The Last Dainv

Chapter 238

"Well, how about I present to you a third choice?" Ollie said. "We live, and you keep on doing what you're doing. Simple as that."

The Proctor's gas mask turned toward him. "There are only two states in my world. Ascended or recycled. Now choose one of the two. There is no third."

"Yeah, see, that's a shit deal." Ollie walked past Gale and Rachel until he stood at the front. "You're basically offering us a choice between being a monster or being monster food. Where's the upside for us?"

"The upside is transcendence. Your flesh stops failing you. No more infections, exhaustion, death." The Proctor gestured at the kneeling abominations. "They understood this. Why don't you?"

"Right, but here's the thing." Ollie looked around at the kneeling abominations. "You stopped your entire army mid-attack. Had them back off. Made this whole dramatic entrance. Why bother if we're just seven bodies worth of biomass?"

The Proctor slammed his staff against the ground. "Because you've refined your flesh beyond common rabble. Concentrated ether. Combat hardened." He tilted his head. "You're premium material. I'm offering you a choice that ninety percent of this facility never received."

"Fortunate. Sure." Ollie scratched his chin. "But you're a smart guy. You run this whole operation. Production lines, supply chains, tactical positioning. You think in numbers, right?"

"I think in outcomes. Numbers are tools. And seven against hundreds of thousands sounds like easy math."

"My point is we're expensive." Ollie nodded back at the team. "To take us down, you're going to need to commit serious resources. That could be hundreds or thousands of units expended. How many units you willing to burn through for seven bodies?"

"As many as possible," the Proctor's speaker carried no emotion. "All replaceable within hours through the Sacred Wombs. Your ammunition? Your stamina? Your lives? Those don't regenerate. Your premium flesh, already filled with Attuned and Late Resonant signatures? That's priceless for the flesh forges."

Ollie winced at the last line but continued talking, "Sure, but replacement takes time. And while you're rebuilding what we destroy here, who's defending your other sectors?"

"Try your worst. There are thousands in the pipeline at Sanctuary and thousands more in other sectors. I haven't left anything undefended."

"Because you're not just fighting us," Ollie continued. "Those spider-mechs? The Guardians? They've gotten real coordinated lately. Almost like someone's been directing them."

"The Guardians operate on routines. Predictable patrol patterns established decades ago."

"They did. Then a couple of days ago they started hitting your strategic points with actual tactics. Weird timing, am I right?" Ollie glanced back at Erin. "Especially since we picked up one of their controllers."

The Proctor's gas mask tilted toward Erin. The lights in his eye sockets brightened. "Impossible. The Guardians don't have controllers. They're automated defense systems."

"You serious, buddy? They were never automated. Each one had a soul in them. Ever think why they had a signature?" Ollie smiled. "And their leader back in Protection sector? That guy's been running them like chess pieces. Every coordinated strike on your positions? That was him."

"Even if true, it changes nothing. My forces are superior in numbers and capability. The Tekanimantus' victory is inevitable."

"So here's the math," Ollie said. "Kill us, you kill this blue haired controller. What happens then? The rest of that army stops playing defense. They go full offense. Every Guardian in this Tomb hits every position you hold. All at once."

"I would crush them. Guardians are predictable. Limited tactical programming," the Proctor said. "Their aggression would be suicide."

"You really listening to me? They have a strategist and tactician now." Ollie shook his head exaggeratedly. "And besides, with what army? The one you've got packed into Unity Sector right now? Because it looks like you pulled everyone here. Which means your other sectors are sitting exposed."

The Proctor remained silent for three full seconds. "Garrison forces remain adequate for standard Guardian patrols. We've destroyed and handled them. The more they fight us, the more technology they let us acquire. Your words are meaningless."

"Maybe. But it'll cost you. Territory. Infrastructure. Time." Ollie stepped closer, now with a clear smile on his face. "So I'm asking again. Are seven bodies worth all that?"

"Temporary setbacks. I rebuild. I've done it before. The Sanctuary sector is a testament to our never ending recovery presence in the Tomb." The Proctor's grip tightened on his staff. "Immortality means I can afford patience."

"Can you though?" Ollie said, his smile faltering. "Because there's one more problem."

"Speak."

Ollie paused, putting a hand on his chin.

Crap. Did he run out of things to say? Everyone else felt the same as Gale. Kyle and Clyde gripped at their guns while Lily closed her eyes, mumbling inaudible words like a prayer.

Come on, Ollie. Come on!

Ollie looked up from his thoughts, smirking. “You see, that crazy fire lady? She’s got some crazy talent for blowing things up. Big things.”

Rachel's fists ignited, increasing the temperature even further, but her expression betrayed the intimidation she was trying to invoke.

"Now, I'm not saying she could level this whole sector," Ollie said. "But those six giant hearts pumping biomass through your operation? How many of those you think she could take out before we all die?"

"Shielded. Reinforced. Your firepower is insufficient to damage primary infrastructure," the Proctor chuckled. "Empty threat."

"You sure about that? She's not even done. She's got one more earring and a necklace. She could break them off now and show you how hot she gets," Ollie said. "We'd take your production with us. Seems only fair in this scenario when you want us to choose between your two options."

"Irrational. Emotional thinking. You're bluffing." The light behind the sockets of the Proctor's mask dimmed slightly. "Self-destruction serves no logical purpose. Your pawn would die before she reaches the hearts."

"Maybe. But you can't prove she won't." Ollie's smile widened. "She's crazier than she looks, bud."

The Proctor said nothing. The light behind his eyes dimmed even more. Around them, the abominations remained perfectly still.

"But honestly?" Ollie said. "The hearts aren't the real problem."

"Then what is?"

"That mantis bitch you sent after us earlier?" Ollie pointed at Gale. "He killed it with some kind of darkness ability. Erased parts of it from existence."

The Proctor's posture changed, this time taking a step back. "That ability. Irreversible erasure. Some of the Guardians had something similar. He wouldn't have as much power as them."

"That's not what I'm saying," Ollie said.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

"Then what?"

"Didn't you see for yourself? This guy behind me can zip past everything to target you."

The Proctor once again couldn't respond.

"So here's how this actually plays out," Ollie said quietly. "You throw your army at us. We fight. We die. But right before we go down? Right before that last monster tears us apart? And if this fire princess dies, he uses that ability on you. Not your army. Not your infrastructure. You. He also gets away because he always does."

"Nonsense. He cannot escape my army."

"The one in the Power Plant."

The Proctor took a deep sigh after hearing the word. "What about him?"

"Couldn't even kill my boy here. You wanna say that again? He can't get away?" Ollie asked.

The Proctor's staff burst a veiny bulge on the floor. His fist tightly clenched against his own staff.

"Your army wins. Your operation continues. Everything you built keeps running." Ollie paused. "But you're not there to see it. Because you died first. What happens to all of this without you? You're a logical guy. You think in cost and benefit. So let me ask one more time. Is our biomass worth your life?"

The Proctor remained motionless. When he spoke, his voice had lost its edge. The dim light of his eyes glanced to Erin, Rachel, then lastly, Gale.

A few moments pass before the Proctor decided to speak again.

"State your terms."

"Simple. You let us walk out of Unity Sector. We leave, we don't come back, we don't blow up your hearts, and he doesn't erase you. You get to keep living. Keep doing your thing."

"And the Guardian controller stops coordinating attacks on my positions," the Proctor said. "A ceasefire on two fronts."

"Not our problem. That's your problem to deal with. You deal with them as you see fit. You play your wargames, we just want out of this rift."

"Acceptable. But I have one condition."

"Let's hear it."

"The one with the space ability." The Proctor pointed his staff at Gale. "He walks in front. Where I can see him. The entire way out."

Ollie glanced back at Gale, raising an eyebrow. "Fine."

"Then we have terms." The Proctor raised his staff.

The abominations rose to their feet in perfect synchronization. They began to part, creating a corridor through the sector back to the vent duct where they came from.

"Safe passage to the transit hub. After that, you leave my domain."

"Pleasure doing business," Ollie's lips turned into a shit eating smile.

The Proctor let out a deep sigh, staring directly at Ollie. "I hope we don't cross paths in the future."

"Likewise," Ollie turned to the team and waved them through.

Everyone looked to Gale first, and he nodded in response. The team walked single file through the path created by the abominations.

They walked down the streets, following Gale as he used Breath of the Void to guide them to the vent they originally went in. The abominations parted, staring at them as they moved.

After several minutes, they entered the familiar alley where the duct was. Crawling through, they once again met more abominations at the other end. These ones were units that Gale hadn't analyzed before. Grotesque beings, a perversion of humanity.

They entered the duct that went to the Sanctuary sector. Entering it, they passed through the outer defense hall, crossing the pool of acid and then to the transit hub, and the train came into view.

The trip was quiet. The Proctor kept his word; though, it was obvious this wasn't the last time. Dad always said the smart ones are the ones to watch out for.

The group entered the train one by one, first Gale, then Rachel, Kyle, Clyde, Ollie, Lily, then lastly Erin.

The team moved to the front of the train car. Everyone dropped into seats. Silence fell. The only sound was the train's hum as it pulled away from the Sanctuary sector.

Kyle broke the silence first. Of course he would. "So, everyone just watch what I just watched?"

"Back row seats. Always the best seat in the theatre," Clyde said.

"What?" Ollie asked.

"First, you sold the murder robots on not murdering us. Then you sold the transhuman cult on not turning us into one of them," Kyle said.

"Fuckin' eh. That's why Ollie got the OK from the Arcanes to make Glory's Glorious Bazaar," Clyde magically pulled out a twinkie from his jacket.

"It's just Glory's Bazaar, idiots," Ollie said. "Besides, that Proctor guy was a complete amateur. Probably just some idiot with a god complex."

Rachel laughed beside Gale. Her smile stretched wider than it should, drawing attention from everyone.

Kyle turned to her, putting a hand on his chin. "The hell's wrong with your face? You're smiling too wide. Spill the beans."

Clyde beside him leaned forward from across the aisle, putting a hand on his chin, chewing on the twinkie slowly. "You look like you ate something, and you still owe me a twinkie."

Rachel's cheeks flushed. "What? No. I'm just happy we're all back together. It's nice."

"Well shit, can't say anything to that," Kyle said, glancing beside him, unable to hide his smile any longer and smiling just as much as Rachel. "Gotta say something though. Bossman and Gale really knocked that one out of the park. Actually, Rachel, Lily, even Erin did so much work."

Rachel's smile grew even bigger, temperature rising. "Everyone put in a lot of effort. That's why we're all here."

"Rachel," Kyle said, then looked to everyone else. "I'm... sorry. Lost my shit. You know. Sorry."

"Wasn't your fault," Rachel smiled at him. "We got Clyde back. That's what matters."

Clyde stood up suddenly, reached into his vest again and magically pulled out another Twinkie.

He walked over to Gale and held it out.

Everyone stared.

Lily's mouth actually dropped open and so did everyone else's. Only Erin remained emotionless, though she tilted her head.

"Take it," Clyde said.

Looking at Kyle's face, he didn't even look surprised, like he saw it coming already. He just nodded to Gale.

Gale took the twinkie. "Thanks?"

But Clyde stared at him, waiting for him to do something.

Opening the wrapper, the sound of it ripping echoed in the train car. Gale pulled out the twinkie from its wrapper and took a bite. It was the first time he'd ever had a sugary snack apart from the dusty chalky disgusting protein bars the Path gave him as a stipend. For a moment, he wanted to cry. Too late though. A single tear dropped from his eye.

Clyde smiled at him, going back to his original seat.

A hand rubbed behind Gale's back. Rachel said, "You don't have to cry. It's just a 2053 twinkie."

"It's not that." Gale sniffled as he shook his head, he didn't even know what a 2053 twinkie meant. "It's the first time I've eaten something like this. It's really good."

The words he said drew a collective laugh from everyone except Erin.

Rachel's hand squeezed his shoulders, saying, "You'll eat lots and lots more stuff when we get back home. I promise."

Gale nodded, unable to utter words as he chewed on the twinkie.

"Yeah... when we get back home," Lily said. "Someone did say this mission was suicide. Ain't that right, Erin?"

Erin's expression didn't change. "It was."

"Then how did we win?" Lily asked.

"There was an unaccounted variable." Her eyes shifted to Gale. "But the variable is..." She shook her head. "Nevertheless, my analysis was not wrong. His kind innately comprehends the ways of battle that no other being can."

Rachel's eyes widened. "Wh-what do you mean by that?"

"Who cares?" Kyle leaned back in his seat, still smiling widely. "Gale, everyone was right in the beginning of this rift."

Clyde nodded. "Rookie? More like leader."

"Right. Gale, welcome back." Ollie laughed. "See? You just needed some confidence."

"Welcome back, Gale," Lily said.

"Welcome back," Rachel said.

Gale's face turned beet red. He looked down at the Twinkie in his hands, focusing on it. This reminded him back in the Eclipsed, something similar happened.

"Look at him!" Kyle laughed. "In the face of an army, he will slay them all. But in the face of his friends, he turns shy to them all."

Clyde smirked. "That rhymes. I like it."

"No, it doesn't..." Ollie muttered.

"And about that sword? Witch Nyx is going to have a field day on that one," Kyle said.

"Shhh, Kyle. Don't scare him," Lily chuckled.

"Huh?" Gale said. "Is she supposed to be scary?"

"Think of it like this. Sometimes she wears full black. Sometimes she wears a full white dress. Her face looks like a porcelain doll, and she only goes out at night," Ollie grinned. "You think you can talk to her alone?"

Gale imagined it. That sounded like a white lady or a demon lady in the dark. All alone? Heck no. He'd slash first, ask questions later. That was a ghost!

"Erin wasn't totally wrong though," Rachel said. "That sword gave you a massive boost. Good job."

"The fire woman finally understands my perspective. My stratagems are never without rationale," Erin said.

"I was giving you a compliment! Why can't you just take it?" Rachel pouted.

Everyone laughed again, and the conversation devolved into an animated discussion about games, food, and travel.

Kyle, Ollie, and Lily led most of the conversation. And then there was also bickering between Kyle and Ollie. Something about Guatemala that Gale couldn't quite understand. Apparently, Lily was there too. That whole mission resulted in Clyde getting mad because his Twinkie got shot by an arrow, and then all hell broke loose. Rachel talked about how Gale would've been perfect in the deep dark rift, and the rest agreed.

Even though Gale no longer had mom and dad, maybe he could find some solace in this group of idiots around him.

Maybe being a family didn't need blood relation. It just needed... whatever this was. They'd laugh, cry, and talk. Sometimes they'd argue and fight, but everyone knew to watch out for each other. And then there were Mia, Andrew, and Jacob back on Earth too.

That was Gale's new wish. To continue living with this family. The cabin in the woods he'd build would probably be pretty loud.

Soon enough, the train arrived at the sector. They exited the train starting from Gale, then Rachel, Ollie, Lily, and Erin.

Kyle and Clyde stayed behind watching the group enter the defense hall.

Rachel glanced behind, asking, "You coming?"

"Yeah, we'll catch up," Kyle said.

Clyde walked through the door first, Come on, bro. Let's go.

Wait. Kyle thought. He looked at Gale's walking form from behind. You thinking what I'm thinking, bro?

No shit. You think loud.

You think he's going to like my Steam library?

I'm more worried about him breaking my controllers. That grip though.

You already broke 12 of mine. Fuck you. Kyle thought.

You think he'll like 2049 vintage twinkies?

Probably.