Draven wanted to cut off Raylen’s head. “He needs to die now for what he did,” Draven squeaked out through clenched teeth.

“You need to remember the mission,” Sygvar applied even more force to Draven, keeping him from moving.

Raylen took the final unoccupied seat. The woman, now that Draven took the time to look at her, he recognized her as Egwene, and she took her place standing directly behind Raylen.

“Arken and I have been working on a project that will revolutionize our efforts to overthrow the government,” Raylen said.

Pami turned to face Raylen. She took a sip of the drink before her and placed it back on the table. “And tell me about this grand plan,” she said.

Raylen smiled and stretched out in the chair he was sitting on. “We are weaponizing Hollows.”

Pami nearly spit out her drink; she coughed. “You have been doing what? Are you two crazy?” Pami launched herself up from her seat. She marched over to Raylen.

Egwene jumped over Raylen, landing between him and Pami. She drew her sword and dropped into a combat stance.

“Calm down, sister,” Mydren rushed over before things could escalate. “Just sit down and let them speak. There is no point in fighting him now. They have already started.” Mydren guided Pami back to her seat.

“As I was saying, we have begun to weaponize Hollows. Our labs are working on eliminating the blight from the infected so that it can’t spread. With the evolved versions of the Hollows, we will have an army to let us take over the City State of Urith.”

“Have your scientists successfully eliminated the blight from the Hollows?” Pami asked in a calm voice.

“They are working on it, but we’re close to a breakthrough,” Arken answered. We just need a little more time.”

“How much time?” Pami asked. “The longer we have blight infected in this city, the more danger we are in if one of them happens to escape.”

“Don’t worry, we have everything under control,” Raylen dismissively waved his hand.

Pami glared at Arken, “Does this have anything to do with one of your facilities that blew up.”

“Yes, the underground section of the former power plant was being used as a research laboratory. Somehow, the Al’Manti was tipped off about the facility, infiltrated the building, and discovered what we were doing. Multiple test subjects got loose, and we had no choice but to destroy the base and everything inside it.”

Pami laughed, “You killed hundreds of our people with that stunt. And what makes you think a blight-infected didn’t manage to escape?”

“The Al’Manti quarantined the entire area. Nothing is getting in or out with them around.” Raylen cut in before Arken could speak. He then turned to address the crowd. But we have other facilities scattered around the city. We are hard at work eliminating the blight from the infected. Soon, we will have an army that will allow us to overthrow the government--an army that they will fear.”

The wrath within Draven bloomed into a raging inferno. He lost control of his mental blocks on the Weave, and his emotions slowly began to leak through. “Let me go now. I have to stop this madman.” Draven struggled against Sygvar.

“Calm yourself, I can feel your rage from the Weave.” Sygvar hissed

Raylen’s head snapped directly towards Draven. His eyes locked with Draven’s, and he smiled. “Why are you so angry young man? You should be happy. I’m ending the regime that plagues Urith.”

“Stay silent,” Sygvar hissed.

Draven turned to Sygvar and stared his master in the eyes. His gaze shifted back to Raylen, “You’re a madman who wants nothing but to see the world burn! You're a mass murderer, the butcher of Leto!” Draven’s voice nearly gave out as he shouted.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

The crowd erupted. Chatter filled the auditorium as the various attendees discussed what Draven said.

“Is this true? Are you the butcher of Leto?” Pami questioned.

Raylen smiled, “I did what I had to do for the greater good.”

Draven screamed. Kinetic essence erupted out of him, blowing away Sygvar. He then drew his sword and charged towards Raylen.

Kinetic energy blasts launch Draven directly toward Raylen.

Egwene moved inbetween Draven and Raylen. But Raylen stood up and pushed Egwene behind him. "Let me handle him," he said as he drew his sword.

"Damnit," Sygvar said as he pulled out his phone to text the raid commander to begin the raid. Instantly, loud explosions echoed throughout the theater as the police blew open entrances into Club Love. Sygvar drew his sword and followed after Draven.

Draven pushed Essence into his sword, and the Sygaldry along the blade glowed with power. He slashed towards Raylen's neck, aiming to cut the mass murderer's head clean off.

Raylen's sword clashed with Draven, stopping Draven's attack. He parried Draven's blade, pushing the young Al'Manit off-balanced. He then kicked Draven on the leg, forcing Draven to kneel on his knee. He then drove his blade towards Draven's eye.

Draven shot a burst of Essence through his body. His reaction speed accelerated, and he jerked out of Raylen's sword's way. Draven shot and blasted out a kinetic force bolt directly at Raylen.

Raylen stretched out his hand and stopped the force bolt with Sympathy. He smiled as he shot it back at Draven. The bolt collided with Draven's chest before he could react. It exploded, knocking him off his feet and sending him rolling on the ground. Draven lay on the ground, prone, dazed from the explosion.

Raylen came in hot, charging Draven before he could get back on his feet. He drew back his sword, and Essence flowed into its structure, enhancing its power. The air crackled with energy as Raylen attacked Draven.

Sygvar blurred in front of Draven and blocked Sygvar's attack. The air around Sygvar's and Draven's blades exploded with power when they collided. Sygvar pushed Raylen back and fired off four force bolts.

Raylen deflected the first three, but the final one hit him in the chest, knocking him back.

Sygvar turned around and pulled Draven up from the ground, "You need to get to your feet."

Draven shook his head, clearing his mind of the last of his dizziness. He picked his sword off the ground. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a blur of movement. A surge of adrenaline shot through his system. "Master, look out," Draven said. He pushed Sygvar out of the way and raised his sword. Draven's sword clashed with Egwene, and the force of the block caused him to back up a few steps.

Draven launched himself forward and slashed at Egwene. She moved out of the way and elbowed him in the face. Draven's head shot back, and warm blood flowed from his nose. The Weave warned Draven of danger, so he ducked, allowing Egwene's sword to sail over his head.

Draven straightened his body. He charged Essence into his arms and bound a thread to it, as well as the concept of kinetic energy. He willed his Essence to change into kinetic force. The Kinetic Essence surged from his open palm directly into Egwene, sending her flying backward. He charged after her, sword a glow with Essence.

He bound a Sympathetic thread connecting her and his arm. He then pulled his arm down, sending Egwene crashing into the stage. Draven jumped and thrust his sword down towards Egwene's prone form.

Egwene rolled out of the way. Draven's sword pierced the stage, and wooden chunks exploded out of the stage floor. Draven stood up just in time to receive a kick to the stomach. He fell to his knees, clenching his stomach. He looked up to find Arken standing over him.

"Why did you have to go and ruin everything?" Arken then punched Draven in the face.

Draven's head wrung with pain, and the world started to spin. Sygvar appeared in front of Him and knocked Arken back. Draven slowly got to his feet. Raylen, Egwene, Arken, and Eron surrounded him and Sygvar on all four sides.

Right at that moment, police officers began to flood into the auditorium. The rebels that had yet to flee were pushed to the floor and were being cuffed and detained.

"We only have to hold out for a little longer," Sygvar said. "More Al'Manti are on their way."

Draven looked around, "What happened to Pami and Mydren?"

"They fled as soon as you charged the stage," Sygvar conjured four force bolts and flung them at Raylen, Egwene, Arken, and Eron. They exploded just before hitting their targets. With superhuman speed, Sygvar sprung forward towards Eron. Electrical energy sparked around his hand, and he grabbed ahold of the Androids skull. Eron screamed as the electrical Essence shocked his system.

"Get off of him!" Arken screamed. He pulled out a metallic rod. He pushed Essence into the rod, and it expanded into a staff. He exploded forth, arriving behind Sygvar, swinging his staff at the back of Sygvar's head.

Draven ran over to his master, deflecting Arken's staff. Draven kicked Arken in the stomach. Arken clenched his gut, and vomit erupted from his mouth, flying to the floor. Draven conjured flames around his arm and sent out a blast at Arken. Arken erected a barrier around himself. The fire impacted the barrier and sent him flying backward.

Draven turned around to find Eron knocked out on the floor. Sygvar was cuffing the android with handcuffs designed to absorb Essence and block the detained person's access to the Weave.

Arken picked himself up from the ground. Together with Raylen and Egwene, the three stalked over to Draven and Sygvar.