Chapter 27
Day 112
Maya and Kharkov sparred together at The Fields, it was already afternoon and they planned to fight until sundown. Maya's unrelenting pressure towards Kharkov were all useless as the man was constantly dodging and parrying all her attempts to even touch him. He would duck down, move his head left or right, and sometimes moved around her. Still, Maya was the same student when she came in, she would never give up and continue to give unrelenting effort on her training.
Far from The Field, overlooking the two with clear vision was Searcher Red, observing and seldomly blinking. Searcher Red was at one of the many trees that surrounded The City of Stone, situated at a large and thick tree branch that had the leaves covering him from being seen. He kneeled down with one knee, a notebook at the thigh and a pencil at the hand. The constant pencil taps to the chin shows that he was reviewing his observations. From time to time, he would jot down key notes that he felt important then observed Maya again.
"You always have doubt in her, don't you Red?" A foreign voice said.
Searcher Red stopped his observation and looked down. The Host stood at the ground; looking up.
"And you always have the habit of coming out of nowhere." Red said.
"What are you doing there, Searcher Red? Why do you observe here at a tree when you can simply go to The Fields and look?" She asked.
"I don't know." Red put the notebook in his pocket. "Just wanting to get some perspectives on things."
"If perspective is what you want, your Host can explain a few things that are unclear" Akari smiled.
"Uhuh?" Red jumped down from the tree branch and landed safely behind Akari. "I'm afraid that you're going to tell me the same reason over and over. Oh Searcher Red, there are things that you won't understand… Familiar much?"
"Well, I have my reasons for that, just as you for your reasons doubting Maya."
"With all due respect, Host Akari, I don't believe that she is The One." Red raised his hands. "Since we have a vote on this and the majority is not me, well, apparently she is The One."
"Hmph, are you still not settled on the day that she almost killed you?"
"I'm settled on that, but I'm not settled on this." Red showed his small pocket size notebook. "In the span of seven years, going through numerous cases of Sirens, Maya is not special. Sure her lineage might be pure but that doesn't translate that everything's good when you think about it."
"Is that all, you doubt her because that lineage doesn't justify her position as The One?"
"That, and the amount of certainty that you and Kharkov have on her, don't you guys have a single doubt? Sometimes, when I look at it, you both are outright desperate, wanting her to be The One."
"Things are not as simple as it seems." Akari said softly. "Just like the Eridians, things are more complex than you ever could comprehend. Faith is rarely easy."
Red rolled his eyes. "You're doing it again."
Akari approached Red and put her hands on his shoulder. Red furrowed his brows and looked at Akari with confused expression. Akari breathed in and looked at Red straight to the eyes. "Now tell me, what do you disagree about?"
Red pushed her hands softly and moved back slightly. He took out his notebook and started to skim the page. As he read it, he started to walk around.
"After seven years, 71 candidates . Out of all of that, 25 percent were Majoris, equaling, 17 Sirens. Out of those 16 Sirens, excluding Maya, six candidates that are better than Maya in every way. Six candidates where me and Kharkov were absolutely confident to be the best Sirens to fulfill our cause, you outright decline saying that they're not fit.
Red closed his notebook.
"There's something I'm not seeing here, it just doesn't connect." Red concluded. "It's been a hundred plus days and she is still weak on her Nonua, she still struggles on things that she should be competent by now. The six candidates had mastered at least one subject now and Maya mastered none. You and Kharkov are still certain that she is this person who is like a messiah that you called The One. It doesn't make sense."
"Those six candidates are not as pure as Maya." Akari said. "They may be better, the best even, but take account of her lineage, her virginity, her innocence to worldly influence, things change immediately."
Red closed his eyes and breathed in. "If that is the case, then it would be better for us to take in her instead when we had the chance."
"Who? And I hope that person is not who I think she is."
Red opened his eyes. "If we had known lineage is the number one thing that you want, then Alesia should've been the number one priority. In fact there are records about her experience in Terra Hewina. So she is more qualified to be The One. More than Maya who spent most of her life in The Abbey."
Akari's face turned bitter. "What did I say Red? Do not ever mention her name." The soft tone suddenly disappeared. "She is a threat to all of us."
Red turned to look at her. "She's dead."
"Even if she was alive, she would never care about the Siren cause. I have made this very clear, never mention her name again and never tell Maya about her history, no matter what." Akari warned, her voice felt suppressed anger at the tone. "Do you understand?"
"Even her achievements?"
"Especially her achievements!"
Red thought deeply about what he was about to say, then he answered. "I understand, Host Akari."
Searcher Red bowed down to The Host. "I have cooked enough food to hold a few days when I'm gone, tell Kharkov to heat it up from time to time. I need to go, Host Akari."
"Where to?"
"Pandora. My sensors are giving me signals that someone is at The Gate. I came here to take quick notes and I'm done. I'll get going." Red nodded to her. "See you soon."
Akari adjusted her throat and spoke the soft tone that she used to. "I hope that your travels will be safe as usual."
Red raised his hand and left the place.
As he walked to the light, exiting the cave, he had his hands holding an SMG. Iron sights were the choice and Maliwan was the brand. Expecting organic life, he changed the ammo type to fire. His steps were cautious and tense, expecting explosive movement if the situation arises. He wore his eyepiece and it detected a beating heart in front of the cave. Also to be mentioned, he detected a vehicle behind the person. Red cracked his neck and prepared himself for combat.
Arriving in front of the cave, Searcher Red stopped moving and discovered the person who was waiting. A light bearded man, who's hair was chestnut blonde with a Dahl rank on his forehead. He calmly leaned at his vehicle, smoking a cigarette and playing with his zippo. Red has forgotten his name but he recounted that he had met the man before. Regardless, Red still had his SMG raised no matter what.
"Sup, remember me?" Said the man who was smoking. "It's Axton."
"Ahh yes, Axton." Red nodded and turned off the safety trigger. "What's your business here?"
"Woahhh, calm down Red, mind lowering your weapon first?" Axton motioned his hands down.
"Sorry Axton, I have strict protocols that I have to follow, nothing personal. What do you want?"
"I need your help." Axton said.
"Me or more than that?"
"Which one is the right answer?" Axton threw away his shortened cigarette and snickered.
Red sighed and turned on the safety trigger. A smirk was formed and he shook his head, this man really can loosen a tense situation. Red lowered his SMG. "Very funny, tough guy."
The SMG disappeared from his hands and his shoulders were no longer tense. Red could feel that Axton was no threat. He approached Axton and Axton approached him. They shake their hand when they are close enough and all doubts are gone. Axton had his cheeky smile while Red still had his serious face.
"The Hero of Pandora, here in the flesh." Red said. "How can I help a person like you."
"The fuck does that mean?" He sneered.
"I heard the news, it's all over Pandora, you killed Alesia."
"Yeah, it's been seven months and I'm still not used to it." Axton looked up at the Hyperion base. "And Hyperion is still at Pandora so I don't think I deserve it."
Red looked at the same direction and saw the Helios Space Station was still orbiting Pandora. "Really huh? Just wanting to tell you, that my boss is getting a lot of problems receiving payments. Plus you killed one of our guys."
"Are you mad about it?" Axton looked at Red.
"Nah, AE4 was kinda prick, nobody liked to work with him, so there's something positive." Red shrugged. "How did you know that we're here?"
"Well, one of my boys keeps reporting to me that this is the last known spot that Maya left. Thought I want to check on it and I got a feeling that you guys are still here. So I've waited and turns out I'm right. What the hell are you guys doing at that cave?"
"Personal long term training." Red looked at Axton. "The body is here but the soul is at another place. Eridian Magic. That's all I can say."
"Well, well. Since it involves two guys and one gal and a cave, can I join in?" Axton humoured.
"Meh, I don't know if you measure up." Red riposted.
"Ooooooohhhh nice comeback…" Axton pushed Red shoulder. "Alright, I trust that Maya is safe."
"Good, so what do you need helping?" Red went straight to the point of their meeting.
"Remember when you talk about after effects? When we first meet, you still remember that?"
"That doesn't sound good." Red's voice suddenly become deeper.
"Well not that bad…" Axton scratched his beard.