A R T E L L A



Altitude: 7,050 feet

Weather: Nominal

Oxygen: 100%

Armour: Active

I snapped the visor over my face and dropped a nod to the pilot. He jutted a hand and the lights flooded the space in green. I let myself drop from the edge of the carrier craft.

The crippling waves of remorse and rage I had were locked tightly away inside the unfeeling part of me. I couldn't fix this–I couldn't see the light leave Ryko's eyes if I let it in just yet. I could be a monster to revenge the innocence and easy laugh Dex had since the first day I saved him from the streets. No brother in blood but he was in bond.

Every job. Every overseas contract. I had guarded his identity with my life. He was never a blip on any of my many enemies radars until this woman. This woman that had greatly miscalculated me.

The night raced me with the city lights. Sector 5 loomed rapidly. The towers almost high enough to hit the cloud line in the darkness. She thought she was safe in one of Merridian's most secure sky towers. She calculated that taking Dex's life outweighed the consequences.

Or she simply did not know who I was.

"–he'll kill me when he finds out I know." Dazz's voice spoke calmly in my ear.

I kept my eyes on the landing space between buildings as I altered my flight path and dodged fusion craft traffic. The thrusters were a marvel of engineering fitted into the fusion proofed suit seamlessly.

"There's many things–Proximo doesn't know yet. You're good at keeping it–that way until necessary." I stated over the winds, sending the thrusters sideways and spinning as I fell faster.

"Just make sure you end it tonight." She retorted simply. "There's only so many times that boy can forgive me."

I smiled without any joy.

"Who do you think I am?" I murmured, watching the blue lines light up my distance and speed to drop point.

"A rather skilled killer... There's very few people on this planet that scare me, Art. That's why I made sure to get on the right side of you."

"Don't forget that–golden personality." I said dryly, smashing my chest and deploying a small break chute. I threw my hands forward and burst thrusters towards the balcony edge at the same moment my boots did. I raced down in speed in the illuminated night–completely untraceable on radar. Dazz made sure of it.

I rolled into the landing as I pressed my chest again and the chute went back into my armour. I continued walking out of the move and rolled my shoulders once. I checked the pistols locked to my hips and the grenades along my shoulders.

"We're good. Confirm activity." I remarked.

"Clear."

I nodded, moving quickly to the vast wall of glass and the tech lock. I pressed Dazz's codebreaker against it and it took less than three seconds this time. I had tested it on Division vaults and it took north of ten seconds.

"Upgrades." I noted.

"I do try my best." She said sweetly.

"Can you stay on comm for long?" I asked, running through the stages of rage Proximo would be throwing her way at my AWOL status. Those brooding grey eyes and lethal tattoos drawing into his scowl. We had the beginnings of getting back to what we were and yet the Imperials had to find a way to end that...

That night had been playing on repeat around me despite the focus I needed.

Yes. Maxim. I will spell it out for you but it makes nothing better save for the target on your back.

You will ruin what I've become and the worst part is I can't even find it in me to stop it.

I would take a thousand contracts more–the worst enemies and low lives in the continents to hear those words spoken from him again as starkly as the sun rises. It had taken so long to get that truth from him. The emotions had been buried all this time.

It was still worth every choice.

I would end this tonight with or without Dazz's input in my ear.

"–He's pissed. But he thinks I know nothing. As usual." She quipped in irony.

I almost cracked a genuine smile as I entered the dark and cavernous room. Marble floors and expensive furniture trademark to these sectors. Disgusting displays of wealth to appease the other creatures around them while they sipped vile drinks and pondered their own hideous personalities.

"It's the only way to keep that man safe." I grunted, "Working in the shadows isn't his style."

"Blowing down doors and levelling buildings however..." Dazz muttered, over quick typing.

I chuckled low as I reached the lift doors and produced the same codebreaker.

"Cut the interior camera and wipe activity if you please." I murmured, watching it light up in the darkness.

"You see this is why I like working with you, Art... The professionalism."

I snorted and watched the glass lift open to me.

"Why else do you think I could charge so much for my services?"

"I've been meaning to ask you... That Naxos president death–that wasn't you..." She ventured laced in nothing but curiosity. I watched the numbers flash upwards in rapid motion as I ascended.

"Did it look like an assassination?" I retorted simply.

"No."

"There's your clue."

She laughed before paying attention again.

"She's got ten guards on site. Another fifty, two floors down and a few cruising Imperial jets around the building."

I rolled my neck slowly and sighed.

"How disappointing. I wanted a challenge."

"Just hurry up please so I can get my dearest brother off my ass." She grunted.

That made me pause checking my weapons and raise an eyebrow. Unable to stop the next words.

"That concerned is he?"

"Compromised. I believe. That would explain the double shot of idiot juice he took–"

I stilled and my fist tightened around my belt hard enough to break any other material. I let a breath go slowly through my nose twice before answering in a clipped voice.

"Keep the rest off him. I'll be destroying a few Division labs when I return." I grit out thinking of the red and purple vials sitting far too cosy inside that base of operations. I'd burn it all to hell and take out their creators while I was at it.

"Do let me join you–I have an affinity for blowing up Division resources." She said with a grin in her voice. "Oh and–suit up. You're there in fifteen seconds."

Sure enough the flashing numbers neared the accommodation area of the sky tower. I calmed my heart rate and thoughts all in one go. The task. The known placement of troops. The floor plan to the Empress's quarters while she stayed here thinking her location was in safe hands. Hands I had removed three hours before. Compromised intel that wasn't yet known because we moved too fast for them. We always did.

Proximo's sister was the quick burn fire to my cool calm that made jobs too easy. When it came to playing guardian angel from a distance... Even more so. Both of us had too much to lose when it came to that Proximo Dartega.

I twisted the side of my helmet and hip in unison and my armour registered the colours and light around me.

Then I disappeared from sight inside the lift all together.

Nothing but a ghost remained.



* * * * *



I had used this very suit a long time ago. The tech was still out of Imperial and even Division hands... I had found it in the furthest corner of the world after all. The woman that developed it only asked I take it with me to the grave–a promise I intended to keep.

"You're different. Not clouded like they are. You follow a personal code and don't accommodate outside opinion." She murmured in a low honeyed voice. Smooth but intelligent. Feline-like green eyes and medium caramel skin. She was aged. But her mind was young.

"I don't waste time dancing with moral compasses. My true North is dedication and focus. If that fails then they can have me." I responded over the open fire pit between us.

She nodded to herself as if she already heard me say it once before. The bowl of broth steaming in her gold ringed hands. Her arms were still lithe and strong and the scars painted her history differently from most in this continent.

"Our faction held just such views of the world. Only we were leagues better at what we did."

I didn't waste her time by scoffing or appearing offended. I knew as much already about her faction. The deathless ones. The absolute vengeance. The most skilled killers the planet has ever known. Yet only a handful left to learn from. Her chrome armour called attention in its severity yet beautiful craftsmanship–I had never seen such metal before. Many had said they mimicked ancient warriors of a round table.

"I think you know why I sit here. But I must say... The broth precedes itself." I stated, taking a long sip from the rare wooden bowl in my own hand.

She sniffed and watched the flames between us for a moment.

"You have your own reputation." She said simply.

I watched her intently. I didn't doubt just how much research she had done on my own work. She knew I had skill or I would have been dead before I set foot in her grounds. The deathless faction did not waste their time. It was too valuable.

"A mere introduction. I'm here for the main story." I murmured low, dropping the bowl to the space before my crossed legs.

This made a dark smile cross her full lips briefly.

"You are not the first to ask it. But you will be tested regardless." She remarked casually. "I will break your mind first. Then your body. We will see what kind of true North you hold onto Artella Maxim."



I flexed my fingers in the unbreakable armour. Unbreakable invisible armour.

The deathless leader had taught me many things over that distant year I spent in their keep. Above all else was a simple fact. No matter how lethal, how finely honed you were... If opportunity arose to slip into the shadows, to become little more than a whisper or blur in the air–you took that opportunity. Only the very best knew that fighting was the last stage in a battle.

The deathless faction fought only when absolutely necessary. Otherwise they wouldn't waste their energy. Be nothing. Be a rumour.

The smartest person in the room won't let you know it until you've made yourself the fool. The principal ran true for contractors and assassins alike. In simple terms: let them know you're there when the blade is to their throat–no sooner.

The lift doors opened to show an empty floor.

Four guards passed each other looks. I was already halfway across the hallway on silent steps when the doors closed again and they resumed their casual conversation with disregard.

"Empty. Confirmed no need." A voice stated under a combat visor.

Two more guards walked the hallway debating the best sectors to eat sushi. It's Sector 45 boys. Not that you would know it... They passed me in complete obliviousness.

Dazz was not foolish enough to speak in my comm and risk interception until I directed her to. I thought ten steps ahead of every eventuality. Even the one that where the information was false.

"Ask 'why' not 'how' or 'what'." The deathless spoke in my mind as clear as day. "When you start asking why you understand your opponent's mind. Then you have a counter for their every move."

So when I crossed the floor between the wide living space and the final hallway to the quarters she was meant to be in I checked myself. I took the time to breathe and calculate everything behind that door. For the Empress was an intelligent woman no doubt. But her last mistake was thinking she was the most intelligent one in the room. The one that saw me being lured to her.

I let the breath go and spoke clearly into my comm.

"Kill the power."

Dazz's response was instant. My visor simply switched to adapt in low light while shouts went out around me. I let the hallway doors slide shut behind me and placed a simple circular pad over them. It flashed red and compromised the lock. The noise beyond became muffled. I focused on those ornate double doors at the end.

I was not going to be polite.

I pulled my rifle off my shoulder and cocked the underslung grenade launcher.

The doors blasted widely apart and smoke filled the air. My vision switched to thermal and low visibility in nanoseconds. I didn't call her name. I didn't rage. I simply walked. Unseen and deathless. The smoke parting around me the only give away.

A shadow stumbled before me. I ducked a swing and sent a blade from my knuckles under his face. Another stepped forth shooting at air. The shadow was met with my knee and a crunching sound. I sent a fusion round through his face.

More coughing.

Two more were dispatched and my sensors picked up more red dots converging on this floor.

"Keep them waiting for me." I remarked to comm.

Dazz confirmed but sounded wary. "She wasn't–"

"So. This is the man I have heard so much about?" A cheerful voice laced in poorly veiled authority called. A holo screen flicked on through the smoke and she sat there in her pristine white suit. I let the rifle land on my shoulder as I watched her back calmly.

"Empress."

"Artella. Was it?" She drawled, doing poorly to hide her own misplaced confidence. "Here I was momentarily worried that I truly had met some kind of match... A man honed for death. Unfortunately you misjudged me."

I finally twisted the suit and revealed myself between the smoke to her. She smiled in a way that told me she had not played the game long enough. In a way that said checkmate when she had none of the pieces.

"That would be unfortunate. If I was the type of man to make mistakes." I responded slowly, letting the words begin to make sense. "You see Empress, there is only truly one way to get an adversary to drop their guard." I slid a thin vial out of my chest holster and glanced at the empty contents.

The woman in the holo had lost her smile.

"–you let them believe they've won."

The 'dead' men around me slowly got up and dusted themselves off as the smoke began to clear. Nothing but well timed falls and false deathblows. The Empress was now undivided in her attention to the screen before her.

"There are few things I care for in this world anymore. Yet you took one of them from me." I said tucking my hands behind me and waving at one of her guards. He placed charges against the large glass windows and prepared to detonate them. "I have earned a lot of credits over the years. Enough to change loyalties when I need to. Enough for this–" I tipped the vial against my head. "To get into celebratory glasses of champagne when needed."

Her skin was washed out. Not just perspiring. True fear. But I wasn't finished yet.

I nodded to the Dawn Guard member and he blew the charge. The wind howled around us as one of the combat jets pulled up alongside the building waiting.

"But you–you can't–"

"Now, now let's not spoil the ending, Empress. If I wanted you dead from that poison you would already be choking on the floor." I drawled with a no emotion. "I want you to know that you have no one. I want you to know you are totally alone and loyalty in your life is as distant as the power you sought." One of her guards handed me another charge with a detonator.

I glanced at it.

Then waved it at her with a smile.

"This is rigged to your parents floor. 87th. Horizon and Dawn Tower–"

"Please!" She blurted, coming out of her shock. She swallowed and lost everything that kept her composed before me. "Name what you want. Name it!"

I tilted my head.

"Alright. Here is what I want." I pulled the detonator.

"NO!" She screamed crumpling before me.

The third sky tower in Sector 3 didn't explode. It didn't even pop a firework. I lingered on her despair a moment longer as she realised it was a deception. Then I pressed a hand to my comm.

"Are the satellite weapons functional, Dazz?"

"You–" She couldn't form her words. Her emotions ran too fast. Just as I needed them to. "You're insane–"

"No Empress, I am motivated. You just made the mistake of motivating the wrong person."

"Satellites ready." Dazz said calmly.

The Empress was beside herself. One moment throned and prepared to cast her enemy aside–yet now on her knees struggling to keep up with the information firing so fast it could tear her apart.

"I've changed my mind. Deactivate." I returned down the comm watching the Empress.

"Confirmed."

I turned my attention to the Dawn Guard soldiers. "Who do you work for?"

"Artella Maxim." They responded in unison.

I then turned back to the Empress's dead and defeated expression.

"Am I painting this picture for you well enough?"

She grit her teeth and clenched the sides of the screen.

"Name your terms, Maxim."

"There was nanotech in that vial." I replied slowly. "Its in your bloodstream now–don't panic. They only explode when I tell them to." She dragged her hands through her hair and waited on my words. "I need you to do something for me and I need you to do it quickly."

"I'm listening."