Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Logan runs across the open field, the wheat is just high enough to touch his chest ever so slightly and for some reason, that feeling brings a small smile to his face. The sun will set in an hour and as he picks up his pace he comes upon the caravan of refugees. They are looking for salvation in the mountain regions ahead before it’s too late. Distant sounds of metal clashing together fill the air and all who hear it feel an impending sense of doom. The very air itself is crackling with anticipation and nervousness as he approaches the group. The man in front is clearly the leader of these desperate wayward stragglers, he brandishes his weapon with familiarity.

“Halt or I fire in 3,2…” He yells. Without a moment to spare Logan leaps towards him and as he opens fire on him the bullets seemingly move in slow motion. Operating on instinct he uses his metal arm to block the barrage and without hesitation grabs the man by his face.

“So fast...” He mutters as he drops his weapon.

“Relax, I mean none of you harm. I am on a tight timeline and can’t afford to waste time fighting. If I were you I would head west over the plains, the Remnant will assume any humans went into the mountains to hide. Good luck.” Logan says as he releases the man. A breath later and he is already over the next hill and out of sight. The man stands in awe, knowing he could have easily been killed. The strange man with a metal arm will linger in his thoughts for countless hard nights to come. Nights full of doubt, fear, and worry if he will live through them. The memory of this encounter will give this man comfort during those times for a reason that escapes him. It’s almost like his body is moving on autopilot, as Logan makes his way towards the objective scenarios play out in his mind. Countless futures are possible but the fact remains that humanity survives in only one. Determined to make that one a reality he presses onwards, exhaustion never takes him even though it should have by now. He reaches New Delphi just as the sun begins its slow descent into darkness. What was once a beautiful city is now home to drug lords and crime.

The advent of Remnant had an adverse effect on many industries, some that thrived fell into ruin, and others that were on the brink of collapse suddenly exploded due to the relatively cheap workforce that now existed. New Delphi became home to many undesirables but one thing remained constant even here. The ruins of the temple of the Oracle that sat atop the mountain remained untouched by time and human alike. It was as if everyone knew to instinctively keep away from it. That its ancient mysterious aura must not be disturbed. That feeling of anticipation is now overwhelming all of his senses. This pull to reach the summit as fast as he can. He gives himself fully to it and he dashes onwards to his destiny. For a moment he tries to remember what he was like before his son wounded him but his mind is sharper now. Clearer and ready to do what is necessary to survive, is he becoming more machine than man? Before he loses himself to thought a tingling sensation runs up his spine as he approaches the mountain. He begins to climb up the rock face with incredible speed. No ropes or tools are needed as he barehanded grabs each rock and pulls himself up. A marathon climb that should have taken hours is done in mere minutes as he reaches the plateau. The sun is almost behind the horizon now but as Logan walks down the aged stone steps of the temple his body seizes. He begins convulsing and his vision becomes blurred. His consciousness flutters in and out, the sun is behind a man standing above him. The man’s features are obscured but his eyes are shining a golden hue. Almost as if the very sun lives in his irises.

“Give in Logan, all will be well. Just let it all fade away. You have struggled long enough don’t you think?” He says softly. Logan remembers his son, not as he is now but as he was when he was created. A young boy smiling with a warmth that he misses dearly. Holding onto his mission he wills himself to wake up as the green aura begins to spill forth from his eyes.

“You poor child, he marked you I see. Well can’t do much about that but at least I can prevent it from taking you over completely. Humanity will need you I feel.” The stranger says as he reaches out to Logan. Overtaken with rage and power Logan lunges at the man and grabs him by the throat. He is lost in memory, grief, and anger at what the world has become overtakes him as he slams the man into the cold rock ground beneath them. Desperately trying to choke the life from him but the stranger simply smiles and his eyes shine again. Except for this time a golden energy flies from them and consumes Logan’s body.

“Humans always surprise me, to think this all started with fire, and now look at you all. Be cleansed of the evil you foolish child!” He screams. The power makes him feel as if he is being burned from the inside out. He screams out in pain but knows this is a fraction of what he deserves for plunging this world headlong into death and dismay. Logan welcomes this cleansing fire and wishes it will heal his soul and somehow put him on the right path back to salvation. The ritual ends and the mysterious man hoists him onto his shoulders and walks him to the center of the Shrine and lies him down. “You asked for help with your equation and luckily for you, I have a friend that is amazing at math. She really knows her numbers you could say but she is also very strict! Memorize this or else, you get the type I’m sure.” The man says with a chuckle. It’s as if he isn't used to conversing. Logan is awake but cannot move or speak, his mind conjures dozens of questions. The man bends down and pulls a small dagger from inside his tattered cloak. Logan notices the cloak itself seems to be translucent and the man is wearing some kind of armor underneath that has glowing sigils emitting a faint light. The dagger’s blade is black with golden lines covering the surface. The lines shimmer ever so slightly, just enough for you to notice but not enough to draw attention. The hilt is wrapped in a scarlet ribbon that is wrapped tightly but hangs off the bottom ever so slightly. He begins to carve the equation into the stone pillar beside them. Logan watches in awe as the man effortlessly cuts deeply into the ancient rock. Moments later he is done and sheathing his elegant blade.

“Not too bad for a rush job, alright let's go ahead and upload it to your team. That’s the word right upload?... I’m sure it is, I studied. Before you ask me, I am not the man you met that fateful night all those years ago. It seems a traitor is in our ranks and will need to be discovered post haste! His evil knows no bounds, to be so good at corrupting!” He says as he strokes his chiseled chin, the man looks like a model with perfect cheekbones and long red shaggy hair. He walks over to Logan and extends his hand down to him. Finally, his body begins to move as he grasps the man’s hand. Lifting him to his feet the two walk slowly towards a pillar.

“Speaking might be hard for a while, your body may take some more time to become functional again. He had his dirty little tendrils wrapped all-around your insides. Your nightmares should cease now though, I cut the link between you and Him.” He says. They reach the pillar and he motions for Logan to place his hand on it. He begins to raise his arm and once he touches the pillar his cybernetic hand scans it and begins to upload it to Val. He looks at the man confused.

“Don’t worry about how, you need to worry about…” Before he can finish, a missile hits the shrine and it explodes sending them flying apart. Logan manages to look to the sky and sees a flock of bird-like creatures circling them. They look like hyenas with metallic wings that protrude from their backs. The beasts try to laugh and the sound reminds him of metal scraping across the concrete. He looks for the man and sees him struggling to get to his knees.

“Heh, you bastards knew we were going to get involved didn't you!?” He yells. The beasts laugh again as two of them descend towards him in a dive bomb. The man pulls his dagger from his side and that golden light begins to gather at his feet. He leaps upwards and seemingly steps on the air as if there are stones floating there. Bounding over the first beast he cuts its wings from its back with ease. Moments later his blade finds its home in the neck of the second one. They scream out in anguish and come crashing towards the ground. The man ascends higher, stepping on invisible stones until he reaches the last remaining one.

The lone creature opens its mouth and green energy begins to gather. Logan watches in awe at the display of speed and finesses this man has. The creature screams and the blast of power barrels towards the stranger. With the grace of a professional dancer, he effortlessly dodges the incoming blast and flies towards the beast. Slashing its throat with one fell swoop the machine hybrid falls from the air and slams into the ground. The stranger looks down at his work with a cocky smile and before he can gloat the situation turns dire as a robotic dog rushes towards Logan. The familiar green glow begins to emit from the beast's body. Knowing what is next the man throws the dagger and it lands in between the beast and Logan.

“Diafygí!” He yells. The dagger begins to glow and the beast explodes with the strength to level ten city blocks. Rocks fly miles away, destroying all they come across. The blast wave sends a shock wave that travels even farther. Anything it comes in contact with is instantly disintegrated. The man begins to glow and starts to run off into the sky, he looks down at the emerald chaos below. As he is distracted a metal spike impales his stomach as he hangs in mid-air. A ship floats in the sky above and Aion stands inside it grinning with pleasure. He pulls the jagged metal from his stomach and sees a green aura emitting from the would-be blade. Aion shakes his finger no as if he is scolding a toddler. The wound begins to spread as the green energy grows from the stab wound across his chest. The hero coughs as blood begins to fall from his mouth and slowly his skin begins to disintegrate. The last image he sees a smiling Aion as the world fades to black.