Codename: Freedom - Book 5 - Chapter 27

Note: Needs some editing, but you guys have waited long enough.

---

“I’m just concerned that Brendon Black is going to make things difficult for Lucius, is all I’m saying,” Mr. Rachet insisted from where he sat next to her.

Mia and LeLisa’s eyes met. Her fake-ditsy friend rolled her eyes. They were sitting next to each other on one side of the panel where Bolt was on the other side of Mr. Rachet.

“You promised Lucius you wouldn’t be making the same mistake again,” Mia reminded him.

“I’m not saying Lucius doesn’t deserve to be in the top ten. But if he has Brendon hunting him? Not to mention fifteen other battalions that think they can take advantage of their one or two rank D psionic users to defeat him to earn a quick point.”

She took that moment to leaned toward him while glaring. It wasn’t lost on her how comical it probably looked considering her size. And even if she was dressing more maturely, she was more cute than beautiful. She knew it. However, she chose that moment to summon her angry red rank G aura. She hadn’t unlocked her psionics nearly as fast as Greg, but neither had she been as consistent with the herbal supplements.

Never one to miss an opportunity, Mr. Rachet craned his neck while scooting, making it look like panic. He recovered quickly enough, only to summon his own beginning stage aura and lean into her challenge.

Bolt chuckled from the side. “I’m the only one here that is ready to admit that Lucius just can’t compete with the top ten right now, but there’s something that seem obvious to me that everyone is missing. Nothing Lucius has done up to this point has been foolish. He’s not going to stick his neck out just to give his competition a free point. I expect him to stay in the back and wait for his opportunities.”

“You’re wrong,” LeLisa said bluntly. “Mostly. He’s earned his ranking, but as much as I hate to agree with you, I do think Lucius will remain with his men and rely upon teamwork for much of the event. When he sees an opportunity, though…”

Mia squinted one last time at Mr. Rachet before sitting back and cutting her aura. “He’ll swoop in and take it,” she said with a grunt of finality.

“It’s not often that we start off these meta-cast agreeing on something,” Mr. Rachet said with a chuckle. “Lucius will lead his men from the back while looking for opportunities. Brendon Black will be prowling around with several other rank D users hunting the top ten. All while Ebrima Okoro and the Real Major use tried and true military strategy for a sure and steady approach.”

“Yes,” Bolt said, nearly shouting. “Since the battalions are finally facing one another directly, the true military professionals will get to show us why the traditional approach to warfare is superior. Not only does Lethal Accord and The Burden Bearers have experience in real battle, but they also have as many rank D psionic users as anyone else. If I’m being honest, I don’t think this competition will even be close.”

With her aura flashing, Mia asked, “Do you want to bet?”

Bolt smirked, but Mr. Rachet urged, “No more betting. Let’s just say that if your favorite loses, you have to admit something embarrassing live.”

Mia shrugged.

The others ended up agreeing.

Ever since her interview with Kline and Lucius, she couldn’t help but have a bad feeling about this event. She wasn’t just pretending to be grouchy. Afterall, she was a terrible actress.

As the event started, they watched the opening explanation for those that hadn’t been paying attention the last two months. Starting at the center of the open coliseum, they showed off the circle of one hundred podiums with flags hovering above them.

They took turns commenting on each layer until they reached tunnels heading directly to each battalion’s base. There were hundreds of them.

The moment the feeds for each battalion became available, Oren threw up the four major players in the four corners of the wall panel. The only except was the bottom section of the wall in quick twenty smaller screens were lined up side by side in two rows.

At the top was Lethal Accord. The Real Major was lined up at the front of a company with his pshield in one hand and psword in the other. He wore a red on black ballistic suit similar to most of his men.

On the screen next to the first was The Burden Bearers. The formidable Ebrima Okoro Stood at ease with a single squad. There ballistic suits were grey and blue.

Prodos was placed on the large panel below Lethal Accord. Lucius stood beside Mel while chatting. They also had a company behind them with some of the most famous faces from Freedom. Barrell was a little further back standing before a squad that was separated from the rest. Captain Ma, Treetop, Heather Vesper, Isamu… They were stacked.

It was just minutes away now.

Then Victoria was shown marching toward the front line. Her hair was back, and eyes were shining. She was wearing a professional jacket with an attached skirt that extended over her hips but left her bare from the waist down to reveal form-fitting ballistic pants and thin-soled boots designed for psionic users. As she came, the crowd split down the middle.

The moment she reached Lucius, she asked, “Are you really going to do this?”

He folded his hands behind his back and replied, “I don’t believe we can win this while playing it safe if we’re going to win this.”

“Do you understand by doing this you’re changing our entire strategy and forcing everyone else to go along with it?”

“I will act independently of the rest of the battalion. Only, if you need me, ask.”

The Colonel then did something no one saw coming. As if to mock the Major, she pushed herself off the ground with psionics and stared down at the normally taller man. With a deadpanned expression, she warned, “I can’t in good conscience stop you here and now, but there will be future consequences. I’ve encouraged you to take charge in the past, so I admit to my limited fault, but you’re breaking a direct order, Lucius. Do you still insist on going through with this?”

“I must.”

“Then you better win.”

Falling back to the grassy ground of their courtyard between gates, she spun and marched back the way she came.

“What’s going on?” Bolt blurted out. “Is he seriously going off on his own?”

Mia just stared at the screen not knowing what to say.

“What, is he going to try to make a run for the flag?” Mr. Rachet suggested. “Maybe it will work if they can defeat the Manticore King fast enough, but that things like a bloody dragon. And even though he proved he’s now capable of injuring one now, let’s not forget how difficult it was for him in the first event.”

LeLisa didn’t say anything either. She grabbed Mia’s hand under the table and gave it a squeeze.

“Is this as bad as I think it is?” Mia whispered to her friend in hushed tones.

“I think so. But maybe…” LeLisa began when the announcement was made. The third quarterly event was ready to being.

It was then that Lucius cuffed Mel on the arm before walking toward their base’s open gate. There was some space between it and the walled passageway with the Manticore King hiding inside. The rule was that the battalions had to stay inside the walls of their bases until the countdown time reached zero. Of course, not all bases had the same design. Many had fences, and even those that had walls didn’t have anything even close to the thick, several story tall bulwarks of Prodos. The green hum of their psionic shield was already in place over the inner wall and the rest of the base.

“Wait,” Mr. Rachet said. “Is he going to try and get past the manticore without killing it to get a head start at capturing a flag? It wasn’t said explicitly in the rules they could do that.”

Oren saved them some time and brought up a screen over the series of panels to reveal that currently there was energy field at the end of the tunnel that blocked every battalion from proceeding to the next layer. It was only as high as the shorter walls of the maze, but the implication was clear.

“No, he can’t do that,” LeLisa confirmed. “I read the extended explanation that was released. Anyone that leaves the first layer without defeating their manticore will be disqualified. The energy field is just a warning. It’s not designed to physically stop anyone from passing through.”

“Maybe he’s just planning on being the first to reach their manticore,” Bolt suggested. “You saw Brendon Black. He defeated that one in training in less than thirty seconds. Lucius probably just wants to start the battle as soon as possible. The sooner he gets started, the soon the battle is over.”

“That makes sense,” Mr. Rachet agreed. “Mel isn’t far behind with his own men. That guy can probably one hit the Manticore King if he hits it just right in the head.”

“It has a big head.”

“Yeah, maybe a couple shots then with his overcharge ability.”

The two guys seemed to agree when the countdown started.

***

Well, Victoria had sold her part. It wasn’t exactly an enjoyable experience even if I knew it was an act. If I really did fail early on, I wondered what punishment Liam would recommend. I snickered at the thought. The only way this part of his plan would work is if I did well during the event. It was rather strange to think that Liam had that much faith in me.

Glancing at the giant timer in the air, I watched as it ticked down to 14 seconds. There was a blue energy field covering our front gate. As soon as the time reached zero, it would disappear.

“Ready?” I asked Destiny.

A blond with a ponytail and serious expression appeared in the corner of my peripherals. “Your Mule Drones are in place. I’m prepared to flood the coliseum with microdrones for surveillance as soon as we bypass the first stage. Are you ready?”

“I may have eaten too much steak last night. My stomach feels funny.”

She rolled her eyes. “No it doesn’t.”

“Hey, I think I’m started to like this acting thing. Do you think they’d stop the timer if I needed to use the restroom?”

“Lucius, don’t you dare.”

Throwing out my arms and faking a yawn, I said, “I guess it is too late.”

I spied 5 seconds left on the timer and pushed myself into the air.

“You didn’t forget what to do did you?” she snarkily asked.

“I’m supposed to do something?”

“Lucius,” she growled.

2 seconds to go.

I grinned. “I love you, dronehead.”

The forcefield dropped and the countdown ended. I didn’t start things gently or at a slow roll. Grass and dirt spayed as I sped forward. Entering into the canyon-like passage, I felt a sense of comfort that could only come from extreme familiarity. In the last month and a half I’d spend more time in a simulated version of this very place than I had anywhere else. Some event. It was like they were throwing me a welcome home party. Except, someone had brought a pet Manticore King to ruin the furniture and eat the guests.

At no time did I stop accelerating on my approach. I even drew near to one of the walls so that I had more surface area to push against and build up speed.

As I drew near, I noticed this particular Manticore King was taking its time getting up. Either the Devs want it to have a slow rise to its feet to build tension, or it had just woken from its nap. That made the angle of my approach tricky.

I arrived when it was only halfway standing. A massive push against the ground and air before me drastically slowed my speed as I arrived in front of it. Akonizo’s compressed energy formed over a single knuckle. I floated a yard until I was at the side of its neck. It was turning its head, but it had yet to turn cautious. As far as I could tell, the muscles of its neck were relaxed.

I found that place above its jaw and right behind its skull. The angle was a little awkward. A microburst of push gave me the slight adjustment in elevation I needed. My fist flew. Keen energy shot forward with some help form an Othisi push only to be slammed home with Apotho shielding covering my knuckles. It sunk right in. Everything felt just right.

A psionic push sent me soaring over the creature’s back, and any retaliator tail swipes.

Before Destiny even confirmed, I knew it.

“Direct hit,” she confirmed.

“Now that’s how you start an event,” I replied with some celebratory flare.

The moment I came close to the ground, I didn’t look back but propelled myself toward the entrance to the next layer, accelerating as I went.

***

The panel of meta-casters had exasperated reactions all around. Mia stood, slack jawed. LeLisa’s grip around her hand tightened as if she was only able to sit up straight because the smaller was holding her in place. Mr. Rachet slammed his palms of on the table, and Bolt made some noises that went something like this, “Duh-oiy-ah-What?”

The guy with a bolt of lightning panted across his face recovered and asked, “Did he just one hit a Manticore King?”

“No…” Mr. Rachet replied not believing his eyes.

“Yes,” LeLisa corrected in annoyance.

“Um,” Mia started, trying to come up with something but nothing came to mind. She noticed he hadn’t even checked to see if he’d killed it. He simply knew. Then she realized what he was doing. “He didn’t stop.”

“Holy,” Mr. Rachet began before biting his tongue. “Is he going for the flag?”

The next thing he did put Mia back in her seat. As Lucius neared the next stage, he didn’t pass through the gate. Instead, he leaped to the wall of the narrowing passageway before pushing off and sending himself soaring higher to the opposing wall. As if climbing a set of stairs where each step was a story high, he bound from side to side until—

“Where’s he going?” Mia muttered.

“Up,” Bolt stated the obvious.

“But why?” LeLisa pondered. “If he reaches to the top, getting down will be difficult, even for him.” She hesitated before adding, “Although, he did just kill the Manticore King faster that any of us could believe…”

“Look. Prodos is already entering the second layer,” Mr. Rachet announced.

He was right. They’d been so focused on what Lucius was doing that they missed the fact that there was an entire company of Prodos’s finest led by Mel that was already surging into the maze of the second layer.

“That gives them, what? A thirty second head start?” Bolt asked.

“It seems so.”

“Everyone sure they don’t want to make bet?” Mia said suddenly.

Both of the guys ignored her.

LeLisa croaked.

***

As I reached the top of the outer layer wall, I landed at the edge overlooking the entire colosseum. It was massive. The first thing he confirmed was that the banners in front of each outer layer tunnel were actually there. They were. That meant they could continue with the next stage of their plan since they knew where the opposing battalions were.

While I took in the view, Destiny filled the sky with hundreds of thousands of microdrones. These weren’t solely her personal ones, either. Even if publicly Victoria and I were squabbling, there wasn’t a single aspect of our strategy that we weren’t in agreement on. More than that, Destiny wasn’t just controlling her own microdrones. She had the bulk of Prodos’s at her disposal.

“Where’s my first target?” I asked under my breath.

Not far away, Destiny highlighted a banner. It was the one for The Burden Bearers. Our position near each other was no accident. At least the Devs hadn’t placed them right next to us or in the same maze cluster. That would’ve been far too obvious.

A second banner right next to the Forefathers’ flashed. Destiny’s voice followed, “This battalion should have difficulty defeating their manticore, but they’re well organized, so if they reach the maze, they should give them some trouble.”

“Perfect,” I replied, then used a psionic push to clear the gap between walls. There was only about a twenty-five-foot gape between walls, so after the first few, I bound from one to the next. When I reach my destination, I looked over the edge.