Codename: Freedom - Book 4 - Chapter 50

It wasn’t just the bolt casters in the tower above we were running for cover from. The tower stood over the second and third level of courtyards. We’d bypassed the second level, but the third was even larger than all the combined courtyards of the second. It was almost as large as the entrance, and the force there was nearly the same. Seeing two hundred footsoldiers with who knowns how many officers in their midst, we couldn’t afford to get that entire force after us. We’d end up trapped in the tower instead of turning it into a position of our own power.

We found three footsoldiers dead in the base of the tower. Hwan’s stealth group had taken care of them.

An officer was left and flailing wildly at the invisible enemy. He saw us, immediately changing targets to the ones he could see.

The stealth team had given him a wide berth except for one who had stalked around back of him. As soon as the officer repositioned his feet, HandshakeDeath was upon him. He didn’t use any aura, for that would’ve alerted the enemy to his position. His movements were fluid and quick. Cupping his hand over the officer’s mouth, he struck upward. Only after his thin dagger had pierced the skin did his blade glow orange.

The simulation Ekseliksi simply wasn’t ready for the sudden thrust placed high on his neck and driven up into his head.

A rank F player had just finished a rank E enemy with so little effort. He wasn’t anything like what I imagined a coldblooded assassin to be. He was tall and thin framed, so he could be a bit intimidating, but he was really a shy guy, that second guessed himself a lot. His skill was undeniable though.

I wasn’t sure if he was watching me, but I gave him a smirk. The last time we had spoken, I’d said I was glad he was human and struggled with the things the rest of us mortals do. I knew the other guys had spoken to him as well. He was still here.

“That was beautiful,” I said in hushed tones. “You guys secure this area. We’ll clear the top.”

Without waiting for a response, I set off bounding up the spiraling staircase. At a glance, I was able to see four footsoldiers and two officers above. Destiny’s micro-drones were once again proving their worth. “Let’s split them. You ready to give it a shot?”

“Is now really the time?” He asked.

“It’s the perfect time. Do you really just want to hold yourself back during the entire battle, only to try it once or twice at the end once you’ve worked yourself up, or force yourself to do it early, so by the time we’ve reached the top, you’re casting it without thought?”

“I’ll do it, but it takes me a lot of focus, so let’s clear the top first. Leave a footsoldier for me to practice on.”

“No. You’re going to use it on one of the officers. That’s where it will show its true effects.”

He was already cycling his breathing as we ascended, but I still thought I could make out his indecisive sigh. “Okay, let’s do it.”

“Great. If you can build some proficiency early, today should go much easier for us.”

As we neared the top, the Ekseliksi were waiting for us. We could see their figures highlighted through the walls and ceiling.

The last step I took before reaching the top was without aura or Othisi. Instead, I’d covered my shield in Apotho. The door at the top of the stairs was made of thick wood and opened outward. I half expected a flurry of bolts to strike the door, but they waited for us to make the first move. Foolish.

There was one footsoldier standing directly in front of the door on the other side about three yards away. Another was behind the door and hoping for a sneak attack. The two remaining footsoldiers were on the side that the door would open. They were there to hold our attention while the others got easy kills. The officers seemed to just be hanging back. One wasn’t even watching the door, but the courtyards below.

I hated to have all the fun, but Mel needed to focus on executing the new layered technique he’d been working on. It really did have the promise of making today’s battle much easier. He was far more assertive than he used to be, even with himself, but it would be a few hours, once his adrenaline had settled, that he’d finally feel comfortable giving it a shot. What were friends for except to push each other when they needed a little push.

Aiming as best as I could with a little help from Destiny’s prediction system, I took a forceful step, and erupted through me and out my shield. Apotho’s shielding energy smashed the door and sent its pieces flying. The middle section actually hit the footsoldier standing in the way, thought not with much force. The top third swung out and smacked the would-be assassin in the head. As for the two that were supposed to meet me head on, I ruined one’s ankle with Phantom Fist and charged the other shield first.

Without sensing any bolts forming, I let my aura shine and removed the footsoldiers from the equation with a whirl of footwork that took me from one side of the entrance to the other.

Mel stood in the doorway looking for a target, but each fell as he turned to face them.

“Focus,” I called. He didn’t need to help me with these low-level guys. “I wouldn’t even have any problem with the officers at this range. But there was one thing he could do that I couldn’t.”

I was on the first officer, forcing him to backpedal into the one whose attention was elsewhere. For all practical purposes I’d pulled aggro. In other words, their attention was on me, and they were irate.

The surest and easiest approach for me to take was also the funnest. Charging my shield with Apotho, I lunged forward. Shield Blast pressed him into the other’s shield.

They managed to stay standing, so I charged another Shield Blast and waited.

“Now,” he cried.

I pushed myself sideways. A bolt that wasn’t much bigger than a normal one but of a much richer silver color struck the closest in the shield. It then proceeded to dance uncontrollable for a few seconds. The one behind it seemed stunned as well since he’d been in direct contact with the first, but he didn’t lose complete control of his body.

“Nice,” I called, placing a Phantom Fist to the side of the first officer’s head. It was his mistake to forget I was there.

As it dropped, I stepped back. “He’s all yours.”

Most of Mel’s hesitance had disappeared. A bolt was already forming in his hand. I couldn’t track his internal energy flow well from my current distance, but I’d helped him develop this new technique, so I had a good idea what he was doing.

Using simplest terms, he was layering one bolt with another. If it worked like most layered techniques though, there would technically be two bolts that flew when he cast it, but that wasn’t what happened at all. Instead, the first bolt’s energy gathered in his hand. The second pushed through him and out his palm like normal, but the gathered energy reinforced, or overcharged, his second bolt as we’d found out it was called. The Real Major was able to do the same thing except with Akonizo weapon enhancing. It was one of the things that made him so dominate among the other peak rank E users.

A second overcharged bolt plunged into the remaining officer. At this range, despite the guy’s shield, he lost control of his body and fell to a knee.

“Again,” I encouraged, but this time he didn’t need it.

A third bolt struck home. This time without the shield between them. It took a fourth one to kill him outright, but Mel had obviously broken through much of the mental barrier that had him keeping this technique in the experimental toolshed instead of his combat arsenal. It wasn’t at the level of a rank D bolt, or anything, but it certainly surpassed a normal rank E bolt which was the limit most of the players and the simulated enemy was prepared for.

I gave him a firm smack on the back after we’d officially taken the tower. Seeing his grin— one that held a new glimmer of self-expectation—I felt a bit of relief. As confident as I was that I could probably pull off what Victoria would call me to do on my own, it was still going to be a constant challenge laden with danger. Finally, I had one of my Captains back at my side.

Nothing about what I was feeling caused me to think any less of Barrell. If I was honest, this was good for him. He didn’t have the confidence problems Mel and struggled with and had his own way of pushing through. He’d get plenty of action today, anyway. Once he broke through to rank E, it would be like old times again. By Vanguard’s second major event three months from now, things would be as they should.

I contacted Victoria.

“Sit tight,” she replied. “We’re going to push hard along the same path you guys took. A team of sharpshooters will join you soon. Only when our main force reaches you do I want you guys to make your presence known. You’ll be on the move after we get a sure footing on that level. I’ll be sending you to the next position.”

Turning to Mel, I took a moment to ask. “Need a heal?”

“No. Unless it can heal wounded pride.”

“We could try.”

He put his knuckles to his mouth to muffle his laughter. After he’d got it out of his system, he replied. “Thanks.”

I knew he was talking about me pushing him to use his technique. “You’re buying the steak next time.”

“Done.”

I held back from contacting Kline and Barrell to tell them Mel owed us a dinner. They were in the middle of battle after all.

It didn’t take long until my mind returned to the fates of my men. Destiny brought up the count at my asking. Seventy-one of our men had died even if two hundred and thirty-seven of the enemy had. Yeah, the math worked, but it wasn’t the kind of numbers to be happy about. “It was only a simulation,” I kept telling myself.

The room we were stuck in for a time was round with paneless windows all around. I glanced out one looking up at the numerous courtyards above and the main building at the top of the hill. Not only would many more of our men die overly realistic simulated deaths, but there was a real Ekseliksi waiting for us. Waiting for me.

I didn’t know who he was, or why he was here. He wasn’t a murderer of civilians, or he’d already be dead. He may have been like Krato. An honorable soldier. An enemy, perhaps, but also someone to respect. It wouldn’t stop me from what I was going to do.

Placing my hand over my chest, I purposely recalled the sting. He’d soon reveal it. Victoria would see it. So would his friends, his men, and the world. They would see his resolve. He’d make them feel it.

***

When Mia had seen Lucius help his friend Mel. It was so in character for him that she would’ve expected no less. The other’s had accused her of forcing fake tears, but she’d always teared up easily since she was little. She knew she was an oddball. Most people didn’t even believe her when she said her over the top expressions were just her being her. They thought she was putting on an act. She’d even won unofficial awards for her great acting skills in the past. It wasn’t that she’d never tried to act. She was just terrible at it. So she stuck to her bread and butter, being her. It put her in many awkward positions but none of them bothered her. Not since her early years on the commenting scene where she was just a bubbly teen in love with gaming and all its sparkles.

She glanced at LeLisa. The blond was the true actress. They knew each other behind the scenes when the makeup was off. LeLisa was the furthest thing from airheaded a person could be. She had a dozen characters she could choose from at the drop of the hat, but the real girl was laid back, a smooth conversationalist, and a lover of fashion—and boys. Their tastes were completely different, which limited competition and allowed them to get along even better.

It explained why during one of their breaks, LeLisa and insisted Bolt switch seats with her. The two girls were now side by side, watching the battle of battalions. Her friend squeezed Mia’s hand under the table as Lucius and Mel jumped for wall to wall as they headed to another prime sniper position.

She’d told LeLisa about the proposal she’d made to Lucius—and how it had failed spectacularly. Neither of them had had much luck in the love department. Mia had dated top celebrities before, but it had been a long time since she’d felt butterflies before even meeting the guy. There was no chance of it going anywhere, she knew that, but it was still fun to dream. That was one of the things that had gotten her into commentating in the first place. She had always dreamed big and had wanted to share her thoughts and feeling with the world.

“As long as they keep energy funneled to their pshield refinement belts, they are practically invincible,” Mr. Rachet insisted. “It’s when they have to use other skills that they are vulnerable. This is what, the tenth sniper position they’ve taken? The fifteen? They been lucky up to now.”

“Lucky?” LeLisa objected. “Mel’s nearly died twice, and they had to fight there way to a position where Lucius could heal him. And the only reason there hasn’t been more is because they’re moving so fast.”

The timing was perfect. As she said it, the pair leaped from the top of a forked bulwark and were virtually running up a wall faster than most could run on level ground.

“He’s not trying to diminish their skill,” Bolt said, playing the peacemaker for once. “If it wasn’t for those two, Prodos could’ve very likely been out of the competition already. They just don’t have the firepower to face the Ekseliksi head-to-head with the rank E officers in the mix. By the next event, they’ll have far more people that had broken through to rank E and things will be closer.”

It's not like they could argue with the current results. Prodos was sitting at the seventh rank with the points it had earned. Their low placement was mainly because they’d lost close to four hundred people. Lethal Accord was sitting comfortably on top, and many of the battalions that hadn’t been given much attention yet, were scoring much better than anyone expected.

“Look there,” Bolt said, directing their attention. “The Real Major is nearing the entrance to the main building. He and his men should be facing the Ekseliksi Centurion soon. First place will soon be decided.”

As much as Mia hated to admit it, there really was no way for Prodos to catch up. At least it looked like they’d be able to complete the event. More than twenty battalions had already given up, and it was estimated at least half of them wouldn’t make it. It was still possible for them to fail, though. More than half of their men remained, and they’d defeated just under fourteen hundred Ekseliksi so far. It was six hundred versus six hundred and one Ekseliksi Centurion waiting for them at the end.

She watched as Lucius and Mel took a small courtyard all by themselves. Mel had stayed at Lucius’s back early on, but after hours of fighting, they were now fighting side by side. Without having to think so much about his overcharged casting, Mel was able to focus on the finer details of their skirmishes. He still relied on his bolts to do damage, but he was now moving around and making use of his shield.

Once clear, they had a little oasis overlooking a few layers of courtyards without any clear vantage looking down at them. It was another chance to rest as they took some well-placed shots at the enemy below. Soon, a stealth squad would join them, giving them a few more snipers. Rail-rifle rounds had been especially effective on officers whose attention was elsewhere.

“Do you think the Real Major will try to face off with the Centurion alone?” Bolt asked.

“He better,” Mr. Rachet replied. “I’ll reduce his style points on LeLisa’s behalf if he doesn’t.”

She gave him a sarcastically appreciative grin.

“Do you think it will be a close fight?” Bolt seemed sincerely concerned.

“Did you lose your confidence? Isn’t he your guy?” Mr. Rachet jeered.

“Yeah, but you saw Mia’s interview with Lucius. He might be cocky, but he made a good point. If this is a real Ekseliksi Centurion, then the other enemies they’ve faced today have been toys. If he’s just equal to Real Major in strength and skill, then the Centurion’s experience might win out.”

“Come on man. Why are you making me defend the position you’re supposed to be championing? Major Jeff Wright is the real deal. Two Metal’s of Honor. More tours of duty than most squads have combined. He’s fought and defeated the Ekseliksi before we even knew psionics existed.”

“Good point.”

Mia saw her chance to level the playing field in the minds of their viewers, even if just a little, so she took it. “But can he defeat a Centurion with psionics alone?”

Bolt growled in frustration. “And that’s the question. Are you saying Lucius can?”

She gave a playful shrug. “We’ll soon find out.”

Whether he could or not, she only dared to hope, but even if Prodos didn’t place well on the scorecard, they could still be one of the main winners in the hearts of the fans. It might not win them as many SP in the short term, but in the long term it would be worth far more. Lucius had been a little clumsy in how he handled his sponsorships. That didn’t matter, though, because he was putting in the work. As long as the event’s finale went well, she might as well have her producer to make use of some of her sources to give them a little helping hand. Lucius was easy. Mel would have a big pull after today, and Kline would be an easy sale even if he hadn’t participated today. There were about twenty of them that came to mind immediately, and others that wouldn’t take much spin to get things going. She could become an unofficial sponsor of Prodos while she was at it and do a series of interviews with some of the better and lesser-known players.

Once the idea had got rolling, she gave Oren that look, and he knew exactly what to do without a word passing between them. She might not have much luck in the love department but was very good at what she did.

She leaned over to LeLisa and gave her a little side embrace. The taller girl glanced down at her and knew she was up to something. She might as well have sprayed the perfume of money. They both smelled it and her friend would follow her lead.