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“Someone like Monty is always in power, Wyatt. It’s the nature of humanity.

I understand that. I understand why Monty does what he does and did what he did.

I’m not saying it was right or wrong, but it got the job done and it was all for a purpose which I believe in.

I have no regrets about helping him do it.

The man’s got kinks in his soul, but at the end of the day, my people are safe and their enemies are gone.

” He shook his head. “So, I won’t lose any sleep over what he did to those people.

” His face darkened. “Want me to tell you the part of all this that is going to keep me up at night though?” Poacher asked calmly, putting a stick of gum into his mouth.

“What’d he need the Weald Forged metal from Rayn’s kingdom for? ”

The hair on the back of Wyatt’s neck stood on end. “…Oh shit.” He breathed.

Poacher nodded. “Told ya. It wasn’t part of his plan here, so what’s he need it for?

With that stuff, he can kill anybody here, whether they’re impervious or not.

That shit’ll cut through anything and anyone like a razor blade through a poodle.

And we gave it to him .” Poacher started towards the far wall and the refreshments set up there.

“These are uncertain times, man.” He shook his head sadly. “Uncertain fucking times.”

Wyatt looked down at the floor, considering that.

Behind him, there was the sound of a microphone turning on and then clapping from the people in attendance.

The doors opened and more Irregulars excitedly rushed in.

Wyatt turned around slowly, knowing what was about to happen before he even saw it.

“They told me that I could not do this.” Monty said into the microphone from the stage.

There were yells of anger at that idea from the audience, and Monty waited seemingly forever to continue. Minutes ticked by but he remained silent, always appearing just on the verge of speaking again, building up the anticipation until the audience was desperate for his words.

“They told me ,” Monty finally continued, “that there was no way that I could stop an army.” He finally proclaimed, causing the audience to shout their support for his abilities, but this time Monty talked right over them.

“They told me that it would be foolish to even attempt to fight these invaders! That we should submit!” The audience was angry now, screaming for the blood of anyone who would doubt him.

Monty nodded, as if accepting their rage and understanding it.

“They told me , that I would fail because I knew nothing about warfare. And do you know what I told THEM!?!” Cheers from the audience. “…I told them they were right.”

Silence.

A few confused murmurs.

“I told them that I couldn’t do this. That I was just one man, and wasn’t strong enough.

” He raised his voice. “But that together with my beloved Irregulars, we would see it done! Trust in them I said, because they will not break . Trust in THEM, I said, because they have never failed me and they never will! Trust in THEM, I said, because they have NEVER met a challenge or an enemy which THEY COULD NOT CONQUER! ”

Thunderous applause and cheers.

“It is like my mother always said: ‘ The man who has the most friends, wins the fight. ’ And once again, my friends, we have shown our detractors and the malcontents who seek to take what is ours , that there is simply NOTHING we cannot accomplish TOGETHER! ONCE AGAIN, my friends, we have shown those that thought themselves our betters , that we REFUSE to be cast aside and forgotten! ONCE AGAIN, my friends, we have stood together and shown the entire world , that NOTHING will stop us from achieving our destiny! NOTHING!!!”

Wyatt started towards the stage before this turned into an outright riot.

“They say that I am your cruel overlord.” Monty told the assembly, pointing at Wyatt and attributing the words to him.

“That I mistreat you. They say that you are a cult , and that I am a lying snake .” He paused for a breath to let his minions stew over that.

”And do you know what I told them? I told them they were right.

I DO mistreat you. Because no matter how much I try to do for you, it is not NEARLY enough to show you my appreciation for how much you’ve done for me over the years.

” He removed his top hat and ran a hand through his slick black hair as though reminiscing with old friends.

“We’ve worked together.” He pointed at his gunshot wound.

“We’ve fought together… Bled together. We’ve buried our own together.

” He nodded, as though deeply moved at the memory.

“We’ve… we’ve…” He put his hand up to his face, as if too emotional to even go on.

“Right now, our own sweet Oklahoma Mike is in the hospital, because I asked her to help the Consortium, and then one of its members savagely and viciously attacked her!” He pointed at his own chest. “That’s on me .

That’s my burden to bear and it’s one which keeps me up at night. ”

Wyatt continued towards the stairs to the stage, working his way through the crowd.

“I told them, that if it is a ‘cult’ to be willing to sacrifice yourself for your family, your home and for noble ideals, then this is the most powerful cult in the world!” He shouted into the mic.

“I TOLD THEM, that I am a snake. A dangerous snake, far deadlier than any they’ve yet found, and that I have a family of hundreds of other snakes just like me, and not to cross us!

” He shook his head in righteous fury. “I told our enemies to STEER CLEAR of our nest! Just let us be! FOR WE ARE MANY! I told them not to make the mistake that so many have made before, and underestimate how fiercely we will protect what is ours! I told them that if they attack us, then we will strike! If they hit us, we will hit them harder! If they threaten us, then we will ACT FIRST!”

Wyatt started up the stairs.

“They say that I am powerless.” Monty continued.

“They call me a ‘Mystery Man.’ They laugh at me. Think they can take what I built and give it to an outsider , because I lack powers! And do you know what I told them? I said they were WRONG. Dead wrong! I said: ‘If you want to see my super-power, look out there…’” He pointed out over the audience.

“‘ THERE is my super-power! My power beats in the heart of every one of my Irregulars!’” He pounded his clenched fist against his chest several times, hard enough to undoubtedly leave bruises.

“ That is all the power that I will ever need! Because with their help and trust, there is NOTHING I cannot build! There is NO ONE I cannot STOP! There is NOTHING I CANNOT DO!!!”

The crowd exploded in louder cheers.

Monty held up a hand, calling for silence and the roar died down immediately.

“And now, Wyatt has an announcement to make.” He held up the microphone to Wyatt, covering it with his hand.

“Go ahead. Tell them about your change in management and how much better they’ll all be without me.

See who they support.” A cruel smile crossed his face, a glint of eagerness in his eye.

“Come on… I dare you , you sanctimonious prick. Try to take what’s mine. It’ll be funny.”

Wyatt thought seriously about killing the man right then and there, but recognized that it would probably be a bad idea.

Instead, he stormed from the stage, and Monty’s maniacal taunting laughter filled the room.

Monty put both hands over his head in victory, then shouted in the microphone.

“Together, friends! Together, we can tear down the Heavens themselves! Walk my crooked mile, and nothing can stop us! THE FUTURE IS OURS!!!” He yelled into the microphone like some crazed dictator, holding up a clenched fist, his overcoat blowing behind him in the breeze from the open hanger door.

“ WHO WILL HELP ME TAKE IT!?! WHO WILL HELP ME TAKE WHAT IS OURS!?! WHO WILL STAND WITH ME!?!”

The crowd cheered louder than ever now, jumping to their feet in support and to volunteer themselves to his service; a wild screaming frenzy of unbridled support and adulation for their boss.

They began chanting “ WELLES ! WELLES ! WELLES ! WELLES !” at the top of their lungs, while pumping their fists in the air.

The entire room began to reverberate with their manic exaltation of the man, until it felt like the building itself might collapse due to their hysteria.

It was as if God himself had come down from on high and was walking amongst his most fervent believers, performing miracles.

Monty put his head back and laughed again. A booming hysterical sound that wasn’t at all pleasant. It was terrifying; raw and unhinged. A madman reaching his audience and realizing how powerful he had truly become.

“ TO THE STRONGEST! ” He yelled into the microphone, then dropped it to the stage like a rockstar.

He held his arms up again absorbing their love, a sinister smirk on his face.

He basked for a moment longer, then jumped down from the stage and began to slowly limp through the crowd, accepting their handshakes and teary gratitude.

The Irregulars began to sing the old hymn “ Bringing in the Sheaves ” for some reason, as though it held deeper meaning for them .

It was eerie. Like something out of a horror movie.

And for the first time in as long as he could remember, Wyatt was genuinely afraid.

Monty stopped in front of him, meeting his eyes.

“I cannot be fired from the Consortium, Wyatt. I’m not trying to take it over.

I’m already in control of it. I have been for quite some time.

I am the Consortium. Try to threaten that again and I’ll use it to rip you apart .

” He started to limp away. “Congratulations on the baby, by the way. My Irregulars on the nursing staff tell me that he’s simply adorable. ”

Wyatt’s control snapped and he went for the man, intent on cutting him down. He formed a telekinetic weapon and threw it at him.

Draugr stepped into the path of the dagger and blocked it with her shield, then bared her teeth at Wyatt.

Poacher grabbed the back of Wyatt’s shirt to pull him away, and leveled his elephant gun at the Viking woman. “Not the best time, man.” Sydney warned Wyatt seriously, gesturing to their surroundings.

The Irregulars had stopped their cheering and were now suddenly silent and watching Wyatt like something out of The Birds . Predatory eyes stared at him. Waiting.

“The man with the most friends wins the fight.” Monty put his fist over his head and the audience boomed with thunderous applause once again, like robots being activated by their operator.

“This isn’t over, Montgomery!” Wyatt yelled after him, his words all but lost in the screaming hysterical crowd. “ This isn’t over! ”

“I agree completely .” Monty turned around, still smiling evilly. “My good man, this is only the beginning. ”