⁕ The Cataclysm

[CR-455] - "Stand straight up! "

Screamed CR-455 to a group of Cyberknights.

The 7 Cyberknight advanced forward, leaving a set of perfectly aligned footprints on the snow behind them. The wind howled alongside the sound of trumpets being played by a band of military musicians.

[CR-455] - "In line! And turn! "

The Cyberknights stood in a straight line before turning to face CR-455, Sniper's highest ranking Cyberknight with custom armour painted with yellow and red stripes.

[CR-455] - "Salute! "

The Cyberknights immediately raised their hands beside their heads to salute the imperial flag floating amidst the Himalayan wind. Karson was the 7th Cyberknight in the line standing just beside an endless fall down the edge of Mount Everest. As CR-455 advanced toward the first Cyberknight in the line to decorate him with a medal, Karson couldn't help but look down the edge where the wind howled with anger.

Karson stuck his head out of line to see CR-455 in the process of decorating the second Cyberknight in the line. To think he is on the receiving end of a promotion despite everything he has done sent jolts of guilt down his heart. As CR-455 moved one step closer to decorate the 6th knight, the memory of a secret deal with Sniper flashed in Karson's mind.

As CR-455 approached Karson, his hand started to tremble alongside the stoic expression on his face. With a frustrated expression in his eyes, CR-455 punched Karson in the abdomen. But for Karson, his only answer is to swallow the pain and remain silent.

[CR-455] - "You have much to improve on your posture, you little shit. Keep that fucking pitiful expression and that stupid hand shaking, and I might just promote you to a senior patient of Parkinson's disease. "

Whispered CR-455 into Karson's left ear.

In a violent movement, CR-455 stabbed the medal through Karson's clothes into his flesh before leaving him without shaking his hand.

[CR-455] - "Again, my congratulations on your promotion. Keep up the exemplary bravery and keep serving our lord Sniper with loyalty! All hail lord Sniper and long live the empire! "

[Cyberknights, in unison] - "Hail lord Sniper and long live the empire! "

[CR-455] - "Dismissed! "

After making their way inside the warmth of the base, Karson rushed into a corner to pull the medal out of his torso. Due to the cold outside, the medal was solidly stuck to his flesh. After a short struggle, Karson grunted as the medal came off with a chuck of his flesh attached to it. Blood dripped into his palm and it reeked of nauseating chemicals. The bloodstain on his armour was dark and dirty like his innocence. 

[Sniper] - "If your loyalty lies with me, Karson, then I have a test for you. It is no secret what you just told me about Mike and his girlfriend but if you can so easily betray the man who gave you a chance at a new life, what makes you loyal to me? "

Karson tried to push that conversation with Sniper to the back of his mind as he walked but the echoes of Sniper's voice were oppressive like the bone-crushing pressure of the deep sea. Resistance was useless as the memories quickly overpowered Karson's will. 

[Sniper] - "Here's the thing, Karson, I don't appreciate traitors but what I hate more are the weak-minded. Mike thinks life is simple. He refuses to bear the responsibilities that require his attention, instead, he chooses to be controlled by his emotions. His loyalty does not lie with me or the empire but to that filthy labrat of his. I think it's time for him to wake up from dreamland. "

Karson is starting to struggle to breathe under the oppressive feel of Sniper's voice. 

[Sniper] - "Actions have consequences. Sometimes, it's not so rewarding to serve only one's interest but, you can still salvage your situation. As the emperor, I am just and fair. You will assassinate Mike's beloved rat with the help of a few friends of ours. Mike and she often frequent a luxury restaurant in Rome in their leisure time and not far away from there, is a group of rebels composed mainly of ex-Italian military personnel. "

A masked Cyberknight snuck up behind Karson as Sniper spoke. 

[Sniper] - "You will supply them with a few special weapons from me and you'll help them accomplish the rest. You will risk little in terms of retaliation considering how Mike will not know of your involvement. After the completion of your mission, Mike would probably eliminate the rebellion in revenge and grow a little bit of balls about killing people. Talking about killing 3 birds with one stone. "

Said Sniper followed by a cynical chuckle. 

The Cyberknight behind Karson abruptly stabbed him in the neck with a syringe and injected a grey substance into his bloodstream. Karson immediately turned around to attack his assailant with a punch but the knight simply placed a single finger against him and caused Karson to completely lose his mobility. 

[Unknown Cyberknight] - "You have 24 hours to complete the mission before the capsule around the poison dissolves. Once you have completed your mission, you may be promoted by Sniper's order. And I will be watching you. I can release the poison early if you decide to do something unwise against lord Sniper's wishes. "

Said the Cyberknight in a cold tone before he abruptly ripped the needle out of Karson. 

[Sniper] - "Don't fly too close to the sun, Icarus, and I mean it literally. "

Said Sniper in a cold and cynical tone. 

After walking into an army storage depot, Karson was led to a shipment of massive crates by an employee. After opening one of the crates, Karson immediately noticed the white letter written on the missiles: [Tritium composite. Danger. Hydrogen fusion bomb].

Karson's hand recoiled in fear as he was about to touch the missiles. At that moment, Karson was starting to second guess his mission but when he turned around, he saw the unnamed Cyberknight who injected him with the poison standing in a dark corner of the warehouse. Now with a stronger ceiling light, Karson was able to distinguish some of the features of the boogie-man. The Cyberknight didn't have a face, instead, Karson could only see his mouth and nose but beyond that, there was simply a hollow space filled with wire and machinery. The Cyberknight let out an unnatural grin before disappearing in the blink of an eye. 

[Employee] - "Hey, I don't get all day! Are you going to get this shipment out of here or not? I can't keep this storage open for too long or the other radioactive substances may contaminate the air outside. "

Said the employee as he walked toward the depot door. 

Karson hesitantly crawled behind the wheel of the vehicle and started the engine. He tried to describe to himself a strange sensation he hadn't felt in so long but could not find the right word for it. After breathing a large breath of the irradiated air, Karson decided that his option now was to drive. 

Meanwhile, Mike got himself ready in front of the mirror. As he fumbled his tie, Kadyn arrived just in time to help him with his struggle. 

[Kadyn] - "Here, let me tie it for you. "

[Mike] - "Sorry for the trouble, I wish someone taught me how to tie it properly. "

Said Mike in an embarrassed tone while looking away.

[Kadyn] - "I can teach you. "

Said Kadyn with a gentle grin. 

[Mike] - "What would I do without you? "

[Kadyn] - "Done and done! Now you look like a proper 50-year-old ready to look fancy at a party. "

[Mike] - "Huh? Does this outfit make me look that bloody old? "

Said Mike as he immediately turned toward the mirror.

[Kadyn] - "I'm just saying, I really don't think this brown dinner jacket suits you well at this age... "

Said Kadyn while pressing herself against Mike.

[Kadyn] - "When we'll be both fifty, I'm sure we'll dress in these out-of-fashion clothes while we go out eating with our children and even maybe some of our grandchildren. I'm not saying we can't start with a kid or two right away considering how we both have somewhat stable lives now. "

Said Kadyn with a slightly psychotic look as she and Mike both stared into the mirror. 

Mike, on the other hand, wasn't so enthusiastic about the idea as he could already see himself battered by mid-life crisis in his reflection. 

[Kadyn] - "I think that's a great idea! Look at us, Mikey, we are in peak condition to start a fam- "

Said Kadyn with increasing enthusiasm before Mike gently pushed her lips close. 

[Mike] - "Now, now, my sweet little lemon, how about we enjoy life a little before we cage ourselves in the mess of parenthood? We are both only 20, so we have plenty of time to do other things before your devious little plan to turn us both into rabbits. "

[Kadyn] - "How about just one? I won't ask for child support, I promise, hehe. "

Said Kadyn with a devious look in her eyes as she leaned in closer to Mike and wrapped her leg around Mike's waist. 

Just as Kadyn thought she had him under her spell, Mike immediately slipped out of her grasp with a sleek turnaround. 

[Mike] - "Gotta change or else we'll be late for our reservation. "

Said Mike as he closed the door before Kadyn could catch him. 

[Kadyn] - "Hey! "

After switching into a new set of clothes, Mike exited the bedroom to see Kadyn crawling up in a ball in the living room. 

[Kadyn] - "I'm sorry I made you mad, I was just joking. "

Said Kadyn with guilt in her voice. 

[Mike] - "Hey now, who said I was mad? I never said we won't have kids, I just said later. "

Said Mike as he hugged Kadyn from behind. 

[Kadyn] - "I simply thought that's what humans did after they found true love. "

Said Kadyn as Mike helped her stand up. 

[Mike] - "Let's start by living our lives to the fullest. Didn't you say there are so many more things you want to do? Let's do them first. "

Kadyn smiled before taking a look at Mike's new outfit. With a spark in her eyes, Kadyn admired Mike's all-black attire with his polished new black suit, his magnificent dark coat and his shiny boots. 

[Mike] - "Now, am I up to the lady's standard? "

Kadyn immediately dropped her grey coat and reached her hands toward Mike's coat.

[Kadyn] - "Can I? "

Confused, Mike allowed her to remove his piece of clothing. Upon getting her hands on Mike's coat, Kadyn immediately rolled herself into it.

[Kadyn] - "Now we can go. "

Said Kadyn playfully as she moved forward. 

[Mike] - "I knew you too well, you little coat thief. "

Said Mike with a slight grin before he reached out to catch a jacket flown to him by his ability. 

To be continued...