Dawn of the Void

Chapter 92: The System

What followed was a bunch of meetings. Hackworth and his command folks, meetings where other generals were pulled in, folks from the NSA, the local leadership, Emergency Management.

James sat through them all, steeped in thought.

Barely heard what was said. Answered monosyllabically when addressed. Ignored the angry stares, the expectation that he pull an answer for this crisis out of his Blue Light hat.

But something was stirring within him. A realization. It came in flashes. The Monitor floating down to address him. The system messages that appeared each time he leveled, the Benediction synergies. The staggered waves of demons. The symbols.

James? Hackworth was addressing him. James!

James looked up. Everyone was staring at him. James didnt know who half of them were. Didnt care, not anymore. Colonel, we need to talk.

Hackworth blinked, taken aback. We are talking. All of us. Except you. Youre a thousand miles away.

No, I mean you, Star Boy, Jessica, me. We need to talk. James stood up, ignoring the dark looks, the spluttered indignation from important looking people on the screens. Now.

And he strode out the room.

His Anima floated alongside him. Whats going on?

Go ask Jessica to join us, will you?

His Anima snapped out an imitation of a sharp salute with one of his sword-arms and flitted away.

Voices were raised angrily in the conference room behind him, but James strode toward the ballroom and made a beeline for Star Boy. Richard. We gotta talk.

Star Boy was sitting back, arms crossed, shaking his head slowly as he scrolled through different video feeds. Hmm? I mean, what?

Up. Follow. James turned as Hackworth came storming into the ballroom, expression livid.

Sergeant, acting like that -

Enough, Hackworth. Something in Jamess tone, his weary certainty, his detached calm, caused the other man to grow quiet. Were past pretending all this matters. James waved at the ASOCC, the buzzing activity. Ive a decision to make, and I want you in the room when I make it. You coming?

Hackworth inhaled deeply, visibly calming himself, then lifted his chin. Whats going on?

Come find out. James strode past him. Led Star Boy and Hackworth into the Marriott lobby just as the elevator doors opened to reveal Jessica. She looked exhausted, eyes ringed with shadows, hair mussed, clothing rumpled, but eyes James with the same piercing curiosity. James?

Were going up. Need to find Serenity.

They rose to the penthouse and James led them into the large living room. A handful of Crimson Hydra were watching the TV, but Serenity was in the kitchen making herself a cocktail.

Everybody oriented on them as James entered the room. Serenity? Were having a talk.

No shit. She poured a pale green liquid out of the shaker into a martini glass. Ready.

The penthouse suite had a small business room. James waited for everyone to file in, then closed the door.

Nobody spoke. They were all alert, watching him, aware that the ball was in his court.

Weve been doing this all wrong, said James, moving to stand behind his chair. All of it. From the beginning weve been following the systems cues. Reacting and being led. Rewarded with levels and powers for behaving as it wanted. Forming teams, killing demons as they showed up, forming larger groups, organizing.

Right, said Star Boy slowly. For a reason.

Sure. Synergy. The need to save folks. Were not idiots. Doing what this system wants makes sense. Fabricators, Blue Light, all of us working as hard as we can to save humanity.

Tentative nods all round.

You say this like its a bad thing, said Jessica.

Look at whats happening out there right now. James pointed at the window. Weve some ten million people trying to get into the city. The Fourth Wave tomorrow will be a massacre of biblical proportions. Were talking a hundred thousand Nemesis 3s.

Nobody had a response.

And today millions died in our city alone. Across the country? The world? Who fucking knows? Were doing everything this system asks of us, and its never been enough. We might have held the line here in New York for a week or two, but the Nem3s are putting the lie to any sense of confidence we had. Worse, we got a glimpse of how bad things are going to get while we were in Philly. Hives covered in black fire where our powers are weakened. Even my gloria-infused Heavenly Assaults werent killing the Nems.

I dont understand, said Hackworth, tone curt. What are you saying?

That our fundamental mistake has been to trust in the benevolence of this system. To think that if we do what it wants, how it wants, if we team up in groups of nine, if we train, if we fight, well win through. But its horse shit. Even doing everything right people are dying by the millions, and were still two months out from the Pits opening.

James looked at each of them. If we dont change this up, were going to lose this thing. Following what the system wants will just get us extinct.

Serenity drained her martini in one long slurp then set the glass down with a distinct click. Great pep talk, boss. So, ah, whats the solution?

We have to look outside the system. Stop thinking we can use it to our advantage. Sure, we can keep leveling, gaining new powers, but thatll never be enough. I saw that today in Philly. Crimson Hydra is as tough a team as I know of, and we got our asses kicked. So we have to find a new approach. James straightened. Its why I want to go to Old Crow.

Star Boy blinked. Old Crow. Ah?

Patrick Belanger, said Hackworth. You want to find him.

Who the fuck is Patrick Belanger? asked Serenity.

It was Jessica who answered. The first person to report being contacted by a Monitor. She smiled apologetically to Hackworth. I took a look at the files. He reported speaking with one three days before anyone else.

Belanger has been off the grid since, said Hackworth. The Canadians havent found him. That, and he has a history of mental disorders. He spent most of the 80s in a mental hospital, claiming that Armageddon was coming.

Smart dude, said Serenity. Looks like he was right all along.

I want to find him, said James. He claimed to carry something called the Light Eternal, and Old Crow is the only place Ive heard of where a demon symbol appeared without their being a ton of people. If anybody knows whats going on, its Belanger.

Thats a hell of a long shot, said Hackworth.

Better than just doing what the demons want, said James. They went after him. Maybe have been contacting him for decades. Look, I know its a long shot. But were going to lose this if we keep just taking to the streets and trying to kill demons. The rest of Blue Light can do what they can. But I need to find Belanger and find out what he knows.

And tomorrow? asked Hackworth. The Fourth Wave?

James sighed and sat down. Yeah. I dont see any good outcome. I could stay and help, but when were talking a hundred thousand Nem3s distributed across the city, would I make much of a difference?

Jessica raised an eyebrow. How do you think Blue Light would take it if you disappeared on the eve of our greatest battle yet?

Precisely, said Hackworth. Its not a question of your killing a hundred or two hundred demons, its your being able to inspire Blue Light to kill thousands, maybe tens of thousands.

Like thatll make a difference, said Serenity, sitting back.

It will. Hackworth nodded decisively. Every demon we kill is one that doesnt get into a hive. Every demon we kill is another 100 people who are spared being massacred. Ive no illusions about our ability to defend everyone tomorrow. But that doesnt mean we concede the fight. Well muster everything we have and fight as long and as hard as we have to. And your presence in that fight will make a difference, James.

James frowned, tapped his fingers on the tabletop, then nodded. Fine. Yes. Ill fight. But as soon as possible, I want a flight to the Yukon.

And youll have it, said Hackworth. But first we have to deal with the Fourth Wave.

Were at almost three hundred Angel Wings, said Jessica. That should help. And all the work Ive been doing has leveled me to Battle Engineer 5. Which Ive not had enough time to fully explore, especially as higher-level creations require exponentially more components, and nothing seems as initially beneficial as Wings, but

But? prompted Serenity.

But Ive put together a prototype that should be ready for the Fourth Wave tomorrow. Its called a Canis Bello in my menu system.

One prototype? Serenity raised an eyebrow. Thats darling, but -

But we need all the help we can get, said James.

Beautiful dog? asked Star Boy. Thats weird.

Not beautiful, said Jessica. Bello in Latin means war. A War Dog. War Hound, maybe. Like I said, it required a lot of resources, and there are components to it that I dont yet fully understand. Im going to try and get it operational for tomorrow, though.

Outstanding, said Hackworth. I like the sound of this.

James had to fight the urge to reiterate his previous point. To state how anything that was in line with the systems guidance was suspect. But Jessica looked so worn out that he didnt have the heart. Make sure you take care of yourself.

She checked her phone. Were only nine hours from dawn. Ill be fine as soon as I can spend an Aeviternum.

Hey, Jessica, whens the last time you slept? asked Star Boy.

Slept? Jessica frowned at him. I mean, I think

You dont know? Star Boy let out a low whistle. Thats kinda intense.

Jessica stood. We do have a war going on. Im going to get back to work. But for what its worth, James, I agree with your point. Once the Fourth Wave is over, we need to run down Belanger and discover what he knows.

Agreed, said Hackworth. Your point is well made, if hard to swallow. Now if youll excuse me, I have several bruised egos I need to placate. This may be a new world were operating in, but there are some serious holdovers that can make or break our operations here.

Thanks, colonel, said James. Appreciate it.

Jessica, Hackworth, and Star Boy all left together.

Serenity held Jamess gaze from across the table. We need to replace Joanna.

Cindys supposed to radio me when shes available.

We need to get Crimson Hydras head back in the game.

James grunted.

I need seven or eight shots of tequila.

Wouldnt hurt.

She sighed and leaned forward. How are we gettin through tomorrow?

I dont know. He didnt even want to think about it. One step at a time.

Serenity sighed. So you think this is all just one big murderous set-up? To give us false hope that we can handle whats coming? Why not just kill us outright?

I dont know, said James again.

Fucking demons. We dont even know whats happening in the center of those burning hives.

Nope.

They could be making some ultra-queens.

They could.

Serenity scowled at him. Its really great talking to you.

Yeah. James sighed. I know.

OK, you know what? Screw the tequila. I know what we both need. Come on.

James frowned, stood, then followed her out of the conference room, across the hall, and into a bedroom.

Serenity closed the door. On the bed.

Ah, Serenity

Im not aiming to fuck you. Shoes off, on the bed.

James sat, undid his laces, pulled off his boots, and then lay back, watching her closely. She did the same, then lay down beside him. Reached over, turned off the lamp, and then scooted in till she lay next to him and placed her head on his shoulder.

For a moment they just lay thus in silence, and by slow degrees James relaxed. How long had it been since hed just laid down next to a woman? He couldnt even remember.

It felt nice.

Slowly, carefully, he pulled his arm around and draped it over her shoulder. Serenity wiggled a bit, getting more comfortable, then sighed. This is what I needed. Just for a little bit.

James stared up into the darkness. Serenity was warm against his side, the weight of her head in the hollow of his shoulder comforting. After a while her breathing deepened and slowed, and he realized shed fallen asleep.

Nothing new occurred to him. No new strategies, no epiphanies, no assuaging of guilt or healing of the horrors.

But just lying there, two people together in the dark, did something to his spirit, his soul, that no words of Kimmies could have duplicated.

A deep, terrible knot of tension slowly untied itself in his chest, and a sense of troubled peace descended upon him.

A few moments later, despite everything that was to come, everything that had happened, and everything on his mind, James closed his eyes, and slept.