Codename: Freedom - Book 4 - Chapter 23

Cornelius’s men formed up into two separate squad-sized shield walls, forming a wedge with the Ekseliksi elite in its mouth. Limiting the alien’s ability mobility, Cornelius took it upon himself to face off with him. His initial charge had led him past his opponent, only to close the gap in the formation and immediately put on the pressure. He was one of the largest human beings I’d ever met, filling the space with ease.

The Ekseliksi took the same approach he had when I changed tactics. He fell into a defensive posture and received the attack. Only when he was inundated with spears from behind, did he retaliate.

Like gripping a firecracker in your hand, a burst of Othisi ruptured this tight formation. Cornelius braced against the force in a way only the largest of men could. He attacked to keep the alien’s aggression on him, but he moved too late. As water escapes through the crack in its container, the Ekseliksi swam to the place of least resistance, shattering a man’s shield. Grabbing the same man’s spear from his grasp, the alien drove it straight through his chest and pinned him to the ground.

Cornelius was giving chase, but it looked like a boy trying to catch a ghost. Then he stopped and readied his spear. His aura grew red and angry. With a snap of his torso, his spear flew.

Snapping a man’s leg at the knee, the Ekseliksi sensed the combat master’s attack too late to fully evade. He rolled with the incoming projectile, catching it low on his shoulder blade. The weight behind the weapon was enough to puncture the alien’s skin, but not deep enough to make much difference. It fell after impact, and the enemy turned to give Cornelius his full attention.

Lunging forward, the Ekseliksi elite pounded the giant man’s shield.

Cornelius cried out, and in the next moment, his shield hung low. He thrust with his sword, but the alien didn’t bother to dodge.

The monster’s aura dimmed and Othisi burst downward from his palm, blasting the combat master’s legs out from under him. Stomping, the alien’s heel found the back of Cornelius’s neck.

“Dead,” Destiny's voice shuttered.

All this time, Cornelius’s attack hadn’t been alone. What was left of Mel's men had taken positions at a near distance and were taking potshots, and Cornelius’s men weren’t fleeing. They were doing their best of putting up a fight.

I stepped forward and only Victoria stopped me. “Not yet.”

“I…” I hadn’t meant to move, but I could hardly bear doing nothing. Barrell was also painfully absent. I wasn’t under the illusion that he and his men would be able to kill our opponent, but with their speed and psionically enhanced blades, they might be able to wound him further. It might just be enough to make a difference.

“Clear the area,” Kline warned. His tone drew me, and I saw that look on his face. The one he got when his intentions turned lethal. It was a look I understood far more now than when he’d first revealed it. Then I noticed his gear wasn’t what I’d expected. He held no sword or spear, and not even a shield. He carried a large, barreled weapon I vaguely recognized.

PC Dragon Spit 3950

Ammunition: Plas-Pack

Effective Range: 50 yard

Damage Type: Plasma

Direct Impact Damage: 2,800 at 10 yards

Strong Against:

Armor type: Sonic, Metal Alloy Plating, Ballistic

Weak Against:

Armor type: Magnetic, Psionic, Energy

It was the same plasma rifle Destiny had introduced me to.

What was left of Mel and Cornelius’s men did as Kline commanded as best they could. The Ekseliksi elite was still killing them as he pleased. Then Kline’s men stop their advance, and he approached alone. Pulling the plasma rifle to his shoulder he neared using a practiced gait.

I knew he’d been in the military, but I’d never really seen what he could do.

The plasma rifle didn’t have much range, but when he neared the weapon’s ten-yard sweet spot for maximum damage, he stopped and called out for all to hear. “Light him up.”

Destiny anticipated what was about to happen, and my headset responded by covering my ears. Dozens of stealth drones appeared in the sky at his command and vomited steel from their mounted machine guns. They slowly encircled the Ekseliksi elite as they fired.

“Incoming. Move back,” Destiny demanded. I heard her just as well as if I’d been taking a quiet walk in the field.

I made use of Othisi to propel me backward instead of relying on my recovering leg. Just a moment after I moved, six of Harrison’s snuggle-bots roared past me. They stopped just outside the enemy’s main sphere of influence.

Seeing the mechs up close left me marveling at the irony of the name. They may have been small compared to the standard mech, but they stood at least eight feet tall and looked like blocky humanoid tanks. Instead of adding their melee weight to the bombardment, they took a knee and the anvils acting as their feet clamped down onto the ground to add stability.

Unlike during the battle with the goblin soldier, this time they were armed with mounted turrets. As soon as they were planted, a hellish rain of six miniguns joined with the rest.

As archaic as it might seem for modern warfare when energy shields were involved, such a massive amount of firepower was aimed at one target. A target that hadn’t shown any psionic shielding ability since the battle began.

Watching up close was absolutely terrifying and equality elating. I knew the Ekseliksi’s body was powerful, but the attack came from too many directions all at once.

I watched Kline as he stood closer than anyone else and unloaded his rifle as quickly as he could. His men were formed up behind him with their poleaxes at the ready. They were ready to take advantage of any opening.

The pressure in the air shifted and I knew something was wrong. The Ekseliksi elite hadn’t moved since the assault started, so how could he possibly be alive?

There was so much distortion from the countless round bombarding him from all directions, that I couldn’t rightly gauge his current state. Noticing my problem, Destiny found the best angle and brought up a window so I could get a glimpse of what was going on. Even then the only thing visible was a twirling, dirt-colored mass. The only thing I’d ever seen that even compared was a twister?

Pulling back and looking at it from a distance, I saw much clearer now that I knew what I was looking for. The cloudy spiral was difficult to see because so much was going on, but there were yards between him and its outer rotation. He was doing this with his psionic energy alone?

“Everyone, get down!” Victoria screamed.

“Shields,” her directions continued. “Now!”

Even though I was more than a hundred yards from the action, I did as she said and brought up my shield.

There was no concussion or blast. One moment the tight spiral at the epicenter of the assault was growing. In the next, it went wild. Earth and the collected munitions scattered, coving the world in darkness.

I felt numerous small clashes with my shield as I braced myself, but nothing too threatening. It was the idea of one of the cuddle-bots flying backward and crushing me that set me on edge.

“You’re clear,” Destiny said. “Heal.”

Even as I chose to believe her and her many sensors that I didn’t have, being shrouded in a cloud of dirt in the middle of the day was enough for me to keep my shield forward-facing. I also covered my mouth and nose as best I could with my sleeve. My headset took care of keeping things out of my eyes but couldn’t help my breathing.

As things cleared, Destiny did her best to give me as accurate a picture as possible. Some of the images she brought up showed people as an outlined mass, but at least I gained a basic understanding of how things stood. To my relief, the six cuddle-bots had remained planted.

“Eighty percent of the drones have been damaged beyond functioning order, and fourteen of Kline’s men are dead,” Destiny confirmed. “Two of the mech operators as well. Only three of Mel’s men are left.”

“And Kline?” I asked, frantically scanning the area he’d been.

“He survived, but I don’t think he has long…”

It was too much for me to hold back any longer. “Victoria?”

“Your leg?” She replied.

Before I could say anything, Destiny answered for me. “He’s at ninety percent.”

“Keep healing to the last moment, but be ready. It’s going to happen all at once. When you see Barrell and his men begin to execute their attack, don’t wait. Use your best judgment.”

Finally.

“Lucius,” Peter said. “Listen carefully. I can confirm that this elite is of a rarer variety than mentioned in the briefing. We haven’t seen him use any other psionic abilities besides his aura and push because he probably doesn’t have any. That makes him a specialist. They’re rarer, though not necessarily more powerful than the average elite. What it means is that he’s mastered this one ability to a level that most never reach. Do not underestimate what he might be able to do with it. He’s fought other psionic users with more abilities than him his entire life and managed to reach the highest level.”

“Does it change the plan?” I asked.

“No.”

“Then, thank you.”

The cloud of dust cleared rather quickly. The breeze was light but consistent. When the Ekseliksi came back into view, I was pleased to see that he was covered in bloody wounds on his head and torso. His legs and arms were still mostly intact.

Barrell and his men were already running this way at a stalker’s pace.

Then our opponent took a step toward Kline, and all I could do was make a fist. This monster didn’t even have a limp.

My friend lay on his stomach, unmoving. The Ekseliksi stood over him and gave him an inquisitive look. “You must be their field offer, then,” he mumbled. “I will end your suffering.”

As he moved, the four of Kline’s remaining men attacked as one. Their auras were weak and fluttering with inconsistency.

The Ekseliksi hardly spared them a glance. Lifting his hand, he sent a few blasts of Othisi and launched them back. He then stepped forward and swung down.

Kline rolled over in that instant and pushed something into the Ekseliksi’s face.

My lenses dimmed several shades as a large blinding flash strobed into life, followed by a thunderclap.

My gear was enough to shield me from the flashbang’s stunning effects, which meant that I saw Kline's head get crushed under the Ekseliksi’s fist.

The monstrous man stood, squinting his eyes, but far less affected by the blast than he should’ve been.

It was an opening. One I was too far away to take advantage of. As I was thinking Kline’s sacrifice would be wasted, I saw a shimmer, and Hwan appeared at their flank. It happened so fast that I didn’t have time to respond. Whatever weapon Hwan was holding went off a few feet from the Ekseliksi’s face. The ex-virtual assassin flew back as if struck, but the alien’s face rocked sideways in the opposite direction.

Destiny was on it. One of her microdrones sent me the image of the damage done to the Ekseliksi’s face. The flesh over his temple and cheekbone were shredded, and half of his brow was torn off. Yet he wasn’t dead.

What kind of skull does this guy have?

A second window showed what happened in slow motion. It wasn’t the enemy that had sent Hwan flying, but his own weapon.

“What was he holding?” I said, befuddled.

“You can think of it as a shotgun,” her exasperation coming through in her voice. “One meant to only be used by small mechs. His collarbone snapped instantly…”

Another five distortions appeared on the opposite flank like a small firing squad and let loose.

Already alerted to their presence, the Ekseliksi elite called upon a psionic blast. Most of them got their shots off, but the enemy had already moved. As they flew, he came to Hwan and kicked him in the side like an immobile sack.

Destiny showed me an image of him grinning up at this handiwork before his ribs were crushed.

With him taken care of, the Ekseliksi propelled himself across the field toward the rest of the stealth squad.

Then I heard a vengeful shriek. “He left him alive,” Destiny protested.

An image of my friend’s misshapen body appeared. His face was contorted in pain, and the rest of him… It was something I’d been through before. The irony that this was also his first day wasn’t lost on me. I couldn’t leave him like that. I couldn’t.

“Can you?” I said.

Destiny didn’t even hesitate. I don’t know from where she fired it from, but a moment later she showed me a live feed and I watched as something small punctured his chest.

It was done. “Thank you.”

“He’s my friend, too,” she said half yelling.

There wasn’t time for me to think about her words, but I knew it wasn’t just something being uttered by some interactive machine. Her memory of him went back years. The emotions she was feeling with the upgrades my father provided were beyond my current comprehension.

The Ekseliksi elite finished clearing the field as Barrell and his men grew close. Then to my horror, near the outer ring of bodies, a sole person came to a knee. Only one side of Marabella’s golden headset remained covering her brow. There was a nasty gash on the side where it was missing. She didn’t seem to have all her facilities about her, but she wasn’t lacking one thing. Fire.

An arm reached out to her from the ground as she began casting. She mostly ignored the arm and even swatted it away.

The Ekseliksi took the rank F Voli at first without retaliation. He watched her.

I was on my toes, ready to advance. Only the short delay until Barrell’s arrival held me back. That and so many people had already sacrificed themselves to give us this chance.

Seeing the Ekseliksi glance in Barrell’s direction before turning back to her, my heart seemed to drop in my chest.

“My apologies, young Antianeira,” the Ekseliksi said, bowing his head toward Marabella.

Time was too short for him to spend much time on her, but for some reason, he’d paused. And what had he meant?

“Antianeira means ‘a match for men,’” Destiny informed in a hushed tone.

I knew what was about to happen, but I still didn’t move. It was the wise thing to do. We had a plan, a strategy, and much of it relied upon me. That didn’t make it any easier.

As the enemy launched himself toward her, I took a step forward. Then another. He landed beside her, and I tried to take another, but our plan’s necessity was like a chain holding me back. He gave the woman one last look, and she fired a bolt at his face. With a blur, he snapped her neck.

I’d just stood there and let her die. And Kline. And Mel. Vector, Drool, Treetop, Cornelius… Hwan.

The Ekseliksi elite stepped out of the thick littering corpses and faced the incoming attack.

Barrell finally arrived with nothing but his spear in his hand at the head of his men still picking up speed. One man followed him, and another pair came in from a slightly different angle. More pairs circled around, readying to take advantage of his flanks.

I stalked forward out from behind the cover the snuggle-bots had provided me. Heather was hidden near the middle of the attack party with one of Barrell’s best men. There was no truly safe place for her. Only anonymity offered her some measure of protection.

Charging the Ekseliksi head-on, Barrell seemed to offer himself as the first sacrifice to give his men a chance.

The elite met the attack with hand outstretched. Othisi gushed outward to throw Barrell back, but he sidestepped and dipped low. The glancing push still sent him spinning, but he used his reach to thrust out and deliver a glancing blow of his own.

The man following him had lunged to the enemy’s opposite side. His blow was swatted away, but he made it past without taking any damage.

As Barrell and his man-made their retreat, the second pair were already there.

The Ekseliksi seemed to take it as a challenge, dropped his aura, and settled into a ready stance. This time he blocked their moves with a counter Othisi, sending them sprawling.

Heather’s pair didn’t attack but continued circling toward his rear.

The third pair came from the opposite side, and I got to feel the elite’s expert use of Othisi to feel out his surroundings. It was a gentler pressure than the one that came from his aura. It was a use for the ability I used often, so it was easy to recognize. The difference between me and his was the range of his ability. It had to reach more than a hundred feet in every direction.

Even with him reverting to using his physical ability to move, he spun and met each attack with ease. He even seemed to be enjoying himself.

After ten exchanges there were no major injuries on either side, but Barrell’s men were getting the worst end of it. One of his men was limping and more than one had had some nasty collisions with the ground. This pace wasn’t sustainable. It was also impossible to know how much longer the alien would keep toying with them. This was our chance.

Before there was a need for me to say anything, Heather and her man started to move. They approached from the rear and steadied their pace to arrive at the end of another attack.

Everything seemed to be in place. I was ready, and my distance was good.

The Ekseliksi smacked one spear away with his hand, and nearly clotheslined another man with Othisi.

Heather’s man attacked high without any intention of veering off as the others had done.

The elite spun and tilted his head out of the spear’s path. As for the man’s incoming mass, he took it on with his fist, hammering the guy in the chest.

Heather reached out. Her spear she’d abandoned near the end of their approach, so she was completely committed.

The man that had led their charge had gone high, so she went low. Diving toward the monster, she was nearly there.

I began to move.

The Ekseliksi’s aura flared, and he snatched Heather by the arm. Holding her up, he watched her dangle in his grasp. “So you’re the one they were hiding.”

How had he known? Not that mattered. There were no more chances, so I sprinted straight for him with my rank E aura gleaming like a silver flame.

The elite turned toward me as he sensed me coming while still holding her up. I then saw a smirk pulling at the side of her mouth. He was holding her by the naked flesh of her wrist. It must have been enough, for his gaze shot back to her. He was mystified.

It was enough. I propelled myself into the air in a vicious collision course. Covering my sword with Akonizo to bolster its blade, I plunged it into the monster’s kidney. Taking the rest of the impact with my shield, I ignored any damage as he rocked back, and I found my feet. Seeing that he still lacked mobility, I cycled my aura to its peak. With the speed it afforded me, I planted myself behind him and tightened up like a coil. My shield was cocked back to the very limit until I couldn’t hold it any longer. I exploded.

After all the damage our bio-enhanced enemy had taken, his skeletal system seemed impervious. I’d test that theory. With a massive overhand left, the rim of my shield slammed into the spine of his lower back.

He lurched forward, somehow keeping his feet and retaining his hold of Heather’s arm.

If he didn’t stop, then neither would I. I battered his back once and twice more—staggering him each time. On the third swing, my shield cracked. A segment of its rim flew off, so I tossed it and began to cycle like a mad man. Rank E Voli bolts flew from my left hand as Akonizo shot up my sword to reinforce it for each thrust. I’d waited for so long. I’d seen my friends die, and now I could finally respond. I unleashed everything I had. That was my mistake.

The rage empowered, but also blinded me. It was almost too much for me to respond when the Ekseliksi kicked out. Only experience saved me. I’d been casting a bolt when it came. Redirecting it, I fired it between us. Its recoil wasn’t much, but with the added force of the alien’s kick, I fell back and rolled.

Coming up in a crouch, I was ready to go again when I saw him spin and use Heather as a human shield.

No wonder it was taking the Ekseliksi so long to recover. She hadn’t just used a pulse of her ability but was still using it. Yet here he was gritting through it with physical strength alone.

I’d started to move, but she was already within his grasp. With a simple pulling motion, he tore her arm from her body.

She didn’t cry out as I expected but let out a single high-pitched sob.

He was about to do worse when a streak of orange surged in from his flank. It was Barrell without spear or weapon, but his shoulder was covered with a thin strip of Akonizo. Even more than seeing Heather being torn apart before my eyes, I got a sickening feeling as he drove his shoulder into the enemy at the knees.

I’d experienced it before. It was probably better than using Akonizo to enhance your own flesh as I’d once done during my fight with Chewme but by how much? Not only would it turn his shoulder padding into a blade of energy, but the inside of his padding would share the same properties. The idiot had just sacrificed his arm to give her a chance. It worked—and yet failed.

I sent the falling Heather flying back with a push of Othisi. Barrell had likely meant for her to get in another shot, but he hadn’t seen her eyes rolling into the back of her head as she went into shock.

Sending a bolt of Voli into his chest, I bounced back and was ready for him to come. I already knew after watching him move during Heather’s technique and Barrell’s staggering tackle that I couldn’t win. Even after all the damage he’d taken, there was a freshness to his movements, an invincibility, that I wouldn’t be able to overcome.

“Victoria, are you ready?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“Lucius…” Her voice was strained, but I didn’t doubt her for a second.

“Destiny. Call on everything we have left. Help me hold him down.”

A few of Harrison’s stealth drones appeared as if she’d been waiting for the order and started to unload.

“I’ve taken control,” she replied. “They won’t hit you.”

That was all I needed to hear. I rushed forward, sliding below a burst of Othisi feet first. Coming up at his flank, I wrapped my arm around his waist and brought my head in tight. I did my best to tie up his legs with my own, but my grappling experience was limited. As secure as could be expected, I funneled energy into my sword and stabbed at the same kidney I’d punctured before.

He bellowed in protest and took to the air. The stream of Othisi from his legs removed my own from entangling him. Floating a few feet off the ground, we began to spin as he grabbed at my head. Yanking my sword from his side and plunging it back in, he growled.

His hand found the blade of my sword and pulled it out of his side while ripping it from my grip with ease. My aura flashed as I desperately tried to hang on.

Unable to find enough purchase to rip me off, he slammed his fist into the back of my head. Dark spots bloomed in my vision, but I wasn’t about to let go. Barrell may have had the right idea after all.

I struck at his open wound with my fist, covering it in enhancing energy. As it connected with his side, I felt at least three of my fingers break instantly, though I couldn’t be sure it wasn’t all four. Only the bones bracing my knuckles survived.

The Ekseliksi elite’s flight turned chaotic as he tried to reach me and continued pounding me in the back of the head. Then we collided with something, and I had a moment to regain my sense. A dome of energy had surrounded us, and I remembered Destiny’s microdrones.

The enemy I clung to didn’t take too kindly to being trapped. He let me be for a moment to attack the force field, so I happily shoved my disjointed fist back into his side.

Othisi burst from his midsection to force me off, so I cycled to my aura and held on with all I had.

Pushing through the pain, I saw that Destiny was shrinking the dome as we fought.

“Just a few more seconds,” Victoria said. That was all I needed to hear.

Even as the Ekseliksi struck my arm looped around his waist and broke it near the wrist, I let it drop loose and dug my chin into his side while holding tight with what was left of my disfigured hand.

He hit me on the top of the head, almost breaking my grip. Then Destiny brought up the image in the one good lens left of my headset.

The shields surrounding Fort Prodos vanished, but the energy at the top of the tower remained and even intensified.

At that moment, the Ekseliksi went wild. He didn’t attack the surrounding shield with his fist but rocketed forward headfirst with a massive push from Othisi in hopes of breaking out all at once.

The shield broke, but a second one appeared a yard past it and held.

A flash of blue lit up in the window. The Ekseliksi elite stopped struggling. Then from the top of the tower, a small bolt flew out. An instant later, the blue light blanketed the world.

***

At the head of the command room, Victoria stood at the edge of her combat general’s chair. She removed her headset, already sure it had been a direct hit. It wasn’t a difficult shot on a stationary target even from such a distance, but on an enemy that could move with the speed of an Ekseliksi elite? All of it had been necessary. Each and every sacrifice had worn the enemy down to a sufficient level to make the shot possible. It should make stomaching the price of victory easier, but it didn’t.

Half the people in the room were already on their feet and watching her. A few others continue to wait for confirmation. Her long-time communications guy Junction called it. “The Ekseliksi isn’t moving. And he’s… he’s in pieces.”

There were a few relief-filled cheers, but when she didn’t celebrate a hush fell over the room.

Peter was already waiting at her side.

“Everyone,” she said through a mass battalion message. “Thank you for all you’ve done today. Your battle is over, but I promise you mine has just begun. The people responsible for this will not get away without paying a price.”

Cutting the mass message, she spoke directly to the man beside her. “I knew this might happen. That I might be forced to make such a decision but to do it so soon… Did you see Lucius’s face at the end?”

“You’re going to go meet with him?” Peter asked.

“No. I must make this right. Have Liam meet with the Majors individually. He should know what to do. I’m going to start a campaign condemning this ‘approach’ to training in Vanguard without delay. They greatly miss calculated with today’s event. I doubt they expected us to survive this. At most, maybe bunker down and forfeit. So many famous people sacrificed themselves against an impossible opponent that they were responsible for sending. And what they forced me to do…”

Holding up her hand, she watched it tremble before pulling it into a tight fist.

“Oh and Peter, one last thing. I want the elite. They will not use him again against our battalion, or any of the others as far as I’m concerned.”

“That might be difficult to achieve,” he replied.

“I don’t think so. If they know what’s good for them, they’re already scrambling to try to figure out how to make this right.”

***

Aeneus Raptis sat on his cot with his head against the wall of his cell while considering the excitement of his day. He barely thought of his cell as an actual cell. It was spacious enough for him to stretch out, with a toilet and running water. His bed was even larger enough to fit his size, and they fed him three meals a day. His only complaint was the lack of exercise, so when the offer had come for him to fight against the lowly primates, he took it. As far as he was concerned, it had been a lovely use of his afternoon.

When the metal teeth clicked to their open position along the top of his cell’s door, he swung his feet off the side of his bed. It seemed the primates were pleased with his performance or were perhaps here for revenge. The teeth along the bottom of the door and side clicked open soon after, and the door opened inward.

Coming to his feet, Aeneus would meet his enemy head-on. He had no reason to cower.

A robed person appeared at the entrance when a swarm of insects swooped in past them. He prepared to defend himself but wasn’t quick to use his psionics. He was already their prisoner and the only torture he’d undergone was from their endless questions.

When the insects shot toward the ceiling and walls, he grew more confident that they were just some strange technology of the humans.

Once they had him surrounded, the room filled with a tense energy. Then there was movement at the entrance, and the robe was removed by someone standing behind the strange figure.

Aeneus sneered when it was revealed to be a woman. The image was distorted from behind the energy field, but he could tell she was wearing little more than a crop top and the shortest possible skirt. It immediately reminded him of home.

When the woman passed through the energy field, he began to think maybe they’d found him a prize. The woman reveal herself and he was almost certain. Her curves, the smoothness of her skin, and the way she was built were specific qualities of the Epithumia. She might even be a priestess.

Then the women spoke, and he looked her in the eyes. He had a prick of suspicion, but then her words registered.

“Son of the Ekseliksi, why have you betrayed your people?”

He hardened himself against the baseless accusation, then the weight of her aura fell upon him. It was only a twinkle before it was gone, but he couldn’t deny his own eyes.

Falling to his knees, he slammed his head onto the ground. There was no danger of it cracking his skull, but he’d still feel it later. As honor demanded, he reached toward her with his right hand and placed it palm down at her feet.

She wasn’t gentle as she stepped down. Her foot was naked against the back of his hand. He understood the gravity of her words but was also overjoyed. This was a moment he’d never forget.

“I will ask again,” the voice came again. “Why are you helping the humans train their soldiers they’re preparing to align against us?”

“I swear to the Epithumia that that was not my intention. They said I could fight those humans—those primates—and I did.”

“Your words please me, but, due to your circumstances, they’re not enough. I will give you a way out so that you cannot help the enemy, willingly or otherwise. Will you take it?”

“On my honor, with joy.”

“Then son of the Ekseliksi, the Epithumia is proud. Take this knife and slit your own throat.”

Aeneus only dared to glance up enough to see the knife floating on nothing a few feet from his face. He saw the foot of the woman still standing upon his hand and smiled. Taking the knife in his free hand, he waited for the words.

“Glory given,” the woman’s voice rang.

“Glory received,” he said, glancing up to extend his neck and take in the woman’s divine beauty. His aura flared and he slid the knife across his throat.

***

Victoria watched as he obeyed her command. He didn’t remove his longing gaze for her even as his blood spilled to the ground and life fled from him. She’d seen more than enough.

Removing her foot from his hand, she leaned forward and placed her hand on his head. Healing energy poured out of her. She focused on the artery first, and only after did she begin to knit his flesh back together.

It didn’t take long. Soon, he was grasping at his throat hacking while trying to breathe. It was another few minutes before she had him kneeling again. When she was sure his mind had returned to him, she spoke. “You have passed this test of loyalty, and for that, I will find a place for you.”

“Glory twice received.”

She could hear his emotion even with his face on the floor. “The boy who was holding onto you at the end of today’s battle will be your responsibility to train.”

The elite at her feet shifted but didn’t dare to utter his objection.

“I assure you he is Ekseliksi and has pledged himself to me. He isn’t acquainted with our customs, and it won’t be your charge to educate him. You’re not to let on that you’re aware of his conversion. Not even to him. And finally, you’ll treat him with respect as if he were the Teleios own son. Is your duty clear?”

Leaving the room, Victoria felt great relief as Peter wrapped the robe around her shoulders. She waited until the door closed to request for him to shroud them again. When the microdrones were in place, she fell against him, hugging his arm tight. A shudder went through her body as she focused on her breath. A few moments later, she thanked him.

“As real the cube’s simulation is, it can’t outdo real life,” he replied. “You handled things well in there. Do you need some more time?”

“No. Let’s return so I can get changed, then I’ll hear Liam’s take. We bought some resources and freedom to work, but we must make full use of everything available to us.”

Peter recalled his microdrones, then led the way.

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Thank you all for your feedback on the last couple chapters. I've been holding back on going through them to get to this place in the story. I'll be going back over the next day or two and revising. Some of them your comments I've already read and have plans for them. Hehe.

Cheers!