[i]Two Days Later.[/i] “Callous people of Floodland, hear me!” Pyroshark began. He wore a simple white T-Shirt and blue denim jeans, which almost concealed the big Army-Grade boots he wore. The bastard himself was back, as Corbec had seen him all that time ago with the first Death Game. He looked far more haggard though. Corbec wasn’t surprised. It must be hard to fight the world’s strongest power, he reasoned. Pyroshark had grown out his hair it seemed, his brown hair now hung around his ears and his skin had a strong tan to it. He was clearly unshaven, and a little more burly since the last time Corbec had seen him. “Vengeance has come for your disgusting treatment of the lands you occupy illegally!” He paused, hatred in his eyes. “Every life you’ve taken. Every last child who died because of you. Every home burnt by your troops. Well this! This is our revenge! The destruction of your “Western Tower,” the nerve centre for your oppressive DCP, is our outcry! Our outlet for the hatred we feel for you!” Pyroshark took another pause, calming down. On his left arm was a black armband displaying a clenched fist in white, grasping a sword. The same insignia was seen on the black, wall-filling banner behind him. He stood with five other people, some women, some males. They all wore black clothing, and bright white hockey masks over their faces. “You see, we are The Forsaken! Those left to suffer and rot while you grow fat and indulgent! But we, you know, have suffered more than any person ever should…” The others around him removed their masks, revealing their identities. Each one was a survivor of the annual Death Games, a young man or woman forced to fight each other to the bitter end, but all on live television for amusement. “But it hasn’t ended! Righteousness has only one allegiance, and that is with the oppressed! So I urge the oppressed people of the occupied nations to rise up! Fight the Floodian monster wherever you see him!” Pyroshark nodded to the man beside him, who walked off with one other person, then came dragging Sniper McGee-the Floodian Minister Of Defence-and his wife into view. They were naked, bound by ropes and gagged by tape. Both showed signs of a terrible beating. Sniper McGee’s light brown hair was matted with blood, probably his own. Next, Pyroshark calmly took a pistol handed to him by one of the Death Game survivors as Sniper and his wife were shoved to the ground, facing away from him. The Death Game survivors gathered around seemed to be smiling. Sniper McGee’s wife was whimpering quietly, while Sniper himself just scowled at the ground. Without saying a word, Pyroshark raised his pistol. [i]Bang![/i] The pistol roared, spraying Sniper McGee’s brains onto the floor. His wife started to scream, but Pyroshark adjusted his aim and calmly blew a crater into her head as well. Pyroshark looked up from his grisly work. “This is war, Corbec.” Corbec turned off the his PDA, and along with it, the recorded video that Pyroshark’s new gang, “The Forsaken,” had distributed. He sat leaning against the big old Oak tree that shaded Sally Sabar’s grave. He yawned, looking up at the last, dying blue light of the day. A slight, cold breeze slid through the clear midsummer evening, rustling leaves in the trees. Corbec didn’t look much older, despite the trying times while he held the Floodian throne. His short blonde hair was still soft to the touch, and his blue eyes still had the power to charm a lady. Fairly tall, he was dressed in an immaculate black pinstripe suit, and wore gleaming black leather shoes. Only a quick walk away was the William Watts Mansion, a two floored house built in the Italian manner, decorated with stucco and a front entrance and tower in the baroque style. Owned by a multi-millionaire oil tycoon, the man who had originally offered for Sally Sabar to be buried here. For the past two days, MI5 Director Xbox Halo Guy had insisted that Corbec remain hidden away in a secure bunker in the middle of nowhere until the danger had passed. It was only now, two days later, that Corbec was allowed to hold a press conference at the William Watts Mansion to address the situation. It had certainly been an eventful six years while he held the throne. It seemed a lifetime ago, back when Corbec made a plan to secretly murder the true Royal Family and take the Floodian Crown. (A point worthy of note is that Pyroshark is the only living person, excepting Corbec, who knew of this scheme.) Then Corbec rescued the voluptuous Sally Sabar at that time, and then Undergroundica marched its Army across Northern Floodland, before Corbec-now leading Floodland-struck back and conquered the attacking country. Of course there was when Corbec and Sally managed to almost single-handedly stop the rogue “Grizzled Ancients” before they raised an unstoppable army. But then, after the invasion of Septagonia, the abominable Pyroshark began his terrorist campaign. Aiming to capture Corbec and key Cabinet Ministers, Pyroshark attacked a meeting between Septagonian leaders and Floodland. His attempt failed, but he killed Sally instead, robbing Corbec of his one true love. A year after that, Corbec had come up with a groundbreaking idea: The Death Games. Once a year, young people were snatched from the streets without warning and forced to fight until only one survived. And until now, it had served its purpose well. The wider public of the Occupied Territories were frightened of being selected for the Death Games, especially since details were never released as to how many there would be per year. And, with that fear in mind, most of those who would’ve revolted were scared into submission. However, quite the furore developed in the wider world over these Death Games. The International Community, a collection of rich industrial powers, was quick to condemn the Floodian Empire for the Death Games, and immediately stopped trade with Floodland until the Death Games ended. With no rich, prosperous markets to trade with, and the high costs of maintaining its armed forces, Floodland faced an economic crisis. However, Corbec devised a cunning plan. The International Community relied on Oil to operate, and almost all of that Oil came from poor countries, with too little money to pick who they sold to on moral terms. So, Corbec went on dozens of diplomatic visits and showered these poor countries with praise and what money he could spare. The end result was he bribed them. Seeking to help their new friend, the poor nations slashed costs of Oil Imports to Floodland for the next fifty years, and cut supply to the International Community by 75%, while tripling their prices to them overnight. Suddenly paralysed by Oil shortages-and therefore energy shortages-the International Community was forced to end its Trade Embargo after only a month. This had been a vital point in Floodian Imperial history, as not only did it mark a significant and shrewd victory over the International Community for Corbec, but it won him even more support from his people, and the strong friendship of the leading Oil Producers. Of course, all that hard work was wasted now. The Floodian Industrial Average was plummeting, the Stock Exchange lay in ruins, and Corbec’s best economists predicted worse to come. Corbec rubbed his chin, searching his mind for a solution. What he needed was a quick and impressive victory that would unite the Empire, and divert its attention from what was going wrong, even for just a short while. “You bring news?” Corbec said, watching Xbox Halo Guy dashing over from the Mansion. Xbox Halo Guy was the head of both the Foreign and Domestic intelligence departments-MI5 and MI6 respectively. He was a very short man, and with an analytical nature almost verging on sinister. [Edited on 07.08.2007 1:07 AM PDT]