Ouroboros B: Prologue
PROLOGUE:
The man in front of him was fast. Not just annoying spider monkey fast, but he was also awfully tenacious.
The man had skills too. He clambered over benches and buildings like they were nothing, somehow finding handholds in the infrastructure and shimmying up like a bizarre spider.
Immediately behind him, a man in full military attire was running at breakneck speed, vaulting over obstacles and moving through crowds with some measure of success, his eyes always on the man’s retreating back.
To be honest, William Dietrich hadn’t run this fast since he was in training with the rest of his unit. But then again-
Will leapt onto a bench and then launched himself at the side of a bakery the man had just scaled a moment ago.
“No one steals my wallet.” Will muttered as his unaccustomed hands clambered for a firm hold. His boots, unlike the man’s sneakers, gained some purchase on the brick wall and soon Will was back on the chase, his boots slamming onto the roof tiles with a harsh sound.
The thief looked behind him with a look of panic in his eyes as he kept on running, jumping over oddities on the roof like half dead pigeons and a bird’s nest. He didn’t seem to know where he was going. Will knew where they were though. They were almost at the edge of Omega.
Suddenly, up ahead, the thief skidded to a halt, his arms flailing at the air as his sneakers failed him. The thief found himself facing the abyss beneath the floating city of Viraris. If he had stopped earlier, he could’ve changed directions but with the momentum he had, his descent into the chasm was inevitable.
The thief felt a strong hand on the collar of the rough jacket he wore and then suddenly the world was a blur. Will had pulled with all his strength, sweeping the man off his feet and slamming him hard on to the roof.
Will loomed over the thief, both fists gripping onto the man’s collar so hard that his knuckles were white. His shoulders were shaking and sweat was dripping down in rivulets.
“Now…” Will gasped. “If you would be so kind as to give me back my wallet, I won’t throw you off the building.”
“Y-you can’t do that.” The thief choked out. His beady eyes scanned Will’s face.
“You messed with the wrong guy.” Will growled, lifting the thief up until they were looking eye to eye. “Take a good, long look at the uniform, asshole.”
The thief, driven to obey by fear, looked. The soldier in front of him had the usual patches. He had the shield of the 2nd Asantean Expeditionary Force on his right breast pocket, but it was the patch on the left pocket that made the thief’s blood run cold.
It was the famed scarred wolf’s head of the Reconnaissance Companies, the tip of the Asantean spear, the blade of the Confederacy’s war machine. Force Recon was known for their ruthlessness. Soldiers in Force Recon were given free rein to interpret their orders as they pleased, as long as they got the job done.
“You know what the wolf’s head means, right?” Will hissed as the thief looked upon him with fear. “How about you try to be a good guy and give me back my wallet?”
“H-here.” The thief practically threw Will’s wallet back at him. “L-let me go, please?”
“Filth like you shames the name of your country.” Will practically spat as he let go of the man. However, Will used his knee to pin the thief firmly down. “You’re no better than those Eracisian dogs that bite at our borders.”
Will reached out and grasped the man by his jaw. His trained eye spotted the bar code every male Asantean bore on their necks as part of the mandatory military service that formed the core of Asantean culture. “How many years did you serve, soldier?” Will asked with a gleam in his eye.
“T-two years, sir.” The man practically wept. “Please, I have a wife… kids…”
“Just two years? Pathetic.” Will declared. “We’re at war and here you are stealing a good soldier’s wallet.”
“I never…” The man blubbered. “Please… I thought-“
“Excuses.” Will said with a sharp frown. He pocketed his wallet and then lifted the man to his feet. “Arms behind your back. Let’s get off the roof.” He said, pushing the thief down.
As the two got back to street level, the local constables stepped forward, handcuffs ready.
“About time you got here.” Will muttered as he pushed the captured thief towards the constables. “You should be more alert.”
“Yes sir.” One of the constables said, awe written on his face. “You really… chased him for three blocks, sir?”
“Well,” Will spared a glance at the constable’s name patch. “… Chambers, I wouldn’t be in Force Recon if I couldn’t.” Will said with a wink. He clapped the constable on the shoulder. “Keep up the good work.”
“Will do, sir.” Constable Chambers called out as his partner handcuffed the thief.
Will ran a hand through his short dark hair and glanced at the watch he wore on his wrist as he made his way through the city. Before his wallet had been stolen, Will’s commanding officer, Captain Edwards, had told him to check in with the Viraris military base before he went out for liberty. The 2nd Asantean Expeditionary Force had entered the floating city of Viraris for a brief one month’s rest after an intense tour of duty in the Nue desert. Right now it was a full three hours before the War Office closed but he was still a long way from the base.
A hulking scholar’s metropolis, entire chunks of the city floated above the abyss below, connected to the earth by massive ensorcelled chains that had golden symbols crawling over the links and accessible via Abyssum-powered elevators and floating walkways. Beneath the floating city, a massive gaping chasm in the earth served as a reminder of what happened during the 2045 Asantean Civil War, a full thirty years before Will was even born. The Viraris military base was situated at Alpha, the first floating island to the west.
Leave it to Asanteans to follow scorched earth policy to the letter. Will reflected idly, glancing out the massive window of the walkway he was in. He glanced at his watch and frowned. He was late.
He walked out of the observation area and returned to the walkway. Overhead, speakers blared out the latest news on the home front as well as in the Nue desert. Will listened with half an ear as he moved through the crowd.
‘… The Sovereign has pledged to respond immediately to the Eracisian threat in the Nue desert-‘
‘… Aldric Edward von Triste, newly appointed Head of the Five Families of Belarias insisted that the actions of the Federal Defense Force were purely in the defense of Belarias’ interests-‘
It took him some time before he made it to the base. After handing over his military ID at the gate, Will quickly made his way through the compound.
The Viraris military base took up a quarter of Alpha’s total land area, even penetrating the bedrock. On the surface, countless men and women of the Corps milling around the base, maintaining the precious dozen HAMMERHEAD IFVs or did outdoor training. Within the base’s buildings and within the bedrock, the more secretive aspects of the Asantea Military Corps did their work.
It was to the sublevel that Will was headed to now. His strides brought him to one of the many Abyssum-powered elevators within the base. He quickly pressed the button, waiting only mere seconds before the elevator doors opened. Finding the elevator full of people, Will squeezed himself in.
The elevator had walls made of pure glass, the machinery used inside the display plate highly visible. The buttons had a subtle blue glow, while a metal plate positioned above the doors indicated, by flashing symbols, which floor the elevator was currently on. Will glanced at the metal plate as the elevator gradually emptied.
As the rocks flashed past the glass walls, Will took up his customary space by the corner. As soon as the door opened to the Sublevel, Will left the elevator, heading down the corridor to his left.
While he was walking though, Will bumped into someone, sending that person falling onto the ground. He blinked and then looked down. “Officer Browning.” He said, dipping his head in recognition.
The local Arach, or religious officer, for the whole city of Viraris, officer Elizabeth Browning was a small woman for her rank. She only reached up to Will’s chest. However, as the Arach, Browning served as liaison officer for local religious leaders and consultant to the base commander on ethical, moral and religious matters. As such, her position entitled her to wear the black uniform of a commissioned officer, as well as having a white lanyard on her right shoulder.
“Sorry, I didn’t see you there.” Will said with an apologetic tone. “Would you like me to help you up?”
“I’m okay, thanks.” Browning said with a smile, brushing a lock of brown hair away from her eyes. She gathered herself up with startling speed and stood as Will took out his access card out of his wallet. “You’re late, you know.” She said, sticking out her tongue. “The Kommandant doesn’t like to be kept waiting, you know how hotheaded he can be.”
“The Kommandant is there?” Will asked in surprise, nearly dropping his access card in shock. “How come I didn’t get that message?”
“Believe me; we were just as surprised as you are.” Officer Browning nodded and pointed a thumb over her shoulder. “He’s in Conference Room 2B with Captain Langley and a lieutenant I haven’t met with yet. I know you haven’t been here a while, do you need more directions?”
“It’s just down the hall, right?” Will asked. Already he was placing his wallet back into his pocket.
“Nope, they moved it.”Officer Browning took out a lollipop from her pocket, ripping off the wrapper as Will looked around incredulously. “But it was there last time I was here.”
“And that would be six months ago.” She said with a grin, the lollipop stick visible at the corner of her mouth. “Things get moved around here a lot, in case you haven’t noticed. We’re constantly expanding down here since the tunnel teams got those new drills from Belarias. Did you know they put up at least five new corridors since you were gone?”
“I… uh…” Will massaged his temples.
There was awkward silence in the corridor. Will coughed into his hand as Browning simply just stared at him. “… So… F-five corridors? Really now?” Will asked, squirming.
“Yep. Five corridors.” She said the words as if it was a matter of grave importance. “Anyway, do you want me to take you to the conference room?”
“Just give me directions.” Will said hastily and then flinched when Browning’s mouth soon grew into a pout. “As you said, I’m late enough as it was.” Will said quickly.
“Okay then.” Browning said slowly. “Conference Room 2B is down that hallway, then you turn right after you see the red light above the xray room-“ Suddenly she cocked her head to the left, like she was listening to something over her shoulder. “Naberius says hello, by the way.” She said, smiling brightly. “-continue from there until you see the plate on the door. You can’t miss it.”
“R-right…” Will said, unsettled by her smiling face and by the fact she had casually talked with her Ouroboros. “H-hello. I’ll just… go now.”
He turned to leave, but at that moment, Browning’s hand reached out and gripped him on the shoulder so hard Will flinched and stopped in his tracks.
Slowly, he turned around. Browning’s eyes were glowing an unsettling white color. Her hand was gripping him so hard her knuckles turned white. Will felt all the warmth leave his body as Browning tilted her head, testing her mouth as if…
“Lieutenant Wlliam Dietrich. 2nd Asantean Expeditionary Force, 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company. Son of Nicholas Dietrich, executed due to treason.” Browning began in a frightening voice. “I have assumed control.”
Will dropped his card and ripped his pistol out of its holster. Before he could point it at Browning, her other hand reached out. A portion of the wall extended and crushed the pistol into nothing.
“What the shit?” Will hissed.
“My intention is to merely speak with you.” Browning began, pulling the lieutenant towards her. Will had no choice except to bend over. “I am Naberius the Serene of the Ophanim. My Sire is Inugami the Aspirant, of Kamui the Dreamer.”
“-The hell do you want?” Will nearly shouted, but Browning lifted a finger to Will’s mouth, placing the digit firmly over his lips.
“Do not distress yourself.” Browning said with a slight sneer to her voice. “I am only here to give you a message… a prophecy or an image of a possible future. Interpret it as you will.”
Will, frozen in place because of the rather painful grip on his shoulder and unable to speak because of her finger, gave a slight nod.
“Humans… worthless and short lived. Ever have I worked, have I toiled to possess complete and utter knowledge.” Browning spat, her voice sinking into a totally different tone. It sounded alien to her lips, even with the Ouroboros influencing her voice. It was like someone was actually speaking through her like some sort of demented radio. “Why is that only I have been punished?” Browning took a deep breath. “Your city will drown in the abyss of your sins.”
“Wait… What?”
“Oh. He must’ve told you something… important.” Browning punctuated the last word with a great yawn as she shook her head. The light gradually faded out of her eyes. “Usually he tells me when he’s about to take the wheel.”
“W-what?” Will stared at her in shock.
“We have an amicable working relationship!” Browning exclaimed, placing a hand on her hip. “It’s a gift most people don’t have, you know. What did he tell you? I can’t really remember because he took my memory-”
“N-nothing. …” Will stammered. “R-right.”Will rubbed his sore shoulder. “I’ll just… I’ll just go to the conference room now.”
“Bye!” Browning said with an annoyingly cheerful tone of voice as Will brushed past her and went down the corridor.
Honestly, what was that about? Will wondered to himself as he passed by the red light above the Xray room. Punishment? Abyss of our sins? He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. Just when I thought the day couldn’t get any worse. Maybe I just imagined it.