The Castle, Previously
"You know the rules, Emperor," one of my brothers - in a manner of speaking - stated.
"I know the rules. We all wrote them. Doesn't mean I won't protest against them." I glanced at the other faces in the room, almost all of them impassive. Already two of the seats at the table were empty, those of Justice and the Wheel of Fortune. And now the High Priestess had declared that a third would be temporarily vacated. Mine.
"Protesting won't help. We wrote the Code. It is Our Duty to uphold it. Should we fail in Our Duty - " Chariot began.
"The Balance will be broken, I know. But you would think the masses would have more sense than this. Surely they know by now - or at the very least are guessing - that we have a hand in their daily lives. As such we should not be considered primary targets, especially when two of us have already fallen." I turned to the Empress, who sat to my left. "Please..." She knew what I would say, so there was no sense in repeating it.
"I know. But the Code comes first. You'll be back." She placed her hand on mine. I felt somewhat reassured by the gesture, but not entirely. Being chosen is always a bit of a disappointment.
"Hinder someone, if you can, that the Genesis Project might be used again," was my last request of my fellows. "I will be at home, should one of you decide to do it yourself."
[hr]
Home, Now
The door was wide open, unlocked. There was no sense in locking up for the night, someone would just break in anyway. I even left a note out telling them where I was. They found no resistance, no traps to deny them access. On the second floor of the house was another door wide open. I sat in the center of the room, eyes closed, at peace with the multiverse. It is easier to prepare for an event when you are expecting it.
It was a quick kill, though messy. A simple pistol took care of what needed to be done; the shot entered my head at the base of the skull.
Pretty Little Headshots did not apply to real life situations.