“Hmmm, it is you. Unbelievable. Well, we have much to discuss…” the voice purred. Janus’ eyes struggled to focus on a second figure, behind the first.
“I know why you’re here, but we need to discuss specifics,” she continued. Janus gasped and coughed as the blurry figure slowly came into focus. The features were round, no, not just round – fat. With hands that looked like sausages. Overly ornate clothes, and jewelry abounding.
Middleton!
An Infernus hovered over him – he wore the markings of a Commandant Novus. Janus surreptitiously eyed his surroundings. He was in a small, metal cell. Thick, unadorned walls surrounded him and the floor was rough and uneven. The Commandant stood between him and a very solid door. Two more Inferni stood at the exit, watching impassively.
“Oh, there will be no escape for you, filthy merc.” Middleton said, catching his gaze and smiling at him. “I am wise to all of your tricks – I’ve been at this a long time.”
She sighed, looking regretful, “I’m very disappointed though. Capturing you was so much easier than when I killed your mother.”
Janus mind went blank with shock and he leapt up with blinding speed, lunging for Middleton, screaming angrily, “You killed Cl—”
The Commandant’s huge two-toed boot connected with his midsection with devastating force, and Janus skidded into the far wall, doubled over in pain. “Down dog,” he chuckled.
“The slum girl?” Middleton chuckled. “Don’t make me laugh – why would I waste a good servant like that?”
Janus’ mind was racing: Clara’s safe, so what is she babbling about?
Middleton’s eyes went wide, “You don’t know, do you?” She looked away thoughtfully, “But… why else would you have spent so much effort harassing us?”
Janus’s face remained impassive and she turned away from him – a strange expression on her face, as if considering some unforeseen possibility.
Janus tensed, but Middleton’s body began to shake, the fat jiggling her dress, and the most horrid noise emanated from deep with the folds.
Middleton was laughing – laughing at him. Her girth heaved as the laugh rumbled from her gut.
“Dumb luck…” she howled, “that’s all it was! Here I was, thinking that I had beaten one of my enemies – an enemy I had created, no less. But now, now I realize–,” she wiped away a tear, as she returned her gaze to her prisoner, unable to contain her mirth, “that you are just as foolhardy as your traitor mother.” A flash of contempt crossed Middleton’s face, “That beggar.” She regained her composure, smiling broadly, “Oh, I am going to savor this moment.”
Middleton snapped her fingers, “Bring me a chair, a comfortable one.” An Infernus at the door bowed and knocked on it. The door became translucent and an S.T. on the other side glanced inside and hastily opened it. Middleton paced the room slowly as she waited for the chair. The Commandant never stepped away from Janus as he lay against the wall. It was an agonizing wait – Middleton’s smiling eyes never left Janus.
A large, cushioned throne appeared, borne by two S.T.s. The S.T.s set the chair in the middle of the room and hastily exited. The second Infernus returned and the door closed and locked behind them, the translucent window reverting to its solid state.
Middleton sat down, carefully settling herself in the large seat. “Where to begin…?” She grinned, tapping her chin. It wobbled.
“The mutt came home, eh?” She sat forward in her chair, “You were the ST who grabbed Alastor, weren’t you?” Janus said nothing, and Martel took a menacing step forward. Middleton raised a hand, “There’s no need, Martel. I know the answer. You can see it in his eyes.” Middleton rested her chin on hand, “Did you know that? You can always tell how a dog is feeling by looking at its eyes. Your mother was the same.”
Middleton’s voice turned hard, “Lowly trash that bit the hand that fed her.”
Janus felt a fire in his mind, but an image flashed across his mind. Clara’s panic-filled eyes shouting, “You stupid fool!” Janus forced himself still, the bile rising in his throat.
Middleton sneered, “But you’re not here because of her, are you? Little mercs wanted revenge for their failed mission. Discovered something under Phoenix, didn’t you? One that led you to Lightemann’s? Jennings probably got all worked up the moment he found out about it,” she laughed. “So the question is, what did you think you would accomplish by coming here?” Middleton pondered. “Perhaps you thought I would leave some tidbit behind at Cerberus? Something you could use as evidence?” She studied Janus’ eyes. Janus struggled not to react in any way. Middleton stared up at the ceiling, “No, no. That’s only part of it. There’s something more…”
Middleton glanced at Janus, as if suddenly struck by a thought, “Your vaunted Legion did teach you about Phoenix Corporation, did it not?”
The Commandant stepped forward and Janus cautiously nodded his head.
“Good,” Middleton chuckled approvingly. “So you know Phoenix was once the most powerful Corporation in the world. Why don’t I tell you a story, then? Yes, I think that would be nice? A story for the babe.” The Inferni chuckled.
“Years ago, Phoenix sought dominance over all the other Corporations, including dear, dear Cerberus. They made a gamble, attacking a mercenary dog legion in an effort to seize their Avalon citadel.”
Janus eyes widened, but he remained silent. Praetor Jennings had told him of the attack, but not that Phoenix had actually attempted to seize SHADE’s flying citadel.
“But the Executors of Phoenix made a critical error, and betrayed their intention. The SHADE mercenaries fought back, dealing critical damage to Phoenix, and killing the foolish Executors,” Middleton’s face lit up with joy, and Janus shuddered involuntarily.
Janus looked up from his place on the floor, “But why tell me this?”
“Because I’m just getting to the good part,” Middleton replied sweetly.
“Your mother was a soldier during the war. She was a fool, a coward, and a traitor and she caused me a great deal of trouble during the Phoenix assault,” Middleton said reluctantly. Janus knew Middleton was fishing for something, but he couldn’t be sure what.
“It will come as no surprise that I hated her. She caused me far too many headaches. I wanted to destroy her at Phoenix. However, through a stroke of luck, she was able to escape, and made her way here with the help of another pathetic soul.” Middleton paused, turning her head to look at Janus from a different angle. “She, after all the crimes she had committed, tried to make a new home here.” Janus focused on Clara’s voice – struggling to drive out the rage he was feeling. He knew at least one thing Middleton was driving at.
“I however, would have none of that. I hunted her down, but by the time I found her, she had given birth to a baby boy. You. A boy she had the gall to call Janus – like a slap in the face. She ran, like all cowards do, struggling to stay ahead of my men. She dropped you into the slums with hardly a word.” Middleton stopped as if waiting for a reaction. Janus clenched his fists, but Clara’s voice in his head kept him still. Middleton smiled, and continued, “I took you for dead. Few things brought me greater joy that day than watching the life slip from your mother’s eyes.”
Janus’ heart pounded. On that final point, Middleton’s expression was too joyful for her to be telling anything other than the truth. But still, he could tell she was goading him. She wanted him to spill some detail – but he had no idea what it could be. What is she looking for?
“I can only assume you landed in a trash heap, and that slum girl found you. I’m surprised she was able to work up the pity to pull you out, but it seems like you are just as lucky as your mother. But I guess your luck has run out.”
She soaked up the moment in her chair.
Janus spat, “Why should I believe anything you say?”
Middleton gave a broad smile, “Oh, I assure you, I have spoken nothing but the truth. But that brings me back to the question of ‘Why?’ Why are you he
re? Your superiors wouldn’t have simply given you the objective of saving the slum girl. Perhaps you thought she could give you access to my estate?” Janus closed his eyes.
“No. That’s not all of it.” Middleton said. “Something else. What am I missing?” She shrugged. “Well, if you can’t tell me, I can always ask your friends.” Janus’ eyes snapped open.
She put her fat fingers together across her stomach. “Yes, I think that’s what I’ll do.”
Janus thought of Clara while he fought back his anger, and sat up. Middleton looked at him curiously. “Best of luck,” Janus said with a smile.
Middleton chuckled, “Never heard that one before. But when I’m through with you, I’ll make you beg. Just like your mother did that day.” She paused, and Janus knew that this was something she had not meant to say, but he couldn’t figure out why. She looked at Janus shrewdly, then gave a quick jerk of her head to Commandant Martel.
The Commandant leapt forward, but Janus was ready this time, rolling and leaping to his feet, his back to the wall. The Novus pressed his weight and strength advantage over Janus, clawing at Janus’ head. Janus dodged right, attempting to use the Commandant’s forward momentum against him, to find an opening around.
The armored Infernus, however, was too clever for that, and maintained his balance all the while driving Janus along the wall. Middleton remained seated, watching impassively.
I have to reach Middleton, Janus thought.
He continued to dodge and deflect the flurry of blows from the armored Commandant, the huge suit blocking every attempt to escape. As the Infernus pressed him into a corner, Janus felt his arms becoming leaden, barely escaping the attacks. Sensing the weakness, the cruel soldier pressed his attack even harder. Driving Janus into the corner, he became relentless, and finally, after a series of devastating strikes, Janus dropped his guard and the Commandant went for a punishing finish, his clawed hand open.
It was the moment Janus had been waiting for, and he dropped to the ground, allowing the Infernus’s blow to carry him forward into the wall. Janus quickly leapt to the side, and sprang forward, leaping for Middleton in her chair. Middleton remained impassive, and the two Inferni guarding the door suddenly appeared in front of Middleton. Janus quickly flipped himself in midair, twisting on his leg, and launched himself forward into the kick Wouris had taught him. The left Infernus was perfectly exposed, and his aim was dead on. Janus felt his twisting body accelerate his foot to crushing speed.
And then the Infernus’s hand appeared. Janus’ eyes went wide with surprise as the Infernus caught his leg inches before it connected with its visor, twisted him around and flung him into the wall.
Janus felt his head smash against the steel, and he slammed into the ground. A blood smear marked where his head and the wall had met. The Inferni closed in, and Janus withstood only a few of the devastating punches before he was embraced by the soothing blackness of unconsciousness.
Janus once again awoke in a cell, except this one was far darker, and he was now alone. The walls were of the same hard steel as before, but now, there appeared to be no exit from the room he was in, no door in any of the four walls.
He felt the back of his head; crusted blood matted his hair, and purple splotches covered most visible parts of his body. Janus stood slowly, his body aching. A wave of nausea passed over him and he collapsed to the ground.
When the nausea passed sometime later, Janus propped himself up and walked slowly around his cell. The only opening was a small vent near the roof.
Janus steadied himself for a time against the hard steel, and then made a flying leap, slapping the vent with his hand. As he landed he listened for the sound. The noise was quickly muffled inside the dark vent. Janus sighed, somewhere along the walls was a door even better concealed than the one in the room where he had met Middleton.
He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes, thinking about what his next move would be.
Chapter 28: The Forgotten
Janus awoke suddenly. He felt the back of his neck prickle. The left wall was translucent and an Infernus stood there, watching him. Janus held his gaze with the intimidating figure. Finally, after several moments of this, the Infernus shook its head and touched something on the wall. The translucent door retracted into the floor, leaving cell wide open. Janus looked around, no other Inferni guards stood anywhere. Janus got up slowly, the Infernus didn’t move.
I won’t go to Middleton again that easily…
The Infernus tapped the floor with its foot, “Transpicuoum. Huh, don’t see that much anymore.”
Janus kept himself relaxed, limping forward for added effect, Just a little bit closer…
“I wouldn’t try it, if I were you,” the Infernus looked up. “The last time didn’t go so well for you. Although, it was a beautiful kick. Very well executed. It’s just too bad you had to show it off in front of that fat hog.”
Janus stopped in amazement, fat hog?
“I do have to take pride in how well I taught you though. I barely blocked that kick in time, and I knew it was coming,” the Infernus continued.
Janus’ mouth opened in shock, “Wouris?”
“She may be a pig, but she doesn’t miss a beat. I barely convinced her that it was just luck, and that was because I beat on you as hard as the others. Sorry about that, by the way, but I couldn’t compromise myself by going easy on you,” Wouris replied, lifting her faceplate.
“Wouris, it is you! How did you get here?” Janus said.
“No time for that now. We need to get the others if we are going to make a clean getaway. They are further down this cell block. Middleton wanted to keep you all isolated, and she has been questioning every one of you. I think the only reason that any of you are still alive is because she wants to torture you, Janus. I don’t quite know what did you at Lightemann’s to get her so peeved, but it sounds like you really got her steaming. I overheard her talking about making you watch everyone else die before she finished you off. I knew I had to get all of you out before that happened, so here I am. That woman is a monster, and she absolutely hates you. I got the distinct impression from your interview that she didn’t provide the whole story.”
Janus smiled, “I got that too, although I had to take a few punches to drag the information out of her.”
Wouris grinned, “Nothing keeps a good Adept down.”
Celes was in the next cell block. She was crumpled on the floor in the middle of the cell. Wouris quickly opened the door, and Janus dashed inside.
“Celes!” Janus whispered, “Celes, are you alright?”
Her clothes were covered in blood. She stirred slowly. “Janus? Janus, is that you?” She turned her head to look at him and smiled, then grimaced, obviously in pain. “I thought I wouldn’t see you again.”
Janus smiled back, cradling her head. “Don’t worry, everything’s going to be fine.”
Wouris watched the exchange silently.
“Can you move?” Janus asked.
Celes shook her head. “I am feeling a little weak right now…” she smiled again, “Why is it that we can never make it back without getting beat up?”
Janus chuckled, “But we always make it back don’t we?”
“We do…” Celes said, lapsing back into unconsciousness.
“She’s in bad shape,” Janus said, looking at the bruises on face and neck.
Wouris nodded, “I wasn’t there, but I understand she was very uncooperative.”
Janus looked at Celes with concern, “Good for her.”
He picked her up, his face hard as he held her close, “Let’s get out of here.”
Wouris looked at him doubtfully, “Are you sure?”
“I’m fine. Besides, you’re in better condition for fighting, so if it comes down to it, I want you to be ready. I’ll keep up, don’t worry.”
Wouris nodded, “Let’s go.”
It didn’t take long to have everyone out – Middleton hadn’t posted any guards along t
he block.
“Will she be okay?” Lyn shot worrisome looks towards Celes as she stumbled out of the cell. Her face was puffed and purple and she held her wrist as her hand flopped limply around. The six of them were standing in the middle of the long metal cell block that had held Celes, Marcus, Ramirez, and Lyn. A few bulbs burned dimly the dark surroundings.
Wouris shook her head, “I don’t know. Only if we get out of here quickly.”
“Where to now, Wouris? And where are the other guards?" Marcus asked, watching Celes. Both he and Ramirez clutched their sides, and Marcus’ right arm was broken. Ramirez bore a very deep gash over his left eye, and crusted blood covered part of his face. His gait was uneven, and he gritted his teeth as he moved.
“Middleton didn't want to attract too much attention, so she kept the guards light," Wouris said through the heavy visor, adding a disturbing rasp to her voice. "She doesn't really expect you to be able to escape in your condition, but she also doesn't expect the guard she posted to be working with you, either. We don't have much time. They'll be coming again soon," she paused, pointing to the door out of the block. "We’re going to be making a full out run for the lift. Things are probably going to get a little nasty from here on out. You’re the only ones in this set of cell blocks, so only Middleton has her guards here. She doesn’t want the others to know that she has captured Adepts until she has had her way with you. They won’t expect one of their own to turn on them, so we might be able to surprise them and escape, if we're lucky.”
“This cell block is located in Sector 4, North of Sector 3. It's one of the least critical areas of Cerberus, which means that if we can get out of the main towers, we should have nearly a free run to the lifts. The closest lift is due North – it should take us about 15 minutes at a run to make it, so time is of the essence. Can you keep up that pace carrying Celes, Janus?”
“Just get moving, Wouris. I have no intention of dying in Cerberus.”
Wouris nodded and took off running, the others struggling to keep up with her.
The Phoenix Fallacy_Book II_Norm Page 18