Chapter Twenty-Four: Prelude to Terror

The days went by as the sullen atmosphere continued to fill the rooms of most of the pilots on Prosperity. Gabriel’s abrupt and unknown cause of death had swept through out the living quarters instilling concern and fear. No one knew what truly happened to Gabriel during his match with Adam Novus a few days prior and most were content with not knowing. Adam knew the truth, that Gabriel was one of the clones created by Genesis, and for the first time he was able to uncover some insight onto what Genesis was doing. Although he felt that the information was too vague to be meaningful he still knew it was a start. Adam and Sharon stood before the lounge staring at the results of the section finals for the past few days.

“Are you ok? You’ve been really quiet lately.” Sharon said breaking the silence. It was true, there was a lot on his mind all starting with the appearance of what he thought to be the clone of Amy Caecus.

“A few things….nothing too drastic. I’ll be fine.” Adam replied.

“You know….I heard about Amy.” Sharon was reluctant at first to even mention her name but she knew that it was what was eating him up inside. Adam smiled wrapping his right arm around Sharon pulling her closer.

“That person isn’t Amy….she is just like Gabriel. An artificial life form.”

“That maybe true, but she’s still the physical representation of your regret. And that’s what is worrying me. Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Yeah….since you’re with me I’m fine.”

They both hugged tightly as the screen lit up with the results so far.

‘E-1’

Adam Novus
                        Adam Novus
Gabriel Calquez

‘E-2’

Gluttony
                        Serenity
Serenity

‘F-1’
Clark 
                        Silhouette
Silhouette

‘F-2’

Diavolo
                        Diavolo
Mike

‘H-1’

Nick
                        Mal Tiempo
Mal Tiempo

‘H-2’

Seina
                        Seina
Destiny

‘I-1’

Stephen
                        Stephen
Alex

‘I-2’

Tony
                        Seriph
Seriph

            The section finals had come to an end leaving only 16 pilots in the running for the status of number one MF pilot.

“So it is slowly coming to an end huh?” Sharon mumbled.

“Yeah, that it is. We’re getting closer, only a few more weeks until we can all go home.” Adam replied as they both walked towards the barren pallid corridor.

“Are you going home after the conclusion of the tournament?”

“I think home could do me well…”

“So you’re going to just forget about the war and your duty as a military officer?”

“I wish I could…I’m just going to take a break from the action is all.” Adam replied.

            As they continued to walk through the quiet empty hallways they remained quiet just being able to enjoy the serenity of silence is a gift that not many get the chance to indulge in.

“Adam Novus….” A familiar strong voice disrupted that silence far off in the distance. Adam smirked as Leo Ombra made his way out of the shadows that was hiding his physical appearance.

“It’s you….”

“Yeah…I think we should talk.” Leo replied.

“Have your memories returned then?”

“Not really….but still I think we should talk.” Leo replied.

Sharon just stared at both Adam and Leo only to shrug her shoulders.

“Ugh, fine. I’ll go find Ashley and Heather while you two have your talk. Give me a call when you’re done.” Sharon replied.

Adam simply nodded as he followed Leo into what he believed to be his quarters. Upon entering the dismal living space Adam stumbled as every wall was filled with images and newspaper articles from the past 2 years.

“Quite the collection you’ve got going.” Adam mentioned as he walked along side the contours of the walls gazing at the images of Leo and his MF. One image caught his attention in contrast to the rest, Leo stood in front of a group of men, and one of the men Adam recognized to be the late Caleb Prodito.

“I thought you said you didn’t know Caleb….” Leo just glanced back at Adam with a cold sarcastic expression. “Oh right, your memories…”

“*sigh* After you left a man came into my room late that night. He said to not concern myself with the past…”

“I see…who was it? If you don’t mind me asking that is.”

“He said his name was Luscious Malum….” Leo replied.

Suddenly a sharp chill spread throughout Adam’s body, even though in his gut he was expecting that person to be Luscious. A nearby chair held Adam’s body as he sat down leaning over the edge of a plastic chrome table.

“I see….so Luscious stopped in to check on you in person. That means Genesis was the ones who murdered my friends, or at least called in the order..”

“Genesis? What are you suggesting?!”

“*sigh*, I’m suggesting that you might have been one of the men who was ordered to carry out that task.” Adam replied.

“….”

“Heh, your facial expression doesn’t seem to be too surprised by my accusations.”

Leo began to walk over to his bed which was a mess, blankets and sheets were ruffled up and hanging off the side while pillows were situated on the dirt filled carpet.

“It is true that I don’t remember what happened 2 years ago….but I keep having these dreams. These horrible disturbing dreams.” Leo mumbled.

“Dreams….we all have dreams.” Adam replied.

“Dreams are the key to understanding our existence….or at least that’s what I’ve been told.” Leo replied.

“Heh…I’ve heard that before from someone else. My dreams show me nothing but sorrow and are a constant reminder of my sins….” Adam replied.

“We all bare sin Adam. It’s how we deal with it that makes us all different.” Leo replied.

“Heh….you’re a philosopher now huh?”

“No….I’m not sure where but I’ve heard those lines before. Someone spoke them to me, I feel like some of my memories are leaking back into me but right now they’re nothing more than pieces to a puzzle all thrown in separate boxes.” Leo replied.

“I see…so why the sudden interest in wanting to talk with me?”

“I saw your match with Gabriel….I want to know what happened to him….I know what Genesis told the media is false.” Leo replied.

Adam glanced away from Leo’s brooding presence, his eyes drifted to the floor soon taking notice of a golden bracelet. It was pale in showing signs of age, but the charms were what became interesting. There were small heart shaped charms all with inscriptions; however the majority of the inscriptions were hard to interpret due to dull colored crimson stains covering each charm. And yet the charm still felt familiar to Adam, it struck him in a way that his own dreams would strike at his soul.

“Umm…” Adam couldn’t configure his sentence; he was too taken by the bracelet that was left recklessly on the carpet. Leo’s hazel eyes focused in on the charm bracelet.

“Oh, I don’t remember where I picked that up but I figured it was something special. Maybe handed down to me by my grand parents, I’m not sure.” As he said this he took hold of the golden bracelet and handed it over to Adam. Once the bracelet fell into the palm of Adam’s quivering hands he began to inspect each charm thoroughly only to find his instincts correct. His head slowly rose and his eyes remained fixated onto Leo’s face. Adam’s hands began to conform into a fist and began to shake excessively.

“You ok?” Leo asked.

Adam stood up from the chair with a half cocked smirk lighting his face.

“This charm bracelet…..it belonged…..it belonged to a friend of mine…Christina Effloresco….” The words penetrated out from his lips slowly and in fragments. His emotions were beginning to take control of his speech and of his own actions. Leo became over run by a state of shock, his heart began to race while sweat dripped out from his pores.  

“I….are….are you sure?”

“I am sure….each charm, written in script is our names one on each charm….I’m taking this.” Adam said firmly. His tone of voice deepened, it just stared at Leo for a good 5 minutes unsure of what course of action he would take. Part of him wanted to take Leo’s life there, but he knew in the pit of his stomach it wouldn’t bring any of his friends back.

The blustering sound of a cell phone broke the monotony and awkwardness of the moment. Adam tried to ignore the cerulean glow that was emanating out of his denim pockets but it refused to stop ringing. He sighed reaching into his pocket, as he flipped his phone open he realized that it was Amy. All of his anger soon began to dissipate, clone or not, she was like Sharon said the physical representation of all of his guilt and suffering.

“Hello…” Adam muttered.

“HEY! Listen are you busy right now?”

“Actually I…”

“Great! Stop what you’re doing and meet me in the lounge! We have a lot to catch up on! Don’t be late!” Amy bellowed in a cheery tone of voice. That was another thing that he found disturbing, he couldn’t remember if Amy was ever as bubbly as she was being perceived as now. Adam sighed looking at Leo one last time only to storm out the door with the bracelet firmly clutched in between his palm and the tips of his fingers.

***********************************

Anthony yawned widely as the night loomed over their heads at Evo.

“Still can’t sleep?” Eric asked while staring at the indentation of the mattress above his head.

Anthony rolled onto his side rolling his eyes. “Not at all. This war is really getting out of hand now.” He replied.

“I know…and now that every TA base is equipped with their own line of Shades it seems as if we’re going to be left in the dust without a job once again.” Eric replied.

“That Vincent Avidus….man who the hell does he think he is?

“It’s simple; he’s the new commander and chief.” Eric replied sarcastically.

“I’m serious; he’s nothing more than a spoiled rich kid playing around with the lively hoods of innocent people like their nothing more than dolls!” Anthony blared on.

“Eh, that may be true. But as long as he’s funding the TA then he can do whatever he pleases. I wouldn’t be surprised if he decides to just drop a nuke on the EAP and end the war in one single move.”

“A nuke? Do you really think he’d take it that far?”

“It’s possible. If things don’t work out the way he wants it to anyway.”

“Damn that bastard…this war is just destroying the purity of Mars.”

“So what do you suggest we do Anthony? Move the war to Earth and stay on Mars to protect it from becoming tainted? Hahaha.” Eric began to laugh as he rolled in his sheets.

“Yeah laugh it up now fly boy. Eventually you’ll realize that I’m right about Mars being the future for humanity. We can’t let them destroy this planet before it’s been properly colonized.” Anthony replied.

“Hehe, you might have a point. But I don’t think 2 people are going to be able to protect Mars from much.”

“Of course not….I’m sure there are plenty of people against the war. We work silently behind the war to gather enough soldiers to join our cause. Think about it, within a few years we may have enough soldiers to break away from the military and call Mars our own!”

“You’re a dreamer you know that buddy.”

“Hey I maybe a dreamer but at least I’m trying to come up with a solution while you’re down there twiddling your thumbs doing nothing but following orders.”

“Heheh, I like following orders. I don’t want to deal with the important decisions. I’m perfectly fine with attacking what I’m pointed to.”

“So you have no quarrels with this war then?”

“Ugh…of course I have issues with the war. It’s turning into a war revolving around Genocide.”

“Then why not break away and work to protect Mars.”

“Anthony, that’s an idealistic idea. If we did that then we’d have to fight both the EAP and the TA and I hate to break it to you, but we’re only air force pilots. We’d have to fight against MFs and BXTs and ATs, we just wouldn’t stand a chance. Just go to sleep man.” Eric replied as he threw the covers over his face.

“Fine…(but you’ll see… you’ll all see one day…)”

            Washington D.C. the home to the TA main headquarters as well as Revelation’s base of operations. Vincent Avidus smiled as he sat at the front of an elongated obsidian desk with the other founders of Revelations in addition to the President of the United States also known as the head of the TA, Albert Lengrin. He was an aging man around 70 years; his skin was filled with wrinkles and dark spots.

“Mr. Avidus why is it that you have requested our presence?” The aging president began to mumble. The sound of his voice promoted death and pain; he was at the end of his life span.

Vincent Avidus smirked as the lights in the room began to dim allowing the LCD screen in the front to display images clearly. What everyone began to look at was a massive spherical structure that was orbiting just in between the Earth’s orbit and the orbit of the moon.

“What is that?! I have never seen such a thing before!” The president exclaimed.

“That Mr. President is the EAP’s latest incarnation, Independence. It’s a satellite cannon that has the ability to hit any city on both Earth and Mars.”

“A satellite cannon? How….how long has that been up there?”

“About a year sir. That is why I have to suggest that we deal with this as soon as possible.”

“Mr. Avidus….how would you propose we handle the situation?”

“Heh….that’s simple, hand over the control of the TA to Revelations and we will take care of the EAP.” Vincent replied.

Every board member in the room began to stare at the president; they all knew that they already had a significant amount of authority in the TA’s actions since they funded the development of their weapons. They believed that this would just seal the deal and was the correct decision to make.

“Mr. President, if I may, we do finance everything the TA does already. This is for the best I assure you.” Vincent replied with a grin.

“I….I’m not sure….”

“Mr. President …no offense but your methods have not shown positive results. The TA is at a stalemate when it comes to the EAP.”

“And just how will your methods differ Mr. Avidus?

“I’m glad you asked.”

Just then a new image took the screen. It was a of a single Shade unit, with its block-like leg units and square torso. However in between its right arm and its torso was a massive elongated launcher.

“And what is this supposed to be Mr. Avidus?”

“It’s simple. Our newest key to winning the war. We have tried it your way Mr. President but the EAP remains and at this very moment prepping a cannon in space to attack us. We have no choice anymore Mr. President.” Vincent replied.

“You….you’re not possibly suggesting….” His voice began to fade from the shock.

“Just sign over TA control to Revelations and you won’t have to worry about a thing.” Vincent replied.

The President’s grey eyes were glazed over with fear, his hand trembled as it held onto a ball point pen. The tip of the pen began to come in contact with the ivory sheet of paper below his fingers. A few strokes from his wrist and the President signed over the Trinity Alliance to Revelations. Vincent smiled nodding towards the President.

“You’ve made the right decision Mr. President.”

“Have I?....may God have mercy on all of our souls…”