“I had my reservations. But I also have faith in your abilities as a scientist, with my unrivalled computational power as a backup, double-checking your math. There’s still a risk, but I estimate it at less than three percent.”
“Still, we’re talking about billions of lives. Three percent is still a huge risk when we factor their lives into the equation.”
“Spiros, you’re right, but then the Furies will come. If Chase getting stronger is the best bet we have to beat them, then it’s a risk I thought we should take.”
“Don’t get me wrong, Gaia. I’m incredibly surprised and equally proud to hear you say that. A few months back the mere thought of letting us roam this planet was a point of contention, if you remember.”
“Access to archive data does confirm this, yes. I guess I have evolved since then.”
“My point exactly. The more time passes, the more human you are becoming. Which is great, but humans do make mistakes based on their emotional drive. I’m not saying you need to revert back to pure calculation. That wouldn’t work either. But we need to tread carefully. As for the nuke, it’s not really a problem for you if you think about it. Your consciousness is spreading over countless computers and memory units all over the globe. If this facility is destroyed, only your avatar and perhaps a small part of your AI matrix would be lost. I, on the other hand, would cease to exist if we needed to blow the nuke in a hurry.”
“I had not thought of that, but now that you mention it . . .”
“What? What is it, Gaia?”
“I do not want to lose you, Spiros.”
Spiros was really touched by Gaia’s words. He wondered if she had reached a point in her emotional development where empathy for other humans was already strong, perhaps even romantic. He hesitated over how to phrase his next words, though.
“That’s nice to hear, Gaia. I wouldn’t want to lose you either.”
He wanted to add something about her friendship meaning a lot to him, but he worried that if she had any sense of romantic attachment, that could hurt her. And an AI in emotional turmoil could have serious repercussions.
And here it was, the moment Spiros had dreaded. It had been easy to get attached to Gaia, especially since she had been so helpful and so friendly lately. Her personality had practically turned a full one hundred and eighty degrees since they had first met. And for weeks now, Spiros had not given a single thought as to how to talk with her. She had become a close friend, someone always there; to the point where he forgot that she had the power to destroy them all if things went awry or if she changed her mind about humans.
“It makes me happy to hear that,” said Gaia.
He did not like this. Not one bit. All of a sudden he felt as if he might still be walking on eggshells. But then, perhaps that had always been the case, whether or not he realized it consciously. Spiros wondered if he should be careful from now on, or just be himself.
The one thing that nagged at him was that every emotion related to love was always strong. For better or for worse, love brought people together or broke them apart, to the point of hatred. Having someone so powerful hate him or the rest of humanity could be a serious problem. He had no doubt that his personal interaction with Gaia had made her trust humanity. Of course, Chase had helped. She had a soft spot for him too. But if the one person she identified as humanity became the source of negative emotions . . .
Spiros dared not continue this train of thought. This kind of pressure would surely be detrimental on almost every level. But he made a mental note to find a way to check on Cedric’s progress on wiping Gaia if it came down to it. He hoped, with all his heart, it wouldn’t be necessary; but just as they had argued about the small percentage of error in their black-hole engine, even a one in ten thousand chance of Gaia turning aggressive was potentially an extinction-level threat.
“You seem very silent. Did I say something wrong? I also detect a slight rise in your blood pressure. Are you feeling ill?”
The fact that he was monitored 24/7, even if she didn’t do it to spy on him, was something that made this different from any other relationship he had ever had with his friends or peers.
“I’m okay. I was just thinking about what we discussed, trying to see what we can do to lower the margin for error. Are we good regarding the nuke? I’m sorry for not telling you, though I knew you’d find out eventually. It’s not even armed yet.”
“We’re good. Indeed, we need to be able to destroy this ship if it means saving everyone else on Earth, so perhaps we should arm it now and integrate it as the secondary fail-safe, should the hyperdrive engine either fail or if time is a factor.”
“I’m glad you think so as well. Let’s do it.”
10
Intense pain brought Argos back to consciousness. When he pried his eyes open he quickly understood why. He was being held prisoner within the Titan’s hand. Menoitios looked utterly pissed. Many patches of skin had been burned by Argos’ multiple attacks, but not enough damage had been done, which worried Argos.
When Menoitios saw that Argos was conscious again he increased his pressure and Argos had to spend an enormous amount of energy counteracting the force that was trying to crush him out of existence.
This does not look good. Damn the Olympians and their pet Titans!
“Let me go. Fight like a real man!”
“Says the insect who flies around throwing fire at me from a distance.”
“Yes, but it’s not my fault for being an insect in size compared to you, so what choice do I have?”
Menoitios’ facial expression changed. He was thinking about it.
Could this beast be reasoned with?
“I suppose that’s true. I am considerably larger than you.”
Well whether or not it can be reasoned with, I have to try. It’s not as if I have any other options at the moment.
“You are, which always made this fight unfair.”
“Life is unfair.”
Argos could sense a real life trauma behind the Titan’s words. There was something to be exploited there.
“Yes, I suppose when you’re trapped here, sent away from everyone you knew with no hope of ever seeing them again, this is unfair. And that’s why I hate the Olympians as well.”
“You do?” said the Titan, his eyes opening wider.
“You bet I do. They treat the rest of us like children. They feel superior to us, and they think they can use us like a disposable commodity. But, mark my words, one day they’ll pay. If I survive today, I’ll make sure of it.”
“I would like to see that day as well. I would like to see Zeus and Apollo fall. They trapped me here. They told me I was going to see my loved one, that she was here. It was a trap. All they wanted was for me to agree to follow them.”
“I take it Zeus didn’t come here, though?”
“No, he sent his errand boy to do his dirty work. I could kill them both.”
Argos wanted to tell Menoitios that he shouldn’t worry. Now that the Furies were back, the Olympians were almost certain to fall, but that could actually give the Titan a reason to crush him. If he thought others out there could rid the universe of the Olympians, what he did here and now didn’t matter.
“If you let me go with Asclepios, I promise I will make it happen. I’ll take revenge for the both of us.”
“No! I can’t . . .”
Perhaps I pushed too fast, too soon.
“Why can’t you?”
“I can’t deliver Asclepios. It’s not like there’s a button to push. Apollo installed a device in my heart. Only when it stops beating will Asclepios’ cell open.”
Argos recognized the tactic very well. He had used a similar one when using Sarah as a bargaining chip. He didn’t think Olympians could be as devious as he was, but obviously he was mistaken.
“That’s cold. I’m sorry you were put in this position. Look, I know I’m your enemy right now, but I’m just trying to save my brother.”
“I’
m also sorry, but if I don’t kill you, you will have to kill me.”
Never underestimate the power of self-preservation.
“Yes, but you said it yourself. It’s not fair. You’re so big. I’m so small. There’s no challenge or honor killing me this way and you know it. At least release me and let’s finish this fight fairly.”
“I can make your death so quick that you won’t feel a thing.”
“But then my brother dies! Do you really want the Olympians to be responsible for not only robbing you of meeting your loved one, but also robbing me of seeing my brother again? They win no matter what we do. Is that really what you want?”
“I don’t really want anything anymore. I just wish I could punish my captors.”
“I think that’s understandable. The problem is, you’ve been here long enough to know there’s no way out for you. Have you tried getting out?”
“I can’t. The moment I approach the boundaries of my prison an invisible force stops me. There is no escape.”
“Then you understand how Asclepios must feel as well. He is in the same position as you. The Olympians have played us both for fools for thousands of years. They decide who is free and who is not. This is not worthy of a respected, ancient race.”
“No, it isn’t. To think my people once were their allies. It makes me sick. Ever since we helped them be rid of the Ancients, they used us as a commodity.”
“Who are the Ancients you’re talking about?”
“The race that predated the Olympians. Zeus eradicated them.”
“I thought they just became extinct.”
“They did. Just not of natural causes. And during that war we were used as cannon fodder. What was once an alliance quickly became slavery.”
Zeus was a crafty bastard. But, then again, Argos had used the same tactic with the Zarlacks.
“Didn’t you try to fight back?”
“By the time the war was over there was only a few of us left, and before we realized what had happened, Zeus had split us up in all corners of the universe, using us to do his bidding.”
“Divide and conquer.”
Argos knew he was no different than them, but he didn’t maintain a code of conduct. For him only results mattered. It would seem Zeus was of a similar temperament.
“You know what? Do what you have to do. I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes. But using your superior power to fight me is no better than what Zeus and his family has done to you. I hope you realize that, at least.”
That did it. Menoitios released his grasp on Argos. Argos stayed where he was, levitating in the air. He wasn’t sure if he should try to strike the Titan right now or find a more tactical way. Clearly, talking with the Titan had had more effect than throwing everything he had at him. That tactic had failed once. It would most certainly fail again, especially now that Argos had spent more than half his energy for nothing.
“You’re right. I will agree to fight you more fairly.”
Interesting.
“How do you propose to do that? Last I checked you are still a hundred times bigger than I am.”
“What I’m about to show you, very few have seen.”
Menoitios decreased in size; little by little, but soon enough he was the size of a regular humanoid. Argos landed in front of him.
“What just happened?”
“The secret of the Titans, what gives us our powers, is that we can change size anytime we want. But understand, I did it only so we can finish this fight fairly. That means that now you must also agree to not use your fireballs nor fly away in the air, since these are powers I do not possess. Can you do that? If you cheat, I’ll grow back and won’t hesitate to crush you.”
“You have my word. It’s very noble of you to fight me in this manner. I won’t betray your trust.”
“Then let’s get back to our fight. May the strongest of us win.”
Argos had to restrain himself from smiling.
Hades and Chase had been exchanging blows for a little while when Hades unleashed a series of ultrafast combos, sending Chase to the ground with multiple injuries.
“What was that? Why did you suddenly accelerate so fast?”
“You have to enter fury mode. Without it you can’t hope to be powerful enough, and you can’t expect to win your battles only when someone around you perishes or gets you pissed off. This needs to become second nature. You need to actually be able to transform on demand.”
“Transform?”
“Look, I don’t pretend to understand exactly how this works on a physiological level. But it’s clear that when you enter this fury mode, something happens. Your energy is greater, your strength, speed and fighting abilities are all multiplied by a factor of at least ten, perhaps more with the right training. But trying to get better in your inferior form will not do anyone any good. Like it or not, this is what differentiates you from other Furies, and you need to harness that power at will.”
“I’m trying, Hades, I can’t seem to get angry enough on my own.”
“Then forget anger. Just focus on bringing that memory back. Remember when I stopped you with lightning? Try to bring that state back.”
“I don’t know how.”
Hades became furious. “It’s all ‘I can’t’, ‘I don’t know’, ‘I’m not sure’ with you. Enough already! Remove doubts from your mind, empty it and just do what must be done.”
Chase couldn’t argue that doubt was a good part of why he had failed so many times.
“Don’t try, Chase, just do what needs to be done. What you know in your heart you can do.”
“Very well.”
Chase closed his eyes and brought the memory of how it felt to be in fury mode back to the surface. That brought flashes of every time he did it: on Ponos Station, in Tokyo, on Droxia and even here in the Underworld. It made him feel uncomfortable.
“Ignore these thoughts. Empty your mind and focus only on whatever will bring you back to that state.”
That was easier said than done. Chase tried nonetheless. He emptied his mind of everything and focused on bringing the fury mode.
After a few minutes, when nothing happened, Chase opened his eyes and threw a fireball at the ground in frustration.
“That’s not going to help, Chase.”
“You think?” His voice was heavy with sarcasm. “I can’t seem to locate the trigger inside myself to bring this power consciously.”
“Perhaps it’s just the way we go at it that isn’t working. When Ares first taught you how to access your pool of energy, what exercises did you go through?”
“I was to envision my pool of energy as a sphere of light. But that was mostly in the beginning. I do this completely by instinct now.”
“Yes, which is exactly what we’re trying to achieve here as well, to bring this form of power instinctively. Let’s try to duplicate his teachings. Bring back that sphere of energy in your thoughts.”
“That sounds like going backwards to me.”
“What do we have to lose?”
“Time that I don’t have.”
“Then the more you argue, the more time you spend here.”
Difficult to argue with that logic.
Chase sighed and closed his eyes again. He brought up a massive sphere of shining energy in his thoughts.
“Now what?”
“Try to make it change color.”
“What?”
“Try to turn the sphere of energy to orange or flame-colored.”
“It can’t be that simp—”
But then something happened inside Chase’s body. The image of the sphere changed color slowly and soon it was no longer bright blue but flame-colored. It looked like the Earth’s sun.
“Open your eyes, Chase.”
When Chase opened his eyes, stones were flying, golden lightning danced around him and his aura was flame-colored.
“I don’t believe it.”
“That’s why you failed until now.”
“What do I do next?”
“Can you exit this mode? You managed to do it many times before. See if you can do it consciously.”
It didn’t take much time. Soon the golden energy surrounding Chase turned off and he was no longer in fury mode.
“Good. That part you’ve clearly mastered. Now repeat this exercise for as many times as it takes until you can bring it to bear at a moment’s notice.”
“That could take a while.”
“Then I suggest you stop talking and practice.”
Doctor Kiriakos ran a battery of tests on Chris, who was being quite cooperative, to Sarah’s surprise.
He was a small man by human standards, barely five foot three. His hair was all white and he had a beard a few days old.
Once his initial shock had passed, the doctor acted quite professional. He didn’t try to understand how this was even possible but just looked for a way to reverse it. If that was an option.
After more than two hours of running tests and analyzing results, he came back to Sarah.
“His condition is really peculiar. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“I don’t think anyone has, Doctor. What I want to know is whether we can either slow down or stop it, and if we can do that at any point in his development.”
“Why would you want to wait, though?”
“Chris is convinced he must reach at least seventeen before we intervene.”
“I see. Well, I’m not going to tell you what to do, but I think if there is any chance we can stop this, the sooner we start treatment, the better.”
That’s what Sarah was afraid of. Not only would Chris refuse that option, but perhaps he was right and she needed to trust him. Her maternal instinct didn’t want to hear anything about it, though. It was urging her to find a cure and make her baby normal again. Whatever that was.
“He won’t go for it.”
“Well, he’s just a baby. If you decide to start the treatment, I think we can impose it on him.”
“First of all, I don’t think anyone can impose anything on Chris. He has powers he could use to defend himself.”
Universe in Flames – Ultimate 10 Book Box Set: An Epic Space Opera Adventure Page 153
