Yuri lifted off the ground, throwing his hands out to the sides. “Because I'm going to kill them first. All of them!”
Maksim reached out to grab the boy, but it was too late. He rocketed into the sky, piercing a cloud as he did. Maksim shot into the sky, hoping to chase him, but Carmen now knew it was pointless. That tiny child was faster and stronger than anyone else in the family. She summoned the power of the burning star inside of her, causing her hands to glow bright red, and wondered if even her power would be enough to hurt him. She might be able to deal out the damage, but he could snap her neck before she blinked.
She glanced down at the caskets, which had nearly completely burned away. Inside lay the charred remains of Simone, her golden skin now black and red, and next to her lay the corpses of Padamir and Niko, which were untouched by the fire. She reached out, placing her hand inside the heat, feeling nothing.
Maksim descended from the sky, slowly touching down next to her. She saw the look of defeat in his eyes. Her gaze fell upon his scar, the melted flesh she had left from her single punch. She leaned into him, resting her head against his massive arm.
“I'm scared,” she said, watching the flames die out among the embers of the burnt caskets.
Maksim wrapped his hand around her cheek and quietly said, “Me too.”
8
WESLEY
Energy flowed through his mind like wildfire, engulfing his neurons with a swelling power. His consciousness was intertwined with his unconscious mind in a heaving, rhythmic dance that sent sparks of electricity throughout his brain. As he crested the wave of emotional expulsion, his thoughts flushed through a tiny hole in the ether, exploding into another realm.
“Do you feel it?” Kgosi asked from across the room. “It is inside of you and outside of you, flowing through every cell. It touches that which is there, and that which isn't. It is solid and vapor. Real and unreal.”
“Veritas.”
“Yes. Now reach out, not with your mind, but with the world itself. Feel the connection. The connection to me. Do you sense it? Like an open tunnel of pure energy.”
It was exactly how Kgosi described it. It was a release from everything Wesley held as reality. There was no body, no hand to reach out with. There was just the burning light of existence that flared throughout the universe. And he was that light. He could see Kgosi, even though his eyes were closed in the realm his body still existed in. Their thoughts touched, not only connecting, but fusing, melting into each other. They were one.
Kgosi spoke, but not with words. It felt more like emotions were being deciphered, decrypted from a language that never existed.
“You are here. With me. I can feel your potential. I can feel the greatness inside of you, because it is me. We only need to tap into that which already exists. Unleash that which wants to be free.”
“I... I don't feel the emptiness in me. I feel... whole. I feel like complete. Like... something has filled me with... with myself.”
“I know that feeling. It is what originally led me to Veritas.” Kgosi exhaled his emotions, then breathed in the surrounding light. “There is a kinship I feel toward you, like a long lost brother. Like a mirror that I can step through.”
“I feel it too. Like somehow... I can see both sides of you. The external and the internal are one.”
“Yes...” Kgosi was reaching out with his mind, trying to grab a hold of the thought they were both grasping for. “I can almost see it... touch it... the truth of you.”
The acknowledgment of Zola's presence entering the room suddenly sliced through Wesley's connection to Kgosi, yanking him from the realm of light. Her voice shattered his state of mind.
“I'm sorry to interrupt, my God-King.”
Wesley's eyes fluttered open as his mind tried to accept the physical world he was pulled back into, but Kgosi's eyes slowly opened, a soft smile resting on his face.
“There is no need to apologize, my child.”
“It's just...” Zola glanced at Wesley, then back to Kgosi. “You were supposed to meet me in the southern training room for my studies over an hour ago.”
Kgosi's eyebrows raised high on his head. “My word. I had no idea that much time had passed. I was so engrossed in Wesley's studies. We were able to make a mental connection that felt... enthralling. Intoxicating, even. There is something forming between our minds, something I feel a need to dig deeper into.”
Zola's eyes flashed to Wesley, her pupils becoming piercing dots. “I'm sure it is just the feeling of something new, something unfamiliar.”
“It is far more than that, my child.” Kgosi lifted his body off the ground with his mental powers. “He is still only able to touch the smallest items in the physical realm, but his presence in the psionic realm seems to match my own.”
Zola frowned dismissively. “Surely you don't mean that.”
Wesley hesitated to add to the conversation, but he was too exhilarated by the feeling rushing through him. “It's true! I felt something bigger than myself... like opening up a door I never even knew existed.”
Both Kgosi and Zola turned toward him, but their faces were very different. While Kgosi seemed calm and welcoming of his explanation, Zola held a smirk on her face.
“We've all felt that,” Zola said with a huff. “That's the basis of the First Circle. You're just expanding your powers for the first time.”
Wesley shook his head. “It's not an expanse. It's like... it's like...”
“Something familiar,” Kgosi explained
Zola's head jerked to the side. “What do you mean... familiar?”
“I'm not sure. I have never felt it before, not in any of my students. Perhaps it is nothing, just a flicker of resonance from my own power. Or perhaps the circle of psionics that I have reached is not the penultimate. Perhaps there is further to go. Or perhaps there is a different direction completely.”
“And you think this... boy can lead you there?”
Kgosi smiled and shook his head. “Not lead, my child. But perhaps we can walk alongside each other, past the light. Perhaps Wesley can help me as much as I can help him.”
Zola stood in silence for a moment, her mouth agape at what she was listening to, but her silence did not last for long.
“You know what? Javier was right. You're acting like this kid is a golden child. You're giving him special treatment, accolades he doesn't deserve.”
“You have not seen what I have seen, Zola. He exists in the psionic realm as if it were air itself. My thoughts opened to him like a mother welcoming a lost child. I must explore this.”
“He's... he's cheating. He's... he's doing something. There's no way someone with his limited abilities could possibly be worthy of your notice. You need to-”
Kgosi held up his hand and she stopped talking immediately. “I'm sure you're not telling your God-King what he needs to do. And I'm sure you aren't backing away from the chance to join us on this journey. I am not placing any of my children above the other, including you. If Wesley walks alongside me on this journey, then so do you. So does Javier. We will find this path together.”
Zola looked at Wesley, then back to Kgosi. Her eyes made it apparent that she was accepting Kgosi's declaration, but there was something else there. A spark of recognition, a twinkle of an idea. She bowed her head respectfully.
“Of course, my God-King. I am always honored to be by your side.”
His thin arm reached out, and he gripped her shoulder, giving it a satisfied squeeze as he smiled. “Wonderful. Now I hope you understand, but I believe we should skip your training for today. I think I need to spend some time meditating on this turn of events.”
She smiled back at him. “Of course, my God-King.”
He nodded at Wesley and then floated out of the room. Wesley took a deep breath as he exited, feeling an energy flush from his body. The emptiness returned. It left him weak and drained, yet satisfied. Content.
“I'm sorry if I upset you,” Wesley said, shyly
.
“You didn't upset me.”
“I know Javier thinks I'm getting special treatment, but I'm not going to hold back my training just so other people don't get jealous.”
Zola's eyes flashed at him, her thin eyebrows pointing downward in anger. “You think I'm jealous of you? You think I would ask you to hold back? This isn't a contest. And if it was, I wouldn't need you to let me win.”
“No... of course not...”
She cackled loudly, throwing her head back as she did. “The only thing I'm jealous of is your ability to manipulate my God-King.”
Wesley furrowed his brow, utterly confused by the statement. “Manipulate?”
“That's the only reason you're getting this kind of treatment. It's the only reason any of the students in this family get treated the way they do. Hours and hours were spent with the Bautistas before you arrived, even though I was obviously more skilled than them. He keeps propping everyone else up as the next leader of this family, never even considering how much more qualified I am to lead the children of the next generation. And it's only because I remain neutral. I remain true to his teachings. I don't lie and cheat my way to the top. It sickens me to think that is the only way to inherit this family we've built.”
“Is that what you want? To be the heir to all of this... to lead the House of Psi?”
She walked toward the door, stopping before she exited and letting out a sigh. “It doesn't matter, does it? Javier is next in line. And with the rate you're going, you'll probably surpass us both in the God-King's favor.”
Wesley glanced around, considering the concept for the very first time, confused again. “I'm not looking to be a leader.”
“The God-King isn't a leader. He's our father. And you said yourself that's something you always pictured becoming.”
Wesley considered her words, trying to picture himself in Kgosi's position. Was it so impossible to imagine?
“You wanted to find your purpose, and it seems you have. Whether or not you stole it from someone else doesn't seem to matter to you.” Zola glanced at the floor, mumbling to herself, “If only I had known earlier that all I needed to do was reach out and take the things I wanted...”
She left Wesley alone in the room with his thoughts. Her words fell upon deaf ears. Wesley was too busy rolling the images around his mind of children at his feet and students surrounding him. He was truly surprised at how much joy the thoughts filled him with. A soft, content smile crept onto his face. The same smile that seemed forever etched upon Kgosi's lips.
9
MERMAID
A quiet beeping entered her dreams, and as she awoke, the beeping continued, emitting from the computer console where she had fallen asleep. Between her own fieldwork and organizing the few remaining heroes she had left to protect the entirety of the American Republic, she had been awake for nearly 30 hours straight. So she didn't feel too guilty about taking a short nap.
Mermaid rubbed her eyes and looked up at the glowing screen in front of her. A message accompanied the alarm, reminding her of the teleconference that was scheduled by the Grand Citadel. There was no asking her what time would be convenient, or even a heads up on what they would be discussing, just a sudden appearance in her calendar.
She reached out and touched the screen, deleting the alarm and opening the teleconference program. With a few more swipes and button presses, the camera built into the screen activated and a waiting icon swirled in the center of the screen. She grabbed for her cup of coffee, and just as she took a sip, the screen blinked and Imperator Azakor appeared. She nearly spit out her coffee, coughing as she managed to swallow it down and wipe off her mouth.
She had never expected to be talking to him. What could possibly be so important that he would need to speak to her personally? That kind of teleconference was normally with a representative from the Fatherlands, an official who would usually read from a prepared script and wouldn't be able to answer any of her questions without “further inquiry.” Sometimes, if the subject matter was extremely important, she would receive a call from a council member specifically educated in the matter. Tax plans, infrastructure review, or maybe food distribution. One time in her entire career, she received a visit from Maksim the Warhammer, Guardian of the West, but it was strange and awkward, and she wasn't sure either of them knew why he was there other than for a photo opportunity. Never before had an Imperator ever contacted her directly. At first, she wondered if it could be a recorded message, but that was proven wrong as soon as he spoke.
“Mermaid. You look awful.”
She rubbed her eyes again. “It's been a long day, my Imperator. Forgive me. Had I known I would be speaking directly to you, I would have-”
“Forget that. There are more pressing matters.”
She sat up straight in her chair. “What can I do for you, my Imperator?”
“First of all, you can explain your inability to find the missing mother carrying the illegal child.”
Mermaid clenched her teeth together. She found it hard to accept that Lucy Grae and her unborn child were the most important things to the Imperator of the entire world. There was a war raging throughout the Fatherlands, violent protests erupting, and his own child was on a murder spree. Mermaid knew the truth. It was simply Mermaid's failure that they were talking about.
“I'm sorry, my Imperator. We have some leads, but with the war drafting so many heroes from the Alliance, I'm stretched thin. I'm doing my best just to keep the citizens of the American Republic safe.”
“We both know there are two kinds of safety. Momentary safety, and maintained safety. I'm more interested in the latter. We need to make sure these super powers don't get out of control. That is always the most important thing. We must control that which could destroy the world. Do you want another Super Power War? Do you want another country to be erased from the globe?”
She tried not to blink. He was speaking to her like a child, even though she was older than him. She had seen more good and evil in this world than he could ever dream of, but there he was, explaining right and wrong to her.
“I understand the importance of finding the girl and her baby. I have put Replica on the case, since there's enough of her to go around.”
Azakor stroked his thick, braided beard, tugging at the long hairs as he thought to himself.
“Replica. Shame about her.”
“Shame?”
“Her infertility. She could have put an end to all of this so easily. If she could have given birth to a single Zharkovian, there would never be another war, another uprising. Our dreams of peace could have been fulfilled with one child.”
He stared off into the distance, a small smile curling his lips as he daydreamed the possibility of a replicating Zharkov.
Mermaid, on the other hand, was trying to hide the sheer terror that thought brought to her.
“I'm sure she will find them soon.”
His eyes blinked back to the camera. “Yes, well, just make sure she's dedicated to the cause. She's lucky she's still alive after what she pulled on the Eastern front.”
“I promise you, my Imperator, she will succeed.”
“She had better. There will not be a third chance given. I have no room in the Empire for those who will not serve the crown.”
“Yes, my Imperator.”
“That is all I wanted to speak to you about, today. But you can expect these conversations more frequently from now on. I am taking a more... active role in my duties as Imperator. I won't tolerate such independence as my Uncle did from his Domini.”
“Of course, my Imperator, but I am no Domini.”
Azakor was turning away from the camera, but stopped, as if a thought had just crossed his mind.
“Perhaps that's the problem with your domain, Mermaid. Who knows? You play your cards right, and I could change that very easily.”
He reached out and pressed a button before she could respond, ending the call and leaving her in silence. But that sil
ence was broken by a voice in the doorway.
“Looking for a promotion, are we?”
Mermaid spun around to see Replica leaning against the door, her arms folded across her chest.
“What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in the field, looking for Retina and Rainfall, or at least clues to their whereabouts. We need something to satiate the Zharkovs.”
Replica rolled her eyes. “Don't worry, I'm in the field. At least some of me are. But don't dodge the question.”
As Mermaid got up and walked toward the door, she waved her hand in the air as if the question were nothing but an annoying gnat. “Don't take what a Zharkov says so seriously. Even the Imperator. I have no delusions of grandeur, and I'm certainly not looking to become a Domina.”
Replica stepped in front of her, blocking her from leaving. “No? Because our council has all but been eliminated, and Negaton is stuck keeping his prison in line. We might as well pin a “junior-hero” badge to his shirt and pat him on the head. That just leaves you and me, Mermaid. Why wouldn't you take the Domina title? At least you might get some benefits from all the hours you're putting in. Maybe they'll even throw in a new throne for you.”
Mermaid rolled her eyes. “Stop it. You know that's not me. I've never been interested in any of that. I'm a superhero, not a politician.”
“Keep telling yourself that.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“Right now, I've got a team of myselves descending on a town just north of the Hive's border where there was a report of someone fitting the description of Rainfall.”
Mermaid tilted her head, confused. “That's... that's good. Once you bring them in, the Zharkovs will back off us.”
“Yeah? For how long? Until the next time one of us heroes goes and gets pregnant? Until the next time we have to abort a baby?”
Mermaid let out a sigh and rubbed her forehead. “Don't tell me you're going to get all pro-superpower-life on me. You know as well as I do that sometimes we have to do things that aren't exactly... heroic. You've handed in your fair share of field reports with kills on them. Your hands aren't clean.”
Fear the Empire Page 6
