A brief and uncomfortable pause filled the room following Harper’s speech. Maddox lazed in his seat, eyes on the broken weapon immersed in his accomplice’s blood. Not for the first time, it occurred to Maddox that with the exception of the great talents and skills, both Harper and Edward had exhibited sociopathic tendencies, and had been seen to employ truly disturbing methods in the past. Displays such as this often raised serious questions about the stability of the Progeny.
Too late to worry about that, I suppose. We’re in it for the duration...
What he didn’t remind himself of was the need for men like Harper, men who were more than willing to dirty their hands for a cause. Certain things couldn’t be avoided: murder being one of those things. Maddox, however, was more than willing to let someone else attend to those more unsavory aspects of this conspiracy.
Before the tension became too much, Maddox rose from his chair and circled the table to stand near Harper, sparing a glance for Robert and Amaia in turn. Somehow, he doubted his role within the Progeny would come as a genuine surprise to anyone; on the other hand, Edward’s participation would be a major shock. No one would, not in a million years, question the man’s loyalty to the cause. And that was what made him such a valuable ally.
“I’ll make this as succinct as possible for those of you who find themselves ready to draw weapons and let the fur fly.”
He smiled his playful smile then, assuring everyone that they were still dealing with Maddox, the cocksure and carefree outcast that always managed to stay ten-steps ahead of everyone else.
“Edward, Harper, and myself have formed a holy trinity of sorts. The three of us, like you, each have various grievances with the Ten. Unlike you, the three of us made the decision to address our issues,” as he spoke bitterness began to the normal jovial light in his eyes. “You all know what the three of us have done. We killed Ferrin Jualioz. We did what no one before us has done before: we reached out and touched the Ten. And we’re going to do it again. But first, we’re going to tear their lives apart and make the Aristocracy into an organization with which we can all find satisfaction.”
Reaching into his coat pocket, he withdrew a handful of small tarnished silver pins and scattered them across the table top. Each pin was hand crafted to resemble a small knotted grapevine, the old insignia of the former West Coast Elite. A long dead American branch of the Aristocracy, it was a failed experiment of Maddox’s grandfather. Maddox hoped more success with his own enterprises
“While each of you make feign skepticism, shock, or outrage, I know you and I know you will join our cause,” he looked each of them in the eye as he spoke the words. “It’s no coincidence the most explosive, infamous, and abused personalities in the Aristocracy were brought together. The Ten believe they brought together a team of men and women that will succeed but can never function together, but they’re not nearly as intelligent as I am. I laid the groundwork that brought you all to us because I knew that each of you would find within yourselves a reason to become a part of this. Each of you wants to believe that the Aristocracy can change, that we can be free of the dictators and their greed. Take the pins, wear them, and don’t forget for an instant what we’re here to do.
Harper will break us up into teams with a mission; ostensibly, we’ll be tracking the Progeny. In reality, however, each team will be dispatched to neutralize one of the Nine.”
“You see, we’re in luck,” he spoke, his voice dropping into a hushed growl. “Each of the Nine has their own agenda. There’s an open seat and someone has to fill it. After tonight there will be a mad scramble by each member to return to their own individual seat of power and select a proper candidate for that seat. Harper, Edward, and I have coordinated a series of strikes designed to take the five most vulnerable. So, be ready and be sharp, tomorrow, the fireworks begin.