The Diversion

The following takes place following: The Resistance

It was a starry night over Widdlington, with a full moon casting its pale glow across the city. Emperor Travers was making the most of it, lounging on the balcony of his office and admiring the view as he received his 22:30 oil change from some random broad.

He sat proudly in his new, top-of-the-line electric wheelchair, requisitioned from the children's hospital and heavily modified. It had been pimped out with gold plating, a supercharged motor, and a custom IV stand to hold the constant saline and electrolyte drip keeping him hydrated.

His gaze wandered across the skyline, settling on the newest jewel in the city’s crown: a massive golden statue of himself, recently commissioned to "lift his spirits." The statue was outrageous in its scale and decadence, visible from every corner of the city. Floodlights lit it from all sides, while a full company of Travers Troopers stood in tight formation around its base, the whole scene glowing with moonlight — a monument to ego and madness.

Travers: Now that is a thing of beauty...

Girl: Whhrrttt??

Travers: Not you… Travers. 😏

Suddenly, the door to the office opens behind him, and Mr. Konrad's voice calls out.

Mr. Konrad: Emperor Travers!?

Travers, suddenly keen to speak with him, gestures for the girl to stop. She backs up as he fiddles with the controls of his extravagant wheelchair. In attempting to turn around, he accidentally reverses straight into her. With a surprised yelp, she stumbles backward — and tumbles off the edge of the balcony.

Oblivious to the incident, Travers shifts into forward gear and zips back inside.

Travers: Kyle! Where the hell have you been? Your absence has been out of turn.

Mr. Konrad: Apologies. I had some errands to run and was... delayed... Your Highness. Would you please put your... thing away?

Closing his robe, Travers begrudgingly covers Travers Junior.

Travers: Well, you did interrupt my oil change! And I’m not the only one who should be apologised to — you owe her one too!

Mr. Konrad looks puzzled as Travers waves vaguely toward the now-empty balcony. Travers turns to look and blinks.

Travers: Oh... I guess she left already...

He shrugs it off.

Travers: Anyway! Never mind that. What do you think of the masterpiece?

Mr. Konrad walks over to the window and gazes out at the massive golden statue of Travers gleaming in the moonlight.

Mr. Konrad: Well... it's very you.

Travers: Isn’t it? I had it built to cheer myself up. The whole Master Devlin turning on me thing really had me bummed out. They finished it in record time too! Even by Widdlington standards!

Mr. Konrad notices a report lying open on the Emperor’s desk. He frowns as he skims the figures.

Mr. Konrad: Seventy-seven million pounds… and seventeen lives lost during construction.

Travers: Details, Kyle. Tell me what you think of it. How does it make you feel?

Mr. Konrad: I don’t really feel anything about it, sir — only that I think it’s a wildly unnecessary expense, especially with us teetering on the edge of economic catastrophe.

Travers: Wildly unnecessary?? Kyle, you are speaking—

Mr. Konrad: —out of turn? Yes, sir. You've said.

Travers: 😠

****

Meanwhile, at Widdlington Immigration Detention Centre, an octopus Master Devlin has infiltrated the air ducts, making his way toward the security room. A rotund man lounges back in his chair, watching the security monitors. The Master slides down the air vent grate, grabs the man by the face and neck, and starts choking him out. The Master lets go once the man is unconscious and slouches back into his chair.

The Master goes up to the monitor and security system to check where Ermintrude, Dr. Fraser, and Dr. Reddington are being held. He sees Ermintrude locked in her infirmary cell, looking a lot better than before. He also sees Dr. Fraser and Dr. Reddington locked behind a force field in a separate private wing. All three appear to have their own accommodation rather than being integrated with the rest of the deportees and asylum seekers.

The Master switches off the alarm system and moves to switch off the security camera system when he notices the general population wing has been turned into a slave labour camp, with a mix of sweatshops, work camps, and blood mining. The Master takes a copy of the security tape before switching off the security system. He drags the security guard away and locks him in a cupboard. Then he makes his way back through the air vent and emerges outside, where he meets Goblin Slayer, Wesley, Dr. Trelawny, and some former FOXHOUND special forces operatives Kaz managed to recruit.

Wesley: How’s it looking in there?

Master Devlin: Well, I’ve located Ermintrude, Dr. Fraser, and Dr. Reddington. They’re fine. They have private accommodation... But—

Wesley: But what?

Master Devlin: There’s something else sinister going on. A labour camp or something.

Wesley picks up the radio.

Wesley: Commander Miller, come in?

Cut to the sewer system beneath the Industrial District of West Widdlington.

The FOXHOUND mercenaries have set the last charges and returned to the rendezvous point.

Merc: Charges are set, sir.

Kaz: Good work.

Wesley (over radio): : Miller, do you copy?

Kaz: Miller here. Go ahead, Wes.

Wesley: What’s your status? Over.

Kaz: Charges set. Awaiting the Boss’s order. Over.

Master Devlin (over radio): Execute.

Kaz: Copy that, boss...

****

Back at the Citadel, Travers is punishing Mr. Konrad by beating him with a shoe.

Travers: You sniveling son of a bitch, Kyle. How dare you speak to me that way, you little motherfucker, you...

Mr. Konrad (cowering on the floor): I’m sorry, sir.

Travers: You’ve spoken out of turn, Kyle. What have you done?

Mr. Konrad: I… I spoke out of turn…

Travers: You’re damn right you did...

Travers relinquishes.

Travers: I feel better! Thank you, Kyle. That’s just what I needed... This calls for a good oil change! Now, where’s that girl that was just here? Um... I don’t suppose you know what her name was?

Suddenly, Travers and Kyle are blown back by a shockwave, followed by the sound of an explosion in the distance, which smashes all but one of Travers’ windows. Travers stumbles to his feet and rushes over to the balcony, where he can see a cloud of smoke erupting from his statue as it collapses and falls to the ground below. All the troops standing in formation around the statue have perished.

Travers: WHAT?? NOOO. My beautiful statue. The traitors! I've been attacked!

Mr. Konrad: Oh nooo. That’s a shame. Maybe you should send your arsenal and Waldobeast to investigate.

Travers: You’re damn right I will. That’s the best idea you’ve had all week. WALDO!!

The Waldobeast is perched on a ledge further up, scratching the initials "wF" into the side of the building with his sharp beak. Hearing Travers' summons, the Waldobeast swoops down and smashes through the one unbroken window.

wB: You called, bossman?

Travers: You know you can use the door, right?

wB: Fraid not, sir. Dragon-bird brain won’t have it...

Travers: Hrrmm. Anyway, I need you to go and investigate that explosion.

wB: Umm... nah... Can’t be bothered. To tell you the truth, we’re bored with all this stuff. We’d rather go back to selling pocket watches.

Travers: Come on, Wally. Do your old emperor a solid!

wB: What’s in it for us?

Travers: I dunno. What do you want to sweeten the deal? Hey, how about this... I’ll pay you! Kyle, do we have petty cash lying around?

Mr. Konrad: 😳 No... No, I think we’re fresh out.

Travers: Hmm.

Travers starts rummaging through his pockets. He opens his wallet, and a bunch of moths fly out. He eventually finds a crumpled £5 note in his pocket.

Travers: Will this do?

Waldo, instinctively remembering he’ll do almost anything for £5, accepts. He takes the money and flies out the window.

****

Back outside at a safe distance, Kaz and his team watch as the Travers statue crumbles to the ground.

Kaz: Outstanding...

At the immigration detention centre, Goblin Slayer and the team of former FOXHOUND operatives breach the front entrance. The FOXHOUND operatives move in first with silenced weapons. They cut the power to the first section. Any Travers troopers present are quietly picked off.

Squad Leader: Check those corners.

They clear the route to the infirmary quarters. Goblin Slayer pushes ahead, checking each window for Ermintrude. He eventually locates her room and makes short work of the locked door. Ermintrude is heavily sedated. Without hesitation, Goblin Slayer lifts her and carries her out.

Master Devlin: Coast is clear. Get Ermintrude to safety. We'll keep looking for Dr. Fraser and Dr. Reddington.

Goblin Slayer nods and moves out.

Back at the diversion site, a large concentration of Travers troopers arrives to investigate the scene.

Kaz watches through his binoculars as the troops assemble.

Kaz: Do it.

A second explosion erupts—obliterating the gathered Travers troopers.

Travers sees the blast from his balcony.

Travers: What the fuck is happening here!? KYLE!! Things are exploding out of turn!

Mr. Konrad: It must be Wally, sir—blowing up the treacherous rebel scum.

Travers: Oh... right. Yes. Good observation, Kyle. (chuckles)

Meanwhile, the Waldobeast is wandering the streets of Witherfield in a dirty trench coat, trying to sell his pocket watches and other wares. Civilians are screaming and running away in terror.

wB: 😔

Season 7 continues in TBD