shadowknux
February 4th, 2008, 04:43 PM
This is a story im currently working on, progress is slow because im a lazy bastard and dont have much time on my hands as it is. But I thought id post a sample of it here just to see what people think, so, lets have those opinions. XP Oh yeah, forgot to say, this probably aint one for the kiddies.
Future Black
Prologue: Survival
Blood…
When one opens their eyes after a bout of unconsciousness, blood is not the best of things to wake up to. Though it was a major part of the scenery, the blood was only part of the menagerie of carnage that decorated the local area. Atop a hill was a scene that could only be described as madness, just as they had finished Moretti off a stupid amount of his men had rushed out into the exercise yard of the base to join the fight. Now random body parts of various size scattered everywhere was all that remained, the male soldier remembers how the first guy that nearly reached him had possessed a barbed wire tattoo on his arm, that arm was the only visible part left of the guy. It never failed to amuse the young man how you remembered and noticed funny things like that, this was not his first scene of carnage but it had most certainly been one of the worse. He shook his head sadly, his shoulder length firey red curls shaking from side to side as he recognised the remains of some of his comrades. he had liked most…well some of them. As the deathly quiet was disturbed by his lighting of his last cigarette, he sighed as he remembered one of the first lessons in life that a soldier had better goddamn learn if they were going to last more than a few minutes.
Shit happens.
It was true allright, and the shit usually happened to you. You sighed for the dead, had a beer for them later and moved the fuck on. Failure to do so would only get you killed as well and what fucking good would that be? Funny how your mind could wander in a place like this but Elric liked to think. He wasn’t one of these morons that let Xavier do the thinking for him, especially not now. The steel sheet Elric leaned against, the fact that it was the few parts that remained of the former steel compound that Moretti had been based at, couldn’t even faze him. Once he had a fag in hand and a train of thought going, there wasn’t much who could disturb him…
“Elric!”
One of those few things was most certainly the fact that his oldest comrade had somehow survived. How he didn’t know…Hell, he didn’t even know how he was fucking alive never mind Soaryu. As Soaryu approached Elric as always noted how little Soaryu looked like a soldier. He had a gentle looking face and a slight build, his skin the pale that all Northerners had and his eyes were a chocolate brown. His hair was blond and though it was currently hidden under Soaryu’s helmet, Elric just knew it would be fucking well groomed and immaculate. However, anyone who guessed Soaryu was weak would be in for a pretty fucking big surprise when he fought him, he was the most formidable and hardarse comrade Elric had ever known.
“You made it…How are we…” Began Soaryu.
“Who cares, we’re bloody alive!” Said Elric and grinned. “We got one step ahead of the Shadowman yet again, at the end of the day ain’t that what fucking matters?”
“Elric…” Said Soaryu calmly. “You saw it, that massive wave of black coming over the hill..Its what destroyed everything here, even from a distance I could feel it…It was…Evil is the best word to use.”
“What the hell…” Began Elric.
“You must have felt it too…” Said Soaryu calmly. “Somehow everyone else is dead and we are alive…”
“I also survived…” Another male voice cut in.
Elric recognised the voice immediately, the speaker soon rounding a corner, or what was left of the corner anyway, to join them. Instantly striking about his appearance was his great height and powerfully muscled body, dark of skin and with green eyes his helmet concealed not a well groomed haircut but a bald head. Gordon must have been about seven foot in height Elric reckoned, looking into the shiny surface of a nearby shard of metal he noted the difference in height between him and Gordon. Whereas Gordon was nearly seven foot, the icy blue eyes of Elric’s reflection stared back at him, he was certainly no more than five and a half feet though he grinned thinking that it had its advantages. He shared the same pale skin as Soaryu’s, apparently he had once been even darker than Gordon but if you lived where he and Soaryu had aslong as they had the fucking radiation vents got to your skin pigments eventually…
“Your armour is split…” Said Gordon in the same tone he had used a moment ago, a simple and calm voice. Gordon was always calm and he always used that same fucking calm tone with everything he said, he would have used the same tone whether he was offering a cup of blear or informing someone their guts were spilling all over the floor. Elric could never figure out why but Gordon’s constant calm always bugged him, the guy was going to snap one day. Why did he have to be one of the survivors? Nah, that wasn’t fair…Gordon may be lacking in much emotion at times but he was a dependable guy and always stood his corner. Looking down at his black armour torso plate he noticed Gordon was right, his fucking weapons had gone somewhere too…Wait, his 9mm was still in its holster.
Well, the bottom half of it was there at least...Tossing it away with a growl, he thought of how many hours he’d spent customising the thing. The remaining half of his gun landed right in the midst of the torn mass of flesh and wires that had been what was left of Moretti, crime boss and the man he and his specialist unit had been sent to take out. It was a harsh world, and for that harsh world a fucking tough army was needed. The Black Hand was that army, and the Shadow Wing was the toughest of the Black Hand. Even among the Shadow Wing, his Raven Unit was known as one of the best.
“There’s something in Moretti’s pocket…” Said Gordon.
He was right, that half of his former fucking gun had dislodged a piece of paper from Moretti’s remains, Gordon calmly bent over to lift it and read what was written. Then something happened, Gordon went almost as white as Soaryu or Elric himself. And if something had rattled Gordon, it was something to get worried about.
“Youd better read this…” he says simply, though his calm tone was somewhat shaky as he handed the letter to Elric, Soaryu reading it over his shoulder.
‘Dark Hearts…Found one…Gotta get em before Bahamut…He already has some of the darkness…weapons…We get the Dark Hearts….Bahamut is ours…!’
Elric considered himself to have a pretty sharp mind, but it didn’t take much to realise a strong implication of this letter…
“Moretti was working for Xavier…” Stated Soaryu. “There’s no other way he could have those enhancements. But…Whats all this dark heart stuff, and that weapon of darkness, that dark wave must have…”
“This proves what ive always fucking suspected…” Said Elric. “That damn Xavier, hes always been…In any event we now know that the most powerful man on Earth wants us dead…”
“The Grand Emperor…” Began Gordon loyally, he was a royalist through and through.
“Open your fucking eyes!” Snapped Elric. “Xavier’s been in control for a long time…”
Indeed Elric was a deep thinker, but right now with a whole myriad of emotions and thoughts running through his mind one of them stood out among all the others…
What the fuck was going on?
Chapter 1: The rise and rise of Bahamut
2055A.D: Xavier Bahamut becomes President of Vector Industries, a multinational energy production corporation, at 34 years old.
2058A.D: Neotech Incorporated, a military firm, are on the verge of bankruptcy due to the alcoholism and gambling of the President, Xavier assimilates the corporation into his own and turns their fortunes right around
2062A.D. Black Tuesday: The energy crisis becomes serious, Xavier Bahamut presents to the Grand Emperor the prototype of a new energy source he is developing called Emerium, promising its stability and its future as an easily produced and virtually unlimited energy source, if the many troublemakers causing problems during this difficult hour can be suppressed it can be developed faster. The Wiseman's Council agrees to allow Xavier Bahamut to use his militia the Black Hand to support their frankly almost overwhelmed forces.
2066A.D: The energy crisis is solved as Emerium is made stable and mass produced, Xavier Bahamut is awarded with a position on the Wiseman's Council, and his next advice to the Council is measures to handle the population problem. The Wiseman's Council had begun working on Space Colony Zeus several years ago, a station that would find a new home for the swelling numbers of longer living humans.
2072A.D: Space Colony Zeus is completed, in this time Xavier Bahamut has established the Tier system for cities, those with the financial means reside in the Upper Tier above the pollution smog. The Lower Tier is for the poorer folk, crime is quite high there though round the clock work is being done to provide as much support as possible. It is a sad fact that so many have to reside in the Lower Tier but the Wiseman's Council agreed in the end that it was a necessary control measure.
2073A.D: Much of the Wiseman's Council and selected others depart for Space Colony Zeus to find a new home for humanity, the Grand Emperor remains behind in his palace and for his services to New Earth Xavier Bahamut is named Protector. He and his Black Hand forces keep New Earth in order while a new home for humanity is found.
2075A.D. (Present): Xavier Bahamut announces the completion of the biggest yet Emerium mining and processing plant which creates another 48,000 jobs, it is codenamed Titan. A recruitment drive has also been launched for new scientists with high pay incentive starting at 80,000NED (New Earth Dollars) a year. Exciting new projects in cybernetics, genetics and neural research have been announced.
Xavier himself tapped the button with a single finger that caused his holoprojector to deactivate, causing the timeline suspended in air to wink out of existence, turning the appearance of his office to return to its normal self. Well, you could hardly call it an ordinary office. It wasn’t an overly large square room, yet large enough for around six people to stand in the room without feeling crowded. Xavier chuckled as he remembered what a cramped little cubicle he had started off in, that little cubicle hadn’t had gold-plated walls or an ornate desk either. That ornate desk gilded along the edges with gold was made from oak, one of the few oak trees left on this polluted planet, it had been a thing of beauty…No matter, people still had the stump to look at. There had of course been protestors, a bus of them had been travelling to the site. Unfortunately for them the bus had had faulty brake cables.
At least, that is what the police report had concluded. Xavier laughed to himself at the memory, it had perhaps been a little careless but really there had been no danger, when one had as much power as he did, it was impossible to resist flexing it from time to time. There was an old saying that too much power corrupted anyone, and you know what?
They were fucking right!
Corrupt and as so-called evil as he was, Xavier was a man that was clear in his purpose and had a hundred things to juggle. He had developed a rule long ago, whatever Xavier Bahamut wants he shall have. If he was to have what he wanted this time, it would be difficult but things were running smoothly; of course they were, he saw to it after all. His mind juggling what needed to be done he leaned back in his chair, Xavier was a good six and a half inches but the blood red leather swivel chair he sat in must have topped his head by a couple more feet. If he wished he could swivel round and had a good view of Trizen City, one of the biggest cities of New Earth. Not a bad view either, he was a considerable distance above the fog. He was flexing one of his hands, the golden finger ring on his index finger glittering in the sunlight as he considered lighting a cigar, when that idea was ruined by a firm yet insistent knock on the door.
“Come!” He barked, swivelling slowly to face the door.
The man that came in only served to irritate him, Adam Smith was one of his men that specialised in…getting answers from those that were somewhat uncooperative. Xavier knew what he was going to say, he knew it would irritate him further, but listen he did.
“President Bahamut…” Said the man, “The subject is…somewhat resilient…I came to report that it may take some time to…”
Xavier was most displeased, Adam Smith would soon find out how displeased when with lightning speed and skill Xavier drew a rather long handgun and fired. With an almighty boom, it took Adam a while to realise there was a fist-sized hole where his heart had been. He had time only to gape with his mouth wide open before a second shot exploded his head, spattering blood and a great deal of gore onto the walls. As a small auto-cleaning robot came out of its hatch and swept the bloody bits of Adam Smith’s chest and head together, Xavier took a moment to admire the antique weapon he had just fired. He had customised it himself. One hell of a kickback and incredible firepower, his magnum X28 was a beautiful weapon. Weapons were a significant passion of Xavier’s; this was one of the favourite items of his collection which was largely why he fired it twice, he loved the sound it made. Besides, the idiot’s gaping expression had pissed him off. Idiots that couldn’t keep their mouth shut…The sound of a laser firing was a function he had added to the cleaning robot. Using a laser it disintegrated the gathered remains and swept them into a vent in its body, even that resulting dust would be vaporised inside the robot. A template notification of dismissal letter, which Adam’s family would receive, was already being printed from the robot. Xavier grinned in satisfaction as the robot handed the letter to him and returned to its hatch, having this floor to himself and his personal office soundproofed, he knew noone would have heard any of that. He liked it when everything was all tidied up. Speaking of which, he got off his chair and headed towards the elevator not far outside his office; using a small golden key on his belt he opened the control panel to reveal a keyboard. He typed in the necessary password; demiknife14. The first weapon he had acquired for his collection and certainly the first one he used…
* * *
Short, fat and bald were three good words to describe Anthony Davies. A high-up member of the Wiseman’s Council, one would not have expected him to hold out as long as he had. However, hold on he would; he could not betray his newfound comrades. They were the only hope he could see of stopping Bahamut, breathing raggedly with the variety of wounds across his body he had kept his word, by Heaven he had. Especially, he could not betray her…Tied to a simple steel stool by deadlock chains around his wrist, he was the sole occupant of the pitch black and windowless room, somewhere in the basement of the Vector Industries HQ. The turning on of that light and the opening of the door announced he was no longer alone, steeling himself he suppressed a snarl at who walked in and shamefully a shudder of fear too.
Xavier Bahamut was one of those people that intimidated you merely by looking at him, he was a very tall man and looked every inch the ruthless businessman in that black business suit and black tie, a look complemented by his smart black jacket. His black shoes were polished to perfection and his suit looked like every fold was in place. His long, well-combed hair went to his shoulders and was raven black. The most sinister thing about him was doubtlessly his eyes, not the blood red colour but that look to them that he was capable of anything to achieve his aims. Anthony had another shudder of fear that this time he did not suppress; Bahamut smirked! The bastard, he would find that Anthony would not break, never for him!
“Mr. Davies…” Began Xavier.
“Fuck you Xavier!” Snarled Anthony, “I know about your research, how you’re taking kids off the streets for your experiments! I would have voted against the Tier program but I had a feeling what would happen, and the body of Mr. Garrison ‘knived by thugs’ was proof! The nature of the murder was to scare others, I knew fear back then but…They gave me a backbone! And ill never tell you where they are, so kill me now murderer!”
Xavier clapped his hands and smiled, almost like he was speaking to an old friend rather than a tortured hostage in a chair.
“Well deduced Mr. Davies,” He said. “You are correct about the tactic; fear is often an effective agent you see. Trying to make me kill you in a fit of rage so I get nothing out of you, most inspired. Tragically for you I am not easily fazed, I am short on time Mr. Davies so I shall attain my answer quickly. I ask you, where…”
“I told you ill never tell!” Screamed Anthony at him.
Without a word and an almost apologetic smile, Xavier gestured with one hand and two figures were brought by two black-uniformed guards into the room. Both had their arms bound behind their backs and crying, Anthony went white as he realised who they were.
These were his two children, Frederick was eight and Lucy was six. Both were blond like their mother, so beautiful…Nothing felt real, he was struck almost dumb to an extent that he did not realise the words leaving his mouth were not his own…
“You wouldn’t…Xavier, not even you would…”
A third guard had entered the room, none of the guards said a word, their eyes the only part of them that showed were impassive. Why didn’t they stop him? Oh God…The one that had just came in was carrying a weapon holder, in that holder was a battleaxe with an oak handle and silver runes engraved. The green flicker of the edge showed the blade had clearly been energy-reinforced, it would be razor sharp. Xavier lifted the axe and tested its weight in his hands, the children were blindfolded and sobbing…
Anthony distantly recognised himself screaming as Xavier swung the axe in a spinning strike, blood spattered up the wall as Frederick’s left arm was completely severed and his right leg horribly mutilated, a deep and bloody gash across his little boy’s torso, the scream that came from his little boy was like a wild east in agony. Anthony could not believe what was happening, unable to tear his gaze away he saw from the corner of his eye Xavier’s blood spattered face. He was grinning! The bastard was grinning! He looked like a demon and Anthony was absolutely terrified, what kind of man would do this…Another swing of the axe and Frederick’s head rolled to rest just in front of Anthony, his face had a begging expression as if to ask daddy why he didn’t help…
“Daddy!” Screamed Lucy, her blindfold still on she was soaked in blood and wailing, she had heard the screams. “Daddy, help!”
“Six years old I understand…” Said Xavier calmly, standing beside Anthony’s daughter now with that horrible axe. “Old enough to understand the consequences of being un-cooperative to a man with a schedule wouldn’t you say? Shall we remove the blindfold?”
“NO!” Screamed Anthony. “Please don’t!”
“Oh, you don’t want to mess around?” Inquired Xavier, as if he was at a bloody conference and not in a room from hell. This had to be hell, he must have died already…Oh God…
“You can even choose how she dies…” Continued Xavier causally. “”I have a sword, a gun, of course my bare hands…”
Lucy screamed louder and Anthony’s shoulders slumped, he felt like the worst person in the world. He had hesitated too much and got his son killed, he was about to betray a woman he loved…But he couldn’t let Lucy die too…
“Ill tell you…” He said in a defeated tone. “Just please, I beg you…Don’t kill Lucy, let her go…I’m, sorry for the lack of co-operation Xavier, please…Please believe me…”
“Of course I will let her go…” Said Xavier with that almost warm smile returning. He made a gesture with his hand to the guards and they departed, taking the now silent Lucy with them, her head was lolling and her face wet with tears…”See how much easier things would have been with swifter co-operation? My, young Frederick could have turned out…”
“PLEASE!” Wailed Anthony. “Please Xavier…Master Bahamut, please…”
“Well then…” Said Xavier, leaning against a wall. “Im all ears, in your own time Mr. Davies…”
As Anthony poured out every last thing h knew about the Resistance, every last detail he could think of, he had only one thought in his mind.
His inevitable death could not come quick enough…
Future Black
Prologue: Survival
Blood…
When one opens their eyes after a bout of unconsciousness, blood is not the best of things to wake up to. Though it was a major part of the scenery, the blood was only part of the menagerie of carnage that decorated the local area. Atop a hill was a scene that could only be described as madness, just as they had finished Moretti off a stupid amount of his men had rushed out into the exercise yard of the base to join the fight. Now random body parts of various size scattered everywhere was all that remained, the male soldier remembers how the first guy that nearly reached him had possessed a barbed wire tattoo on his arm, that arm was the only visible part left of the guy. It never failed to amuse the young man how you remembered and noticed funny things like that, this was not his first scene of carnage but it had most certainly been one of the worse. He shook his head sadly, his shoulder length firey red curls shaking from side to side as he recognised the remains of some of his comrades. he had liked most…well some of them. As the deathly quiet was disturbed by his lighting of his last cigarette, he sighed as he remembered one of the first lessons in life that a soldier had better goddamn learn if they were going to last more than a few minutes.
Shit happens.
It was true allright, and the shit usually happened to you. You sighed for the dead, had a beer for them later and moved the fuck on. Failure to do so would only get you killed as well and what fucking good would that be? Funny how your mind could wander in a place like this but Elric liked to think. He wasn’t one of these morons that let Xavier do the thinking for him, especially not now. The steel sheet Elric leaned against, the fact that it was the few parts that remained of the former steel compound that Moretti had been based at, couldn’t even faze him. Once he had a fag in hand and a train of thought going, there wasn’t much who could disturb him…
“Elric!”
One of those few things was most certainly the fact that his oldest comrade had somehow survived. How he didn’t know…Hell, he didn’t even know how he was fucking alive never mind Soaryu. As Soaryu approached Elric as always noted how little Soaryu looked like a soldier. He had a gentle looking face and a slight build, his skin the pale that all Northerners had and his eyes were a chocolate brown. His hair was blond and though it was currently hidden under Soaryu’s helmet, Elric just knew it would be fucking well groomed and immaculate. However, anyone who guessed Soaryu was weak would be in for a pretty fucking big surprise when he fought him, he was the most formidable and hardarse comrade Elric had ever known.
“You made it…How are we…” Began Soaryu.
“Who cares, we’re bloody alive!” Said Elric and grinned. “We got one step ahead of the Shadowman yet again, at the end of the day ain’t that what fucking matters?”
“Elric…” Said Soaryu calmly. “You saw it, that massive wave of black coming over the hill..Its what destroyed everything here, even from a distance I could feel it…It was…Evil is the best word to use.”
“What the hell…” Began Elric.
“You must have felt it too…” Said Soaryu calmly. “Somehow everyone else is dead and we are alive…”
“I also survived…” Another male voice cut in.
Elric recognised the voice immediately, the speaker soon rounding a corner, or what was left of the corner anyway, to join them. Instantly striking about his appearance was his great height and powerfully muscled body, dark of skin and with green eyes his helmet concealed not a well groomed haircut but a bald head. Gordon must have been about seven foot in height Elric reckoned, looking into the shiny surface of a nearby shard of metal he noted the difference in height between him and Gordon. Whereas Gordon was nearly seven foot, the icy blue eyes of Elric’s reflection stared back at him, he was certainly no more than five and a half feet though he grinned thinking that it had its advantages. He shared the same pale skin as Soaryu’s, apparently he had once been even darker than Gordon but if you lived where he and Soaryu had aslong as they had the fucking radiation vents got to your skin pigments eventually…
“Your armour is split…” Said Gordon in the same tone he had used a moment ago, a simple and calm voice. Gordon was always calm and he always used that same fucking calm tone with everything he said, he would have used the same tone whether he was offering a cup of blear or informing someone their guts were spilling all over the floor. Elric could never figure out why but Gordon’s constant calm always bugged him, the guy was going to snap one day. Why did he have to be one of the survivors? Nah, that wasn’t fair…Gordon may be lacking in much emotion at times but he was a dependable guy and always stood his corner. Looking down at his black armour torso plate he noticed Gordon was right, his fucking weapons had gone somewhere too…Wait, his 9mm was still in its holster.
Well, the bottom half of it was there at least...Tossing it away with a growl, he thought of how many hours he’d spent customising the thing. The remaining half of his gun landed right in the midst of the torn mass of flesh and wires that had been what was left of Moretti, crime boss and the man he and his specialist unit had been sent to take out. It was a harsh world, and for that harsh world a fucking tough army was needed. The Black Hand was that army, and the Shadow Wing was the toughest of the Black Hand. Even among the Shadow Wing, his Raven Unit was known as one of the best.
“There’s something in Moretti’s pocket…” Said Gordon.
He was right, that half of his former fucking gun had dislodged a piece of paper from Moretti’s remains, Gordon calmly bent over to lift it and read what was written. Then something happened, Gordon went almost as white as Soaryu or Elric himself. And if something had rattled Gordon, it was something to get worried about.
“Youd better read this…” he says simply, though his calm tone was somewhat shaky as he handed the letter to Elric, Soaryu reading it over his shoulder.
‘Dark Hearts…Found one…Gotta get em before Bahamut…He already has some of the darkness…weapons…We get the Dark Hearts….Bahamut is ours…!’
Elric considered himself to have a pretty sharp mind, but it didn’t take much to realise a strong implication of this letter…
“Moretti was working for Xavier…” Stated Soaryu. “There’s no other way he could have those enhancements. But…Whats all this dark heart stuff, and that weapon of darkness, that dark wave must have…”
“This proves what ive always fucking suspected…” Said Elric. “That damn Xavier, hes always been…In any event we now know that the most powerful man on Earth wants us dead…”
“The Grand Emperor…” Began Gordon loyally, he was a royalist through and through.
“Open your fucking eyes!” Snapped Elric. “Xavier’s been in control for a long time…”
Indeed Elric was a deep thinker, but right now with a whole myriad of emotions and thoughts running through his mind one of them stood out among all the others…
What the fuck was going on?
Chapter 1: The rise and rise of Bahamut
2055A.D: Xavier Bahamut becomes President of Vector Industries, a multinational energy production corporation, at 34 years old.
2058A.D: Neotech Incorporated, a military firm, are on the verge of bankruptcy due to the alcoholism and gambling of the President, Xavier assimilates the corporation into his own and turns their fortunes right around
2062A.D. Black Tuesday: The energy crisis becomes serious, Xavier Bahamut presents to the Grand Emperor the prototype of a new energy source he is developing called Emerium, promising its stability and its future as an easily produced and virtually unlimited energy source, if the many troublemakers causing problems during this difficult hour can be suppressed it can be developed faster. The Wiseman's Council agrees to allow Xavier Bahamut to use his militia the Black Hand to support their frankly almost overwhelmed forces.
2066A.D: The energy crisis is solved as Emerium is made stable and mass produced, Xavier Bahamut is awarded with a position on the Wiseman's Council, and his next advice to the Council is measures to handle the population problem. The Wiseman's Council had begun working on Space Colony Zeus several years ago, a station that would find a new home for the swelling numbers of longer living humans.
2072A.D: Space Colony Zeus is completed, in this time Xavier Bahamut has established the Tier system for cities, those with the financial means reside in the Upper Tier above the pollution smog. The Lower Tier is for the poorer folk, crime is quite high there though round the clock work is being done to provide as much support as possible. It is a sad fact that so many have to reside in the Lower Tier but the Wiseman's Council agreed in the end that it was a necessary control measure.
2073A.D: Much of the Wiseman's Council and selected others depart for Space Colony Zeus to find a new home for humanity, the Grand Emperor remains behind in his palace and for his services to New Earth Xavier Bahamut is named Protector. He and his Black Hand forces keep New Earth in order while a new home for humanity is found.
2075A.D. (Present): Xavier Bahamut announces the completion of the biggest yet Emerium mining and processing plant which creates another 48,000 jobs, it is codenamed Titan. A recruitment drive has also been launched for new scientists with high pay incentive starting at 80,000NED (New Earth Dollars) a year. Exciting new projects in cybernetics, genetics and neural research have been announced.
Xavier himself tapped the button with a single finger that caused his holoprojector to deactivate, causing the timeline suspended in air to wink out of existence, turning the appearance of his office to return to its normal self. Well, you could hardly call it an ordinary office. It wasn’t an overly large square room, yet large enough for around six people to stand in the room without feeling crowded. Xavier chuckled as he remembered what a cramped little cubicle he had started off in, that little cubicle hadn’t had gold-plated walls or an ornate desk either. That ornate desk gilded along the edges with gold was made from oak, one of the few oak trees left on this polluted planet, it had been a thing of beauty…No matter, people still had the stump to look at. There had of course been protestors, a bus of them had been travelling to the site. Unfortunately for them the bus had had faulty brake cables.
At least, that is what the police report had concluded. Xavier laughed to himself at the memory, it had perhaps been a little careless but really there had been no danger, when one had as much power as he did, it was impossible to resist flexing it from time to time. There was an old saying that too much power corrupted anyone, and you know what?
They were fucking right!
Corrupt and as so-called evil as he was, Xavier was a man that was clear in his purpose and had a hundred things to juggle. He had developed a rule long ago, whatever Xavier Bahamut wants he shall have. If he was to have what he wanted this time, it would be difficult but things were running smoothly; of course they were, he saw to it after all. His mind juggling what needed to be done he leaned back in his chair, Xavier was a good six and a half inches but the blood red leather swivel chair he sat in must have topped his head by a couple more feet. If he wished he could swivel round and had a good view of Trizen City, one of the biggest cities of New Earth. Not a bad view either, he was a considerable distance above the fog. He was flexing one of his hands, the golden finger ring on his index finger glittering in the sunlight as he considered lighting a cigar, when that idea was ruined by a firm yet insistent knock on the door.
“Come!” He barked, swivelling slowly to face the door.
The man that came in only served to irritate him, Adam Smith was one of his men that specialised in…getting answers from those that were somewhat uncooperative. Xavier knew what he was going to say, he knew it would irritate him further, but listen he did.
“President Bahamut…” Said the man, “The subject is…somewhat resilient…I came to report that it may take some time to…”
Xavier was most displeased, Adam Smith would soon find out how displeased when with lightning speed and skill Xavier drew a rather long handgun and fired. With an almighty boom, it took Adam a while to realise there was a fist-sized hole where his heart had been. He had time only to gape with his mouth wide open before a second shot exploded his head, spattering blood and a great deal of gore onto the walls. As a small auto-cleaning robot came out of its hatch and swept the bloody bits of Adam Smith’s chest and head together, Xavier took a moment to admire the antique weapon he had just fired. He had customised it himself. One hell of a kickback and incredible firepower, his magnum X28 was a beautiful weapon. Weapons were a significant passion of Xavier’s; this was one of the favourite items of his collection which was largely why he fired it twice, he loved the sound it made. Besides, the idiot’s gaping expression had pissed him off. Idiots that couldn’t keep their mouth shut…The sound of a laser firing was a function he had added to the cleaning robot. Using a laser it disintegrated the gathered remains and swept them into a vent in its body, even that resulting dust would be vaporised inside the robot. A template notification of dismissal letter, which Adam’s family would receive, was already being printed from the robot. Xavier grinned in satisfaction as the robot handed the letter to him and returned to its hatch, having this floor to himself and his personal office soundproofed, he knew noone would have heard any of that. He liked it when everything was all tidied up. Speaking of which, he got off his chair and headed towards the elevator not far outside his office; using a small golden key on his belt he opened the control panel to reveal a keyboard. He typed in the necessary password; demiknife14. The first weapon he had acquired for his collection and certainly the first one he used…
* * *
Short, fat and bald were three good words to describe Anthony Davies. A high-up member of the Wiseman’s Council, one would not have expected him to hold out as long as he had. However, hold on he would; he could not betray his newfound comrades. They were the only hope he could see of stopping Bahamut, breathing raggedly with the variety of wounds across his body he had kept his word, by Heaven he had. Especially, he could not betray her…Tied to a simple steel stool by deadlock chains around his wrist, he was the sole occupant of the pitch black and windowless room, somewhere in the basement of the Vector Industries HQ. The turning on of that light and the opening of the door announced he was no longer alone, steeling himself he suppressed a snarl at who walked in and shamefully a shudder of fear too.
Xavier Bahamut was one of those people that intimidated you merely by looking at him, he was a very tall man and looked every inch the ruthless businessman in that black business suit and black tie, a look complemented by his smart black jacket. His black shoes were polished to perfection and his suit looked like every fold was in place. His long, well-combed hair went to his shoulders and was raven black. The most sinister thing about him was doubtlessly his eyes, not the blood red colour but that look to them that he was capable of anything to achieve his aims. Anthony had another shudder of fear that this time he did not suppress; Bahamut smirked! The bastard, he would find that Anthony would not break, never for him!
“Mr. Davies…” Began Xavier.
“Fuck you Xavier!” Snarled Anthony, “I know about your research, how you’re taking kids off the streets for your experiments! I would have voted against the Tier program but I had a feeling what would happen, and the body of Mr. Garrison ‘knived by thugs’ was proof! The nature of the murder was to scare others, I knew fear back then but…They gave me a backbone! And ill never tell you where they are, so kill me now murderer!”
Xavier clapped his hands and smiled, almost like he was speaking to an old friend rather than a tortured hostage in a chair.
“Well deduced Mr. Davies,” He said. “You are correct about the tactic; fear is often an effective agent you see. Trying to make me kill you in a fit of rage so I get nothing out of you, most inspired. Tragically for you I am not easily fazed, I am short on time Mr. Davies so I shall attain my answer quickly. I ask you, where…”
“I told you ill never tell!” Screamed Anthony at him.
Without a word and an almost apologetic smile, Xavier gestured with one hand and two figures were brought by two black-uniformed guards into the room. Both had their arms bound behind their backs and crying, Anthony went white as he realised who they were.
These were his two children, Frederick was eight and Lucy was six. Both were blond like their mother, so beautiful…Nothing felt real, he was struck almost dumb to an extent that he did not realise the words leaving his mouth were not his own…
“You wouldn’t…Xavier, not even you would…”
A third guard had entered the room, none of the guards said a word, their eyes the only part of them that showed were impassive. Why didn’t they stop him? Oh God…The one that had just came in was carrying a weapon holder, in that holder was a battleaxe with an oak handle and silver runes engraved. The green flicker of the edge showed the blade had clearly been energy-reinforced, it would be razor sharp. Xavier lifted the axe and tested its weight in his hands, the children were blindfolded and sobbing…
Anthony distantly recognised himself screaming as Xavier swung the axe in a spinning strike, blood spattered up the wall as Frederick’s left arm was completely severed and his right leg horribly mutilated, a deep and bloody gash across his little boy’s torso, the scream that came from his little boy was like a wild east in agony. Anthony could not believe what was happening, unable to tear his gaze away he saw from the corner of his eye Xavier’s blood spattered face. He was grinning! The bastard was grinning! He looked like a demon and Anthony was absolutely terrified, what kind of man would do this…Another swing of the axe and Frederick’s head rolled to rest just in front of Anthony, his face had a begging expression as if to ask daddy why he didn’t help…
“Daddy!” Screamed Lucy, her blindfold still on she was soaked in blood and wailing, she had heard the screams. “Daddy, help!”
“Six years old I understand…” Said Xavier calmly, standing beside Anthony’s daughter now with that horrible axe. “Old enough to understand the consequences of being un-cooperative to a man with a schedule wouldn’t you say? Shall we remove the blindfold?”
“NO!” Screamed Anthony. “Please don’t!”
“Oh, you don’t want to mess around?” Inquired Xavier, as if he was at a bloody conference and not in a room from hell. This had to be hell, he must have died already…Oh God…
“You can even choose how she dies…” Continued Xavier causally. “”I have a sword, a gun, of course my bare hands…”
Lucy screamed louder and Anthony’s shoulders slumped, he felt like the worst person in the world. He had hesitated too much and got his son killed, he was about to betray a woman he loved…But he couldn’t let Lucy die too…
“Ill tell you…” He said in a defeated tone. “Just please, I beg you…Don’t kill Lucy, let her go…I’m, sorry for the lack of co-operation Xavier, please…Please believe me…”
“Of course I will let her go…” Said Xavier with that almost warm smile returning. He made a gesture with his hand to the guards and they departed, taking the now silent Lucy with them, her head was lolling and her face wet with tears…”See how much easier things would have been with swifter co-operation? My, young Frederick could have turned out…”
“PLEASE!” Wailed Anthony. “Please Xavier…Master Bahamut, please…”
“Well then…” Said Xavier, leaning against a wall. “Im all ears, in your own time Mr. Davies…”
As Anthony poured out every last thing h knew about the Resistance, every last detail he could think of, he had only one thought in his mind.
His inevitable death could not come quick enough…