As Gavin faced the purple and gold figure, he waited for them to elaborate in any way. Instead she just stood there, her helmet hiding her expression but an undeniable warmth in the air. Eventually, he broke the silence, "You said we stepped into the shadow of war. Is that what Cap and the red guy are doing right now?"
She ignored his question, "You and your friends are not bound by the chains of fate. This war was never yours and so your future remains uncertain. For the first time, your destiny is your own."
In response he ignored her comments in kind, "Your lack of helping says that you are up to something else. And apparently you know more about our guide than we do, since you say you have a promise to keep." He was trying to get a read on her. This wasn't a hologram. He could tell she could hear him. She was actively ignoring him. And while he was still listening, he wasn't going to go unheard.
She continued her cryptic warnings, "You all have been granted a blank canvas to color with your own heart and nature. To show the cosmos themselves how bright your stars shine. Only then can the chains of fate be shattered completely." Her every mannerism annoyed him. She was genuine and open despite not speaking directly. Reijaa would have interrogated this woman at the point of a gun to get a clear answer, but Gavin could feel that she was much stronger than he could overcome, no matter how clever he was.
It was only as he heard Tai over the comms giving him the tactical breakdown that he could feel the tone shift. Katsi was laid flat by a master swordsman, Pine had fallen off radar completely, and Narine had been seen protecting herself from Zwei. What in the hell was going on? This felt... He said firmly, "You... were..." He couldn't confirm it but the weight in the air made clear his suspicion had weight. He couldn't get to all of them. Not as he was, and she knew that. Even becoming Alabaster wasn't going to be enough on it's own. That took immense preparation and moving pieces. There wasn't enough raw emotional energy in the air for him to even try something so elaborate. He looked at the device that Katsi had built alongside Dean and back at the figure before him. "So, the opening shot of this war is going to be painting us as threats to the Falos? Properly instead of just wandering brigands?"
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.
She said firmly, "You are the only ones that define what your involvement means. No one has seen what you can do and no one is capable of defining it for you. You could just as easily leave." She paused for only a moment before she continued, "This isn't even your war. For once, Mister Thalheed... you have all the cards in your own hand. You can flee or fight. You can become martyrs and a symbol, or cowards who look out for only yourselves."
He looked at it again, his eyes sharp. “You are wrong. We know what we can do… the truth that is buried in our own hearts. An inescapable guiding star…” he gripped the device Dean and Katsi had made with renewed fervor. “And the reality is that Reijaa would kill me if I went through all this crap just to run away now. And I would never forgive myself either.” He attached the module to his transformation device with determination.
“I wouldn’t be so-“
“Yeah. And you aren’t me.” She jolted at his interruption. “I want a straight answer to what’s going on when I’m done. So don’t go anywhere.” He knew it would seem fatalistic. That his resolve to walk this path could seem grim. But there was no other road for him. The truth was no other path was acceptable. As he activated the device, he could feel it wash over him. At first just the beat of his own heart, and then an echo. And then another. Before he knew it, there was an undeniable march ushering him down the one true path before him.
A pillar of teal light illuminated Alabaster’s arrival, its glow giving all those who saw it pause. From within the Pillar, He spoke with a smile, loud enough for anyone to hear, “Ladies and Gentleman! Welcome to our grand performance as I pull back the curtain on this charade.”
————
Another weave. Another punch. Another transformation that would bend the mind of a less experienced soldier in this fight against evil. But Shawn had been these before. Each and every one of them. He side stepped a dog thrown via Caniskinesis only to crack the culprit’s ribs before knocking them far away. And as he did this, he could feel his body adjust, the rush of combat fading. He could still hear his heart in his ears, but this wasn’t a battle for him to win. He had to measure every step if he didn’t…
When a pillar of light appeared elsewhere and he heard that voice once more, he was distracted long enough for a heavy hand to strike his helm. He rolled out of way of further assaults and continued his game as he muttered to himself, “A light of truth strong enough to pierce the heavens… that’s gonna be a problem.”