to her people was too much to bear at the moment.

"Look, Cassie...," Cap'n placed his hook against her shoulder, with the curved side touching her. "I came here t' warn you, not belittle you... I would ne'er belittle my future queen. Future, 'cause Cass, once 'tis within yer star-buzzin' grasp---" Cap'n shot a smirk before suddenly jamming his hook straight through the cedar table. "Take it! Nail yourself t' it, so no one can pry it from you, not even Theo... I likely doubt he would anyways. Besides, I know I jus' said that he will forget about you, but..." Cap'n jerked his hook out from the wooden surface, lifting it up towards his face even though his eyes gazed off in space with his thoughts. "He will ne'er be fueled by politics. Berserk has always been powered by his passions, 'tis reason why we call 'im, Berserk-- he becomes maniacal in a non-cognitive, fervent frenzy 'cause o' an intense desire fer someone he doesn't mind dyin' fer. 'tis how Theo saved Emery's life, 'cause he wasn't concern wit' his owns, only about those who he was fightin' fer 'n wit'." Cap'n lowered his hook resting it against his cutlass. "Speakin' o' fightin', ever thought about gettin' some fresh air... beyond these walls 'n back wit' yer true brothers 'n sisters, th' combatants?"

"I, um..." she smiled nervously at Rylan's suggestion, watching him for a moment to gauge his expression in order to figure out how serious he was being, but the young woman could not find even the slightest trace that'd suggest otherwise. It was then Cassie gave it some careful consideration.

"To be honest, I've thought about it a few times. I mean, up until now I knew for a fact that I was a vital member of the vanguards. But I can't quite say how this marriage will affect all of us. I've been here to support Theo, but since I won't be his support system anymore... Maybe I will be more useful with you guys out there."

The thought alone scared her, to be on the outside once more. She'd gotten used to living in Churchill, but likewise, Cassie loved her people, and feeling useless was just something she could not tolerate.

"Aye, 'tis th' spirit!" Cap'n smiled with his crooked teeth. Even joy could be seen through that one good eye of his. "Heard about the Overseers 'n about th' ship... I guess I came to Churchill just time-- reckon Berserk will want me and my men on it, escortin' whatever Overseer tak'n us thar. I'm sure he'll want us on it as soon as possible." Rylan gave Cassie a light playful jab to the shoulder with his hook, "Hope 'tis place hasn't made you lazy! Enjoy the wedding, Cass, but hope you consider leaving early to brush up on your skills in the Crater, that'll be where you'll find me."

"Are you kidding? I'll show up super early just to show you how good I've gotten since the last time we saw in each other in combat."

Cassie smiled back, waving at Rylan before she headed to her room to get ready for the wedding ceremony.

"I hope you bring your A-game my friend, just because we've learned from each other in the past doesn't mean I'll stop teaching you how it's done."

---