Descension

CHAPTER 8

Liam leans against the railing, his right hand propping his head up while his left twirls a stylus. He gazes at the guards below, who patrol the Omnicore facility, their gait stiff as stone.

"They aren't doing much more than drones, are they?" comes a voice from behind.

Liam jolts up and sends his stylus flying off the bridge, clattering down in front of the guards. They don't move an inch.

"Ah... It's what they should be doing. After what happened, I expect nothing less," Liam stammers, turning around to face Onyango.

The Speaker is second-youngest on the council to Liam, however, by a large margin of about a decade. He has a strikingly angular face, dark amber eyes behind languid lids that constantly seem to be deep with machination, and a permanent curl to the edges of his lips. Every detail of his appearance is a perfect image: always a clean shaven face, freshly cut short hair, and his black and gold uniform delicately laid upon his slender figure.

"Come along," Onyango says, not caring to look back as he begins to stride down the hallway.

Liam follows after him, surveying the facility. Panels of the wall and floor are full of blaster holes, vents in the ceiling malformed and leaking with slow, continuous drips as if melting ice. Shattered windows allow hot, earth-scented winds to gust into the typically cold and sterile facility, dust lining every inch of the hall that lies exposed. Ahead, Ordership engineers put up new glass panels. Liam continues to follow Onyango all the way to the observation wing, stopping as Onyango does. Liam stands beside him.

"I'm only in charge until Antonov recovers," Onyango says, crossing his arms, "He has not been debriefed on the plan."

Silence hangs between them. "...The plan?" Liam asks.

"We're diverting the course of 25% of all Omnium mines."

"To what?"

"Defense." Onyango pauses. "...Liam, this was the first step in a long-awaited objective: the takeover of Omnicore. There have been uprisings in Athens and Brasília for years already." Onyango's words turn to near incoherent mutters, "Tiberius believes we need to keep better control over our citizens."

Liam's brows raise. "Omnium weapons?... But they've never been created. They're too unstable to use!"

"Watch your tone, Liam," Onyango sneers, his thin eyes narrowing even tighter, "I'm telling you this now because Antonov wouldn't stand here to reason with you." Onyango sighs through his nose, "Your brother has made you believe that we are the enemy."

"My allegiance lies with you; however-"

"This kind of opposition will get you thrown in prison right next to your brother, Liam," Onyango warns, "Finish your sentence."

"...however, my brother's research is correct."

Onyango huffs. "Maybe I should stay in charge of Omnicore if you're going to be talking like that."

Liam shakes his head. "Not to Antonov."

Onyango smirks subtly, "He's overconfident. Uncalculated."

"I think he's fine." Liam says.

"No you don't," Onyango says, "And that's your problem. You're an ass-kisser."

Liam scowls. And you're just a know-it-all, aren't you?

Onyango smiles as he pats Liam on the shoulder. "All will be taken care of. Just focus on your usual duties." Onyango's smirk curls further before he walks off.

He leaves Liam to stare out the window at the sea of beige, wind-battered grass, leading to the barely-visible city of Genesis on the horizon.

"Head Councilman, we need to show you something," a guard says as she rushes into the councilroom, her voice trembling with urgency.