The room went quiet, as everyone was wondering how the Celestial Emperor would react to Atlas’s gaffe.

  The Celestial Emperor said, "It's not Emperor-ness. It's Your Majesty, " he added with a smile.

  Atlas shrugged. "Sure, Your Majesty. Sorry, we're not really that big on formality in Fort Bone."

  The Emperor thought, ‘I can tell—bunch of uncultured Western bums.‘ He was proud of bringing China’s rich culture and long history to the Wasteland.

  Sensing this could go sideways if Atlas kept talking, Olivia quickly stepped in, “Your Majesty, what I’d like to suggest is a way for us all to go home.”

  The Celestial Emperor leaned forward. “Oh, go on.”

  “As you know,” Olivia continued, “we have the 100 tokens coming up at the end of the year. We’re about to enter month four, so in eight months, we’ll all be going home. Or at least 100 of us.”

  The Celestial Emperor nodded, his expression still unreadable.

  “We’ve recently received information,” Olivia added carefully, “from the Red Fairy, that there may be a way for us to take everyone home.”

  The Celestial Emperor’s eyes widened in surprise. “How sure are you of this information?”

  Olivia hesitated. “I’m not 100% sure. We got this intel from Clark. Did you ever watch the TV show?”

  The Emperor nodded. “Yes, it was mandatory for everyone in the Chinese army to watch it. We dissected it for hours. That’s how we got such a strong start when we arrived here.”

  “Perfect,” Olivia said. “Then you remember Clark. He’s exactly like he was in the show.”

  The Emperor scowled. “Oh, yes. Weaselly, self-centered, and obnoxiously smug.”

  Olivia smirked.

  “That’s the one. Well, he’s no longer a problem. We’ve already taken care of him,” Atlas chimed in.

  Olivia continued, “When Atlas finished off Clark, Clark gave us some important information. In his previous life, Clark had received the 100 tokens, but he was also given an option. If he unified the Wasteland, he would have the ability to take everyone home.”

  The Celestial Emperor’s heart raced with excitement. ‘Everyone?‘ He currently had 20 concubines, and between them, his ministers, and their families, there were already over 100 people. The constant infighting over the tokens had been giving him a headache for months. ‘This... this could solve everything.‘

  ‘‘‘

  Olivia said, “What we suggest is that we operate our plans based on this information. We can draft a contract where, if even the information proves false, half of the tokens will go to the Celestial Empire, and half to the Fort Bone Empire.”

  The Celestial Emperor smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “That sounds agreeable, but how can we be certain whoever holds the tokens will distribute them fairly? We’ve seen how such matters unfolded for you before, Atlas.” His tone was polite, but the jab was clear.

  Atlas’s face darkened, his voice taking on a hard edge. “Yeah, well, that’s not happening again.” The bitterness in his voice hung in the air. Betrayal was always on his mind, and he definitely didn’t like being reminded of his past failures.

  The Emperor gave a slow nod. “Nor should it. We must ensure fairness. How do we prevent such... mishaps?”

  Olivia, ever the diplomat, stepped in smoothly. “That’s easily done. If Atlas had prepared a system contract—”

  Atlas, still bristling, interrupted. “I didn’t think I’d need it at the time! And those contracts aren’t exactly cheap, you know.”

  Olivia threw him a sidelong look but kept her focus on the Emperor. “If Atlas had prepared a contract, as we will today, it would have specified that Fort Bone collects the tokens, with 50 guaranteed to the Celestial Empire, secured by the system itself.”

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  The Celestial Emperor’s smile grew more genuine, though his eyes gleamed with challenge. “Ah, yes, a sound idea. However, might I suggest a slight alteration? The Celestial Empire should collect the 100 tokens, and we will guarantee Fort Bone its 50.”

  Atlas visibly tensed, his irritation barely held in check. ‘Alteration? How about no. I’m not handing over control like that.‘ His eyes locked with Olivia’s, silently daring her to counter.

  Olivia, sensing the brewing storm, remained calm and diplomatic. “That’s certainly an interesting suggestion, Your Majesty, but I believe it’s essential to maintain balance. Fort Bone taking the lead ensures we avoid any perception of... favouritism, especially after previous issues.”

  The Emperor’s voice remained smooth. “I understand your concern, Olivia, but the Celestial Empire has proven its strength and stability. Surely, it makes sense for us to take the lead in this partnership?”

  Atlas’s knuckles whitened, his temper simmering. ‘Strength and stability? This guy’s ego could sink a battleship.‘ But Olivia quickly responded before Atlas could speak.

  “With respect, Your Majesty, Fort Bone has its own strengths to offer. The system will ensure fairness no matter who takes the lead, but symbolically, having Fort Bone in that role might foster more trust across the Wasteland. After all, we all know that unity is key in this.” Her tone was calm but firm, her words carefully chosen.

  The Emperor leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing. “A valid point, but consider this: if the Celestial Empire were to lead, we’d have the experience and wisdom stemming from centuries of Chinese governance. Fort Bone, while certainly impressive in its own right, lacks the same... pedigree.”

  The Celestial Empire and the Celestial Emperor himself both stemmed from China, and he took great pride in emphasising the long history of China's civilization on Earth. Although the Celestial Emperor himself had only been a leader in the military before the portals, he knew full well that his ancestor had blessed him here in the Wasteland.

  Atlas’s temper flared, but Olivia quickly jumped in, her voice measured. “True, we may not have centuries of governance behind us, but we’ve built Fort Bone from the ground up under relentless pressure. Our adaptability and resilience speak for themselves. It’s not about pedigree, it’s about survival—and we’ve mastered that.”

  The Emperor paused, clearly impressed but unwilling to back down just yet. “Survival, yes. But leadership requires more than that. The Celestial Empire has thrived not only through survival, but through strategy, order, and a deep understanding of diplomacy.”

  Atlas couldn’t hold back any longer. “Diplomacy’s all well and good, but out here in the Wasteland, it’s muscle and determination that matter. We’re not playing court politics anymore.”

  Olivia placed a calming hand on Atlas’s arm, her voice steady as she addressed the Emperor. “Your Majesty, what we propose is a partnership. Not one ruling over the other. Together, we can achieve more than either of us could alone. But forcing one to be subordinate would only sow resentment.”

  The Emperor regarded her for a moment, then nodded, though his tone remained cool. “A partnership, yes. But partnerships must have a leader, don’t you think?”

  Atlas clenched his fists, fighting the urge to argue further, but Olivia kept her composure. “Yes, Your Majesty. But the true leader will be the one who earns respect through actions, not titles.”

  The Emperor’s gaze hardened briefly, then he smiled, though it lacked warmth. “I suppose we’ll see who earns that respect in time, won’t we?”

  Olivia held his gaze, refusing to back down. “Yes, we will.”

  Sensing the conversation was teetering on the edge of a full-blown argument, Olivia quickly shifted gears. “Perhaps we should give ourselves time to reflect on this. I think we’re making good progress, and a night’s rest will help us think things through.”

  The Emperor, recognizing the wisdom in her words, leaned back with a more relaxed expression. “Agreed. We’ll hold a feast tonight in your honor. Tomorrow, we can continue these discussions with clearer minds.”

  “Sounds good,” Olivia said, giving a polite nod.

  As they left the room, Atlas muttered under his breath, “Partnership, my ass. He’s just waiting to stab us in the back.”

  Olivia sighed. “Just hold it together, Atlas. We’ll figure this out.”

  ‘‘‘

  Olivia and Atlas walked out of the room, the trolls flanking them as silent bodyguards. The tension hung in the air as thick as the dust from the Wasteland. They met up with Alexander and the diplomats before heading to the rooms the Emperor had assigned to them. The army, meanwhile, stabled their horses and moved into the barracks.

  As soon as they were behind closed doors, Olivia opened up the conversation with the most pressing question. “Atlas, how do you feel about this?”

  Atlas’s eyes darkened, his voice sharp. “There’s no fucking way I’m letting that jumped-up army soldier rule the entire Wasteland.”

  Olivia raised an eyebrow, but her tone stayed even. “What about the people? If two of us are aligned, we could make a formidable team. Wasn’t that your goal from the start? Saving the most people?”

  Atlas sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Yes, it was-still is. But handing him control over everything? That doesn’t sit right with me.”

  “Why not?” Olivia pressed, watching him closely.

  “I don’t know,” Atlas muttered, his frustration evident.

  Olivia narrowed her eyes. “Do you think it’s your pride speaking? Your need to be the hero?”

  Atlas shifted uncomfortably, knowing she’d hit a nerve. “Maybe. But it’s more than that. I just... I’ve got a feeling. Call it gut instinct, but I know that whoever wins this season, whoever wins the show, will get way more than just tokens or the chance to go home. This isn’t about pride, Olivia—it’s about something bigger.”