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Chapter 1
The Sultan's Barcodes
The grand hall of the Imperial Palace was something of
wonder to the citizens of the Arabian Coalition. With its gold
Covered walls, enormous Chandeliers, and jewel encrusted
furniture it was a considered one of the eight modern wonders of
the world. Then there was the palace itself. A giant fortress
built to withstand the attack of a army of any size who might
attack the proud nations of the High Sultan. This monumental
building was responsible for the respect, and prestige the
Arabian's had recently earned, and with all the defenses it was
just as deadly on the outside as it was extravagantly beautiful
on the inside.
Even for all it's luxuries , and grandeur the palace was
built for one thing. That one thing was the one thing the world
seemed to revolve around, war. Built with an array of large
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artillery guns attacked to its thick plated walls. The Palace
was truly a fortress that was designed specifically to withstand
a modern army. It's cannons could strike at targets up to two
hundred miles away, and it's spires reached the clouds. It was a
fearsome sight to any Non-Arabian. With only four other
structures in the world that rivaled its ability, and power the
Imperial Palace was once considered impregnable.
Once. Thought Alex Sigma as he walked through the Grand
hall which was now littered with the hundreds of bodies
belonging to the palace guard who had just recently died trying
to stop him, and his fellow brother. Funny how all these
defensive measures that were designed to stop whole armies could
not stop two simple soldiers.
To the soldier's credit though Alex was more than just a
soldier. He was a soul forged assassin sent by his masters to
kill his mark. Letting his twin swords go slack in his hands, he
looked around gazing at his most recent victims. These men who
were so eager to die had little chance against the psychic
assassin's of The Company, but they had impressed Alex. They
were well trained, and well equipped even being able to graze
his arm during the fight. He could feel blood slowly trickling
from his arm.
Around him the once grand halls were now bullet hole
ridden, and the furniture now just match wood. Quietly he
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started walking down the hall casually stepping over the dozens
of bodies. Ahead of him he could see his brother in arms, and
leader Octavian Alpha who was operating the main security
terminal, reading the recent reports trying to find signs of
their target.
"Any Luck?" Asked Alex in perfect French as directed by his
masters, casually wiping his twin swords on the jacket of a
nearby fallen solider of the blood that it had become drenched
in.
After a few seconds of him reading the screen of the terminal
intently he looked up at Alex smiling.
"I've disabled their communications systems. Their last report
was logged 10 minutes ago. It says that the target was moved to
his quarters on the 100th floor right above us in the very
center of the palace." said Alpha grinning with anticipation.
Casually he tapped the screen of the terminal using a
decoder to hack farther into the palace's network. "They also
have set up some kind of defense around the only elevator
entrance on that floor. Though if it's anything like what they
had here then this will be a lot easier then I had hoped." he
said chuckling slightly.
"Our mission is to kill one man, shouldn't we be more
discreet in our movements? " questioned Alex he already had a
idea about the plan Alpha was forming in his head. Killing was
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Alpha's calling, he always had a taste for blood, and he already
had made a mess of the mission. Assassin's were suppose to be
discreet, but this was anything but. Unless you call the
hundreds of dead littered around the giant hall discreet. Who
was Alex though to judge the methods of the leader of his order.
Octavian Alpha was the first Assassin to be forged, and he was
the best among them in the art of Fire, the art of the kill.
Alex was chosen by The Company to support him, and learn from
him not judge Though Alpha's French was still terrible Alex was
willing to judge him on that.
Alex smiled wickedly at this he stared at the terminal for
a minute then turned to scan the ruined grand hall. Sighing he
looked towards Alex, smiled again, and said "Sometimes you have
to use force when performing your mission. It makes things so
much simpler."
"It's slowing us down though." Alex said questioning "Isn't
killing the entire guard garrison a waste of time?"
Alpha looked at Alex almost amused by the question, and
closed the terminal. "Think about it like this Sigma, We kill
our mark then we try to leave, but find ourselves pinned by the
enormous amount of guards there are garrisoned in this palace.
So if we kill a large amount of them before we kill the mark it
will be that much easier to get out. You have to keep the
greater plan in mind Sigma."
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With that he turned around walking to the end of the hall
to the mag rail elevator. By the elevator was the body of a poor
guardsmen who was pinned to the wall by Alpha's enormous twin
bladed scythe. He grabbed the handle, and yanked the scythe out
of the corpse, watching it slump to the ground with a breath of
satisfaction.
"Let us go Sigma We've already wasted too much time, and we have
more guards to kill" Alpha's continuous smile grew even wider as
he walked to the end of the hall to summon the elevator.
Alex could not stand the methods of Octavian Alpha, it
disgusted him. If The Company had just picked him, and Davian
his long time comrade the mark would have been already dead, and
they would be at the extraction point. There was no "greater
plan" that was just a ruse to hide his true motive. Alpha wanted
to kill just to kill, he reveled in it, and as a Assassin of the
most powerful company which was responsible for the production,
and making of everything from being the provider of eighty
percent of the worlds food supply to being the only Company to
sell the soldiers of the future, the genetically enhanced
legionnaires Alpha was never discreet.
However that same will to kill had made Alpha the ultimate
weapon to The Company, and causing them to found the Order of
the Forge, a small group of psychically enhanced assassin's kept
hidden from the world whose skills, and strengths were enough to
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crush whole armies with no more than just a small handful of
men. Alex was the 18th of 22 assassins who were initiated, and
forged becoming a warrior gifted with the amazing reflexes, and
psychic senses most importantly he had the gift of perception,
and foresight which was the forged assassin's trademark. It was
what made them better than anyone.
This was Alex's 8th year since his initiation. It seemed so
much longer than that. How many people had he'd killed in those
8 years? He couldn't remember anymore. He was tired of it, but
made no attempt to chance, because it was all he knew, and he
knew that after this mission there was going to be a lot more
killing to follow. They were here to kill a mark, and frame a
fellow ally, which will start another war. War made profit for
The Company, and so war was what Alex was going to give it to
them.
Alex started making his way to the end of the giant hall by
where Alpha was. Alex had been in many of the grand fortresses'
of the world, but this one was truly a cut above the rest. Every
room they had been in was filled with elaborate decorations,
priceless art, and the aroma of perfume. It was the chandeliers
that really impressed Alex the most. There were three giant
chandeliers in the grand hall, and the crystals around the main
piece seemed like they were floating in the air, catching the
light in a certain way causing a full spectrum of colors. It was
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almost like a rainbow was shielding each individual crystal as
they floated along the main piece. It was a shame that these
chandeliers were the only thing left intact. He couldn't help,
but wonder about how much of these statues, and paintings could
ever truly be replaced, people just didn't make good art
anymore. Not in a world of war.
More guards were finally coming now. Alex could sense them,
their minds making little footnotes in Alex's own mind. They
needed to get moving, or they were going to miss the mark. Of
course there was always the factor of the mag rail elevator.
There was only one way to get up through the palace, and that
was through the mag rail system which was installed throughout
the palace. No stairs were put into place as it was thought as a
unnecessary liability creating weakness in the palace's
structure. This was after all a fortress first, and a palace
second, and with the elevators being ran by magnets there was no
worry about cable snapping's or liability during sieges. Plus
palace security could control the elevator's movements. No doubt
they were letting the elevator down to try, and trap them, but
that was foreseen, and it was exactly what they wanted.
Alex stopped right beside Alpha as they waited
patiently for the elevator to come down. It was still a ways up
so Alex did a final check of his gear, noting the slight tear in
his suit from the graze. Slightly annoyed by it he tore his
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attention to the floor marker above the doors. Alpha started to
twitch slightly as the tension started to build in him. They
needed to keep moving though they had some time since they had
cut their communications.
They watched the elevator go down slowly floor by floor all
the while the guards were getting closer, and closer. The mag
elevators were usually incredibly fast, and the fact that they
were going slow down meant that security despite the
communications block out was able to see them coming . Alex
could sense them now not far off from the grand hall. It was
frustrating that their whole mission is stalled by a simple
elevator, but to the builders credit that was unavoidable.
It had passed the tenth floor it was almost there now, and
Alex was starting to get tense also. It was not fear he knew,
but the anxious anxiety, the excitement of the hunt. It was like
the rev up on the starting line during the countdown of a huge
race. Once the doors opened nothing would be able to stop them.
It now hit the fifth floor.
Alpha checked the clock that was integrated into the
computer on the wrist of his suit. "We have three hours before
we are to rendezvous with extraction, and it will take us at
least thirty to reach it from the quarters so that gives us two
and a half hours to kill the mark, and get out of the palace."
He looked up from his watch at Alex flashing his smile.
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"Shouldn't be too difficult." he said "If we don't run into more
resistance then just their initial setup. We will need to make
it a clean, and simple takedown. We'll be hitting them from
above the only way into the floor will be through the narrow
vent entrance. It'll be right above the door. We'll jump in, and
down through the vent."
It hit the third floor
Alex nodded they must have studied the schematics of this
place a thousand times.
"Very well then you know what to do" Alpha was now checking his
own gear, Folding his scythe down to where it easily fit in his
hand, and became like a double curved bladed knife. "You take
the guards in the elevator"
Alex could sense the elevator coming down through the walls
now. It was getting closer. He also sensed four guards coming
down with it. The guards were dead when they stepped into the
elevator. Alpha looked up also, and grinned while nodding at
Alex. He wanted Alex to take them which surprised him. After all
the talk he would've thought Alpha would want to be the one to
make the kill. No matter it would be done.
Calmly he unsheathed his twin blades from their sheaths
crossed on Alex's back. They were long, about the size of his
entire arm, and spun them around so that the knives attached to
the shafts were forward, and the long blades were back. He then
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knelt down right at the door, with his long blades pointing up,
while leaning on the knives attached to the shaft, ready to
pounce as soon as the door opened.
Alex could see them in his mind, their red, and gold
uniforms, their chrome rifles at the ready. He could sense the
sweat running down their faces, they were scared.
Alex already knew exactly what to do when the door opened.
He had already ran the whole thing in his mind, and knew their
movements before even they did. The elevator door opened, and
Alex didn't miss a beat exploding out of his knelt position into
a series of lightning fast movements towards the first two guys
slicing across their stomachs with the shaft knives then rolled
down past them to the back two spinning the hilt of his swords
on them, using the long blades to cut into their side. This made
them lean forward in shock exposing their necks perfectly, and
with another spin they were effortlessly decapitated. He then
pointed the swords back, and fell back on the first two
finishing them off. When he stood up Alpha was already in the
elevator looking at Alex's work with approval.
"Their reinforcements are about to enter this hall Sigma it's
now or never" Alpha said looking toward the main entrance where
they could see the guards from the nearby Palace garrison's
finally rushing into the hall. Even Alex couldn't, but smile at
their hesitation to enter from seeing all the carnage they had
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caused. After a couple of seconds though they regained their
composure, and saw them in the elevator. The first couple
started shouting, raising their rifles. Seeing what was coming
Alpha hit the close door button while Alex took cover. The doors
slammed shut just as they heard the clanging of the rounds
ricocheting off the metal doors as the guards unloaded their
machine guns into the door in a vain attempt to get through it.
The clanging was getting in more, and more rapid echoing off the
walls threatening to bust Alex's ear drums.
Though no surprise to Alex the elevator's floor controls
had been locked out, but that was okay. They were in the
elevator, but more importantly they were in the mag rail shaft,
and as long as they had that they were right on schedule. Alpha
didn't even seem to take notice of the constant gun fire,
casually attaching his since folded scythe to its sheath on his
belt, he reached to the chandelier hanging from the elevator,
and yanked it down making it fall with a crash that would've
been loud had it not been for the ear splitting racket coming
from the door. Alpha then pointed up at the ceiling, and Alex
was right there stabbing his swords into the ceiling, cutting a
large circled through the metal. Though the metal was tough
Alex's blades were master crafted from the iron of a meteorite
he had found during one of his first missions.
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The Company had been ecstatic to work with the metal
designing a alloy from it that was much lighter, but did not
lose any of the strength. If there was one thing the company did
well it was the making of weapons, and Alex's swords were no
different cutting through the elevator like it was never there.
A perfect circle fell to the floor, crushing the bloody messes
that had use to be guards.
Just as abrupt as it had started the gunfire stopped, which
from Alex's experience in being in "trapped" situations was a
bad thing. It usually meant that they were stopping to come up
with a better way of entry. Usually explosives were the
solution, but by the time they got them primed they'd be long
gone. Alpha jumped up into the hole Alex had made, pulling
himself through. It was Alex's turn, sheathing his swords he
leapt out of the now ruined elevator, and into the mag elevator
rail shaft.
The shaft had no support beams, rafters, or cables. It was
a giant tube with two metal large strips called mag rails to
conduct the magnets for the life, and lights to mark every floor
with vent- entrances. The mag elevator used magnets, and
electricity to move at amazingly fast speeds from floor to
floor. Which was necessary since the floors since the floors
were weren't 10 feet apart, but were every fifty feet from each
other since the architect was worried about the structural
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integrity of the palace since a building with the standard 10
foot floors would easily fall to the might of modern artillery
fire which was common in sieges.
They worked fast on the elevator knowing they had minutes
before security figured out what they were up to, and have the
electricityto the mag rails shutoff. Alex had repelled with
magnets before, but nothing like this, and he was a little
unsure despite himself. Alpha sensing his uncertainty gave him a
encouraging nod, and pulled out two metal blocks that had been
attached to his belt, and then attached them to the side of his
shoes. He then got another two blocks out, and fitted them into
slots on the palm of his hands. Alex quickly followed suit.
The plan as they had discussed in training weeks earlier
was to use the mag rails to get from floor to floor, but with
security controlling the elevator's the shafts were basically
death traps., and they were never ones to fall into traps. With
the metal blocks they would use electricity generated from their
suits to magnetize the metal becoming their own lift. It was
suicidal for any normal person to attempt it, but they weren't
normal. In fact they were the farthest from it.
Alpha watched him as Alex set up his own gear. For all the
missions Alex had done this was the Alex's first time
manipulating a mag rail, and Alpha's second for even the
assassin's of the forge avoided mag railing for its dangers.
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After Alex got himself, prepped Alpha looked up into the
shaft which seemed to be a endless darkness, even with the
occasional lights which marked the floors.
"Remember we are going to the 100th floor you'll only have
fraction of a second to jump through into the vent up there. the
momentum will most likely smash you through the vent, and drop
you down right on top of them" Alpha said going over the plan
one last time before they got into the thick of it, and
instincts took over. "From there we are to head straight to the
mark, and take it out, just as planned.
Alex nodded at Alpha signaling that he was ready to go, and
then stepped toward to the mag rail magnetizing his metal
buffers on his hands, and feet so that they were the opposite
charge making him become attached to the rail making a loud
thunk. He couldn't move at all.
Alex sighed, the next time he would see Alpha they'll be at
least 5000 feet higher on the hundredth floor surrounded by the
Royal Guard of the High Sultan. Maybe five years ago he would've
been excited to be a part of this but now he was just tired of
the killing. It should be left to men like Alpha. Cold-
calculating killers who would strike at the helpless from the
dark. Alex preferred fighting opponents that fought back.
However, he wouldn't shrink from his duty. This was probably the
most important target of his career. The ruler of the entire
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Arabian Coalition. The High Sultan himself. Though all knowledge
of his appearance is hidden for his safety he has been
responsible for ending the great civil war that had divided the
Arab's conquering India in the name of the middle east bringing
the east powers under one banner. Though great were the deeds
that united a people who until then had always been divided.
Their mission was to kill the Coalition's beloved Sultan, and
frame the assassination on the European Federation who were
known to deploy their own assassin's which was why this mission
they were required to speak French to each other, and wear the
euro version of their stealth combat suits. The more convincing
the better
Alex didn't like the thought of war, but that was something
he kept to himself. The Company was his family, and he like all
other assassin's would gladly die for it, but not tonight.
Tonight the High Sultan will die for Alex's family.
He could feel the electrical pulse from the mag rail flow
through in, and out of his body as it pulsed upwards. It
thrummed like a slow heart beat along the beam constantly moving
the electricity up the shaft. The energy was overwhelming.
Alpha was standing by him Taking one last look in the elevator
then said "Remember when you land move quickly out of the way
cause I'll be right behind you."
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"I understand" breathed Alex. He had heard stories about mag
railing, and none of them were making him feel good. The sooner
he was on his feet the better. The whole ordeal made him want a
smoke. Of course if the Companies physicians would throw a fit
if they found out he was smoking again.
"Now, or never" muttered Alex to himself, and with that he
switched the charge of the electricity of his suit with his
mind, making it the same charge as the rail. The blocks suddenly
pushed away from the mag rail, and with perfect timing Alex
angled his hands, and feet downward just like he had practiced a
thousand times making him shoot upwards at a incredible speed.
Straining to maintain control he looked up to keep track of the
floors he was passing, However the task proved to be near
impossible as the wind blasted his face like he was in a wind
tunnel.
It was exhilarating, but he also knew how fast he could
lose control. He was literally floating in the air as he
rocketed up floor by floor 100's of feet at a time. One wrong
move would send him flying in some odd direction, and ultimatly
falling to his death. His hands, and feet kept wanting to jerk
one way, or another. Alex forced himself to become rigid
struggling to lock his arms, and legs using a great deal of
strength he kept them in a exact position. Alex was starting to
gain more, and more speed with every electrical pulse that ran
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up the mag rail. Until finally he hit a pulse, and rode it going
as fast as the electricity was going, and he lost all perception
of everything. He even lost count of the lights that was marking
the floors for him. He had lost his only reference.
He didn't need it though he was a psychic assassin of the
forge. Concentrating he reached out with his mind searching for
the vent duct that would lead him to his goal. The strain of
holding his position was starting to overwhelm him as his hands,
and feet jerked harder, and harder as he gained more speed. He
ignored it though staying focused in his mind. There, the vent
was not far off, and it was going to come up behind him. With no
reference he knew he had to trust his abilities for everything
had to be perfect. IF he was a fraction of a second off in his
get off there wouldn't be much left for the palace guard to find.
He knew he had seconds until he would pass it. He needed to
find its exact position, and get ready for the dismount.
Frantically searching for the right vent Alex suddenly flashed
with his foresight. He saw a vision of himself releasing into a
vent, and flying through into the darkness of the shaft. At that
very instant Alex trusted his abilities had saved him. Blindly
he jerked his limbs to face away from him, directly facing the
wall of the shaft, which repulsed him straight back with bone
crushing force. Curling himself into a ball, and detaching the
metal buffers in the air. Alex crashed into the vent duct, and
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flew into it the tight tunnel which barley fitted him as it was,
and with a loud groan the bottom of the vent came out making him
fall into the foyer of the hundredth floor.
He saw visions of the guards, dozens of them all pointing
their guns at the elevator doors while hiding behind barricades
expecting to what was about to fall right on top of them.
Crashing through the vent he was in freefall. Drawing his blades
in the air, he regained control of his body doing a somersault,
and landing on his knees with his swords at the ready, but
instead of a guard filled room which had been brightly lit in
his head he found himself in complete darkness. He looked around
stepping out of the way conscious of Alpha dropping in at any
moment.
Something wasn't right. He could sense something in this
room, but couldn't place what it was. Alex kept his swords at
the ready growing more, and more tense with each passing second,
with each second feeling like eternity. He walked slowly in
circles around the area in which he dropped from totally blind.
He sensed nothing alive, but he had a gut feeling he wasn't
alone.
Wait.
There was something behind him, something big. He spun
around to see a pair of red eyes staring at him, glowing in the
dark. He immediately went into a fighting stance waiting for
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something to happen. Another pair of eyes were behind him. Then
another to his right. Then another, and another until the whole
room filled with red eyes starting Alex down. He didn't need his
psychic senses to tell him he was surrounded.
Suddenly a bright light burst in the room nearly blinding
Alex. The room was then revealed, and Alex saw the owners of the
pair of eyes.
The Owners were praetorians. The Companies finest super
soldiers. Half machine, Half human these modified soldier's
specialized in the killing of psychics. Which explained why his
perception's had been wrong. They were tall about two head spans
taller than he was. Each with a powerful frame, staring coldly
at him. All of them were standing at attention with their arms
crossed swords in each of their hands.
Alex swore under his breath. The company didn't tell them
that the Arabian Coalition had Praetorians. It was the kind of
information you don't leave out. In unison they all unfolded
their arms silently holding their swords at attention.
Alex smiled this was going to be interesting.
All at once they came at Alex, swarming around him, and
attacking like a pack of wolves. Alex lunged at the first one
straight ahead of him striking with both swords into the heart
of the praetorian which it blocked with such force that it
almost knocked Alex's swords away from him throwing him off
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balance. The praetorian retaliated with a kick to the gut
sending Alex flying straight up towards the ceiling. Recovering
mid flight he bounced off the ceiling to the nearest wall, and
then kicked off that wall towards the nearest praetorian, which
was still turning to face him, and in a crash it fell to the
ground giving Alex the chance to stab down, and make the first
kill. They were amazingly strong, and their speed matched their
strength. Alex knew that surrounded he'd die, but with all them
coming from one direction he might stand a chance long enough
for Alpha to arrive.
Another one lunged at him, and in a spin, Alex sliced
across it's chest, and then jumped on the Praetorian, stabbing
into its chest through the opening in the armor created by the
slash, making it crash backwards. Alex landing on the fallen
Praetorian's chest immediately rolled back with both swords in
his hand, back to his knees crossing his swords over his head to
stop a strike that was crashing straight down on him like a
hammer. Jerking the swords to his side he swung his knees around
tripping the Praetorian while bring his arms back, and stabbing
into it while it was still falling down.
He looked to the next ones just in time to catch three more
lunging at him. Forcing Alex to kick back against the wall
holding off a dozen of praetorians. It was exhausting, and he
knew he couldn't last forever, and with them handicapping his
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abilities he didn't want to risk going straight on the attack,
but soon decided doing nothing would get him killed as more, and
more Praetorians tried to get to him.
Alex pushed forward off the wall using his twin blades with
the ferocity of a lion, and in a blur of sparks he dropped two
more Praetorians creating a gap which Alex quickly capitalized
on, stepping forward fighting all around him using the swords to
control the overwhelming number of the enemy. He Constantly spun
back and forth to block, parry, and counterattack the relentless
amount of attacks coming in. It was all Alex could do to not get
overwhelmed, and with his psychic sense blocked off the only
thing that kept him alive was his lightning fast reflexes, and
years of experience.
The praetorians were amazingly fast circling around Alex,
and striking with power to break steel. Alex parried another
attack coming from behind him deflecting it towards his side
using the Praetorian's own momentum against it, and Alex pulled
his sword back across it as it was coming forward slicing it in
half.
That was the sixth kill, and there seemed to be no stopping
them. Even in the fury of the melee he could see others still
standing at the edge of the room with their arms still folded
waiting their turn. At this rate he knew he wouldn't last much
longer. He was getting desperate.
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Stealing a glance at the hole in the ceiling that he fell
through he hoped beyond hope that Alpha would fall through. He
soon regretted looking though as it left him open, and
distracted one of the Praetorians was so eager to point out. It
cut in slicing at his face which Alex caught at the last
seconding pulling his head back while trying to duck leaving him
with a deep cut into his check all the way to his ear. The cut
started burning as brightly as the lights in the room. Making it
feel like his whole face was going to melt off. His eyes started
to water blurring his vision.
Then came another cut from his side which Alex deflected
followed by a stab from behind which he pushed to the side with
his swords. Alex wasn't going after individual's anymore they
were way to many of them, and the attacks were coming to fast
from too many angles. All he could do was parry, and deflect the
barrage of attacks that were coming in all around him, and his
ears were starting to ring from the sharp sounds of the constant
clashing of metal against metal.
Alex knew his time was running out. What precious seconds
he had left all depended on when Alpha would fall in. Each
strike that came at him felt like it had the force of a wrecking
ball, and with every hit it took more, and more out of him.
Frustration was slowly building up within him. Without his
perception he felt blind. With it he would've had the entire
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fight played out in his head. He would've known the exact moves
of both parties before they had even formed them in their own
minds. Without it he felt like how a sailor would have felt at
sea if he had lost the stars. He had no guide, death was
becoming a distinct possibility.
Frustration was also building from the absence of Alpha who
should have arrived a long time ago. It seemed impossible to
think that the leader of the entire order couldn't make the mag
rail, after all he was the one who trained Alex to do it.
Thought he didn't dare to try to steal another glace up at the
hole in the ceiling, Alex knew that Alpha was his only hope of
coming out of this fight alive, and on with the mission.
There was a loud crash, and Alex felt the intensity slow
down, the attacks becoming fewer in number though still
frequent, it allowed him to strike back. He caught a strike from
above, spinning into the owner slicing it in half, and came back
down to stop a stab into his gut which he deflected, and
countered slicing off the praetorians head while spinning
forward making the Praetorian fall to the ground revealing the
source of the crash.
Alpha had fallen through another part of the roof making a
second hold. His scythe was fully extended again, and he used it
with polished force spinning in full 360 sweeps becoming a
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whirlwind of fury, cutting down the five Praetorians surrounding
him with ease.
Alex was washed over with relief. It looked like he would
be able to surviving after all, and the mission still within
their grasps. With his new found strength he quickly finished
off the two Praetorians near him. By the time Alex killed the
remaining Praetorians around him. Alpha had destroyed the
remaining Praetorians with a indomitable fury
Alex was genuinely impressed. Even without his perception
Alpha was seemingly unstoppable. He manipulated his scythe to
the point of perfection. His every movement was gracefully
calculated, his every strike powerful, and precise, and
everything was done with speed like no other. Spinning into the
very last Praetorian cutting off its legs, and then made another
spin cutting across its head. both separated at the same time.
All the Praetorian's had been defeated, and Alex could
slowly feel his perception returning although he knew it would
be awhile before his psychic abilities fully recovered from the
attack of so many Praetorian. I had been a close one. His face
still stung from the deep cut that was bleeding profusely. Now
Alex really wanted a smoke.
Alex turned to Alpha who was looking at the bodies.
"What kept you?" inquired Alex trying to sound calm, but had a
edge to it which Alpha noticed, but didn't address.
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"Palace Security had shut down the mag rails when I was coming
up, and I was forced to climb" Said Alpha folding his scythe
back up, looking around the room bemused "It seems like I was
missing quite the party though who knew the Arabian Coalition
had Praetorian's stocked up" he paused looking straight at Alex
with a comical look on his face, and then unable to control
himself burst out laughing "Oh my what happened to your face?!"
laughing in between each word.
"I was busy" dismissed Alex who was even more annoyed now.
"I can tell" now laughing harder "You look terrible"
"Are you done?" shot Alex "Maybe I wouldn't have gotten this if
you hadn't taken your sweet time getting here."
"Calm down kid I told you they had shut off the electricity, and
I had to climb the rest of the way. You did alright
though...despite the face" sniggering a little more.
Ignoring Alpha's comments Alex started walking to the single
passage which lead to the only door in the room
"The mark should be in his quarters which is right behind this
door if the information is correct. What's the ETA on the guard
coming up here?"
Alpha shrugged "With the elevator shut down it will be another
30 minute before they will get it operating again so we have all
the time in the world. We could even toy with the mark a bit if
we wanted to." pausing to let the suggestion float around for a
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bit before starting again. "But that wouldn't be too nice now
would it."
"No I don't think we should." Alex said pulling out a French
pistol from his back pocket. It was a variant used exclusively
by their assassin's. With this the framing would be complete,
and the mission a success. Alex look at the pistol then sighed "
Let's get this over with" then pulled the gun back to load it,
and made his way to the door.
As he walked to the door he tried to use his senses to see
what was behind it, but they hadn't fully recovered from the
praetorian fight yet. The headache that followed the attempt
reminded him of that. Alex gave e the door a quick check to make
sure there were no surprises. It seemed like a normal door, well
as normal as you could get in this place. Like everything they
had run into it was lavishly decorated with gold statues coming
from it. On the frame was the mural of some famous battle
pasted. It was a marvelous piece of art just by itself.
To bad they were going to blow it up. He pulled out a set
of explosives from his belt that were made to blow down door. He
then placed his two charges, and stepped back looking at Alpha
for the go ahead who nodded back giving the all clear. Alex
squeezed the trigger of the remote causing a small explosion to
erupt form the door, covering it in thick black smoke.
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Alpha took the incentive rushing through the smoke his own
pistol drawn, and ready. Alex was right on his heels, but
quickly lost sight on Alpha in the smoke even if he was only a
couple feet ahead of him. He heard gun shots. Rushing through
the smoke, and gun at the ready he got clear of it to reveal the
High Sultan's quarters. Alpha had capped a single guard which
had been right by the door when it exploded. He laid on the
ground dead with the splinters of the door imbedded into his
entire side, but he also had a rather large hole in his head.
Alex looked around the quarters. Even though they were in
the very center of the palace which was hundreds of yards inside
the massive fortress they could see the outside around them.
They saw every detail of the massive city surrounding the
fortress, but even the massive sky scrapers seemed small from up
in the quarters. Suddenly the enormity of the palace was
starting to sink in. The room was dark, but had a blue glow to
it making the room almost have a translucent feel to it. Even
the furniture only seemed partially there.
The initial sight of the room had, distracted Alex so much that
he almost didn't notice the five sudden flashes that seemed to
come out from the walls themselves. He hit the floor hard as the
wall behind him turned into matchwood distorting the outside
vision. He popped back up squeezing a couple rounds into the
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flashes hoping to score a hit, but just heard the blunt thumps
of the rounds hitting the wall.
Alpha jumped behind a nearby couch flipping it over then
attempted to take a quick peek over it to see their adversaries,
but quickly ducked back down when machine gun fire swarmed
around his head.
Alex rolled to a side getting behind a desk that was right
by the door, and as he did spotted the muzzle flashes, and
praying slightly shat at the flash hearing a satisfying slump.
He ducked back down as the response fire came in. Alpha on the
other side took advantage of this popping up, and unloading his
clip into the flashes making 3 kills.
Alex took a glance out looking for the last one, and got
tackled by a massive weight which sprawled him out. He could
feel I on top of him crushing his chest. The pain from his ribs
was intense. He tried to get back up, but felt something shove
him back down. Something was on him. He felt hands grabbing for
his throat trying to choke him out, but he shot his hands across
feeling investigable arms, and wrestled with them as he fought
for his life.
Suddenly a man appeared on top of Alex. He was wearing the
assassin's suit, but had a mask on. His whole body went limp ,
and the figure slowly rolled off Alex, and fell to the ground
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with a hole in the side of his head. Alex turned to Alpha seeing
his gun smoking.
"Nice shot" gasped Alex trying to regain his breath.
Alpha did a brief check around the room to make sure no one
else was out there. He then rushed over to help him up looking
at the body that had seemed to just appear out of thin air.
"Look" said Alpha pointing at the figures back. "That one of
them prototype cloaking shields. What a nasty little surprise
they had setup"
"They were waiting for us, but how could these guys know we were
coming?"
"They couldn't of" replied Alpha grimly. He looked just as
dumbfounded as Alex was. Praetorians were one thing. They were
designed sentries, programmed to kill whoever came that wasn't
authorized. They were just reacting, but these guys were waiting
for them,, and with communications down there was no way they
could have. Alex had a feeling that there were factors in this
game that they weren't aware of.
"And these suits besides the backpacks they are the suits
assigned to our order." analyzed Alex kneeling down by the one
that had tackled him. It was the same type of suit in every way
except for the missing computer which was hardwired into all the
assassin suits.
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"Let's see what's behind the mask" said Alpha, and Alex obeying
yanked the mask off like a sock hat revealing a bald younger
looking white man. Alex's blood froze. It couldn't have been
possible. He rolled the body over, studied his face immediately
noticing scar lines that formed a M over his face, starting from
one cheek bone going down his nose then to the other cheek bone.
Familiar with the scar lines he then shot his gaze directly into
the bodies eyes revealing two barcodes which was hidden in his
pupil's.
Alex's worst fears had been confirmed, and he knelt there
transfixed . These men were programmed. He'd only seen it in The
Companies genetic soldier's, but he'd seen it so many times he
could spot it instantly. The man's will was not his own. These
men were more than just brain washed, kidnapped, and forced into
surgery to alter their consciousness to their abductees own
will. The barcodes were for marking, and were impossible to see
unless you knew where to look. Ultimately they were puppets, and
The Company was the only organization that Alex knew of who had
the capability to do it. This mission had gotten a lot more
complicated.
"Alpha, take a look at this" Alex murmured not wanting to
believe what he was seeing.
Alpha stepped by Alex, to look at the body. Studying the
person "Well isn't that interesting" was all he could manage. He
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was transfixed on it not quite knowing what to say, and that
bugged Alex even more. Alpha always knew what to say. They both
stared into the bodies eyes hoping the bar codes would disappear.
"Something's not right here" said Alex finally getting up. "This
mission sucks"
"Agreed" whispered Alpha still staring at the body. Then as if
someone had flipped the switch on him his old self suddenly
popped back in. "we need to find the Sultan. Just, because he
has programmed guards doesn't change the mission."
"Your right" acknowledged Alex he had almost forgotten about the
mark " All information said he'd be in his quarters which we are
I, but where is he?" he said glancing around. He tried to focus
his psychic sense into finding him, but soon wished he hadn't as
he still had not recovered from The Praetorians, and as a result
was gifted with a massive headache.
Alpha grimaced at him "I should have warned you about that.
Don't try to use your abilities for awhile. I'm still feeling it
from when I did"
"So how are we suppose to find him then?" stammered Alex he was
getting a growing craving for nicotine with each passing second.
"We got to start looking in other places." shrugged Alpha "If
he's not in this room he could be anywhere, and the rest of the
guards are still scrambling to get their act back together so we
got some time."
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"But in a building this big where do we start? We had one place
that we knew where he was at, and that was here. There is no
other place that he could..." he paused he thought he had heard
something. "Did you hear that?"
There was something else in the room. He had heard it, and he
started soft stepping further into the room walking around the
turned over furniture .
"Hear what?" questioned Alpha, but stopped when Alex held a
finger at him.
There it was again, it came from the bed, and Alpha heard
it this time also. it sounded like sobbing. They silently crept
to the bed hearing it again. Alpha nodded at Alex who immediately
caught on, and at once they dove under the bed pulling a small
Arabian boy out of it throwing him on the bed.
The boy was dressed in expensive silk robes with jewels
embedded into the lacing that glistened in the blue light. in
his hands he clutched tightly the crown of the High Sultan, and
a golden scepter that was traditionally carried by him at all
times.
"So the Sultan is in this room after all" exclaimed Alpha.
The boy started crying silently staring at them both. Alpha
smiled back at the boy. He was shaking, terrified by the two
figures that loomed over him like dark mountains. Alex studied
the boy. He was a dark skinned Arabian boy who looked like he
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was no more than 10 who was scared out of his mind. This was the
High Sultan of the Arabian Coalition, a boy. After all the great
things the High Sultan had done for his country he ended up
being just a boy.
Alex looked at his face which was lined with a very long
scar, no not just a scar thought Alex. He grabbed the boys face
tilting it. Those were the same scars that the other man had. He
quickly jerked his head back straight, and gazed into his dark
eyes, and he was utterly baffled at what he saw. Inside the boys
teary dark eyes were barcodes.
Alex's heart froze, he suddenly released the boy, and
staggered back aghast. The boy had barcodes in his eyes. The
Sultan was programmed. So many questions popped into his head at
once. How was he programmed? Why were they sent after someone
who has already tampered with? Why were they not told that their
target was a child? The Company simply hadn't told them anything
about this. How could they send them to kill a programmed child?
It was wrong the boy wasn't even in control of his own actions.
The Sultan was just a boy trapped in his own body.
Even Alpha looked dumbstruck staring at the boy in
disbelief. "This night is getting more, and more complicated he
said finally "but we have a job to do" Alpha said sternly
cocking back his pistol, and pointing at the boy who cowered in
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response, looking as if he was trying to sink into the bed
itself.
"Wait" protested Alex grabbing Alpha's gun gently pointing it up.
"What is it Sigma?" Demanded Alpha clearly annoyed. Staring down
Alex like a predator would stare down a piece of meat
"This, this isn't right" stuttered Alex unsure of what he was
doing. "This can't be our mark, they didn't say anything about
the Sultan being programmed, or that he was a boy"
"They said he was in his quarters" Alpha snarled waving his
other hand around the room. "That is the Sultan's crown, and
scepter" Pointing at the Sultan's hands in which each item was
being strangled by the boy's death grip. "He is no doubt The
Sultan Sigma. Barcode, or no barcode the boy dies" he ended
finally pointing the gun back at the boy's head.
"But he's just a boy, and he is just a puppet to someone else,
he has no real value. You can't kill him" declared Alex "He's
been programmed. We should take him back so that they can
release his state of mind. Maybe then we could figure out what's
going on."
Alpha suddenly turned the gun on Alex
"They gave us a mark Sigma, our job as their assassin's, Their
Angels of Death is to deliver retribution to whoever should be
consider a threat to them. It is not your place to decide who
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dies. We are the messengers of death not the judges, and it's
time that you understand that" he said while shaking with anger.
They both stared at each other, the gun inches from Ale's
face. He knew Alpha would pull the trigger to if he felt he had
to. Alpha didn't care who he killed as long as his mission was
done.
"He's just a kid Alpha" he said as loud as he possibly dared as
to not provoke the animal that was Alpha.
Alpha dropped his gun "He's just a kid huh? A mark is a mark
sigma. Age, gender, or state of mind it doesn't matter. You do
your job, it's time for you to learn that." Alpha spun the gun
around with a flick of his wrist, and catching it so that the
grip faced Alex "You win in one regard Sigma" he paused looking
at the boy. "I won't kill him. You will." He said smiling as he
looked back at Alex
"Me? But..."
"But what?" said Alpha sarcastically cutting Alex off" We will
be here until either you kill him, or till the guards finally
find a way up here. I am going to be outside, and if I don't
hear a gunshot, I might just have to kill you, and the kid" with
that he walked outside whistling as he left, leaving Alex alone
with the gun, and the mark.
Alex looked down at the gun, studying it. He had never
killed a child before. Even his man assassination missions that
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had earned him the rep he enjoyed today he always killed grown
men. Adults, people who could fight back. There was honor in
that. in this though there was no honor. This truly was murder.
Slowly he raised the gun to the child who started crying
out loud staring at Alex with a terrified look. His barcode
pupils glistening in the blue light. So many things tonight did
not make sense, and Alex decided that he would demand some kind
of answer from The Company. This mission was not a mission
anymore these complications ruined it, and Alpha, the cold
bastard was right in one thing it was his duty to carry out The
Companies will. no matter how much he disagreed with it.
He pulled the clock back, making a loud click which also
made the boy jump sobbing even louder. Some people would be
begging for their lives right about now, but the boy just kept
crying as he stared at Alex. He was helpless to stop his own
death. Though he had no weapon the boys eyes seemed to dig into
Alex's soul making him feel disgusted with himself.
Slowly he forced himself to put his finger on the trigger.
Putting pressure on it aiming for the kids head. Giving the kid
a cold black stare in return. Alex felt almost as powerless as
the boy felt. Two prisoners inside a world they didn't want to
be in. He almost felt sorry for the boy. Who knows how long he
had been programmed, but all of that didn't matter now. Alex was
the assassin, and the boy was his mark. Alex squeezed the
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trigger, and the resulting scene would never leave his mind.
A couple of minutes later Alex walked out of the room cold,
and bitter. Alpha was leaning on a wall by the door.
"Is it done then?" he asked seeing him walk out of the room.
"It is" Grudged Alex.
There was only one thing Alex wanted right now, and this
night had been too much. Pulling from his back pocket a pack of
cigarettes, and a crude lighter which he had found off the guard
that was first killed, he pulled a cigarette out of the box, and
stuck it in his mouth. Lit it, taking a long drag. He let the
smoke out slowly enjoying the taste. It looked like he wasn't
going to quit smoking after all. With that they decided to take
the primary extraction route since they took longer than
expected, and the palace security was finally getting their
systems back up. Sneaking by the patrols they finally got out of
the palace, and beyond the city to a far hill a couple miles out
of the outskirts of the city. A single black ops helicopter made
by The Company was waiting for them on top of the hill. Behind
them Alex saw the palace in all of its splendor, alight by the
city lights with its endless spires rising high into the sky.
It was time for them to go. Alex turned, and got into the copter
buckling in beside Alpha who closed the doors, and stared straight
ahead not giving the city a second look. Without speaking to the pilot
they took off into the night as silently as they had came. Even the
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helicopter made no noise, and unnoticed they traveled away from the
city, leaving a nation in chaos. They would vow for revenge, and
immediately declare war Alex knew. It was part of The Companies grand
scheme. Whatever they may be, but there was one thing Alex knew for
certain. There was going to be blood, and that blood Alex knew would
be on his hands.