Chapter 11 – Happy Family

Underneath The Butchers Hall in Herons Shore - 3:11 pm, Date 123, 516 P.A.

To say the underworld of Crimson Soul is complex is to say water is wet, endless mazes of warped tunnels bleeding between natural caves, old sewers, and sunken buildings connect together without dead ends, a quiet if sometimes dangerous place it is mostly inhabited by those who wish to be left alone or to travel without being heard, and without being heard Lix, Hait, and Green reach a heavy iron door guarded by a single man in the Butchers Uniform.

"Welcome home." Is all he says opening the door.

The room ahead is opulent, the walls are embroidered in silver covered in expensive looking paintings and dead animals. a large spiral staircase sits in the center of the room surrounding a cylindrical elevator in the middle, the only thing that seems out of place are the are the heavy reinforced iron doors leading into the room.

As if in response to their arrival the elevator doors open. "LIX!, we where under the impression you where dead.” A lanky but very well kept blond with short hair and in a rather ugly light green tuxedo yells greeting the party.

Without a response Lix approaches the man meeting in the center of the room, his eyes glow with psychic light as he raises three fingers to the man “Justify.” Lix orders.

“I am Sen Delltronious, Im the house keeper of the butcher house Delltronious, your third eldest brother, and I am Loyal.” he replys promptly.”… what happened his tone shifts low, we haven't had to use that Since the Red Wake"

“The promise has been broken, TC3 has perverted souls and is acting against us as I speak. Because of this im invoking the highest emergency powers.” Lix takes a deep breath “Sen Please designate my executioner and call the emergency council... Im taking the Butchered Crown”

Sen is surprised for only a second “Its really that bad huh, Somehow I knew someday you'd be the one to invoke this" he says ushering the group to the elevator.

“Green, you still have that cartridge? “ Lix asks his voice muffled by the slightly too loud elevator music.

“Yea.” she reaches down the neck of her fairly tattered top and pulls out the device still in functional condition

“We offer this as preliminary evidence, its the hard records from Sigmadig” Lix says as She hands it to Sen

“I take it your the reason it exploded then?”

“We didn’t have much of a choice”

The elevator stops opening into a massive lobby with tables and couches strewn about, various butchers and house members go about their business and hang about socializing , Sen leads them down a hall off the main lobby to a small conference room furnished only with exceptionally large desk chairs around a very robust round table.

“Anything else you need me to do before we start this?” Sen asks as everyone else places their weapons at their sides and takes a seat relived to finally have a moment to sit.

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“Yes, make sure anyone who's initiated is justified and detain anyone who isn't until their loyalty is verified, nobody is to leave the hall without express orders. cut our connection to the main network as well.” Lix says sinking into his chair, “Oh and please have someone bring us food im fucking famished.”

“Right, you three wait here until the executioner arrives, he will have food for you and some new clothes.” Sen says before promptly leaving the door locking behind him with a loud click

Green looks to Lix “So whats all this about A Executioner?”

“We needed a emergency power we could agree on without it becoming a way to compromise the houses, the Butchered Crown grants authority over all houses... But if Im found wanting in anyway I am to be killed on the spot and someone else is to take it until the crisis is over.”

“Is it really necessary?” Green asks concern growing on her face

“Its the only way to mobilize the houses in any timely manner, especially with my father out of the country… “Lix lowers his head “If he was here everyone would fall in line without a fuss.”

“I hope you know what your doing.” Hait comments nervously fidgeting with an arrow.

About A hour later the A knock on the door is followed by A large figure in A dark red suit of interlocking mechanical armor and a perfectly smooth round helmet entering the room, tailing them is two short gingers in standard uniform carrying takeout bags and all threes chest pieces bearing the sigil of The Butcher House Demelta, A Half Burnt Candle.

“Of-course, its you” Lix says getting up from his chair “Just get it over with”

without a word the armored figure approaches lix menacing over them, they raise hand to him and point three fingers.

“Justify”

“I am Lix Delltronious, I am taking the butchers crown to stop the existential destruction of Crimson soul, I am the fifth son of Vex Delltronious and I am completely Loyal.”

“Good enough for now, Ill let you make your case to emergency council.” They take off their helmet off with a hiss of compressed air reveling a heavily augmented face, various wires connect from their head and eyes into their armor and a the image of a flame is emboldened in neon on their forehead just below their short cut ginger hair

“You sure Lariat?” Lix says sitting back down as the two ladys hand out packages of freshly chopped and cooked poultry with a side of something green before leaving quietly “I could've sworn you wanted me dead.”

Lariot laughs and takes a seat aswell “Only if you kept stealing my kills” they say before digging into their food.

Green speaks up. “so what about the clothes we where promised?”

“Change of plans, we found some leaks and everyone available is ordered to wear full battle uniform just In case. officer green was it? Whats your stranded enforcer load-out? we may have a compatible equivalent.”

“Im augmented for a Heavy ERB Mk.2 but I can work just fine in analog armor’ Green reply's poking at her meal

“we definitely have a compatible variant then.” Lariat states “Hait your also going to need to wear something more protective aswell.”

“I prefer the flexi-” Hait trys to argue but is cut off by Lix

“Cloth is fine for fighting monsters but isn't gonna help you when your leg is gone from a stray bullet, we have light armor suits, wear one.” Lix orders standing up his food finished

“Yes sir.” Hait says sulking a little

“right lets get going, I assume my armor is already being prepared?” Lix asks heading for the door as Lariot puts their helmet back on.

“Of-course” Lariot states coldly Turing to the other two still eating “my companions will come get you in a moment, we will see you hait in the meeting hall and when your armor is on Green you should join us aswell"

"I Need to make a call" Green replys "its extremely important."

"Im sorry but no outside communication till the council is finished" Lix says leaving "Thank you for your help officer, Ill see you at the council."