Beta Earth: Between Worlds 2.0 Edition (16 page)

Vin’s slash, to his surprise, is intercepted. Akari now stands between Vin and Clave. The two are now engaged in a sword lock. Akari notices Vin’s unstable state and she forcefully repels him. Akari looks back to see Clave collapse to the ground.

“I must defeat …” Vin says in a distorted tone.

Vin runs toward Clave and Akari goes on the offensive. Akari attacks Vin with a fury seldom seen from her. Vin struggles to evade and defend against her sword attacks. “I should have known. He’s not the danger. The teacher is.” Vin says.

His voice grows in distortion as he shadow-shifts. He attacks Akari with the same blitz assault that he used against Clave. Akari is far better at anticipating Vin’s movements. She manages to evade and parry Vin’s attacks while only suffering minor cuts.

“End this, Vin. You are tired. The most you can hope for a draw with me. You must stop.” Akari warns Vin. He holds his head.

“It may be … too late.” Vin’s voice grows more distorted. He drops to his knees while holding his head and lets out a distorted yell. Metal footsteps can be heard clanking in the distance. Akari turns and is startled by the two figures walking toward them. One is a metallic figure in the shape of a man, Kamon 2.0.

The other is a man wearing a hooded cloak. Kamon holds out his synthetic hand toward Vin. His eyes change from
neon blue
to green for a moment and then back to blue. Instantly, Vin calms down. He no longer vibrates or fluctuates. “Who are you?” Akari asks.

Kamon and the cloaked man remain silent. “Kamon, this is twice you’ve saved me.” Vin says as he recovers from his heavy fatigue. Akari looks at Vin.

“What? How do you know him?”

“He told me to meet Gaidon here where I ended up saving him from someone.” Vin explains. The cloaked man finally speaks.

“Decius Hanamex.” the cloaked man says.

“You know about Decius?” Vin asks.

“Yes. But I should start by introducing myself. I am Montello and as you know this is my metal friend, Kamon.”

Montello removes his hood revealing his face. “I know of Decius because I am a master hacker myself and his tag can be seen on all of the most secretive of documents.”

“Documents?” Vin asks.

“Oh yes … mainly any documents and projects that had to do with the late, great Dr. Mizrahi.” Montello explains.

“Oh, him. Now I understand.” Vin says.

“How, unexpected … you know of Dr. Mizrahi’s work?” Montello asks.

“I’ve seen him.” Vin replies.

Kamon’s synthetic eyes widen.

“Interesting.” Montello says with a rub of his chin. Akari is shaking.

“This can’t be! This is too much, the dead should stay dead.” She is now tearing up. “The dead should stay dead!”

“Akari?” Vin doesn’t understand what is going on.

Akari walks over to Clave while keeping her eyes on Montello and Kamon. “I … I once knew a Montello and Kamon. We … We were all friends. Montello was a fantastic hacker … Kamon was a courageous fighter. And Rena was … my best friend. And Cage, her brother … they all died.” Akari wipes the tears from her face. “This boy, the son of Kamon and Rena … was left in my care … because … because they couldn’t do it … His parents couldn’t protect him.”

“Neither can you.” Kamon says in his synthetic, hollow voice. Akari shoots an angry glance at Kamon.

“Shut up! You are the worst of them all. To try to kill your own son, and yet you still walk while Rena—”

“Kamon’s burden is now passed to you, Akari.” Montello says calmly.

“Kamon’s burden?” Akari admittedly never truly tried to understand Kamon’s burden.

“That boy is a candidate for Decius.” Montello says. Vin’s eyes widen.

“Clave, if chosen, will be taken over by Decius Hanamex. Do you understand what that means, Akari?” Montello asks.

“I ... I don’t know—” Akari begins to say.

“I do. I understand.” Vin says. Akari looks over to Vin. “I know and I suspected it as well. He is a threat to all of us. Even as it stands now, with a little more training and experience. He would have no equal in this world. With Decius in full control of his abilities, he would be completely—” Montello smiles and interrupts.

“Unstoppable. Yes, you do understand.”

“Who is Decius Hanamex?” Akari asks. Everyone looks at Vin. He bows his head slightly and tries to figure a way to condense everything he knows.

“Decius is someone who is trying to bring everyone into a new world.”

“Everyone into a new world?” Akari asks.

“Yes. Whether we want to go or not. Decius, thinks that this is the only way to save humanity from a cataclysmic fate. But to complete this task, he needs an Avatar.” Akari looks at Clave who is unconscious.

“He needs this boy.” Akari says.

“He is just one candidate. Decius may end up choosing another. Luckily for Decius, we have created a few candidates for him.” Montello says. Akari ponders the situation.

“Could it be … Project Guardian, the candidates are the test subjects of Project Guardian. I wonder if Taurus knows.” Akari says. Vin hears his father’s name.

“What? Did you say Taurus?—” Akari takes a firm stance.

“We need to stop Decius!” she says. Everyone remains quiet. Akari looks around.

“I will not resign this boy to that fate!” Montello smiles at her comments.

“He is not simply doomed! I won’t allow it! Vin, how do I find Decius? I’ll stop him myself.” Akari says. Vin looks down.

“It’s not that easy,” he says.

“Then help me. All of you! Vin, I’ll pay you, and you.” Akari says as she points at Kamon. “You! You most of all owe it to Clave!” Kamon remains silent. Vin looks away and doesn’t answer.

“I am afraid I cannot help you with that quest but if there is a way to avoid his fate. I am sure you will find it.” Montello responds. He then turns to leave and Kamon follows behind.

“Is that it? Kamon! Will you abandon him again?” Akari asks. Without stopping, Kamon turns his head toward Akari.

“Will you risk the world on that boy’s fate?” Kamon replies. Montello and Kamon leave Akari and Vin. Vin walks toward Clave and Akari brandishing his sword.

“You know what must be done. This risk is—” Akari interrupts Vin.

“This risk is mine to take!” she yells.

Report

Location: Redemption headquarters—General Quell Taurus’s office.

Lana enters the room and finds General Taurus talking to a quirky-looking scientist in a lab coat. 

“I’m here Sir.” Lana announces.

“Good timing.” General Taurus says.

“I am glad to see you’ve recovered. Sorry it took me so long to review your mission debriefing but I have been very busy. Anyway, I trust that the investigation was informative?” Lana remains silent as she looks at the scientist.

“Oh, it’s okay. Let me introduce you to Spyder. He is our head scientist on Earth and a former apprentice of Melchior, our head scientist on Beta Earth.” Spyder holds out his hand and Lana shakes it.

“N-N-N-Nice to meet you. Tr-Truly a pleasure to see a future … Umm … Well—” General Taurus interrupts Spyder. “I’ve placed Spyder in charge of developing special equipment—battle suits, weapons, devices—for Redemption use.” General Taurus says.

“Don’t we use the United Federations’ R and D facilities?” Lana asks.

“Yes. but now the game has changed and we need to as well.” General Taurus says.

“I understand … fully.” Lana hands General Taurus a data chip containing information about the Aton Gallery investigation. He collects it and turns to Spyder.

“Be prepared. After I review these, I will be handing off the info to you Spyder. We need to be able to adapt to this new enemy.” General Taurus says. He then turns back to Lana. “Good job,” he says. Lana smiles with pride.

“You should also know that Spyder is developing special equipment for you.” General Taurus says.

“For me? Why?” Lana asks.

“B-B-Because you are the-the only one who can use it, of course.” Spyder says.

“The people I sent you to research don’t even scratch the surface on the threat level. Lana, we are possibly dealing with a much greater danger.” General Taurus warns.

“What? Someone more dangerous than the two I saw?” General Taurus nods.

“Yes. Spyder, you worked with Melchior on project XR 2-012, right?”

“I-I was j-just a—” General Taurus shoots Spyder a glance.

“Y-Y-Yes, sir!” Spyder shouts out.

“XR? What is that?” Lana asks.

“Short of Exari, a name … we all knew him by.” General Taurus explains.

“Please have a seat, both of you. I will explain everything I know about the Exari project and how it relates to our current mission. This will show you why we all must play a bigger role in order to maintain the safety of humanity.”

“A larger role?” Lana says.

“Yes, the true purpose of our organization … why it was given the name Redemption.” General Taurus says.

Ending Pt. 1

Akari stands ready for combat. She is prepared to defend Clave with her life. “You are incredibly strong, Vin. With proper training, you alone could suppress sprawl strife, stop or stifle wars and help this world hold a measure of peace.” Akari says.

“My father is already doing that. While the world is being saved, people still suffer. I’ll protect those people.” Vin says.

“But don’t you see—” Vin interrupts. “Each time I use this power, I bring myself closer to death and I am not that selfless.” Vin looks at Clave. “So what will you do about him?” he asks.

“The only thing I can. I must seek out Redemption for what I have done.” Akari says as she pulls out the chip General Quell Taurus handed her. The chip contains the mission specs of a special mission to round up all of the possible avatar candidates (a.k.a., the Project Guardian subjects). She examines the chip closely. “I will find another Avatar candidate, help him. Then I’ll hope that Decius chooses him.” Akari explains.

“What then?” Vin asks.

“Then Clave will kill that Avatar.” Akari says as she looks at Clave. “This boy will be our savior,” she says.

“You think things will work out like that?” Vin asks. Akari bows her head.

“This is my trial. If I want to redeem myself, I will have to make this boy into our savior.”

“By sacrificing another … sounds complicated. This is a dangerous gamble even for you.” Vin says as he drops his sword and takes off his glasses. He then starts to walk away.

“That’s it?” She expected a fight from Vin.

“I am honored that you would compliment my skills but even I can tell a battle against you right now would be futile. As such, my story for now is over and I guess his is just beginning. Good luck … I’ll be watching.” Vin walks into the shadows and vanishes into the surroundings. Akari sheaths her blade and walks over to Clave, who is still unconscious.

“Clave. I was wrong. Meeting Vin might have been the best experience for you. I'm sure of it. Some of him will rub off on you. You are no doubt a skilled warrior but he has shown you something I wasn't even able to master ... the strength of a true guardian.” Akari says.

Ending Pt. 2

Time: One Week Later.

Location: Earth—Gaidon’s Syndicate Headquarters.

Gaidon scans his computer screen in his lavish executive chair in a high-tech office on the seventy-seventh floor of his new building in City District 8. Eva enters the room. “Send out a message to all Faux Forsaken Clan members. They are now honorary members of the Syndicate.” Gaidon announces.

“Vin allowed it? Even without a contract?” Eva asks. Gaidon grins.

“He practically begged for it.” Eva walks toward Gaidon’s desk.

“Some more good news. Riken, of the original Forsaken Clan on Beta Earth, has heard of your recent acquisitions. He wishes to ally his forces with you against the Syndicate Councilmen on Beta Earth.”

“Excellent. We now have the force needed to wage war but I don’t want a battle of attrition. I want a decisive win, and for that, I will need a specialty. What of Vin? Any word on our request of him?”

“He won’t leave the sprawls, Gaidon. I fear he is growing tired of our affairs.” Eva says. Gaidon lets out a sigh as he contemplates.

“Yes, we should make good use of him before he disappears. Call in our covert operative, Agent Damon. Have him gather Agent Riff and Gate along with two unique members of S.P.Q.R. Then have all of them report here for personal combat and survival training from Vin.”

“You think Vin will agree?” Eva asks.

“Of course, once he hears they will be going to Paradise.” Gaidon says confidently. Eva’s eyes widen.

“Paradise? You know where it is?”

“When I was attacked by Decius, I saw the general location. But with that, they should be able to pinpoint it for us.” Eva smiles.

“You are truly amazing. To have that in your pocket is—”

“I know. However, we are still in need of a specialist for our war.” Gaidon says as he turns and looks out the window. The sight of the city lights below calms him. He closes his eyes. “Clave,” he says.

“Him? You sure?” Eva confirms.

“Yes. Find Clave and hire him for this campaign. I think Agent Damon knows how to contact him. If he is truly as good as when I first saw him. By next year, I should be the undisputed leader of the Syndicate on Earth and Beta Earth.” Gaidon explains. Eva leans in close to Gaidon.

“You know if you find Paradise … Well, how far are you willing to take this?” Gaidon looks Eva dead in the eye.

“I am prepared to go to war with the U.F. if they get in my way.”

“That sounds like world domination to me.” Eva adjusts her glasses and smiles slyly. Gaidon laughs.

“Only if it comes to that.”

“Anything else?” Eva asks. Gaidon looks up slowly.

“We need protection.”

“From who?” Eva asks.

“From Decius.” Gaidon says with a hint of fear in his voice. Eva moves closer to Gaidon.

“What exactly happened when he attacked you?” Gaidon looks at Eva.

“I need you—” Gaidon says softly and Eva blushes slightly.

“To help me find someone called Montello. He is a skilled hacker and supposedly he knows how we can gain protection from Decius.” Eva clears her throat and composes herself.

“I see. So this is the start of our ascension.”

“Yes.” Gaidon stands and holds Eva by the waist.

“We will rise and I plan to break all barriers. Nothing will stand in our way.” Gaidon says.

“Sounds interesting.” Eva replies with a smile.