Chapter 46, Morocco
byThe Fastest Man Alive
Chapter 46
Morocco
It had been months since Selene had felt that burst of power. At first, she had ignored it, but there was that buzz of energy in the back of her mind. Selena had ignored it at the time because there were better things to do. She had her own companies to run, but she also had to corral those rabid animals in the Hellfires Club. The members were a constant irritation for her, even with the advantages she gained with being the Black Queen.
Selene watched from the shadows as a new power made itself known to those barbarians across the pond. Americans, they never learn, and now there was spawn trying to ‘save the world.’
Interestingly enough, Shaw had contacted her a couple of months after this American had made himself known to the world. They had done their dealings, but Selene had kept a lookout for that well of power. Selene had summoned a few demons and tried divining a few times, but had not gotten any closer to finding the source. Something was hiding it from her, but Selene was not one to be dissuaded from her tasks.
More and more, Selene felt the winds of change drift around the world, yet. There was no way to understand where it came from. That young man had become a laughing stock around the world as the president had backtracked on his support, but Selene had noticed that there was no retaliation. Even with the information about the half a billion paid to the president’s secret accounts, Blake made no retaliation on the deal-breaker.
It had been some more months before Selene had felt another spike of power coming from the direction of the Pacific Ocean. Selene had dispatched some of her underlings to find the cause, but once more, their findings were inconclusive. So with that Selene watched and waited for another sign, she had lived thousands of years after all, what’s a little more time.
Yet, the day she was waiting for didn’t take all that long to arrive. With the start of the new year, there was a mental call that went out. It was so brash, so bold and in the face of everything she knew. That Selene knew that it was Blake, there was no one else with such American brashness to attempt such a deed.
Within moments of that call, Selene had divined its origins, but her sight was rebuffed. This rebuff had come in the form of a shield type ward that covered the island. In a fit of rage, Selene had destroyed her arcane room from the backlash of her emotions.
It was another week before Shaw had made contact with a plan to control this new island with support from the Hell Fire Club, but he would need the assistance from the international branch. When Shaw had approached her with that plan in mind. Selene was already thinking of ways to remove Shaw from the board, allowing her complete control over the project.
They had the location to one safe house located on another continent and away from their own territories. Plans were drafted and made to be implemented once things were confirmed. They had made their plans, and Selene was ready to kill Shaw from having to share her spoils of victory.
All that changed once he walked through that door.
Selene could feel the raw, unbridled power that radiated from his being. Once again, it was that American, Benjamin Blake, like she had conjected, but now that she met him in person. The power was palpable. The anger was all-consuming, but it wasn’t directed at her. No, the anger Blake was emitting was directed to her companion.
Yes, Selene thought to herself. She could use that to her advantage. Power, influence, and a nation, Selene was going to take this young man for all he was worth. Now, it was time to solve all of her opposition.
o.O.o
Morocco
Benjamin Blake
Extremely Pissed
The portal was cool and calming across my skin as I walked through it. Unfortunately, that was not enough to calm my rage. The gardens that surrounded us, but we marched passed ignoring everything. My smart HUD was activated, and I noticed the location ping of my guest sitting on the upper balcony. No words were spoken out of my mouth as I floated up to greet the two.
For a moment, I floated there and looked down on the two of them. My ax was on my back, itching to be used, and I made a combat twitch towards my shotgun. Shaw was just how I imagined him. A man of distinguished age with ham chops for sideburns. His chest was puffed up, and I noticed the hair on his arms. The man was damn close to looking like an old school barbarian.
Sitting across from him was a beauty of regal grace. Long flowing black hair past her shoulders. Arched eyebrows with black pouty painted lips. She looked up at me with a very sculpted eyebrow, and I noticed the mad gleam in her eyes. The eyes of the beauty flashed red before me, but I ignored that as the servers came out with two seats.
Ignoring the second seat, I sat down, taking command of the situation. The look that Shaw shot my way was more than enough to send anyone away, but I was all out of fucks to give right now.
“Not going to introduce yourself, boy?” Shaw snapped as she placed down his wine.
There were no words shared as I ignored Shaw completely. All of my focus was on the beauty before me. Deadly and grace all in the wrapper of one power-hungry eternal.
“It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it Mr. Blake.” Selene said with a smile while her eyes glinted with bloodlust.
“It is a beautiful day, Ms. Gallio.” I returned with my own bloodthirsty smile.
“Yes, so I have heard the most interesting thing with the start of the new year.” Selene said sultry almost conspiratorially.
“Do tell, Ms. Gallio, what did you hear?” I asked as I leaned forward, ignoring Shaw as his teeth ground together beside us. My anger was still simmering under the surface, and it was only a matter of time before Shaw lost his head. On my HUD, I was notified that my Praetorian guards were getting in position. Marcus and Faora were both standing at the door leading to the balcony, and so was Sage.
Sage stood there looking over the proceedings as stoically as she could. Hell, if I didn’t know better, it would have seemed like she was at home. Lucky for her, I knew where she stood and would not be losing her head today. There was a reason why I wanted Xavier on my side, and Sage was one of them, besides the fact he gets around.
“You see, I was relaxing in this nice little place I had over in the French Riviera when I received the most particular telepathic communication,” Selene said with such calm one would think she was an actor out for the Oscars. That glint in her eye said more than enough and took a lot for me not to pull my shotgun and start blasting. “There I was relaxing under the sun when another mind touched my own. This other mind spans a story about a new home for those with powers and so much more.”
“That’s a very interesting story you have decided to share with me Ms. Gallio.” I replied smoothly as I accepted the glass of water handed to me by a waiter. “Now, my question for you Ms. Gallio, is what do you plan to do with such information?”
“Ooh, a little of this and a little of that.” Selene said with a little phop wave of her hand. The staredown between us was intense as I watched the outer rims of her pupils shade slightly red. Before anymore was said, Shaw decided to be a cunt.
“ENOUGH OF THIS!” Shaw growled out as he slammed his palm onto the table, rattling the fine china.
My super shotgun was up and within the face of Shaw at the drop of a nano-second. I didn’t even turn his way, but I noticed the shocked reflection from Selene’s eye. We were all silent for a moment, and I allowed them to understand how dangerous I truly am. They decided to invade the territory of an apex predator, and they were going to regret it.
“You are consorting with a gentleman and a lady on this fine day, sir. So you shall act like a decent human being, or you shall be treated like that barbarian you resemble.” I replied smoothly, before placing my super shotgun back into storage. “Now, why are you here, Shaw?”
“Yes, why are we here, Sabastian?” Selene asked slyly while never moving eye eyes from my own the entire time.
“We are here to have a discussion with the leader of this so-called mutant nation.” Shaw replied a little too smugly. “Instead we are here waiting and being intercepted by this boy, who is trying my patience.”
The curve at the edges of Selene’s lips told me she noticed my irritation with the man. Sitting back in my chair, I finally looked at the man. Once upon a time, this man would have been extremely intimidating. That was once upon a time, and now he wasn’t much of a blip on my radar. Plans were in the works on Emma’s end to out the man from the Hell Fire Club, allowing her to take over, but now. Shaw delivered himself into my domain.
“I don’t believe the leader of the nation would like to speak to you though.” I replied as I idly tapped the table.
“Then tell him, I have his little bitches.” Shaw stated smugly as he pulled a tablet from his inner breast pockets. I watched as Shaw powered up his tablet before inputting some code before flipping it over for me to see. “The little bitch thought I wasn’t aware of her comings and goings. But I have eyes and ears everywhere; it was simple to check and match up the time frames to her schedule.”
On the screen of the table were Emma, Raven, and my mother out having lunch in Paris. I tried hard, but there was no stopping the chuckle that came out of me.
“Insolent whelp, you think this is funny?” Shaw asked as he raised an eyebrow at my laughing. Even Selene was looking at me crossly as if I had something wrong with my head.
“Yes, actually, this is hilarious to me.” I replied with a shrug for him to see. “If you had actually taken my woman, security would have grounded your people down into pulped flesh.”
Selene cocked an eyebrow at me, the look on Shaw’s face for a split-second told me he knew he fucked up in a colossal way.
“Keep watching that live feed,” I said as I waved over Faora to my side. Faora came over and handed me a small package while Shaw went back to watching his little tablet. Turning, I gave Selene a smile since I knew she was watching me like a hawk. I double tapped the device on the table to bring up a live feed for us to watch. The holoprojector showed a little espresso shop in Paris as my woman and mother were sitting down for brunch. “Send your people in Shaw, and if they survive, then I will acquiesce to your terrorist demands.”
Shaw looked at me, shocked before sending a little hand sign on the sly to Sage. Selene had finally stopped watching me in time to watch Shaw’s little Hellion team get demolished. I didn’t know who made up Shaw’s team, but they folded like wet tissue paper.
We watched as a team of twenty ran in with skintight spandex as they attempted to take my woman and mother into custody. There were screams as the little shop was evacuated, but no one got up from my other table. I watched as the first one went down with his head removed. From the way Shaw let out a slight flinch, I knew that had to be one of his heavy hitters.
Raven just sat there relaxed before playing one of the hand cannons on the table, before taking another sip from her espresso. The hand cannon Raven used was from one of my working prototypes. Since we had antigravitation technology, I wanted to see if I could recreate the mass effect drivers without the eezo power source. They were a work in progress, but the hand cannons were only good for ten shots before needing a recharge.
My mother turned towards the camera, did a little espresso cup salute before going back to having her girl time with her daughters-in-law.
“And that is why I had no worries about your little plot.” I said smugly as I took another sip from my glass of water.
I guess it was time to kill this fool and then deal with the real boss.
“Anything else?”
The look on his face said more than he ever wanted it to. With a snort of derision, I turned back to the holo-feed. We sat and watched as more and more of his Hellion’s decided to use force to remove Emma, Raven, and my mother and detain them. None made it far though; Raven had pulled out her blades of Athena she got for Christmas. Emma turned into her diamond form and used the hand cannon that Raven had placed on the table.
The jacket my mother wore turned into a black trench coat as she pulled out a super shotgun of her own. Closing down the feed to not watch the slaughter that was going to unfold, I turned to the man who came woefully unprepared.
Taking out a storage device from my utility belt, I placed it on the table before pressing the activation key. Selene looked very interested in the clear glass box that was now on the table.
“Shaw,” I said, pulling his attention from watching his people get slaughtered. The look he gave me could have killed if he had laser vision, but I was all out of fucks to give. “You think you could just walk in here and threaten me and mine, and I would just accept it. Well, you fucked yourself thoroughly. You now have twenty-four hours to get your affairs in order before I kill you and put your head in this box.”
The stiff back posture was odd in comparison to how pale his face became. Shaw turned towards Selene for some help, but he was a fool. Selene only respected power and whatever he offered paled in comparison to what he just lost. She was going to fuck him over the first chance she got also, and he knew it.
“Twenty four hours Shaw.” I repeated as he got up and excused himself from the table. Shaw’s walk was slow and composed, but I knew better. He was going through plans and contingencies in that tiny little brain of his. Always missing the small and bigger picture he did. He never even realized that I didn’t make a promise about those hours.
“And now there is only you, my dear.” I spoke as I waited for Marcus to finish his little check. With the all-clear, I turned to Faora. “Make sure he disappears with bad maintenance as the cause of his plane crash. Stick his head with the rest once you have completed your task.”
Faora took twenty from my guards as she left to complete her tasks while I prepared for the real fight to come. The look Selene gave me said she approved, and now it was our turn to tangle.
“Would you like some tea, Ancient One?” I asked the invisible lurker as she showed herself with a smile.
“Of course, of course, a little honey if you don’t mind.” The Ancient One said as she appeared with a chair as if she was there the whole time. I was getting better and better with my gravity manipulation awareness, so I wasn’t about to tell her how I found her so that she may try harder to sneak up on me. Hell, I even noticed the moment Selene had picked up on the Ancient One phasing invisibly into our area.
“Are you here to reprimand me about my heavy-handed tactics with Mr. Shaw?” I asked as I waited for her to finish a sip of her tea.
Selene had a refill of wine while we waited on the Ancient one to finish her tea.
“Oh, nothing so contrite Mr. Blake.” The Ancient One answered. “There’s no reason for me to insert myself into your nation’s politics and like you said. Mr. Shaw is very inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.”
Hot damn that was a burn if I had ever heard one.
“No, I am here to make sure your battle doesn’t end with planetary nor continental destruction.” The Ancient One finished as she placed down her empty teacup.
“I have my doubts about something like that happening.” I returned with a little irritation tingeing my voice. The smile she gave me though was damn infuriating, to say the least.
“It has been some time now, hasn’t it Sorcerer Supreme, Argentina correct?” Selene interjected with a little smile of her own.
“Yes, the werewolves outbreak, I believe.” The Ancient One returned with a smile and nod of her own. “Might I ask though, are you here to breach the contract that was laid down at that time?”
Selene returned a smile of her own, but that dangerous glint never left her eye at all.
“This nation is not one under the magical charter of man.” Selene returned with glowing red eyes.
“Yes, I believe you are correct in that regard.” The Ancient One packed on her own thoughts.
“So that is how it will be, huh?” I said, interrupting them both. “Fine then, let’s find a place and throw down.”
“Come now; terms should be reached before we get deep within such activities together,” Selene said as she slid her glass of wine to the side out of reach.
“Marcus, do be a dear and bring us some parchment paper, please.” The Ancient One called out while raising a hand to stop me from getting up. Marcus gave me a look before leaving once I gave him a nod to follow those orders. He might be brash and boisterous, but he knew not to fuck around during times like these. With Marcus leaving, we descended into silence, but even that was broken when the holo-projector started to beep red.
With a little applied gravity manipulation, the holo-projector activated showed a very interesting scene. Shaw never made it to his secret hanger to fly out of Morocco in his attempt to escape. I watched as whoever drove Shaw swerved in and out of traffic in their mad dash bid in escaping my Generals pursuit.
One of the Spartans was flying the sky car while Faora was half hanging out the side with a massive cannon strapped to her back. Behind that sky care were six others, all in hot pursuit of Shaw’s vehicle. Shaw’s black SUV back door opened with the side door, and a few things happened all at once. Sage was kicked out the side as they made a sharp left turn into traffic, then someone opened fire on the leading sky car that Faora was hanging out of. No one scattered from the shots fired, but the back sk ycar did pull over to pick up Sage.
Thinking of a map brought up an intuitive map of the area to my HUD. This same map showed that they were on the final approach to the hidden air track under HellFire International.
When Shaw’s drive took the straight, that was when my General struck. Faora kicked off hard from the sky car as the security came pouring out of the HellFire International airline terminal. They stood no chance; Spartans took to the air behind their commander, destroying all opposition before them. Fire, ice, lightning, and water abilities were thrown around with a splash of magic here and there.
Twenty spartans took out a force of over one hundred, and none lived to tell the tale about it. Changing the camera to Faora’s perspective, I watched as she flew over the mess below. She was tailing Shaw while also still giving out commands to those in her command. Faora had noticed the jetliner that was on the tarmac with the ramp down, waiting for Shaw’s boarding. It was also noticed how the jet didn’t show up on standard radar sweeps, and this piqued my interest because I didn’t know he had any stealth tech of the sort.
The SUV that Shaw was in came to a stop beside the ramp, but Faora was already moving. Before Shaw could get very far, she came down on his SUV, crushing the vehicle beneath her completely before grabbing him in a telekinetic hold and throwing him.
Shaw went over Faora’s shoulder while the heads of his guards went splat because of crushing telekinetic forces being applied. Shaw never stood a chance in the fight; I knew what his powers were, so that meant so did my people. Without any preamble, Faora held Shaw spread eagle in the air as she took out her swords. She looked at her swords before putting them away and doing something I was never expecting. She started to talk to the man.
“Kinetic absorption could only do so much, but I have read your history. I have followed the breadcrumbs of your deeds.” Faora said while circling her prey. “My king had marked you as an enemy on principle, and I did my homework on scum like yourself. You are a man who sold his soul working for the Nazi’s in Germany. You are a man who experimented on his own kind, and it wasn’t for some noble goal. No, it was for-profit and because you like to inflict pain on those that could not defend themselves. So here you are defenseless and against someone that knows your sins. Let’s inflict some pain, so grit your teeth, and bear it.”
I watched as Faora cuffed the power suppressant cuffs around the wrist of Shaw before delivering a devastating rabbit punch to the back of his head.
“I like her.” I heard Selene mutter from my side. “Even I didn’t side with those monsters during that debacle.”
Faora drilled a few more punches into Shaw’s face before pulling back as one of my sky cars came flying down onto the tarmac. Out of this new sky car came Emma Frost and Raven, well damn.
Shaw was really fucked now.
We watched as Emma and Raven walked up to the now kneeling Shaw at the feet of Faora.
“As of ten minutes ago, Frost Industries has been purchasing your companies stocks wholesale as the word of your demise became live news coverage,” Emma said as she stood over he defeated foe. “I made a promise to you a few years back that you would die destitute and broken at my feet.”
“Take what we need Em,” Raven said as she took up a post beside Faora. I noticed that Raven was carrying the blades I made her on her back while the chains were still attached to her wrist. Those blades were some damn scary things, and it didn’t help that I made them far more dangerous than the versions in God Of War.
Shaw attempted to spit on her, but Emma’s kinetic shield caught the wad of saliva and blood from making contact. With grace and swiftness, I knew that could only be taught from either Raven or Natasha. Emma changed to her diamond form in one strong stride before her fist knocked a few screws loose inside the head of Shaw with the powerful right she delivered.
Before Shaw could do anything else in retaliation, Emma grabbed him by the sides of his head while her eyes blazed with power. Hmm, that was interesting, even I could tell she had way more power than I thought should be possible. That would need investigating later, though.
Shaw screamed and screamed as Emma took everything she wanted out of his mind. Her diamond form was damn sexy with the all-white she was wearing. From the belt around her waist, I could tell that it was one of my UMF suits. I wonder who she had designed her outfit, though I wasn’t aware we had anyone on the island with any fashion sense. Those thoughts were pushed aside as Emma basically shoved Shaw away from her with a mighty push.
Emma turned to my General and gave one hell of a command. “Bring me his head, General.”
Shit, they were about to go old school mortal kombat on his ass.
Faora gave a salute before dragging Shaw kicking and screaming before Emma and Raven. The look in Emma’s eyes, though spoke of fury and rage, and that said more than enough. It was strange because, over our months of interaction, she has never shown such emotions before. Not even when deals have fallen through worth millions has she even shown such anger.
I fired off a quick message to her and Raven to find out what happened, but all I received in reply was that they were going to raid Shaw’s compound hard and fast. There was a notice to request a Spartan contingent for her assault against Shaw’s holdings.
I, of course, gave the okay on that; then sent a message about her not having to ask. As one of my women, she would automatically have command of her own Proterian guards. That would mean that her and Raven combined would have six hundred soldiers between themselves to carry out their will.
Orders were given, and Spartans moved as gunships were launched from my military base on Pandora. An inhuman scream grew my attention back to the holo-projector, causing me to look up and see Faora dishing out some well-served justice for a lot of people. Shaw was on the ground screaming as Faora had a foot on his back while her hands were wrapped around his head pulling.
The sounds of Shaw’s spine snapping crackled like popcorn as Faora put some more strength into her slow pull back.
“Silence!” Faora barked as she punched Shaw in the side of the head before pulling once more. Shaw’s legs flopped around as Faora went about her grim work. Muscles snapped, tendons popped, and the cracking of bones reached my ears, but I kept on watching. With one mighty jerk and twist, Shaw’s head was pulled from his carcass with half his spine swinging beneath it.
Kicking the now corpse aside, Faora walked in front of Emma. Getting down on one knee, she placed the head in the box I gave her before holding it up above her head in the presentation of her completed job.
Raven sneered at the head of one of her hated foes while Emma picked it up from Faora’s hands. Blood pooled in the bottom of the box as Emma tilted it this way and that, as she inspected it like fine art.
“Place it on the shelf with the rest of the Sinister’s,” Emma commanded as she handed the head in a box to one of the Spartans standing at the side. “Faora, you will be with us for the foreseeable expedition; we have a compound to raid, come along dear.”
“As you command my Queen,” Faora replied, snapping off a salute before checking orders were given to take care of the plane with Shaw’s cooling corpse.
Closing down the hologram, I noticed the fuck me eyes that Selene was giving me from across the table.
“You are the one that has been killing young Nathanial?” Selene asked subtly with a predatory smile.
“I have been killing his clones and raiding his bases, yes.” I returned with a shrug of my own. “Fifty-three clones and counting, so far he has been one step ahead, but from the cellular degradation of the latest clone acquisition, we are extremely close to his capture.”
Selene had a moment that looked like she was thinking about what I had to share, but chose not to say anything about Nathanial.
Instead, she changed the topic.
“Have you completed the contract yet, Sorcerer Supreme?” Selene asked across the table at our third companion.
“This magical contract was done in the old ways due to the level of power at both of your disposal.
“Marcus?”
“My king, it means that it is to the death or submission of either party,” Marcus answered with a bowed head.
“The stakes,” I asked while looking across the table.
“Your throne,” Selene answered with a savage grin plastered on her face.
“Then place yourself as the stakes in this bout,” I growled back as I pounded a fist on the table.
“No, I refuse to be the stakes of some duel.” Selene spat as her red magical aura, started to shimmer.
“Then, I refuse to place the island and people that I have worked so hard to establish to be placed as winning stakes for you,” I growled back as I stood to face her. Our auras clashed, causing plaster and the walls to buckle from our intense staredown. Through all of this, the Ancient One was cool as a cucumber on a midsummer day. “You want a throne, go build a fucking kingdom of your own. I refuse to put my hard built kingdom up so you can feel special about yourself.”
“Why not citizenship?” The Ancient One interjected with a question.
“I SHALL BE QUEEN NOT A SLAVE AND NOT A CONCUBINE!” Selene snarled, but the Ancient One still paid her no mind.
“Then, enter it into the contract.” The Ancient One returned. “I very much doubt the kind of woman that Mr. Blake already enjoys the company of would allow him to bring a slave home.”
I could see the hard look in her eyes as she mulled over the idea.
“I have riches, and I have a nation with people at my beck and call. I even have a friendly relationship with the Ancient One, who is like a grandmother to my kids.” I said with some heat in my voice. “You have nothing I want but your vast experience on this planet, and I accept no threats to myself or my people. So, I want it in writing that should you lose, you would do nothing to get out of said contract, nor will you attempt any coup of my empire be it on Earth or anywhere else amongst the cosmos we may venture utter loyalty and advice. You shall not usurp any child of mine, nor any child I call my own to attempt a coup. Any child or persons or anything of the sort to remove me or mine from power. No deals to demons or cosmic beings to remove you from your duties nor anyone to change reality on your behalf. No deed through action nor inaction on pain of magical evisceration of your soul to the cosmic winds to be collected by DEATH herself. Then and only then on your loss will I accept you and name you one of my Queens.”
“Then I want it written that on my victory, you shall be made a slave with all those pledges themselves to your banner and cause. Your nation shall be mine, your mind shall be mind to do with as I please. Everything you are, will be and was, will be mine to do with and command as I please.” Selene returned with her own conditions.
“Are you sure you would like to do this, Benjamin?” The Ancient One asked, and that was the first time today that she called me by my name. I turned to look at her with a grim determination set in my features.
It was time to nut up or shut up.
The Ancient One gave me a nod in return before writing up the contract with Marcus’s help. My smart band started to ping, but I ignored it. I had some ideas on who might be contacting me to tell me not to make such a deal, but they didn’t know that this was the only way to get Selene to back off unless I was committed to ending her. And it was a damn hard job to end an eternal such as Selene. She has been alive for thousands of years, older than the Ancient One and even Apocalypse himself. No, this battle had to be fought, and I was the only one that could do it.
“Rules for the match?” The Ancient One asked from over the contract on the table.
“No extra-dimensional demons summoning nor any that might be stashed in some hidey-hole, planetary nor continental destruction attacks. Also, no life force absorption during combat or attacking any close villages or people within the area.” I answered instantly.
“Are these terms agreeable to you Miss. Gallio?” The Ancient One asked, turning to look at a red-eyed Selene.
“Agreed,” Selene answered through gritted teeth.
“Then, please sign here in blood on this line.” The Ancient One replied, handing over a black feathered quill. Selene looked at the quill for a moment before giving the Ancient One a raised brow. I didn’t know why until it was my time to sign the contract. The fucking quill was a blood quill, an enchanted quill to take blood for signing. I showed nothing as the quill cut into my hand to seal my name onto the contract. “This way, please.”
After signing, I found the Ancient One standing beside a portal leading out to somewhere with an ocean of grass.
“The place for this battle will be taking place on the Mongolian steppes.” The Ancient One answered, noting my inquisitive look. “The Ward Master of Pandora has already placed protections. The land will return to how it once was upon this duel’s completion.”
“Satellites?” I asked, tilting my head to the side.
“I have been informed that they would be taken care of. This was in case of a situation like this were to happen.” Answered the Ancient One with a smile. “You both shall start a mile from each other.”
Before anything else could be said, she flicked her wrist, sending the portal at myself and Selene. Gold flashed before the world shifted to my senses. Looking up, I noticed the phase of the sun, then took a moment to feel the wind on my face.
It was time to go hunting.
Pulling out my triple-barreled super shotgun. I hunkered forwards as I took off sprinting at high speeds across the Mongolian steppes.
O.O.O.O
Somewhere over the Switzerland Mountains.
“Drop me here,” Emma commanded as she waited for the gunship she was in to pull around for a hover over the compound.
“Emma, darling, wouldn’t you like to change into something more suited for our party?” Raven asked from the side. Besides Emma, Raven was standing in full combat Athena loadout.
“Honey, I’m flawless the way I am,” Emma replied, turning up her nose.
“Yeah, sure, but I already picked something out that you will love,” Raven said as she started to input something on her smart band. Before Emma could reply, her clothing started to change. The all-white stayed to match what she previously wore. Now though, her outfit was no longer the flowing gown of before.
Styled boots wrapped her legs as leather pants wrapped her curves. The shirt she wore, changed form into a crop top with an X across her stomach. The crop top had long sleeves with golden accents. The wrist of her shirt had bangles that connected to a miniature cape on the back.
Emma noted that over her flat stomach was a thin film that could still provide protection against knives and bullets. She was sure that even the gell layer would protect against shock.
“So a stylized suit for me, and you’re in armor?” Emma asked with a raised brow as her body slowly became diamonds. Raven gave her lover a beaming smile before doing a little twirl.
“Ben made me this after our little outing in Russia; we broke it in together rescuing Stark,” Raven answered as the gunship touched down. Emma gave her a look while still in her diamond form before turning towards the ramps. One of the spartans at the end of the ramp handed Emma a smart device that worked as a scanner. This device connected around her ear without getting in the way of her hair or vision. The look she gave the spartan had him answering her swiftly.
“Scouter, my Queen.” The spartan with the name tag Gorden answered as he held out the device. “It will give you smart lenses connectivity since you have not been issued a helmet yet.”
Turning over the device in her hands, Emma noticed the C shape that would go behind her ears. She also noticed the swivel part that went in front of her eye that also doubled as a display unit. Emma gave the spartan a nod before placing the scouter where it was advised. A HUD display came into view over Emma’s field of vision.
One of the tags, Emma noticed said shields. The thought of activating those scent a shimmer over her person. That shimmer was the activation of her personal shielding. Sending a nod to the team of spartans, they stepped forth into the fire.
Emma walked with the grace of a queen in her court while flanked with a team of ten spartans. Any and all opposition was gunned down as Emma strolled through the Shaw’s secret compound. Nothing was going to step in Emma’s way because she was on a mission right now.
One of the spartans had sent over a report of finding the server room. From there, commands were given, and a map was uploaded. Scanning over the map, Emma found what she wanted on the sixth floor down. Tapping on her scouter, Emma gave out the commands of what she wanted.
What she received in return was that the elevators were on lockdown with the rest of the compound. Before she could let her frustration known, a spartan with blue wings on her armor stepped forth with a platform device. The circular device was 10×10 with a one-foot ring around the outer edges. The spartan directed them to the center of the compound before placing the device on the floor. She waited for the others to get on the platform before activating the device.
The outer edge to the platform, pushed out securing its position before lasers of blue lights cut into the floors beneath their location. Floor after floor, they went lower and lower. On each floor, soldiers were there to take shots at them, but the Spartans following Emma and Raven made short work of them.
Raven knew something was up as they touched down on the sixth floor. The vibes that Emma was projecting were those of emotional turmoil. Her exterior was calm, but for those that knew her. They knew she was feeling anything but. Rage, sadness, excitement, and apprehension was all of the emotions that Emma projected. A spark inside of her ignited as the spartans headed down the hallway. Emma took the lead to the rooms she was after.
Her team of spartans secured the three doors she wanted as more and more Spartans secured the sixth floor. Half of the team was down here with Emma and Raven while the other half was securing the compound above. Taking a deep breath, Emma walked up to the first door labeled 1C.
On the door, there was a description of the person inside. That same description chilled her stomach. It said Viable clone, age seven female blonde, days without bonded pairs thirty-four, weight average.
Raven was with her at the door, but Emma held out a hand to stop her from proceeding. Slowly she opened the door; on the other side, Emma found who she was looking for. Huddled in a corner was a young girl, blonde of hair with a wiry frame trying to seek refuge from the world. Moving slowly not to startle the little child, Emma made her approach.
Taking a breath, Emma shared small whispers before connecting with the little girl telepathically. What Emma found almost knocked her over. The young child’s mind was full of life and whole, but there was a devastating part of her missing.
“Spartan Wiggins, Open the other doors,” Emma commanded as she picked up the little girl. They were stepping out of the room with the child in her arms when Emma noted the psy dampers. That was pure cruel treatment for any telepath. Add onto the fact that the girl needed two others, and it was inhuman treatment. Once the other doors opened, Emma felt the child’s mind connected with the others in a semi-hive mind. Each of the girls could think on their own, but they worked better on a linked telepathic network. Looking over, Emma noticed that Raven was carrying one of the girls, while Spartan Wiggins was carrying the other.
Slowly and tentatively, Emma merged her telepathic thoughts with what she could only understand being a storm of joy. Blues, greens, and reds of emotional colors flashed before her mind’s eye. This was before Emma put her telepathic might behind calming their minds.
{Calm, now, calm, tell me girls, what are your names?} Emma asked telepathically.
{We do.}
{Not carry.}
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