Chapter 44: "Empress's Dilemma"

-World building fact-

Introduction to Qill's xenoarchaeology field of Human:

'Master of none, master of all'

Human, a weird species evolved on an M-class planet in Sol system. Unimaginably, they call their home planet 'Earth'. A frail species that have nothing special when you first look at them. They don't have organ abundance like the Krogan, no sturdy skin like the Turian, no wisdom of the Asari, no logic of the Vulcan. To some other races, they have no strength like the Klingon, no cunning like the Romulan and a long, long list of other pity weaknesses. Their planet was bare of any valuable resources and their natural life span was shorter than a Qill's domestic pet. Yet, despite all that, they became the greatest power the galaxy has ever seen. Why?

Nobody knows why, how or when. But the Human, for all their weaknesses, they made up for it by other means. For their physical lacking, they created a medical system and technology that is far greater than the rest of the galaxy. For the lack of strong skin and strength, they invented a new material that is stronger than anything else and made power armor out of it. For the lack of wisdom and intelligence, they have the creativity to makeup for it. Because of their short life span, they had to use the time they have as efficiently as possible, thus they created an education system the was designed to give precise selective and relevant knowledges to any career that one might chose. But when that was still not enough, they changed their very code of existence, the DNA, to live longer, to be stronger, to be smarter. No other species had ever thought of doing that.

In battle, they fight with ferocity and tenacity that not even the Zergs are capable of. When forced into a corner, their only thought was not to give up or to flee but to take down as many enemies down with them as possible without even a hint of self-preservation. A species that is capable of causing great destruction and suffering but always keen on solving conflicts with talks. A species that is capable of great aggressiveness, but somehow, manage to hold back and not wreck chaos as their first solution.

When you ask a Human how and why, the only reply you will hear is "Because we have hope, we have dreams, we know what we're capable of and we fear what could have been".

An apology to my readers, but what the hell was that even mean? It didn't make any sense, but that's Human, nothing about the Human makes any sense. Maybe that's why everyone fears them, because we are incapable of understanding them.

Humans, a jack of all trades, master of none, master of all.

-Empress's quarter, Rondel Inn-

Her sword sticks through the man chest, between his ribs, blood streaming out from the point of entry as he slowly collapses while grabbing Pina's armor. The bandit's eyes stare straight at hers, the mad look of a crazy but there is also hopelessness and regret. His stare shakes her very soul of her, sending an uneasy feeling down her spine and it gets harder to bare the more she thinks about it. For the first time in her life, she took a life. For the first time in her life, she got what she had always wanted, for herself, for her order, that is to be in a real battle.

Pina is standing on top of the high wall of Italica, panting, exhausted. Buildings behind the wall is burning bright and hot because of the all the fire arrows that the bandits shot when the assault began. She wipes away blood from her forehead then looks around. The enemy had already scaled the wall and is now in brutal hand-to-hand combat for the wall with the knights and soldiers of the Rose Order. Her men are well-trained and well-equipped, but the bandits are deserted legionnaires. Therefore, they are not only well equipped, well trained but they also have a lot of experience in battle. The only advantage the Pina's forces have over the attackers is that they are in a defensive position.

In spite of their defensive position, the bandits are relentless and her knights, her friends are being slain one by one. Either killed by arrows, a sword through the chest or an axe to the head, each of them dies brutally right in front of her eyes until there's only Hamilton and Grey left. They gather around Pina to protect her, each facing a side. Pina, standing between her two friends, watch as the horde of bandits charge at them from both sides. She knows she need to do something, she needs to help them or they will all die but she could not move. It is like she doesn't have control of her body, she struggles to move but nothing happens.

She looks around as Hamilton and Grey are struggling to hold the bandits back. Knights with guts hanging out of their stab wounds, crawling with no sense of direction. Some others are choking of their own blood because an arrow pieced their neck or got cut by an enemy. Noblewomen, soldiers, peasants, bandits are bleeding, dying and screaming and crying for their mothers all the same. Swords and arrows do not care for your title, it is a cruel and painful death no matter where you come from. It was supposed to be glorious, triumphant like the stories but it is not. There's only blood, gore, spilled guts, burnt skin, death and horror in war. Senator Calvus was right.

The sheer number of the bandits push both Hamilton and Grey compressed against Pina. They keep stabbing the three of them despite the screaming. Pina keep screaming louder and louder, not because she feels any pain, but she does not want to die. She screams out of anger and regret that she made the stupid decision to come here.

Pina spring up on her bed screaming. Her body is burning hot and her sweat soak the expensive silk night robe. The door spring open violently as the White Rose guards from the hallway rush in to protect their Empress, at the same time with the guards from the balcony rush back inside to check on her, startles Pina. Quickly and effectively, 6 guards get into formation around the Empress's bed with sword and shield ready while the rest search the room for any threat.

"Stand down!" she orders "I'm just having a bad dream, you can go back to your post now".

All the guards immediately snap to attention at her "Yes, Empress!" and then start resuming to their guard duty.

The nightmares began the first night she got back to Sadera from her trip to the UNE. At the time it was mild and she thought it was going to pass, eventually. However, not only it didn't go away, it was getting worse as time went by. Pina did not tell everyone because she didn't want her friends to worry and her enemy to think she is weak.

She looks out the window and see that the sky is getting brighter, indicates that the sun is coming up "Get me Hamilton and Grey" Pina orders tiredly. The guardsman that is in charge of delivering the Empress's message bow and then run off to carry out her order.

-UNE Embassy, Rondel-

Very early in the morning, before the sun even peeks its first light over the horizon, the SIFs are standing in 2 lines in the small front yard of the embassy for Ava to address them. Usually, they don't have to do this but because this is the unit's small tradition whenever a fresh member starts their first day with the unit.

"Good morning people, I want to welcome Rory and Kaian to our unit" Ava says then she turns to Rory and Kaian, who are standing at attention facing the rest of the units "Salute!" she shouts as the platoon salute their new comrades.

Rory and Kaian salute back then return to attention waiting for Ava to assign them to their squad "Kaian, you're with Ashley squad 2, Rory, you're with me squad 1. Ok let's move out".

"Yes, ma'am!" they salute then everyone starts walking out of the embassy to get on the wagons.

-The edge of Kark forest-

Today is the beginning of the final round of the tournament. It will test the survival abilities of each team by sending them into the forest in search for their assigned flag. The first team that finds their flag and returns it to the Council Hall will win the round. Winning this round will give the winning team 3 points but only the first place that will be counted.

Not far from the city gate to the West, there lies the Dark Forest of Kark. Back in the old time, this forest is filled with all sorts of evils, dark souls wander and abomination beasts roam, waiting to take the life of any unfortunate mortal that is lost in the darkness. However, for centuries, brave mages and adventurers had been exploring the forest and cleansing the evil out of it. Now Kark retains its nickname as Dark Forest but it is no longer dangerous to venture in, no more than any ordinary forest. Many animals have also found a home in Kark as the thick vegetation provides an abundant source of food and hiding places from the predators that followed them there.

As the first light of the sun barely shines the clouds over the horizon, the field is still dark. The only light source is the magic orbs of various colors hovering across the field, it's a magical, relaxing and romantic sight. A mage uses a large stone as his platform to elevate up in the air. He taps his staff on the stone creating a large boom to gain the attention of everyone on the field. His voice is magnified by magic that echoes to everyone's ears.

In a slow, calm and odd voice he starts to speak "Everyone, people, may I have your attention, please!" He pauses shortly then continues "I am sure that everyone has been informed of the rules by now, but, it is my duty to announce them again before the competition starts. So here it is".

"The small stone that was given to each of you is enhanced with magic. It will allow us to watch you through these orbs" He notions at a row of crystal-clear orbs on a long table then continues "So we will know if you violate any rules. It will also teleport you back to here in the event that you are eliminated by our traps, magic beasts or by your competitors. That said, you are not allowed to carry your armor and weapon, you are instead will be provided a simple dagger, each. You are not allowed to use magic or call in any outside help by any means. You are not allowed to harm your competitors but you are allowed to eliminate them by hitting the magic stone with anything. Each of you is allowed to bring a day's worth of food, 1 whetstone for your dagger, and a map. You must, at all times, carry your stone on your chest, removing it or moving it to any other part of your body will result in an instant elimination. You can now go back to preparing for the round, I will announce again once it is about to begin" The mage says.

"Soooo, do they know that our uniform can stop blades and our boots allow us to walk on any terrain easily?" David whispers.

"Shhhhh" Ashley quietly shush him.

"Ah, got it, feels like cheating, though" David replies in a whispering tone.

"Shut up!" Ashley gives him a light hit from her elbow.

"Okey!" He replies while making a zip action over his lips.

Ava asks everyone to gather around "Alright, by now you all should have the layout of the forest thoroughly memorized. We don't know what and where are the traps or what kind of beasts are they conjured up in there but this is no different than training. Easier even, in training we had enemies out to hunt us with advanced tech that these people don't have. So, it would be embarrassing if we lose here. Now let's win this thing".

"Oh, and remember, radio SILENT and TAC suit OFF unless it is an emergency" Ava says, pressing on the word silent and off.

"Yes, ma'am!" the platoon replies.

Alnus Command knew about the rule of the game in advance but general Nguyen insisted that the SIFs carry their radio and TAC suit with them, just in case, but keep them deactivated. Despite the protest of the diplomats, general Nguyen stated that it simple too dangerous to send them into an unknown territory without any insurance. In spite of the fact that the entire surface of the planet has been thoroughly scanned and map by the fleet and orbital satellites, given the history of UNE advanced sensor technology could not detect something that was hidden by either magic or ancient advanced technology, nothing can be certain.

Each team is allowed to have up to 20 members, however, large number means they will need to hunt for more food, gather more material for survival equipment and harder to sneak by the beasts. The smallest team is a group of 4 adventurers from Italica, the largest team is 20 men from the Western part of the empire. Ava decided to bring all 16 members, except Rory and Kaian, because as she put it "why not?". Rory and Kaian are staying behind for 2 reasons. The first reason is to make the UNE appear honorable in the eyes of everyone as they are not 'cheating' by bringing apostles on their time in a mortal competition. The second reason is that Rory and Kaian are going to stay in their respective temples and try to convince as many people as possible to side with the UNE or, at least, stay neutral.

Ava and Ashley are looking at the live holographic map of the forest for the last time. While the planet is being scanned continuously by the satellites, the magic beasts only appear once the challenge starts.

"Commander" Ashley says. As Ava looks up at her, she nods at the direction behind Ava "you're about to have guests".

Ava turns around, she notices Pina, with knight Grey escorting, is walking towards her. She naturally shifts towards a more formal, attention, in anticipation. Although the commander has no obligation to empress Pina in anyway, it is still a good thing to show respect to an allied monarch.

"Greeting, commander Ava, it has been sometime since we last met. How have you been?" Pina asks.

"Long time no see, your highness, I haven't been bad. Knight Grey" Ava replies as Grey nods back, Pina and Ava looks at each other in awkward silence then Ava continues "How are you, empress?".

"Oh, I'm good, a lot of changes, a lot of work, but I'm ok overall" Pina replies awkwardly.

Ava after a few second of silence, she asks "I imagine the empress herself didn't look for me just for pleasantry exchange, did she?".

Taken aback by Ava's word, Pina responds "Can't I have a little chat with my savior?" she pauses then continues "but you are right, I have something I want to talk to you. Alone, please".

Receiving a nod from Ava, Ashley taps on her shoulder and start walking away with Grey. Pina looks after them, making sure that they are some distant away before she turns her head back to face Ava.

Seeing the expecting looks on the commander's face, Pina starts explaining "I have been having nightmare almost every night since I got back from the trips to your worlds. I'm exhausted, commander, is this the result of traveling through…erm…space? Will it pass?".

"There's something called astraphobia, but it doesn't cause…hmm…can you describe your nightmares for me?" Ava asks, she has a guess but want to confirm it.

"It's a little different each night but it's always the same nightmare. I was in Italica…" Pina proceeds to describe the nightmare as Ava listen.

It does confirm Ava's guess that the empress is have PTSD "I see, I would say you're having PTSD, it's dangerous and you need help"

"PTSD?" Pina asks, hesitantly.

"Post-traumatic stress order, it's common for soldiers to have PTSD after battle even with enhanced genetics. It used to be a problem in the ancient time, but now we have effective treatment for it. It'll be a walk in the park but you need professional help" Ava replies "Ambassador Noah can set something up".

Pina hesitates for a moment then replies "Commander, this cannot go out".

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with us" Ava replies.

While Pina trusts Ava, she is not sure about the UNE ambassador. Agreeing for him to help would mean that she owes him a favor and that is dangerous, especially when she's the empress of the empire. However, as the commander said, it's also not good for her if she lets this continue. She can already feel the immense stress and a spark of thought to end it once and for all.

"I need to think about this" Pina replies.

-Rondel's city guard headquarter-

Rondel is a self-governed city that associates with the empire. It's the garrison of its own and does not answer to the empire's military. Being a rich city with vast knowledge of magic, the garrison force is second to no other city on Falmart, except Sadera. It's a mix of highly trained soldiers and mages, equipped with the highest quality equipment that was forged by magic and swore an oath to protect the city with their lives. They are also in charge of policing duty of the city.

The garrison commander is sitting at his desk, reading through scrolls of reports from his subordinates. Although not a combat veteran, his physique is impressive even for a strong man. Taller than an average Falmartian, he is looming over the desk in an intimidating fashion.

A soldier enters the room and kneels before him "Commander, a family just report another missing child" he reports.

The commander looks up slowly and puts the scroll on his hand down "That's the 14th child, this is most unusual" He stands up and walks towards the window that is facing the direction of UNE's embassy "And it all started since they came settled in the city".

"My lord, are you implying…what could they possibly want with our children?" the soldier replies.

"Watch your word" he slightly turns his head and replies in a calm but intimidating voice "I'm not implying anything, I'm merely considering all possibilities".

"I'm sorry, my lord" the soldier bows, still kneeling "What is your order, my lord?".

"Tomorrow we search their embassy, let's see if they are up to something bad" the commander says.

The soldier bows then stands up and walks towards the door to leave. On his way out, he passes through a painting of a beautiful woman. At the center of the painting is a tiny hole, so small that it is impossible for the naked eye to see. In that hole is a scanner and an audio recorder that was set up by the GIA. Since before the opening of the embassy, the GIA had been busy bugging almost every important location within the city that they could manage to access.

"Looks like ambassador Noah is going to have guess tomorrow. Contact the embassy and let them know" the GIA agent order another to inform the embassy of the situation.

-The edge of Kark forest-

The mage that was announcing the rules once against elevates into mid-air on a rock. Although he has not said anything, everyone knows that it is time for the competition to start.

"It is time for us to begin" the mage says "All the participants, please, be ready for when our arch mages create a portal to your starting location. Because of the mana-draining nature of the spell, the portal will not last too long, those who did not make it through shall be disqualified immediately".

As all the teams are getting ready to jump through the portal as soon as it opens, the archmages and their apprentice gather in a circle to perform the spell. Without using dark magic to drain the life force from a living being, this spell requires a lot of mana and only the archmages can, somewhat, safely perform it. There are 12 archmages and their apprentice on the field to help generate the magic portal.

Everyone rushes full speed ahead as the portal opens to try to make it through to the other side. There are 9 teams with different numbers of members in total. Each team is dropped at a different location of equal distance to the flags at the opposite direction with Rondel. This means that the closer they get to the flags the more chance they'll run into their competition and the way back to Rondel will be the same route for everyone.

Ava is the first that makes it through the portal, existing the portal feels like being pushed from the back by an invisible hand. She quickly rolls over to a side so the next person will not land on her.

David is next to exist the portal "Get out of the way, now!" Ava orders every time a SIF is through.

"Alright, boys and girls, standard behind the enemy line survive exercise. Rob, you're on pathfinder duty, give me a direction we need to go. Squad 2 survival tools duty, Jimmy, you remember the list of edible flora in this region?" Ava orders.

Jimmy tabs his head "It's all in here, commander".

"Good, gather us some food, David, you're with him. The rest, on watch out" Ava orders.

Just as everyone spread out to carry out their orders, nobody notices a small, little fresh craving on a nearby tree. A rune of some kind that has a dark-purple aura that is almost invisible viewing from afar. Something is not right, something is coming.