Chapter 12: Shadows of Doubt
Commander Veyra paced the dimly lit corridors of The Bastion. The air was heavy with the acrid smell of molten metal and burnt circuits, remnants of the chaos that had ravaged the facility. Her once-pristine armor bore scars of the recent battle—gouges from corrupted claws and scorch marks from the Shard's violent energy bursts.
Veyra prided herself on her discipline and focus, but now, doubts crept into the edges of her mind like shadows. For years, she had devoted herself to the Iron Order, believing in its vision of a unified world ruled through strength and order. Rael's leadership had been absolute, his ambitions undeniable. Yet the Shard of Dominion felt… different. It was no longer a tool. It was a force that threatened to consume everything it touched.
She turned a corner and entered the observation chamber overlooking the ruined lab where the Shard was now housed. Thick reinforced glass separated her from the crystalline entity, which pulsed rhythmically like a living heart. The Shard's glow illuminated the darkened chamber, casting strange, flickering shadows.
Veyra clenched her fists as she stared at it. "You're not a weapon," she muttered under her breath. "You're a curse."
A Fragile Alliance
"Second-guessing already, Commander?"
Veyra turned sharply to see Dr. Alaric standing behind her, his face pale and gaunt. The scientist's usually crisp uniform was wrinkled and stained, his hands trembling as he clutched a datapad.
"Alaric," she said coolly. "Shouldn't you be fixing the containment field?"
"I should," he admitted, stepping closer to the glass. "But does it matter? The Shard isn't just destabilizing our systems—it's destabilizing us. You've felt it, haven't you?"
Veyra's eyes narrowed. "Explain."
"The nightmares, the whispers, the… rage. Everyone near the Shard is affected, even if they don't realize it. It's subtle at first—an increase in aggression, paranoia. But the longer you're exposed, the more it eats at you."
Veyra studied him, her expression unreadable. "And you think this justifies abandoning it? Turning our backs on everything we've fought for?"
Alaric hesitated, then shook his head. "No. But I think we need to consider that this might not be a power we can control. Even Rael… He's not immune, Commander. I've seen him talking to it."
Veyra's gaze snapped back to the Shard. The thought of Rael—calculating, unshakable Rael—succumbing to the Shard's influence sent a cold chill through her.
A Glimpse of the Past
Late that night, unable to shake her unease, Veyra returned to her quarters. She sat at her desk, staring at an old holo-recording she hadn't viewed in years. It was of her induction into the Iron Order—a younger version of herself standing tall as Rael handed her a ceremonial blade.
"The world is chaos," Rael had said in the recording, his voice steady and commanding. "And chaos breeds weakness. Only through strength can we bring order to this fractured world. Are you willing to become that strength?"
"I am," her younger self had answered without hesitation.
Veyra paused the recording, her reflection staring back at her from the dark screen. She had believed in those words with every fiber of her being. But now, she wasn't sure if Rael's vision of strength aligned with her own anymore.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at her door.
"Enter," she called.
A young officer stepped in, his expression nervous. "Commander, there's been another… incident near the Shard containment chamber."
"What kind of incident?"
"The guards stationed there started fighting each other. No provocation. One of them had to be restrained… he kept shouting that the Shard was 'calling' to him."
Veyra's jaw tightened. "And the High Overseer?"
"He's ordered all incidents to be classified and has doubled the guard around the chamber."
"Of course he has," Veyra muttered, rising to her feet. "Dismissed."
As the officer left, she grabbed her blade and strapped it to her side. If Rael thought he could suppress the truth, he was wrong.
Confronting Rael
The next morning, Veyra marched into the High Overseer's private chamber without waiting for permission. Rael sat at his desk, reviewing reports on a glowing datapad. Behind him, the faint glow of the Shard seeped in through reinforced glass.
"Commander," he said, his voice calm but laced with irritation. "You seem troubled."
"I am," Veyra said bluntly. "The Shard is destabilizing our forces. Soldiers are losing control. Scientists are scared. And you're ignoring it."
Rael set the datapad down and leaned back in his chair. "What you call 'destabilization,' I call adaptation. The weak are being culled, Commander. Those who cannot withstand the Shard's presence have no place in the new order."
"That's not strength," Veyra snapped. "That's madness."
Rael's masked face turned toward her, his voice dropping to a chilling tone. "Be careful, Commander. You speak as though you've forgotten your place."
"My place," she retorted, stepping closer, "is to ensure the survival of this Order. But if we keep playing with the Shard, there won't be anything left to rule over."
Rael rose to his feet, towering over her. "The Shard is the key to our ascension. Do you think the world will simply bow to us without it? No, they will resist. They will fight. And without the Shard, we cannot win."
Veyra stared at him, her resolve hardening. "You're wrong. We were strong before the Shard. We can be strong without it."
Rael's laughter was cold and sharp. "You're a soldier, Veyra. Not a visionary. Leave the strategy to me."
Seeds of Rebellion
As Veyra left Rael's chamber, her mind churned with conflicting emotions. She had never questioned his leadership before, but the Shard had changed everything. It wasn't just a weapon—it was a threat to everything they stood for.
In the shadows of the corridor, a figure stepped out to meet her. It was Alaric, his face pale but determined.
"Commander," he said quietly, "there's something you need to see."
"What now?" Veyra asked, her voice weary.
Alaric handed her a small device. "A recording. From the lab. It'll prove what I've been saying. The Shard… it's alive. And it's influencing Rael more than he realizes."
Veyra took the device, her eyes narrowing. "If this is true, Alaric, we may need to do something I never thought possible."
Alaric nodded grimly. "We'll need to stop him."
Veyra slipped the device into her pocket and turned toward the war room. Doubt had taken root, but in its place, a new determination was growing.
If Rael couldn't see the danger the Shard posed, then she would have to take matters into her own hands.