Chapter 7

A shadowy figure sits on a harsh looking throne, watching a crystal screen. The view shows Zeke and Arerian as they left their cell. "Where is the sound?" The figure asks from the throne, his voice was smooth and yet harsh at the same time. Two small creatures, scurry around the screen trying to fix it.

"My lord the.." A human female steps through a door hidden behind the screen cutting it off. "Master it's the subjects they cannot maintain connection. I believe that they were damaged beyond the ability to heal them." She gestures towards the screen and it changes view. The subjects are humans, in various stages of the healing process.

"Who broke these subjects here?" the master asks, motioning towards the screen.

"Sire it was Buster, he has just finished with most of them. While he did a great job of it, some are so mentally damaged that I doubt they will ever work properly."

"What is your suggestion then Cathraine?" Asks the master with a smirk.

"I suggest taking the mind completely out of it. Wipe the mind and remove the soul, that way it is just a body and not a person." She smiles as she looks off into the distance thinking about how fun it would be to remove the soul from those weak people.

"How would this fix with the problem?"

"As of right now, the real problem is the mental damage. It is what is causing all of these problems. The trauma is too much for most of their weak minds can deal with. There is almost no chance for any kind of real recovery, so the only real solution I can see is to do what I just thought of." She says with a smile.

"Then proceed with what you are planning, I want to be able to see and hear everything, with in their area of influence. You have a week to figure this out." He dismisses her with a wave of his hand. As she turns to leave he addresses one of his attendants. "I want to see Buster, now before I kill you like the last 5 ones!" he threatens seeming a little annoyed by the problems with the physic visual screen. The attendant bows and rushes off to find him. It took just over an hour for Buster to appear before the master.

The doors swing open, as one of the attendants announces "Lord Buster, Dragon of the Wastes", follow the sound of four spears hitting the ground. Buster strolls to the center of the room in front of the throne and bows to one knee, just as the door closes.

"My lord , you called." replied Buster as he bowed to ward his master,

"You kept me waiting, my faithful servant." Buster glances down and away at his master's harsh voice. "I hope that what you were doing was important enough for your life."

"It was Master I was integrating the new prisoners, just over half of them are ready to be turned. About 15 percent have died or are about to die, some due to injuries some to make an example out of."

"You are pushing it, 15 percent is a lot. Everyone that dies delays my plans by days. I have waited for almost twenty years, which I might add is way too long for what we have planned. The gods have gone too long without any one to challenge them. With this new network Cathraine is creating we will always know what is going on." He glares up towards the skies as if to challenge the gods at that very moment.

"Yes sire, I was wondering if I could see Areriana again?" Buster glances up towards his master, with a look of longing.

"You know she's not the same, after her accursed goddess but that charm on her." He looks for Buster's reaction.

"But she still is there somewhere my lord. I know she loved me back then, but he got in the way." Buster growls and slams his fist into the ground leaving an indent of his knuckles.

"Really now Buster! I just had that spot fixed from your last outburst, this is the reason we do not have nice things you and the others break them too much." The master flicks something towards Buster knocking him off his feet. He moans in pain and grabs his shoulder, where a long needle is protruding from both ends of his shoulder. "I can't feel my arm, I can't move it either. Master what have you done to me?" He rolls to his knees holding his arm.

"Oh stop complaining, that should not hurt now, my aim was perfect. It missed every vital spot, once I am done with you here go get it removed."

"Yes my lord, thank you sire." Buster reaches up to touch the needle and moans again.

"You are starting to really annoy me. I am losing sight of what made you so special in the first place. However, you have served me well and faithfully for the last 8 years, I will give you that. So for that I will give you a few jobs to redeem yourself." The master smirks at him thinking of all the ways to make him fail.

"Of course Master anything for you. Just let me serve you, I owe you my life." Buster pleads looking at his Master.

"Your groveling is so sickening. I thought you were above that. Go, get out of my sight I will have mission for you soon." He dismisses Buster with a wave of his hand.

"Thank you master, I will not fail you this time." Buster starts to leave and sees the view screen, showing the escape of Zeke and Areriana. Buster spins around with a look of outrage on his face.

"Why did you not tell me they escaped, when did this happen?"

"Do not raise your voice to me, Buster. I choose what to tell my subjects, I would have told you if and only if the others had failed me. I need you to focus on the tasks at hand, you are forbidden from going after them. Do you understand me?" The Master's voice turned to hard iron as his icy stare falls on buster. The command in his voice was so powerful it forced Buster to his knees.

"I understand and will obey your will my Master."

"Now leave before I do more than just punish you!" Buster bows low before turning and marching out the door.