“We're still human,” she said. “Although we resist old age and illness, we're still vulnerable to any other form of death. A sliced artery or gunshot wound is more than enough to kill us. We're far from immortal.”
“You expect me to believe,” he began in a low, cynical tone, “that I can live forever?”
“Maybe it's time for a break,” Ren suggested, changing the topic. “Why don't you lie down? You've had a very interesting morning.”
“I have to go back to work,” he muttered. Tango laughed sarcastically in the distance as he heard the remark.
“Not today,” Skye said, beginning to grow impatient himself. He knew that it was hard for Roman, but he didn't have the time or energy to offer him a proper induction. He beckoned the young man to a spare office bedroom. “Just lie down. We'll talk again soon.”
Roman reluctantly obeyed, but his head felt as though it would explode at any moment. He knew that his surroundings were real, as were the dangerous events that had just unfolded, but every part of his mind tried to convince him that it was all a dream.
“I don't understand,” he whispered as he dawdled into the room and lay on the bed.
“He's not taking it very well,” Skye said as he emerged from the room.
“Of course he's not,” Ren said, disinterested. “Come and look at this.”
Skye paced across to her desk and looked at where her finger was placed on one of the monitors. He ran his eyes up and down the large screen, scanning the information. He recognised the Athenian emblem in the corner of the screen, but the remainder of the words and icons were unfamiliar to him. “What is it? What am I looking at?”
She turned and looked up at him. “You're in luck; your arrest warrant has been removed.”
His muscles instantly relaxed as he heard the news. “Excellent!” he remarked, placing his hand on Ren's shoulder. The decision to brandish his weapon in public was questionable, but his actions had saved Roman's life, and the warrant had now been removed from the police system. “Good work.”
“I didn't do it,” Ren admitted, shaking her head. “It only happened a minute ago.”
Skye's smile slowly faded as the words sank in. “So how was it removed then? Who would've done it?”
“I'm not sure. But only a handful of people in the country would have the authority to do it.”
Skye frowned and stroked his beard, attempting to understand why anyone would retract the warrant. The Athenian surveillance system had captured him committing a serious offence, and had subsequently issued an automatic order to all authorities to arrest him. “It couldn't have been Archie, could it? He knows we want him dead, so why would he help us out?”
“Don't worry about it for now,” Ren suggested. “You should keep preparing yourself for tonight. I'll let you know if I find anything else.”
As Skye turned to leave, he caught a glimpse of Sierra walking straight toward him. “Let's train,” she muttered.
Skye grimaced at the thought of training with her again so soon. “No, thank you.”
“I shot Tahlia earlier and missed,” she whispered back. “We need to train.”
“You hit her in the arm and saved us. You didn't miss.”
“I was aiming for her head.”
“He doesn't have time right now,” Ren dismissed. “Leave him alone, Sierra. Go and train by yourself.”
Sierra looked back and forth between Ren and Skye, annoyed that her request had been denied. She turned around and vanished through the back door.
“Thanks,” Skye said.
Ren shot him a sly grin. “I can't have you getting killed before tonight, can I?”
Fourteen
“I'm so excited,” Nikolai exclaimed. “I've been waiting for this moment for a long time.” He gazed upon the beautiful city below from the eightieth-floor penthouse of West Tower in Xifeng Qu. It was the tallest residential building in Athenia, and stood opposite the country's economic centrepiece, East Tower, located on the other end of the city in Shangwu. The sun was now at its zenith, blanketing the island in a bright glow. The tall skyscrapers reflected the colourful blue sky. “But on the other hand,” he continued, “it has only been a year or so. Your wait has been far more enduring.”
In the room with him was the elderly president-to-be, along with Sabina and Aurelius. Using her ability, Tahlia had transported the trio to and from Government House in secrecy.
“Although,” Nikolai said, “your involvement began last year, but I've wanted to run this country for some time. From the moment I first moved to Athenia, I knew that I never wanted to leave. It's far more hospitable than the vile, corrupt wasteland that is Alexa.”
Sabina and Aurelius turned their heads to Nikolai, both gawking at him with blank expressions.
“Don't look at me like that,” Nikolai defended. “I'm not going to deny the atrocities that our homeland has committed. No nation should claim rule over another sovereign state the way they do.”
“You're referring to the war?” Sabina asked.
Nikolai frowned. “Of course I am. It sickens me. Don't think that I truly despise Alexa—I'll always have fond memories of living there—but I'm glad to be done with that country.”
“Well, it's still my home,” she said. “You shouldn't talk about it that way.”
“Quite frankly, I don't care,” Nikolai groaned. “Alexa was my home too, but its citizens were betrayed by their government. Surely someone such as yourself with an evolved mind can agree that the country has gone too far.”
“No, I agree with the war.”
Nikolai chuckled softly to himself. “Too many Alexans do. It's not a healthy attitude to adopt, and it's half the reason why I defected.” He turned his gaze back to the city outside. “I'll never understand why they do it. Their desire for power was a catastrophic step in the wrong direction, and it will be their downfall.”
Archie looked to the floor. He couldn't help but feel that Nikolai too had an unquenchable thirst for power, although it was certainly incomparable to the war happening a world away. Nevertheless, he wisely kept his thoughts to himself.
“And what of yourself, Your Excellency,” Nikolai said, spinning around and facing Archie. “What's your opinion of the war between Alexa and Kaipura?”
Archie swallowed hard, despite the fact that Nikolai already knew his stance. “I'm opposed to it, like the other member states in the Union.”
“That is the correct answer. The war is pointless; I won't stand for it. And I certainly look forward to your first global summit as president, as it will give you the perfect opportunity to voice your opinion.”
“Absolutely. Although, the Union has condemned the war since it began, so I doubt my opinion will have much impact.”
“I agree. The Alexans are too stubborn to listen to anyone else. Anyway, let us not discuss what's happening in the Federation any longer,” Nikolai said, quickly changing his tone. He walked over to the elderly Archie and stood over him. “To our success,” he said, raising up a glass of whiskey and tapping it against the old man's. “I rarely drink the substance as I believe it lacks the fraternal culture that is inherent of that of an ale, but I can't help but feel the need to celebrate my victory. So why wait?”
They both took a large gulp from their glasses and let the strong spirit course through their veins. Sabina resumed sitting idly, as did Aurelius. The pair barely even paid attention to their surroundings.
“I guess it's true then,” Nikolai continued, pacing around the room. “One man can make a difference. Many years ago, I never would have thought I could run this country. I never would have suspected that I could accomplish the things I've done to this day.” He turned around and faced the nation's new leader. “The only thing in life that can stop us is self-doubt.”
“Agreed,” Archie said, feigning interest in the conversation.
“A year, Archibald. A year of planning has gone into this,” Nikolai said again. “I just can't believe it's here!” He started laughing wit
h jubilation. He raised the glass and swallowed the remainder of his drink, then walked back over to the old man. “It has also been a year since those riots, and not a day has passed that I didn't wish something could have been done. The lesson here is that there's always something that can be done. And now that it is here, I don't know how to react.”
“Well I think it might be best if I stay in my office in the villa,” Archibald suggested. “I know you like to have me somewhere where you can guard me, but my staff will sound the alarm if I'm missing.”
“Then tell your staff to leave you be,” Nikolai retorted, his mood suddenly changing. “I didn't waste all of this money for some imbecile to suspect foul play and then cause a panic!”
Archibald cringed at his superior's sudden change of mood and shifted nervously in his chair. “Well, can you at least let me have some privacy?” He motioned to Sabina and Aurelius, who sat on either side of him. They'd hardly left him since he won the election.
“Privacy?” Nikolai repeated, then started laughing, his mood happy again. “You want privacy? My friend, I don't think you've fully grasped the role you're about to play in the world. You're about to be the headline of every media outlet around the globe.”
Nikolai stood rigid, his mood changing yet again, a frustrated expression forming on his eyeless face. “Besides,” he said, suddenly running over and wrapping his powerful hand against the old man's throat. He lifted him up with one arm and pressed him hard against the ceiling above. “You had plenty of privacy while you were hiding in the shadows like a coward.” He dropped Archibald, who crashed to the ground with a sickening crack. The old man screamed in agony as his weak body recoiled from the impact. “Don't think that I'll ever forget what you did to this country,” Nikolai muttered over the man's screams. “You deserve worse than death.”
He glanced down and watched Archibald twitch with anguish. The leader groaned. “Tahlia!” Nikolai called.
A moment later, Tahlia walked into the room, her face one of agitation.
“What is it? What's the matter?” he asked curiously.
The woman held up her arm, showing the scar where Sierra's bolt pierced through it. “Look how close she was!” she moaned. “I was almost killed!”
“How tragic,” Nikolai moaned unsympathetically. “Please tend to the president's wounds,” he ordered.
Tahlia walked over to the wailing man and knelt beside him. She held her hands over his torso and began to heal his broken bones from the outside. Half a minute later the pain subsided, and the screaming stopped. Her ability to heal others was a unique one, making her role in Black Dawn all the more important.
“There,” Nikolai said, “now you're all healed.” He picked the president up like an infant and placed him back in his chair. “I understand you may be a little daunted working for me, Mr Denning, but do keep in mind that you're the villain here; not I.”
Archibald looked up into the gaping holes in Nikolai's face and nodded, not wanting to further anger the powerful being.
“Bittersweet, isn't it?” Nikolai asked. “The price of power. If you want to run this country, then you'll need to accept that you may just be subjected to the occasional torture session. It's either that or you can atone now for what you've done.”
Archibald nodded again. He was beyond terrified for his well-being but knew in every cell of his body that he deserved nothing less than torture. It is because of the atrocities he had committed the year before that he was forced into hiding. Fortunately for the elderly man, only those involved with Black Dawn, White Shadow, and the Tianzu were aware of his treasonous history.
Changing the country for the better was the only thing he could think of to make up for the evils he had done. He knew that he'd make an excellent leader, but Nikolai's involvement would ensure that he would never be able to have a positive impact on Athenia. With each and every day, he regretted ever agreeing to work with Nikolai.
“Now,” Nikolai said, “I believe it's time to get you back into hiding.” He smiled, pleased with himself for heeding the president's request. “You see? I'm not totally inconsiderate, even if the petition does come from someone as worthless as yourself.”
Fifteen
“I don't like it. She insists on killing Archie and that's all she seems to care about,” Tango complained into the hidden microphone. While many wealthy civilians had elected to have their headsets embedded into their skin, the accepted norm was still to place the device in one's ear.
“I know,” the voice on the other side responded, “but keep in mind how much stress she's under. Archie did a lot of damage, and she's only acting in the best interest of the nation.”
“But what about us, Charlie?” Tango protested. “We're sitting here doing nothing while the Tianzu are out there. I don't want Foxtrot to have died for nothing!”
“Neither do we. That's why we're doing everything we can to try and find them.” Charlie was one of the more polite and mature members of White Shadow, always trying to look out for the best interests of everyone in the team and keep the peace.
“Have you found anything yet? It's been three months!”
Charlie laughed in agreement. “Believe me, we know. We're trying to stay positive, but they're incredibly hard to find.”
“So you've found nothing?” Tango prompted.
There was an audible pause before Charlie answered. “No. Nothing.”
“Well maybe you two should consider coming back to Athenia and helping Echo and myself.”
“No, we can't,” he dismissed, his voice solemn, “not until we've avenged Foxtrot's death.”
“Then you might be interested in what I have to tell you—Nikolai found another elite. He was in a restaurant. Black Dawn attacked, but we saved him just in time.”
Charlie was surprised by the news. It had been a very quiet three months, and now Black Dawn had suddenly shown up and attacked. “Was anyone hurt?”
“No, but the young man we saved is in quite a state of shock. Skye is taking care of him.”
Charlie sniggered quietly, knowing how difficult the process is for a newcomer to grasp. “Well, take care of him, okay? We'll meet him once we're finished here.”
Tango took a dramatic pause. “Charlie ... there's more. There was someone else in the city today. We think he might be another Tianzu.” He heard Charlie gasp on the other end.
“Are you certain?” Charlie finally asked.
“Absolutely. We think it might be the man Delta sensed before you two left.”
There was a period of muttering as Charlie relayed the information to Delta, who was most likely by his side.
“What's he saying?” Echo asked, who was sitting patiently on the grass. They were out the back, away from Ren and the others' prying ears. Tango held his hand up to indicate that he'd explain in a moment.
“What did he do?” Charlie asked, returning to the conversation. “Did he attack you?”
“No, he just stood on one of the buildings in the city and watched us. He didn't attempt anything.”
“Okay. Well, you all need to be careful. We can't trust any of them after what happened to Foxtrot.”
“Agreed,” Tango said. “We're not sure if he's working with Black Dawn or not.”
“Anything is possible. Nikolai has recruited three of them so far, and he can be quite persuasive. If you see anything else, call us immediately.”
Tango sighed. “Charlie, I really think you should both come back. Things are getting a little heated here. It just seems very coincidental that more of the Tianzu are arriving so close to the inauguration. And clearly you're not having any success there. We could use the help.”
“I can't,” he admitted, gritting his teeth on the other line. “The boy is here somewhere. Delta can feel it. We think he keeps travelling back and forth between Nishihama and Azuma-jo, but he's somewhere nearby at the moment. We can't risk losing him again.”
Tango let out an exasperated moan. He was torn between wanti
ng his friends to assist them and having them exact revenge for their fallen comrade. “Fine,” he relented. “But please come back as soon as you can. The morale here is getting low.” He waved his hand in front of his wrist comm, terminating the call.
“They're not coming back?” Echo asked, assuming the obvious.
Tango shook his head as he sat opposite his companion. “They're wasting their time. He said Delta can sense that the boy is nearby, but she's not a skilled tracker. They should be here, helping us.” He lay back and rested his head on the soft grass. The shade of the tree did little to ward off the summer heat.
“If Charlie thinks that it's best for them to stay, then I'm fine with that.”
Tango groaned with disagreement. “Echo, I trust Charlie with my life, but he's acting a little foolishly. They've been there for three months and found nothing. How much longer are they going to stay there? We don't even know how many Tianzu there are.”
Echo stared down at the grass and sat thoughtfully. He now began to question Charlie's decision himself. “Whatever happens, I just want them both to stay safe. Foxtrot's death was one too many.”
“As do I. And I want that boy to suffer tremendously for what he did. But there are now four Tianzu in Athenia. I can't help but wonder if it's best to focus our efforts here.” He stared up at the beautiful sky above, his thoughts and feelings contradicting one another. “But then again, I do want that boy to die.”
A soft breeze brushed past his hair as Sierra appeared out of nowhere, looming over him. “You want that boy to die, and I want Tahlia to die.”
Tango grunted and rolled over. He was not in the mood to justify how he felt to the cold woman. “Please leave.”
“We all want someone dead: I want Tahlia dead, you want that Tianzu boy dead, Ren wants the president dead, and Nikolai wants you all dead.”
Echo rolled his eyes. “What's your point, Sierra?”
“My point is that you should stop complaining and start training. Help me find Tahlia. If we find her, we'll find the other three Tianzu.”
Eternity's War (Books 1-3) (Eternity's War Boxsets) Page 8
