A yacht took shore to the beach on the S-1 island. A squadron of Ardvenian army stood by as Julien, Dahlia and Jennifer made their way off the yacht. Jennifer was smoothing out her pencil skirt and Julien nodded at the Captain who greeted them with a salute and led them to a military jeep.

Dahlia wrapped her overcoat tighter around herself as they passed by the army men all standing by at attention as the vehicle passed by. "The security down here is on another level," she said.

"It's the safe haven for the Firsts of course." Julien nodded as the jeep made its way down a dirt road through the forest.

The dirt road gave way to a smoother tarmac. The tarmac led them up a gentle hill where the Township of Authority stood proud. A colony of palatial villas dotted the hills. The road up the hill was shaded with olive trees and lined with dogwood. Blue breasted weavers sang their shrilly song as they flew around.

A reinforced steel gate slid open to let the jeep through. They parked in a driveway that was big enough for an elephant to sleep in. And the villa was three stories tall.

Dahlia had been inside the Seat of Authority a few times. She had been in premier Ozaan's aerial plaza. Yet something about Julien's villa was breathtaking in a different way. Maybe it was the serene face carved into wood on the eastern perimeter wall or maybe it was the cobblestone pathway that was flanked by the lavender brush. It might've been the fact that she could see the clear turquoise water after climbing the porch steps to the building. Either way, there was no denying, the place was majestic in its natural glory.

A young woman in an immaculate silk gown held the door open for the three of them. Another young woman in a similar gown brought them a glass filled with an amber colored drink with ice clinking within. "It's the Ardvenian summer," the woman said as Dahlia took the glass. "Blended from the fruits grown only on this mountain."

The Nesokan heir took a sip. It was smooth as honey and had the oddly pleasant texture of ice lined with fire. Dahlia couldn't help sighing in content. "You're quite the host, Mr. Varon." She smiled at Julien. "We really should've invited premier Ozaan."

"Maybe some other time." Varon shrugged off his coat and handed it over to the girl in the gown.

Dahlia took another sip and giggled. "This place feels less like a safehouse and more like a holiday resort for a king."

"What can I say? The utilities are wide ranging on this island." Then he turned to Jennifer. "You need to stay with Dahlia and make sure she has everything she needs until I come back."

"You are gonna head for the Republic of Vardin right away?"

"Yes, I won't be able to sleep until I finalize the Fragment deal with Ozaan." Julien turned to leave when Jennifer's phone buzzed in her pocket.

"Sir, wait," she called out. Then she turned on the television mounted on the wall.

The National News channel was showing a pile of burning rubble. It didn't take them long to figure out that the burning heap used to be the Seat of Authority.

The repeating clip was followed by the ominous message: "...you can't keep running forever."

Julien scoffed and turned to Jennifer. "Tell them to initiate Phase Two of Silver Lining. Also, command the troops within Moudrin to keep charging. Flatten any city that gets in the way."

Jennifer just nodded and started making her calls.

"Also, Ms. Esker," he said, "if something were to happen to me, you are the one in command."

Dahlia nodded. As soon as that was said, the front door swung open. Eli Hodges walked in.

Dahlia blinked at the old man. "Mr. Hodges? What a pleasant surprise."

Eli just smiled in that slightly crooked way of his and nodded.

Julien was frowning. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh I was in my own villa in the back. I thought it was the best idea to come here since I was already attacked once," Eli said. "Also, I was hoping to have a word with you."

"I'm in a bit of a hurry, Eli."

Eli held Julien with his piercing gaze. "I was shot, Julien. You didn't even come to visit me at the hospital. I really wished I could've seen you. I know you are busy. That's why I want to talk to you just this one time."

Julien was still frowning but he hesitated to refuse. Eli kept his piercing gaze trained on him. Julien finally nodded. "Let's go to the library. We can talk in peace there."

"How about we go to my villa instead?" Eli said. "Let's pop a drink or two. For the sake of old times."

Julien sighed and gave in.

#

Eli led him to the bar in his villa. Julien settled in one of the high stools by the silver lined counter. Eli poured them both a drink from a stainless steel tumbler. "Jogir wine from the hills of Moudrin. Since you like the region so much."

Julien looked warily at the glass. He observed Eli closely as he put the tumbler on the counter and reached for his own glass. He kept watching his host as he took the first sip of his wine.

With some hesitation still lurking in his movements, Julien finally took a sip himself.

Eli smirked. "You really think I'd poison you, huh?"

Julien chuckled. "You're as straightforward as always, Eli."

"It helps with my profession. I can't really beat around the bush." Eli shrugged with his good shoulder since his other one was still in a cast and hard to move.

"That's exactly why you are perfect for the job." Julien took another sip. "You always know what to say. And you say it without the added bullshit."

"I say what people want to hear. That's why I'm the spokesperson." Eli shrugged again. "But I guess it doesn't matter since I won't have to say much anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I'm an old man with a busted shoulder. They'll probably shove a lump of iron in there to keep it somewhat functioning. But as one of the Firsts, I've probably run my course."

Julien put down his glass of wine. "Eli, you're resigning?"

Eli scoffed. "Of course. How much do you think I'm interested in fooling people?"

Julien just responded with silence.

Eli kept talking. "You remember the time when we first started campaigning?"

Julien raised an eyebrow. "Of course I do," he said. "You used to chew me out over the way I used to give speeches."

Eli laughed.

"You are telling them the truth, you idiot!" Julien did an almost cartoonish impression of his old friend. Eli laughed harder. "People already know the truth. They wanna hear a false reality. And they want the promise that the false reality can someday become a truth."

Eli was almost out of breath from laughing. And Julien was still wheezing.

Eli took another sip after catching his breath. He shook his head. "It feels like such a distant reality that you couldn't lie." He smiled sardonically. "Look at you now."

Julien raised his glass. "I learned from the best."

"And now you don't just lie to the country, you lied to me too." Eli's wrinkled face was completely sober.

"When did I ever lie to you?"

"Then tell me where's my family, Julien?"

"They are on the island where I kep–"

Bang!

Julien never saw the bullet. Nor the .357 revolver that it came from.

Eli scowled at his old friend who was now bleeding from his throat, spewing blood all over the counter. "Worst of all is the fact that you keep lying to yourself." He pulled the trigger once again, shattering open a hole in Julien's pectoral.

The First Leader tumbled off his stool. He tried to crawl away, gripping his bleeding throat, gurgling blood all the way.

"You divided this country with the sectorization program. You stole people's money to make all those weapons. And you kept telling yourself it was all for Ardvenia's sake."

Bang!

Julien's shin exploded and there was even more blood on the floor. The man couldn't even crawl anymore.

Eli could feel the tears in his eyes. "And what about my son, Julien?! What about my daughter in law?!" Eli screamed. "They died on that very island you were holding them hostage on. All you did was lie! You lied to the country, to your best friend and to yourself. Is this the end you wanted for yourself?!"

Julien didn't answer. And he would never speak again.

#

Blue weavers sang in the trees when Eli walked out onto the porch, gun still in hand. He was surprised the birds still remained on their perch despite the gunshots. He knew the firing was loud enough for the next villa to hear them. He looked at the front gate. He knew a dozen guards would soon be bursting through it. He couldn't care less. He walked over to the little flower bed in the corner.

He laid down the gun and reached out for a particular flower. A rosemary. He leaned in and breathed its sweet, fiery scent. It reminded him of arsenic and sugar. It was a scent to remember.

The gate behind was slammed open as he'd expected. There was a thumping of feet, barking of orders, and then the cocking of a dozen rifles. Eli didn't move, didn't care.

The gunshots sounded like fireworks to him. The bullets punching into his back were like hugs from his departed son and daughter in law. Eli's bloody hands clutched at the flowers in front of him as he slumped to the ground. He felt his breath growing shallow as he gazed up at the canopy of trees, the sun peeking through the leaves and the birds finally taking off. Eli turned on his back, the soil drank his blood.

Then he saw his son. And next to him was his daughter in law. The couple smiled down at him. He couldn't help but smile back (no matter how much it hurt).

"I did it, son," Eli muttered. "I stood up for myself."

(Did it hurt?)

Eli scoffed (and coughed some blood). "No more than speaking the truth."

His son's smile disappeared. His face turned grave. His eyes were intense. (I'm proud of you, dad)

(WE are proud of you), his daughter in law said.

Eli closed his eyes, his hand clutched at the rosemary a bit tighter. After a moment, his grasp turned loose. The stem grew weak. And then the flower fell off. 

(to be continued...)