Unknown Location
2005
"You need more work on your aim, son."
"I said don't fucking call me that!" Creticus fired back at the Superior. He threw down the pistol he was holding at his feet.
The Superior's mouth formed into a thin line and he exhaled through his nose. "Why do I even bother with you?"
"I don't fucking know. You're the one who decided this was a good idea!" Creticus stormed out of the training room, teeming with anger. The Superior didn't say it, but the boy was making progress. He internally smiled at seeing the darkness in his eyes. Soon, the tides of the coming war would turn to their favor.
The Superior followed closely behind Creticus as he marched through the halls of the Superior's private facility. "Why are you following me?"
"You're not done with your training."
"I am!" Creticus turned to face him. "This is all pointless. What if the resource war never comes, and you're wrong? I'll have wasted all my time with this worthless training. What the fuck am I even training for?!"
"You'll figure it out once everything goes downhill."
"That's what you've always told me since the day I arrived here!" He shoved him away, hating the mere presence of him. "You're keeping secrets from me. You haven't told me what I'm training for, or where the fuck this place even is. I'm done."
Before the Superior could say another word, Creticus rounded a turn into the dorm hallway and disappeared inside his room.
Creticus remained standing in the center of his dorm, staring at the door. He knew the Superior was still standing outside, but he wasn't going to open the door. Once his shadow swept away from under his door, Creticus sighed, feeling the perpetual weight on his mind lift. He drove his hand against the steel wall, causing his knuckles to bleed. This whole thing was a lie. He only pretended to hate the Superior, but really, he didn't want to stop the training. It wasn't even training. The Superior was showing him interrogation methods on captured enemy soldiers or rebels. Showing him the quickest way to kill someone, or the slowest. The Superior wasn't manifesting his skill. He was manifesting his darkness.
Creticus looked at the door, then outside his window, where the fall leaves and dead tree branches scratched against the glass. He threw open his window and leaped to the ground, avoiding the gazes of any security cameras. He didn't recognize the place he was in. He'd never been outside of Texas, and the entire plane ride he'd been blindfolded. Whatever the Superior had to hide, it was deadly. His back pocket suddenly felt heavy. He produced his magnum caliber from his back pocket. It was the only thing left from the life he didn't remember. He did know it was passed down from generation to generation.
Creticus looked up at the sky, the sun setting behind the distant mountains and casting long shadows along the landscape. "Why did you leave me?"
He remained standing in the same position before disappearing into the nearby forest that lay nestled between the mountains. He checked his magnum caliber to see if it was fully loaded, then crouched down into the bushes and waited. A pack of wolves moved past him. He aimed at the alpha, and then pulled the trigger. The pack, frightened by the sudden sound, bolted, but the alpha limped, his back leg bleeding.
Creticus pulled back the hammer of his magnum and approached the wolf, feet crunching against the grass. The wolf noticed him approaching and bared his teeth, snapping at him. Creticus aimed and fired his gun again at his other leg. He wasn't trying to kill it. He was drawing out the process as much as possible. The wolf was howling out in agony at this point. Creticus pressed his knee against the wolf's rib cage, keeping him pinned to the ground. He tightened his fingers around his snout, blocking his airway. The wolf struggled and twitched in his grasp, and after several long moments of agony, it died.
Creticus kicked the wolf away, leaving it for larger predators.
The darkness had become an addiction, and he could no longer resist it. From that moment, he knew he would forever be a pawn - a prisoner to his own darkness. Eventually, he would become just like the Superior. It was only a matter of time until he ruined someone else's life.
"We go in, and we fight as a team," Etrius said, bringing his team together and shutting up the arguing. "We go back out into the facility and take out the guards in each building towards building 12, then finally Lloyd and Nox find Angel."
Lloyd and Nox gave each other deadpan glances, and Etrius rolled his eyes. "You two have the best chance of finding her. She'll recognize you two if the Superior did something to her memories. Whether you like it or not, she's also part of this team, and her power is a threat to humanity in the wrong hands. Get your shit together, and let's find her!"
After getting their shit together courtesy of Etrius, the team ran out of the monitoring room and back into the hallways. This time, they pounded and shot their way through the guards and stray soldiers. Boomer was the first one to remain behind, guarding the building so the others could go through. Next was Etrius. Beecher noticed a sniper perched on top of a catwalk with keen eyes. He had his sights on Lloyd. "Lloyd!" He shouted, bringing him to the ground. The sniper fired, lodging a bullet in his shoulder blade. He collapsed to the ground, bleeding out. The General noticed everything happening in slow motion. He moved in front of the fallen rebels, aiming his revolver. He launched a bullet into the sniper's forehead, and he collapsed forward over the catwalk, landing on the ground with a thump.
Beecher was bleeding heavily, a red puddle forming on the floor beneath him. He ground his teeth together, noises of anguish grounding low in his throat. Etrius ripped off a piece of his shirt and used it as a gauze to stop the bleeding. "He needs medical attention."
"We can't pull back now!" Lloyd argued. "Not when we're so close."
"Beecher just took a bullet for you, you son of a bitch!"
Nox couldn't wait anymore. "I'm going ahead. Whether you all follow me or not is up to you." Without another word, she darted into building 12.
"Nox!" The General shouted after her, but she'd already vanished. "She can't be alone with him. The rest of you, pull back. I'll find her."
Etrius dragged his hands down his face. "What the fuck is it with this team and running off?" Regardless, The General took off after Nox.
Nox darted into building 12, eyes darting wildly around the room. It was surprisingly empty. She didn't have her powers anymore, but there were times when she could sense Angel's power in the air, like fog signaling a coming storm. She couldn't even feel it this time. Her eyes darkened. The Author was wrong. She wasn't in building 12.
Without warning, the doors shut behind her, and all the windows were barred shut. Nox whirled around, seeing the Superior standing behind her, glaring at her with eyes of unspeakable evil. He looked like a monster.
Nox held back the scream rising in her throat. She raised her sword, but the Superior was faster. He backhanded the blade out of her grip, seizing her throat with ice cold hands, sending shivers down her spine.
In seconds, he removed all weapons from her belt and pockets, completely disarming her. "So, you're the one who created the hybrid with that swordsman."
"Go to hell." Nox spat, launching the bottom of her foot into his stomach. It didn't phase him. He backed her against the wall, pinning her in place. He suddenly looked twice as big as she did, and he knew every struggling move before she did it. His covetous gaze turned lustful as his eyes traveled down her body. She could almost feel it like a physical touch, and it sickened her. "Let go, creep!"
The edges of the Superior's mouth tipped up. "The Crystal Shard gives me enhanced strength, and knowledge of the Ancient race." In one motion, he yanked her swiftly against him, his breath hot on her cheek. "I know exactly where to touch you, Ancient. I can give you so much more than that bastard swordsman."
Nox opened her mouth to shout back something rather vile, but the Superior crushed his mouth against hers.
Nox tried to kick and bite, but he only laughed and held her closer, suffocating her with a passion that had boiled inside of him for weeks. Her stomach was in her throat. She couldn't breathe. His mouth moved from her lips to her neck, and he bit down hard. Nox screamed Lloyd's name, but he slammed a hand over her mouth.
The next few seconds were about to get interesting.
Without warning, a blast of light exploded between them. Nox was shoved against the wall, and the Superior was hurled across the room by an invisible force. Nox looked down at her hands, but it wasn't her powers that did this. She glanced at the door. Blue stood with her hands extended, the same light fading away into her skin. She glanced down at them, then ran to help Nox to her feet. "Are you alright?" Blue's voice was shaking. "I swear, I didn't make him do it. He's out of my control."
"It's- It's okay." Nox stood to her shaking knees. "I've survived worse shit." Then, she realized something. "I'm sorry if me or Lloyd said anything before. We need to work together if we're going to live through this."
They glanced back at the Superior's still body. "He won't give us answers." Blue assumed. "And we can't waste our time here if Angel is somewhere in the building. Let's go. We'll deal with him later." They took off down the next hallway. The Superior was barely awake as he watched the Author leave. He smiled.
The General burst through a pair of double doors, finding another lab. He cursed underneath his breath. Minutes felt like hours, and he hadn't even found Nox yet. The hallways to get to the lab portion of building 12 were empty. Almost as if the Superior wanted them to find him. Footsteps. Behind him. He whirled around, aiming his gun and pulling the trigger. The woman standing behind him raised her arms, a protecting force field appearing around her and catching the bullets in the field. The General's breath caught. It was just like so many years ago, when he first captured Nox back in Jacksonville. He recognized the eyes glowing with fiery, silent rage.
"Angel?" The General recognized some of her features, but she was... older. Ten years older. He lowered his weapon. "What... Did he do to you...?"
Angel's eyes softened as she gave the man a second glance. Despite herself, she couldn't help but think he looked familiar. His face, his voice, even the weapon he had in his hands, now pointed away from her. He dropped it to the floor and raised his hands, in a gesture that showed he meant no harm.
She shook her head. Of course he's familiar. The Superior warned me about him. He's the enemy. But... Can't bring myself to take him down. Why?
The General fearlessly took two steps towards her. "You look so much like Nox. And Lloyd. Whatever The Superior did, you're safe now. Let's go home."
Angel's first instinct was to raise her shield. She took a step back. "Stay away from me!"
The General's brows creased together. "Angel?"
Angel raised her shield, her heart rate accelerating. "Stay back!"
The General put the pieces together, and his heart plummeted. "No..." Acting quickly, he radioed in the team. "Nox, Lloyd, It's... I've found Angel."
"WHERE?!" They both demanded in unison.
"Something's wrong. She doesn't remember me. The Superior did something to her. She's in-"
White hot, blinding pain shot through his spine. The floor rushed up to meet him, and he collapsed on the ground. His bones aching, he whirled around, seeing another familiar silhouette with glowing blue eyes. The General's eyes widened. "It's... not... possible. You're supposed to be dead."
The man knelt down to his level and grabbed the back of his neck, pinning him against the floor. "I'm disappointed in you, old man. Disappointed in my own creator. I'm so much better than you ever were, and ever will be."
Angel relied on her instinct again and ran between them. "Arthur, stop! We don't know who-"
Arthur shoved her away. "I know exactly who he is." He thrust an accusing finger in The General's direction. "This son of a bitch ruined my life - our life! You're just going to let him live!?"
Angel had to think quickly. She wanted to question the stranger, but she couldn't do it if he was dead. "The Superior wants him brought in alive. Control yourself!"
Arthur blinked away the light in his eyes. He looked down at The General, at his mercy. With a powerful blow, he knocked him out in one punch. "Fine. Bring him to the prison rooms. I'll be giving this bastard the worst treatment. And don't try to stop me this time." He cast her a warning glare before leaving the room. Angel glanced down at the unconscious stranger, a trickle of blood running down his forehead. Arthur had mentioned someone in his past who ruined his life. If this was the same man, and he looked familiar to her, it couldn't be a coincidence.
Nox and the Author darted through the halls of building 12. Nox had lost contact with the General and was slowly going insane if she didn't find them. "Alpha 2, come in! Come in, Alpha 2!"
The Author slowed to a stop, and so did Nox as she noticed. "What's wrong?"
The Author stared down the hallway they were in. "Do you... hear that?"
A low, guttural growl resounded from the opposite end of the hallway. "Rrrrraugh..."
The Author held her breath. "Evils. I sense them."
Nox's eyes narrowed. "You sense-?" She was right. A crowd of fifteen Evils ran along the walls and ceiling, their blank eyes staring ahead. Their claws grew longer, and Blue could only imagine what they were meant for. Blue was paralyzed, but Nox was better trained to handle situations like this. She grabbed the Author's arm, wrenching her out of the hallway and away from the crowd of evils. They came across Lloyd and the rest of the team. Lloyd ran out to meet them halfway, about to ask if they had Angel. But as soon as he saw the hungry Evils coming after them, he turned and ran the other way. Boomer grabbed Beecher and carried him with superior strength. But Evils crawled in through every vent and corridor. They were surrounded.
Etrius drew close to his team, firing at any evils that came too close. But they weren't focused on the team. They were focusing on Blue. They clawed at her shirt and hair. One of them grabbed her ankle and tried to yank her into the crowd. She screamed, and Lloyd took its head off with a swing of his blade. Etrius pulled her against him, acting as a protective shield from the onslaught. For the first time in her life, Blue felt like she was in real danger. She'd watched movies and played horror videogames, but non could surpass the feeling it was to be on the brink of death. "BOOMER!" Etrius shouted.
"On it!" Boomer reached into his belt with his free hand, unhooking a grenade. He unclipped it with his teeth and hurled it into the crowd. Etrius covered Blue's ears as the explosion shook the room, creating a clear path to the door. Before she evils could shake off the shock, the team was through the doors and out of the facility. Nox ran faster than the team and started up their humvees. Boomer hurled more grenades while Etrius fired his uzis at the army rushing out of the facility. As soon as they reached the humvees, they sped back to base, eventually outrunning the evils.
Blue's heart was pounding. "He's... He's cloning them. I've never seen so many."
"Where's The General?" Etrius searched around his team.
Blue glanced back at the retreating form of the base. "Captured, I'm guessing. He saw Angel. Her memories are... gone."
Lloyd dragged his hands down his face, his shoulders shaking. Nox ran her hands through her hair, which had become undone in the battle. "God, why..."
Blue's eyes scanned everywhere as she searched through every possibility running through her mind. "I'll bring her memories, back. When all this is over, I'll rewrite everything. I'll fix this!"
Lloyd's fingers were scrunched through his hair as he leaned forward, his spine showing through his shirt. Blue had never seen him look so... broken. "It's too late, Blue."
"No. it's not! There's always another way out."
"We don't even know how to get you back home," Etrius told her, but his eyes remained on the dirt paved road ahead as he drove. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel. "The Superior has that information, and we lost two team members because of it, and nearly lost a third." He glanced at Beecher, who's wounds were bandaged up, but his breathing still shallow. "There is no alternative, Blue. You're stuck here, so you're going to have to make the best of it. I'm sorry."