The Phoenix Fallacy_Book III_Magnus

by Jon Sourbeer,

  “Look out!” one of the S.T.s screamed.

  BOOM, eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee – Norm’s ears rang, and he staggered back. After another few moments of complete disorientation, he shook his head to clear his senses. He spied Middleton first, lying off to the side. She slowly sat up, her head bleeding. It took her a moment to recover, but her face suddenly became a mask of horror. Norm’s eyes followed her gaze.

  Magnus was lying face down just steps away from the explosion. Middleton leapt up as Natalie’s head popped up behind Magnus. She stood, painfully, but still managed a laugh, “Wow, they don’t get closer than that!”

  Magnus stirred, rolled over, and eyed the crater. He looked at her in surprise, “Thanks.”

  She smiled, “It’d be a terrible thing to end such a promising relationship before it even begins, right?”

  Magnus laughed along with her, “That it would. We haven’t finished using each other yet.”

  "Besides," she added, her voice weaker, "I still need you to get out of here alive..." she collapsed sideways and Magnus leapt up to support her. “Norm, help me get her into the Behemoth!”

  Norm rushed to her other side, and together they lifted her into the massive transport.

  Middleton watched the whole exchange with jaded eyes, but quickly directed her attention to the S.T.s, who ran in all directions for cover, “Hurry, onto the transport!” she herded them on, and yelled, “Get us out of here!” The transport laboriously lifted off.

  “What about the Phoenix and Medusa Troopers?” Norm yelled.

  “Who cares? We can’t take them anyway, it would just compromise us!" Middleton yelled back.

  “We cannot just leave them to die!” Norm said.

  “It’s too late!” Middleton screamed. Massive artillery rained down upon the landing platform, annihilating it and the surroundings. “Go, go, go!” she screamed at the pilot.

  Norm watched the exploding platform with revulsion and horror.

  “She’s right,” Magnus whispered to Norm, eyeing Natalie as she lay there.

  Norm felt suddenly sick, “What are we doing Magnus?”

  Magnus opened his mouth to argue, but was distracted, by the pilot yelling back to Middleton, “My lady! I have a request for orders from a Cerberus division!”

  “Patch it through!” Middleton said.

  A view screen lit up on the side of the transport. “Overlord, my forces have engaged a Behemoth transport trying to flee the city. We bombarded the launch platform but the transport got off in time."

  Middleton looked back in dismay at Magnus.

  “Did you see who was inside, commander?”

  “No, my lady. The behemoth transport blocked our view. One of our snipers identified a Medusa S.T., but it looked like he was being attacked, so we can’t be sure."

  “Can you pursue and capture?”

  “I’m afraid not, my lady. Air forces are already engaged. All I have are ground troops. I’m in the process of deploying our Icarus platforms to shoot them down."

  “NO!" Middleton shouted. The commander looked taken aback. Middleton lowered her voice, "No! We... we can't afford to compromise our alliance with Medusa, if it is Medusa troopers. Annihilate the area and kill any Troopers you may find – no prisoners, Commander. Forget the transport at this point, there is nothing to gain now.”

  “Yes, my lady!”

  Norm had watched the exchange with the feeling that his stomach was protesting against what his brain was telling it. Now when Middleton looked back at the three, he felt an intense urge to look away. He glanced at Magnus. His arms were crossed and he was deep in thought, as if he had ignored the exchange. It was Natalie, however, that held his attention. She had regained consciousness, and leaned her pale and weakened body against a wall. On her face, however, she wore such an intense look of disgust and hatred that he thought for a moment that the weakness was an act. Middleton turned, the expression catching her eye, and she gave a cold smirk.

  “What’s your next move?” Magnus asked Middleton. He was watching Phoenix crumble through the window of the transport.

  Middleton’s expression softened as she turned, "We need to find a place to hide you.”

  “No,” Magnus said in a matter-or-fact tone, “I need to reestablish myself. I cannot do that in hiding.”

  “And how will you manage that?” Middleton asked skeptically, “You are an Executor on the run. Do you plan on waltzing into another corporation alone and taking control?”

  Magnus smirked, "Yes, and you are going to help me, Victoria."

  Middleton raised her eyebrows, “And how do you plan on doing that?”

  “It’s all about pressure.”

  He glanced at Natalie, and lowered his voice so only Middleton and Norm could hear, “I understand Titan is already beginning to feel the effects of the drug.”

  Middleton nodded, "Yes. Everything went according to plan. What does it matter now?"

  Magnus kept his hushed tone, “As the Overlord of Intelligence for Cerberus, you must have made some contact with the Titan Executors during the battle. Get me an audience, and tell them that I am a Phoenix Overlord with critical information for them.”

  “Do you really think they will agree to meet with you?” Middleton asked.

  “Once the Executors start dropping, you can be sure they will,” Magnus said confidently.

  “But what can you possibly offer? No doubt the damage will have been done.”

  “Perhaps, although I can think of a few treatments that might just keep them alive without compromising the truth,” he said, “And with the proper steps, Titan can survive, albeit heavily weakened.” Middleton looked uncertain, so he added, “Don’t worry, there will be no need to tell them everything just yet. Besides, I am a Phoenix Executor with no Corporation to fall back on, why would I not pledge my loyalties to Titan?”

  Middleton smiled, “I will let the Titan Executors know that I have a very valuable prisoner - who agreed to my demands in exchange for an audience.” She gave Magnus a longing glance.

  Magnus ignored her and turned to look out the window, “Good.”

  Chapter 17: The Trooper

  “Funny, I never got the impression that Delacroix would risk himself for anyone.” Wouris interjected, glancing at the Praetor. “He didn’t seem the type.”

  Norm chuckled, “Magnus is a man of many surprises. Don’t forget that he once was just a regular in the Phoenix army. His abilities, and his rise, were unprecedented. To suggest he would not be willing to risk himself, or risk himself for another, does a disservice to him.” Norm’s look became distant and cold, “But many things changed Magnus over the years as well. But no matter those changes, neither his pride, nor his charisma, was ever in doubt.”

  ***

  “They are still wary of you, and will be even more so when I do not drag you into the chamber in chains,” Middleton said to Magnus.

  Norm waited to his right, while Natalie rested on a couch – she had been forced to heal normally, as Middleton had purposefully avoided bringing any Nanytes with her on the journey. Transporting such an expensive system would have raised enough eyebrows, and Middleton certainly had no inclination towards risking herself for Natalie’s sake. At Magnus’s insistence, however, she had provided one of her personal physicians, and slowly, some of the color had returned to Natalie’s cheeks. Natalie was still very weak, but healing well.

  Several weeks had passed since their escape, and they now waited in Middleton’s quarters in the Cerberus command center – one of the six spokes of the temporary command center set-up in a joint effort by the Corporations. For such a hastily constructed affair, the command center was surprisingly comfortable. Middleton had her own set of apartments, with luxurious couches and beds, a full bath, and a stocked kitchen replete with her own personal chef carefully transported to the battlefield so that she would feel as if she had never left home. Well-guarded halls connected each Corporation’s spoke to the center council chamb
er, where the Executors of all the Corporations would gather to discuss the war’s progress.

  As for the war – if it could be called that – it was all but over. Phoenix had crumbled in mere days – another week of intense bombing and shelling had left it a blackened husk, as fires spread and consumed the rubble. Now all that remained to do was making the final pacts for the peaceful disbursement of the Corporations’ war machines without them all turning upon each other – that was taking far longer than the entire campaign against Phoenix.

  Middleton’s request had initially been denied – the Titan Executors were wary, and more focused on the preservation of their power. The rumors and whispers were in full effect now – all the Corporations suspected what Magnus, Middleton, and Norm knew to be true: Titan was dying. Now Magnus eyed the rubble of Phoenix, noting the heavy dust and grime that still hung in the air, coating the windows of the command center. It was a sharp contrast to the neatly pressed black and gold Cerberus uniform that Middleton had provided for him.

  Magnus turned his back to the grime and debris, leveling his gaze on Middleton, “That can’t be helped, it will be important for them to view me as an equal. As much as possible, anyway.” He fiddled with his remaining Immutium Phoenix pin. He had kept it despite Middleton’s insistence that he destroy all traces of his Executorship. His clothes, Natalie’s armor, Norm’s uniform, and all other links they had to Phoenix had been burned in a field by the flames of an Infernus. Natalie’s recovered Ghostblade had been taken by the same Infernus – Middleton wanted no chance of any of the other Corporations putting two and two together.

  Middleton sighed doubtfully, and shook her head, “Let’s go – I hope you know what you are doing..."

  Magnus only laughed, sticking the pin in a pocket, “Lead on.”

  Two Inferni guards waited at the broad, bronzed doors that marked the entrance to the center ring of the command center. Dark green jade enameled their armor, and broad, golden wings swept back from the sides of their helmets. They gracefully opened the door for Middleton and her entourage of Magnus, Norm, and four S.T.s. Beyond waited a dark green carpeted hall that circled the meeting halls of the combined Corporate forces – large, heavy windows ran along the outside to provide natural light.

  Earthen statues of indistinct shapes dotted the hall. Magnus smirked and whispered, “Titan, you’re trying too hard.” He nodded towards the Inferni, “I see Titan has generously provided some of its elite guards for the alliance’s mutual defense.”

  Middleton nodded, lowering her voice, “Yes – appearance is everything, Magnus.” She motioned down the hall, “Titan’s personal chambers are up ahead.”

  They passed the huge double doors to the meeting hall, and Middleton directed her four S.T.s to wait in a small alcove to the left of the chamber. No weapons or Troopers were permitted within the center of the wheel where the Overlords and Executors of the Corporations plotted how to divide the spoils of war, and many different Corporate Troopers dutifully waited at attention for their masters. As for the alcove, it was devoid of tables and chairs or even the lavish carpet – just a hard stone floor. The men and women who guarded the leaders of the Corporations would wait without comfort.

  The Troopers glanced uncomfortably at the newcomers. They were unified by a common predicament and purpose, but separated by a large chasm marked with a few sigils upon their shoulders.

  A Trooper who was struggling in frustration with his suit caught Norm’s eye. Deep greens and browns coated his armor, and the emblem of an earthen giant adorned his shoulder. He was a guard from Titan. The Troopers of other Corporations who surrounded the man seemed paralyzed by a desire to help and the onus of decorum. The man’s left arm was locked up in a bent position and unable to move. To add to his troubles, the trooper couldn’t remove the torso armor or the suit with the arm stuck in that position. Another Titan S.T. strained to overcome the suit’s strength enhancements to bend the arm straight.

  “Is there a problem, Trooper?” Magnus stopped in front of the man as the little group passed.

  The soldier quickly stood to attention, his stuck arm giving him the look of a toy soldier. He glanced at Magnus, noting the Cerberus Overlord Uniform. He shook his head, “No, Honorable Overlord of Cerberus,” he said stiffly and formally.

  Magnus smiled kindly and Norm felt a wave of nostalgia.

  “No need to worry, Trooper, I won’t tell anyone of your trouble. It looks like you’ve got a stuck joint,” Magnus said.

  The Trooper studied him for a moment, “Yes, sir.”

  Magnus nodded, “Not an issue, I can fix it for you.” A noticeable change came over the other S.T.s. They momentarily lost their stiffness, and Norm caught a few glancing towards Magnus in curiosity. Magnus tapped his chin, “Looks like you’ve got a Mark IV Tyr. Older model, but very reliable.” Magnus made a motion towards the Trooper’s arm, “May I?”

  The man nodded.

  Magnus circled around the back of the Trooper, grabbing hold of the man’s arm, “The nice thing about these older suits is that the panels, though sturdy, can pop off with the proper forces.”

  The back panel popped off with an expert motion, “Makes accessing the joints and circuits that much easier. I understand there is a new model at Minotaur that brings these panels back; lets battlefield repairs be made more quickly. Does someone have a sight adjuster for their Zeus on them?”

  All of the S.T.s were staring at him curiously now, and it took only a moment for one of the Troopers from Medusa to produce one of the small tools. He pointed at the joint, “If you look, you’ll see a small screw. That controls the pressure of the system. If I make a single turn to the right…” he flicked his wrist, and the arm immediately went straight, “I can easily re-equalize the pressure.” The S.T.s nodded and started talking to one another in amazement. “There you go. All fixed.”

  “Thanks, sir!” The Trooper said.

  “What’s your name, soldier?” Magnus asked.

  “Robins, sir!” He replied happily.

  Magnus nodded, “Good to know you, Robins. The name’s Delacroix. But now, I’m afraid I have other obligations. I’m sure we’ll meet again, Robins. Good luck.” With a turn of his heel, he ventured back into the hall. Norm noted the appreciation in the man’s eyes, the respect that followed Magnus as he walked about.

  Back in the hall, Middleton eyed him suspiciously, “What was that about?”

  “Nothing important,” Magnus replied.

  Down the hall, they were stopped by a woman in a long flowing dress of muted browns and greens. An elaborate headdress of jade set into delicate ceramic plates covered her hair. Two elite Inferni flanked her.

  She gave her guests a once over, fixating her stare on Magnus, “You are the Overlord from Phoenix?” Her gaze lingered over his unbound wrists.

  Magnus stood easily, “My freedom is part of my deal.”

  The woman looked doubtful, “Your deal is of no concern to me.” She gave Middleton a warning glance, “You will represent Cerberus as far as I am concerned.” With a quick turn on her heel, she led them on, speaking softly as they walked, “My name is Overlord Montiga. I oversee the safety and security of the Titan executors during this campaign.”

  Magnus snorted.

  “Problem?” Montiga bristled.

  “No, no,” Magnus smirked, and turned to Middleton, “A campaign? Is that what they are calling it now?”

  Montiga’s eyes flashed, “I would watch yourself Overl—” she burst into a coughing fit, and hastily pulled out a white handkerchief to cover her face, turning away from them. After a few moments, the coughing stopped, and she pulled the handkerchief from her face, glancing at it before she hastily put it away. Norm’s caught a brief glimpse of red in its folds. Montiga straightened the delicate ceramic plates and continued as if nothing odd had happened. Her voice dropped lower, “Because of the special nature of this request, you will meet the Titan Executors in a more private setting.”

  “
We certainly wouldn’t want the other Corporations to know of Titan’s condition,” Magnus added loudly. An attaché with Medusa insignias on his robes walking down the hall perked up. Montiga glared at him, and Middleton mouthed, ‘Stop that!’

  An elaborate, set of double doors waited for them at the far end of a spoke that jutted from the circular hall. The doors’ combination of carved wood and stone suggested tree roots pushing through rock, and each door bore one-half of the roaring giant of Titan intertwined between the roots.

  Just before the door, Montiga had each step into a glowing green scanner to check for weapons. “That is not necessary,” Norm interjected, “By the Corporate Accords, no Executor, or by association, their Corporation, shall attack or attempt to assassinate any other Executor of another Corporation.”

  Montiga smiled, looking at Magnus, “And you no longer represent a Corporation. Step into the scanner.”

  Magnus smiled back, “Of course, Overlord Montiga.” After a few moments, the scanner flashed green for clear. Montiga looked disappointed.

  She gave one more uncertain glance towards Magnus, and knocked softly upon the earthen doors. They opened slowly, revealing a pitch black room. An island of light waited in the center for the small group. It was time to meet Titan.

  Chapter 18: To Fell a Giant

  Montiga lead them inside, announcing, “The representative of Cerberus is here, great Execut—” another bout of coughing took hold of her.

  “Thank you, Montiga,” a voice said in the darkness. Montiga bowed, backing into the darkness and out the door. Behind the three, the doors shut, echoing about the hall.

  “Ah, Middleton,” the voice spoke again, echoing impressively around the room. "And you brought the one from Phoenix.” Murmurs sounded in the dark.

  Norm could guess the relative position of the Titan Executor from the sounds, as his eyes could not. The bright light he stood in kept the rest of the room black.