Pat..
"Hey..Gunther!", Tarry hollered, as he brought his sleeping friend from the dream world, with a pat.
"The sun's out; go freshen up, we'll be leaving soon", Tarry said, leaving the room, as soon as Gunther opened his eyes.
"Does this dude ever sleep?", Gunther grumbled, as he dawdled out of bed.
...
"You should be careful though, the attackers may have info of their victims..", Sean and Tarry talked in the living room, as Sean lectured.
"So, you have to be careful when making your move; we don't know who we're dealing with here", he advised.
"And, the gang's no more..", he added silently.
"I understand you Sean, that's why after long, hard thoughts, I'm calling you back from retirement..", Tarry replied.
"I'm reassembling the team back..", he said, in a rushed tone.
"What?!! We've been disbanded for three years, and you expect everyone to just come back together?", Sean asked, shocked at Tarry's words.
"I of a fact, is not returning..", Sean said with strong conviction.
"I wasn't asking, it was a command", Tarry refuted strongly, as Sean's words got stuck in his throat.
"Still..", Sean croaked in objection.
"What's all this noise about?", Gunther said, coming out of the room.
"Tarry is trying to awaken the dead", Sean replied in sad sarcasm.
"Huh?"
"He wants to bring the gang back together", Sean replied, clarifying his earlier words.
"What!..", Gunther cried in dismay.
"You sure you had a good rest?", Gunther asked Tarry, as wore a funny confused look on his face.
"Well, I figured, to find the guys who hurt Leo, we needed more hands on deck..", he said, replying to Gunther's illogical question, with reasonable explanation.
"So, you thought to awaken the dead?..", Gunther further asked.
"We'll be needing all the help we can get", he said, finally answering Gunther's question.
"Moreover, y'all would need all the protection you can get; we don't know who we're dealing with here", he added.
"Logical, but you think they'll all just return?", Gunther asked.
"For the first time I'm with him", Sean added, standing akimbo.
"Don't doubt me, I am still the Wolf Of The West..", he said, as a sense of authority flowed through his words.
"If you're talking about protection, you have no vassal", Gunther pointed out.
"And, what if the person or group we're dealing with, is on a different power scale", Sean added.
"I am a Doltana..", Tarry replied with authority.
"My power is on a different level", he added.
"With everything explained and cleared..", Tarry said.
"Sean, get in touch with our previous members.."
"My orders, and your duty as recon office", he added with dignity.
"Let's go Gunther, we have a long day ahead", he said, as prepared to take his leave.
"What the f#@k?!..", Sean exclaimed.
"I just told you I'm not into recon anymore", he added, arms in the air.
"Well, you know how Tarry is; can't change his mind", Gunther said with a shrug, turning to take his leave.
"How do you expect me to find them?", Sean said in disbelief.
"That's for you to find out" , Tarry replied, entering into the vehicle.
"Seriously?!..", Sean voiced, waving his hands in the air, as Gunther followed after Tarry.
"And remember..", Tarry began.
"The days of the bloody nights are here..", he said.
"When the glory of the Red Moon shall be revealed", they all chorused in unison.
"I expect reports from you, recon officer..", Tarry said with a wide smile, as Gunther turned on the ignition.
"This bastard has always been unpredictable", Sean said shaking his head, as the vehicle pulled into the driveway.
"Well time to get to work, I wonder what Isabella would say", he said to himself, as he entered the building.
...
DINING HALL
"Vassals you say..", Camilla said, drinking a glass of water.
"Well, that's a topic we can't escape from, seeing you're one yourself", she added.
"That's the thing, it's like everyone is getting me confused with someone else; I'm not a vassal!", Christine lashed out.
"Alright..", Camilla said neutrally, taking a tissue and dabbing her lips with it.
"I understand how you feel..", she began, finger clasped, as she wore a serious look on her face.
"You're oblivious of the world you live in..", she said, standing from her seat.
"Walk with me", she said, beckoning Christine to follow.
Grr..
Christine's chair screeched a little, as she stood to follow Camilla.
...
"Where do you think they're going?", Talia asked, as she saw Camilla and Christine take their leave from the dining hall.
"Who knows..", Falcone responded, as he continued munching his meal.
"Well, she's in the safe hands of our lady", Verner chipped in.
"Is she?", Flint asked rhetorically, refusing to look, leaving his unwavering focus on his meal, as he kept pouncing on it.
"Since when did you start caring for someone?..", Talia retorted.
"Seriously, you gonna start this now?", Flint replied.
"Come on guys, we're past this..", Palmer said, trying to calm the squabbling duo.
Rai and Falcone watched the unfolding drama in silence, as Verner refused to get involved in it.
...
"Before our world came to be what it is, the world was a little bit different, so was its leadership..", Camilla began, as they strolled round the villa.
"But after the convergence, and the unexpected explosion of technology, the world became what it is now.."
"And its leadership rested on thirteen great families, all equal and in balance."
"It was a joint monarchical rule between the thirteen families."
"As time went on, five of those families grew in strength, and became so powerful and vast; eventually posing a threat to the remaining eight families." Camilla continued, as they passed a massive, open space, parking lot; a fleet of luxurious cars, mostly V8 engined vehicles, were stowed along the car park.
"And the balance of power finally tipped, the equilibrium shifted, and helms of power moved towards the five powerful families."
Camilla exhaled deeply, as if the story took a great toll on her.
"War broke out between the five families..", she said, as she came to a standstill.
"The eight families watched in joy, as the five families slaughtered themselves to attain the seat of power."
"After a century-long feud, the Doltanas finally came out victorious; but it was too late before we'd realize that it was a plot from the eight minor families."
"They had pulled the strings from the shadows, and driven the five families to war, due to jealousy and fear of their power."
The war dwindled their strength, until each didn't have more than two households of power."
"The power of the five great families plummeted and were driven to exile, made to seek refuge in slums and ghettos."
"The five powerful families became the minority, as the eight families attained the seat of power, and joined forces together; making up the new leadership of Dutan."
"While the eight families ruled the capital city, we took over the undercity, carefully building our strength, and waiting for the right time and opportunity to strike, and regain which was taken from us", Camilla said, clenching her fists.
"Unfortunately, eleven years ago, my brother grew tired and impatient with the tyrant rule of the eight families."
"His hasty decision cost him his life and that of his wife", she said with a sorrowful voice.
"Not that you need to hear that or I need any pity from you..", she added, as she began to walk again.
"I know this hasn't still answered your questions on Vassals", she voiced.
"The convergence brought about the release of a virus called Verac."
"It reacted neutrally with everyone, apart from the DNAs of thirteen families, which would later become the thirteen families."
"It also gave them the ability to give power to people who aren't bound by blood to them, as long as they pledge their unwavering loyalty to them."
"Those people are called Vassals..", Camilla said, looking into Christine's eyes.
"But, if it were that simple, then anyone and everyone would become a Vassal", she added.
"I don't really know the criteria for being a Vassal—"
"Then how do you all know I'm a Vassal?", Christine asked, interrupting Camilla.
"Ahem..", Camilla coughed, calling Christine to order.
"Oh, my apologies for interrupting", Christine apologized.
"But, it's different with the head of the Vassals, he's the only one who knows who's worthy to be a Vassal", Camilla continued.
"I know you're going to say how is the head of the Vassals chosen?", She added, killing the opportunity for Christine to speak.
"Well, the person in the prospect would have to go through a special ritual to fit into that role."
"Moreover, the role can be handed down from generations to another, otherwise the ritual", she said.
"So, obviously, I'm just someone with a potential superpower?", Christine asked.
"Yes, but how?.."
"You should probably ask Verner about that", she said smiling.
"Is everything clear to you now?", Camilla inquired.
"Hmm, not quite..", Christine replied, squeezing her face a bit.
"Well, you just have to embrace the New World you're introduced to like that.."
"It'll be much clearer to you as time goes on", she added.
"Welcome to the Doltanas"
..