I stretched my leg, moving it with free range as I examined the newfound life that had been injected into it, with the help of a med kit and some precise work by the resident physician onsite.

  “Incredible work, is it not?” Chau said, acknowledging me admiring the work of a top private medical tactician within the region.

  “It’s alright,” I responded, as we walked down the endless halls of Troan Tower, a slew of armed guards stepping keenly in tow a little further behind us. A decision of Chau to show strength, but confidence in himself and his vocal abilities to work this situation with ease.

  Chau stifled quiet laughter, snickering with playful delight. “You are quite the character my dear...” he trailed off, expecting me to answer.

  I did not.

  “Oh, come now,” Chau said, “it’s only polite for you to tell me your name. I’ve shared my own.”

  I remained quiet.

  Chau laughed further. “So be it then.”

  We walked into a large room, crane like fixtures whirling around and spinning as they processed large swathes of Ira into malleable liquid metal, over a swirling volcanic looking ocean of fiery red material. It bubbled and spat with pops of sound, like a boiling pool of water.

  I inadvertently raised a brow at the incredible sight, my jaw drifting slightly agape as I took it in.

  Chau clocked the shift immediately. “You weren’t aware that this is a functioning facility, were you? Not on your floor plan, was it?”

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  I darted my eyes away, as to share nothing further.

  “It’s alright,” Chau said. I have slightly different floor plans available...so easy to distort the truth. Even easier to find the leak when you control the sources. I hope the Real Estate market doesn’t take a tumble tomorrow morning,” Chau joked, taking a shot at the obvious friend of his who had hired me in the first place.

  Looking downward, I tried not to betray the confidence of my had been employer, but knew that no such things mattered at this point. He'd surely toss me into this pot in the next few minutes anyway, after holding out with pre-planned monologue. It’s what these types loved. They waited for it with bated breath.

  “I see your thoughts,” Chau said. “You do not trust me...and why should you?” He continued, looking over the elevated platform down upon the product his family harvested in full. “That is how I am painted my most...if not all. They do not see my feelings, my motivations, my base intent.” He leaned over the bars on the railing, the acrid smelling metals bursting far beneath him, but enflaming the visage he held.

  Chau turned and leaned back on the bars, fingering a platinum plated ring that was adorned on his right pinky finger. “This was my Mother’s.” He started up. “It was cherished throughout her family. Given to her by her own Mother...and so forth.” He sighed. “She informed me that it was awarded to one of our ancestors. An educator. One who helped lead generations of women to a brighter future.” He smiled. “Or so I've been told.” He looked up to acknowledge me, as I stared, admiring the ring, before returning his own gaze. “A beautiful thing. Respect.” He turned somber. “Something that Mother never received enough of.”

  “Thanks for the history lesson,” I quipped triumphantly. “And what does that have to do with me?”

  Chau smirked. “Why...everything.” He leaned off the bars and clasped his hands behind his back. “I may not respect what you attempted to do to me, nor my possessions. However, I do respect your tenacity. Your skill. Your ferocity.”

  I gulped, as he walked towards me. “What I do not respect, however, is disobedience.” His smirk flickered into a glimmer of fury.

  “NO! ARGH!” A man's voice shouted from behind me.

  I turned as the guard who had beaten me was being dragged right past me, his face now beaten to a pulp himself.

  “PLEASE!” He shouted. “IT WAS A MISTAKE!”

  “Regretfully, a lack of loyalty is not a mistake,” Chau said. “It is a character flaw,” he continued, with a smirk. “One that I do not respect.”

  Suddenly, the other men thrust the guard into the bars, as he clawed and writhed attempting to free himself, before they yanked his legs up and over, pushing him right down the slope and into his fiery demise, screaming all the way down, and gurgling in unfathomable pain by the sound of it.

  I felt a cold shiver radiate throughout my spine.

  “I am now down a man though.” Chau said, approaching me close, with a tight lipped smile. “Perhaps we have chance to test your loyalty now?”