Graduation Exam (X) or Mine!

Planet: Tarsonis

Year:2529

Place: Confederate ??? Academy

-- Jun 11, 2529 - Confederate calendar - Day of the graduation exam --

Silence washed over the shocked audience. Dust clouds covered the building while Rishul's flames raged on, creating a ruined labyrinth from hell. Smoke rose, mixing with the dust and obscuring everyone's vision.

Popovich sat there, panicked by the thought of Sarah's presumed death.'N-n-n-no...my plans. She can't be dead. Sarah can't be dead! It's one thing to lose Octavian. It's another to lose Sarah to him, LIKE THIS.'

"What's wrong? Are you worried about your prized weapon?" Asked Duke. He frowned reading through Sarah's files. 'These don't match up.' His eyes rose to Popovich as a chilling expression washed over his face. "Popovich. Explain why Sarah's file doesn't match up with what she displayed?"

The 11 eyed Popovich with their phones in hand and kill orders ready. The law means nothing,' they thought.

"We told you repeatedly that Sarah and Rishul possessed power that was growing beyond conventional means," responded Popovich. Their brazen attempt at threatening him made him scoff, yet his eyes never left the cameras scouring the rubble.

As psionic reading spiked, the kids with telekinesis rose, everyone snapped to attention. However, they could barely see anything.

The dust clouds and smoke blended, obscuring the fire's lightning. While the building lights flickered on and off, as green vespene gas from the broken piping.

The cameras panned to Caesar entering the southern building. When Yasha and the rest saw his figure their weapons snapped to the western entrance, allowing Victoria to sneak away.

"C-c-come out and d-d-die!" Yelled a boy. Yasha could hear the stutter in his voice, sense the fear in his mind. He was panicking, they all were.

Not for themselves, no. But for Clark. 'How long was he planning this?' Thought Yasha. Her thoughts spilled outwards.

'Seriously! He clearly planned everything from Henry to Sarah's death, especially Sarah's. Kind of impressive really. I mean I knew Caesar was smart but executing four--maybe four people like that!?

It makes you wonder. What else was planned? And if he's not loyal to the confederacy, why's he targeting Clark?' Asked Yasha.

Those words froze the group, who fell to their knees as Caesar shot the first figure.

At first, some tried to fight. However, most just kneeled there watching their deaths. As the cars closed in, their bombs primed, ready to fire.

Yasha's thoughts echoed throughout the floor. 'I see why they're so loyal. It's hard not to be. He's bigger, stronger, faster, smarter. Time and time again we've fought against him. Yet here he stands like an indomitable emperor...it's funny. The name fits.'

'But he's cruel,' said. One girl.

'So are we,' said Yasha. Unlike the others, she remained standing, her eyes never parted from Caesar. 'We see killing as normal. Staff members treat us like freaks, so how would the civilians see us? Well to them were monsters. Maybe worse.'

'If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were joining him,' chimed a boy. His thoughts were laced with rage.

Caesar glanced at Yasha, she grinned clenching her fist. 'Maybe that wouldn't be so bad.' Her words left them stunned. But what happened next, even more so.

"Is it too late to abandon him? Will the confederacy forgive us?" Asked the girl. Her words caused the nobles to smile, before cocking their heads at Popovich.

'You stupid fools. They're not talking about the confederacy or me. These brats are rebelling before your very eyes. And you're too arrogant to see it.'

Popovich sighed. A dangerous glint flashed within his eyes while he looked upon the nobles. All but general Duke and Anabelle missed this look as he thought. 'The confederacy needs me more than I realized.' While clenching a fist.

His focus remained on Caesars. Who cracked a smile while answering her question. "Of course you can. They'd happily accept you back. But you'll have to prove it your loyalty."

" How?" Asked the girl. Her questions attracted the others.

They hung on his every breath, waiting for his words.

"It's simple, believe!" 'Endure. ENDURE! ENDURE! Endure.' yelled Caesar. His psionic energy rippled across the tower floor, carrying the message along with it. The kid's mouths hung open as Caesar's smile filled their hearts with hope and determination.

"SHUT UP!" Yelled a boy. His anger rippled across the room. "You can't choose to inspire hope! After treating us like trash for years!" 'And don't you dare say otherwise, we both know you think everything out!'

The boy's words echoed with the hearts of many. However, Caesar just shrugged, disregarding him as he moved to the next floor. Yasha sighed then went her own way. Her parting words were what killed all hope.

'Clark's as kind as Caesar is cunning. So ask yourselves. Why would Caesar throw us a bone? The answer is simple. Caesar must think Clark's going to be killed even if he passes the exam. And staying with him means you die too. But you just gave your last hope a massive fuck you. In front of everybody! So take care guys, I hope we meet sun side.'

As Yasha said that, the nobles made note of every recruit. In years past, a result like this would've gotten the director...removed. But Popovich's scheming made that an impossible option, he was. And would remain the only option...for now.

And so this left one undesirable option.

"Computer, send a message. I want every recruit that displays disloyalty to be caged then processed for neural resocialization. Effects be damned!" Sneered Duke.

"Are you Duke? We all know how severe the side effects are on psionics," said Constantino. His eyes remained fixed on Popovich. They all were and he didn't care.

'Oh, these snotty fools. How have they not realized my superiority? It's no wonder my influence grows,' Thought Popovich. As he spoke Popovich watched Caesar and Clark come face to face. "Are you sure, my great general? The side effects range from extreme cognitive disorders to extreme mental disorders, all of which are psionic related.

Meaning treatment will be minimal, and field effectiveness will drop. Oh! Before you say why are the terms so broad. It's because their disorders are extensive, wild, extreme, and still unmapped. Meaning we're still researching it all.

Why do you think we haven't used the neural resocialization procedure. It's not that I don't want to enslave these kids, It's just that we cannot. Or do you want to waste the millions invested in each kid?"

"HAHAHA! Investment be damned!" Laughed Duke. "Computer, send the message. Whoever I deem acceptable can return to your command."

"Look around general, the others don't agree. Face it...all of you. This facility is MINE!" - Popovich