25: Where No Man Has Gone Before
"Quintus – what is the status of our numbers?"
Sydney did not even turn towards the musketeer when she spoke – instead, she remained facing forward, her facial features void of expression as Quintus replied from his position to the right of her massive stone throne.
"They have increased by a third within the day, Commander."
The gaunt woman seemed pleased by this, and she relaxed her rigid posture slightly, crossing one leg over the other.
"Good, good…it will be spectacular when they find us, won't it?"
And Quintus prepared to respond to this adjective, for it –
When they find us?!
"Commander…what do you mean by this? You have said before that you did not intend for your forces to be discovered."
"Oh, of course, not yet!" Sydney exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air once out of exaggerated exasperation. "We are not quite big enough to make the impact that I want…"
"Forgive me, Commander…you do wish to be discovered?"
Sydney's eyebrows creased in thought, and she looked as if she was about to respond, but then did not. Instead, she stared off into the expanse of the chamber before her, and she pondered.
"I wish to be known."
This did make sense to Quintus – for she spoke of it often, being known, being revered as a god or as a supreme being of sorts –
In her exact words, she wished to be "in the history books."
They will KNOW my name –
They will KNOW my face - !
And she would be forever referred to as the great conqueror, the Supreme Commander – she had obsessed over these words so often ever since she had arrived in what was now her throne chamber.
A clockwork leader of a clockwork army was one thing, but a human leader was another – and she had sworn that she, unlike all other humans, would prove herself worthy to lead such perfect beings by obtaining perfection herself.
This was an impossible goal, of course, and Quintus was well aware – yet, he was completely powerless to persuade her otherwise.
She wished to be recognized, to be known as the first to accomplish such a feat – and he would not argue, what she had accomplished was truly magnificent. If they were to be discovered, if she were to be found among her numbers and her forces, her name and image would forever go down in history.
It was what she always wanted – it was what she truly wanted.
Perhaps she had more than one motive, he thought – perhaps she had not shifted the allegiances of the clockwork soldiers solely because of her affection for them, and instead because of this mad craze for power.
Some part of him had known this all along, but recent events had nearly convinced him otherwise.
His Commander had lapsed into silence then, and Quintus did not want to speak again – he did not want to disturb this temporary, yet tranquil period of time in which she would not question herself, in which she would not internally tear him apart, although she certainly was not doing so intentionally.
Yes, if she were ever to be discovered by another, Sydney Underhill would be forever known as she who had conquered the clockworks – and she would carry this stigma with the utmost pride.
Yeah, this takes place during that short period of time that Sydney was kind of able to bask in her own glory before she killed Jewel and became overrun with guilt - I didn't do much with her during this time in the actual story, so I though I might now.
I hope you enjoyed, and as always, be sure to leave a review!
- Severina