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“You have achieved what every patron strives for by having proven yourselves through your loyalty and service to Prosk. We expect great things from you.”
-Prosk Ceremony
Prologue
Cloaked in azure light within a vaulted chamber Atreus sat across a hard-faced man in his early 30’s. Agent Galen. God forgive me for what I have to do. Scanning a nearby console the hard-faced Sentium agent spoke in a bored tone.
“Have we reached an accord_”
After a brief pause Atreus eventually wilted.
“I’m so tired of this frakking war.”
“Welcome to Sentium, then, Atreus” he sneered.
Chapter 1
Hallowed beams shed their resplendence indiscriminately across the stone and alloy floor as Erika’s eyes adjusted to the light. A freshly depleted corona billowed smoke just aside a dry scotch glass placed haphazardly upon a nearby desk. Briefly studying her feet Erika’s bare form then approached the polycarbonate panes of her quarters and gazed out at Andromeda’s skyline. Dawn cracked across the horizon while displaying a whirlwind of activity beneath. Prosk appeared prosperous.
“Las apariencias engañan.”
Bringing her focus back inside she regarded a sinewy form buried within soaked, knotted sheets. Finding her eyes tracing his well-shaped ass Erika quickly approached the side of the bed. He was still sleeping from last night’s escapade. Breathing in his musk she gently traced her fingers through his coiled, ochre hair.
“Ladon.”
As he began to stir Erika carefully positioned herself upon him.
“Hey” he acknowledged.
Inserting him inside of her she began to calmly gyrate her hips while breathing in irregular gasps. Her own well-toned muscles contracted adjacent his. A well-versed waltz that had repeated itself more times than either could remember.
“Erika-”
“Hold on.”
Vigorously rocking her entire form over his Erika finally achieved an astonishing release, rapidly panting as she collapsed aside him. Pausing for several seconds Ladon searched her for a reaction as he spoke.
“Why do you fight_”
Erika quietly stood as her eyes traced the cold stone beneath.
“I’ll be in the lavatory” she evaded.
***
Erika let hot water cascade across her flesh as vapor adhered to the stone walls. The water was purifying in a way, washing away her anxiety. A simple 5’2” Erika was wiry, but sculpted. Her olive skin and raven hair were given her by Spanish ancestry. After washing herself Erika noted Ladon propped up in bed watching her.
“You clean up well” he spoke through a soft smile.
“And you’re an ass for watching” she quipped.
Ladon winked before his demeanor abruptly sobered.
“Sol wants us in the ready room in…” he checked a nearby chronometer “just over four hours.”
So, Sol has another Op planned. She relished the opportunity for a chance to wreak havoc. When Erika was just a child her father had revealed that her family hailed from a vast lineage of sword-makers in Spain, and that because of this Erika would always have a warrior’s heart.
“I…” an abrupt, prevailing sense of Déjà vu clasped Erika’s memory.
“Erika_”
In fractions of a second she was on the floor, her body shaking violently.
“Shite” Ladon exhaled as he approached Erika and placed her on her side.
“Hold on, beautiful, hold on.”
After what seemed to be hours Erika’s body finally lay still. Soaked, she peered up at Ladon who was now holding her.
“Your epilepsy’s gotten worse” he spoke softly while observing the stone and alloy walls.
“That’s why I have you” Erika replied.
“Damn you, Erika. And what happens when you’re on an Op_”
“We’ll find a way. We always have.”
“You have to tell Sol-“
“No” she shook her head.
Ladon simply glared at her.
“Let’s get you back in bed.”
Having gotten her upon the covers a transmission request pinged on an adjacent display.
“Expecting someone_” Erika smirked.
Ignoring her Ladon traced his fingertips over the monitor and accepted the request. An alluring-faced woman with auburn hair in her late 20’s visualized as she spoke.
“Is this a bad time_”
“Hey Lydia, it’s alright. I want to see her.”
“You’ll have to get her, then” she sighed after a prolonged pause.
Ladon then glanced at Erika who had since nodded off to sleep.
“I’ll pick her up.”
Chapter 2
A shriek awoke Erika from a particularly satisfying dream involving her family’s villa in Toledo.
“Erika!”
A girl of about 10 jumped up next to Erika, beaming at her.
Ladon snickered as Thera studied her new friend while Erika flashed him a nervous glance. Releasing her from his daughter’s adoration he placed Thera on his shoulders and proceeded to bring her over to the parlour as she giggled in pleasure. Plopping her in an adjacent chair Ladon returned to check on Erika.
“Why does she do that_”
“She likes you” Ladon replied sincerely.
“Why_”
“You’ll have to ask her that.”
Ladon had noticed Erika’s obvious uneasiness around children some time before, but had kept it to himself. Thera had a remarkable ability to charm others. As he reflected on this Thera briefly spied on the pair before approaching Erika once more.
“Hey beautiful, we have to go back home” Ladon gently nudged.
“Yes, papa. Goodbye, Erika!” she waved.
Erika gave an awkward smile in return.
Ladon headed for the aperture with Thera close behind while speaking over his shoulder.
“I’ll see you in the ready room, okay_”
“Alright” she replied.
***
After Ladon and Thera had left, Erika swiftly approached her wardrobe and slid into fresh combat garb. Palming her Prosk crest she briefly studied her bare feet once more, wiggling her digits individually. When Erika removed her hand blood dripped gently onto the floor from where the crest had pierced her flesh.
Having refocused she withdrew from her quarters and headed towards a nearby vertical conveyor that would take her to the building’s canopy where a VTOL had been primed. Reaching the canopy Erika was basked in Kepler-11’s resplendence as the roar of the VTOL’s jet turbines rose up in anticipation of its patron.
Once inside Erika quickly apprised the pilots of her destination and subsequently buckled herself within the hold. Feeling her body press hard against the seat as the VTOL rocketed skywards she regarded Andromeda from above. Various architecture fused to become an onyx and olive spray of colour upon a bleak canvas. Eventually reaching Prosk’s headquarters the VTOL landed gracefully on a vacant pad.
A single warden approached and escorted Erika from the VTOL to November Squad’s ready room several levels beneath. While watching for her squad’s arrival she withdrew a fresh corona from her gear and inhaled its ashen scent. Unclipping her combat knife Erika dexterously sliced the cap and proceeded to light her prize, exhaling smoke after several draws.
A heavyset man in his 50’s abruptly appeared next to Erika and embraced her.
“Hektor” Erika acknowledged warmly.
“Hey, Loukas. Where’s Ladon_”
“He’s with Thera.”
Hektor simply smiled while claiming a nearby chair. Next a crude, lean man of about 20 approached from the ready room’s aperture slapping Hektor’s back and winking at Erika as he claimed a chair of his own.
“Laz” Hektor smiled.
“Hey, brother. Any idea what this is about_” Lazaros waved around the ready room.
“Not yet” Hektor replied appearing curious as well.
As the royal guard of Prosk’s high command November were rarely called upon for Ops, but were instead used in a ceremonial capacity and to act as an obstacle to any would-be assassins.
Ladon was next to arrive while acknowledging everyone. Situating himself just aside Erika his eyes shone as he spoke.
“What happened_” he nodded at her hand.
“It’s nothing.”
Sol suddenly appeared within the ready room evoking a heavy silence from the squad. A forlorn man of about 55 with salt and pepper hair, Sol exuded a granite demeanor that cloaked a furnace of conviction.
“We have our orders” he declared while revealing a sad smile.
Tracing his index and middle fingers across his PDA the central monitor flickered alive to portray a satellite image deep within Sentium. Displayed next to the image was a portrait of a wary-faced man with chestnut hair and beard. He looked to be in his early 40’s with a pair of thin framed glasses accentuating curious eyes.
“We’ve had an agent recently defect over to Sentium” Sol exclaimed while studying the images overhead.
“Atreus Malia was supposed to rendezvous with Sierra seven klicks north of Sentium’s border after neutralizing this man” Sol traced his PDA once more displaying a portrait of a hard-faced man with cold, cobalt eyes.
“Galen Leos. He’s a high-ranking agent responsible for the Temple bombings back in 2358 and now runs Sentium’s espionage wing. We’ve been after him for a while” Sol breathed.
Erika studied both portraits, committing their features to memory. Dual objectives, simple enough. Why are you so nervous, Sol_
“They’ve relocated to an abandoned citadel within Sentium’s periphery” Sol continued as the central monitor flickered to display a colossal high-rise enveloped in kilometers of genetically-altered wheat fields.
“Resistance_” Hektor inquired.
“So far intel puts five squads on escort within the citadel. We don’t know where they’re holding Malia.”
“And the objective_” Ladon intoned.
Sol embraced his PDA before he spoke next.
“Extraction. We need them both alive.”
No one spoke a word. Erika simply watched her squad while noticing their furious expressions. That’s why.
“Lazlo personally selected November for this Op.”
“Frakk you” Lazaros remarked.
***
After the briefing Sol swiftly approached Ladon as the others withdrew to the hangar.
“This is suicide and you know it” Ladon bristled.
“You’ll do this. You’re under contract, Ladon. We all are.”
Ladon simply glared in return before heading for the hangar.
Chapter 3
Within the cavernous hangar Erika studied an adjacent monitor with her Spree-class axe displayed in cyan. Choosing a load-out she observed as her chassis was assembled and equipped with her selections in real time on a central production line that arced through the hangar. A pair of hands suddenly clasped around her and gently squeezed.
“Hola, mi cielo,” she whispered.
“Sol’s got something to prove.”
Turning to face him Erika peered up at Ladon.
“It’s not what he wants, Ladon. For either of us.”
“Maybe,” he remarked.
Holding his hands in hers Erika softly brushed her lips across his fingers before placing them aside her face.
“Lucky you, Erika” Lazaros announced from a separate monitor. “We exodus in ten, guys.”
Heading to her Spree, Erika briefly surveyed the freshly fabricated axe. Equipped with a pair of high-accuracy, single-shot rifles the khaki chassis’ anterior was cloaked with a charcoal canvas proudly boasting Prosk’s crest. Be good to me, guapo.
Powering up her Spree Erika’s HMD firmly displayed all systems as solid green. Easing the throttle forward the Spree’s reactor hummed responsively as she approached the hangar entrance. A colossal depiction of a skull adorned the bay doors with a single phrase etched into the cold steel beneath: SUCH AS I AM, YOU WILL BE. A reminder that death was the only God here.
Each of November’s axes was now online. Propelled by enormous hydraulic actuators the great bay doors slid open to reveal an activated warship docked overhead. Swiftly approaching the floating juggernaut November were suddenly hailed.
“November, this is Atlas. Welcome aboard.”
Erika piloted her Spree up to one of four mooring clamps that would secure her axe within the warship’s hold. Emerald magnetic discs kept the ship aloft. Once aboard Erika shut her eyes and prepared for the one hour journey. Agustin Barrios’ Alms played faintly over her radio.
When everyone was secure the great ship launched, ascending high into orbit. Feeling at home within the cradled cockpit of her Spree Erika allowed her thoughts to wander when an abrupt audio request pinged on her central monitor. Without opening her eyes she traced her fingers across the cold, polished glass.
“Hey, you sure you’re alright_”
“Swell, Ladon,” she smiled to herself.
“I don’t know how you do it.”
“What_”
“Sleep.”
“What else is there to do_”
“Kepler, Rigel, Vega. It’s just peaceful up here, that’s all.”
“Do you ever regret leaving_”
“No” he replied after a pause. “Do you remember Cristo de la Luz_”
“I remember a star carved from stone.”
“You were so very sick. I wanted to show you something beautiful.”
“You did, Ladon.”
Erika shifted inside the cockpit, her eyes still closed. But it wasn’t the star that was beautiful.
Chapter 4
A child encased by ocher wheat stalks observed as a starship abruptly appeared to erupt in the sky above her. Ashen contrails burst ahead while several objects plunged below. She could hear her parents shouting for her with concern woven in their voices, but the child could not look away from the rocketing objects overhead.
Upon collision shockwaves arced the wheat stalks around her sending up a whirlwind of leaves and kernels. Suffused with wonder she gently pressed her fingers upon her cheek in awe of the surreal display.
***
Aqua status readouts flowed over Erika’s eyes flashing the words SYS RBT. One by one her systems powered up while the reactor’s familiar hum resonated within the cockpit. As her external cameras flickered alive Erika swiftly scanned for the Sentium recon squad they had located. There you are. Approximately one klick North by North-East were a pair of Moke-class axes headed their way.
“Surprise, you Sentium frakks” Hektor intoned over the radio.
Ladon then swiftly issued orders.
“Atlas, give me HEAT on verbal only. Varela, Nicolo, pattern up. Loukas, go kinetic. How copy_”
“Copy, November” they answered in quick succession.
Erika then focused on the closer of the two axes and brought her sights to bear upon its knee-joint. Observing her opponent through a 4x digital zoom she squeezed off several high-velocity sabot rounds. The second round found its mark and caused the Moke to violently gyrate and collapse, disappearing within the wheat stalks.
“Atlas, verbal” Ladon spoke.
High above them Atlas unleashed several charged HEAT shells upon the collapsed axe sending up an ashen plume of smoke.
“Tango wasted, November” Atlas reported.
The second Moke abruptly lit his thrusters and fled back in the direction of the citadel. In anticipation Lazarus lit the overcharged thrusters of his Muller and rocketed after his quarry, all the while launching airburst MIRVs. The Moke didn’t go very far.
As the rest of November approached, Lazarus’ Muller stood triumphantly over the fallen Moke. He then discharged white-hot shrapnel point blank into its hull casing, provoking the fuel cells to ignite as an inferno gorged upon steel.
“Marshmallows anyone_” Lazarus coldly intoned.
“Enough” Ladon pressed. “Atlas, eyes on.”
“Copy, November. Stand by.”
Erika writhed within the Spree’s cockpit. Come on, come on. Her radio eventually chirped a response from Atlas.
“November, looks like our second tango wrote a letter home, sensors are picking up seven additional tangos twenty klicks out.”
“Copy, Atlas. Varela, think you can make yourself scarce_”
Hektor simply snickered in return.
“Alright, Atlas, you’ve got new cargo.”
***
An array of seven axes quickly approached from the North and began to unleash a heavy barrage, shearing wheat stalks and pinging the reinforced shields of Ladon’s Vanguard-class axe. Positioned behind him in anticipation of their prey were Lazarus and Erika. Once the Sentium force began to spread about them Ladon sprung his ruse.
“Mark!”
In high orbit Atlas launched Hektor’s Hepten-class axe directly at the Sentium force below with a piercing crack. Before their opponents could register what had happened Hektor’s axe crushed a Piston while the shockwave further perplexed their adversaries.
“Twelve seconds!” Ladon shouted.
Twelve seconds. Twelve precious seconds to reboot an axe’s systems once inserted. Erika observed as her squad waged a savage war with abandon before joining them. Bringing her sights to bear upon a nearby charging Brommens, she put four rounds right where the reactor should be before the machine faltered. Ladon finished it with a single discharge of his Flak launcher as he continued on. Her HMD flashed the letters HUL_163/350. Shite. Her axe wasn’t designed for CQC. Abruptly Hektor’s axe powered up while his shields depressed at his flanks.
“Good to see you awake, brother” Lazarus proclaimed.
Hektor was enough to shift the exchange before a pair of Res-class axes discharged a hail of high-velocity sabot rounds adjacent to Ladon’s location.
“November, additional tangos inbound.”
“Where-”
A sabot round pierced Ladon’s Vanguard as his axe crumpled in place. Ladon! A pair of Sentium battleships had begun to arise on the horizon.
“What the frakk!_” Lazarus shouted.
“Withdraw! Withdraw!”
“Get out of there, Laz!”
The whistle of HEAT shells swept across the azure sky before peppering Lazarus’ axe. Where are you, Ladon_ A nearby flash confirmed Lazarus’ reactor had overheated as the Muller imploded. Her helmet mounted display flashed another warning HUL_027/350 as the Spree rocked from the shockwave. Hektor roared a cry of outrage at the death of his friend on the radio but Erika was frozen within the cockpit, her hands locked over the joystick and throttle. No. Erika never noticed the spiraling TOW rocket that screamed into the side of her axe.
***
The OLED screen of Erika’s head mounted display was cracked while flickering sporadically. Pulling off the HMD she quickly disconnected the Spree’s system inputs from her suit and pulled the ejection handle between her legs. A series of explosive bolts detonated causing an opening to appear within the cockpit. Escaping from the wrecked hull of the Spree Erika unclipped her combat knife while finding herself surrounded by amber wheat lazily swaying in the breeze. Ladon. Hearing voices nearby she dropped to the ground at once.
“Look at this; Prosk bastards are PRG.”
“Never seen a cupcake chassis before.”
“Lazlo’s desperate.”
“What about the pilot_”
“Nah, sabot liquefied whoever was in there.”
“Ladon_” Erika whimpered.
“Frakker deserved-“
Something clicked within Erika, a rage she hadn’t experienced since she was a child. No! No! No! No! No! Focusing on the closest soldier she charged. A surprised yelp escaped from the man as her blade pierced his shoulder but he quickly recovered by smashing his rifle aside her jaw as bone fractured. Blood began to flow freely from her lips as she fell in place. Several of the other soldiers hurried over while the one she had wounded repeatedly smashed his rifle against her ribs. Gasping for breath Erika could only listen as they stood about her.
“Shite, one of them actually survived.”
“Certainly gave you a go.”
“Frakk you.”
“Leos will want her.”
“Who’s to say she’s-”
A prevailing sense of Déjà vu once more clasped Erika’s memory as she began to shake violently before her world went dark.
Chapter 5
Voices pierced Erika’s dreams as she gradually achieved consciousness.
“Epilepsy. An intriguing predicament for a pilot.”
“Probably concealed her condition from Prosk, otherwise they would have never allowed her near an axe.”
“But for what purpose_ Ah, how good of you to join us.”
A hard-faced man in his 30’s with piercing cobalt eyes stood over Erika in a dark, steel and ceramic alcove. At his side farther back was another person that she couldn’t quite discern. A Kevlar harness held her supine form in place. A rhythmic chirping of medical machines gave voice to the chamber.
“That will be all, Atreus” the hard-faced man spoke as the other form appeared to dissolve in the shadows. “My name is Galen Leos. Welcome to your new home.”
Erika watched as a clear liquid was pumped through a maze of tubes connected to her body.
“A hallucinogen” Leos explained noticing Erika’s puzzled expression.
A flashback abruptly nuzzled her memory. The operation had failed. Laz was dead. Hektor was dead. Ladon! A droplet gently traced her nose and cheek.
“Why_” Erika inquired at the cold steel walls which soon faded in a haze of drug-induced stupor.
***
Screams percolated the alcove as Leos and an adjutant observed their ward from behind a one way polycarbonate pane.
“I wonder, what does she see_” the adjutant inquired.
“What we all see when the yoke of reality is raised; pain” Leos replied. “Hold her here for now. I want answers, and Sol will supply them once he discovers I have one of his squad alive.”
***
Granite clouds gathered over a forlorn courtyard as a cold wind ruffled the hair and garb of a somber form pacing about. Searching ceaselessly through the shattered stone which had been reclaimed by flora the lone form at last found what he was seeking.
“Erika!”
Erika lay in recumbence on the stones wrapped in a snowy sheet that danced upon the breeze. Tears had pooled in her eyes as she observed the courtyard before her.
“Erika_”
“My family loved this place” Erika spoke without regarding him. “Why, Ladon_ Why save me_ You have a family. I have nothing.”
“Your parents loved you, they will always be-”
“There is nothing so barren as being alone. I do not believe in your faith or your God.”
“And so you would join them_”
“I would.”
This brought him an unthinkable sorrow.
“I need you” he offered.
“Why_”
“Because I love you.”
“Why, Ladon_ Why do you love me_”
Bending to her ear he whispered his response. After a long pause Erika grasped his hand firmly in hers.
“I will always be with you, Erika.”
***
As Erika’s senses returned she began sobbing fiercely, furious at the broken words given her.
“Frakk you! Frakk you, Ladon! You promised! You promised.”
Why am I always alone_
As if answering her a sharp voice echoed within the alcove.
“Prosk has secured your release. You exodus within the hour.”
Epilogue
Standing back in her quarters Erika simply peered at the knotted sheets of her bed.
“Why do you fight_”
Gently squeezing the soft sheets Erika inhaled his scent.
“You, Ladon. I fight for you.”
Author’s Note
Credit for the original artwork goes to Alex Ichim.
Certain words were edited so as to not have dozens of fuzzy bunnies wandering about.
Please forgive any editing errors as the HAWKEN: Chronicles are still a work in progress.
Edited by Magnolia1038, October 14 2014 - 03:32 PM.
Great read, Mag.
