The Path to New Babylon

[Shay Cormac]

Doors slamming behind him, Shay clenched his fists seeing about every guard in the palace running into the city. Having about no clue where exactly this intruder was, the best Shay could do was jog along with the guards who had just left the building. Sighing, Shay tugged at his mask beneath his collar, covering his face in an attempt to look menacing.

To the average person, it definitely did the trick. Shay could only hope that whoever decided to come and attack New Babylon of all places would indeed be intimidated by such a thing. Not like it mattered at this point, though. As the guards took a sharp turn toward one of the palace's exits, Shay figured they were trying to block off exists rather than catch anybody, or at least just yet.

Gratefully so, Shay did figure this would be a nice way to get the jump on whoever was inside. From what Shay could remember, the few exits he and a number of guards were running towards was in the direction of the palace's courtyard. As immediately as they all came to the scene, shouting of orders were the only thing that could be heard beyond the stomping of feet marching towards the doors.

Shay could only wish he had an idea on whoever was barging into a big palace in the middle of a desert. How this person got in was another story entirely. Groaning, Shay assumed he was so grouchy because of his obviously sleep-deprived state. At least the partner he was assigned to got an eventual rest. Then again, Shay thought as he finally got into the courtyard's door, he did just literally run towards trouble in this case.

Blinking a few times, Shay was almost expecting a simple, lone Prime being tackled from all of his or her sides, but instead his eyes were greeted by a few more Primes than just one instead. Shay immediately noticed Victor, and about three other individuals. The first few seconds Shay saw this scene being played out in front of him, it only took him a few seconds to let the context of it all sink in.

First of all, for as many guards were coming into the courtyard, there were at least the same amount going out of the palace itself. That automatically got Shay to predict that there wasn't only one intruder, but rather two. Secondly, he could easily tell that the individuals who went by the names of Sasuke Uchiha and Erik Vrell were on his side. Sadly however, Shay didn't know their names, why they were on his side, or what exactly caused all of this.

Looking for only another split second, Shay immediately found the answer to that last question of his. The one in the black cloak on the far left of the courtyard, Demetri Malius. Again, Shay hadn't a single idea on who this man was, let alone his name, but the one thing Shay did know upon observing the man, is that he was a problem. A very big problem, at that.

Only a mere second had passed before the hooded man in black vanished before Shay's eyes. To say that Shay was at least a bit surprised would be an understatement. His eyes widened at the sight, or lack of sight for that matter, of Demetri's tricks. The guards passing him frantically looked around, shouting at each other in a desperate attempt at communication.

"Silence, and find him immediately!" a voice boomed through the courtroom, soon revealed to be Sasuke's. Shay immediately jogged over to the three, opening his masked mouth to speak.

"Mind telling me what exactly is going on he--" Shay choked out, hearing a sudden slashing noise from behind him, and feeling a surge of pain from his spine and down his waist, forcing a whine of pain from the Templar as he stumbled forwards a bit. It didn't take long for his clothes to seep with blood, but it took even less time for Sasuke and Victor to jump in that immediate direction, Erik following the two Primes up.

Sasuke jumped above Shay's toppling body, kicking behind him, yet hitting nothing. Dust flew from the ground, Demetri's body materializing as a result of his slashing movements. Groaning in frustration as Victor and Erik both tried to go after him as well, Sasuke blocked the two of them in their path with both of his arms as Demetri strafed away, eyebrow cocked in confusion.

"One of you go after the furred one, he can't be left unattended," Sasuke referred to Daxter, an offer in which Victor immediately took up, seeing how the assassin was promptly annoyed with the rodent for the bits of sand still stuck in his eyes.

Victor lowered Sasuke's arm, tightening the grip on one of his knives as he replied, "I will gladly go after that pest."

"In that case, I suppose we'll be handling this guy here?" Erik chimed in, looking expectantly at all three of them, Shay finally getting himself up. Squinting at Demetri still keeping his distance from the guards drawing their weapons onto him, the Templar drew both his sword and dagger, the ripping sounds of metal against his sheaths seeming to echo across the courtyard.

The assassin known as Victor immediately ran towards the courtyard's exit behind the three defending Primes, giving Demetri a bit of an idea. Looking at his odds, Demetri knew he was in a tight spot. Yet, he couldn't help but let out a very light chuckle as he looked on at Sasuke, Shay and Erik taking their stances.

There weren't many ways this could work out for Demetri, but he knew more than enough tricks to make this happen. Hopefully, the thief thought, he'd have time to do so.

A few seconds passed, then the room erupted into chaos.