Letting go of the button, Felix dropped the headset on the desk. Spinning in the chair, he turned to face Kit. “And there we have it,” he said.
Kit was watching him intently. Her eyes were narrowed as she stared.
Lifting his eyebrows, he waited a beat. “Yes?”
“Nothing,” she said, visibly relaxing. “Should I tell the troops to lay off as they retreat?”
“No. I don’t want to give Skipper a chance to change her mind. We’ll remain vigilant, aggressive, and ready. Though you can go ahead and tell everyone what’s going on,” Felix said.
“Done,” Kit said, still watching him, though not as intensely. “I think when we have some time later, I’d like to sit down and discuss what all happened.”
“We can do that. Definitely,” Felix said, smiling. His head felt light and he wanted to lay down.
Sitting in a room with Kit and watching her as she dissected him didn’t seem like a bad idea down the road. Maybe she’d even wear something fun. He just had to remember to make sure she couldn’t read his thoughts. His minded tended to wander at the best of times.
Wait. Can she read them right now?
Did we turn it on? Or off?
Closing his eyes, Felix pressed his hands to his face and tried to collect himself. He felt like his control was unraveling.
Leaning forward in his chair, he took in a deep breath, and could only smell blood.
His blood.
His leg was soaked in it.
Sitting up straight, Felix forced the image of Julia exploding out of his mind. Of Adriana blowing her own head off.
He’d seen worse. He’d done worse. So why did those images haunt him right now?
No, no, no. Got to get—
“Felix,” Kit said, pressing her warm hand to his cheek. “Calm down. Just… relax. The chopper is landing right now, and we’ll be getting out of here in a moment.”
“Alright,” Felix said. “It’s landing?”
“Yes. Right now.”
Listening intently, Felix heard it then.
He was amazed he’d missed it up to this point. It was so loud.
Had he lost some time there?
“Come on. Everyone is getting out now. A squad of Adrianas is staying behind to organize the retreat, everyone else is getting on the chopper with us,” Kit said.
Trying to stand up, Felix felt his leg go out from under him. Collapsing to the floor, Felix couldn’t understand what’d just happened.
Oh yeah, that leg doesn’t work now.
More than one pair of hands lifted him up, and he was situated between two people. Letting his head hang, Felix let himself go with the movements. Someone lifted him up into the interior of the helicopter, and belted him in. A number of other people joined him in the helicopter till someone eventually slammed the door shut.
Lifting his head a bit, Felix was staring out the window of the helicopter as it started to take off. Everyone was packing it in rapidly. Pulling out and putting tires to the road. Once Skipper’s troops had backed out, the religious fanatics had found themselves under extreme attack by the concerted efforts of Legion.
Or so it seemed to Felix.
That’s what it looked like to him right now as he watched them run away as magic, ammo, and other things rained down on them.
Abera and Desh stood side by side in the middle of the air as the enemy forces went tumbling back. Legion’s forces taking the chance to dash away from the line and to their mechanized transports.
When it was clear that there would be nothing coming back their way, Abera and Desh vanished.
Lifting into the air, the helicopter swung to one side, and Felix’s view of the field of battle was gone. Soon enough they were lifting up above the buildings and heading towards the south.
All along the route beneath them there were bombed out buildings, husks of cars, and wrecked pavement. The city wouldn’t be useful for anything other than collecting debris.
Whoever won this battle would gain nothing.
In fact, he’d be surprised if someone didn’t decide to start shelling it again.
Or bomb it.
Pressing his forehead to the cool glass, Felix closed his eyes.
That was all a problem for another day.
Right now, he just wanted to sleep.
- Epilogue -
Dear Felix,
I’m sure by now someone has told you that I’ve left.
Don’t blame Andrea or Adriana, this was my choice. Looking back, I can honestly tell myself it was mostly due to the fact that I wasn’t Prime anymore. That I wasn’t the lead personality, even though I was the original.
I was Andrea Elex
I was Myriad.
It was hard to carry that in my own head, honestly. Hard to think that I was the original, but was no longer.
That I died.
With how much power, intelligence, and honestly everything you gave us, we became extremely stable. To the point that Adriana was able to split off into a person.
I decided to take that opportunity for myself, and split off as well.
Now I wander this interesting planet with a squad of Myriads. So long as I’m careful, and utilizing that lovely regeneration power you gave us, I don’t think there will ever be an issue.
And yes, I know I can always come home whenever I want and you’ll take me back with open arms. I appreciate it.
As for Legion world…it’s fairly straightforward. Things are brutal and violent.
Simple.
I definitely appreciate the fact that you’ve launched satellites into orbit almost everywhere, by the way.
I can’t help but wonder if you did this specifically for me, since there isn’t anyone else on this entire planet but me who could use the Legion network via satellite.
The fact that my access is open, clear, and the same as it always was speaks for itself to a degree as well.
In closing, I’m well. Everything is fine, and I’ll report back everything I find.
Be safe, darling.
Myriad
Felix looked up from the email and stared out the window.
They’d moved everything to Wal two months ago. During that time, they’d expanded rapidly into Legion world and built it out as if it were a normal city.
A normal HQ location, that was now the hub for everywhere else.
Every other HQ.
Satellites, roads, everything that they’d need to conduct Legion business.
Everything had settled down and Legion was back up and running to its previous stride.
It’d only taken that long for them to branch out in every direction according to their previous successes: junkyards, used car lots, pawnshops, security for businesses, and the PMC contract.
He still regretted having to demolish the HQs in both cities, but he wasn’t about to leave them standing for someone else. Though the underground portions for both buildings existed today, and were still thriving.
Legion would abide by the agreement it struck with Skipper, but it wouldn’t give up its underground kingdom.
It’d only taken that single night to seal it all off as if it had never been there.
That same night his power returned to normal. As if there’d never been a problem in the first place.
Getting to his feet, Felix walked over to the window and stared out of it.
A vast and open plain was there.
He preferred to work in the main HQ on Legion world. There was no chance of being attacked by anything that could actually do him harm.
Which meant he was allowed to have a window.
With an actual view.
“Felix,” Andrea said, getting his attention.
“Mm?” he asked, looking over his shoulder.
Andrea Prime was dressing in a similar fashion to Lily now, her hairstyle changing as well. She was sitting at the desk she’d brought into his office that was specifically for her, and her work as the ANet coordinator.
&
nbsp; On the other side of the office, Adriana Prime had a similar desk. Though she still wore her combat gear everywhere.
“Have you decided what you wanted to do?” she asked.
“What, about Skipper and the rest?”
“Unn.”
“Nothing. We’re going to do nothing for another four years and ten months. I’ll abide by the contract. Until then, we’re going to build up and leverage everything. I have no desire for power, but I’ll not be forced out again,” Felix said, shaking his head.
“Nn. Oh, what about the portals? We have that project coming up to explore a few more worlds,” Andrea said.
Felix had been mulling that one over for a while. He needed resources, and the other worlds offered up an opportunity for it.
There was a sudden knock on the door that broke Felix’s thoughts. Turning, he frowned. No one knocked on his door because the Adrianas outside of it never let anyone in they didn’t announce first.
Opening, the door swung inward and a man stepped in.
He was about five foot nine, Felix would guess. With average looks and build. Dressed in business attire, he looked like any office worker.
His eyes were unique though.
They were bright blue. Eyes that popped out with their vibrancy, and a shock of dark black hair that contrasted with them.
“Hey Felix,” the man said, stepping into the office.
Andrea shot to her feet, her hands going down to the inside of her jacket.
Adriana was quicker and had brought her SMG up to her shoulder in a second from her position.
“Ah, that’s enough of that,” said the man, pointing a finger at Adriana and then Andrea.
Both Beastkin Primes froze stock still. Their eyes still moved, they breathed, but they were statues otherwise.
“They’re unharmed of course. But we can’t have them shooting at me right now. It’d just cause more problems than it’s worth,” said the man.
Felix blinked and then clasped his hands behind his back, trying to cover up his anxiety and nerves.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Felix asked, walking over to his desk and then taking a seat behind it.
“Ah, well, I’d like to talk to you about your portal experiments,” the man said, taking a seat in one of the open chairs in front of Felix’s desk.
“My portal experiments,” Felix repeated. “Ok, and what about them exactly?”
“I’d like you to stop. Entirely. You’re welcome to use them on your world and this one, but no more traveling to other worlds,” said the man, nodding his head.
“Ah…” Felix said, unsure how to proceed.
“Right, then. I’ll put it another way. You owe me two favors,” the man said, leaning forward in his chair and holding up two fingers. “I’m calling one in.”
Felix felt his blood run cold and his heart stumble in his chest.
It’s him. This is him.
“I understand. I’ll cease all portal experiments immediately for anything off-world related,” Felix said, nodding his head.
“Great, that’s grand. See, I knew you wouldn’t be a problem. I think with that I’ll get going. Lots to do today,” the man said, standing up again.
Felix stood up quickly, holding out a hand to the man.
He had to try and work out a deal. A communication line.
Anything.
This entity was infinitely powerful.
“Ah, could I perhaps—”
“No. And realistically, it’s better that way. The more you interact with me, the worse it’ll be for you. There comes a point of no return where it’ll no longer make any sense. Sooner rather than later as well. Especially for people like you,” the man said, shaking his head.
“Can I at least ask you about the future and—”
“I have no idea how it’ll all turn out. I’m omnipresent, not omniscient.”
“Then you are a god after all,” Felix said.
“No. I’m not,” the man said. He paused, scratching at his jaw with one hand. “Eh… I’ll be listening if you need something from me. But I still have one favor left, and there isn’t much I need from you other than what I already have the favor planned for. Just don’t expect me to respond. And if you try to play any games with me…”
The man stopped and walked over to Andrea and put a finger to her head. “I’ll pull her soul out—” He paused to point at Adriana. “—and hers. Do you understand?”
“I… yes,” Felix said, well and properly frightened.
“You’re smart, Felix. Sometimes too smart. If I didn’t tell you exactly what I don’t want you to do, you’d think a way around it.”
“Ah… can I at least ask you a question? Please?”
The man seemed to think on that, looking at Andrea.
“Right, then. I’ll answer. If I can,” he said finally.
“Are my aunt and uncle alive?” Felix asked.
Sighing, the man looked away from Andrea and focused on Felix. “Your aunt is long since passed. Your uncle is alive, but there’s no way for you to ever see him again. Consider him lost to you, but yes, he lives,” the man said.
Felix nodded at that, his eyes lowering till he was looking at the carpet.
“She died quickly. Painlessly. She’s in a better place. Your uncle did everything he could to help her. They both left with regret about not being able to see you again,” the man offered up. “I’ll… I’ll let them know you’re thinking of them.”
“Mm. At least I know, now,” Felix said. “Thank you.”
“Knowledge can be cruel. Ah, and before I go,” the man said. Taking a moment, he snapped his fingers. “They’ll not hear me for this next bit, and when I leave I’ll wake them both up.”
That got Felix’s attention. Prying his eyes off the ground, he looked back to the man.
“You should probably remove the barren thing from both of them. Or have an honest conversation with them about not having kids yet. They’re starting to worry they’re never going to have children. I’m not sure how it’ll turn out but I would guess it’d break them. I mean, I get it. I’d do it myself, but keep it up at your own peril,” said the man, indicating both Beastkin women. “That’s your freebie for not being a douche-canoe. My personal opinion is… knock ‘em up. They want it, it’d make them happy, and honestly you could use some joy in your life yourself.”
The man walked over to the door and opened it up.
“I’m outta here. I need to take a wicked shit in my crap-castle. See ya later, Felix,” the man said and closed the door behind himself.
Andrea and Adriana immediately came to life again, both holding their weapons and scanning the room.
“He’s gone,” Felix said. “Don’t bother raising the alarm or trying to find him. I get the impression he was a god. Or something like it. He used the door for his own convenience.”
Andrea and Adriana didn’t seem to care for that one bit.
“Darling, I don’t understand…” Andrea said.
“Mm? Which part. He’s the one I made a deal with. I owed him two favors for it. He called one in,” Felix said.
“I… suppose. Unn,” Andrea said, her ears twitching.
“I don’t like it,” Adriana muttered. Her own ears had gone flat to her head.
“And yet there it is,” Felix said. Sitting back down at his desk, he folded his hands, one into the other. “We’re canceling all portal experiments that aren’t related to our world, or Legion world.”
Felix looked off to one side. There were things to do, a war with Skipper to plan, and many things to consider.
Like how to tell Andrea he didn’t want kids yet and had given her a barren status.
That or remove it and let her get pregnant to her heart’s content.
He did suggest simply doing just that, didn’t he?
Maybe that’s a conversation better had with Lily first since she’s sharing our bed too, now. See what she thinks about the twins getting pregnant.
That was the least of his problems. He still had a conversation he’d been planning to have with Eva later today. Hopefully… they could get through the problems and start to heal.
Together.
There was also the need to check in on Julia and Steve to make sure they were adapting well to life in Legion.
“Well. What’s next?” Felix asked, grinning.
Thank you, dear reader!
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If you enjoyed this book, try out the books of some of my close friends. I can heartily recommend them.
Blaise Corvin- A close and dear friend of mine. He’s been there for me since I was nothing but a rookie with a single book to my name. He told me from the start that it was clear I had talent and had to keep writing. His background in European martial arts creates an accurate and detail driven action segments as well as his world building.
https://www.amazon.com/Blaise-Corvin/e/B01LYK8VG5
John Van Stry- John was an author I read, and re-read, and re-read again, before I was an author. In a world of books written for everything except harems, I found that not only did I truly enjoy his writing, but his concepts as well.
In discovering he was an indie author, I realized that there was nothing separating me from being just like him. I attribute him as an influence in my own work.
He now has two pen names, and both are great.
https://www.amazon.com/John-Van-Stry/e/B004U7JY8I
Super Sales on Super Heroes: Book 2 Page 39