Oblivion - Kingdom Come

Chapter 17: Betrayal and Rebellion

Standing alone with her gaze fixed on the distant horizon, Amaterasu was desolate and defiant. The tears that stained her cheeks and the state of her armor spoke volumes of the battles she had endured, of losses too profound to articulate. Her solitude was abruptly shattered by the appearance of a portal, its sudden opening a stark intrusion into her moment of vulnerability.

As Taharqa, Amina, and Xavier emerged from the portal, Amaterasu's reaction was visceral, a raw surge of emotion that transformed into a focused rage upon recognizing Xavier. Fueled by a tumult of feelings long suppressed, her charge was a testament to their shared past, wounds, and betrayals that time had failed to heal.

King Taharqa, ever vigilant, responded with swift precision, his forcefield a barrier against her assault, a necessary intervention to prevent further conflict. Princess Amina, acting with equal speed, restrained Amaterasu, disarming her to quell the storm of her fury. Amaterasu violently thrashes around on the ground.

Xavier's voice, firm yet infused with an urgency to pierce through Amaterasu's turmoil, sought to bridge the chasm of misunderstanding and pain. "Amaterasu Fukuyama, we are not your enemies! We are here to help; calm down and listen to me! Mr. L is on his way, and we must protect you!" His plea was a testament to the gravity of the situation, an appeal to a shared purpose that transcended past grievances.

He continued, shedding light on the complexities of her condition, "I know the Empress tried to reprogram the mind control Dr. Ryder put you under and instructed you to protect Ethan. But it seems it drove you insane instead." His words, revealing the depth of the manipulation and betrayal she had endured, aimed to rekindle her sense of self and purpose amidst the chaos that threatened to consume her.

Amaterasu's response, laden with defeat and resignation, laid bare her suffering. "I have failed... and disgraced my Empress... Let me die in peace." Her words, a wish for release from her burdens, reflected the depth of her despair and the loss of hope.

Yet, refusing to let her succumb to her anguish, Xavier countered with a call to the warrior spirit within her. "You have done no such thing. This is all the doctor's doing. Come get up and fight with us; we must stop them before war is declared. If you're going to die, be a warrior, stand on your feet, and die protecting your people!" His challenge, invoking the essence of her identity and duty, was a rallying cry, urging her to rise above her torment and stand against the looming threats.

Mr. L's plane enters the area and slowly descends toward the ground before them. The ramp door opens, and a black mist exits the plane, filling its open field. Mr. L's voice echoes throughout the mist and night eerie night sky.

Mr. L: I see we were a tad bit too late... No worries, though. How about we make a trade... "King" Francis for Amaterasu, and then I won't have to kill more royalty.

King Taharqa: Fuck you! You will hand him over and die!

Mr. L: Not the wisest negotiator, I see. Very well then, I see Xavier is here as well. Not in the best shape, are we?

Dr. Ryder strolls down the ramp in his battle gear; Mr. L appears out of the black mist in front of Taharqa, standing eye level but arm's length apart. Amina releases Amaterasu and directs her attention to Mr. L. Taharqa, who puts a forcefield between them. Mr. L smirked and touched the forcefield, shattering the barrier. Taharqa looks at it crumble in pure shock.

Mr. L's taunting continued, his words slicing through the tension with a precision designed to unnerve. "Your forcefield can't keep me out, Taharqa. Fortunately, I know its weakness. Are you ready to be reunited with your Queen? I'm sure her soul is lonely." The threat, veiled in the guise of a reunion, was a calculated attempt to exploit the pain of loss, aiming to weaken Taharqa's resolve by invoking Queen Nandi's memory.