I Am The Truth II

Chapter XXXVIII: Part Finale: The Final Flight

Ross had heard the sounds of war grow ever louder, even the screams of those failing to escape the violence out there. As much as he hated the other races of Ardonia, a part of him felt bad in a way. But then again... he truly believed they deserved it for supporting the Knights.

And at last, he finally saw someone appear outside his cell. Malakai was there again, though the giant did not make eye-contact.

"You have done well Malakai," Ross commented, slowly standing up.

"... many of them are dead," Malakai murmured, avoiding the glance Ross was giving him.

"Well," Ross said casually, gesturing in a rather insensitive way with his hands. "They shouldn't have come here, right? Do remember it was their choice-"

"I know."

The giant unlocked the door, allowing Ross to step outside for the first time of his own accord. He watched as Malakai unlocked the door for Mr. Knows-the-Ground. Several other Cydonian soldiers were also there, though they regarded Malakai warily. Ross quietly gestured for them to keep their guns at the ready just in case.

"Sir, you will have to come with us," One of the soldiers began. "It is not safe here till the remaining insurgents are dealt with."

Ross nodded, though stopped short. 

"Wait, but you need me," He began. "How do you know which of them are the Knights?"

"We already have the remaining Knight in custody," The soldier replied. 

Ross narrowed his eyes.

"Just one?"

Igneous was bound by shackles made from Supporium energy. He stood there on the spot, his head hung down slightly, unwilling to look at the fires that dotted the land. The sun had finally breached the horizon, as if to say this ambush was over like the night.

The Coalition forces had found him at last, and had been quick to imprison the runt in the basement of a complex until all of Ataraxia was secured, upon which he would be taken away. 

"This is him?" A soldier already present asked Ross.

Igneous looked up to see the man who he knew by now had masterminded all of this. Hubris had been right all this time.

"This is him," Ross said.

"You happy now, Malakai?" Igneous asked.

The giant turned away as Ross took a step closer to Igneous, but the runt paid no heed to the man. 

"You got what you wanted-"

"I think he got what he needed," Ross interrupted. "What all of your kind needed: some peace. With West K' Arthen having finally surrendered a mere thirty minutes ago according to one of the brave soldiers here, and now Ataraxia purged of all its radicalism, there will be no more conflict. We are doing what's best for all of us."

The runt hung his head as Ross leaned closer.

"All the Knights are dead," He whispered. "The CPRU have fled for their lives, and we have all the hard evidence we need to have them invalidated as a political party. After all, interacting with designated terrorists is a criminal offense, no?"

"Some of us still live," Igneous insisted, narrowing his eyes. "We have always survived."

"Yeah?" Ross replied. "I know you, like most, place your hopes on Captain Tiana Sendaris to somehow salvage your situation-"

Igneous started in shock, though he was also confused by Ross' statement.

"You think I don't know?" Ross asked. "A long investigation into the masked Ardoni's whereabout brought me back to the day of that train crash. I learned everything about Tiana, including that she survived a massacre on her family, one that claimed the life of her cousin-sister, the real Ria Sendaris. Shame I was taken here before I could effectively publish my findings, though I daresay my work has already been looked into by now."