NOBLE’S EYES WERE WILD WITH DELIRIOUS FURY. THE MEDICAL TECH’S GAZE darted towards Noble and back to the hologram readout. “Look at his vitals, I don’t dare up the dosage.”
“Do it!” said Dr Mons.
With hesitant steps, the assistant walked to the bio mainframe and pulled a lever attached to a unit containing different fluids. Through a clear tube, a viscous pale-yellow concoction of sedatives traveled from the mainframe into Noble’s body. The room of techs watched on silent tenterhooks.
Noble’s entire body fell limp in an instant as the sedation hit his system. The hologram displaying his vitals showed his brain activity and heart returning to stable levels. The new assistant closed his eyes and exhaled. The rest of the techs went back to their previous tasks. Dr Mons turned his attention to the assistant. “Now that he is stable, we must continue to phase two.”
A chrysalis of thin fibrous strings began to web across Noble’s body. Every inch became covered in the membrane. The main doors to the medical bay opened. Cassius entered, his eyes immediately gravitating towards Noble. He watched in his usual stoic manner as his superior was being attended to. He moved to Dr Mons’s side. “He’s alive.”
Dr Mons nodded his head. “He is… just.” Cassius and the doctor watched Noble disappear beneath the slimy, tight casing.
“Have all the files pertaining to these procedures been sent to the Motherworld?” asked Cassius.
Dr Mons turned to face him. “Once we brought him back… we received a communique from the Motherworld with a list of bio-enhancements…” He walked towards the bio mainframe with multiple monitors. Cassius followed him and noticed the techs trying not to glance at Cassius, who would be in charge if any of this went wrong.
Dr Mons pointed to one of the screens. “I thought it was a mistake. We were lucky he was alive at all. No way he could survive the trauma associated with changing his biology on a molecular level. I protested and was told… ‘If he dies, he dies.’ I don’t know who he angered at home, but this order came from the highest levels.”
Cassius’s eyes darted from scanning the document from the Motherworld back to the doctor. “Yet, he survived.” He then glanced back at Noble. He wondered if he had sided with the wrong admiral. Was his loyalty misplaced with the wrong man? One thing he did know: if Noble wronged or challenged Balisarius, they would both be considered expendable. Perhaps another plan, in place for himself, would have to be conceived.
“Yes… he did. I don’t know whose bad side he is on, but this order came from the highest levels. It is not for me to question,” said Dr Mons.
“Call me when he is ready.”
The doctor nodded and Cassius returned to commanding the ship.
* * *
Cassius walked closer to Noble just as his eyes began to flutter. He smacked his lips. The casing around his face and neck had already been removed. He winced as he swallowed hard. His eyes opened to narrow slits before squinting at Cassius. He opened his mouth to speak but no words emerged. Cassius turned to Dr Mons, who nodded. Cassius leaned his ear closer to Noble’s lips.
“…Cassius. Cassius, where am I?” he whispered in a hoarse voice.
Cassius moved away from Noble. “You’re aboard your ship, sir, The King’s Gaze. We have been holding in orbit around Gondival hoping for your recovery, sir. And thank God our prayers have been answered.”
Noble stared at Cassius. “If I had died, the ship would have been yours, Cassius.”
Cassius did not respond or show the slightest emotion. It might have been his, but there would have been a lot to answer for to the Motherworld. “Sir… I’m just happy you’re alive and we eagerly await your return to command.”
Noble’s eyes searched the room before meeting Cassius’s gaze again. “Is that so… Well then Cassius, listen to me… Veldt. She’s on Veldt,” he said in a whisper through clenched teeth.
Cassius’s brow furrowed. He had an inkling, but had learned long ago to let Noble lead. Sometimes it was better to act like you knew nothing to get precisely the information you wanted. “Who is?”
Noble attempted to lift his head and his eyes narrowed again, this time with an angry glare. “The Scargiver. The hated other. She’s on Veldt. Set a course for Veldt.”
“What about Devra Bloodaxe? The mission is not complete. I know we will be asked about the rebels and we need a satisfactory answer.”
“Secondary. They are weak on their own. She won’t stand a chance now. And when I have Arthelais in my grasp… No one will care she hasn’t been captured yet.”
Noble shook his head and blinked before he fell back on the platform. He stared at the ceiling without saying another word.
Cassius gave him a salute. “Yes, Admiral. It will be done.”
He turned to the doctor and gave him a short nod, then walked back to the main deck to set their course and ensure their plan on Veldt was still in place. Before beginning his transmission to Veldt, while straightening his uniform, an officer paused the comms to start the hologram. “Do you think it’s wise to tell them we are still on course?”
Cassius pushed the officer’s hand away from the hologram pad, and made a point to keep eye contact. “We need the girl, and we need the harvest. Both await us on Veldt. No matter what fight they offer, both will be taken.”
The officer saluted Cassius and left. Cassius paused in front of the hologram. For the first time, he felt his loyalty to Noble waver. He knew exactly who Noble was and what motivated him. It had taken years for him to know how to handle that man. But if Noble went down, then so would Cassius. He could see this had become personal. That was usually when matters became reckless and messy. He had seen many in the Imperium rise then fall because they became too willing to think they were above their station by taking liberties.
Balisarius made Noble seem like a wet nurse. Noble was not someone he was willing to die for. And these rebels made him pause. He’d watched them fight against great odds on Gondival. Two separate groups of rebels joined for one cause, to attempt to stand against the Imperium. The plan was meant to be perfect, yet Noble found himself defeated, and only one Bloodaxe was dead. They had proved they were willing to die for a united cause, and each other. This bond was greater than the Imperium, and that was dangerous.