Descension

CHAPTER 5

"I thought about what you said," Liam murmurs, his lips barely moving.

Tiberius nods. "You see it, don't you?"

"I do." Liam pauses, "He's losing his sanity."

"And what do we do about it?" Tiberius asks.

Liam huffs. "It's not my place to make a decision like that."

"Oh, but it is." Tiberius smiles. "Tell me, Liam. What should we do about Dr. Anderson?"

Liam ruminates as Tiberius' eyes pierce into him and scrutinize Liam's every movement. Liam has a strong stature and is quite muscular. Physically, he's stronger than any other member of the council. However, Tiberius had identified something weak about Liam: his mind. He is easy to manipulate. Tiberius had done it before. He'll do it again.

"He's a danger to himself," Liam says, his brows knitting, "But he wouldn't ever hurt anyone else."

"He's capable though, is he not?" Tiberius asks.

Liam contemplates the question. Tiberius doesn't interject.

"He's capable," Liam confirms.

Tiberius nods. "I hate to say this, but... if this is a safety issue-"

"I understand," Liam says, gulping as he looks down.

Tiberius rises from his chair and gives Liam a small smile. "All will be taken care of."

Tiberius strides out of Liam's office, a smirk etching onto his lips. He stands with his spine straight and tall, shoulders rolled back and chest puffed as he walks down the main corridor to the Councilroom. He acknowledges the guards that open the door for him. Once inside, he makes his way to the elevated crescent table, then sits down and holds up his wristwatch.

He presses the top and bottom of it with his thumb and forefinger. "Vice Antonov. Meet me at the entrance of the Omnicore facility at 1800. Bring 500 troops with you."

The sun had begun to set as Tiberius emerges in the main hall once more, golden light shimmering through the tall windows. He squints in reaction to the blinding sunshine and makes a left towards his personal chambers, slowing his steps once he enters. Looking out of the windows in the room, he places his hands behind his back and walks towards them, gazing out over Genesis. Tiberius takes a deep breath. All of this could be gone in an instant. His eyes rise above the skyline and to the orange sun, devoid of clouds, shining warm rays down upon every edge of the city before him. He turns his gaze back down to the streets, his focus flitting between each person he could make out on the ground below. Tiberius closes his eyes. Complete death of the planet.

"Sir," a guard's voice calls.

Tiberius turns around.

"We should begin departure for the Omnicore facility," the guard says.

Tiberius looks down at his watch: 1734. Time had passed faster than he thought. He nods to the guard and steps away from the window, following him outside to a black hovercar with deeply tinted windows. The guard holds the door for Tiberius.

"Omnicore, correct?" the chauffeur asks as Tiberius sits down.

"Yes," Tiberius murmurs, shifting his gaze out the window as he presses his knuckles to his lips.

The chauffeur plots their course, the car slowly accelerating until they take off, the world flashing by in a blur as they cruise along the metal strip below them. In less than a few minutes, Omnicore began to rise above the horizon, the massive plant a looming quartz mountain against the sky. The hovercar slows as they approach the gate, the guards in front opening it without any questions. They continue towards the plant until they reach the entrance, the chauffeur getting out once the hovercar stops, holding the door open for Tiberius. He steps out and walks towards the field in front of the doors to Omnicore. He looks down at his watch: 1758.

In the distance, a swarm of dark shapes draws closer. In seconds they emerge from specks on the horizon to full figures less than 50 meters from where Tiberius stands. Hundreds of speeders accelerate over the sea of flaxen grass beyond, each carrying two soldiers, the speeder at the front equipped by Antonov. They stop suddenly and dismount, lining up in rows of 20 behind Antonov, who walks over to Tiberius and stands beside him. Antonov is a rugged, wartorn man, his eyepatch and the deep scar beneath it a constant reminder of that fact, and proof of experience for why he is both head of all military operations, and second only to Tiberius. His gray beard frames his sunken cheeks, a single, glacier blue eye constantly scrutinizing everything in its path.

"Attention!" Antonov shouts, his Slavic accent heavy in his voice, "Give them your orders," he says to Tiberius.

Tiberius looks over the troops, settling his hands behind his back, "Capture the Omnicore facility! Eliminate anyone who opposes you!" he shouts, "And detain Bennett Anderson!"

"Yes, Sir!" The troops cry back.

"Time's up, Anderson," Tiberius mutters as he turns around to face the facility, raising his hand before bringing it down as if swinging a hammer, "Charge!"