“You’re making it too complicated.” Lionel swallowed the last of his sandwich. He had been making notes, but he didn’t offer any ideas. “We should focus on annihilating the enemy. Anything else is secondary.”
“Finishing the mission Lionel,” Eva corrected, “That is the primary task.”
“That’s what I said.”
* * *
The room housed hundreds of beast masks. Unlike the ones used to infect the people of the Four Cities, these ones were fully formed and could be worn. An army equipped with those would easily dominate any war. It was too bad that the few could don the beast masks without being utterly consumed by them had a reason not to, and that those who wanted were often flawed.
The six individuals in the room exemplified that. Jack, in terms of power and loyalty to Caine, no one came second to him.
Sitting across from him, Rocky secretly hated his guts. The woman next to him was a close friend — Peach. They had lived together for a time, and sometimes she would let him crash on her couch. They were essentially family.
The other three members of Masquerade wore masks. It wasn’t that their identities were unknown, but if someone managed to come in and see their faces, it was preferable that they remain hidden. Their high positions demanded it. An alligator mask - Corran adorned it, another with a snout, Shaw, and one more woman with a plain looking mask, Ellis.
There was a rush of air, and the Caine was suddenly there, the portal closing behind him.
He grabbed the seventh chair, and with that Masquerade’s meeting was in session.
“Alfred and Quinn died last week,” Corran said. “The Sabre’s didn’t get much intel from them. However, they know it’s something to do with the Phoenix.”
“They were a pair of loose cannons,” Jack scoffed, “This is why we shouldn’t entrust missions like that to people we can’t depend on.”
“They did most of the dirty work.” Caine’s gravelly voice came from his mask. “The masks were left were they were supposed to be. We picked them up, and that was that.”
“Why can’t we just launch an attack on Aslog?” Peach asked. “I quite like this place.”
“They have too many Legionnaires and too many protective spells that would completely neutralise the effect of the beast masks if used on such a scale.” Caine said, “It would be a waste of time. People like us who have the masks integrated as our own esoterica are immune, but the rabble would be finished. We’d simply lose Industria.”
“I could go kill them all,” Jack said. “You saw how I did against the two today.”
“They were distracted,” Caine said, “I know you lot don’t think much of Alfred and Quinn, but they were very powerful. That they lost not once, but twice is something that tells me that these guys are not to be underestimated.”
Jack smirked. He had sparred with both Alfred and Quinn before. He had won, handily. His mastery of the Beast Mask had placed him close to the Sentinels and Centurions. Caine had impressed upon him so. If he was cocky, it was well deserved.
“They failed. That is all we need to know.” Jack said, “Even worse, their failure led Aslog here too fast. If all had gone according to plan, the Legionnaires would have known nothing about the attack for a week.”
“I don’t understand why that had to be done in the first place,” Rocky complained. “If it’s leasing out masks or carrying out assassinations, I’m fine with it. We killed a crap ton of people. I thought the mask lease program helped us gather industria anyway.”
For some in the room, Rocky was simply giving voice to their concerns. Caine understood that he would need to explain himself to his partners at some point but now was not that time. Not yet.
“This is faster.” Caine simply said, “And better for our goals.”
Rocky pressed, “Why won’t you tell us what goals these are?”
“Shut up,” Jack spoke up before Caine could respond to him. “Your job is not to ask such inane questions. Like the rest of us, you’re a sword and a shield for Caine.”
“I am nobody’s dog,” Rocky replied with such ferocity that even Jack nearly flinched. But just for a moment. Rocky’s seat was now empty. He had materialised behind the other man without anyone seeing him move. Jack smirked.
“Do you really want to go down that route?” Wicked claws subsumed his fingernails, scraping into the table. “Because I can do so if you want to.”
“Both of you calm down,” Caine said. “If you two continue to irritate me, don’t think I will hesitate to kill you.”
Both men turned to Caine. The masked man had not done so much as move his head, yet they were suddenly filled with dread. Jack would later admit to himself that he was not comfortable with that feeling, nor was he used to it.
Jack retracted his claws. Rocky backed off.
“And Rocky?”
“Yes, Caine.”
“You’re my dog.” Caine’s empty mask holes drilled into Rocky’s eyes. “I will tolerate no more willful behaviour from you.”
“I was just messing about.”
“I’m not talking about this,” Caine replied. “The very next time you try to sabotage my operation — one way or the other — there will be very painful, very personal consequences for you.”
“Do you understand?”
“Yes. Sir.” The response came through gritted teeth, but it came nonetheless. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind as to whom was in control. Jack smirked again. Peach shifted in her seat, her fingers rapping on the table.
“Good.” Caine nodded for Rocky to get back to his seat. After everyone was seated once more, he dived into his plan for Draekeor. The others listened with rapt attention.
“I see. ” Jack grinned, “That’s very ambitious.”
“How about the Legionnaires?” Ellis spoke, “They’re going to notice sooner or later.”
“That’s the plan.” Caine replied, “I just need to keep them at bay long enough.”
* * *
“That was stupid.” Peach said. “You shouldn’t have antagonised Caine and Jack like that. What’s come over you?”
“You don’t stand up enough,” Rocky replied, “What we did in the Four Cities didn’t sit well with me. I’m no angel. You know that as well as I do. This is a step too far for me.”
“A step too far?” She replied, “Aslog launched a monster at us years ago. And for what? Some sick experiment.”
“That’s just what Caine’s told us.” Rocky stared at the moon, his eyes tracing the crescent. “I’m starting to have my doubts.”
“It doesn’t matter.” She replied. “Rocky, the specifics don’t matter. Caine has a plan to topple this corrupt government, we owe him that much.”
Rocky nodded. “It’s not going to work.”
“Stop pretending like you care.” She spat. “I know you. You like to think like you’re better than us — but you’re just like Jack and Corran and me and the others. Unless Juniper’s making you weak, then we could kill him off for you.”
“Really, Peach?” Rocky scoffed, “Don’t make empty threats. We both know you can’t.”
“I know how you feel.” She rubbed his shoulders slowly, “You’re doing the right thing. We are. All of us.”
He leaned into her. He wished he was that sure.
Chapter 20 - Aiden’s Foresight
Months ago.
Aslog
WestScarlet.
“Why do I want to be a Sabre?”
“Yes, that’s what I asked.”
It was the cafeteria again. It was Tobi again. It was Aiden this time.
Both had drinks. Aiden had eschewed Tobi’s offer of a meal. Tobi had already eaten.
“I presume this is part of the test,” Aiden asked.
“That is correct,” Tobi replied.
“Naturally, there are no right answers,” The would-be Sabre had mused, “But there must be some wrong answers.”
“That may be true. It could be false but go ahead a
nyway. I feel like you’re about to say something I’d find interesting.”
“Heh. Don’t be so sure,” Aiden snickered. “I’m still thinking in test mode right now, so I’ll need a moment to get my bearings.”
“Take as long as you want. I’ve got time.”
“That’s true. But I also hate silence, that’s also true.”
“In other words…” Tobi asked.
“You said earlier that it was not necessary, but that’s not true. The question isn’t about what a Sabre means intellectually, but what it means to us personally. In other words, you’re checking if we have the right reasons for being here.”
“Maybe. But it’s not my motives being questioned here if that was the case.”
“Then let me pontificate a little,” Aiden had said. Tobi had nodded his assent, and so he had continued. “I know the others. Bart would have said something about wanting to fight for others. Perhaps something like enjoying his invincibility. Maybe Deidre would have something different. She’s a tactician, strategic. She’s lending her brain and smarts for the greater good.”
“So what you’re going to do next is to tell me that they are wrong?”
“No. Not at all,” Aiden remained deep in thought. “In fact, I would ask that you hold them in the back of your mind for now, as we move forward into Avery’s team.”
“Avery’s team hasn’t graduated and won’t do so for a few months yet.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean we can’t speculate about what they’ll say. Our teams have trained together, and I’m sure we both have some idea of how they think.”
“Now I’m just wondering if you go along thinking what people are on the inside.” Tobi had taken another sip of his drink. “Go ahead.”
“Lionel and Bart, they are similar individuals in temperament. Lionel’s answer might be a more aggressive version of Bart’s answer. Eva, yes, she’s well practised in making barriers and shields. That’s self-explanatory. Tyrone is, I think, confused. He may say he wants to protect people, but I think he uses them as props to stay detached from forming real connections. He sees people as props in his story.”
“That’s not a very nice thing to say about your junior,” Tobi replied.
“And yet, you don’t disagree.”
“All I can say is that it is an interesting analysis. Aiden, what then are you?”
“I…don’t know.” Aiden put down the tea he had been drinking. “I thought at first that I would have been the one to fight off the dangers, but that seemed too naive, too violent. My esoterica isn’t really good for violent conflict, nor is my personality. I’d rather stay a bit afield and control the situation before making a single move.”
* * *
Draekeor Case.
Day 3.
The Central Library housed the records for all of Draekeor. As of now, it had been converted into an impromptu base for Tobi’s team. While the Centurions had been spirited away by Mayor Avel to look at this problem or that, or offer suggestions on this topic or the other, Aiden, Bart and Deidre had been left to comb through thousands of reports on the beast masks, or as Draekeor’s local Legion had now termed them — mask boosts.
Aiden was particularly fascinated with the way the drug had been circulating around the town. It was virtually undetectable. People would take it for a boost in sport, to stay alert overnight, for enhanced physical prowess everywhere in their lives, even for going clubbing. It would boost their physical strength and industria for a short time, then it would wear off, leaving the user extremely fatigued. He supposed it was a fair trade. The enhancements were temporary. Aside from those poor unfortunate souls who had inadvertently revealed the true nature of the mask boosts. They had exploded into powerful physical beasts. Unable to control the rampaging industria, they would then collapse and die after rampaging. Some of them would even be absorbed by the masks, leaving nothing behind.
He tapped his pen. It was random. Seemingly so. They sold boosts as drugs, so it would be insane for Masquerade to torpedo their business by willingly tampering with their own product. But something about it had him stumped. The boosts had to be properly calibrated. One or two slip ups weren’t out of the ordinary. That said, there had been about 20 recorded just this year in Draekeor. He wondered why that report hadn’t been handed over to the Legion earlier. Caine had been testing something out, and it seemed with the assault on the Four Cities, he had been successful.
Aiden’s task was simple on the face of it. Unmask Caine and Masquerade, the moles in the Mayor’s office. Pass this information on to Tyrone’s team and/or confront the criminals themselves. Learn exactly how this task was accomplished, but he increasingly felt that this was more busy work than anything. The other team had already borne fruit and run into Caine. they had not. Perhaps he had already left. Why would he stick around?
Bart apparently felt the same. He tossed the folder he had been reading at Aiden like it was something foul.
“Fuckin’ hell is this.” He groused. “We ain’t meant to be doing shit like this, that’s what the lower level guys do.”
“I know.” Aiden said, despite his inner doubts, “This is all part of the plan. it’s a failsafe. The ‘lower level guys’ here have all failed at this task.”
“If it’s so important, then where is Tobi? Where’s Avery?” Deidre spoke up. She too was tired of busywork. She had fought with Quinn, seen the fall of Rulo and defended Gunne. This was nothing to her but a waste of time. “We should have come here with solid intel and wiped out the bastards.”
“We do have more information than we did.” Aiden said, “Tyrone was hunted down and attacked yesterday. Only a few people could have known he was even here. Ergo they know we’re here from someone who works in or with the Mayor’s office. They already launched an attack, they may try to do so again. We need to pressure them — or give the appearance of pressuring them - on both fronts. Force their hands.”
Deidre sighed. She understood, more than she was letting on. But their training had been more field-based than paperwork based. Aiden thrived in this environment. The others were getting antsy.
She watched eyes pop open as an idea passed through his head. He rolled the pen in his hand as he weighed the pros and cons. She could read him like a book. He set the pen down. He had decided. This should be good. His shadow bulged from the ground, warping and taking shape as industria filled it out. Bart watched the process with little curiosity. He had seen Aiden’s shadow clones many times before. Aiden’s esoterica, his ‘Shadow Inversion’ was the ability to give tangible form to darkness and shape to shadow.
“The infrastructure and personnel files for the last twoyears. Go.” Aiden ordered. The other Aidens nodded, and then they dispersed into the pile of folders, picking and choosing which ones.
“Well, that’s unfair,” Bart rolled his eyes as he picked another folder from the pile. He flipped through it, eyes just about lingering on one page before he found the next. “You can just sit there and order your clones to do all of the work.”
“We’ve found nothing all day. I’m just speeding up the process of document review,” Aiden argued, “I hate using this. Imagine getting all the knowledge blown into my head in a few hours. I’ll have a serious migraine.”
“Right. Sure. Whatever.” Bart tossed the folder back on the pile of folders. He was too riled up to care, and too tired to focus. His head felt fuzzy in places, but anytime he wanted to pin down the reason, something else would pop up. He would have asked the others if they had the same feeling…but he simply didn’t feel like it.
That’s right. You don’t want to ask them!
The incongruity in what he needed to do and what he wanted to do contributed to his irritability. He could find no reason not to, yet he had simply decided that he wasn’t going to.
That’s the right choice here. Don’t think about it too much.
If he had piped up and spoken, he would find the others had similar reservations on topics they ha
d picked up, but had now felt were unnecessary to mention for one reason or the other.
“You think you could get one of the actual staff members here to help you out. ” Bart said instead, “Pretty sure that Edward guy’s just hanging around to yell at us some more.”
“I think what Bart’s trying to say is that we should call it a day,” Deidre added. “Maybe you should come too. A few hours of sleep wouldn’t hurt.”
“Maybe…” Aiden mumbled, “On the other hand, I just thought of something that would yield results.” Deidre waited expectantly for further elaboration, Aiden didn’t provide it.
“I’ll let you know tomorrow.”
“Thinking is my thing too.” Deidre tapped him on the head. “But sure. Bart and I will head out, and see you at breakfast?”
“Again,” Aiden said, “I’ll let you know.”
The duo shrugged and walked towards the door. Food and sleep. Nothing could be more inviting at that moment.
“Don’t burn yourself out Aiden.” Bart paused on his way out. “I mean it.”
“Worried about me?”
Bart rolled his eyes, slamming the door behind him. Aiden hid a smile.
* * *
“Idiot.” Edward muttered from where he sat. He had said that a few times, Aiden dimly recalled. Along with Matthew and George, Edward had been working with Aiden for the past few hours, ostensibly of their own free choice. You wouldn’t be able to tell from their demeanour, Aiden mused. He was there to ferret out a spy, their dislike of him was natural. Whether all were spies, or none were, they would instinctively be hostile towards him on some level.
“Can’t he see I’m innocent.” The innocent would complain.
“Why can’t he stop poking his nose where it doesn’t belong?” The guilty would snarl.
Thus, while he couldn’t convict anyone based on their demeanour, he couldn’t discount them either. Edward continued railing at him in the background. His vision was getting blurry. Aiden finally tuned him in, catching a fragment of thought.
“— things to do.”
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