Heathen Chronicles - Changed

Prologue - The Architect of Chaos

December 30, 2015

General's POV

The air was thick with the metallic after-smell of war.

The fields ran red, and the ever-shifting horrors of the battlefield were a strange new shock to my soldiers, who fought fiercely to hold our position. The enemy—those who called themselves the "Survivors"—had been pushed back for now, but they would soon return to finish what they started.

Most of my men were dead. Extreme action had to be taken before I lost a year's worth of progress. Currently, our focus was on extracting gathered intelligence to our new compound. I didn't truly care for the soldiers; there was only one thing of importance to me now.

My team was almost complete, but it wasn't enough. I needed her.

"Sir, good news from the front. The rebels are retreating."

Silence.

"But our numbers have decreased severely."

The speaker was my Sergeant, my second-in-command for field operations. I still didn't trust him.

"How many, Sergeant?"

"Nearly three-quarters dead, General. There are also rumors, sir."

"Rumors?"

"Yes, sir. They say this attack was merely a test of our defenses—a way to cull our forces as much as possible."

"Is that so? Well then..."

"My team has gathered that they have reinforcements arriving from other regions," the Sergeant continued. "They plan to strike again, especially now that they believe they've identified our weakest points."

My Sergeant believed his team was superior to the one I had assembled. He frequently argued that I should have used them for my... program. Idiot.

"That's good."

"They believe they can win this, sir," the Sergeant informed me arrogantly, rolling his eyes at the thought.

"Do they? Good. It's a shame to lose so many valuable workers, but the research must go on, as the doctors say. Speaking of, what is the scientists' progress?"

I stared out at the image before me—the chaos I had created.

"They claim they have perfected the final serum. It is ready for testing, but they no longer have any... subjects. They asked if we could spare a few more men or women," the Sergeant reiterated cautiously. He knew I possessed a temper beyond that of a normal man, and he didn't want to push his luck, regardless of his status. Good boy.

"No."

The Sergeant blinked, trying to fathom why I would halt production. "Sir? Are we not continuing the research?"

"We are, but with fresher candidates who are more suitable for the trials. Inform Dr. Roushkav that I will have young, fresh candidates for him soon."

"Yes, sir. But... where do you plan on getting them?"

"Leave that to me, Sergeant."

Finally. I'll get to see her soon. How she must have matured since I first saw her.

"You are dismissed, Sergeant. I will brief you after the New Year, when the real work begins."

"Yes, sir."

***

Sergeant's POV

I saluted the General with my usual nod before leaving to relay the message to the scientists waiting eagerly behind barred doors. They were desperate to leave the war zone, panicked by the constant roar of gunfire and the sound of collapsing debris.

Pathetic.

I left the General deep in his thoughts, unsure if the man I had just spoken to was the leader I once knew. If only I could convince him to use my team. Perhaps this was my shot. I shook off the chill and focused on the tasks at hand. But the day would come when I would confront him. I will claim what is rightfully mine.

***

I locked my hands behind my back and walked slowly toward the waiting aircraft. I was deep in thought, mapping out the years to come. I smiled—not just to myself, but at the empire I was building. I walked past soldiers fighting for their lives; they were irrelevant. This would all be ashes soon, leaving no trace of our passing.

The time had come to retrieve what belonged to me.

"It's time I collected a debt from you, old friend."

I found her. I finally found her. She's mine.

My empire was nearly finished. It was time for the new generation to taste real war—the true war. A war I had started, and one I intended to finish.