“Manjra, I appreciate your concern, but this is not something on the agenda,” said Katar.
Manjra did not look pleased.
“I disagree,” said Nam. “I think Manjra has a point. I want to know where they came from.”
Was the spy Manjra or was it Nam? It was not good that they both questioned Katar. He needed more time to figure out who was the real spy leaking information to the Shadow Government. Zero held back his anger to not reveal his discomfort with this topic. Katar had better hurry up with this meeting.
“This is my fault,” said Yujin. “Please calm down, both of you. These new students are friends of an old acquaintance. I promised him that I’d look after them here, and I asked President Katar to assist me with their application.”
Don’t speak too much, Yujin. He did not want to have to intervene to sort out the mess Yujin and Katar would create. He needed all the professors to be oblivious about Kry and remain focused on teaching the students.
“Who was the acquaintance?” inquired Nam.
“Enough,” scolded Katar.
Katar had some grit after all. Zero sat back and watched them.
“Yujin’s affairs and these new students are not your concern. What should be your concern is that you teach your students to the best of your ability. Now, there’s no more need to discuss this matter. Let us return to the Cube and our plans for the next contest,” said Katar.
Manjra and Nam looked at each other. Zero noticed their uncertainty. He would have to investigate them both. And if he found either one of them was working for the Shadow Government, then they would have a fate far worse than death.
“The champion, Aiyax, may not take part in the next contest,” said Katar.
The other Professors began to object. Zero just shook his head. Aiyax was only an interim champion, and her time would soon end…on his terms.
“Why would you do this?” questioned Seranay.
“Yes, the champion must fight in every contest,” said Nam.
Yujin raised his hand. “Allow me. You’re correct. The champion should compete in every competition, but the next one we’re planning will not be an individual fight.”
“So, it’ll be group battles?” asked Himura, contemplating on the issue.
“Yes, the factions will choose members to participate, and the group who wins will decide among themselves who will go on to challenge the champion,” said Yujin.
Zero found this interesting. Perhaps Yujin was not as much as an oaf as he thought. He would make sure Kry would be strong enough to take the championship. This excited him greatly. Kry could be, would be, as strong as the last one he trained. The three of them together…what power…
He was glad Mary had passed the information onto him about Kry before her death. She was a fine asset, and it was a shame she died so soon. He could have used her for more information gathering, especially regarding Rush and his whereabouts, but he knew if they had not killed her, he would have had to eventually. No one could know his plans or his true identity.
“The issue is whether Aiyax will fight the winner of the group contest immediately or the following week,” said Katar.
“I think that’s not an unreasonable proposition, but it does go against the tradition of the Cube,” said Himura.
Manjra raised his hand. “We shouldn’t go against our traditions. To become the champion, you must fight under any conditions and be ready at any time. I can understand that Xu’s death was the thinking behind this idea, but we shouldn’t change how the contests are done.”
The other professors nodded in agreement. Zero was unconcerned regardless.
Katar looked to Yujin who acknowledged the outcome. “Then Aiyax will fight the winner of the group battle as soon as it has finished. I’m already excited to see how this will all play out. The next battle in the Cube should be an interesting one, to say the least.”
“We’ll hold it during the winter, one month away. This will give students enough time to prepare, train, and pick who will be participating from within their factions,” said Yujin.
“Oh, how I wished I could go inside the Cube again! I’ve almost forgotten the energy and excitement that fills you once you enter,” said Nam.
Yujin laughed. “Indeed. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about entering once more—to enter the great cage and test your true worth.”
Zero coughed. “Excuse me. My throat is a tad bit dry.” They would all have their true worth tested in due time. It was all part of his plan. The Cube was just a small battleground, but there was a real battleground out in the real world where the Shadow Government ruled with an iron fist. He touched his hand and felt the missing ring that was once an item of who he was.
“Zero, are you OK?” asked Himura.
He was amused at his concern. “Fine, thank you.”
Himura kept his gaze on him, and he knew perfectly well what Himura was trying to do. Himura, the professor for telepathy and tricks of the mind, was a potent User, but Himura had no idea who he was dealing with.
Zero felt a tingle inside his mind. Himura thought he could enter his mind so easily. He even could retaliate and enter Himura’s mind; the strings of memories were as clear as day, and the white light at the end of the tunnel was Himura’s precious secrets, memories, and fears. But he would not retaliate because it would reveal his true strength. However, he would neither allow Himura inside his mind and pushed him out as effortlessly as stepping on a bug. He gave Himura a cruel smile.
Himura flinched and leaned back against his chair, removing his eyes from him.
Good. Be afraid. Zero continued to count the ticking of his watch. His boredom began to grow even more.
“We can adjourn for now, and we’ll have another professors’ meeting at the end of the month. There’s a lot to plan,” said Katar.
The professors left the room to carry out their daily tasks. For Zero, he remained seated and continued enjoying the ticks of his watch.
“Zero,” said Katar. “You’re the newest member of our small but elite group of professors here.”
Elite? Oh, Katar. I’m the only elite one here.
“But you need to act more appropriately. Your lack of engagement in our discussions is somewhat concerning,” said Katar.
Zero stood up from his chair. “President,” he said with a hint of irony. “The only thing you should be concerned about is the students and their problems. There is no necessity to lecture me. You hired me to do a job, did you not? And that is what I do, I teach. These discussions are a bore, Katar, and time is wasted on such matters.”
“Being a professor is more than just teaching,” said Katar. “You have other duties as well. We all do, remember that.” His tone was a warning.
Zero feigned fear. “Of course, Katar.” He pulled up his sleeve and looked at his watch. “Well, look at the time. I must attend to my other duties, as you so eloquently phrased it.”
Katar opened the door for him. “Be warned, Zero. If you continue to be a problem and not adjust to these discussions, then I can have you removed.”
A real threat? Katar had some backbone after all. “You would remove your most talented professor? Now come, Katar. That would not be a wise decision, especially from one who calls himself President.”
Katar tightened his grip on the door handle. Zero bowed as if mocking him and left Katar to be alone with his thoughts. He was amused at how all this had played out. Katar as president was not good for this university. They needed a real leader, someone with vision, someone like him.
He left the meeting room and turned down a connecting hall toward his office. The Professors’ Tower was a charming building, but it was nothing to what he had long ago.
As he entered his office, many incredible thoughts filled his mind. There were so many plans; not enough time. He would need to deal with the spy as soon as possible. At least, he could remove Katar and Yujin from his list as they seemed to have a connection with the ne
w students, perhaps they were both against the Shadow Government in different ways—very different to how he was against them. In time, they would all know.
The next contest in the Cube would be held in a month’s time, and he had much to do. The Cube was a means to an end, a tool to forge his weapon. The loner, Abel, had shown promise, but there was failure in that one. Sonus was too wild and reckless. The woman, Eclipse, was strong, but so was her will. There was not enough darkness in them for him to break them down. And the darkness was what he craved; he relished it just like the hatred he had for everyone. How long had he isolated himself in purgatory to create this persona of himself to the world—too long that was how long. He gripped the energy flowing inside of him and siphoned it, releasing it naturally to avoid suspicion. How he hated all the professors and the students, but Kry was all he needed. He would enjoy breaking him, allowing the darkness in him to take over. And when it did, the real power would be his. The darkness in Kry was just like the other one. He was proud.
The days were getting colder, and the first signs of winter were showing. From his office window, birds were flying away to migrate. Zero was glad winter was on its way, for the cold was when he did his best work. In fact, not only did he notice the temperature change in the air, but he also was very aware of the figure who was stalking him since this morning. This User was concealing his presence and remained hidden within a shell of his own energy, but that was not enough to hide his presence from him. A powerful User indeed, and most likely a Blade. The Shadow Government was onto him, and the spy was leaking information that compromised his position. He closed his office window, pretending he did not sense anyone following him. Viktor had become a little too sloppy to send only one. He had thought better of someone as smart as Viktor, but a lot must have changed since those days.
Zero returned to his work, his most precious work, all the while analyzing the presence of the Blade nearby. He would deal with him in due course, and he would enjoy his death greatly.
Chapter 16 – Return to Bellum
Things were certainly different since the last time he had been here. Nothing had been going right for him since his attempted and failed effort to capture Geminae. Now here he was back at Bellum, and already there were obstacles in place.
Botulinia had increased her security. Men in white robes patrolled within the compound alongside Bellum security officers. Rush had never liked Seekers. The only time he did was when his knives protruded from their backs. Botulinia did not want anyone breaking in again. Of course, it was natural since so much damage had been done already. The neon lights of Bellum lit up the sky, and the cool London breeze had an ominous feeling about it.
Rush had scouted the Bellum compound for several days, learning and memorizing the patrol routes. If a Seeker spotted him, then the whole place would be on high alert. He could not allow any mistakes here if he wanted to save Kry’s friends. That was the whole purpose of being here. He had wished he had already saved Dr. Rhodes, but that had to be postponed. And Botulinia having all these Seekers about was not something he had expected. He could hide his presence from them, but any sound he made had to be hidden, something which was no easy task, considering how big the compound was and how many guards were on patrol.
Another problem was that he could sense Botulinia in her lavish office on the top floor of the main building. Her office window looked over the entire compound and the skyline of London. There was no way to enter while she was still inside. She, alongside the Seekers, would be too much of a risk for him to take. Botulinia was no ordinary Blade and had tricks and talents which could even bring him to his knees. No, he would have to wait, something which he did not like to do, but if Michael and Sarah were going to get out, they needed him to be at his very best.
Great beacons of light searched the inner compound while patrols continued walking the grounds. The Bellum compound gate was sealed shut, and security was as vigilant as ever.
Rush blew his lips in annoyance. Would Botulinia ever leave her damn office? After this task was done, he would need to get back on the hunt for Geminae. Her last words to him had been threatening; she would kill Kry once she had found him. Rush had tried to convince her of their relationship, but there was always something that would never work out.
One more time, he went around the entire Bellum compound mapping out other possible entrances and patrol routes. He knew the inner compound well and had an idea where Michael and Sarah were being kept. When Billy had been a line manager, he had mapped out the compound, inch by inch, and had told him the key buildings and their uses. Rush did not have many regrets as he always looked to the future, but one of his greatest regrets was that he could not have helped Billy more than he did. His death weighed heavily on him. Billy had worked for him and had died for it, protecting Kry as his last act. There always had to be a sacrifice…
He heard the main Bellum compound gates being opened and noticed a black limousine leaving. Rush concealed himself as the limousine drove past him and on down the street toward the bridge. This was the time. Finally, Botulinia had left. He sensed her presence very strongly inside the limousine.
The gates closed, and the guards returned to keeping watch. He had to be quick for this to work. There was a point along the compound wall where he could make his entry, but the patrols had a chance to see him. He placed his hand on the ground, palm flat, and released his energy. The ground beneath him shook, and then he directed the energy to ripple toward the gate. The vibration of shockwaves created a larger earthquake causing the nearby guards to lose their balance. There was shouting as guards and Seekers came to see what the problem was.
Rush blinked to the far end of the compound. With a great burst of energy, he launched himself up and over the wall. He landed without a sound and moved into the shadows of the nearby building. The guards had been so preoccupied that no one had heard or seen his arrival.
Great lights still shone down and across the compound restricting his freedom of movement. Seekers would soon return to their patrols once they had finished checking the gate. He held his fingers to his forehead and opened his mind. There was the sound of a rubber band breaking, and all at once the lights went out. The compound was now in complete darkness. His goal had been to make it seem like a blackout. Guards shouted and scrambled to get the lights back on again.
Rush made his way across the compound as silently as a mouse. He knew which building he had to go. Billy had shown him where Bellum had their holding cells and rooms for interrogation. They had to be there.
He moved with stealth in between the buildings, blending in with the darkness. The building was just ahead. Two guards stood watch. With no time to waste, Rush blinked next to them and, with pinpoint precision, knocked them unconscious. He pulled them behind the building and concealed their bodies in the shadows. He then entered.
The inner building was relatively simple. A guard was sitting at his desk marking his papers. He saw Rush too late as he was knocked clean off his chair. Rush then placed his unconscious body under the desk. “Stay put.”
He took the keys from the guard and opened the door leading into the corridor. Several guards turned to him in surprise as he entered.
“Who are you?” they asked, their eyes devoid of life.
“I’m a hero!” Rush flipped over them and struck fast, knocking them out.
Another guard came up from behind him. Rush turned and was about to strike him down when he recognized his face. He had not known Cole before his transformation, but he was aware that Kry considered him a friend. Cole tried to grab him, but Rush easily moved around him.
“Sorry I have to do this,” said Rush. Cole turned around to meet the hard surface of Rush’s fist. Rush caught him as he fell and placed him gently on the floor.
In theory, he could take Cole with him, but unless Cole could be cured, he would only be a problem. Eventually, they would come back for them all if such a cure existed.
The door where the guar
ds had been standing watch was now free for him to enter. He opened the door and moved across the room with lightning speed. With a spark of energy, he broke the chains which held Sarah up against the wall. Her hair was soaking, and her face was deathly pale. The brutality of her treatment was evident on her face. She was semi-conscious as he carried her in his arms.
“Michael…?” murmured Sarah.
Where was Michael? Rush carried Sarah out and checked the other rooms, but there was no sign of Michael in any of them. Where the hell was he? Had Botulinia disposed of him? He hoped not.
“Sarah,” said Rush. He gently connected their minds. “Where’s Michael?”
Sarah began to mumble incoherently. Rush could not leave without knowing what had happened to Michael.
“Sarah.” He placed his right hand on her wet head, feeding energy to her, helping to give her warmth and strength.
Sarah slowly opened her eyes. “Michael, poor Michael.”
It was not looking good. Rush had no choice but to leave and quickly left the building. Luckily, the lights were still out. Under the darkness, he moved swiftly and leaped over the compound wall. He placed Sarah on a nearby bench. The night was cold, so he took off his white coat and placed it over her. Sarah was shivering on the bench.
“Sarah, what happened to Michael?” asked Rush.
Sarah pulled his coat close to her and tried to hide her tears. “Michael…he’s changed.”
Sarah was beginning to fall asleep. He tried to keep her awake just a tiny bit longer to find out what had happened.
“Sarah, please. Do you know where he is?” he asked.
Sarah had enough energy to roll over on the bench and point to the tower overlooking them. Rush saw that she was pointing to the neon lights of the central Bellum tower.
“He’s in there. Botulinia took him,” she said, collapsing into his arms.
Rush held her head and gently placed it down. He looked back behind him at the looming tower. Well, looks like he had to go in one more time. Damn, this was hard work!
Rise of the Young: Warriors are not made; they are forged (The Ascended Book 2) Page 23
