Inside a large ominous throne room, Sniper looked down from his elevated seat situated atop stairs made of silver. Behind the throne was a statue of Atlas but instead of carrying the Earth on his back, he effortlessly held it at the tip of his finger. On top of Sniper's throne is written in Latin: "pax est fortium" (Peace is for the strong).
Mike arrived in front of Sniper and kneeled down at the bottom of the stairs, his face reflecting off its shiny silver surface. With a simple raise of his hand, Sniper ordered Mike to rise.
[Sniper] - "I presume you understand that your utmost contribution will be required for the upcoming war. "
Spoke Sniper with authority.
[Mike] - "Of course, my emperor. I shall serve you and the empire well. "
[Sniper] - "This will be an intentionally protracted conflict. We, the Cyberknight, could easily end the war in a matter of hours but we must not forget the goal of this war. People will not appreciate the peace if it is given to them for free. Peace cannot be enforced on others, they must earn it. Shaking up the world order forces the individual to become active from its passive lifestyle. Only through the length and shock of the war could an indoctrinated populace be returned to a state of normality and critical thinking. People will perish but the sacrifice of a few could benefit many others. "
[Mike] - "So what are your others, my lord? "
[Sniper] - "Observe the battles conducted by our regular forces and intervene only when ordered by me. This war must be kept at a balance between winning and losing, so it could be extended. We, the cyberknight, are simply guards inside this massive playground. We will enforce authority where it is needed but must allow fate to decide the future of those below us. "
[Mike] - "I understand, my lord. "
After saluting Sniper, Mike left the throne room.
Meanwhile, in London, Karson was discharged from the hospital. As he stepped onto the streets, he stopped as he realized that he had nowhere to go. His house was completely destroyed by fire, his economy was in complete shambles and his friends were either all dead or dangerous criminals. Nothing was left for him in this world.
For the entire day, Karson wandered inside the city like a zombie without a goal or purpose just like those goggles-wearing civilians. In his heart, he finally understood why people appeared emotionless in the streets. What is there to be excited about inside an obvious illusion? What is there to feel aside from the constant torture of a rotten system? What hope is there when one's life is as valuable as a dollar bill? The total feeling of despair is what gripped the sanity of the common people. Why smile, if you couldn't eat, couldn't find a place to sleep and couldn't even live a single day without being on the edge?
As the rain poured onto the street, Karson raised his head and opened his mouth. However, as soon as the rainwater hit his tongue, he began to convulse and spat out water in his mouth. Due to pollution, even the rain became a bitter mess of chemicals and debris.
As Karson walked, his gaze was attracted by the sight of a beautiful holographic woman. The colourful hologram stood out inside a world composed of grey and dark.
[Hologram] - "You seem lonely, why don't you follow me for a good time? "
The colourful projection, combined with its charming voice, caught Karson in a trance as if he were a moth who saw light. Slowly, she guided Karson toward a store before phasing out of existence right in front of an android which was designed to look like a real human girl. At first glance, Karson immediately recognized the model to be the same as the one he saw inside his father's apartment.
[Karson] - "You ain't just a prick... You are just lonely. "
Karson slowly realized how he rarely visited his father despite how he knew that his father had no one left in his life besides him.
[Karson] - "Maybe I was the prick all along... A bloody wanker who failed at life. "
Just behind Karson, a massive crowd blocked the street in a peaceful protest in support of imperial liberation. Due to the overwhelming number of protesters, the police force was standing on its last leg as it desperately tried to push back against their march forward. At this point, news stations began to show up in the area. At first, the policemen smashed reporter microphones and cameras in an attempt to censor the diffusion of the chaos that was unfolding.
[Crowd] - "We had enough! Down with the government! "
[Policemen] - "STAND BACK! WE WILL USE FORCE IF NECESSARY! "
In a panic, one of the policemen accidentally fired a shot at a protester who was getting agitated in front of him. This single shot sparked a chain of events which increased the frustration of both sides to the point where every policeman began to unload their weapons. As the rain of bullets smashed through the protesters, Karson remembered the way the gang members executed his mother.
However, something inside his mind snapped. This time, instead of being frozen in fear, a feeling of anger slowly built up inside his mind. A wave of primal rage burned inside his body as his mother's mutilated body reappeared constantly inside his mind. With a guttural scream, Karson charged inside the chaos and stole one of the policemen's pistols. Before the policeman could even react, Karson fired a shot into the man's face, killing him instantly.
At that moment, Karson didn't feel guilt or disgust, he instead felt deliberation. Karson laughed as the dead officer's blood slowly rolled off his hand and face. Suddenly, Karson was hit on the head was a heavy object before his half-conscious body was dragged into an alleyway. Although his vision was blurry, he saw a row of protesters being lined up and shot by a row of policemen.
At two officers dragged him toward the wall, Karson tried to reach for their guns but was shoved forward before he could do so. As the row of policemen pointed their barrels at him, Karson's gaze was that of defiance.
[Karson] - "Shoot me, you bloody inbreeds. Does it feel good to execute a civilian? I know it felt good when I shot one of you! "
Mumbled Karson with spite.
Karson watched as bullets flew toward him in slow motion. At first, Karson thought that this must be how final moments are played before death but he soon realized that the bullets are actually floating in front of him without moving. As his vision finally cleared, he saw the row of executioners all being forced to point their guns at themselves before ending their own lives.
[Mike] - "You look terrible, mate. "
Said Mike as he tended his hand toward Karson.
[Karson] - "Who are you? "
[Mike] - "The man who saved you from your house fire and paid for your medical bill. "
[Karson] - "Ah, it's you. What do you want from me? "
Mike smirked.
[Mike] - "You are quite brave back there. Your lack of fear and sense of loyalty toward the empire's cause tells me that you will make a great cyberknight. "
[Karson] - "Huh? A what? "
[Mike] - "Let's put it simply. I'm offering you a chance to join the imperial ranks. "
Karson hesitated but after realizing how little he had left, Mike's proposition appeared to be the best out of all his options.
[Karson] - "It's either this bullshit or death for me. I'm in. "
Said Karson as he grabbed Mike's hand.
Things moved quickly as Karson was evaluated for his sensitivity to the crystals. After being confirmed to be able to wield an ability, he was sent in for surgery to have the whole system implanted in his arms, brain and spine. Doctor Ethan and Mike watched outside the operating room as Karson's operation proceeded.
[Ethan] - "I ran a few psychiatric tests and found that he ain't very stable mentally. "
[Mike] - "He just needs time. He went through a lot of shit a few days ago. "
[Ethan] - "You need to keep a close eye on him. When you turn a person into a cyberknight, you are basically granting him divine powers. "
[Mike] - "Cyberknights are also chosen based on their virtuous and selfless qualities. He has every reason to want to serve the empire considering what his country has done to him. "
[Ethan] - "How naive of you to think that everyone is just like you. Give a humble man enough power, and he will become a tyrant. For casual people who have never gone through the same mental training as you, a single dose of power can drive them mad. "
[Mike] - "I changed Kadyn, didn't I? She was conditioned to be a cold-hearted killer, yet I managed to bring her human side forward. "
[Ethan] - "You have no idea the malice and greed that can be found inside the human heart. You can paint a blank canvas into a picturesque flower, but you can't erase a painting that has already been done. I speak from experience, Mike. There are things your twenty-year-old mind could never grasp until it ages. "
[Mike] - "Well, we'll just have to find out. "
Said Mike with an optimistic look on his face.
Later, Mike and Karson arrived inside a large temple-like room where broken stones littered the place. After stopping in the centre, Mike ordered Karson to activate his ability.
[Mike] - "Crystal abilities are synonymous with us cyberknights. We use our abilities for good, not for our own needs or our own ambitions. Each cyberknight possesses his or her own ability which can vary greatly from one and another. They vary from offensive to defensive and from supporting to hazardous. However, all abilities will revolve around the control over energy or molecules while remaining mostly bound by the laws of physics. For instance, my ability allows me to manipulate molecules and energy however I want as long as I can mentally picture or conjure my action. "
Said Mike as he stood with his hands behind his back.
[Karson] - "So, what's my ability? "
[Mike] - "One's abilities depend on the user's mindset and mental power. You have a strong will, Karson, thus why you were compatible with your crystals. "
[Karson] - "Alright, bring it on, then. "
Said Karson as he rotated his neck as a warm-up.
With a focused mind, Karson mentally activated his crystals before striking forward. However, nothing happened as Karson took several swings in the air.
[Karson] - "What? Nothing's happening. "
[Mike] - "Remember, your ability represents your most inner person. Your goals, your ambitions, your emotions, your traumas, your passions, your nature, your personality. "
Said Mike as he tapped his finger against his skull.
When Karson thought back on his life, he only saw the past few days. All the good memories seemed to be non-existent.
"What determines me... What makes me who I am... "
Karson thought about his past and only saw weakness but when he thought about the moment he pulled the trigger, he felt empowered. Not even once in his life has he felt a thrill like that experience. For once, he was standing above a system that oppressed him.
"I'm just a bastard with nothing left. "
A sensation of rage, hatred and excitement slowly built up inside Karson's mind before he suddenly struck forward with his fist. The result was instant as the concrete floor was smashed downward with such power that blood started to leak from Karson's ears. But he didn't care about his pain as the euphoria from the power he wielded rushed through his mind like a powerful drug. Suddenly, the floor cracked again before pieces of broken concrete began to float in the air.
[Mike] - "I suppose I made the right choice. You are indeed a powerful user, my friend. "
[Karson] - "Thank you, bruv. This is amazing, haha! "
Said Karson with a thrilled expression on his face.
[Mike] - "If you have anything belonging back in London, go get it, because you are moving into imperial accommodations. You'll learn under me. "
Although Karson didn't have anything left in London, a dark idea came to his mind as he falsely told Mike that he had some things he wanted to bring. Just like that, Karson was allowed to return to London to collect his belongings but instead of heading toward his home, he began to walk to the inner city.
After a short stroll, he was suddenly stopped by SCO19 (Britain's SWAT) officers who were heavily armed, armoured and enhanced with powerful cybernetics. These beasts of men patrolled the crime scene of the massacre from the previous week to ensure that no insight about the event could be leaked to the general public.
[Officer] - "Stand back, son, this place is off-limits to civilians. "
Said the officer behind his mask.
However, Karson wasn't intimidated by the row of crimson eyes that stared into his soul. A normal person would have chosen to step back if he valued his life but Karson, instead, stared back at the officer with killer intent in his eyes.
[Officer] - "Are ye deaf, STAND BACK! "
Yelled the officer as he raised his 50 calibre rifle against Karson's head.
Karson raised his hands and turned around while brushing his fingers against the weapon. All of a sudden, the gun was turned into molten metal. As the officer stood in confusion as to what was happening, Karson charged in and punched the man in the chest. In an instant, the officer's upper body became a red mist which coated the entire street behind him in gore.
As the other officers fired their weapons at him, Karson simply rushed through the street while brushing against death on multiple occasions. He didn't care if one of the bullets happened to kill him, all he had in mind at that moment was revenge. Somehow, through a miracle, Karson managed to make it to safety before squeezing his way out of the quarantine zone through an alleyway.
He was where he wanted to be, right in front of the animation studio he used to work at. As soon as he walked into the building, he was greeted by one of his ancient colleagues but Karson was quick to recognize the tattoo on his arm which was the same as the one worn by one of the gang members that night. Without hesitation, Karson punched forward and instantly annihilated the entrance and the man's body.
As Karson began to walk deeper into the studio with bloodthirst in his eyes, Elise suddenly jumped out and fired a shot into his abdomen. However, Karson didn't even flinch as he tackled her against the wall before smashing her into an unrecognizable mess with a punch.
[George] - "That's enough, Karson, stop this madness! "
Said George as he pointed a gun at Karson.
As soon as Karson turned around to face him, George's grip on his gun began to loosen as all of his limbs trembled in fear. Karson wasn't a man anymore, he resembled more of a wild beast with an unsatiable hunger for blood. With a terrified expression on his face, George decided to lower his weapon knowing that Karson would probably be able to kill him even if he managed to land a shot at this distance.
[George] - "I was on your side, bruv, please. Elise got what she deserved while I helped you. I have kids to raise and feed. I promise, if you spare me, I will leave this life of crime. "
Said George in an attempt to reach Karson's human side.
However, Karson's mind was too far gone to reason with George's pleas. Without an ounce of hesitation, Karson struck at George with his fist but somehow, George didn't splash into a cloud of red.
[Mike] - "That's enough. You got your justice, now leave the innocent alone. "
Karson turned around to see Mike standing beside him. With an enraged yell, Karson lashed out at him with his fist but Mike simply stared at Karson with a disappointed face as his punches didn't even cause him to flinch. By raising a single finger, Mike caused Karson to lose control of his body before smashing himself into the wall and falling unconscious.
[George] - "What the hell is going on... "
Said George as he fell to his knees.
[Mike] - "I'll take care of this. You take care of your family and stay away from any criminal groups. The empire doesn't take kindly to gangs and crooks. "
[George] - "I will, thank you, bruv, I will! "
Said George in relief.
[Mike] - "The empire is also open to recruitment if you are looking for steady employment. "
Said Mike as he carried Karson on his back.
[George] - "Where can I sign up? "
[Mike] - "Sit tight, and wait a few days. We were just done with France and Belgium. "
Said Mike as he walked out of the building.
Later that day, Mike ordered his fleet in position as the imperial forces began planning the invasion of England. Just as the hours of command duty came to an end, Mike was called in by Admiral Valentine for a strategic meeting. Right after the meeting, Mike had to put on his helmet and assume the identity of the Grand Knight so he could deal with hard-to-reach militias in the Swiss Alps.
It wasn't until 3 in the morning that Mike was finally able to rest for the day. However, Mike was so tired that he simply fell asleep while standing inside his office. As his limp body fell forward, Kadyn luckily caught him before his face could slam against the ground.
[Kadyn] - "Sigh... look at you. "
Said Kadyn in a loving voice.
Kadyn slowly sat down and gently rested Mike's head on her thighs.
[Kadyn] - "Now, sleep well, my knight. You deserved it. "
Said Kadyn in a soft voice as she caressed Mike's hair.
Upon hearing Kadyn's voice, Mike slowly opened his eyelids and turned around to face her.
[Mike] - "Huh? How... How are you here? "
Said Mike in a sleepy voice.
[Kadyn] - "To bring you lunch, silly. I made this myself. "
Said Kadyn with a big smile as she deposited a small box beside her.
[Mike] - "What's wrong? You must want to tell me something. "
Said Mike with an unconvinced expression.
[Kadyn] - "Why? I can't show my Mikey some love? "
[Mike] - "If we were just two regular people, living regular lives, working regular jobs, I would never even question your motives. However, this is the first time you have shown up in my office despite the obvious risks, so why? "
Mike's words hit Kadyn with a dose of reality which caused her smile to falter just for a second. However, she quickly recovered while sporting her heart-warming smile.
[Kadyn] - "Then I should do this more often. "
[Mike] - "Just tell me what you want to say. Your smile could fool others but not me. "
Said Mike with a compassionate look in his eyes.
With these words, Kadyn's facade finally broke down as her smile vanished completely.
[Kadyn] - "Why are you like this... Couldn't you just pretend for once? "
Said Kadyn as she closed her eyes.
[Mike] - "Does pretending make the truth less painful? "
[Kadyn] - "You are such an asshole sometimes, Mike. The truth is, they are sending me away on an infiltration mission in Russia. Due to the nature of my mission, I will probably not see you for years. I just want to see you one last time... is this too much to ask? "
Said Kadyn while trying to repress her sadness.
Mike stood up and hugged Kadyn against his chest.
[Mike] - "If that's the case, then let's make this night memorable. "
Said Mike while comforting Kadyn by rubbing her back.
[Kadyn] - "I wish we were just regular people, you and I. That way, we won't need to pretend anymore. "
Said Kadyn with regret.
[Mike] - "You know what's special in our case us two compared to a regular couple? "
Kadyn didn't respond as she pushed her head harder against Mike's chest.
[Mike] - "We can make memories no others can make. "
With a single jump, Mike flew into the sky with Kadyn in his arms. After passing through the atmosphere, the pair flew toward outer space inside suits made of clouds. Soon, Mike and Kadyn landed on the moon.
[Mike] - "You can open your eyes now. "
Upon opening her eyes, Kadyn saw the vast expanse of the lunar surface. By raising her head, she saw the Earth as a magnificent blue and green sphere in the sky. The excitement and amazement shined in Kadyn's eyes as she backed and leaned against Mike.
[Kadyn] - "This is amazing... "
[Mike] - "That's not even the best part. While the lunar base allows some people to travel here, we are not bound by their rules and restrictions. "
Said Mike as he grabbed Kadyn's hand.
In an instant, Mike flew with Kadyn to the dark side of the moon before landing on the tip of a hill. It was then that Kadyn saw a glimpse of light which grew on the horizon.
[Mike] - "How about seeing the sunrise on the dark side of the moon? "
[Kadyn] - "You really know how to make a moment special. "
Said Kadyn as she leaned her head against Mike's shoulder.
War... war is a necessary evil that is needed to awaken people's lost spirits. Spend too much time in peace, and one will forget what true suffering is. One will feel entitled to the freedom they are being given and abuse the power that is offered to him for free. There will always be conflict, and those wishing for eternal peace are simply ignorant of the reality around them. War is also the chaos that is required for the old to be replaced by something new.
In England, the corrupt government in power was dismantled as waves of politicians were pulled out of their underground bunkers. People all around the country cheered for the empire which restored the livelihood of many immediately following the restoration of a temporary government. Not long after, all classified documents from MI5 and MI6 were leaked to the public, exposing all the twisted methods employed by the government to control the public as well as all their corrupt affairs.
While Mike focused on leading the war effort, Kadyn was sent undercover into Russia for intelligence gathering. Although Kadyn gave Mike the whereabouts of her location, they both agreed to not contact each other so the mission doesn't become compromised. However, the main reason remains that Mike suspects Sniper's personal knights of spying on him.
After a few days, Karson woke up from his coma but was immediately met with Mike's disappointed stare. Despite everything, Mike gave him another chance in the hopes that he would change his ways and become a better person.
The war is growing across many continents except North America, as Sniper was saving it for the ultimate purpose of using America's bad image as propaganda. Displeased and angry populations from conquered lands began to join the empire's ranks in masses and contributed to swelling the imperial military to a multi-million army.
However, all this is simply the start of Sniper's revolution.
To be continued...