Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character

Jett leaned casually against the wall, maintaining his calm demeanor. "Alright, Rey, what's really going on outside? All I know is that we have a traitor and they've already started making their move and apparently, I'm being dragged through this mess blindfolded."

Rey folded his arms, scrutinizing Jett as if deciding whether to trust him. "I don't know how much you actually know, but…" Rey glanced at the guards still nearby, his unease growing. "I need to ask you something, and I need you to be honest. Did you do something to get John on your side?"

Jett raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

Rey's eyes narrowed. "He's acting weird. Too weird. I never told him about the attackers' motives. All fourteen of us are the only ones who know what they were really aiming for nd we made sure to keep it that way but he suddenly acted like he knew. And now he's letting you out?"

Jett's smirk faltered for the first time, though only slightly. "Interesting," he muttered under his breath.

Rey took a step closer. "Listen, if John's not what he seems, you're probably the only one who can catch him off guard. He thinks you're his ally, doesn't he?"

Jett's eyes glinted with realization as Rey's words sank in. "That would explain why he was so eager to make me an 'offer,'" Jett mused, half to himself. "If he's the real traitor, then he probably thinks I'm his secret contact."

Rey's jaw tightened. "Which means…"

Jett finished the thought with a sly grin. "Which means I have leverage."

Jett took a deep breath to think about the whole situation carefuly. "Alright, Rey. If John thinks I'm his accomplice, then we need to play along, for now. But you need to keep your distance and act like you're suspicious of me. That'll make it easier for me to gain his trust."

Rey hesitated. "And what happens when he finds out you're not really his ally?"

Jett shrugged, his grin unwavering. "Then I improvise."

Rey groaned. "This is insane."

"Exactly my style," Jett replied, giving Rey a wink.

Rey frowned but didn't argue further. "Fine. But I'm not leaving you alone with him for long."

Jett nodded. "Fair enough. Now, let's see what our 'friend' John has in store for me."

"One more thing," Jett added.

"What?" Rey replied, not ready for anymore plot twists.

"The sky won't miss you when you're gone. Get Asher you interrogate those guys from before until they spill it." Jett instructed confidently.

"What the hell are you talking about? No one speakes to them unless its…" Rey tried to explain.

"Unless it's John?" Jett interrupted with a knowing smile.

Soon Rey started seeing the pattern too, "Oh damn, I'll get him to do it."

*****

As the five minutes ticked away, John returned with a confident stride, flanked by two guards. His eyes flickered briefly to Rey before settling on Jett.

"Well?" John said, his smirk returning. "I trust you've made peace with your friend. Shall we move on to more pressing matters?"

Jett matched his smirk, stepping forward. "Lead the way."

John's gaze lingered on Jett for a moment, trying to read him. When he didn't find what he was looking for, he turned and gestured for Jett to follow. Rey trailed behind, his mind racing.

*****

The group walked through a dimly lit corridor that led to a secluded chamber. John waved the guards away, signaling that he wanted privacy. Once inside, he closed the door and turned to Jett, his tone dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

"Alright, enough playing around. What's your real purpose here?" John asked, his eyes sharp and calculating.

Jett tilted his head, feigning ignorance. "You tell me. You're the one who put me in that accursed place. My mission was a simple one but you couldn't do your part."

John's expression tightened. "Don't act coy. Even if they sent you here, you should've known that there's only so much a puppet like me can do, you just had to push it by killing the king too early. And that's why haven't you acted yet? And now you boldly agreed to be the traitor even when I gave you a chance to freedom, you fool!!!"

'I can't believe it's actually working. All those acting classes finally paid off.' Jett smiled inwardly, 'I hope you're hearing this too Rey, those doors aren't thick enough to stop you from hearing.'

Rey, who was lingering near the door, stiffened at the mention of the Vond kingdom. 'A puppet?' he thought, his suspicion solidifying.

Jett leaned forward slightly, his voice low and laced with feigned authority. "Let's just say my priorities have shifted. But I need you to confirm something for me, what's the next move?"

John hesitated, clearly debating whether to trust Jett completely. Finally, he said, "The fragment. The Laxen are desperate for it. If they get their hands on it, this entire kingdom falls."

Jett masked his surprise but filed the information away. 'A fragment? So that's what this is all about. Hold on… Could he be talking about… Never mind, probably just my imagination.'

Rey, who was listening intently, realized this was the critical clue they needed. Now it was a matter of exposing John without blowing Jett's cover.

As the tension in the room thickened, a loud commotion echoed from the hallway.

"What now?" John barked, spinning toward the door.

Jett did nothing as he watched as John stormed away. 'Whatever happens next, stick to the plan,' Jett reminded himself.

As John turned sharply on his heel, his boots echoed against the stone floor. Before stepping through the heavy iron doors, he cast a final glance over his shoulder. His piercing gaze locked on Jett. "I'll be back, and you better get your priorities straight."

The doors creaked open, and just before they shut behind John, Jett caught a fleeting glimpse of Rey lingering nearby. With a subtle sideways nod, Jett silently urged him to hurry up.

Rey hesitated for a moment, scanning the area for any lingering guards before swiftly leaving the corridor. Once he was certain he was alone, he pulled out a sleek ring and activated it.

*****

-Rey-

"Hey Asher, where are you? We need to talk."

Rey paced impatiently as he waited for a reply, his brow furrowing when no response came. "Come on, Asher," he muttered under his breath.

Nearly thirty minutes passed, the silence gnawing at Rey's nerves, before the device finally buzzed.

-Asher-

"What's the matter? I had something to take care of."

-Rey-

"There's been a new development with John and Jett."

They both went quiet for a moment.

-Asher-

"Really? I've got one too."

Rey froze mid-step. "You found something?"

-Asher-

"John's the traitor."

*

*

*

I think i rushed this chapter.