Chronos scoffed. “What are you talking about? He saved all our lives, freed all those specials who were being held at the Garden. And he says that the Kotharians are working on some kind of final solution for the specials, one that he believes he can stop.”
“No, you don’t understand,” said Vicky. “Listen, before the Kotharians, the Khagan was one of the greatest threats the original Vanguard ever fought. He kidnapped specials, worked with Azarov to experiment on them, and used that data to turn himself into one.”
“He killed the President, tried to take over the world,” said Reina.
“I don’t get it. He said the Analyst worked for him.”
“Yeah, that’s right.” Vicky sighed. “The Analyst…he wasn’t always one of the good guys. It wasn’t until the invasion that he changed.”
“Then why couldn’t the Khagan have changed, too?” asked Chronos.
Vicky shook her head and looked at Reina. But she didn’t find a whole lot of support from her teammate. The tattooed special just gave a shrug of uncertainty.
“I mean…he does have a point,” she said. “If the invasion could change the Analyst, who’s to say it couldn’t have done the same to the Khagan?”
“Maybe,” said Vicky. “But I don’t like it. When I was a kid, my parents would talk about the Khagan as if he were some kind of mythical figure. It seemed like they were more scared of him than they were of even Azarov. So I’m pretty skeptical of anything involving him.”
“What about what he did at the Garden?” asked Chronos. “If not for him, I wouldn’t have known where to find you. Wouldn’t have been able to free all those people.”
“What about Azarov?” asked Reina. “What happened to him?”
“The Khagan said he destroyed him, said he won’t be a problem anymore.”
“And what’s this final solution?” asked Vicky. “What’s the Khagan planning to do?”
Chronos shook his head. “All I know is that he needs our help. His sources tell him that the Kotharians have some sort of ultimate weapon that can destroy the specials. The Garden was where they conducted a lot of research and development and it looks like he managed to get some data that will help him figure out its weak spot.”
“Have they found anything yet?” asked Reina.
“I’m not sure. From what little I know, it was heavily encrypted. They said they might need my help to read the data, what with my armor being futuristic Kotharian tech.” Chronos perked up, almost excited to tell them the next part. “But that’s not all. The Khagan said that if I help them, he can help me. He can get us the tachyon generator. With that, I can repair the chronal emitter and continue the mission. I can go back in time and stop all this from ever happening.”
Vicky climbed off the bed and paced around the infirmary, her arms crossed over her chest. She wondered whether or not she could trust these turn of events. Her parents made their feelings on the Khagan very, very clear. But on the other hand, Reina and Chronos were right—the Analyst changed, who’s to say the Khagan couldn’t as well?”
“Maybe we should get back to the Icarus first,” said Vicky.
“They took our comms when we were taken prisoner,” said Reina. “We don’t where they jumped to and they’ll be in stealth mode. More than that, we have no idea where we are.”
Vicky spun to face them. “If the Khagan has really turned over a new leaf, then he’ll help us. He’ll be glad to have the aid of the rest of our team. Right? Doesn’t that make the most sense?”
“Worth a shot,” said Chronos. “We can go talk to him together and we’ll see what he says.”
***
Once the team returned to the Icarus, the Analyst listened quietly as they recounted their tale of what they’d learned at the remains of the Garden. He showed no outward expression of any kind, just sat emotionless. A few times, it could even be questioned whether he was actually paying attention to their tale or not. But once it was finished, what he said confirmed he had hung on every word.
“If the Khagan is back and using his resources against the Kotharians, this could be a good thing,” he said.
“But it’s the Khagan,” said Erin. “The man who killed President Hayworth, who turned Anita against us, who—”
“Who also employed me,” said the Analyst. “At one time, I believed the Khagan’s path was correct. But I’ve learned from my mistakes since then. There’s a possibility he has as well.”
“You’re different,” said Jim.
The Analyst turned his chair to face the newest member of this team. “How so?”
Jim shifted in his chair, resting his arms on the metal table with the giant V engraved into the center. He looked at the Analyst with his good eye. “You’re a pragmatist. You weren’t working with the Khagan because you believed in his ideas of revolution, but because it served your interests. Just like now, it serves your interests to work with us.”
“Now just wait a second,” said Tuwa. “Are you trying to say that the Analyst would betray us if given the chance? Do I have to remind you which of us here spent the past several years working for the enemy?”
“And before that, I worked for Vanguard. And the Analyst worked for the Red Fist,” said Jim. “Look, I’m not trying to start a fight, I’m just stating facts.”
“Well you can take your facts and shove them up—!”
“Tuwa, that’s enough,” said the Analyst. “General Ellis has a point. I am a pragmatist.”
“Exactly. But the Khagan? He’s a true believer, a fanatic,” said Jim. “And that was before Azarov did…whatever it was that gave him the power to transform.”
“Whatever he’s up to, he’s got Reina, Chronos, and my daughter,” said Koji. “Getting those three back is our first priority. Once that’s settled, then we can deal with the Khagan.”
“He’s stayed quiet all this time and now, he’s made a very big move,” said the Analyst. “I know how he thinks. The Khagan is moving up to something far larger.”
“What could that be?” asked Alex.
“The Codex,” said Jim. “We know from Bradshaw’s files that research was being conducted there for that project. It stands to reason that’s what the Red Fist was really after when they attacked the Garden. Freeing the prisoners, it was probably just a distraction that enabled them to get what they needed.”
“Do you know anything about it?” asked Erin.
Jim shook his head. “I wish I did. Whatever the Codex is, it’s classified up to the highest echelons. I’m a general in Cerberus and I never even heard of it until Bradshaw’s files.”
“That can only mean it’s extremely dangerous,” said the Analyst. “We monitor all our sources. Watch for the Red Fist’s next move. When the Khagan appears again, I want to know about it.”
CHAPTER 6
The Khagan turned away from the array of computer monitors he stared at when he heard footsteps behind him. He smiled when he saw Chronos approaching him and also gave a lingering look at both Reina and Vicky, who flanked him.
“Thank you for your assistance with this,” said the Khagan. “Pulse is very talented but unfortunately, it seems breaking Kotharian encryption is beyond even his abilities.”
Glenn Sawyer swiveled his chair around from the console he’d been working at. He eyed the Khagan with his light-brown eyes and his lips tightened. It was clear he wasn’t happy about being bested by the program. “Just give me time, I’ll get in.”
“It’s fine, Glenn.” The Khagan turned his attention to his latest guests. “I’m glad to see the two of you are up and about.”
“We’ve got some concerns, big man,” said Reina.
The Khagan raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“Do you know who we are?” asked Vicky.
“Yes, you’re both members of Vanguard.” He focused on Vicky. “And you are the daughter of Shift and Sharkskin.”
“That’s right. And that means I grew up hearing all about the Khagan.”
He
smirked. “Yes, I’m sure you have. But a lot can change in twenty years. The Analyst is proof of that.”
“Maybe,” said Vicky, not convinced.
“Hey look, we didn’t have to save you,” said Glenn.
“Bite me, scruffy,” said Reina.
“Just tell me where, sweetheart.”
Reina took a step towards him, but Chronos placed his arm in front of her to block her path. “Easy. Everyone.”
“You’re right to be suspicious, Talon,” said the Khagan. “But I assure you, we’re only trying to do what’s best for this world. Now if you’d prefer to return back to your own people, I won’t stop you. You’re not a prisoner here, you’re a guest. You can leave whenever you want.”
“Fine.” Vicky placed a hand on Chronos’ shoulder. “But he comes with us.”
“That’s up to him,” said the Khagan. “And I should add that he and I have an arrangement.”
“He’s right,” said Chronos. “If I can help the Khagan decrypt that data, he’ll help me get the tachyon generator. Then I can complete my mission.”
“If you’re willing to help him jump back in time, why would you care about whatever weapon the Kotharians are building? All of this is gonna be erased anyway,” said Reina.
“Contingencies, my dear,” said the Khagan. “What if Chronos fails in his mission and the timeline remains unaltered? Or what if something happens during the jump and he gets sent to the wrong era? What if his trip only succeeds in creating an alternate timeline?”
“We’re not leaving until we see what’s on those drives you took,” said Vicky.
“That’s fine,” said the Khagan. “Chronos will help us, we’ll discover the information, and then you can decide on your next move.”
“Fine.”
The Khagan gestured to the console. Chronos exchanged some glances with his teammates and then approached, pulling on his helmet as he did. Glenn stood from his seat and handed it over.
Chronos sat in the chair, examining the console. A wire emerged from his gauntlet, snaking over to an empty port on the computer and plugged itself in. Data flashed over Chronos’ visor, a rapid series of code. The armor warned him that the encryption level was high.
“Can you break it?” he whispered.
He got a sense that the armor laughed at his question. There was still a lot he didn’t understand about his suit’s artificial intelligence and he wished the Progenitor were still around to explain things to him.
It didn’t take long for the armor to live through on its promise. The monitors surrounding the workstation quickly filled with images and documents. There were photographs of a number of specials—test subjects, it seemed. Vicky saw her picture among them in a brief flash. Silent video files were played—logs of the experiments, perhaps. Many of them featured Azarov speaking directly to the camera.
“My god…” Chronos’ voice was hushed. “If I’m understanding all this correctly, the Codex is…well, it’s a database of sorts.”
“That would make sense, given its name,” said Reina.
Chronos disconnected from the computer, the information continuing to flash over the monitors. “No, it’s more than that. It’s a database of special DNA. Azarov has found a way to clone you in a sense, to duplicate your powers and give them to someone else.”
“He tried to do something similar with me,” said the Khagan. “To unlock my special gene.”
“You mean you ordered him to,” added Vicky.
The Khagan huffed, nostrils flaring. “Yes. I did. He used the Exemplar’s genes to try and jump-start my own special gene. It worked, but he didn’t succeed in transferring the Exemplar’s powers to me. Instead, he created…something else.”
“Whatever he did to you, it looks like he’s taken it a step further,” said Chronos. “This goes beyond just giving someone a specific special’s powers. He’s found a way to transfer all the duplicated abilities into a single host. That’s why it’s called the Codex.”
“One person with the powers of hundreds, perhaps thousands of specials,” said the Khagan.
“How could anyone survive such a procedure?” asked Vicky.
“Forget that, how can we kill it?” asked Glenn. “Boss, I know we got some new recruits after the Garden, but probably not enough to take on a one-man superhuman army.”
The Khagan’s shoulders dropped and he walked over to the monitors, staring at the images that flew past. “You’re right, Glenn. We would be slaughtered if we tried to attack it directly.”
“There’s more,” said Chronos. “The Codex host body, it’s not a human being. It’s synthetic.”
The Khagan slowly turned his head to look over his shoulder. “A robot?”
“Of sorts.”
Vicky gasped. “Uncle Zen?”
The Khagan turned around. “What was that?”
“Zenith,” said Vicky. “W-we thought he was dead. Destroyed. But if he’s alive…”
“He would be the perfect host,” said the Khagan. “We would need someone capable of eliminating him. Someone who has done so in the past.”
“Eliminate?” asked Vicky. “You can’t do that, he’s one of us!”
“If Zenith still walks, he ceased being one of you long ago,” said the Khagan. “Now he is the Codex.”
“We have a chance,” said Chronos. “According to this data, the Codex isn’t ready for deployment just yet. It’s still in stasis.”
“Where?” asked the Khagan.
“An underground base in the New York area,” said Chronos. “Something called…Atlas, I think?”
Vicky and Reina both exchanged glances. Chronos noticed that. “What is it?”
“Atlas was the original Vanguard’s base, before the war,” said Vicky. “And Uncle Zen designed it.”
“It would make sense that’s where they would reconstruct his body for these purposes,” said the Khagan. “If you’d all excuse me for now, I’d like to review the data with Pulse, see if there’s anything additional we can discover.”
“Are you sure you don’t need me here?” asked Chronos.
Glenn returned to his seat and the Khagan moved behind the chair, staring at the monitors. Without looking at Chronos, the Khagan replied with, “No, we’re fine for now. I’ll let you know when we have a plan of action.”
“What about us?” asked Reina.
“You’re free to leave,” said the Khagan.
“Not until we know what’s going on,” said Vicky. “Uncle Zen was Vanguard, I need to know more.”
The Khagan finally looked at her. “Then give me time to review the information. Please.”
He led the three of them out of the room, then closed the door behind them. Vicky stared intently at that locked door, hands resting on her hips. She huffed.
“I don’t like this at all.”
“What do you want to do?” asked Chronos.
“Let’s wait,” said Reina. “No matter what, this Codex thing’s gotta be stopped, right?”
“Yeah, I’d say so,” said Chronos.
“So we go with, see how they plan on doing it,” said Reina. “Once we get a chance, we get word to the Icarus, give them our location.”
Chronos shook his head. “I don’t know about this…”
Vicky lightly gripped his chin and slowly raised his head so he could look her in the eyes. “Do you trust me?”
Chronos sighed. “Yeah, of course.”
“Then trust me when I say the Khagan isn’t telling us everything,” she said. “Something’s not right about this.”
“Okay, I’m with you.”
It wasn’t long after that when the Khagan emerged from the room with Pulse at his side. He looked at the three and said simply, “We have to get to Proximo Labs.”
***
Talon stared nervously out the window of the transport plane. She tapped her fingers on the armrest, which drew annoyed stares from Ink. Her teammate even made a few vocal protests, but Talon mostly ignored them.<
br />
The Khagan finally emerged from the cockpit to address the gathered group. Pulse, Zephyr, and Chronos were all part of this mission, and when Ink and Talon agreed to join, the Khagan was happy to have some additional specials along for the ride. There was also a small contingent of Red Fist soldiers.
“Proximo is our destination,” he began. “We know from our new allies that this is where the special called Lucent is being held. Our mission is two-fold. We attack Proximo, draw out Lucent. Pulse, your abilities should make you a match for him. Take him prisoner, though—do not kill him.”
“And the second part?” asked Ink.
“I’ve promised Chronos a tachyon generator and I know that this is where it’s being kept,” said the Khagan.
“We tried that, though,” said Talon. “The tachyon generator was gone.”
The Khagan shook his head. “Not gone, just hidden. I know it’s there and I know who can give it to me. While you distract Lucent and security, I will go after the tachyon generator myself.”
“By yourself? I don’t like that,” said Talon.
“Too bad, it’s not your mission,” said Zephyr. “We’re letting you ride shotgun here.”
“Lucent is no push-over,” said the Khagan. “You’ll need all the help you can to keep him at bay.”
“We fought him before, we know that,” said Ink. “But I was pretty useless against him. He can just absorb my creations without a thought. I’m just dead weight out there against him.” She looked at the Khagan. “But if I go with you, I can be an asset.”
Zephyr stood from her seat. “He doesn’t need your help.”
The Khagan held out a hand, gesturing for Zephyr to sit back down. She did, albeit reluctantly. The Khagan clasped his hands behind his back approached Ink’s seat, stopping in front of her.
“I think I could use someone watching my back. If you’re willing to follow orders.”
“To a point,” said Ink.
“Very well.” The Khagan turned from her and moved back towards the center, looking out over the gathered soldiers. “Then we are ready.”
CHAPTER 7
Vanguard: Season Four: A Superhero Adventure Page 13
