Year 2033, October
10:00 A.M
Military HQ, Stockholm, Sweden
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Ama and Yvonne walked slowly in front of me, as we headed towards Melker's office. Before we entered, I stepped to the front and pushed the door open for them.
"Thank you Ivar," said Ama softly.
"Yeah, thanks no thanks, Ivar," Yvonne smirked as she walked past me.
I narrowed my eyes at her and then looked at Ama. "It's my pleasure."
The office was still being rebuilt, along with the military base itself. Sunlight poured down onto us through the absent ceiling when we stepped inside the office. Ama swept a quick gaze around the room before taking her seat on an intricately designed red, metal chair. She then stared at me and Yvonne with sad eyes.
Quickly, both of us kneeled on one knee and lowered our head.
"This room . . ." said Ama. "I hate it, but at the same time, I don't. The agreement that I had signed with the government officials forces me to be here."
I raised my head. "You are the current ruler of the Great Corporate United, Ama. Melker Holm's absolute authority has been shifted to you. With it, there's nothing that can prevent the A.V.A plan from being carried out."
Ama was silent for a few moments. She looked up at the sky, perhaps thinking about something that was bothering her. Though, someone like me wouldn't know what she had in her mind.
The only thing we, the Four Pillars, were certain about was her love for Ava.
"How is Mara doing?" Ama said as she stared at me.
"She's resting as it is," I replied.
"Mara is just lazy. She can join us fight Melker's Aegis Users back then, but she was adamant in not leaving her room," said Yvonne with a tinge of hostility.
Perhaps it was envy, though, Yvonne laid her feelings bare for all to see all the time. So, for me who had known how she acted, jealousy or envy should fit what she was feeling right then.
"Never mind Mara, you yourself, are afraid of fighting alone," I said. "Sending your Aegis clones to attack the base was cowardly. Disgraceful, in fact."
Yvonne's mouth twitched. "Did I heard that right, Ivar? You dare to talk to me in such a manner?"
I grinned. "Yes, I did. You're lucky Alicia killed your clone instead of you at that time."
"I was nowhere near the base when you attacked. There's no need for me to go all-out on those people," she said.
"That is right. But it doesn't change the fact that it was an act befitting a weakling. Coward."
"You little piece of. . ."
Ama cleared her throat and my attention quickly snapped to her. I proceeded to bow deeply in front of her.
"It's fine, Ivar," Ama said as she waved a hand. "You too, Yvonne. This kind of atmosphere is needed once in a while."
"We should have not shown you such disgraceful sight. We have brought you great discomfort, Ama," said Yvonne. She proceeded to lower her head.
Ama blinked at our actions and closed her eyes for a moment. "The four of you, Pillars, have lost your past identities. Though the fact remains that your loyalty towards me is as unwavering. I'm touched. Thank you."
"You're too kind, Ama," Yvonne and I said at the same time.
"We share your feelings and had pledged to serve allegiance to your cause. Certainly, we want to achieve the same objective as you," I muttered.
Ama smiled at the both of us.
Seeing that, my heart stopped for a moment. There was never a doubt in my mind that she was indeed beautiful. Even though she was in her 50s, I couldn't help but think of her to be younger.
"I was a scientist for the Great Corporate United twenty years ago, and that's why I didn't lose my memory. The same applied to Bart and Alicia," she said. "Anyway, let's head to the underground factory. I have not seen what that place looks like after we have attacked the base."
I nodded. "Right behind you, Your Supremacy."
Yvonne clicked her tongue when she heard those words. "Ivar, that's disrespectful. Even if Ama is the new ruler, that title is nothing but an insult to her status."
I tilted my head. "Then, what do you propose?"
She looked at Ama and bowed. "Her Most Gracious."
My eyes opened wide, and a moment later, I stared at Ama. "She is indeed the Most Gracious."
Ama put up a thin smile and looked at both me and Yvonne. "You flattered me. Thank you."
"You're welcome, Your Most Gracious," we said at the same time.
Ama walked out of the room and we stayed by her side. Along the way, we didn't say a word. One could say it was unnecessary since we wouldn't talk unless Ama started the conversation first. Going far down the elevator, a familiar lab came into view.
"These damn things . . ." I mumbled.
The liquid chambers that once held us inside it were destroyed. Pieces of shattered glass surrounded the chambers. Though no green liquid whatsoever was within sight, so I assumed they had cleaned it up.
"Perhaps they were cleaning this place when we attacked," said Yvonne.
"Apparently so . . . The chambers, up until then, were our prisons. Without Mara's help, maybe we would still be in there."
She gave me that look of 'well-duh' and then narrowed her eyes. "Have you seen Kian, the First Pillar?"
I shook my head slowly. "No. But I'm sure he's busy putting the Great Corporate United in their rightful place."
Ama turned to me and I immediately lowered my head.
"Kian is simply pressuring the remaining military forces by himself," she said.
"He likes to do stuff alone, doesn't he?" remarked Yvonne.
"Well, he is that kind of a person. I mean, he is the strongest out all the four of us Pillars," I said.
"Hypothetically speaking, he should be." Yvonne darted her eyes to the side. "Hmph. I'm sure you are the strongest, Ivar, instead of that aloof guy."
I frowned. "Kian is the opposite of aloof."
Both of us shifted our attention to Ama. At that moment, tears fell out of her eyes as she stared at us.
"Ama!" I exclaimed.
"Ah, I'm sorry Ama. D-Did I say anything to hurt you?" Yvonne waved her hands frantically.
Ama wiped the tears streaking her cheeks and looked at us. "It is not your fault, Yvonne. I just remembered someone I hold dear."
Yvonne and I looked at each other.
Ama breathed a sigh and laid her eyes on the gleaming, white floor. "I miss Ava . . . How was she when you visited her, Ivar?"
"Big Sis was fine and well." I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists. "I'm sorry. I should have brought her back to you."
Ama shook her head. "Leave my Ava to herself. I don't want to involve her more than this. Do you think me asking you to send the message back then was a wise choice?"
"Big Sis should know about your love for her," I replied.
She moved closer to me and I kneeled on one knee. Slowly, her towering figure shadowed my insignificant presence, putting a hand on my head. "We are a family now, Ivar. Blood-related or not, we must trust and depend on each other at all times."
I stood up and nodded in her direction. "Understood, Your Most Gracious."
Yvonne repeated after me, and Ama smiled.
"Ava is my everything. I want to create a world where she would have nothing to fear anymore, that she will be safe from harm. A peaceful life where we could all be together . . . After going through so much, she deserves such dream to become a reality."
I nodded. "We, the Pillars, will make sure that dream will be realized."
Ama raised her right arm up high, and three of Yvonne's clones stepped inside the lab. They shoved Alexander and Alicia forward and both of them fell on their knees in front of Ama.
Their hands were tied up with peach ropes I had molded, as they looked at Ama with fierce eyes.
"You dare look at her like that?" said Yvonne as she glared at them.
Ama raised her hand slightly and Yvonne bit her lip.
Alexander and Alicia were in their military uniforms, tattered nonetheless. Hatred, anger, distaste, contempt; their face portrayed those emotions with no restraint. I would applaud them for acting that way, but by doing so in front of Ama was a fool's gravest mistake.
"Alicia will be put in a cell somewhere," said Ama.
"Be thankful she has not killed you yet, despite the sins you have committed against Big Sis," said Yvonne. While her eyes glared at Alicia, peach Aegis crystals started to form on her palms, but she quickly ceased it to disappear.
I felt the same way as Yvonne. Since Bart was no longer alive, my hatred could only be unleashed towards Alicia. Ama warned us to not hurt her yet, but she couldn't deny the fact that she too, wanted to strike at that damn woman.
"Those Users have arrived," I mumbled.
A few moments later, five people in their dark blue military uniforms stepped inside the lab. They all looked like they didn't want to be there. Among them, a dark-haired woman with an average height stood in front of the others.
"Aamaaaa," she said playfully. "You need to take it easy on us. We were busy crushing the rebels at South America, and then you requested us to come here? I know that our former Supremacy tainted our reputation by using us for meager errands. Never have he sent us on the frontline, and what's more, he didn't even inform us when he attempted to invade Neo Africa."
I raised an eyebrow at her.
Those five Aegis Users were the only ones left in Melker's Aegis squad, aside from Alicia, Alexander, and the others. Melker and his 'brilliant' mind thought it would be great to split the Aegis squad and sent them to the other side of the planet. He was indeed a complete fool, barely worthy to be used by Ama all those years. She manipulated him into trying to take over the world, so that when the time comes, Ama could just take his place as the rightful ruler.
'Just like now,' I thought.
The woman sighed and continued to blabber. "You see, I have high expectations for the new ruler. We didn't get the special treatment like the other members of the Aegis squad. Even that kid, Aya, got the chance to fight on a battlefield."
Ama took a step closer towards them. "I heard that the five of you were tasked with handling the rebels all over the world three to four years now. For me, that is a truly important task he had given to you people."
"You think so? Thanks, Amalicious!" She grabbed her shoulder and smiled.
"Amalicious . . ." I said.
"Eh?"
Her mouth coughed blood when one of my Aegis wings pierced her torso. She looked at me with wide eyes. Before that woman could part her lips, my wing sliced her into pieces.
The other four Users were stunned, their jaws dropped at the sight of their fallen comrade.
"Ama is kind enough to let you speak, and yet, going so far as to give her such disrespectful nickname, she must really have a death wish," I said.
Those four Users quickly kneeled and lowered their heads, no words uttered. The three guys crossed their right arm over their chest, while the only woman left bowed deeply towards Ama.
Yvonne, as expected, was scowling at their foolishness. "Melker didn't make much of use of you guys. He's stupid. A fool."
That was true. Melker Holm didn't know his assets and the potential that came along with it. He had these additional Aegis Users in his disposal, yet, he didn't call them back when the situation demanded it.
Ama glanced at me. After that, she lowered her body and brushed her right hand over the female User's short, dark hair. "I am not like Melker, and never will be. I pity your friend that got killed by Ivar, but I will not let the rest of you suffer the same fate as her. We are a family, remember? Treat each other well, and I will do the same to you, or perhaps even better." She put up a warm smile, and my heart fluttered just from seeing it.
The four Users in front of Ama nodded in agreement. They spoke, "We are a family, and we will treat each other like such."
"Thank you," said Ama as she stood up."Ava would be pleased our family has gotten bigger. I'm sure she would. After all, she is my granddaughter."