7. Questions

Just like that? Lucas thought, having mixed feelings about the matter. He’s part relieved, and partly feeling guilty. Because while his actions may have been true, his intent was proof of his own insubordination.

Adelia whispered to him, hiding a smile on her face, before explaining what just happened. “The Director is trying to avoid a court martial. After a gigantic tragedy like the Order’s attack, the Defense are looking for as many people as they can to blame – scapegoats – no matter how stupid their reasoning is.”

"Why?"

"Government pressure."

“…Seriously?”

She nodded. “And your name, or rather 37, have popped up in that list because you operated solo,” she said with a scoff. “Stupid, right? That’s literally their excuse. But the solution is actually quite simple–– and equally stupid too.”

At her words, Lucas glanced at Cale, remembering what his friend said earlier. “To lie,” he said as he looked back to Adelia, who grinned in response.

Lucas managed to somehow connect some of the dots. A court-martial cannot occur when there is only speculation. The Defense is trying to build a case, and he surmised that they might be trying to gain some evidence through Mildred’s report.

Lucas whispered back, “But won’t that put the Director in trouble with the government if they lie?”

Adelia shook her head. “Nope. There’s no evidence, and I’m pretty sure he’d rather not his position be questioned in court. Don’t forget that he’s also the League’s only other Class V, and that he’s the Director of SPECTRA.”

“Yeah, so?” Lucas asked.

“He’s huge, Cass. We’re huge. Going against us would cost the government a lot, especially in such a critical moment when we’re waging a shadow war against Lewisia. So even if they don’t believe us, if we give them nothing, they will just move on and find other targets.”

Cale clicked his tongue as he joined the whispering. “Just a bunch of dumb politics.”

Lucas scratched the back of his neck. “But if this is all a show. Then why did it seem like Mildred was pissed off with the Director?”

Cale looked at Lucas as if he were stupid. “It’s being recorded, remember?”

Lucas sighed. “I see.”

Adelia nodded. “Cass. You know. It’s really easy to forget how scary SPECTRA can really be, especially since you’re a part of it,” she whispered. “But there’s much more to the world–– than ours.”

“But why would they do that for me?” Lucas asked. “And you guys also know what’s going on, so aren’t you also risking yourselves here?”

“Eh… Structure and command is important, sure. But everybody understands why you did what you did. You’re one of the few SPECTRAs with a family in St. John. If the same thing happened to my family in White Hills, I would have done the same thing,” Adelia whispered with a frown.

“I don’t know what to say, Delia… We both know I don’t––”

“If you’re feeling guilty. You just have to live with it…”

It didn’t take long for Mildred to finish her report. “This concludes my report.”

At that, “Thank you, Hummingbird,” said the Director. “Now. I suppose it’s time to address the elephant in the room,” he said and directed his gaze back to Lucas. “As a Class III, you are now a Named Mask. Hence, from here on, you shall be named Avernus.”

Lucas nodded at the promotion. To become a Named after reaching Class III was simple protocol. Although he wondered about the origin of his new name.

Also, while promotion is normally the time for celebration–– a symbol of a SPECTRA’s progress and potential. Lucas felt nothing.

Not that the promotion meant he’d have more weight in SPECTRA, anyway. To actually climb the ladder, he’d need more than just combat power.

But at least, he’ll get a raise. Or, at least, he should.

The Director continued. “Hummingbird Unit will be dispatched on a mission, but you will not join them. You will continue to operate as you did but on a solo-basis. You will be called upon when required.”

Lucas widened his eyes as he looked at his teammates. “What? I’m not joining them? Why?”

The others just shrugged, except for Cale beside him who didn’t seem to care, still playing with his phone.

The Director just waved a hand. “You are dismissed, Mr. Hale.”

Lucas did not dismiss himself. “With all due respect, I believe I am entitled to an explanation, Director. Is it because I’m now a Named?” he asked, but that shouldn’t be the case. Multiple Named can be within the same unit like the Black Spear Unit.

“No.”

“So, why?”

“It’s a complex matter. At the moment, it will be difficult for you to––”

“…understand?” Lucas interrupted, raising a brow. Hades said the same thing. Always and always–– the child always never seems to understand. He’s grown tired of it.

“Yes. This is a matter much bigger than you are. I would appreciate you exercise patience, caution, and restraint, Mr. Hale. We are doing our utmost best to take precautions following your–– report.”

Cale looked up from his phone and spoke up. “If I may, Director,” he said, but did not wait for the Director to give him permission to speak. “It seems SPECTRA do not view us with the same level of professionalism, trust, and respect of which we are owed–– due to our age. Even when our contributions for the nation is as equal as the others. If not more.”

“Us? What do you wish to imply, 36?”

“Avernus is a SPECTRA,” Cale said and waved his phone. He was actually reading the SPECTRA handbook. “And as a member of the Hummingbird Unit, he is owed information as much as everyone else. To omit to him what you told us is a bit… flawed, don’t you think?”

Lucas just stared at Cale, not knowing how he should express his gratitude. He noticed Mrs. Livia, who sat on the couch before them, do the same. But there was a hint of amusement on the wizard’s face.

Meanwhile, Lucy and Soren laughed, while Mildred tried to maintain her composure with her utmost effort, trying to avoid the Director’s gaze.

Adelia ruffled Cale’s head. “He’s not wrong, Director,” she said. “Avernus is still a member of our Unit. Even prudence is not enough of a justification to leave him out.”

The Director acted like he didn’t hear them as he multi-tasked, still busy with his papers. But he did address Lucas. “Telling you Hummingbird’s mission will only cause you to ask more questions. Questions of which the answers we may not be able to afford to tell you. And if you become aware of the situation, you may as well make an enemy of the League.”

Stolen novel; please report.

Lucas widened his eyes as he scanned the room. From the Director, to Mrs. Livia, and to the rest of the Hummingbird unit. They all looked dead serious. Even Cale stopped playing with his phone and looked like he just realized something. “What’s going on here?”

The Director continued. “The question is… are you prepared to fight the League if it comes down to it? To commit treason?”

Lucas didn’t know what to say.

However, the Director acted like he already knew Lucas’ answer. “You’re dismissed, Mr. Hale. Go take some rest. I only ask that you trust us and your team.”

Lucas nodded. “I understand––” he said with a pause, “is what I would like to say.”

It was the Director’s turn to be surprised.

“Please tell me everything. I already know their mission has something to do with me judging by your words. Or am I wrong?” Lucas asked. Not to mention, even if the Director suggested treason, there must be a good reason why. Especially if the Hummingbird Unit will be on the frontlines.

There must be a reason that even Cale was surprised. Is it because he's not aware that they will be committing this treason? No, that can't be. It must be something else.

But what could it be? What is this mission that they’re risking treason for? If his teammates are risking it, then why shouldn’t he?

It took a while for the Director to respond, studying Lucas’ features for some time, as if trying to sense some hints of lies. “I see. Well. If you think you’ll understand, then so be it,” he said.

Gesturing to the wizard, the Director continued to speak. “As you can see, Master Livia is here with us. Alongside the Hummingbird unit, we were supposed to discuss your mark upon your leave.”

Lucas wanted to say: You wanted to talk behind my back?

But of course, the Director said it in such a way that pissed him off. Government talk.

It’s an art they were trained to master. An art that Lucas has yet to master. But an art he still learned nonetheless. “…My mark,” he muttered. “As per my mother’s wishes, it was with the greatest of confidence that I told you and Master Livia about it. In return, I expected a proper response. A plan of some kind. And you’ve decided to exclude me instead?”

This time, it was Mrs. Livia who surprisingly answered. “Forgive me. It was upon my advice, Lucas, that I asked the Director to–– exclude you as you have said. It’s simply too dangerous for you.”

“Because you guys are committing treason? It’s dangerous for me, but not for my team? Please, Mrs. Livia…,” Lucas said, but thought he should at least hear her out. “What makes you say that?”

“Because of your mark,” she said. “You need protection, Lucas. Now, more than ever. That includes protection from knowledges you must not yet know. At least for now, until we know more.”

“I genuinely appreciate your concern,” he said. “But you’re the one who told us, Primes, how we are both blessed and cursed. Fated to die in the embrace of the shadows. Such is the fate of those who live to fight in times of war and uncertainty. We’ve been trained to kill and we’re prepared to die. So even if it may be against the League, I do not need any protection. I just need to know why. Is that too much ask?”

Mrs. Livia opened her mouth, before locking her jaw and averting her gaze.

“Mrs. Livia. That’s… that’s not what I meant,” Lucas said when he saw the hurt in her eyes. “It’s just… It’s––”

Mrs. Livia shook her. “It’s fine,” she said. “You are right. Not that I am pleased to see not only you, but all of you here, who must fight a war forced upon you.”

Lucas felt pricked by the answer. “I’m sorry…”

The Director sliced through the sudden uncomfortable silence. “I told you he will not stand aside.”

Lucas glanced at him, realizing that the Director asking him to leave earlier was all for a show for Mrs. Livia. He recalled something when they eavesdropped on them earlier–– how Mrs. Livia and the Director seemed like they were not on the same page.

Was that just the Director’s ploy to convince Mrs. Livia? But convince her with what? Lucas thought.

“Perhaps you are right, Director,” Mrs. Livia said with a sigh, before directing her gaze back to Lucas. “Well. If it is answers you seek, I’m afraid we can only provide you so little,” she said as she looked back to the Director. “Director?”

“Right,” the Director said. “Master Livia is here because she believes that your mark is proof of the existence of a 13th Godframe–– Godframe Hades.”

Lucas looked at the Director in surprise. “You’re saying my Mark is a Godframe’s Mark?”

Mrs. Livia replied on behalf of the Director. “Yes. Your mark is similar to the 12 Marks.”

“How so?”

“Long story short. Your Mark does not only bear resemblance to the other 12, but your tale of speaking to Hades is also somewhat similar to the tales of those who cleared the Godframe Trials. They all have spoken to someone. And the only difference is that–– you remember ALL of it.”

“But how is that possible?”

“I don’t know. But if you wish to know the origin of your mark, then we could provide you some explanation.”

“…Please do, Mrs. Livia. I would appreciate that.”

Mrs. Livia nodded. “Myself and the Director, respectively as representatives of the Consortium and SPECTRA, have worked with the Godframe Initiative, which your parents was a part of, to locate a ring as per the League’s directive some 14 years ago.”

The Director cleared his throat. "Just for the record, I wasn't the Director yet at the time."

“Right... But a ring?” Lucas asked.

“Yes. But, I suppose it’s a tattoo now,” Mrs. Livia said, looking at the thin tattoo-like line around Lucas’ left index finger. His birthmark. The Mark.

For a moment, Mrs. Livia scrutinized Lucas’ mark; her features unreadable. “The Godframe Initiative is a group of scientists created by the League to research the Godframes in conjunction with other international research groups doing the same thing. Their job involved scouring through surviving data pertaining to Greek mythos, after which the Godframes were oddly named.”

Lucas nodded. That made sense. The names of the Godframes are oddly derived from the Greek Olympians, even if data suggests Godframes have been here longer than humanity’s history.

But when the Ashen overrun the world 300 years ago, humanity only managed to retrieve a few archives. Many archives are suspected to have survived, but they remain inaccessible due to being located at extreme-danger hotspots.

“And 14 years ago in 2331, a year before you were born, the League happened upon a Greco-Buddhism virtual archive that includes information on a supposed artefact of Hellenistic origin called the Ring of Avernus. The League believed this to be a magical artifact. And it was.”

“This ring,” Lucas said as he slightly raised his index finger, studying the Mark of Hades.

“Yes. The virtual archive indicated that Avernus was located on a ruins that was previously a Greek museum in a Grade-II danger zone,” said Mrs. Livia, before touching her wristwatch to reveal a holo-map before her.

The red point indicated the location of this museum. An old city called Chicago.

“The League directed the Initiative to retrieve the ring and some other artefacts. They were escorted by members of the military and SPECTRA. But all of them perished, including your father, save for your mother and a few of the escorts.”

Lucas widened his eyes. “My father?” he said. His mother told him he died during an expedition. But he didn’t expect this to be the case.

Mrs. Livia’s eyes softened. “Yes. Him and the others. But not because of the Ashen.”

The Director cut in. “Assassins,” he said.

Lucas gulped at the revelation. “Who? And why?”

The Director steepled his fingers, leaning over his desk. “We wouldn’t be discussing this if we knew, no?” he said before proceeding to talk in length. “Who were the assassins? Who ordered them? An outsider? Is it because it was, in fact, orchestrated by one of the five foreign nations? Or was it maybe the Order of Lewisia? And was it a coincidence that your mother was killed two weeks ago?”

Lucas frowned at all the suggestions but did not speak.

“Or maybe. Was it the League itself? Perhaps those who were in power at the time? It was them who created the now-defunct team to look for the ring in the first place. So only they should know about the retrieval mission, right? If so. Then why? And who? And why is it that even SPECTRA found nothing even after over a decade of searching?”

No one responded, and the Director took this as a cue to keep talking as he glanced at Mrs. Livia. “But if we overwhelm ourselves with questions we cannot answer, or even hope to answer, then progress is moot. So, at the time, your mother, Livia and I, thought that the only correct move forward was to assume.”

“Assume?” Lucas asked.

Mrs. Livia responded this time. “Assume that enemies and traitors surround us. That involves hiding from the League the fact that Avernus was actually successfully recovered,” she said before pausing, slowly shifting her gaze back to Lucas. “That involved asking your mother to hide it following its recovery and the assassinations. At least until we find out who the assassins were and what necessitated them to try and steal it. And we had no answer, only hoping that perhaps someday, we will find one. A hope borne from the fact that the ring turned into a Mark similar to the 12 right after you were born.”

Lucas glanced around the room. They all didn’t look surprised, and Lucas realized they already had been briefed. “Right after I was born…” he muttered, recalling Hades' words who told him that he's a Prime only because of the mark.

“Yes,” said Mrs. Livia. “We’ve all been waiting, Lucas. Waiting for what could your Mark truly mean, and what it truly is,” she said. “If only your mother… is still with us. ”

Lucas frowned. “I see… so you and the Director. You always have known about this Mark.”

The Director nodded. “Yes, but as Mrs. Livia said. We didn’t know what it truly was. Only that it was strange. But whatever may have been the cause, nothing changes the fact that you have the Mark, and you have spoken to this Hades. And that his Mark is so similar to a Mark of a Godframe.”

Mrs. Livia had a grave nod. “And if Godframe Hades does exist. It means that you, Lucas… is a Bearer of a Godframe.”