Planet Omega

Chapter 12

One day more and we head back to home base just outside Spectre City. It's something I desperately don't want to do. Now that I've had a taste for what the world could be like, I don't want to leave Artehm. Artehm silences that voice in my head that tells me to kill, to destroy, to shed blood.

When I voice these dreads to Emma, she reminds me that this is exactly what we're all working towards - a world where everyone could just live, no fear of being put to death for any reason at all.

"So the PRF is specifically targeting pawn labs, as we all know," Emma begins, clearing her throat as the four of us sit around in mine and Emma's room at the inn. "Eight more are left. The problem the PRF has now is that security is extremely tight in all of the eight remaining locations, which was expected."

"But the advantage of the PRF now is that the weapon I got to replicate can be in any of their hands," Mateo chimes in, looking pleased. "Every pawn in the resistance is that much more able to defend themselves. Thanks to Cal."

I immediately dislike that attention. "And Emma and Will."

Will in lemur form hops up on the rolling office chair, causing the seat to spin a couple of times. "Yeah, we're not chopped liver," they say.

"You drew the map of the floor reflected," Emma reminds them, shooting a look in their direction. In turn, Will crosses their little lemur arms at Emma's statement. "We're giving credit where credit is due. It was ultimately Cal's plan, and she got the weapon out of there. Which means sentient pawns can now be armed with more than just blades and handguns."

"Right, but what good will that do if a third pawn lab can't be hit?" I bring up.

Mateo gives Emma a pointed look, and I notice Emma's small nod his way. I know I'm starting to be kept in the loop about the PRF as I specifically requested of Emma, but I don't like that there's a loop Mateo is already a part of that I'm not. But he has more of a history with Emma, I have to remember that. He helped her. They helped each other.

I glance between the two of them expectantly before Mateo crosses his arms over his chest. "The resistance has several routes for the destruction of the Omega Empire," he begins slowly.

He's wearing his standard white shirt with a sheer piece over it, a neat outfit per usual, but his brown curls are messy and all over the place around his head. They always are, especially when he doesn't have the time to worry about his outward appearance. Mateo might have rows of stitches all around his body to keep his limbs onto his torso, but as far as looks go, he's one handsome guy.

I'm sensing a pattern here with the EMMA model pawns.

"Two fewer pawn labs means the empire can't produce nearly as many pawns as they'd like," Mateo continues. "After the armory raid, the assumption is most empire buildings are very secure now, and it would be suicide to attack any of them. Our goal is to lay low and regroup, potentially bring more people towards the cause."

"Even if they're not pawns?" Will asks, bringing up a good point. "It is called the Pawn Resistance Faction."

"It's mainly made of pawns, and it began with us EMMA model pawns, but there are others who've joined," says Emma, nodding at Will's question. "Over seven years ago, twelve EMMA pawns created the PRF as a means to someday get stronger and start taking down the humans who made us, then ensure it never happens again. But over time, more and more joined us. A few more EMMA model pawns found us after becoming sentient, and even some regular pawns who figured that what they're doing isn't right. Some mutants - non-shifters, except for you now, Will - demonfolk, nightbloods..." She lets her voice trail.