Gods From the Machine (38 page)

Beep. Soul Eater launching. Beep.

The weapon was setting itself up, and humming loudly now as the Soul Eater formula was being prepared. Panicked, he raced around the G again searching desperately for the control box.

There it was! Within arms-length! He went to grab it, but was
repelled by only a mere touch, the violent jolt of holy magic ran up his arm and he pulled back from the stinging pain. Judging by the throbbing and smoke coming from his burnt hands, this wasn’t just Luxilight. No, it must be another layer of Holy Shield—a contingency only one as cautious Garreth could think of. Nick threw a series of fireballs at the box, but they ricocheted off the ethereal barrier, one almost striking him in the torso. His demon powers were useless now. The countdown began.

Ten…

Nine…

“
Slag it!” He rushed to the G and rammed his arms against the shield. Immediately he felt the intense burning sensation of the holy magic trying to push him back. Damn his corrupt soul!

Eight…

Seven…

His arms were losing all feeling, but he had to reach it before it was too late—no matter how much pain it caused him!

Six…

Five…

His whole body was inside now, and as he was moving in closer and closer, every inch of his flesh felt like it was being stabbed by millions of needles.

Four…

“ARGHHH!” He had to close his eyes and bite down on his lower lip to keep from passing out.

Three…

He felt the box in his hands.

Two…

He ripped it out and crushed it with all his might.

Beep. Launch sequence canceled. Beep.

Nick collapsed onto the floor and allowed himself a couple moments for it to sink in. Complete silence. He did it. The world was safe. The shield was gone, but at least everyone else still lived. There was only one loose end left to tie. Doctor Numerous.

Doctor Numerous
let out a braying cough, his hands on his throat, trying to regain his breath when Nick reentered to room.

“
Did I do it?” Doctor Numerous croaked.

“
It’s over, Numerous. You’re coming back with me to Glenhaven,” Nick grabbed Doctor Numerous by his cuffed arms. As te pushed his captive towards the elevator, the ground began to rumble. He ran to the windows just as they all shattered simultaneously. A cold draft rushed into the room.

Nick barely had
time to react to the flicker of silver that streaked through the air past him. It sliced through Doctor Numerous’ leg, cleaving it clean off just like what happened to Vermeek. Nick recognized the blade and spun around to see him standing there on fifty stories of ice, with a look of amusement upon his face.

“
Bergice.”

Doctor Numerous cl
utched the stub of his leg, blood gushing all over the carpet. He looked up at Bergice resentfully. “But…why?”

B
ergice walked by Nick, pulled his katana from floor and sheathed it. “I was listening to your story throughout this entire operation, and I was rather shocked to learn of your motives.”

“
I-I was only after Agrian!” Doctor Numerous cried now on his back, his hands applying pressure to his wound. “Just as you had commanded!”

“
I don’t remember giving that order,” Bergice said coolly.

“
But you did!” Doctor Numerous yelled. “You told me I could become a Crowned Prince if I followed your orders!”

“
We never really expected you to succeed,” Bergice said. “When you went with my order without question I knew I’d made the right decision. I told you to assassinate one of my brethren and you obliged so willingly. Lord Ozarael and I were right to doubt your loyalty. We knew you never had any real allegiance towards us. Since the very beginning you were just a puppet.”

Doctor Numerous
’s eye widened, like he had a sudden epiphany. “Y-you planned this from the very beginning!”

Bergice
clapped his hands. “Impressive Doctor, I was beginning to think you would never figure it out. From the invasion of Fyria to the production of Soul Eater, those were just parts of a master plan by Lord Ozarael to divide the Garrisons enough so we had a chance to restart our uprising.

“
We let you believe you could fool us by spurning your pathetic dreams. It allowed your own overconfidence and delusions of grandeur to be your undoing. To think, with just with one false promise planted in your greedy little head, we saw to it the Soul Eater was finished right on schedule so Agrian could stop it.”

“
I am your savior! I helped you all! Without me, this whole project would have been an utter failure!” Doctor Numerous screamed.

“
No, if you had succeeded, this project would have been a failure. The Soul Eater Project was never about destruction of the shield or unleashing a plague. It was the catalyst to bringing Agrian back to life,” Bergice said.

“
What?” Doctor Numerous yelled.

“
Now your usefulness has long outrun its course. You shall be terminated,” Bergice said.

“
Bergice. You snake! You traitor!” Doctor Numerous snarled.

“
You’re one to talk. I’d known for a long time of your hunger and lust for power. You humans are all the same, it’s become so boringly predictable,” Bergice said. “You should thank me for giving you a few extra years to live. Instead of outright killing you, I suggested to Lord Ozarael that you play the villainous role we needed in this operation in order to test Agrian’s resolve and nurture his growth. And I must say you performed just like we hoped. For that, I’ve decided you still deserve some type of reward.” Bergice touched his index finger to Doctor Numerous’ forehead. “Savor your last breath, doctor. This will be painful.”

From head to toe the alchemist was slowly being
frozen solid. Nick had to watch as his worn out legs forbade him to move. Once finished, Doctor Numerous looked statuesque enveloped in ice, with only the look of terror remaining on his face.

“
I’ve made it my own personal objective to uncover and exterminate the vermin that seem to linger within our ranks.” Bergice took a step by to admire his work. Then he laid his hand on the handle of his katana, got into an offensive stance and very quietly uttered a single word.

“
Duck.”

Nick hit the floor.

With one swift strike, Bergice drew his katana and with a spinning slash he tore off the top half of the building while simultaneously, blowing out every remaining window and shattering the frozen body into a million tiny pieces.

As Nick got back to his feet, they we
re now standing out in the open. They were free from the confines of the tower. The sun was rising, partially illuminating the city and he could see that the demons from the forests and caves were now running rampant around the streets of Hyperion. Everything the shield had once separated was now integrated. Evil and good were blended seamlessly together.

“
Breathtaking, isn’t it?” Bergice watched the Hellbeasts roam across the streets. “The wave of revolution is upon us. Now with the Holy Shield gone, we can finally reclaim what was stolen from us. Our birthright.”

“
So that was your plan all along. Doctor Numerous and the Soul Eater were just a test in order to make sure my growth was on schedule. I played right into your hands. You wanted me to destroy the Holy Shield,” Nick said.

“
Precisely. You can inform your superiors of what transpired here. Let them know this is Lord Ozarael’s declaration of war.”

“
Is that it?”

Berg
ice said nothing, merely looked on with cold eyes.

“
Answer me! Why did you help me? Agrian became exiled because I helped humanity the first time. Now he’s come back because destiny foretold I was to bring the end to you all, yet you to let me live! What possible reason could you have to spare me?”

“
It would be easy to kill you, since you’ve obviously exhausted your strength. However, I don’t find taking advantage of your weakness a challenge worth undertaking. I am a warrior, Agrian. I thirst for a worthy battle.”

“
Won’t Ozarael be disappointed when he realizes you failed to capture me?”

Bergice turned around, his face composed.
“I see no failure. Lord Ozarael wanted the Holy Shield destroyed and I completed that task. He wanted the legendary sword
Vigilance
belonging to Zelios, the Herald of Bravery. I have already delivered it to him. He has also instructed me to eliminate Numerous, which I have done. I have no other obligations that need immediate attendance.”

“
You’re not like the others, are you?” Nick said.

“
We both fight for different things. You fight to stop us and I fight to save our kind. I do not resent you, Agrian, though the same can’t be said for Lord Ozarael. You are the bane of his existence, and a traitor that must be killed.

“
We had an agreement Agrian, and I always keep my word, especially in matters that puts one’s honor at stake.” Bergice’s face showed no sign of emotions, but Nick had no doubt he was telling the truth. “Before I go, consider this to be the second and final time I grant you mercy, brother. The next time we meet it will be in very different circumstances. For that I expect you to be prepared. We all expect great things from you when the time comes.”

As Bergice turned to leave, Nick was attempted to chase after him, to find out the truth behind his eerie mess
age. However, as he tried to move, his knees buckled and shook.  Below him an icicle of gargantuan proportions shot through the floor and sent him sailing off the top of the building. He tumbled fifty levels, his body too weak to grasp for anything except the air in front of him. The last thing he felt was a cold chill run down his spine.

19
. A Change in Plans

Nick woke
in a bed in the Glenhaven Garrison infirmary, hooked to medical cords. He looked down and realized his clothes were gone and he was dressed in a thin, blue medical gown. Was this a dream? The last thing he remembered was plummeting off of the tower, which should have instantly killed him. But somehow he made it back in one piece. He turned to find Alyssa sleeping soundly in a chair next to him. She was dressed in fresh new clothing and had his black jacket draped over her like a blanket. He must have been here for some time. Nick sat up and was assaulted by pain in every cell, particularly his back.

He rememb
ered fighting Doctor Numerous. He remembered Bergice’s appearance. He remembered stopping the Soul Eater Project, but at the cost of their national security. With the destruction of the tower, the people no longer had a Holy Shield to protect them from the evils of the outside world. Now they would require the constant protection that could only be provided by the Garrisons. Even though he prevented genocide of epic proportions, Nick couldn’t help but believe that maybe this was just the beginning of things to come. How long could the Garrisons maintain peace when chaos loomed over them, waiting to strike?

At this time, Alyssa let out a lou
d yawn and stretched her arms in the air. She blinked a few times and turned to him, her bright green eyes made even brighter as she smiled.

“
Well look at you, you’re finally awake.”

“
How did I end up in here?” Nick said.

“
We found you in a puddle of water outside the entrance of the tower the morning the Holy Shield disappeared,” Alyssa said.

Pud
dle? He must have landed on a soft patch of snow around the tower. That would have explained the chills he got before passing out.

“
What about everyone else? How long have I been here?” Nick said.

“
Everyone’s fine. My grandpa’s back. He’s spent most of the time setting up the usual protocols after an invasion. It’s been three days since we figured out the whole set-up in Fyria turned out to be a major pain in our sides, but thankfully there were zero casualties. Garreth and the others have been up all through the night, making transmissions and trying to keep the peace in neighboring cities.”

“
How did you all manage to escape?”

“
Bergice freed us when you went to stop the Soul Eater. He said it was just a part of a bigger plan.”

“
I see. At least you’re all safe.” Nick felt at ease for the first time in weeks.

“
I know what you mean. It’s like the burden in my chest has been lifted.”

“
What about you?” Nick reached over and took her hand.

“
I’m fine, thanks to you. You saved us all.”

Just then Gabriel entered
, clad in full armor, and holding his helm in his hands. Nick released Alyssa’s hand.

“
I was just coming in to check up on you, kid.” Gabriel turned to Alyssa, “Pete wants to talk to you. He says it’s very important so I suggest you go now.”