No Turning Back

Chapter Fourteen: Assailant

After a calming breath, Richtofen eased his grip on the knife. Slowly, he carefully pulled it away from the German's throat. During the struggle, the intruder had dropped the pistol he had been holding. But thankfully though, it had fallen nearest to Richtofen - who quickly clocked it.

The man, however, showed no interest in locating the whereabouts of the gun as he instead lumbered away. Once he had taken a few paces; he came to an abrupt stop. The man steeled himself and breathed a sorrowful sigh. He then dusted himself off and flamboyantly swivelled around on one heel to look at Richtofen.

"Has anyvone told jou how devilishly handsome jou are?" The man cooed before revealing his face - and taking Richtofen by surprise.

Richtofen's eyes widened as they reflected the man's face back at him. His suspicions had been confirmed. Richtofen's glacial blue eyes gazed into the very same ones - but they were not like Primis'. The man stood before him was like his doppelganger.

As well as their eyes, they shared the same swept back dirty blonde hair. The man smirked as he gazed back at Richtofen with the same time-worn face - each line etched by his twisted past. But, strangely, this Richtofen was wearing a cosmonaut suit. He looked just like Richtofen and not at all like Primis. The man before him was his Ultimis self.

Richtofen quickly broke his chain of thought and narrowed his eyes suspiciously. He sized Ultimis up before pursing his lips. Then, he finally spoke first.

"How did jou get here?! Und vhat exactly vas zhat all about?!" Richtofen snapped crossly. He folded his arms as he awaited an explanation.

Ultimis snapped from his smug daze before his eyes widened and he began to panic and grasp for any excuse. Richtofen raised a surprised brow as he was taken aback by Ultimis' reaction.

"Edvard, jou have to understand. It vasn't mein idea--", Richtofen's doppelganger replied with panic before pausing.

"It... it vas zhem! Zhey made me do it, I svear!" Ultimis continued, which earned glaring suspicion from Richtofen as he again pursed his lips.

Richtofen's eyes scanned Ultimis' face whilst trying to gauge the sincerity of his words. This version of him was rather jumpy - he did not carry himself like Richtofen. For his doppelganger, Richtofen had already begun to find Ultimis rather disappointing. Richtofen unfolded his arms and assumed a more open stance before replying.

"Und who are 'zhey'?" Richtofen asked condescendingly.

Ultimis anxiously looked around with paranoia as if checking the coast was clear before finally speaking.

"Jou know who I'm talking about, Edvard. Zhey sent me here after I failed on zhe moon", the doppelganger explained.

Richtofen flinched with the shock of Ultimis' words. How could he fail? The plan was fool-proof! How could someone as genius as him fail at anything - nevermind his grand scheme of all things! For Richtofen, nothing could stand in the way of him and the MPD. This doppelganger was a pale imitation of his greatness!

Then, Ultimis began to speak again which killed Richtofen's train of thought.

"Zhey sent me to zhis shpecific timeline und ordered me to take mein place vithin it", the doppelganger continued.

"Ve are just two of many infinite iterations of ourshelves. It vas nozhing personal, I promise", Ultimis added.

Richtofen's eyes shifted around as he processed the information.