Riley led the way down off the roof and out of the complex to a limousine waiting and Jack climbed in after him uncertainly. Riley moved to one of the limo and began to talk to the driver while Jack sat on the opposite end wondering when the last time he had experienced luxury without sneaking around it. He had spent so much time in the shadows it seemed strange to be sitting here openly.

When the limo started to move he noticed Riley looking him up and down,

"What?"

Riley shook his head that stupid smile on his face, "Nothing, just that your disgusting clothing and appearance perfectly reflect that state of your government."

Jack shot him a glare, "This was a nice shirt before your dogs decided to beat me for days."

Riley's face didn't change, "Oh hush you can still walk."

Jack rolled his eyes, but didn't respond. He focused on a spot on the ceiling to focus on rather than staring at Riley's face.

~~~~

Jack woke up to the feeling of someone kicking his leg.

His eyes snapped open and he lashed out, but Riley was fast enough to dodge.

"We're here," Riley told him moving to the door.

"And where is here?" Jack questioned looking at the blacked out window.

Riley only smiled and opened the door exiting. Jack groaned in annoyance and pain as he moved to follow. Outside the door stood rows of servants all bowing and welcoming Riley as he walked past them and up the stairs to the large wooden doors ahead.

Jack stifled the urge to puke at the sight as he followed after looking so horribly out of place that even the servants turned up their noses and he walked by. Riley waited for him at the top of the stairs smiling, "Don't worry," he said as the doors began to open. "None of them know your face."

Jack nodded slowly as Riley walked through the doors leading the way into what Jack could only assume was one of his family's other homes as this one didn't seem flashy enough to be the Silver Castle he had spent so much time learning about, even so Jack had to admit it was impressive. It was just as nice as the palace where he had grown up and the setup of it, and the architecture seemed similar as well, but he supposed that was to be expected.

Riley led the way to a room with two guards stood in front.

"Your father is in a meeting, Your Highness" one stated.

Riley gave them a smile, and pushed open the door and marched his way in and not having much choice Jack followed him.

Inside the room people sat around a large table, but Jack's eyes went past all of them and focused on the King. He had seen that face so many times in his studies, Lucas Chaney, the same light brown hair, and dark eyes, the same skin tone, though at the same time it looked so different to see him in person breathing. For so long he had wanted to meet the King of this horrific country and put a gun to his head, yet here he was at the mercy of the him.

"Father," Riley started taking a knee and grabbing the attention of all of those who weren't already watching him.

"How many times I have I told you not to interrupt me?" The king sighed putting a hand to his head. He took a breath and his eyes focused on Jack and his mouth turned into a sneer. "And you bring someone so unsightly with you on top of that? Who is he? The baker's son? The farmer down the road? Which piece of filth is he?" He glared harder at Jack, "And aren't you planning on kneeling before your king?"

Jack scoffed and crossed his arms, "Please, the carpet under my feet would be a better ruler than you." He couldn't stop the smile which creeped on his face as he spoke. "But then I suppose you both allow people to walk all over you so what's the difference?"

The room was dead silent and Jack only smiled wider at all the glares he was receiving.

Riley gave a cough to bring the attention back to him as he stood, "May I present Jack Crosswell, remember you gave me resources to apprehend him?"

The King looked Jack up and down, "You look like your father. Makes me want to kill you now."

Jack shrugged, "Go ahead, it will only give my family a better reason to fight."

"Or," Riley cut in. "He can help us stop the union of the two Traitor States."

The King frowned, "When you suggested this to me never did I think you'd actually be able to accomplish anything."

Riley gave his father a smile, "Glad I surpassed your expectations."

The King did not look impressed, "Why would you want to stop the union of the Traitor States?" He asked Jack.

"First off," Jack started. "We are East and West Linoita. Secondly I hate my family, but not as much as I hate you but they are up there. And I simply believe it's in my own best interest if this does not proceed. I don't expect you to trust me, just as you can't expect me to trust all of you just because that smiling idiot says so."

"Riley?" The King asked. "What exactly were you thinking?"

Riley smiled wider and he moved to the table and typed something in on a laptop and an image of East and West Linoita projected on the wall. He walked over and pointed to a small square on the northern border of Jack's country, "To start, he's a hacker, and a thief, and he knows their system better than anyone else. I want to break into their government building on their northern border, and get him to take anything detrimental-"

"You're stupid if you think the northern border is their weakest point," Jack chimed in.

All eyes went to him so Jack rolled his eyes and walked over to Riley. After shoving Riley aside he pointed to East Linoita' eastern most border and the square on it. "My own country is responsible for most of the military forces. Yes the north is the weakest point due to the constant war with you bastards but the East is weaker in general especially here," he tapped the spot twice. "Because this is where your weakest border is that there is also weak there and as nothing is there in general no one thinks to cross it. But it is the weakest point within both countries. Here is where I enter and exit for the most part."

He finished and looked at the people staring at him as he crossed his arms. All of them then looked to the King as the projector turned off.

The King tapped the tips of his pointer fingers together as he thought. After a minute or so he lowered his hands, "Actually I have a better idea... seize him."

Jack didn't even try to resist as hands grabbed him and forced him to his knees, "And here I thought you would at least be capable of holding a conversation."

"Please father," Riley started. "This could-"

The King held up a hand silencing his son, "Your plan could work yes, but I see more benefit in my own plan. So tell me Jack." He said standing and walking over to Jack and bending down to get closer to him. "How would you like to go home?"

"In a coffin you mean?" Jack smiled.

The King shook his head, "No, you go back alive, and let's see what sort of disarray it causes."

~~~~

Jack was happy he lied about the Eastern border.

But he was not happy about being beaten, thrown in chains, and being tossed in the back of a truck for days as it crawled toward his home.

Never had he considered being sent home as one of his options. He had always assumed that
he'd be killed on site by the Iotians and his body would be sent back to his family in a box his father would use as a podium when he proclaimed his death as a casualty of war which must be avenged.

A sigh left his throat and he looked up the guard who sat back there with him, "Hey," he called gaining the woman's attention.

She gave him annoyed looked, "What?"

"I gotta take a piss."

She rolled her eyes, "Why didn't you go last we stopped?"

"I didn't have to go."

She groaned and pulled out her walkie talkie, "Pullover, he's gotta pee."

There was a crackling before a voice replied, "We are a half hour from the destination tell him to hold it."

~~~~

A half hour was actually forty-five minutes, and Jack was about to piss himself when he was brought out the truck. He blinked adjusting to the bright light of the sun, and fell in step between five soldiers. His eyes scanned the area, but he was confused to see they hadn't hit the northern gate to hand him over. Rather they were deep in a forest of some sort a building complex beside them.

The soldier led him around the corner of the complex where a series of cameras were set up and the King of this gods-forsaken-country looking regal as ever in his red and gold outfit with a sword on his hip. He smiled when they approached, and he lowered his hand and Jack was pushed to his knees.

"Good to see you again," the King smiled. "It's been about a week I believe since we last spoke?"

"I don't care," Jack shrugged. "I do care about using the bathroom. Unless you'd like me to piss on your shoes, because I'd happily oblige."

The King's smile didn't waver as he looked to one of the soldiers and pain erupted in the side of his face. The sudden hit surprised him, when he focused once more he looked up at the King once more with a raised eyebrow. "So that was a yes to me pissing here then?"

This time Jack saw the strike so he was prepared when it struck his jaw. It hurt, but he had long since learned how to take a punch. He felt as his chin was lifted up to face the King.

"You're making me want to kill you more and more," he told Jack.

"I told you to do it already!" Jack spat intentionally spraying spit on the man's face.

The King recoiled has wiped his face as a boot shook Jack's ribs, another stomped on his spine and a third digged into his shoulder.

"Here I am, an honest man trying to fulfill our deal by giving you back to your people, and here is how you treat me."

Jack was pulled up to his knees violently once more and he spat blood onto the ground before him as too warm liquid began to soak his legs.

"Well if you want your beloved Prince back he's yours," the King told a camera, and for the first time Jack noticed its with its red light blinking. "I've certainly had enough of him. Simply obey the rules I have set out and you can have him."

"Fuck you," Jack spat more blood flying out his mouth.

"I'm not really sure why anyone would want him," The King shrugged. "According to my son who did extensive research on your Precious Prince and found he was the one who attacked his fiancé, and had been sabotaging you for months. So take him off our hands. In fact, Riley?"

Jack watched as a bewildered Riley was dragged by soldiers to his father's side. Jack silently wondered why he was there, each of the monarchies had done their best to keep their children out of the media so other countries couldn't use them against their parents. So what was this king playing at?

"For those who do not know this is my son," The King said placing a hand on Riley's shoulder. "Riley Simmons-Chaney. He's my only heir, but not my only child. Say hello."

Riley looked at his father confused, but did as he was told.

"He is a child who annoys me to no end, and is honestly more a pain than anything."

"Now," the king clapped. "If you do not do as I said, we will play again which involves me sending you a finger and you getting to guess which Prince it belongs to."

Riley looked horrified, "Father... You can't be serious. I'm-"

"A disappointment," The King finished. "And you brought me yet another stray and half baked plan. I won't tolerate it anymore. So go ahead and put your faith in the hands of those you hate." The King gave a crazed smile, which rivaled the one Jack had seen on Riley's face the day they met. "Let's see what happens!"