Vile Exile

Chapter Twenty-Four

Sage's PoV

Tapping my foot against the hard ground angrily, the back of my wrists pressed to my hips, I watch as Natalia practically falls out of the briefing room for Governors she sighs "What a meeting." She sighs, chuckling I fold my arms over my chest now "Come on, we're going to be late to our own meeting" I laugh, the Governor nodding and standing upright, the soldiers following us silently "Leading your old squad. I wonder how they feel about it." She states, rolling my eyes I wince slightly at the pain of my stump, the connection of my metal arm and my flesh aching slightly "It doesn't matter how they feel about it. Juanita is on the loose and she's dangerous. This will prove to be a difficult task." I respond sternly, my eyes serious now, I tuck my hands into my pockets as I lean back "Besides, I'm a superior rank to them now." I murmur, staring at the ceiling of the hallway as we walk towards the place of meeting.

Authors PoV

Sage sat calmly with Natalia and the bodyguards, his elbows rested on his kneecaps, his mouth hidden by his hands which are entangled in each other, his eyes closed. They sit silently at the top of a broken structure in the training fields for new frontline soldiers - and it was the voice of Amanda which caused Sage to open his eyes, his usually pushed back hair covering his eyes now, Natalia places her hand on his shoulder whilst the bodyguards stood upright "Are they late to their own meeting..?" Balthazar asks, the setting sun outlining the four sat atop the broken structures figures "No. but your late." Sage says suddenly as he stands, the squad move their attention towards him "Sage." Hugo murmurs, Levi refraining from talking as he didn't want to disrespect his now superior ex-boyfriend, the squad wince slightly before saluting to Natalia and Sage.

It was weird to be saluted to, especially since Sage didn't exactly intend to become a general. When he said he was retiring to a peaceful planet he meant it. And now he was a leader of a war between One of the most feared criminals in the galactic universe. What made everything worse was that the love of his life stood down their silently, refusing to make eye contact with him. He looked healthy though which allowed Sage fo relax. "You were chosen by Sage to be the leading task force to take down Juanita Roller." Natalia announces, Hugo standing upright and turning to us both properly now "Excuse my pressing question but what was your relationship with Juanita, Sage?" He asks, the air becoming tense very quickly "She wants me to marry her." Sage says sternly, shock jolting through the squads bodies "That's besides the point!" Natalia shouts now, the bodyguards jerking back slightly at the governors violent and sudden anger "It's true that she's after Sage. So he'll be under guard constantly. We don't have much on the whereabouts of her headquarters, she seems to have eyes everywhere though." Natalia explains, sage nodding as he scratches his jaw he stands "Using your incredible skills I expect you to at some point capture her. I don't care if it's in a few weeks or a few years. She's top priority." Sage says sternly before turning "Meeting adjourned" he mumbles.

The chiming of the Frontlines clock striking twelve irritated Sage to the core, he hated hearing it, it meant it was rush hour in the headquarters of the famed military, which meant... "Sageeee!" A angered groan escaped sage's lips as he leant forward and rested his head in his hands "No...." he sighs "Hey Mister big bad general!" The swordsman looked to the side at a beat-soldier, the soldier assigned to watching him the first few days after his encounter with Juanita. He's gotten quite attached to sage and refuses to leave him alone.

"hey listen, I was wondering if you would want to come for dinner with my family tonight...?" He asks sage suddenly, the swordsman jerking slightly and looking to the soldier beside him in shock "It's just... I want my family to meet you. Your really cool and strong and I want to show them that I'm not just some soldier who slacks off..." he continues, guilt and empathy washing over sage's features he sighs and nods "I'd love to." He smiles slightly, the soldier beaming and grabbing sage's metal hand "Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!! This is gonna be great! I have to tell Juliet!" He cheers, sage smiling at the Soldiers cheerful attitude.

Sage's PoV

I didn't mind going for dinner with the Edgeworths, but as I walked down the sidewalk, two soldiers following me of course. Holding a bottle of wine I wince slightly, I'd never be able to be as happy as Ethan was earlier, it pains me... but I'm happy to make someone else happy so. Knocking my knuckles against the hardwood door lightly, a tall tough looking man with a big beard answers, his eyes widening and his jaw almost hitting the ground, Ethan squeezes past him and grabs my hand "You made it! Dad this is S-" Ethan begins before being cut off by his father who points to me "Sage Kageyama..." he whispers, wincing I look to my bodyguards who tense slightly "I invited him for dinner..." Ethan murmurs, the big man moving back slightly allowing me to enter with the soldiers who remain at my side constantly, the rest of Ethan's family staring at me in pure shock "I didn't tell them you was coming..." Ethan whispers, nodding I chuckle slightly "I figured." I respond.

Sitting at the dinning table, my bodyguards stood by the front door calmly and silently "So... Mr. Kageyama..." his mother whispers "Please call me Sage." I interrupt, watching her nod she clears her throat "Sage... What's my son like at work?" She asks, Ethan's brothers laughing and leaning forward "Probably a wuss! You slack off all the time don't you Ethan!" One of them laughs, shaking my head I lean back slightly "No, actually Ethan was assigned to protect me. I'm the main target of Juanita Roller and Ethan stood guard around me constantly like these two guys. He was took off of protecting me though so he can lead a team with the assault squad." I explain, slight irritation of how his brothers see him despite him being a soldier of the frontlines "Leading a team... with the assault squad..." his sister whispers, the brothers sat there staring at Ethan who's staring at me "What..." Ethan whispers to me, raising my hand I look to the bodyguards who are watching In interest now "He is an exceptional soldier. You shouldn't treat him as if he was some weak child." I say sternly to the brothers who stare at me, standing I bow to his parents "Thank you for having me and for the food. I'll be taking my leave now as..." I begin looking to my watch "I have to go for a meeting with the Governors. It was a pleasure meeting all of you. I'll see you tomorrow Ethan." I say, leaving the family sitting there in silence, the bodyguards follow me without speaking a word as I exit the house.

Walking down the street, my hands in my pockets I yawn "Excuse me. But you deliberately promoted Ethan because you felt sympathy for him. Correct me if I'm wrong." One of my bodyguards say, laughing I shake my head "Your wrong. Though I did feel sympathy for how his family treated him. Ethan was on the list for promotion anyway. We need all the help we can get. Juanita Roller is a vicious, Dangerous, psychotic criminal.... now we have another leader for more squads." I hum, watching them nod they return to being silent again.