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“SIR, THEY’VE BREACHED the building,” said a large Guard from the doorway of the private council chambers.
“How is that possible?” Jason strode to the window.
“Everyone.” Conguise stood. It was best to remain calm during times like these and calmness wasn’t Jason’s strong suit. He addressed the worried faces of the council members. “May I suggest we retreat to a safer area, but don’t worry. Our Guards are armed. They’ll hunt down and execute the traitors.”
None of them had expected an attack in the city, but they’d been lucky that he and Jason had convinced them to release the weapons. They’d been having a celebratory drink after watching Hugh’s troops scatter at the first sign of gunfire. It’d seemed that the war was going to be over before it really started. He should’ve known Hugh wouldn’t be defeated so easily.
“This way.” The Guard escorted the council members down the hallway.
“How did this happen?” Jason stared out the window.
He went and stood behind the other Almighty. Below, their Guards lay dead in the street. Hugh’s troops were slowly gathering. They’d be advancing soon. “Hugh’s a shit of a scientist but he obviously takes after his father when it comes to battle.” He patted Jason’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Cal and the troops will be here soon.”
“What difference does that make?” asked Jason. “You saw Hugh’s army. It’s immense. He has everyone—Grunts, Stockers, Trackers, Handlers. Even Avions for Araldo’s sake! Cal and his Guards have no chance without weapons.”
“Come with me.” The only hope they had of winning this war was defeating the threat inside the Council Building, and he had no doubt who’d breached the building. He felt Hugh’s presence as if the other Almighty were the approaching flu.
Jason gave him a quizzical look but followed him toward the back room where the weapons were stored. Conguise dug through a few crates, handing weapons and ammunition to the other Almighty.
“What do you want me to do with these?” Jason stared at the guns as if they were snakes.
“Hide them. We need to arm ourselves.” He grabbed an armful and headed toward the great hall. “If we’re captured, we’ll be taken to the Hall of Truths or prison.” He hesitated. “He’ll take us to the Hall of Truths. Hugh will want to make a statement first.”
“First? What will he do after that?”
They entered the Hall of Truths and began stashing loaded weapons in tables, behind curtains, under chairs, anywhere their group may be assembled.
“He’ll probably execute us.” That’s what he’d do, but Hugh was soft, always had been, but still he needed Jason on board. Jason was a slimy, weasel but he had a knack for self-preservation. Given a chance Jason would tell Hugh and the others about his experiments in exchange for his own life. He couldn’t let that happen. He had plans in place. His experiments would be hidden and kept safe if something happened to him, but if Hugh were told the other Almighty would hurry to the lab and then his subordinates wouldn’t have time to do what needed to be done.
“Do you really think he’ll kill us?” Jason stumbled.
“Why do you find that so shocking? We were going to kill him.”
“They’ll kill me first, as an example.” Jason quickly started hiding weapons.
“Probably.” The man’s self-importance was astounding.
“Not if I kill him.” Jason stuffed a small revolver in his pants under his large belly.
“Let’s get more weapons,” he said.
They headed back to the weapons room. This part was going to take some pizazz. He no longer wanted Hugh dead. Death was too quick. He understood real pain. He’d lived for years without vengeance for Viola and he wanted Hugh to experience the same thing.
As they went toward the prison, stashing weapons down the hallway, he said, “I don’t think we should aim for Hugh. Not at first.”
“Why not?” Jason stuck a gun behind a bust himself.
This was the crucial part. “I’ve heard rumors that Hugh has an attachment to the female, the Servant who was raised with Producers.”
Jason pursed his lips in thought. “She is very attractive.” He cleared his throat. “If you’re into that kind of thing.”
Conguise tried to hide his contempt. He knew all about Jason’s extra-marital activities. They continued stashing weapons in the hallway and any room where they might be imprisoned.
“Hugh is going to be well guarded,” said Conguise. “Almost impossible to shoot. The Servant on the other hand...”
“So, we shoot the female. What good does that do?”
“If she falls, Hugh will rush to her side. He won’t listen to his Guards.”
“And then we shoot him.”
He nodded. Jason didn’t realize that once they shot the female the Guards would be all over them, and for once, he was glad the Supreme Almighty was thick headed. Killing the female would be worse than death for Hugh and he was counting the seconds. He slid a small revolver into his boot.