"How dare you keep silent when questioned in the council little boy? Do you have no regard?"
A council lord to the left asked angrily but in a controlled tone.
"Sorry my Lord!".
Usher immediately replied in a shaky voice. He had begun to sweat despite the cool temperature of the chamber.
Uncontrollably, he burst out saying;
"We were full my lord".
"Full? What is that supposed to mean?" a council lord asked.
"We were full from eating and drinking!". He replied.
There was silence in the room. The gravity of the indolence just described in the presence of the council was so heavy, it weighted the atmosphere such that no one within moved or talked.
Usher was shaking immensely, sweat could be seen falling from his face, making a splat sound as they hit the ground.
Great fear was upon him. He had never felt so afraid in his entire lifetime.
He hadn't meant to speak but the pressure put upon him by the council had forced the truth such that his lips could not hold them back.
"Verdugo!"
The head council lord, Lord Ezra who was seated at the center of the council lords called out.
Almost immediately, the clanking of metal on the ground began to make a walking rhythm into the chamber from behind one of the curtain-covered entrances.
The iron footsteps kept increasing until a huge figure emerged from behind the curtain.
The figure was about 9 feet tall and covered in dark green armour from head to toe.
It had six fingers and six toes covered in galvanized gauntlets and boots.
The dark green armour had quadrilateral jade-like stones matching the color of the armour which were impressed upon the back of the palms and the chest. The stones glowed subtly with a light green color.
The figure was a Verdugo.
Verdugos in this civilization were a race of mechanized humans, some sort of cyborgs.
They are like humans but as they rank up, changes begin to happen in their body and their body system begins to get upgraded with advanced features like a strong metal arm, robotic eye for far sight, growing and retracting metal shield, and so on.
There are other advanced races also, like the Divinos.
The Divinos are also humanoid species having the ability to upgrade and have features of air creatures like the ability to grow and retract wings, claws, enhanced eyes, and so on.
All species can hide and reveal their upgraded forms, but mostly, all just appear like normal humans except the need for battle or any situation demanding their special ability arises.
The current Verdugo that stepped in was an inner guard of rank 38 named Lethar.
He had served as the guard to the inner chamber for about 5 years being the current highest-ranking Verdugo.
Lether the Verdugo eventually came to the front of the Council and at the center right behind Usher, already knowing the reason for which he was summoned and only waiting for orders before taking action.
Lord Ezra began to speak.
"Usher Corke, for violation of the laws of the Sohei council, you and the rest of your squad are sentenced to an indefinite term in confinement to the custody of the council prison guards until a benefiting penalty is decided for you by the council for your arrogance and nonchalance. Since you are the only known survivor till date, you alone will serve the punishment. However, if any member of squad 18 is to be discovered alive in the future, they will be subdued and subjugated to a similar fate as yours.
Verdugo! Take this man out of our sight!"
"Yes my Lord" Lethar the Verdugo answered.
The sound of his voice had a deep robotic reverberation that was enough to send chills down the spine of any prey of his.
Even though he could assume a human form, Lethar always maintained his upgraded form day and night as a result of his office of being the guard of the inner chamber.
It is important to note that maintaining an upgraded version of oneself for a very long time is an impossible thing for species to do because it could lead to serious repercussions like body deterioration or In worst case, death.
It can be likened to a normal human high on amphetamine and staying so for an elongated period. The effects on body and mind can be lethal and even high-ranking upgraders can't stay in that state for more than a few hours.
The only time Lethar could assume his human form was when a substitute Verdugo replaces him and in such times he rests for days doing nothing else but gathering chi enough to fuel his next shift.
Lethar the Verdugo lifted Usher effortlessly with the right arm and made away from the council's chamber.
As Usher was carried, he began to think soberly. He perceived that it was all over for him, once he enters the council's dungeon he knew he might never leave for the rest of his life.
This bothered him greatly. His carrier being a Sohei had ended, so had any chance to even live as a normal citizen in the temple.
He recollected the event of the past days and could only regret and wish things had never gone this way. He always imagined a glorious end to his service as a Sohei of the monkogon temple, not a shameful story.
He was still lost in thought until when he was thrown to the ground behind the bars of a cell in the dungeon by the Verdugo. They had traveled down to the lowest part of the very high building which the councils chamber sat.
The cell was locked by the resident guard while the Verdugo left.
Soon enough Usher was left alone.
It was pitch black dark. Only a little ray of light escaping the small window lighted a portion of the.
Being alone again, Usher was lost again in thoughts as he sat down on the rough rocky ground of the cell, resting his back against the uncomfortable rocky wall.
With all the emotional stress upon him, he soon fell fast asleep.