Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 86: You Owe Me

Upon the great wall of her Fortrest, Vaiga Darkfire bore a grim frown, looking out at the dozen rats circling the coast of her island. Their numbers had been growing as of late with Altair's achievement in boot camp alongside the rumors growing within the medical ward.

"Pesky insects." Vaiga spat, resisting the urge to slaughter the lot. She turned to Fat Mike, hovering by her side. "How is he?"

"Truthfully."

"Aren't you always?" Vaiga asked.

Fat Mike gave a hefty laugh and shook his head. " He's a bloody monster. When I took you in some twenty years ago, I thought you were a monster, the highest level of talent our planet ever bore, but Altair makes you look average." He said in a reminiscent tone, recalling her younger days. "He excels in everything.

Aerospace Engineering, Combat Training, Firearm Practice, Mental Fortitude, Mana Manipulation, Leadership, Strategy, and Patience. He excels in it all. And not to the level of a normal soldier but a seasoned trooper. I've never seen anything like it. He's perfect."

"Oh? That's quite high praise coming from you. Then tell me of his weakness?" Vaiga inquired with a gentle smile. "I'm sure you found at least one."

"Pride, maybe. He's going through puberty, so he's feeling himself right now." Fat Mike said after some thought. "And... he feels fake."

"Fake?"

Fat Mike nodded. "Not many see it. But his smile is like a mask like I've never seen before. The boy is very well trained. So much so it's hard to believe he is human." He frowned, folding his arms. "When he speaks at times, it's like he's acting out a play.

Like everyone dancing to his tone."

Brows grew knitted. " I don't see how that's a weakness."

"That's because you're not a strategist like me," Mike said. "Altair is charming, joyful, and very easy to get along with. I've yet to see anyone hate him. Shit, even those two from House Aros seem to be comfortable around him. That mask of his is weak right now, but it's slowly becoming tempered with time. Should he insight a rebellion, we are all fucked.

"

"So we need to lock him down, is what you're trying to say." Vaiga smiled, chuckling to herself. "Two thousand years and Earth has not bore a single transcendent, much less a lesser deity. Altair might be the first. Do you think that locking him down will do anything?" She shook her head. "I've seen men and women cut their children's throats, sell them, or worse.

Locking him won't work if he's a degenerate. It'll only provoke our ruin."

"I agree. That's why I handed him to Vincent. That bastard is like a father and uncle to many soldiers." Fat Mike informed her. "Speaking of which, I hear Altair has a girl. A redhead."

Vaiga picked up a brow. "Oh?"

"Thing is... I've not spotted a single Red Head coming or going towards his private quarters. Yet, every day, he has a strand of red hair on his uniform. I checked the cameras. Curious, isn't it? My guess is teleportation."

"That's a very rare ability."

"But not outside the realm of possibility."

Admiral Darkfire narrowed her pearly violet eyes. "You could instruct a time mage from the towers."

"To find out who he's fucking? Pass," Fat Mike laughed, peeking a single eye open. "Unless you're jealous of something."

"He's twelve.'

"Age is but a number."

"It's a word, actually." She said, frowning. "Summon Altair later and question him. We need to find out if we have a leak on our base."

"Well, I kind of gave him the week." Fat Mike revealed, grinning, as Vaiga snapped her head to him. " Seems he's trying to mend Sanders back together. Today marks the fourth day. At least, that's what I've been told from Amilia's daily updates. And it's working."

"S...Sanders is returning!"

***

Altair brow twitched, 'fucking boomer!' he thought, with a bright smile. " I'm twelve, Commander, sir."

"And you healed me?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Why?"

"Huh?" Altair raised a brow. "What do you—"

"Why did you, Altair, heal me? Be front with me, boy. I'm not a man to be lied to." Sanders warned, his eyes burning with a mighty presence. And he recalled this very boy sleeping through his aura as if it were nothing.

He didn't for a second believe it was for the kindness of his heart.

"A plethora of reasons," Altair told him without even a hint of shame. "The biggest was to get more resources, but the second was making you a commander owe me a favor." He said, gauging Sander's icy expression, and continued. "My commander lieutenant told me you refused help from Genisis, claiming you wanted to die on Earth. This tells me you are very prideful.

So I know even now as I tell you this, you'll return me the favor one day."

"Aidios!" Vaiga cursed. Unable to believe Altair would be so blunt. She reached for him, ready to pull him away, when Sander's laughter bellowed through the medical ward.

"Good on you, Boy! Good!" he roared. " You play the game well! Reward him well, Vaiga."

Nudging her temple, Vaiga looked at him. " You realize I'm the commander, right?"

"Piss on your title, girl!" He laughed. "Come on then, where are my hugs? Or are you too above to show any love for the old man who looked after you since you first learned to shit."

"Uncle..."

"Hugs. Now." He demanded, opening up his arms wide like a great bear. And Vaiga relented.

"Welcome back, Uncle."

Watching Vaiga embrace the massive bear, Altair glanced at Amilia, who shrugged, a little unsure of the relationship between the two of them.

"Hells, woman, you run fast." Fat Mike cursed, popping his head in, his face a waterfall of sweat and grease, wheezing for air. "Oh, Sanders, your back! Good on you, old man."

Somewhat out of place, Altair took his leave without a sound as he watched what seemed like a joyous reunion. He hadn't seen Ren in four days and had been looking forward to it. But as he approached his quarters, he paused at the sight of seven men outside his door.

"I told your dumb ass he ain't here."

"He got a wolf, don't he? Hilda has been asking to see it. Let's just get it and go."

"And how do you suppose we get in?"

"I can hack the pin."

"You can barely count to ten. What the fuck ya hacking?

Sensing a problem, Altair glanced at the camera within the corridor and then stepped forward. "What seems to be the issue?"

One of the men, a tall, blonde-haired man, thin with a scar cutting across his nose, grinned, bearing the rank of lieutenant. "Altair, right? Have you not been taught to salute."

Altair glanced at his door and slid his gaze to the scarred man and his posse. He saluted. "Well? What can I do for you, Sir?"

"It's Lieutenant Jor Silmar," he corrected. "And I'm here to conduct a random spot and contraband check."

Expressionless, Altair nodded.

"So open these doors."