Weeks had passed since the battle on the desolate desert world. But in the core worlds the events of the outer rim mattered little.

  One such core world as any, was chaotic.

  Streams of hovercraft created lines in the sky. Their self driving mechanisms guided each through a infinitely complex system of traffic. Winding through skyscrapers that were so tall you couldn't see the ground below through the polluted grey haze.

  The buildings were supported by a myriad of steel trusts, crisscrossing and often creating intricate patterns. Panes of glass and metal lined the exteriors. They were all various shapes and sizes, often different in overall aesthetic or design. From all manors of cultures.

  Some windows were translucent, showing glimpses into the apartments or shops within.

  Others were tinted dark or covered in blinds.

  The two different kinds of windows checkered the buildings. Creating a city of light and metal. Blanketed in a grey mist.

  One building stood out—even among all the variety. It was stone, or at least resembled stone. A monolith to ancient times, to the grand cathedrals of the late 18th century. Made of many stacked beige bricks. Each section was lit by a series of lights that shown up towards the following section, lighting the exterior.

  Protectorate flags were hung outside it. Along with the flags of many states that existed in the confederacy.

  Towers, flat ceilings, tiled roofs, there were many elements to the large cathedral that made it standout among the rest of the pillars of steel that surrounded it.

  Though it was not a religious institution it's appearance may lead some to believe it was. And perhaps that was the intent of the design. To inspire belief in people that they all belonged to something larger than themselves. The Protectorate.

  The interior was marble floors, opulent gold inlays and chandeliers. Pillars that lined vacuous halls. Grand ballrooms that hosted few and not very often. Meeting rooms, kitchens, and various other facilities a building so large would require.

  A penthouse in one of the buildings many spires was currently alight.

  A wealthy elite sauntered around the fanciful apartment, robed in royal blue and carrying a small dog in one arm. Some fluffy weasel of a dog.

  The elite themselves was young, or at least seemed that way. With the right connections and finances, a person in this age could look decades younger. He had slicked back black hair that hung just about his shoulders in many points. A slender nose and well defined jawline, every angle of his face was meticulously crafted.

  His blue eyes floated in black scleras. His gaze was nonchalant, always. As if nothing could bother him. As if he had never experienced even the slightest inconvenience.

  He entered a lounge area that overlooked the city. Massive archway windows had fleur-de-lys designs along the trim, in caramel colored marble. The circular room was lined with couches, lounge chairs, decorative elements like busts or paintings. Regal and refined.

  The man didn't appreciate the style.

  He didn't care.

  The people did. Their judgement led to this. Generations of pandering to the masses led to this. This is what they all respected, this was a leader they could follow and look up to with dignity.

  The robbed man set the dog down next to his bare feet. And it sat near him. Then began to shake.

  "Call Desuran."

  He announced to no one. But the wall near the grandiose windows opened up, revealing a large monitor. Where the icon of telephone signals began to flash with a electronic trilling sound. An annoyed but restrained general answered. His voice emerging sourcelessly from around the room.

  "Sir. I couldn't help but notice your absence before. The presence of your guard could've been useful that day. I barely survived myself. If the encephalon had chosen to renew our battle, I very well may not have."

  There was no video view. Their conversation would not require it. The young man seemingly without a care in the world gave a rapid retort. With monotone emotion.

  "The asset escaped."

  It wasn't a question, just a statement. Which left the general stunned in a shamed silence. After a moment the young elite continued speaking.

  "The encephalon lives. And what's worse, the Zykra presence in the Joaquin system has increased ten fold."

  "I will not make excuses Sir."

  "And nor do I expect you to. I can not blame you for an error I'm as culpable in. Our enemy is unpredictable. They throw boundless cannon fodder against us, only to deflect a railgun's fire back onto itself. It's madness. But there is another matter that is just as mad. The asset. This girl."

  He walked to a kitchen partition at the edge of the lounge area. There were various counters and a central table topped with marble. After producing a bottle with a wide round bottom and narrow top half he poured himself a glass of orange juice. He continued to speak as he did so.

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  "The more I look into her past the more curious it seems. Originally she was presumed dead, that was until your telepath tracker verified otherwise. Which of course led us to ask many questions."

  There was only as brief moment before the general responded. The regal man leaned against the marble counter and drank his orange juice.

  "Why fake her death. Why did her family go into hiding. What does her unit know. I've investigated all these matters Sir, everything is included in the annual reports I send."

  The man nodded.

  "Your investigators believe the girl was in some matter infected by the Zykra. Which would explain why she disappeared that day with the Zykra, alive. It's completely reasonable theory. Her family disappearing soon after? That complicates things. I do not believe this is a mere coincidence. See, my own investigators have some theories of their own."

  "By all means, do share. You still have not told me exactly why we have made her asset priority one to begin with."

  The regal man actually chuckled at that. As if a child said a silly thing.

  "No individual which leaves the safety of the core worlds so often can be trusted with confidential information. You know this."

  One of the oldest class systems reared it's ugly head, and the general had to bite back on his resentment towards core-worlders for it. They went on to say;

  "One would only have to pick at the most blatantly obvious threads to unwind it all. I'll explain it simply. Days after the containment breach a mercantile vessel dealing in the trade of telepath persons was stolen from hangars on Cyros. One of ours, mind you. A ice planet near Alexandria. It had the speed necessary to reach Athena in mere days. It's completely feasible that this infested girl had the means to reach Athena then. Of course, Athena being the planet which housed the assets family. As well as a prison, which experienced a riot where many resistance members escaped the same day they disappeared. This is all connected general. A girl infested by the Zykra is working with the resistance, clearly."

  He sipped his drink before bending down to give his dog scritches on the head. It licked at his fingers when he did so.

  "That... Seems very likely Sir. But how? They're mindless beasts incapable of speech or reas-"

  "These beasts changed a young adult woman into one of their own—who retains the ability to reason, and speak. As well as their original appearance, if the colonists who've encountered the asset are to be believed. Which thanks to certain interviewing methods, I'm sure they are. A shape shifter. This sets a frightening precedent general. One I have begun to prepare for. Screening systems are being developed as we speak, I'm sending you a file on them. Ways to detect Zykra influence. You may find it useful in your future endeavors."

  The general himself was sitting on a IBT battle-frigate. One of the only Protectorate frigates in that part of the outer rim, in his 'lavish' private quarters. He groaned in irritation. The stuck up brat was annoying as ever. He never demanded respect. His actions did. He was right.

  About everything.

  But Desuran knew the truth, anyone with half a brain did. It wasn't the young princeling himself that possessed such intellectual prowess. It was the horde of servants below him that did. Working tirelessly to operate in one mans interest alone. Slaving away to scrape out a meager existence within his domain.

  The general wanted to put the brat in his place and remind him of this, but he wasn't suicidal.

  "It would be sir. If the Zykra are capable of infiltrating our ranks, they may already have many agents embedded. Their swarms may be controlled opposition to distract us."

  "There is more to the asset I must share, and many other preparations for the Zykra to be made. For example, I've interviewed her original unit. And one member claims that the girl had attractions for her. A one; Luan Crowley. Sergeant. Soon to be major. The testimony she provided about their brief meeting on a resistance vessel was very... Enlightening. She also claims the asset seemed entirely human. And that she subscribed to extremist terroristic ideology."

  The general lit a cigar. This was all way too much information. The battle was changing in front of him. How could he be so stupid? But the boy was right. This wasn't a rational enemy. This was madness. A single girl at the heart of a grand conspiracy. Prison breaks. Resistance ties. Infested by the Zykra. With the rarest of telepathic abilities.

  "I'm impressed sir." he said honestly. Though it wasn't a compliment to the elite himself. But rather his team of investigators and advisors.

  "I thought you might be."

  He walked to the marble window and it opened automatically before him, revealing the garden balcony outside. He looked out at the city around him. The human society which flourished under his stewardship. And many others. Few of them knew it, but they relied on elites like him to envision and pursue the future.

  Core worlds like these didn't just sprout up by themselves after all.

  Who wouldn't be impressed by a man such as he? He smirked.

  "My intent is not to do your job for you general. It is only to instill upon you that the situation we're in is rather nuanced. And unusual. I hope this change in perspective will aid you in formulating your future plans in dealing with the Zykra."

  The general wasn't hopeless. The kid couldn't do his job if he tried. Even with a massive team of experts behind him. There was a reason he was in the position he was.

  But he was right that this information changed everything. Suddenly Desuran didn't care about culling massive swaths of Zykra, or cleansing worlds. Instead he was focused on the few Zykra which stood out. Selene Carrington, and the encephalon needed to be dealt with.

  "If they assimilated humans, for whatever strengths we may have... Perhaps they assimilated our weaknesses as well."

  "That's the realm of thinking I want you to be in general. But, keep in mind- our special friends still want the asset contained. Not destroyed. Whatever you plan to do, do keep that in mind, would you?"

  The general snapped his cigar in half. Even now they push such a heavy constraint on him? The girl punched through a jet for christs sake! She flew after them! How would he capture such a being?

  "...I will." he grumbled bitterly. "I only hope you appreciate the gravity of such a request. I assume the counter measures your team includes that file have recommendations in that regard as well?"

  "A file is not all I'm sending. Though I wish I could go into more detail, it would be risky to say over tele-communications. Even with a connection so encrypted as ours. But a special asset will be aiding you. Someone with the combat capability to rival the asset or the encephalon."

  That... Intrigued the general greatly. He wasn't aware there was a person like that. They had weapons the size of moons that likely could, but an individual capable of such a thing?

  "I look forward to meeting them."

  "And they you general. I hear they are a fan of yours... Well, I could speak more and try to make more sense of the madness of the enemy we face... But I think I'll allow you to contemplate this much for now. The rest will be covered in the file. Goodluck general. Bring the enemy to heel and capture that asset."

  The call ended.

  And the general was left to stew in his thoughts. In his dark room aboard the IBT frigate.

  The asset had rare abilities to control people. To control Zykra. And was now infested. The appearance of the green variant Zykra... She met with the encephalon and the resistance. She can retain a human form. So many variables.

  He flicked his metal flip-lighter open and shut over and over as he thought.

  Contemplating a strategy to end this conflict as soon as possible.

  Behind the chapter...

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