Shadows of the Tribunal

Lucien and Mar rose early, their breaths misting in the crisp air of the hive city. Lucien turned to her as he adjusted his jacket, eyes sharp with determination.

"I'm heading to the Depot to meet Razor," he said. "Since Soleli dismissed you yesterday, would you like to come along?"

Mar shrugged, though the hint of curiosity glimmered in her gaze. "Why not? I've got nothing better to do."

They slipped out of the house and wove their way through the winding corridors of the hive city, taking familiar paths that twisted and turned like veins through the metal heart of this labyrinthine world. As they passed by rows of derelict buildings, haphazardly stacked and crumbling under layers of grime and rust, they steered clear of the quieter, darker alleyways. They didn't need trouble today.

However, at last, they reached an alleyway blocking their way forward. Lucien halted, peering down the narrow passage. It stretched dimly ahead, lined with flickering lights and mounds of discarded debris.

"Well," Lucien muttered, "we've dodged all our usual shortcuts and took this long route to avoid trouble, but it seems we're right back to the root issue. We'll have to cross this alley if we want to get to the Depot."

Mar glanced down the alley and sighed, then gave him a slight nod. "Let's just get through it as quickly as possible," she said, her tone tense.

With a shrug, Lucien led the way, both of them quickening their pace as they dashed through the narrow passage, their footsteps light yet rapid. But what neither noticed were the figures cloaked in shadow watching their hurried crossing from the edges of the alley.

One of the shadowed figures tilted his head, his eyes narrowing as he recognized the two. "Hey," he muttered, elbowing his companion. "It's them. The two from the other day."

The second figure turned with a frown, assessing them as they disappeared out of sight. "Round up the boys," he ordered. "You're clumsy; they'll hear you if you follow. I'll track them and find out where they're hiding. Once I know, we'll smoke them out."

The first figure nodded, slipping away into the shadows while the second cloaked figure melded into the darkness, his movements soundless as he set off after Lucien and Mar.

After what felt like an hour of cautious but uneventful walking, Lucien and Mar finally reached the Depot, the weathered building thrumming with activity. However, as they stepped inside, both paused in shock. The once-busy Depot was filled with injured men and women, members of Paige's Edge lying on tables and crates, their wounds hastily bandaged and the scent of disinfectant hanging heavily in the air.

Lucien approached one of the gang members, his eyes darkening as he took in the blood-stained scene. "What happened here?"

The man grimaced, wincing as he touched his shoulder. "We were called to reinforce the Hounds. But we got ambushed."

Lucien's jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides. He'd expected something bad but not this level of violence. Without another word, he turned and made his way to Razor's office, his mind whirling. When he reached the door, he knocked once, and Razor's familiar, stoic voice sounded from within.

"Come in."

Lucien pushed open the door, Mar following behind, and saw Razor seated at his desk. His usual commanding aura was undercut by the sight of his right hand wrapped and secured in a sling. Razor's eyes held the same sharp, unwavering intensity, but the grim set of his mouth showed the toll of whatever had happened.

"What's going on, Razor?" Lucien asked, unable to keep the urgency from his voice. "First the ambush, and now all this?"

Razor's brows scrunched up. "Straight to the point. Fine. You're right; it's not just a random attack. We got word that the Hounds were being attacked, so we went to reinforce them... but it was more than just a scuffle."

Lucien nodded, recalling what the gang member had said. "I heard about the ambush."

Razor's eyes flashed, and he leaned forward. "Ah, so you want the full story." He shifted, his expression growing darker. "Well, I'll tell you. The rival syndicate to the Shadow Tribunal is on the move. Someone's trying to throw Osiris off his seat in the Ennead Council. And his rival, Set, is making a play for our territory."

Lucien's frown deepened. "The Shadow Tribunal? So this is about the whole syndicate, not just us?"

Razor gave him an exasperated look. "Keep up, Lucien. The Shadow Tribunal is the syndicate we answer to. And this mess? It's tied to unrest in the Ennead Council. Set is making his move, and the other Council members are turning a blind eye. The city's been on edge because of this. It's why we're under constant attack, and every gang affiliated with the Shadow Tribunal is now on their hit list."

"Set…" Lucien repeated, glancing at Mar.

Lucien pressed his lips together, piecing it all together. "So... it's open season on all of us?"

"Precisely." Razor leaned back, glancing at Mar, who had been listening quietly but attentively. "It's about to get a lot more dangerous around here. This isn't just some turf war. This is politics—brutal, bloody politics. And we're caught right in the middle of it."

Just then, the ground shook violently, an explosion reverberating through the Depot. Dust and debris rained down from the ceiling, and Razor's head snapped up, his expression hardening.

"You were followed," he muttered, his eyes narrowing as he looked from Lucien to Mar.