Cyberknight: One Path (original novel)

We had won against the criminal cyberknights Jerry and Harry, as I had later learned their names. We were celebrated as heroes while we were merely doing our duty. However, never in a million years would I have been wise enough to realize what was truly going on under the veil of deception cast over our faces by Jagger. The man we all thought was Mike was truly a different person as Dane revealed to me the truth. 

Writing was never something I never was a big fan of. However, I felt like this was the only appropriate way to let out the screams that had been building up inside my heart during all this time. It was a single day after I learned the truth about Jagger and his "Lynching Game" that I received a mission. A mission I knew was an execution order. Up until now, I had no idea how many Blue Guards like me had been sent to "capture" the cyberknights responsible for the Appalachian disaster. Capture... In a sense, a dead sentence as none of us had a chance against them.

We had apparently put a wrench in Jagger's plan by winning against Jerry and Harry against all odds. After all, they weren't meant to be Jagger's executioners. Right after the celebration, Jagger's men made sure to sideline us from the spotlight and instead brainwash and promote McCree as the true hero in Jerry and Harry's defeat. 

How foolish I was to ignore that. At first, I didn't understand a thing about the situation... How I wished I had read Dane's message earlier. 

Entry 1: That fateful mission

"It was exactly one month after the celebration. Weeks after the incident involving Kadyn and Jagger at the party, we were sent on a mission. Back then I still hadn't seen Dane's message and went straight into the mission without thinking much about it. That is until I read Dane's message during the flight to our final destination. 

How foolish I was to have ignored it for so long!

We survived... We survived because we never encountered our dreaded executioner. However, the dead bodies... at least what remained of them, became a tattoo in my mind. It was not the hornet nest left by a machine gun, nor the splash of red left by a bomb, nor was it the twisted work of a psychopath with a knife, nor was it a brutal accident involving a vehicle. No, not by something accessible to the hands of a human. The simplest way to describe it was as if Gods had descended from the heavens and used their power to punish a few powerless mortals. 

I knew from that moment if we were to encounter whoever was responsible for killing the previous team, we wouldn't survive even for a second. "

Entry 2: Trapped in a cage

I didn't waste any time showing Dane's message to Oltevin. I didn't know who to trust. Even Oltevin was a gamble I took. Under the increased surveillance and the air of suspicion left by Jagger's Lynching Game, I didn't know who was on the side of justice anymore. McCree became a different person and Senju... I didn't know if I could trust him. 

These were my most desperate days. I ignored the countless calls from my girlfriend and all external contacts in fear that someone might inch their nose too close into my business and find out that I knew the truth. I should've seen it sooner, I should have! Jagger had already won by this point! Why did I wait so long to see it? How didn't I see the writings on the wall when McCree betrayed us? How didn't I realize the danger we were in when so many arrests were made? Why didn't I simply walk out of my personal bubble and see how the fire of chaos has already consumed the world?

HOW FOOLISH I WAS TO HAVE IGNORED IT FOR SO LONG! "

Entry 3: Awaiting death

The period of grace was already over. I came to this realization too late. Popularity was what kept me and my friends alive. The reason why we weren't killed that day was because we were too popular and our death would've raised suspicion and panic. By isolating myself after discovering the truth, I have played right into Jagger's hands as my absence allowed the people to forget about me. As the details of our second mission came in, I understood it was the end. These sons of bitches didn't even try to hide their intention to kill us as they simply wrote that they discovered the location of the third cyberknight and wanted us to go take her out. 

At this point, I knew we were done for. Either fight or face a legal execution by Jagger's men as they eventually ping some made-up crimes on our heads. They can go to hell. I'd rather fight and die as a martyr than become a show for him to promote his empire. 

I hope Lucy can find someone better after my death. I hope my friends can survive beyond my short-lived existence. I hope someone more powerful than I am can help you, Kadyn. I'm sorry for my inability to do more. "

-Audrey

*Back to the present

As Athena channelled her ultimate attack and was ready to strike at Audrey, Audrey closed her eyes and accepted her fate.

[Audrey] - "It has truly been a short-lived adventure, hasn't it, Kadyn? Blue Shine Over The Guillotine Blade... How did you even come up with this epic name, hehe... I'm sorry I couldn't help you when you needed my help the most, my dear friend. Let us fight side-by-side once more in our next lives. "

Said Audrey in a resigned tone. 

As the seconds passed, no harm to Audrey as she finally opened her eyes to see Athena standing before her. 

[Athena] - "What did you say? Did you say Kadyn? "

[Audrey] - "Yeah. She's a good friend of mine. I even owe her my life. "

[Athena] - "Is she the wife of a man named Mike or is she someone else? "

Upon hearing Athena's question, Audrey gasped in shock and confusion. 

[Audrey] - "Wait! You knew her as well? "

Said Audrey in a shocked tone.

[Athena] - "Mike was my master. I don't know what happened to him, he acted unlike himself these days. I don't personally know Kadyn but I respect her for her ride-or-die attitude toward my master. The last time I saw her, she held Mike's body as he died in her arms. "

Said Athena with a tone of sadness in her voice.

[Audrey] - "That man is not Mike! Who you think is Mike is actually a man named Jagger pretending to be him. "

[Athena] - "How can I trust you? Just a minute ago you tried to kill me! "

[Audrey] - "Because you killed millions of innocent civilians in the Appalachian Disaster and many other poor Blue Guards like me! You are still my enemy despite everything! "

Yelled Audrey as she stared at Athena with burning rage in her eyes.

[Athena] - "I never killed anyone in the Appalachian Disaster! I also never chose to intentionally kill Allied Blue Guards like you! I had the power to do good for this world and I wanted to help. When that man Jagger showed up before me and pretended to be Mike, he told me that by assisting him, I would be doing the world a favour. I knew my master for being a kind virtuous man... "

Athena paused and wiped the tears from her eyes as she realized what she had done by following Jagger's orders. 

[Athena] - "... I didn't question if it was truly him and I didn't have any way to prove it wasn't him. I admit I was wrong! I have made a huge mistake... I'm sorry! "

Cried Athena as she fell to her knees and released Audrey from her restraints. 

Despite being presented with an opportunity to kill Athena as she cried with her face buried in her hands, Audrey hesitated despite holding her knife at the ready.

[Athena] - "I'm sorry I killed so many innocent people without asking any question. If only I knew that man wasn't Mike... If only I wasn't so stupid! I'm so sorry! "

Said Athena as she cried with regret. 

At that moment, Audrey no longer saw Athena as an enemy as she felt the pain and regret through Athena's sorrowful voice. Athena was simply a good soldier, misled to do the wrong in a war she didn't start. 

[Athena] - "I just miss my master so much... But I allowed my emotions to blind my judgement. I should've known, I should've done something when I was feeling doubt in my heart. "

Slowly, Audrey kneeled down to Athena's level and comforted her by giving her a hug. 

[Audrey] - "If everything you said was true, then I don't see any reason to continue this hostility. We are all in the same boat, you and us. "

Said Audrey while still holding her knife at the ready.

[Athena] - "Thank you! I sincerely thank you for freeing me of my burden. Please give me a chance to make things right. Let me know what I can do to atone for my sins. "

Said Athena as she reached out and hugged Audrey as well. 

With this gesture, Audrey finally felt assured enough to drop the knife from her hand. After a long heartfelt embrace, Athena let go of Audrey and wiped the tears from her eyes. 

[Athena] - "Is Kadyn alright? Does she know about this Jagger guy? "

[Audrey] - "He enslaved her, abused her and locked her somewhere. I wished I could help her but I'm simply too powerless to do anything. "

Said Audrey as she looked down in shame. 

At first, Athena displayed shock on her face but this shock was quickly replaced by anger as Athena clenched her fists and teeth in rage. 

[Athena] - "He did what? Tell me where is that mother fucker, I'm going to kill that son of bitch! "

Yelled Athena with murderous intent in her voice.

[Audrey] - "Can you win against him? You must be one of the stronger cyberknight since you had that Existential Judgement-type ability. "

Athena pushed the ground in frustration before taking a breath to calm down.

[Athena] - "No, it's very unlikely that I'll win against him. Despite how you claimed he wasn't Mike, he still seemed to possess most of Mike's ability for some reason. "

[Audrey] - "According to Doctor Dane, it's basically a different brain in Mike's body. "

[Athena] - "If that's the case, then let's try to keep direct confrontation as a last resort. Knowing my master, I would have no chance to win against him even if somebody else is in control of his ability. "

[Audrey] - "Is he really that strong? "

[Athena] - "If only you knew Mike personally like I did. "

Said Athena as she got up from the ground. 

[Audrey] - "Then we will need to plan a special approach to rescue Kadyn. "

Said Audrey as she got up from the ground following Athena.

[Athena] - "Well, maybe we should get medical attention for your friends. They seem to be in pretty terrible shape from my attacks. "

[Audrey] - "Any hospital or facility is out of the question as their admission records will allow Jagger and his men to find them and kill them. "

[Athena] - "Unless they get administered in Imperial hospitals under anonymous identities. "

Said Athena as she crossed her arms. 

[Audrey] - "What? My friends are wanted by the Empire... well whatever new Empire among the dozen of different factions that formed. I don't think them getting captured is a better fate. "

[Athena] - "Relax, I have connections in many of the factions. After all, I was one of the fifteen Imperial Marshals a while back. Let's take my personal ship and send them to somewhere secure where Jagger couldn't reach them. "

Said Athena as her ability was already picking up Senju and Oltevin's wounded bodies. 

[Audrey] - "Looks like we don't have a choice either. It's funny to me how we were trying to kill each other a few moments ago and now you are helping us find refuge. "

Audrey followed Athena as she walked toward her ship parked in the dense wood.

[Athena] - "We were not fighting not out of spite but by following twisted roads which just so happen to cross. We weren't enemies to begin with. "

[Audrey] - "Whatever you say, cherie. "

Said Audrey as she shrugged playfully. 

While Audrey secured Senju and Oltevin on stretchers in the back of the ship, Athena sat in the pilot's seat and began fumbling with the controls. As her eyes drifted toward the view in front of her ship, she suddenly saw Mike standing against a tree with a proud expression on his face as he stared at her. However, in the blink of an eye, Mike disappeared from Athena's view before she could react. 

[Audrey] - "Come on! Let's go, they are in pretty critical condition. "

Said Audrey as she sat in the co-pilot's seat. 

As the craft began lifting off the ground, Athena noticed a massive crack formed on the mural from her battle against Audrey. Using her ability, she hastily pushed the mural back together, connecting the past on the left to the future on the right. Before long, the ship dashed through the sky toward Europe. 

[Athena] - "Do you know where is Kadyn or someone who might know her whereabouts? "

[Audrey] - "I know someone with the knowledge of it but I can't convince him to talk. "

Said Audrey in a frustrated tone while watching the clouds fly past her.

[Athena] - "Oh, is that so? How about we pay that friend of yours a visit after this? "

[Audrey] - "What are you suggesting? "

Said Audrey in an intrigued voice as she turned around.

[Athena] - "Is that friend of yours a bastard deserving of harsh treatment? "

[Audrey] - "Hmm... I'd say totally. "

[Athena] - "Good. I suppose you tried to good cop method with him, so how about we try the bad cop method on him? "

[Audrey] - "Gosh that's a good idea! "

Said Audrey with excitement.

Athena smirked in solidarity with Audrey's enthusiasm.

Entry 4: Hope

"Maybe the end was not as near as I had expected. In this desperate walk in the dark, I found an ally in the form of a fellow lost soul. I'm coming back soon. Hang in there, my dear friend, we are coming to rescue you! "

-Audrey

To be continued...