Antumbra - A Lost Cause

Chosen - Chapter Twenty Five

"Like I said," Cassius lounged in Marcus' chair as the latter returned to his office, "you're far too soft on her."

"She could use a little kindness in her life," Marcus said, walking past his brother and taking his usual stance before the bay window, "things aren't going to be easy for her."

"You can't keep treating her like a child," said Cassius, swiveling in the chair to face him, "especially if you plan to enlist her."

"I won't," Marcus said with a stern expression, "if she agrees, I'll be sending her to Constance."

"Oh," Cassius suddenly seemed less jovial, "you, uh, sure that's a good idea?"

"She'll need to be whipped into shape quickly," Marcus replied, "things are moving faster than I'd like. The Administration is actively considering armed operations on the surface."

"I know," sighed Cassius, "they figure the cat's out of the bag, but there's a lot of pushback from the civilian leadership. Not like that'll stop them, but if enough people with money start making demands-"

"It's this flagrant injustice that fuels us, Cassius," said Marcus, straightening his posture, "the limitless power the Administration holds. Human lives are weighed like coins to them."

"You don't need to tell me," Cassius said. He leaned back, immaturely tilting the chair on its back wheels precariously, "when I consider the battle ahead of us I question your faith in this Hybrid kid. She moved the Antumbra, I get it, but is that enough? Just because she can hold the gun doesn't mean she can, or will, pull the trigger."

"The Antumbra and its ilk did in an instant what a millennia of death and war couldn't accomplish," Marcus explained, seeming hesitant with his words, "I've studied the records. Weapons to eradicate war, as if war itself is something that can be destroyed."

"Who says it can't?" Cassius asked.

"War is ultimately conflict between two people," Marcus shot his brother a glare, "you can't destroy a concept itself, you can only burn its roots and salt the Earth so it never grows back."

"Speaking of," Cassius gave his brother a puzzling look, "are you ever going to tell me where you heard about this Argonaut?"

"That information would only endanger you," Marcus said, "if this all ends up coming back down the chain, I want you to have plausible deniability. At least one of us needs to make it through to the end."

"Good God," Cassius laughed, "you make it sound like you're not going to survive."

"Survival isn't my concern," Marcus turned around, his expression deadly serious, "there are worse things you can do to a man than simply take his life."

"Your cryptic musings never fail to fascinate and infuriate me," Cassius rolled his eyes, falling forward so the chair was back to normal, "but if you insist on keeping this one as your pet, I'll make the proper preparations."

"I appreciate that," Marcus nodded. Cassius stood up from his seat, buttoning his dress uniform back up before he took his leave, turning back to Marcus just before he exited the office.

"Then again," he said coyly, "if it's Constance she's going to, there may not be much of the poor girl left."