FVN [322] 4.43 Base Infiltration IX
[322] 4.43 Base Infiltration IX
I try and still my breath as I watch the scene about to unfold. Daryl has Chloe by the throat, though he’s shaking heavily. His bleeding has stopped, but just from the way he’s acting, something about him is off. Not just his damaged power armor. I think it’s his confidence. And from the way his arms are quivering and his breath is hitching, I think his sanity is slipping as well.“Put it on,” I whisper to Chloe through our bond. Even this is a challenge, given how fatigued I am. “The brooch from your father.”
“It is.” she whispers back. “Under my armor.”
“Let her go, Daryl,” Hank Jacobs says. “Now!”
“And why would I give up my only piece of leverage against you, Henry? I let her go and you’ll have my head on a pike before the minute is through.”
“I thought you believed in the ideals of the Seraphina Project,” Hank says. “About using the technology and data stored within that module to make the world a better place. To ensure a prosperous future for humanity. But now I see it was all just a lie. Just a farce you told me while you secretly coveted power for yourself.”
“You know as well as I do that we need to consolidate power as soon as possible, Henry. This rogue Seraphina model you built, as well as your daughter, are plastered on every computer monitor from here to Moscow and Pyongyang. You really think the Chinese and the Russians aren’t aware of what we’ve been doing these last twenty-two years? Face it, Henry! This data is going to end up in the hands of someone, and if someone is going to benefit from the work we did, it might as well be us!”
“You’re completely mad, Daryl. Nothing like the man I met back in ‘99.”
“And you’re a damned fool, Henry! Do you really think you can change what’s going to happen? Countries and strongmen are going to go to war over this shit. And if you think the specter of nuclear armageddon was bad, what do you think it’s going to be like when level 80’s and 100’s go to war? What do you think will happen when an entire army of these Seraphina robots start fighting against one another?”
Daryl grits his teeth. “You know it as well as I do. World War II is going to look like a peaceful diplomatic settlement compared with what awaits us. Maybe we get unlucky and we don’t have a damn planet anymore. You’ve seen the potential within the Seraphina data.” He shakes his head. “You know the potential of that data better than anyone, even the rest of us. Even me.”
“I know, which is all the more reason why we need to–”
“What? Stop building these machines? Discontinue our research? Destroy all of the schematics we have? You know the cat’s never going back in the bag, Henry. There’s only one path to peace going forward. The path of peace through absolute strength. We have to arm so completely that–”
“Oh, quit it with your bullshit, Daryl. You’ve gotten so high on your delusions of grandeur that you don’t even realize what you’re saying is just a bunch of half-ass excuses to seize power. At least my daughters recognize that the dangers of unchecked, insurmountable tyranny are every bit as vociferous as the dangers of a global war.”
“At least we can ensure that humanity survives, Henry.”
“Can we? And ‘survives’? That’s not surviving, Daryl. And that’s not living. That’s just existing inside a cage at the sufferance of a monster.”
“Better to be the monsters that rule than the cattle who are lorded over!”
Hank shakes his head. “You’re completely mad.” He steps into the light. “In remembrance of our time as colleagues and out of respect for the work we once did, I’ll make this quick.”
For the first time in close to a year, I get a look at Chloe’s father. Despite not quite being fifty, his eyes show the weight of a long life. His skin is smooth, though, his face clean-shaven, and his expression equal parts determined and absolutely livid.
A few gray hairs dot the otherwise thick hair of caramel-colored hair. In that regard, like father, like daughter. The silvery-white circlet he wears like a sun visor is a bit of an unusual fashion choice for a guy, but hey, if he’s confident enough to wear it and the stats on it justify it, well, me and my [Elementalist’s Bandana] haven’t a leg to stand on.
He wears a suit of dark colored robes and a cape of pure ebon. In his hand is a black wand tipped with a copper-colored crystal that I think might actually be auracite. Or another magical crystal I’ve yet to encounter.
“I said to stay back, Henry!” Daryl tightens his grip on Chloe’s throat. “One false step and your daughter’s head comes right off!”
My girlfriend meekly screams through her constricted throat. I can feel her pain as though it were my own; it spurs me to act, to move, to do something, but all I can do is stumble toward her, trying with all I am, using Filia like a walking stick as I inch toward my love.
“Don’t do this!” Henry says, raising his wand. “You’re only going to be damning yourself for all eternity!”
“Eternity? Eternity is fifteen thousand years at the most unless we act. Damn me if you will, but I’ll gladly accept your hatred until the end of it means doing what you know has to be done.”
Hank’s eyes flicker to me, then he takes a step back. “Very well. Let’s take a moment to discuss this like civilized gentlemen. Like old times.”
Maybe my crippled body is a boon right now. If he’s using some sort of sensor to track the Etheric flow in the environment, then maybe I can actually do this. I try to keep my breathing silent and keep my footsteps as soft as possible. Were I a bit stronger, I’d throw Filia again like a javelin and try to pierce his neck or heart. As it is, I scurry forth, aiming for the wound where Chloe hit him earlier.
The suit is slowly repairing itself, something I expected would be the case. But it’s happening a lot faster than I would have expected. I guess that’s on account of how much more advantage their knowledge of Ethertech is than my own. If only I had an extra twenty years, and from what I’ve gathered, an instruction manual to go along with it.
“Good answer.” Daryl inches toward Hank. “But I know you have that damnable [Glyphcasting] ability. So you’ll be getting on your knees, hands on the ground where I can see them.”
“Just leave my daughter–”
“Do as I say and you will have my word that I will not kill her. I promise.”
“Sera,” Chloe whispers through our bond. “Give me your spear.”
“What?”
“Just trust me, Sera. Remember, love. I’m not as weak as I look.”
I know she’s not. She’s said and then demonstrated that so much over the past week. The past several months, really. But the way she says that makes me think that she’s referring to something more specific.
My eyes perk up as I realize what she means. Though, I’m not sure if it’ll work.
“If Chloe were to wield you for a brief moment–”
“She is not bonded to me, so she will not be able to draw out my full power. Though, compared with your current state, it’ll be better than what you’re capable of right now.”
“If that’s your way of saying that I’ve seen better days, then I am already well aware.”
“I am aware that you are aware. It is merely my assessment of her capabilities wielding me at half power compared with the other alternatives. As for your overall strategy, I cannot guarantee success.”
“I know. But this wouldn’t be the first fight we’ve been so far on the back foot for. I have faith in the goddesses.”
“A lot of faith in beings you’ve never seen and which may never exist.”
“Well, it beats giving in to despair.”
“That it is, Seraphina. And I will continue to support you on whatever path you choose.”
“And that is why you are so weak, Henry.” Daryl kicks him. “You’re a slave to your emotions, to these pitiful morals that keep you from doing what needs to be done. And here I thought you understood how important our mission was when I learned the truth about your daughter. Or maybe this is your way of accepting your death like a man. Maybe you realize that your daughter’s life is more important to the world than your own now, and this is a way of atoning.”
“You really are gone, Daryl,” Hank says. “Such a shame, how far you’ve come now that you’ve tasted a bit of power.”
“That’s it, Henry! That’s exactly it. I have tasted power, and now I understand the truth of why we were given the Seraphina data. It was for us to shape the fate of humanity! But since you are obviously unfit for the task, I will gladly relieve you of your life and your juicy bounty of Experience. And then I, not you, not Renault, not anyone else but me, will rule this world!” Another laugh of unabated madness.
“And you call me a damned fool, Daryl.” Henry spits, an obvious provocation to keep Daryl’s focus on him and his own maddening rage while Chloe and I make our move. “You’re so blinded by your delusions that you can’t even see that your actions will lead to your own death.”
“Oh sure, whatever you need to say as your life withers underneath my boot.” Daryl steps on Hank, who starts to scream. “Anything to feel better before you die!”
I’m in position. Just a dozen feet away. Chloe has been playing the part of damsel in distress, but between her [Blessed Regeneration] and subtle infusions of magical healing, her most severe injuries are gone. I catch my breath and gather the tiny fragments of strength I’ve reclaimed over the past five minutes.
I toss Filia toward Chloe. Chloe swings and kicks Daryl right between the legs. The attack doesn’t do much damage, but it does knock him off Chloe’s father’s head and causes him to let go of Chloe. She picks up Filia and stabs Daryl once more in the wound from before. Then a twist, then one last thrust, burying my swordstaff deep into his abdomen.
Blood curdles out of Daryl’s mouth, alongside a nearly silent gasp. His eyes, growing weaker, lock on Chloe. He lunges at her chest. Hank grabs his wand as he stands up, but it’s too late. By the time he’s able to cast his spell, [Strangulating Tendrils], Daryl’s hand has pierced right through Chloe’s armor and chest, a silver-coated hand shining in the light of the artificial sky above.
“I…” Daryl struggles to breathe. “I won’t… be going… to hell… alone.”
I shake my head. What a fucking prick. Hell is too good for you.
“Sera…” Hank says. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for failing you both. I’m sorry that it took me so long to get here. I’m sorry I didn’t know that you two were on the move. I’m sorry that I’ve been a coward and a horrible father. I’m sorry for everything that I’ve done to both of you. But most of all, I’m sorry that my mistakes just cost me the life of my daughter and your girlfriend. I won’t ask you to forgive me, Sera. But I ask that you please hear me out before you pass whatever judgement you feel fit.”
I roll my eyes. “You can tell Chloe and me later, once she’s awake.”
“What are you saying, Sera?” Hank stands up and gives me an indignant stare. “You two may be dating, but she’s still my daughter, and I won’t have you besmirching her sacrifice–”
“Sacrifice? You’re the one who gave us the [Rekindling Feather], Hank. The one that she’s currently wearing, right now.”
Just as I finish speaking, Chloe’s body rises in the air, bathed in a light mixing crimson and gold. Her blood, splattered on the ground below her, rises as well, purified in the flames of a phoenix as it pushes forth back into her veins. As though time itself is rewinding, all of her injuries are undone, restoring her to the peak of physical health.
Her bright and cheery eyes gaze toward me, then toward her father. Healing light fills us both, and all three of us are brought together in a group hug.
“I’m sorry that I worried you, Dad,” Chloe says. “It was a plan that Sera and I both came up with together. But it was her who thought something like that was going to happen at the end. She made sure I had the feather equipped before we got into position.”
“Is that true?” Hank asks me.
“He was mad from the moment Chloe’s first attack wounded him. Well, probably much longer than that, but acutely psychotic from that point on. I expected him to lash out in those final moments. I’m sorry that I couldn’t tell you earlier, but tipping you off would have given away our plans.”
Hank sighs. “We all have a lot to talk about, but now’s hardly the time or the place.”
“I’ll say,” Clara says, returning from the dungeon depths. “Let’s all four of us get a move on. There’s quite a few things we’ve discovered, and I think you three are better equipped to figure out what’s going on than I will be just speculating.”
“We’ll talk about our stuff later, Hank,” I say. “Getting done with the dungeon comes first.”