Ch. 58: Deterioration – Part 1

A.N.:

Hey everyone!

I am so sorry about the wait. This semester has been one crisis after another and I've been struggling just to keep my head above water.

As of last week, I've finally had enough time to actually write so I am working very hard to make up for lost time.

It is final's week so I have only had time to get the first part of this chapter done. I will try to get it up by the end of the week.

Again, I'm very sorry for the wait. Perhaps, next semester will be better.

Read and review if you want.

After what felt as if it had been an eternity, the titanic entrance to Akira's beach house loomed before me. The mirror-like obsidian surface was as imposing as it was breathtaking in its beauty. Etched into the longsword blade-shaped entrance were mesmerizing tribal patterns that were both intricate and original. However, as I examined the patterns further, I realized that they were not etched into the obsidian at all. Instead, the patterns were actually part of the obsidian itself.

I was taken aback by the revelation. The titanic mountain of obsidian before me was one solid piece of volcanic glass. In both monetary and architectural terms, the entire building would have most likely been worth an untold fortune. It was a shame that it was about to be destroyed. Akira's Telesthetic Signature had been detected inside the building. We had no choice but to enter the structure and try to contain her. However, the EPA's had finally been forced to halt approximately three-quarters of the way up the path. Thus, we had to find an alternative method for getting through the thick main entrance of the building.

"I suggest we try to find the exterior opening of the structure's ventilation network, brother."

I looked at my heavily armored brother where he stood behind me on my right. His Heavy Trooper Armor, once olive green and white, was now black with the volcanic sand and muck that was beneath our feet. Other than the piercing glow of the one functional eye of his ceramic mask, there were not any discernible features beneath the black material that covered all of us from head to toe.

The breaching of the entrance would take time. In the meantime, Akira would escape. If I took a small group of soldiers and infiltrated the structure, we could contain her before she could retreat outside the range of our detection equipment. We had no idea what would be waiting for us inside the building's walls but we could not let this opportunity slip through our fingers.

Looking at my squad, Delta Team, and the F.E.A.R. Operatives, I said, "Prepare to infiltrate."

They replied, "Roger that, Sergeant."

Looking at War Dog 1, I ordered the Heavy Trooper, "Get to work on the entrance. Dark Signal, Wolf Pack, and F.E.A.R. will infiltrate the building and attempt to contain Akira Wade."

The leader of the First Battalion replied, "Roger that, Commander."

While the Replica were readying the demolition equipment, I turned back to the waiting operatives. At their feet were the three box-shaped rope reservoirs that were connected to the massive harpoon-like snare heads of the grapple mortars. Meant to allow riflemen to ascend otherwise non-navigable terrain such as rocky, sheer cliff faces, the grapple mortar used a small explosive charge to launch a stainless steel barbed projectile the equivalent of ten stories up into the air. Despite this, it was lightweight due to the use of high strength polymer fiber wire that was malleable enough to be easily transported in massive quantities but strong enough to withstand the weight of a fully-equipped squad.

Looking up towards the roof, I ordered, "Fire the mortars." I felt the vibration of the shockwave inside my body while the thunderous explosion of the mortar charges filled the air. The harpoon-like projectiles were sent up towards the blood red burning sky at an angle by the shaped charges. Due to the height of the obsidian structure, the stainless steel projectiles just barely managed to clear the roof before disappearing out of sight.

After holstering my rifle by its strap across my back, I grabbed the nearest wire and then jump up and used my weight to ensure that the barbed projectile head had managed to embed itself into a surface along the roof. When I did, I lowered myself down to the ground and then looked at the others. With Delta 1 holding the wire to my immediate right and The Sergeant holding the last wire, they all returned a nod to indicate that their lines were set.

With my rifle securely fastened across my back by its strap, I began to ascend the line up to the roof of the structure. As I did, I heard my wife taunt me through our eternal psychic link, 'Why do you insist on doing things the hard way, Michael? In the time that it has taken to do all of this, I could have transported everyone to the roof and we could have found a way in by now.'

Continuing to climb up the line that was approximately the thickness of a .50 BMG round, I replied, 'Life is a journey. Not a destination.'

She replied with an annoyed tone, 'That is so stupid.'

Irritated, I remarked, 'Besides, you always manage to make most people throw up their insides whenever you transport people your way.'

The incarnation of rage retorted, 'You humans…so fragile…a little time and space warping and suddenly you start purging the contents of your digestive system. Weak…'

Ignoring the intense heat that was radiating through the padded palms of my combat gloves, I pointed out, 'That is just nature's way of saying that getting somewhere the hard way is the right way.'

Alma huffed and then said, 'Nature is boring. Why do things the boring way when you can do it the fun and unnatural way?'

I replied, 'You're just worried that your fat ass would break the line.'

She remarked with a sarcastic tone, 'That hurt so much coming from the closet pervert.'

Irritated, I shot back, 'Child molester.'

The demoness retorted, 'Mass murderer.'

With a childish tone, I said in response, 'Rapist.'

She giggled darkly before she replied, 'You married your rapist.'

Ignoring the fact that I was nearly at the top of the line, I said, 'Out of sympathy! I'm the only person that can tolerate your lack of social skills, the way that you endanger people's lives just to play your little games, the way you manage to corrupt everything that you touch, and the way that you carry yourself with that holier than thou attitude while yet being the biggest pervert out of all of us.'

Alma replied, 'Oh yes and you are such a pleasant person to be around. How many friends did you have for most of your life other than me again? None. I'm the only one that has ever had enough pity to care about you.'

Nearing the short ornate wall that ran along the perimeter of the roof, I remarked, 'Whatever...like I have ever needed or even wanted your sympathy. That way you are always there so that I am never alone…'

My companion interrupted with a voice that was sharp at first but then began to soften as she continued, 'Ungrateful little boy…do you really think that I have ever enjoyed that you insist upon…clinging…to…me…whenever you get nervous…like a…lost child…'

I interrupted with a softening tone, '…that way that you hold me that makes me feel safe even when you are in your child form...'

She interrupted, '…the way that you listen to me when I vent my silly complaints even if you are busy and then remember what I said even when I do not…'

I interrupted, '…that bizarre but funny way that you can always make light of a bad situation…'

She interrupted, '…that gentle way that you look at me…'

I interrupted, '…that beautiful way that your eyes glow…'

By then, I had reached the roof of the structure. Ignoring the intense burning sensation in my arms and legs, I reached out and then hauled myself over the edge of the nearby polished wall. I cried out quietly as the distance between the top of the wall and the surface of the roof was far more than I had anticipated before I landed painfully on my right side. The obsidian surface proved to be an unforgiving cushion for my landing and I groaned as the white hot arcs of agony flooded my body.

As I tried to breathe, the stabbing pain that erupted in my chest indicated that the fall had cracked my damaged ribs. However, as quickly as the pain had overtaken my senses, it disappeared. I was puzzled until I heard the sound of creepy giggling that seemed to originate from every direction. As the soothing frigid sensation filled my worn and exhausted frame, I pushed myself to my feet.

I found myself on the large flat rectangular roof of the Gothic-style structure. Surrounding me was the tall, ornate wall that ran along the entire perimeter of the roof. Even in this low-traffic area, there were eerily beautiful tribal patterns in the surface of the polished obsidian roof beneath my feet that continued along the entire length of the flat inner area.

There, standing before me, was the incarnation of homicidal rage herself. Almost every being in our universe knew her as a demoness; an unstoppable engine of pure carnage and death whose very touch could liquefy a full-grown human being within seconds. However, to me, the powerful woman was nothing less than my symbiotic partner.

While she captivated me just as easily as the day that we had met, I said, "I love you, Alma."

A peaceful expression of contentment appeared on her otherwise emotionless face as she audibly replied with her enchanting voice, "I know…I love you too, Michael."

"Watching you two together makes me dare to dream about what might have been."

We turned to see Akira standing a few feet away. I became alarmed as I noticed that her usually flawless, porcelain-like face was notably worn as if she was suffering from extreme sleep deprivation. Meanwhile, her raven hair had changed into a tangled mess of dry strands that were salt and pepper in color. Even the jet black of her eyes had faded to a dull light grey color.

I heard Alma gasp softly while I asked the dark version of Amara with a tone that was a mixture of disbelief and concern, "Akira…what…are you...dying?"

She gave me the slightest of smiles and then replied, "It seems that prolonged exposure to your universe has had an adverse effect on my health."

Confused, I asked, "How? What is this, Signs?"

Akira corrected me, "You're thinking of War of the Worlds and no…it is not like that. This universe…it should not exist. You and mother have always been enemies…in every single universe that I have destroyed. The fact is that you two should not be like this. Because of you two, this universe is toxic."

Now even more confused, I asked, "Because of us? How does the fact that we aren't enemies make this universe toxic?"

Alma explained, "Michael, in every other plane of existence, you and I have been mortal enemies. When you decided to side with me, you set in motion something that should have never happened. You single-handily disrupted the natural order. As such, this plane of existence is toxic to anyone who is not from this reality."

I retorted, "Then the natural order is a baby that needs to get over itself." Then, I addressed the sickly young girl, "Akira...please...stop this. We can help you. I...I don't know how yet...but...I'm sure that we can do something. It's not too late for you...please...you don't have to die."

She started to reply but then stopped when Alpha 1 and the rest of our backup arrived. She smiled weakly at me and then taunted as she dissolved into a cloud of ash with a tone that had an air of being a desperate plea, "Catch me if you can." Just as she disappeared, our reinforcements reached our location.

With his modified voice, Delta 1 inquired, "Sir, forgive me for questioning your actions, but why didn't you attempt to apprehend the target?"

I explained with a flat tone, "Well, I threatened her with the spray bottle but it had no effect on her."

Everyone laughed briefly before Foxtrot 813 commented, "True, for all of our experience with dealing with the supernatural, we don't actually have a containment plan for this sort of thing."

I reminded everyone, "No human being, normal or engineered super soldier, has ever contained a psionic. Armacham devoted a large amount of resources to containing Alma and we all saw how that went." Then, speaking into my comlink, I contacted Betters, "F.E.A.R., visual contact with target has been lost. Is she still in the area?"

The image of F.E.A.R.'s Field Commander, Betters, appeared in my HUD as he replied from where he was in the organization's mobile headquarters in the form of their heavily modified C-130, "According to our sensors and Operative Sun-Kwon's equipment, the target is still in the area. However, her signature is strange. The psionic energy being given off is fluctuating wildly. I've never seen anything like this before. I advise extreme caution when approaching her. I may just be being paranoid but the situation is similar to Amarillo…and that was only a Level 1 Psionic."

I assured him, "It will not come to that, Becket out." I deactivated my comlink and faced my soldiers. I then explained the situation when I said, "Okay, listen up. Akira's health is rapidly deteriorating. It appears that exposure to our universe and the stress of leading the hellsoldiers are killing her."

Captain Raynes commented, "So, we finally caught a break. We don't even need to contain her anymore. We just need to keep putting pressure on her and…"

I interrupted the F.E.A.R. Operative, "New mission objective is as follows: Akira Wade is to be captured unharmed before her health deteriorates beyond the point of aid. This is to be achieved at all costs. Whichever man or woman that accomplishes this task will be greatly rewarded by me…personally."

While the Spartans all eyed each other all while I sensed them inquiring one another about what the reward might be, Raynes confronted me, "You must be out of your mind, Sergeant. Look, I'm sorry that you feel some kind of guilt for Akira's choices but you are endangering everyone. Just because you are not man enough to do what needs to be done doesn't mean that you have the right to endanger everyone around you."

Keeping my anger in check, I retorted with a steady but icy tone, "Who do you think you are to question me? Do not confuse my compassion for weakness, Captain. I've killed for many reasons and remember all their faces…I hear their screams in my head in the silence of the dead of night…however, do not for a moment think that I will hesitate to look you in the eyes as I kill you."

Gesturing with my left hand at the nightmare that our world had become, I said darkly, "Look around you, soldier."

I returned my left gloved hand back to my rifle's grip and then continued, "What is one more body? I could kill you and no one would care. Now, you have two choices. One, be a good soldier and do what your superior tells you to do. Two, I execute you for insubordination. This is not a fucking democracy. I will not tolerate challenges to my orders. You are either with me or you are my enemy!"

For a moment, I thought that the F.E.A.R. Operative would heed my warning and fall in line. I did not want to lose the captain. Raynes was a seasoned veteran and a very valuable asset. However, I could not allow a weak link to undermine our forces by spreading its poisonous doubt and dissension through the ranks like an aggressive form of cancer. Soldiers followed their orders and followed their commander to hell and back no questions asked. It was the unfortunate aspect of any military organization that soldiers were expected to be as close to being robotic as a human being was capable of without losing themselves in the process.

However, Raynes started to raise his G2A2 Assault Rifle. I had no choice. Raising my rifle with my inhuman reflexes activated, I took aim and fired a single round into the operative's forehead. I deactivated my reflexes while keeping an eye on the remaining members of the Second F.E.A.R. Team while the body of the former soldier collapsed into a heap on the obsidian roof. To my relief, they did not move to avenge their executed leader. Meanwhile, the Spartans showed little to no reaction to the death of the traitor.

"Brother, over here." Lowering my assault rifle, I turned back to my left to see Alpha 1 a few feet away. When I walked over where he was, I saw that he had found what appeared to be a natural air circulation vent that was cut into the otherwise seamless surface of the roof. The rectangular vent was large enough to allow two full-grown men to enter the building. However, I could not see anything but pitch darkness beyond its threshold. There was no telling what would happen when we jumped into the abyss. Certain death was more than a very real possibility.

Giving into the madness that had become my life, I said to my heavily armored brother, "Well, let's see how deep the rabbit hole goes."

He laughed for a moment with his repeated grunts before he replied, "Right beside you." Then, together, we jumped into the abyss.

As we began to fall through the pitch dark ventilation shaft, I heard Akira say as loud and clear as if she was right beside me, "If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't."

I mentally sighed. With Akira's health deteriorating, her already dangerously loose grip on her sanity would soon be broken. The madness contained within her horribly tortured psyche would soon bleed over into reality. The upside was that I now had a chance to travel through her exposed psyche and find the part of her that was still worth saving. The trace of who she had been before she had been corrupted was still there, I was certain of it. It was a slim chance but it was better than nothing.

Even better, with Akira's control over the hellsoldiers slipping, the entity that had been pulling the strings all along, the one that Alma and Akira had both mentioned several times but refused to identify, would be forced to reveal itself in order to keep the leaderless demonic creatures from breaking rank. When the entity revealed itself, whoever or whatever it was, it would finally be made to answer for everything that had happened not only in our own universe but also in the countless number of alternate universes that had been destroyed.

We were the last plane of existence and our world was all but destroyed. However, as long as we clung to life, we would have our revenge upon the one that had forced Akira to do its biding, killed every other version of ourselves, and plunged our world into the nightmarish hell that threatened to consume us all. The Looking Glass had been shattered and Wonderland had become a twisted nightmare but the entity would soon learn that Alice and her friends were not broken.

Through our link, Alma commented, 'Indeed...my Wonderland is corrupted and the Looking Glass has been shattered. The time for tea and crumpets is over.'

I taunted my wife, 'Alice...what have you done now?'

Her only response was a frightening, evil giggle that echoed through the dark abyss.