Jula was likely the last truly familiar face I'd see before our largest scale operation to date would begin. The woman had not stopped tinkering for weeks in preparation, her assistants following her every order like worker bees. In the hive that was her sanctum, on the eve of the operation, she barely had time to look me in the eye as I settled in nearby to watch and, if I can, help.
"Shouldn't you be getting rest?" She did not look toward me, instead gesturing to something rather large on a nearby platform.
I lifted what appeared to be retrofitted Reach plasma cannon with ease, its metal cool to the touch while an active power core delivered heat. I narrowly avoided three other nearby workers in the cramped factory floor, swinging the barrel of the too-large thing around to pass it to her upon her perch. She was affixed to a stationary arm, a metal cord holding her stable, while she worked on her latest series of prototypes.
"I tried to sleep," I muttered. "I couldn't stop spiraling. Everything… everything could go wrong tomorrow, and I could be the reason- what even-?"
"Cass," she warned, this time looking away from the tools in her hand and nearly knocking the arm out of place. "You are one piece of an immense puzzle. You won't be the only Gifted out there, and you won't be the only kid out there either. Stop hoarding all the burden, or you'll worry yourself into your horns."
Point taken. "But Jula, they're trusting me to lead a squad."
She blanched, face frozen beneath her glasses.
"Oh. I thought you knew," I mumbled. "Aggregor's tasked me with guiding a group tomorrow. Orders are-"
She dropped suddenly from her perch, dangled by the cord until she unlatched it. With a snap her fingers, two of her assistants hurriedly finished their tasks so that they could finish hers. This place did not function without her, and watching her worker bees assemble what very well might be our ace in the whole tomorrow was almost fun to witness.
"What is Aggregor thinking?"
Jula hastily left the interior of the factory through the tunnels leading to other sections of the compound, and I followed in her footsteps.
"Where are you goin-"
"To give the bastard a piece of my mind," she angrily explained, nearly running right into a group of toddlers playing tag amid the shadowed corners of the complex.
I frowned. "Jula, I didn't tell you so you could-"
"I know you didn't, Cassian," she interrupted tersely. "You don't have any responsibility in what is about to happen."
"But I don't-"
"Cass, please-"
"Stop goddamn interrupting me!"
Her pace slowed to a stop in front of the ration line, re-opened from dinner for any civilians who were going to be staying behind tomorrow. Several onlookers watched us with interest, and I did not want this to be some kind of show.
"Fine. Talk."
I rolled my eyes. "Thanks for the permission to talk."
She had the decency to act mollified.
"Jula, don't bother him with this tonight, there's too much at stake."
"Like your life?" she interjected. "Kid, you're a kid! If I don't-"
"You and I both know I haven't been a kid for a long time." In more ways than she was even aware. "My piece of the plan is simple, Jula – take and hold Distinian Mine long enough to arm the workers within to our side, then wait for naval support to arrive. If any Triarchy forces come that way, we give them hell – analysts aren't predicting that it will be a heavy focus during the battle, as our main forces will be elsewhere."
Jula paced slightly and then whirled on me. "Good to hear you so confident then. I guess the scared little boy from four minutes ago is gone?"
"No, but I… I'm trying to think it all through."
Jula started to reply and then held her tongue. With a single spin, she continued her race down the steel corridors, this time fully bowling over an elderly Osmosian with a fish-like face. I muttered an apology to the woman and followed after my aunt, knowing that I couldn't stop her if I tried.
Where this woman went, people noticed. Everyone who had even the slightest inkling into how the fight had progressed thus far knew she held one of the most central roles. A pretty face, media savvy, and a frankly ingenious intellect. With each invention of hers – or of her underlings – she turned the tide both literally and metaphorically, and Carnifex would have likely already lost without her expertise in robotics alone.
When she approached the closed session of the council leadership, the guards did not put up a fight as she barreled through the door and I followed after, by virtue of her and not of my own importance. I knew that.
Carnifex had always held a council of advisors as their upper echelon, and it had only become more rigid in structure as the years passed. Within the large circular chamber, the room alit with screens displaying live maps of the northern hemisphere and other important pieces of data, there were a few dozen men and women gathered together to be party to the decision-making. Former artists, lawyers, Legionnaires, carpenters, teachers – the list went on. At the center of the throng of people lay the statuesque Osmosian man whom everyone seemed to admire and respect. He'd carried the group through several trials and tribulations to reach this pivotal moment, and none of us would have gotten this far without him.
I slipped through the crowd as deftly as I could, a crowd that nearly split for Jula's brisk walking pace. She planted herself in front of Aggregor with a look of challenge on her face, and I pushed my way through to the man's side. There were clearly important last minute discussions about logistics, tactics, or other matters we were interrupting.
"We need to talk," the woman snappily demanded.
Aggregor met her gaze and then found mine. "If you've a problem with my placement of your nephew's talents, know that it was not my decision alone."
My brow furrowed.
"You're entrusting a key part of the plan for Vincendis to a thirteen year old. A mine mere blocks away from the harbor we're delivering the naval support and the Aggrebots."
… Oh.
"I have full faith and trust in Cassian," Aggregor answered simply. "He has the most intimate knowledge of your drones, Jula, and he has a record of established successes with arming and recruiting more rebels."
"That district will be a war-zone."
"The whole area will be a war-zone," Aggregor corrected. "Rest assured that we are invested in total victory. An escape hatch is in place, and we will provide reinforcements as necessary. The council did not make this decision lightly, and as mentioned, the decision was not mine alone." The man scanned the room until his eyes settled on a familiar figure.
One of the representatives of the un-Gifted, the un-exceptional: my Grandfather, Maximus. When Jula realized, she rolled her eyes.
"It was my idea," Maximus called out from across the chamber. "A kid leading that offense will make it low-profile. Their intelligence will expect key maneuvers from others with more experience, in other areas. And let's face it – no one his age has more experience."
"You're all insane," Jula said. "All of you. Insane. When this fails, know that I told you so."
"Jula, I-"
"Don't want to hear it, Cassian," the woman replied tersely. "I have work to do. Actually get some rest this time, because you'll need it now more than ever."
As she left the chamber in a hurry, business for the council returned to usual, as though there had not been an interruption at all. I felt a hand rest on my shoulder. Maximus patted me once comfortingly.
"I believe in you, kid."
… Did I believe in myself enough to lead an offensive like this?
OSMOS V
May 13, 06:28 UTC
TEAM YEAR NEGATIVE TWO
An hour after the broadcast ended, the first boots hit the ground on the outskirts of the city streets and began moving slowly into position, building by building, block by block. Volleys of blaster-fire erupted into the city-state from multiple angles, while vehicles moved into position to accost the offenders and the defenders.
The streets were unfortunately not entirely empty – Carnifex gave the civilians an hour to escape the city or to shelter in place, but promised them thirty additional minutes. Maximus supposed it was the only way to ensure that we gave the innocents a chance to get to safety or even to fight back, while also ensuring that the Triarchy did not have as much time to mobilize a defensive. Unfortunately, what advantage that really gave them was not particularly strong, for Vincendis was a powerfully reinforced location.
Maximus had read the reports. The city had been under periodic siege from a group of aliens who could fly, could swim, and shoot biotic energy from their bodies. They moved as fast through the sea as they did through the sky, and it was an insidious play on the part of the Reach. They could squat as many forces as they wanted within perhaps the only city in all of the world that could hold a candle to the resources of the Capital. They'd been under heavy occupation for months now, likely from knowledge that Carnifex were gunning for it.
Liberating this place? Well, it would be a lightning rod offensive to gather others to their cause. Carnifex would have the faith of the people, and open rebellion would start everywhere.
Maximus believed it anyway.
The man himself was one member of a larger offensive. Several key locations were targets within the city, places that could become defensible positions for a longer siege. He was one of many men and women sent to capture the largest bank, use its vaults as a command post. Heavy ordinance, dozens of soldiers, and several Gifted and Exceptions were among their resources.
Maximus was not in charge – he was not a prize among the council – but he served his role well.
Clutching at the seat of the convoy vehicle, three inches of solid metal were the only things between him and the soldiers that were beginning to swarm the streets, firing into the vehicles that ran, full speed ahead, to break apart blockades and pierce into the city's interior. If they moved quickly, if they held strong, they would be in a good position by nightfall, and so Maximus heard and felt the vehicle speed into a higher gear.
They slid – almost tumbled – through a narrow side passage, leaving a blockade on a major road just behind them. Plasma struck the siding from all angles but one, and Maximus gripped his weapon tighter by his side. Nervous energy filled the cabin, and each superheated shot that hit might be the one that hits a pivotal component and takes the vehicle down.
"All right, gonna peel off. Rendezvous on the main thoroughfare in ten."
Maximus blinked at the woman in uniform. He'd never met her, and from the look of her horns, she was older too. It was not the first time someone tried something like that, but it wouldn't be the last.
With a hand on the ceiling above them, the Gifted rebel became the same material as the vehicle. A heavy kick later, and the back panel slid open. She leaped into the space behind them, rolled through the dirt, and tanked two plasma shots in the torso. In but a split second, she became the primary target of any soldiers nearby, and she darted toward the blockade and began ripping it apart.
The vehicle turned a sharp corner, and Maximus lost sight of her.
Not a moment later, the man took a breath and joined the others on foot. He fired his rifle into the line of defenders, while others took shots toward those at sniper positions. Amid the chaos, someone sent the order, and a chrome Jula-Drone launched itself from the top of the vehicle, beeped audibly once, and then went active camo. It integrated into the squad's communication channel, and Maximus heard the orders from on high that would define the next several hours of his chaotic life.
OSMOS V
May 13, 06:46 UTC
TEAM YEAR NEGATIVE TWO
The Distinian Mines had been turned into a prisoner labor camp – specifically, one for high-profile prisoners, like soldiers or other turncoats who refused to play along with the Triarchy's games. Put them all inside and get them mining. Ore, precious metals – resources that were historically in abundance for Vincendis and a large part of why they were able to compete. Add in the Gifted and how our powers interact with materials like gemstones? It was a wonder they weren't even richer than they were.
The mine formed in a large region of the island's northern face and was close to the city-state's largest harbor. Logistically, this must have been a boon for them, but right now? It only terrified me, and the others in the small squad were in a similar state.
One Gifted – a man nearly three times my age who had never fought in anything before now, today, and only a couple of months of training.
Three Exceptions. A college-aged woman with a minor telekinetic tether. A nearly geriatric man with a peg-leg and the ability to spout potent acid snot. An athletic man with an attitude problem who could turn into a bestial form, complete with claws and razor sharp teeth.
Five unpowered Osmosians who each had a plethora of experience from different walks of life, but all had been trained on stealthier tactics. One pair of them – the twins – were among the best lockpicks in the business, and nifty with all sorts of knives and other weaponry; they were among the only members of the group I could count on to be helpful, here.
Approaching the mine had been surprisingly easy. We'd arrived in the area more than three hours ago, long before the fighting was due to start. Under the cover of the early morning light, we'd bypassed security measures on its perimeter, killed a few guards, and successfully managed to secure one of the four observation towers overlooking the mine's complex. It had not been so easy to take this particular tower, but we'd managed by the skin of our teeth to hold it for now.
I looked toward the bestial man, whose features were still rugged and human-looking. "Sardon, when you hear the signal, rendezvous with the reserve trio. Get these workers armed, get them dangerous, and escort them to the escape hatch."
Sardon gruffly nodded. "Got it."
The reserve trio were two teenagers – older than me but unpowered – who'd been chosen to stay behind on the outskirts of the mine, to lie in wait for extraction. They were there as manpower when it came time to arm these former soldiers and turn them against the Reach, against the Triarchy. This trick had been effective before, though perhaps not on this scale, and I could only hope that I'd manage to get inside and liberate the prisoners before they were discovered.
The last of the trio was the only member of the mission younger than me: Marcilia, a girl I refused to put into direct harm's way. She'd developed an Exception, one that helped her to heal others, and if not for its strategic use, I'd have complained more and forced her to stay home.
Our collective signal to get started interrupted the last vestiges of leadership I could offer to the assembled before we were set to begin.
The fighting in the city had begun.
From the angle of the tower, we could see bombs, explosions, flickers of light and plasma. Vehicles were on the move, people were fleeing, people were fighting. It was madness.
Madness that lit up the mine's administration like a stick disturbing an anthill.
The twins had been trying to hack the observation deck's terminal, to access the camera feed and display it for us, but they hadn't had the time to finish. We weren't the perfect oiled machine for this job, but we didn't have the most important job. Jula had been right to worry, but at the end of the day, we were one piece of a larger whole.
"Let's get cracking."
OSMOS V
May 13, 08:18 UTC
TEAM YEAR NEGATIVE TWO
Aggregor launched himself from a large building and landed atop an upturned vehicle, the engine burning with an intense flame. As it licked his skin, he allowed it to become part of himself, putting out the fire and invigorating his overall ability. He sent the energy into his muscles, into his flesh, into his bones and felt himself become immensely stronger, even if for a time.
The staff in his hand spun with energy and exploded with power, cascading pure concussive force in blasts of red light. Each impact emitted a shockwave that forced assailants to go flying, bludgeoned to death on contact with wherever they landed. He fired three more times, creating three more explosions, before he roared with challenge, "Is that the best you can do? Challenge me!"
The Triarchy renewed their efforts and delivered a wave of soldiers into the inferno that had once been a park. A Gifted soldier rushed at Aggregor, abandoning the ineffective blaster as he became like concrete, and aiming to tackle the leader of Carnifex to the ground. The Osmosian rebel leader saw the motion coming and prepared to evade and then punish the soldier for trying, but the loyalist was not alone. Peppered shots from weapons nearby provided covering fire, and Aggregor missed his chance.
A concrete-covered man slammed into his body and threw him to the ground.
For a moment, there was a struggle, but Aggregor had the strength advantage due to the foreign power pulsing through his veins. With a solidly-placed kick, the stone torso snapped backward so hard it cracked slightly in the back, revealing a line of skin under the stone.
Aggregor raised his spear, performed a twisted swipe of its superheated edge, and bifurcated the man for leaving himself so open.
The rebel roared once more and launched himself as high as he could with a bounding leap. On the downward arc, he spun his spear in every direction that he could, blasting more of the loyalist scum to pieces. As he landed, some of his allies entered the fray alongside him and began to overtake the territory, engaging with the enemy, and leaving him room to make adjustments.
He swept his weapon over the park, feeling the swirling heat of its flames entering the spear's edge and empowering it to even higher levels. Its pointed edge was so hot that he could feel the heat beneath his fingers, several inches away from the blade.
Loyalists continued to pour from every angle in droves, vehicles unleashing each small group into key points of defense. From the reports in his ear, the city had yet to field any Reach soldiers or even any Reach tech, but it was only a matter of time until they drew them out.
Aggregor could not wait.
He aimed his spear true and unleashed a line of super-heated energy that cut through three oncoming vehicles. Metal, glass, plastic, and flesh scattered in wind and fire.
OSMOS V
May 13, 08:49 UTC
TEAM YEAR NEGATIVE TWO
I pressed a finger against a security panel and felt its delicious energy become mine. I don't have time to enjoy the taste, the expression, though, as my comms continue to ramble in my ear.
"Aggrebots in boot sequence," Jula's voice called over the encrypted channels to everyone with the need to know. A few others barked orders to her, but I tuned it out.
A single pulse of borrowed electricity from my finger later, and the door in front of myself and my partner in this operation opened. Beyond it, like we expected from pilfered blueprints, was the mine's on-site medical bay. We were not taking any prisoners, so when two guards sensed our presence, shot up from their perches, and readied a call for backup, they were instead splattered into a melted mess. Nirocinio lifted his finger from one nostril when the coast looked to be clear and gave a small nod.
"Your powers are gross."
"At least I'm not a snot-nosed brat."
… "Touche."
"What?"
"Never mind," I redirected. "Grab as much medicine as you can carry and be ready to hand it off to the twins when you see 'em."
Distantly, a bestial scream followed by the whistle of blaster shots echoed throughout the mine.
"You got three minutes, maybe. I'm moving ahead."
Nirocinio gave a nod and swiftly began pulling for supplies, while I slipped through the adjoining rooms and exited back into one of the central hallways. A flurry of activity greeted me, though the assembled mining staff and soldiers headed away from me and toward the sound of the disturbance: a beastly Exception. Only one managed to notice me, but he met a face full of fist and collapsed onto the ground, pooling in blood, his communicator blaring with a voice and asking for an update.
I crushed it for good measure.
I used the furry distraction to my advantage, and as practiced, so should the others. I made it through the next segment of the complex undisturbed, until I linked with them. The only other Gifted, Florian, alongside his telekinetic partner, Zenia, were engaged in a fight with guards near the entrance to the miners' quarters when I finally arrived there. Bits of rock and loose metal swirled around the girl like a planet while she ran directly at her opponents, caught in her debris field. Meanwhile, Florian boxed two soldiers, his upper body only partially metal. The enemy were getting the upper hand, but they weren't prepared to be third-partied.
I bounded on them, transformed fully into the iron paneling on the wall, and took them down with surprising ease. One managed a lucky shot on my side with a plasma pistol, but it did not manage to do much besides burn hot for a few lingering seconds.
"Alarm thoroughly signaled," Zenia declared, gesturing in the direction where Sardon should be. "We need to work this out."
"Others moved ahead," Florian added, winded as his metal form faded. "First batch of prisoners should be coming through here in a few."
"Guide them," I muttered, metallic reverberation to my voice. "Anyone else come through? Take 'em down."
With their acknowledgement, I dashed down the corridor, holding onto my metallic transformation. Voices ahead preceded the sound of blasters – a significant number of rounds fired in quick succession. Electricity crackled in the air strongly enough I could taste it on my tongue, and I barreled through an open passageway.
Three automated turrets – as high as thirty feet – blasted toward the scene with fiery plasma. Already, three bodies lay burned at a makeshift entrance, and with solemn terror, I realized that one of them was a member of my crew. The entrance was a blast door that had been opened so narrowly that only one person could shimmy through it at a time, the doors themselves on either side of the gap scorched with plasma blasts. More of the miners were threatening to force their way through the doors, only to wind up as targets for the turrets.
"Stop!" I tried to shout over the whirring of the turrets. Reaching into my belt, I produced a small pistol of my own and took aim. The first shot impacted against the turret's underside, but hit nothing critical. All three began to whirl toward me, but I wasn't about to let them hit me.
I gripped the wall hard enough to pull a panel away, holding it in front of myself as I leaped upward. The shots impacted against the makeshift shield, hot enough my still armored hands threatened to drop it, but the defense turned into offense as the paneling bashed against the turret and reduced it to a dented mistake in a single slam.
Before I could fully land, a shot from one behind me managed to peg my upper shoulder, searing pain erupting as it started to melt through the armored plating. I ducked to the side, crouched, and readied another leap through all of the insanity, my breath ragged as pain rattled through me. The next turret was closer and a more direct jump, but when I landed, I managed to grab hold of the barrels and swing with all my might. The turret twisted until it was roughly aiming at the other turret, reducing it and the wall around it to melted slag. With a rending pull, I yanked the whole machine down, electricity sparking for several seconds as I tossed its debris.
I raced toward the blast doors and began pulling with all of my might. I could see men and women on the other side pulling as well, to make the exit wider. It budged a few inches – if only because one side of the door bent out of place – and a string of gaunt, overworked, and grimy prisoners began to stream from the opening. Some were covered in blood, some were wounded, and some were carrying the too injured to move.
"Head straight that direction! My team have readied an exit strategy, and they will start guiding you to safety. At the end of the line, should you wish to contribute, Carnifex has arms for you to join us in the fight to liberate the city. Vincendis will be ours with your help!"
I repeated the mantra to a string of individuals, lamenting the loss of one of my own. Maintaining the chain of fleeing prisoners was their job, and I could not break away long enough to…
A pair of familiar faces pulled me from my reverie.
My heart skipped a beat, and with my focus gone, the metal coating bled away, revealing softer flesh beneath. The thought almost distracted me from the elation in my chest, and hope escaped into the air.
"Gabriel? Father?"
I nearly tripped over myself to give the latter the heaviest hug that I could, not knowing his arm was broken and that his hip was sprained. The man could barely stand, let alone accept a hug, but he hugged back nonetheless as tightly as he could. Gabriel was in better shape, but only just, and the shock on his face was evident.
"Son, but how did you…?"
"None of that matters right now, we need to get you both out of here," I answered quickly, a sea of faces continuing to pass by like waves. "I can't believe that you're here, that you're alive!"
"What's going on outside?" Gabriel demanded, eyes scanning ahead like he could see it.
"We're arming any of the miners who will join us," I explained, eyes studying Father. "Carnifex has launched a siege on the city. We're taking back our planet, starting today!"
"Carnifex?" Father mumbled. "Cassian, you…?"
Gabriel's face paled and the moment hung in the air. "I hope not."
What…? I don't-
"I know you're not one of us," I blurted, confused, "but you can't mean that! After everything, you can't expect us to just-"
The man placed a hand on my shoulder. "If you don't handle the Reach the right way," Gabriel warned, "they glass the planet and start over somewhere else. There won't be a world to take back."