"Good for you. Why should I care who you kill?" said Xavier.
"Do you want to be next?" asked Nicosal jokingly. Xavier laughed nervously, hoping he was joking.
"Not particularly. I just wish I had joined a different faction," Xavier replied with a twitching eye.
"Why do you want to come with us to visit Oshose's cell? Revenge fantasy? Reunion? Whatever the reason, I can get you a little early access. If you know what I mean," said Nicosal, awkwardly fake coughing behind his hand, pulling a portal device out of his pocket.
"I'm flattered, but you should keep it for yourself," said Xavier, politely denying Nicosal's offer.
"Just take the damn thing. They mass produce these things just as much as the edge of execution," insisted Nicosal. Xavier grabbed the portal device, said "Thanks" awkwardly, and walked away.
"Meet me later inside the crystal. I'll explain when I get there," called Nicosal to Xavier as he walked away. They both went their separate ways down the hallway.
He felt a presence and turned around to see David of the Twelve Disciples standing before him. He said, handing a note to Solrac,
"Hey, Solrac. It's been a while since I last saw you. Commander Petersburg wants to meet with you at the Horn-E as Hell Hotel food court."
He looked up at David, asking, "Why?"
David smirked and replied, "He said it's important and should be kept between the two of you."
The vice-commander of the Twelve Disciples thought, "Yeah, the Commander wants to fuck him."
"Am I going to be respected as an individual?" asked Solrac.
"Hell, if I know," said David, shrugging, "Just be there."
"Right?" said Solrac, confused about what just happened. David teleported out of the room. Shortly after, Nicosal burst through the double doors and said, "I talked him down to sanity."
"That's good. It gives me time to actually do some pre-planning. On an unrelated note, I will be gone for the next few hours."
"Oh. Okay. I'll be on call if you need anything."
"When I get back, we're going to hold one last meeting regarding the Oshose situation."
Solrac peered around the food court as he walked through the rows of circular glass tables. People turned their heads to look at him and then looked back at their respective groups. He was tripped by an outstretched leg. When he turned to look up, Villematreaux looked down at him and whispered, "Psst! Over here." He sat down across from the Commander. "So, you decided to come?"
Solrac looked around and asked, "Why did you want to meet somewhere so…lively?" He smiled awkwardly.
"Isn't it obvious? Did you even read the sign outside?" laughed Villematreaux.
"I suppose I could stay for a bit," said Solrac, blushing as he reached to grab Villematreaux's hand.
"Easy there, Sol," asserted Villematreaux, squeezing Solrac's hand. "I want to actually have a conversation with you first. You seem detached. What's on your mind?"
Solrac looked him in the eyes, dismissing, "Nothing, really."
Villematreaux looked at him with genuine concern and continued, "I hope you're not still stuck in the past. Do you remember when we first met at faction rush? I was one of the observers."
"Yeah, but why does that matter now?"
"Fifteen years ago, you had the same look on your face when you were feeling lonely. So, I'll ask you again. What's on your mind, Solrac?"
As they looked for the right faction, numerous demon children circled around the event hall. One young boy was circling, but no one came close to him. That boy was Solrac. He looked at three taller demons and asked, "Do you wanna join my faction, the Devil's Seven Prodigies. Only the best of the best can join. I'm the leader, Solra–"
"You? A leader? Don't make me laugh," mocked the first demon, pointing at Solrac.
"You're a little shrimp," added the second demon, flicking Solrac's forehead.
"Yeah! What are you, five?" laughed the third demon.
"I'm actually twelve," insisted Solrac, glaring back up at the third demon.
"You don't look like it," remarked the second demon.
"For your information, we've already joined a faction, little shit!" barked the third demon. "The Twelve Disciples!"
"The Twelve Disciples?" said Solrac, dumbfounded.
"That's right. And I'm their Commander," insisted Villematreaux confidently. He tapped their heads. "These are my little soldiers."
"You look like a major asshole," said Solrac to the seventeen-year-old Villematreaux.
"You little shit!" yelled Villematreaux as he grabbed Solrac by the shirt collar and strangled him. "Apologize, bitch!"
"Hi. M-my n-name. Is. Sol-r-rack!" wheezed Solrac as he struggled to breathe.
"Soley? Solo? Solracki?" mocked Villematreaux as he shook Solrac.
"S-sol-rac!!" corrected Solrac with weakened breath. He bit Villematreaux's hand, and he dropped Solrac. "You look ugly as hell, man!"
Villematreaux looked down and laughed, "Your waistline doesn't seem to think so."
Solrac looked down self-consciously at his crotch and said, "What the hell?"
"You're so turned on right now, aren't you?"
"I'm not!" denied Solrac as he anxiously tried to cover up his crotch.
"I know this isn't appropriate to ask, but have you ever been with a girl?"
"No. Why?"
"Do you like me, Solrac?"
"Maybe a little."
"Do you see any pretty girls around?"
"A few."
"I'm gonna guess that you're bi."
"Okay. Maybe I am bi."
"You got that right. You're bi-yourself."
"Oh, real original, man."
"Anyways, I should be going. See you, Solrac."
Just as Villematreaux was about to leave, Solrac joked, "You forgot to say your name, idiot."
"It's Villematreaux, loser!"
Solrac thought to himself for a bit and tried to get the Commander's attention again, calling out, "Hey! Aren't you–?"
"You really perked up once I started talking to you," said Villematreaux. He jingled the room key at Solrac. "Do you wanna come up to my room?"
"Remember my friend, Emilia? She's been distant lately. I just don't know what to do."
"I can be your friend too, Solrac," said Villemateaux. He whispered in his ear. "Come with me."
They held each other's hand as they walked to the Commander's room. The door closed, and the clock wasn't the only thing to rhythmically tick for the next hour.
Nicosal stood in the hallway, keeping watch. He held a tablet in his hand. He asked, "Is everyone ready to start?"
Most of them said, "Yes."
"Sorry, Hickol and I are still on lookout duty. You'll have to start without us," apologized Vinida in the video chat.
"Fine. I can sense Solrac's energy nearby. It's powerful at the moment. Oh," said Nicosal in the video chat.
All the Devil's Seven Prodigies in the video call smirked with flushed faces.
Nicosal added with a smirk, "He's with someone right now."
Emilia shushed someone offscreen deviously.
"I'm just going to hang up. I'll let you know when Solrac returns," said Nicosal, silently eyeing Emilia's video call window.
They all hung up the call.
"Looks like she's at it again with Xavier," thought Nicosal.