Cassius was on his way to eat lunch with the rest of the SWARM crew in one of the private cafeteria rooms when Mica pulled him aside.
"What's going on?" Levi asked. Kera was just as curious, but she was the last person to question Mica's actions.
"Paperwork," Mica grumbled.
Mica placed a firm hand on the back of Cassius's neck. He steered him down the hallway, in the direction he and the others had just came. Cassius craned to look back at them, sharing a confused look.
He didn't like paperwork as much as anyone, but Mica was acting like the damn thing was going to take an arm and leg. He got chills as Mica's fingers gently rubbed at his nape. He shrugged the hand off him.
"You can let me go now," he said, getting annoyed quickly as his lunch as been interrupted. "I hope you have something for me to eat or else I'm going to throw a fucking fit."
Mica removed his hand from Cassius's neck, but then lowered the firm grip to Cassius's bicep. And Cassius thought they were over this shit. It seemed Mica had been blowing smoke up his ass. The general still didn't trust him.
"You can eat after we're done with this. Do not throw a fit. Don't even talk."
Cassius scoffed. "Where the fuck are we going? This isn't about paperwork."
Mica pressed his lips into a hard line. "No, it's not. The cabinet has a called a trial. You are to attend."
Cassius didn't know quite what to make of it. The cabinet rarely called trials. Usually decision makings, such as removing and promoting positions, was a President power. They only stepped in with over half of the cabinet voted to overturn the President's decision.
A sudden horror struck Cassius. He looked at Mica, his face going white.
"Whose trial?"
He already knew before Mica spoke, but he hoped that he was wrong.
Mica stared straight ahead.
"Mine."
***
The large doors to the meeting room swung open. They were high as the ceilings, over fifteen feet high, large enough that a space ship could fit inside. Cassius had never been remotely close to the cabinet building and he'd never wanted to be. If a Mekiah was brought here, it usually meant they were being sentenced to death.
The racing of his heart had died the second they'd stepped inside the grand hall. It was modeled after the no longer existing cathedrals that had been a marvel during their own time. The curved ceilings of the cabinet building held no breathtaking mural and there was no ounce of religion that could be found here.
It was a building like any other. Soulless with no meaning. Mica wound the leash around his hand. It pulled taut when Cassius walked too far away. He'd gotten used to the collar around his neck. The heaviness and the pressure on his throat didn't even bother him that much unless he was sleeping. Only then, it was the pain and discomfort of it digging into him.
He came to a stop and gave Mica a confused look.
For a second, Mica's stone-cold facade dropped. An apologetic look crossed his face long enough for Cassius to see. A hollowness settled in Cassius's gut when the look was gone. Another thing he was getting used to was Mica showing his true emotions.
Though, Cassius sometimes wondered if he regretted getting exactly what he wanted.
"The leash has to stay on," Mica said in a low voice. His eyes flickered around the room.
Cassius's followed suit. He'd thought they were alone in the grand hall, but Mica's uncertainty made him feel paranoid.
He took a deep breath and stood up taller. Mica's eyes accessed him. A rolling heat went through Cassius as those brown eyes trailed down his body, lingering in places that made Cassius stir in his pants.
He thought about the old fucks that were going to judge them both to get rid of the problem before it could even start. He was not going to get hard. And if he could help it, he wouldn't even get hard for Mica.
Cassius gave a clipped nod. He bit the inside of his cheek lest he said something that would giveaway his little problem.
However, he didn't have to worry about that. The second the large doors opened, the last of his arousal dried up like a desert.
He couldn't help but gape as the large doors gave a low groan as they opened and revealed the cabinet room.
A hundred or so men and women—all Exteru—sat around a curved seating area. All eyes watched them as they walked in. Cassius remembered at the last second that he was expected to walk behind Mica. He did, glancing around the room for only a second before dropping his eyes.
Mica hadn't prepped him for anything. He just had to assume that acting submissive and broken in would be the best course of action. This was Mica's trial, not Cassius's, but Cassius was an extension of Mica.
Cassius didn't know when he started actually caring about Mica. It wasn't when he revealed that he was working against Maxem or when he sincerely apologized for what he'd done to Cassius. Even when they'd been forcefully bonded because of the demon's bite did Cassius really care if something happened to Mica. Not even the thought of the unknown after Mica passed, what would happen to Cassius if Mica's protection was revoked, did he care for the man.
He felt the change now. It blindsided him. He lost his train of thought as hundreds of eyes looked down at him. He blinked, confused, and then turned to look at Mica.
There, the feeling only solidified. Mica wasn't looking at him. His gaze was on the cabinet leader who sat next to Maxem at the center of the room. Cassius was captured by the strong stoic mask Mica had put on.
He stared without knowing that he was. That was until the cabinet leader bellowed Mica's name.
"General Rexton. We have called you forth regarding the allegations against you."
Mica stiffened. "What are these allegations, Cabinet Lexing?"
Lexing narrowed his eyes. "Conspiracy to commit treason."
A few gasps came from the cabinet members. Cassius was just as taken aback. Though, he had to assume that the other cabinet members had to have known about what this trial was about. Even though warned about this, Cassius couldn't believe what he was hearing. He didn't think Mica's trial would be this serious.
Maxem, who had once moved from where he was sitting, made a winced face. It was the only flicker of emotion that had come over the man's face. Cassius was disturbed that Maxem didn't look more angry that his cabinet was going after his son and the general he'd personally appointed.
A flare of anger rose inside Cassius's chest. He glared at Maxem and Lexing. He clenched his fists and almost took a step forward, but held himself back. What was he going to do? Attack the cabinet leader like a feral dog? That was a sure way to get himself executed and put more doubt into Mica's character.
"Step toward the podium, General Rexton. The Mekiah Tracker will detained during this portion of the trial." Lexing's voice was monotone. He lacked the interest that Cassius thought he would have.
A sliver of doubt wedged itself into Cassius's mind. He thought for a moment maybe this wasn't a targeted trial and that it was merely protocol—that the cabinet wasn't going against Maxem and that they were merely doing there jobs.
But as a lower ranked Exteru came out from a door and took the leash from Mica's hand, that sense of doubt disappeared. He looked around the room, forcing himself to remember where he was and who was in charge. Exterus couldn't be trusted. They didn't see Mekiah's as humans and as much as Mica might act like it, he wasn't more than a Remu—expendable and second class to the Exteru.
Exterus had their own agendas and they didn't care who they had to get rid of to get to them.
Cassius glanced behind him at Mica one more time. He begged with his whole heart for Mica to meet his eyes. He needed the reassurance that everything was going to be okay. Without Mica's protection…Lucius would find a way to either kill him or get his ownership.
Or if Mica was found guilty, the might execute Cassius as they might find him an accomplice.
Mica didn't look at him. Maybe it was for the best. If the cabinet found that Mica was too close to his Mekiah Tracker, they might become suspicious.
Cassius forced himself to look away, but he wouldn't bow his head in a show of submission. He kept his head high, not caring that the other cabinet members were eyeing him down like a freak of nature. Some outwardly displayed their revulsion and hatred, some leered at him like he was just a piece of meat for them to fuck, and others were merely curious or not at all caring.
None of the reactions felt reassuring. They all made him sick and angry at the same time.
The Exteru who now had the leash, lead him to a seating area that was closed off from the rest. Once he stepped through the small area, he felt a wave of discomfort echo through his body. It was a combined feeling of nausea and numbness that fell over him. Fatigue plagued his body. He slumped in the seat and his eyes drooped. He shook his head and forced himself up.
He wasn't going to look weak in front of all these people. He had to show that he still had some spine.
Mica looked small now. With all the Exterus towering over him, them against him, he looked so powerless. His body didn't show it. His eyes were emotionless like they always were.
Cassius knew he shouldn't do it, but he reached out for Mica through their bond anyway. He regretted the second he did it. The valve lifted, emotions rushing toward Cassius like a tidal wave.
Anger was the first thing he felt. It was the strongest out of thing and also the one he expected the most. He understood it. Combined with his own anger, it made it even harder for him to control his rage.
But the fear that came next punched him in the gut. He felt it for a second before the door between them was slammed so hard that Cassius lost his breath.
Mica looked at him then. He glared, eyes piercing straight through Cassius when their eyes met. Cassius's breath hitched. He held Mica's gaze, commanding him to hold it for longer. He let out a low sound in the back of his throat when Mica cut off the connection—taking away the one thing that was keeping Cassius calm.
Someone started talking, but it was nothing more than background noise to him. He stared at Mica through the proceedings. He only tuned in when he heard his name.
"—the Mekiah Tracker, Cassius, is under your supervision, correct?"
Mica's jaw clenched. "Yes, sir."
"Can you explain the actions taken by your Tracker on the day of Juniper 12th of this year?"
"Is the cabinet giving me permission to speak openly about this particular mission?"
Lexing gave Mica an exhausted look. "Answer the question, General."
Mica took a moment to compose himself.
"Mekiah Tracker Cassius entered the Veil with Exteru Lucius. Inside, the encountered a criminal Mekiah whom which we've been actively tracking for the last two months." He paused, cautiously choosing his next words. "The Mekiah attacked Tracker Cassius. A demon which we've also been tracking, appeared and fought with the Mekiah which caused them to flee."
"In Exteru Lucius's report, he states the demon protected Tracker Cassius. Is that correct?"
Mica didn't speak.
"General—"
"That is correct, sir."
A few members of the cabinet began to loudly talk amongst themselves. Lexing waved his hand. A flicker of light traveled across the large domed ceiling and a sound of a bell ringing though there wasn't one echoed. The cabinet members settled down.
Someone from the side walked up to Lexing. A woman wearing a military uniform said something to him into his ear. He gave a stern nod. The woman stepped back as Lexing looked down at Mica with an even more accusatory look.
"The cabinet has motioned for the removal of General Rexton and the Mekiah Tracker Cassius."
Mica's calm exterior dropped as Cassius shot up to his feet. He didn't even register the guards coming towards him with their hands on their guns, too stricken with fear of what the cabinet leader was saying.
Maxem was just as dismayed. He laughed it off as if the whole thing was a joke. "Lexing, please. What is your proof?"
Lexing's face pinched like he'd eaten something sour. "Do you not believe your son's testimony?"
One of the guards shoved Cassius back down into the seat. He went, but he wasn't paying attention to what the man was saying to him. His focus was entirely on the conversation the president and cabinet leader were having. He was hanging on a thread—his whole life was.
Maxem took his time, pronouncing the words carefully as if Lexing might be too dumb to understand them. "I believe both of my sons' recounts of events. However, we all know that personal perception can change a great deal of a lot of things. Was the demon protecting Mekiah Cassius? Or had the demon merely been saving him for last?"
Maxem turned his gaze outward. The cabinet members rustled with discomfort as they were looked down over by the man that ruled their country. Maxem eyes drifted downward. They softened when he looked upon Rexton.
"Mica, are you withholding any information retaining to this ongoing mission?"
Mica met his father's eyes without an ounce of hesitation. "No."
"Are you conspiring against Xtavia?"
"No."
"Do you believe Mekiah Cassius is a threat?"
"No."
Maxem smiled. "I believe that settles it."
Lexing looked less than happy. "You are overstepping, President Maxem."
Maxem's smile twitched. "I did not say there won't be punishment."
Cassius's gut clenched. Here we go…This is where he would be sentenced to death or sentenced to be tortured where he was inevitable die.
Lexing perked up at the mention of punishment, the sick fuck. He raised a brow, anticipation written all over his face. Maxem ignored him. He looked bored out of his mind as well as irritated that he was there to begin with.
"Until the demon and escaped Mekiah are found, Exteru Lucius will oversee General Rexton's conduct. The Mekiah Cassius will be removed as Tracker of the SWARM."
Mica started. "He's done nothing wrong—"
Maxem raised his hand. His eyes narrowed with harshness. "I'm lowering him to the ranks of your bed slave. He won't be punished for your idiocy. General Rexton, you will be dealt forty lashes and I will do it myself."
The room went quiet. There was an uneasiness that overtook everyone, Cassius included. Lashes were common punishments, even for Exterus, but they were usually dealt out by people that didn't have personal connections to the person being punished.
And Maxem never did the lashings. Even if it wasn't someone he personally knew. Cassius couldn't even remember if he'd heard about him picking up a whip let alone whipping someone.
Maxem stood up. He waved for the guard from before to hand him something.
Gasps filled the room as the guard came out with a whip. Lexing's eyes widened in shock.
"Presiden Maxem—right now?"
Maxem shock Lexing a hard look. "You wanted me to punish him, didn't you?"
His hardened eyes looked out over the rest of the cabinet. "I will not be dared to move my hand again. Let this be a show that I will do what must be done, but I won't be pressured into doing it."
The guard and another one followed him down the stairs and toward Mica.
Cassius's heart lodged in his throat. His chest felt like it was caving in on itself. Though he wanted to turn away, to hide in the corner with his hands over his ears, he couldn't get his body to move.
His hands gripped the edge of the seat. The guard's hand tightened on his shoulder, pushing him down in the seat as if he was going to bolt at any second. Cassius would have if his legs didn't feel like jelly and he didn't think he would throw up the second he stood.
If Maxem wanted Mica scared or if the cabinet members wanted him to beg for a lighter sentenced, they were shit out of luck. Mica kept his head held high. He met Maxem's gaze, not an ounce of fear in them, unlike how Cassius was feeling. He felt even more scared and angry than he'd been when Mica had whipped him.
This seemed different. He didn't know how, but seeing it happen to someone else was so much worse.
Maxem stopped a couple feet in front of Mica. They stared each other down as the guards took Mica by the arms and forced him down on his knees. They stripped him of his jacket and shirt. Mica didn't fight. He was a rag doll as they roughly handled him.
Disgust filled Cassius. These people knew Mica, they worked alongside him, and they knew that he wasn't like other Generals—he was fair to a fault.
But any show of respect they might have been pretending to have went out the window the second he was defenseless. Tears burned Cassius's eyes, but they didn't fall. He was too angry, too upset to have the energy to cry.
Even greater than his anger for the Exterus treating Mica like he was nothing, was his shame for thinking Mica had ever been one of them.