Episode 5:

"ONE OF THE SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN PLANNING AGAINST AMERICAN DOCTRINE IS THAT THE AMERICANS DO NOT READ THEIR MANUALS NOR DO THEY FEEL ANY OBLIGATIONS TO FOLLOW THEIR DOCTRINE." — From a Russian Document

What is greatness?

Is it effortless victory? Is it never sweating? Never feel the weight on your shoulder. Because after all, every challenge you face is so beneath you that you need not even expend the tiniest effort?

No.

Greatness was—

A coin struck Hudson in the face.

“Ha, I got him, direct hit!” The well-dressed man said. Not even bothering to break his stride as he continued past. Arm and arm with a woman. Hudson pressed his back against the cold wall, letting the chill seep through his torn clothes.

“Please honey, I’d really appreciate it if you wouldn’t accost the less fortunate like that.” The women chided softy, clutching the man’s hand.

“Oh please, I’m helping him!” The man sneered, “More than he’s helping himself. He could work you know.”

Hudson glanced at the shining copper coin at his side. He grabbed it, weighing it in his hand. One throw. That's all it would take to wipe the smug smile from the man’s face.

“I’m not a beggar.” Hudson managed to get out.

His body still felt underwater and before Hudson could launch the coin, the couple had disappeared into the fog. Whatever bullshit they’d used to knock him out was still in his system. He put the coin back down and just stared blankly at the sky.

So, this was greatness huh?

Sitting by the curb in rags, next to the smoldering remains of a building. Waiting. And waiting.

One hell of a plan.

A twilight sky hung above him. Occasional passerby’s unfortunate enough to be out at this godforsaken hour, would shoot him a look of disgust, contempt and pity. He was ruining their morning walk by his mere presence.

It was a familiar look. The same he’d give the junkies he’d walked past in New York. Hell, if he compared the rags he was in now to what those homeless unfortunates wore, they were practically kings.

This plan, if you could even call it that, was one hell of a long shot. But it was the only shot he had.

He may have lost his weapons, his gear, his team, his country, his sanity and a whole lot else but he still had his instincts.

There was a cordon around the burned out building. Charred stone and broken glass littered it’s front. A fog had descended over the city now, and the sun was only a vague memory. Strangely enough, no water damage. The wood was remarkably dry.

Maybe this world had wind magic?

Who was he kidding, of course this place had wind magic.

The crime scene seemed abandoned of all life, but Hudson knew better.

It was the faintest trace of instinct, an inner light that guided him through the chaotic dark storm.

It was a thread he’d learned well over years to pull and trust on.

So, he just closed his eyes. And continued to wait.

Time seemed to lose its meaning as moments merged, until a soft voice drifted into his conscious experience like silk.

“Here. Take this.” She said with a familiar formal accent.

Bingo.

He opened his eyes.

Golden eyes. Red hair.

Of course she’d be back. She had to double check, no triple check the crime scene. He’d pegged her as an obsessive, and he was right.

Her white gloved hand was outstretched, containing a number of gold coins.

He might have been half drugged, but he could still tell this was a lot of money. Way too much money.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Hudson looked her dead in the eyes, unflinching.

“Sorry. I’m not a beggar”

She froze. Hand still outstretched. As if the words coming out of his mouth weren’t computing.

“Ex…excuse me?”

“I’m not a beggar. Thanks for the offer though.”

She blinked a few times. Then something clicked. She snapped her hand back curling it into a fist.

“How dare you? Do you not know who I…”, she stopped herself, searching his face for any hint of recognition, or fear. Most certainly looking for fear.

Hudson maintained his deadpan stare, well-practiced over years of midnight poker games in the desert.

She shook her head, rage replaced with something softer.

“Guess you don’t.” She said at last. Now that the rage was gone, there was nothing to cover up the exhaustion. Bags under her eyes, tired posture. She took a step forward, on her bad leg. She winced as she sat down next to him. Her back pressed up against the same icy stone wall was leaning back on. Her intricate dress picked up a layer of dust and soot. A fact she seemed to not seem to remotely care about.

A few silent moments passed between the two strangers.

“What’s your story.” She asked. The question had an authority that made it clear it was in Hudson’s best interest to answer. As if a wrong answer would be his last.

“That’s a strange thing to ask a vagrant.”

“People have always said I was strange.”

She was the first person so far to treat him like an actual human being.

“I will not ask you a second time.” There was an implicit threat in her statement.

Hudson considered his options. The greatest lies are those that have been built on a foundation of truth.

“I’m a traveler.”

What he meant was of course that he traveled to places. They were across the world. Usually in the middle of the night. Usually to put someone in a box.

“Then why aren’t you dressed like one.” The words were more accusation than question.

“I was robbed.”

She turned to study him. "In my city?" A pause. "Well, I apologize then. You must be far from home."

“Yeah. Far from home. Something like that.”

Wait did she say Her city?

“How did you end up here? Don’t you have anyone you were traveling with.”

An image of his team flashed before his eyes. Goddamn it. He had to find them soon. He frowned.

The longer this conversation went on the more the heat from his body was being zapped by the concrete.

“Guess I got lost.” He paused, “Real lost.”

She laughed at that one. A dry laugh, as if she hadn’t had much practice over the course of her life.

“What’s so funny?”, Hudson asked.

“You’re lost. I found that to be rather resonant.”

“Why you got lost too?”

She shook her head, considering her answer.

“Something like that.” She said, trying to mimic his accent and manner of speaking.

“Hey that’s my line, give it back.”

“It seems you have been robbed today twice then Mr. Traveler.” She laughed at her own joke again. Her laugh was again slightly off, rusty. At least she was having a good time. “What is your plan now?” She asked.

“Get my shit back.”

She nodded. “That’s rather resonant too.”

Hudson flipped the script, “How so?”

She paused, before taking a deep breath.

“You are lost. I lost something.”

“What’d you lose?”

“It is complicated.”

“I disagree.” Hudson said, smiling.

Her eyes peaked up at that one. “How can you disagree?”

Hudson flicked up the red crystal before catching it.

“I mean it’s not that complicated. Looks like a crystal to me.” He said, dancing it in between his fingers like a pen.

The time for pleasantries was over. The peace shattered. The two previously warring souls reignited their battle.

Her eyes flashed a bright orange. They both leaped up. Hudson’s head spun under the added strain, body barely following his orders. Her body was far more responsive. Her was sword drawn before Hudson could even stand up straight.

“You are under arrest by order of Grand Marshall Valera! Drop that this instant!”

“Oh so that’s your name, my name’s Hudson by the wa—“

Before he could finish his sentence, her blade flashed. It streaked through the air leaving flames spiraling in its wake, stopping right at his neck.

“Drop it!”

All this rapport building and he was back at square negative a hundred.

“Just listen to me for just one goddamned second!” Hudson yelled with a sternness he’d forgotten he possessed.

She seemed to have been impacted by it as well, judging by the fact that she hadn’t decided to remove his head yet.

“And why would I do that?” She said.

“Because I can take you right to where the rest of these whatever-the-fucks are.” He ignored the inferno in her eyes, “But you have to help me too.”

“How.” she spat.

“The people who stole from you, stole from me. When we kick their door down, I need my shit back. Their safehouse is probably going to be crawling with guards, so I can’t clear it alone. My enemies are your enemies. Do we have a deal?”

“And what’s stopping me from throwing you in prison the moment we reach the hideout.”

“Nothing really. Other than your honor as Grand Marshall. If I wasn’t here you’d still be kicking rocks down the street and looking for answers in the same charred building for the thousandth time.”

The blade held. Then waivered.

It dropped back into its sheath. The inferno in her eye’s extinguished.

“Fine. You have my word, as the Grand Marshal of the Imperial Guard, Protector of the Lower Relms, Arch-Mage of Ignis and Crown Princess of the Empire of Avalon.”

…Crown Princess?

Oh.

Oh no.

He’d broken the kneecap of the Crown Princess of an Empire. And was also currently extorting her.

Hudson was in way over his head.

Okay, okay just play it cool, just play it coo—

A blur, a yank, a twist.

Click.

Cuffs.

Too late. He looked down at his hands, a familiar sight greeting him again.

“I thought we had a deal.” Hudson asked in a tried monotone.

“We do have a deal. I’m not arresting you for now. This is just for my safety. You can’t expect me to completely trust you, can you?”

As a final insult, she snatched the pouch containing the crystals from him before walking ahead with a slight hidden limp. Hudson just sighed. How the hell did he let her get the drop on him. If his system wasn’t fucked seven ways to Sunday from getting Cosby’d he would have at least been able to put up a fight.

Excuses, excuses, Mr. Hudson.

Shut the fuck up.

Hudson shook his head. That goddamn Duke. Hudson was going to scalp him for what he’d done to him.

First however, he had to get his shit back. He took the lead, walking past a familiar dumpster. A Muffled thudding rang out from it.

“What’s that?” She asked, looking at the dumpster.

“Dunno, might be a racoon.”

“What’s a racoon?”

“Don’t worry about it, come on we have to go faster.”

She hesitated a moment. Only a moment.

The two entered the maze.