The Phoenix Fallacy_Book III_Magnus

by Jon Sourbeer,

  Natalie skidded to a halt at the center of the bridge as Inferni landed on both sides and marched slowly forward. The factories gave the air an eerie orange-reddish glow, which danced like fire upon the armor of their pursuers. She backed slowly to the edge of the bridge, and as she brushed up against the crumbling railing, they stopped, waiting silently as she struggled to stay upright.

  A set of synchronized jump jets sounded from beyond Norm, and the group turned expectantly in his direction. He ducked as two Inferni flew overhead in perfect sync, carrying Middleton like she sat on a throne. The smile on her face could be seen from a mile away.

  Chapter 37: The Falling Angel

  The Troopers parted as the pair landed, letting Middleton’s ‘chariot’ land easily.

  “Overlord,” Martel spoke softly, offering a salute that was mirrored by the others. Norm leaned over the edge, just barely able to hear the conversation. The synced pair set Middleton down gently.

  “Very good, Vulcanus. Have you notified Magnus?”

  “No, my lady.”

  “Where is he?” Middleton asked.

  “He is pursuing a lead in another sector. I would estimate he is at least 10 minutes away.”

  Middleton faced Natalie and grinned, “Very good.” Natalie sunk to one knee, wheezing through dogged breaths, and clutching her side.

  Middleton stepped forward, “It will be better if we don’t waste any more time – more than necessary.”

  “Victoria,” Natalie gasped, using her arm to prop herself up.

  Middleton laughed, holding her arms wide, “Looks like we’ve run out of time together.” She smiled wickedly, “Give me the child. He will be safe, and I will make your death relatively quick.”

  Natalie clutched Janus tighter. “You’ll kill him.”

  “Now, that’s not true. Magnus wants the boy alive.” She motioned the Inferni to take a step forward. “Would you rather I kill both of you right now? It wouldn’t be hard for me to make it appear like you killed him while I desperately tried to stop you – a final spiteful act against Magnus.”

  A shiver ran up Norm’s spine. The cruel casualness with which she spoke chilled him despite the warmth of the factories.

  Middleton took another step forward, and placed a hand over her heart. She sighed, “I’m telling the truth. Magnus wants the child alive. Give him to me, and only you have to die. But I’m losing patience. Magnus will be here any minute, and I cannot afford to wait.”

  Natalie pulled herself closer to the edge, shaking her head. She glanced down at the endless drop below her.

  Middleton raised a hand, “Ready weapons.” The Inferni took a step forward, lifting their arms.

  Natalie’s head fell in utter defeat. She gave Janus a lingering, loving look, and removed the locket from around her neck. She slid the locket over Janus’ head, and then carefully held him out.

  Middleton grabbed Janus, cooing at him. Natalie’s shoulders sank, and Middleton pulled Janus away, taking a step back towards her troops. The glimmer of the locket caught her eye and she held it in her hand. Fear and loathing reflected in Natalie’s eyes as Middleton studied the golden phoenix. “This should have been mine,” Middleton sneered. She flipped the locked over, laughing at the crude etchings, “Janus?” She tried to tickle him and he cried.

  “Well, Janus, we can’t have you reminding anyone of your mother.” She smirked at Natalie as Janus began bawling, “And we certainly can’t have any competition for Magnus' affection, now, can we?” Middleton handed Janus to an Infernus, “Strangle him, and make it look like she did it.”

  Natalie’s head snapped up, and Norm took a sharp breath at the mask of fury she wore. Natalie launched herself at the Infernus holding Janus, completely oblivious to her own weakness. The soldier was completely unprepared, and Natalie spun into a bicycle kick, smashing into the Infernus’ visor. He crumpled backwards, his visor burst, and Janus tumbled from his hands. Crunching bone told Norm that Natalie had shattered her foot, but she did not seem to notice. She caught Janus before he touched the ground, and scooped up a fragment of the shattered visor, slashed at Middleton. Middleton flailed backwards, screaming in agony.

  “My face!” she howled, as blood flew from between her fingers. “Kill her!” The Troopers raised their weapons, and Natalie tried to leap out of the way, but her broken foot would not support the weight. Norm watched in silent horror as a round caught her in the chest. She stumbled toward the edge and collapsed, as Janus flew from her hands and disappeared into the abyss.

  Middleton spit out blood, and an S.T. moved over to the edge, raising his visor to peer into the darkness.

  The sounds of jump jets echoed through the alleys and Magnus appeared, stomping down, followed by ten more Inferni.

  “What’s going on?” Magnus demanded, flipping up his visor. He stared at Natalie’s body as it hung over the edge. “What did you do?" He demanded, running over to Natalie. He stood over her for a moment, but Norm could not see his face. Magnus reached a hand to caress her face, but stopped, and pulled away.

  He whirled upon Middleton, fury stamped upon his features, “I told you that I wanted her alive!"

  Middleton shrunk on the spot. “I…I…” She seemed at a loss for words. “I was trying to… she attacked me and…” She glanced towards the S.T. peering over the edge, "and that fool over there disobeyed my orders and shot her before I could stop him."

  Magnus turned to look at the S.T., who was dumbfounded by the sudden pronouncement. Magnus leapt over to the unfortunate soldier, dragging the nearest Infernus with him, and before either of them could react, thrust the flamethrower nozzle into the S.T.’s open visor, twisting the Infernus’ glove to activate the searing flames. The man’s screams were mercifully short, as his armor cracked and melted from the heat. He was still on fire when Magnus kicked him over the edge.

  He glanced over his shoulder at Middleton. “And the boy?”

  “Toppled over the edge. No doubt dead,” Middleton responded hastily.

  Magnus peered over the edge of the bridge as the falling, burning Trooper finally disappeared into the gloom.

  Magnus growled, “There will be consequences for this.” He walked over to Natalie and gently lifted her body, holding her close to his massive armor. Glancing at his cadre of Inferni, he gritted his teeth, “Move out.” He left Middleton there, still bleeding profusely.

  Well after Magnus and Middleton had disappeared, Norm still waited on the ledge, staring at spot where Natalie had fallen. For a long time, he thought about simply flinging himself from there.

  Shame on you! A familiar voice whispered. Tears welled at its soothing sound.

  He had to keep going. He had to press forward. So he would do the only thing he could for now: he would find Janus, and give him a proper burial, at least. And if he could do that, maybe he would figure out what to do next.

  Chapter 38: Declarations

  The mood in the Beacon was somber.

  “You know the rest,” Norm concluded softly. “Clara found Janus, both Middleton and Magnus assumed you were dead, and I crawled my way back into the slums.” His eyes met Janus’. “I searched for your body for weeks, subsisting on what I found in the piles. It was bitter work. More than once, I thought about leaving. Heading out into the wilderness beyond Cerberus and just,” he paused, “disappearing. But that moment at the bridge kept flashing in my mind.”

  Janus glanced over, looking for his—the Praetor. He was still gone, and it suddenly struck him how much blood and loss they shared. He wasn’t sure of how to absorb it. And he couldn’t imagine calling him anything different, if he even should.

  Norm’s voice cut into his thoughts, “I expected Magnus and Middleton to find me. Sometimes I wished for it. But after months of waiting, I realized they weren’t even looking for me. At best, I assumed they thought I couldn’t survive alone. That I probably died in some hole somewhere. At worst, they probably never thought I mattered in the first place.”


  Norm clenched a fist, “As dark as they were, I think those thoughts sustained me. I was alone in the slums, not even considered a threat by my greatest enemy in her very home. So I learned to live in the bowels of Cerberus.”

  Norm sighed, “Alastor, for his part, held true to his word. He was a windbag, full of hot air, but I shall miss him. He caught wind of what had happened and tracked me down. I suspect that his years of digging on Middleton made him one of the best detectives and spies in all the Corporations. But for all the suspicion and ruckus he had caused, he had not really accomplished anything. Middleton was still a threat, but now she hated him and was working to destroy him. It wasn’t a total loss for him, however. He was granted the status of Overlord. Outwardly, the Executors appreciated his loyalty and tenacity, and rewarded him. I suspect that they also realized how much power Middleton had amassed, and wanted a counterbalance without making a direct play against her. She was too valuable to simply replace. He made me a servant and gave me a pass to the upper levels. I think he enjoyed the idea of having one of Middleton’s foes right underneath her nose. But I didn’t care, because that is how I found Clara."

  Clara sat forward, “I remember now: You and I met on the lift to H-level.”

  Norm smiled, “Yes. We got along quite well, and you were so excited to tell me about the young boy you had found just a few months ago, because he was such a good luck charm. I heard all sorts of stories over the next few weeks: How you had struggled to find a wet nurse. How you were spending nearly all of the money you made to ensure the boy was cared for properly and looked after while you worked during the day. And the most important detail: That his name was Janus, carved in a locket that was around his neck. And for the first time in a long while, I had hope. I vowed to do everything I could for the boy, without compromising him. If Alastor had found me, others could too, so I would avoid him – aiding from a distance. I would look for more subtle ways to help, and always be ready to come running, if necessary. I would not let Janus down like I did Natalie."

  Clara spoke up, “And you gave us money during the times when I just couldn’t seem to scrape enough together, or medical supplies when Janus didn’t manage to get away from the street gangs completely unscathed.” She paused, and shook her head, grinning, "You always told me that an old man like yourself didn't need as much, and that I reminded you of someone you knew, what seemed like a lifetime ago."

  Norm had a faint smile and nodded.

  He turned to look at Janus. “And now, it is time for you to face your father and Middleton. Together, they represent a grave threat to all the Corporations.”

  “But what is our next move?” Celes asked. “What does Norm's story tell us about Magnus and Middleton that we didn't know before?"

  The group sat silent.

  “What happened when we infiltrated Cerberus?” Janus asked.

  “Infiltrated is a little misleading, don’t ya think?” Lyn winced, “Middleton knew we were coming.”

  “But she certainly didn’t know that we were escaping,” Marcus added sarcastically. “And I am guessing that the attack on Cerberus threw her off a bit, judging from her reaction,” he laughed.

  “But what was the purpose behind the attack?” Keats asked, looking at Norm, “She knew the attack would be coming.”

  He shook his head uncertainly, and Keats motioned to the other officers, “Surely it was for a greater reason than to throw suspicion off of Middleton? Titan will now face the full brunt of the Corporations’ wrath.”

  “Like that matters to Delacroix,” Hawkes growled, smashing a fist on the table. “If that story tells us anything, it’s that he places his goals above everything else. He could care less what happens to Titan.”

  “I couldn’t agree more Colonel.” The Praetor stood in the door. Walking back to the table, he asked, “So what has changed between his first attempt and now?”

  Keats shook her head, “Last time, his army struggled against a single foe. Now he can’t even take them one by one. They’ll bring the full brunt of their forces upon him.”

  Lyn looked to Keats, “Colonel, I’ve heard ya talk about ‘full brunt’ of the Corporations before – something ta do with the Phoenix Declaration. What is it, exactly?”

  “Just what you might think,” Wouris interjected. “It’s a pact. A joint declaration to destroy any Corporation that dares use atomic weapons against another. It was a result of Phoenix’s attempt, and a guarantee to annihilate any foolish enough to aspire to the same plan. But it was intended as an essentially meaningless overture. No Corporation ever came close to matching Phoenix, and no one could imagine being stupid enough to try the same plan.”

  “Even if he had the firepower, Delacroix aspires to rule. Attacking the Corporations directly will only destroy them. It makes no sense,” Marcus mused.

  Clara jumped in, “So why attack at all? Why stir up the Corporations?”

  “Titan will be destroyed, just like Phoenix,” Ramirez spoke.

  Celes shook her head, “We know that Phoenix is up and running again.”

  “And its factories are producing hundreds of armored suits per day.” Keats added. “We know that he has troops in cryochambers. But it is likely he lost a huge number as part of the fall.” She motioned to Wouris, “The collapsed cavern of Immutium the Sergeant found is evidence of that.” She turned to Norm, “How long did it take to assemble the force originally?”

  Norm studied Janus, “About four and a half decades, but assuming at least half of the soldiers survived, then our growth models would not even need—”

  “20 years,” Janus interjected, “He has his army. He wouldn’t be moving otherwise.” The room went silent.

  “One that Corporations know nothing about,” the Praetor added.

  “But an inferior one,” Wouris interjected, “You saw the quality of the armor and weapons, Janus, Celes. Nothing is custom fitted, or top-of-the-line. He may have a lot of troopers, but he certainly wouldn’t want to rely on them alone, not to take on all of the Corporations.”

  Northcott leaned forward, “And he won’t be able to move them without tipping his hand. As soon as he starts trying to get that army running, the other Corporations are bound to find out. It takes far too many supplies to keep an army of that size running for long. If they do, they’ll send everything they’ve got to crush him.”

  “He has an advantage, but there must be something we are missing!” Celes exclaimed with a wave, “The original Phoenix plan left too much to chance – he must realize that.”

  Clara meekly raised a hand, “Um, I realize this is probably not important, but what is a Phoenix anyways?” She blushed, “I’m afraid I’ve never heard of them before now.”

  Norm smiled, “I think that is due to mistakes by the Corporations, and not you.” Clara’s cheeks turned a brighter red. “A phoenix, according to legend, is a bird tied to the essence of fire. It was immortal. When it grew old and died, it would burst into flames and a new bird would rise from…” Norm stopped talking as Janus and the Praetor wore looks of dawning horror.

  “What is it, Janus?” Celes asked urgently.

  “How much atomic weaponry did Phoenix possess?” Janus asked Norm.

  Norm shook his head, “As I said before, never enough to destroy all the Corporations and their armies. Much of it was certainly lost, and some of it was used when we sealed the facilities…”

  “What if all the armies were in one place?” Janus hesitantly asked. The room stopped. But only for a moment.

  “We have to warn the Corporations!” Celes exclaimed.

  “Agreed, though it may already be too late.” The Praetor stated coolly, nodding to Keats. Keats waved open a foil screen, “Major Tuorneg, prep two longboats with escorts for immediate departure. Extended travel, diplomatic identifications.”

  Major Tourneg nodded curtly, “Aye, sir. Which Corporation or Legion will we be contacting?”

  “All of them.”

  Tourneg’s stony gaz
e broke for just a moment, but she recovered immediately, “Right away!”

  Keats hadn’t even closed the screen when Tourneg began barking orders to the bridge.

  “If his plan succeeds,” Norm made a fist, “The Corporations will be reeling, disorganized. He could march in unopposed, crushing whatever resistance would be left behind. He might even be hailed as a savior if there is enough chaos.”

  “The Corporations will already be mobilizing,” Keats looked to the Praetor.

  He nodded, “Which is why I want you on one of those longboats. If we have any shot of getting through, we’ll need our best diplomat. Grab your best, either Boren or Amrala, and do whatever you can. Hold off for a day, pull back to scout – whatever it takes to buy us time and stop this from happening.”

  Keats nodded solemnly.

  “Avoid Cerberus – the likelihood you’ll even get an audience is almost non-existant with Alastor dead and Middleton in control. We don’t even know the full state of the damage there, who knows how much power Middleton gained in the attack.” He paused, his eyes tracing over the young Adepts, and settling on Celes, “Minotaur is your best bet. Leave nothing on the table – make copies of the isotope drives, everything we’ve got. If you can reach one, you may be able to reach the others by proxy.” Keats saluted and headed for the door, squeezing Hawkes shoulder as she passed.

  “And Colonel?” The Praetor said. Keats paused at the door. “If they’ve already established a centralized command for the attack, I forbid you from going anywhere near it, even if all the Executors are present.”

  “Is that an order? Even if it may stop disaster?” Keats asked coolly.

  “You’re damn right it is!” Hawkes interjected.

  Keats avoided looking at him, “Sir?”