[b][i]Andrew Rivers[/i][/b]

[b]TWO DAYS AGO[/B]

His 'feeder' opened the door to his room again, then said, "We've decided to move you to Yuzhny Portveyn, Merc Kid; this city is not safe anymore for the likes of you." Then he mused wryly, "I trust you'll be good?" He then mused wryly, "You might even get what you want there, if [i]your family[/i] does something to impress the higher-ups."  

Hope shone in Andrew's eyes; was his patience going to be rewarded? Seeing this, however, the other teen gave a dry smile and said, "However, you'll be interrogated and debriefed first; maybe even roughed up if you mouth off. But if you're good and your family doesn't do anything bad like side with what remains of Governor Xiu's thugs, again, you might be able to get what you want."

The dry smile turned into a smirk as the other youth continued, "You know, you had a lot of balls to come here and ask for an alliance without telling your precious Colonel first. He might be offended enough to throw you into a brig for doing that and worrying your father."

Andrew snapped a little, saying, "I was hoping it'd be a done deal." Then he admitted that, "but now it won't be, especially as apparently, some of the Governor's people [i]actually held out[/i]."

As the ramifications flooded through him, Andrew began hyperventilating, "I was assuming they'd fall and you'd be the only viable option for allies. I was hoping that there'd be no one else but you guys and that an alliance beetween our groups would be the only viable option and that I'd be honored for helping broker it. Instead I got myself locked up and in trouble and now unless the holdouts don't renew their contract with the Green Knights, I'll be in trouble with both you and them!"

His eyes widened in shock as he said, "You'll either shoot me at the back of the head or [i]the Colonel[/i] will."

The boy then sighed and as something inside him broke, he muttered, "I'll never see Mom and Dad ever again... I'll never see Tarak, or Ziska, or Reya, or even Hilda. I've destroyed every bond I valued just for an uncertain gamble." Tears fell from his eyes again as he whispered to himself, "I've failed... I've failed..."

He was interrupted by his 'feeder' coughing, and saying, "That was [i]hilarious,[/i] Merc Kid! Now, what are you going to do about it? After all, you're an idiot, but an idiot who knows what a plan [i]is[/i]. Are you going to suggest sabotaging the negotiations somehow?"

Andrew's brow furrowed to show that he was giving it due consideration, then he smiled, before he made his response, "We'll be in even more trouble if caught. Take me to Yuzhny Portveyn first, but my rough idea is to somehow make us a more attractive partner to the Green Knights than the holdouts. You have the love of the common people and few people value that nowadays. If we can get arms, ammo, and most importantly, military skill to match that love, we'd prove ourselves a better partner than Governor Xiu or his remaining officials..."

His feeder scoffed at him and interrupted, "You go from 0 to 180 then 0 again in no time flat!" He then presented a blindfold and cuffs and said, "Enough blather; put these on and just thank us for not gagging you - We're going."