Fading Control

Chapter 4

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The office was Kharem’s, but only because it was the one that Viper‌—‌and, by extension, Authority‌—‌let him use. It gave him somewhere to organise the warriors, and somewhere Viper could intrude whenever he wanted. Like now.

Viper sat across from Kharem, chair angled so that he could lay an arm on the desk between them, right leg resting on left knee. The pose of someone who knew where the power lay in this relationship.

But he wasn’t happy. The man from Authority scowled as he stabbed a finger at the warrior by the door. “Do we have to have that thing in here?”

Kharem glanced at Hornet. The warrior, in loose trousers and vest-top, gazed dispassionately into the middle of the room, didn’t even register that Viper had spoken. But Hornet was good. He listened to everything, and prepared for anything.

“You encouraged me to protect myself,” Kharem said.

“And you consider me a threat?” Viper’s face contorted into its familiar smarmy half-smile.

“He’s also my chief liaison with our forces,” Kharem said, voice slow and steady.

“You trust one of our creations? If he learns even a part of our plans, what’s to stop him taking that information to others?”

“He knows I hold the key to his continued health.” He didn’t need to explain the warriors’ constant medication, warding against the side-effects of their alterations.

“So you’re bribing him to stay loyal.” A shadow of a smile crept onto Viper’s lips.

“We have, at the moment, a mutually beneficial arrangement. Much like ourselves, my friend.”

It pained Kharem to use that last word, but it had the effect he sought. Viper nodded, his stern look telling Kharem that he’d do well to remember exactly how their arrangement worked.

“Which leads to the purpose of my visit today,” Viper said, puffing out his chest. “You’ve made it clear, in your somewhat sparse reports, that you believe our warriors sufficiently trained. I trust there’s no alteration in this state of affairs?”

Kharem shook his head. “If anything, they’re over-ready. The diversions they’re causing only satisfy their need to act to a degree.” Inside, he cringed‌—‌he still couldn’t quite ape Viper’s manner of speech.

The man from Authority’s fingers tapped on the desk. “Diversions,” he said, drawing the word out. “I gave you free hand in the utilisation of our weapons against our foe, and you dismiss these missions as diversions. You still refuse to view that woman as a threat?”

diversionsViper raised his eyebrows, and Kharem sighed.

“Removing Genna at this juncture‌—‌even pushing close to that‌—‌would be a mistake, as I’ve said before. She’s focused on reforming her district, combining it with Garrick’s old domain, and working with Dephloren. She’s too busy to pay us any attention. She poses no major threat.”

“And yet she has spies watching our district,” Viper said. “She also attempted to thwart our work over to the west.”

“Attempted. She failed. And her spies will learn nothing.” Interesting how Viper referred to Red as their district, though. “I worked with Genna for years. I know how she thinks. She won’t be a threat to us while she’s looking after her people.”

AttemptedtheirSlowly, Viper nodded. “I suppose I’ll have to accept your assessment of the situation. You do have intimate knowledge of this woman, don’t you?”

Hard to tell if there was some hint in those words, but let the man believe that Kharem had shared Genna’s bed if he wanted.

Not that Kharem would have done that. She was an attractive specimen, and there was some temptation in seeking post-coital manipulations‌—‌something Kharem had used in the past, on others. But Genna wasn’t weak enough to fall for something like that. Any intimacy with the woman would have been on her terms, and Kharem had no doubts that she’d get the better of him.

Which was why he had to work through other means, why he had to slip through the cracks in her personality. She trusted too much, and so Kharem would distrust by default. Oh, he said he trusted someone like Hornet, but that was built solely on what he gained from it.

It was all a game. And Viper played this game too. Pieces moved into position and strategies slowly unfolded.

“Very well,” Viper said, uncrossing his legs. “The situation is progressing, and you can expect orders in the not-too-distant future. I’ll report back that the situation here is satisfactory, and that our warriors are primed to play their part.” His mouth twisted into an uncomfortable smile. “I’ll also mention how you are manipulating other players with a particularly subtle sleight-of-hand. I’m sure my superiors will appreciate such actions.”

“Thank you.”

And with that, Viper rose. Hornet opened the door, stepped to one side, even gave the man a nod as he left. Viper ignored him, of course‌—‌why pay attention to animals?

And that was going to be the man’s downfall.

The door closed, and Hornet’s manner relaxed.

“Interesting,” Kharem said, still in his chair. “Looks like we’ll be in operation soon.”

“That good news?”

Ah, a man of few words. A breath of fresh air after Viper’s spoutings.

Kharem shrugged. “Good news if we play it right.”