Cyberknight: One Path (original novel)

Dunkel's heels clacked against the hallway's floor as she made her way forward followed by Dane and two guards. As much as Dane resented the idea of coming with her, the guns pointed at his head left him with no choice but to walk forward. Soon, the group arrived in front of a special care unit with a one-way viewing window. 

[Dunkel] - "Doctor Dane, I suppose you would understand why I need you here. "

Said Dunkel as Dane was pressed forward by one of the guards. 

[Dane] - "What kind of sick experiment are ya conductin' again? "

Said Dane with a tone of disdain.

[Dunkel] - "Take a look yourself. "

As Dane approached the viewing window, he was shocked to see a hysterical Arthur fighting against the doctors who tried to reequip his crystals. 

[Arthur] - "Get away from me! I don't want to do this anymore! I don't want to fight any more of these demons you are telling me to fight. "

Yelled Arthur in a panic. 

As one of the doctors tried to restrain him, he abruptly punched the doctor in the face before knocking him over a tray full of medical equipment. His state was becoming increasingly hysterical as he began to yell like a deranged animal before attacking anyone who came close to him. 

[Dunkel] - "Now, Dane, be a good boy and follow my instructions. "

Suddenly, Dane noticed his brain reconstruction machine being wheeled toward him. More shockingly, Admiral Jack stepped out of the shadow while walking beside the machine. 

[Jack] - "I see you have brought our miracle worker here. "

Said Jack as he moved in front of the machine. 

[Dunkel] - "Arthur was causing us more problems than he is worth keeping around. Not only did he fail to live up to our expectations, he is also a sissy of colossal proportion. "

Said Dunkel with frustration in her voice. 

[Jack] - "Yeah, that punk's bad for business. Just do what you gotta do, my friend. "

With Jack's approval, Dunkel smiled thrillingly as she snatched the weapon off one of her guards. Without a moment of hesitation, Dunkel kicked the room door open before rushing in with a sadistic smile on her face. Just as Arthur turned around, he immediately noticed the cold dark gunhole pointed at his face. Without hesitation, Dunkel pulled the trigger and caused blood to splash all over her and the bed. 

[Dunkel] - "Sweet dreams, you unloyal dog. "

Whispered Dunkel with dilated pupils. 

Meanwhile, Dane watched in horror while the guards behind him forced him into the room. 

[Jack] - "Now, partner, work your magic and give us our golden goose. "

Said Jack as he padded Dane's shoulder. 

As soon as the machine entered the room, the door was slammed shut behind, leaving the hallway in total silence. 

Meanwhile, in another base, as Kadyn entered a busy cafeteria, the thousands of men and women who were going about their business suddenly stopped to stare at her. Some saluted her as they recognized her heroic action in the recent attack on base 70A. However, many looked at her with skepticism and revulsion as they saw her as being the same as the KD units responsible for the carnage. 

As she arrived in front of the catering area, a group of marines who were in her way simply refused to bulge as they eyed her with contempt. However, Kadyn didn't confront them as she simply stood in front of them without looking at their faces. 

[Marine 1] - "My brother died back there... "

[Kadyn] - "I'm sorry for your loss. "

Said Kadyn in a calm voice. 

[Marine 1] - "If everyone were to believe you were the hero they claimed you were, then why didn't you save anyone? "

[soldier 1] - "Hey, that's enough, ya bastard! Leave her be! "

Yelled one of the bystander soldiers. 

[Marine 1] - "Only 800 people out of the almost 10k there are alive in the end. How can you call yourself a hero when you have the ability to stop these devil twins of yours? "

Said the marine as he became more emotionally unstable. 

The soldier from earlier quickly tried to step between the two but was held back by the marine's squad mates. 

[Kadyn] - "I never called myself a hero. It was the people's decision to call me so but it's a title I never accepted personally. "

[marine 1] - "I doubt you even cared! All those people being slaughtered is just another Monday for you. I'm ashamed to even have to work in the same place as a monster like you. "

Said the marine with hatred in his voice. 

Angered by the marine's words, many amidst the crowd of military personnel immediately stood up in protest. However, the marine and his squad remained calm despite the overwhelming amount of people surrounding them. 

[marine 1] - "Oh? Gonna jump me? All you people think you are so righteous for standing up to the kin of those who killed more than a few divisions of our men that night? "

The people were shocked as they thought base 70A was the only one attacked that night. 

[marine 1] - "That's right, you bunch of blind bitches, the truth is, base 67B and 85O were also attacked and guess what? Everyone at these two bases was wiped out. I wonder how are those assassins so efficient. I wonder if that's because they somehow received intel from someone amidst our ranks. "

As the marine's words echoed inside the room, many seemingly lost their will to fight for Kadyn as they began to doubt her. 

[marine 1] - "On top of this, back to the initial question, why only 800? Why couldn't you stop them before they killed almost everyone? Huh? "

Said the marine as he pressed his face toward Kadyn. 

Although all the stares now rested on her while awaiting her response, Kadyn chose to remain silent. As the tension mounted inside the cafeteria and her support diminished in the face of overwhelming accusations, Kadyn simply pulled tighter at her coat. All that mattered to her was that she truly gave it all to fight in the name of justice. People might doubt her but she didn't feel an ounce of fear as she felt the warm embrace of Mike's coat. 

Suddenly, one of the men in the crowd jumped up and pushed her to the ground. However, just as another one stood up to kick her, a gunshot suddenly rang out in the cafeteria. The assailant immediately fell to the ground while holding his leg in agony. Kadyn turned around and saw McCree holding his smoking pistol. 

[McCree] - "Feet off her, ya damn savage inbred. "

Subsequently, CK pushed himself out of the crowd and placed himself in front of the marine. Meanwhile, Senju arrived before Kadyn and offered her his hand. 

[CK] - "You show her respect, suka! I fucking put hole in your face if you don't. "

Screamed CK as he shoved the marine back. 

McCree quickly moved toward the centre of the crowd and put his pistol back. 

[McCree] - "Were any of ya bastards even there to begin with? Me and my teammates were among the 800 lucky survivors and I know wha happened that night. Y'all bunch of heartless bastards 'bout to listen to some dumb marine who don't know bull about the situation or what da hell is a KD unit? "

Yelled McCree as his voice echoed through the silent cafeteria. 

Some of the men and women quickly felt shame running through their bodies as they realized the animosity they displayed before any solid proof of Kadyn's guilt. 

[McCree] - "While we were trapped in sector D, she dealt against two of the most dangerous damn killin' machines on this earth. Why didn't any of ya step up to do what she did, huh? Fuckin' sitting around here, judgin' as if any of ya cowards actually did shit! The fact that I and the 782 others lived to speak here is a testament to her innocence. The fact that two KD units were slain by her tells us where her loyalty sits. "

Yelled McCree while shooting a disgusted stare at the crowd. 

The crowd, gradually, one after another, stood up and showed a salute in Kadyn's direction. This time, there was not a single person inside the cafeteria who dared to doubt when it came to Kadyn's heroism. While the disgruntled marine remained unapologetic, he soon realized that his squad mates were saluting Kadyn as well. 

Upon seeing what was going on around her, Kadyn quickly showed a salute to the crowd as well. Soon, the cafeteria resumed its usual operation as everyone went back to mind their business. After being offered a special officer's meal by the catering crew, Kadyn sat down with her team at an empty table. 

[Kadyn] - "Thank you guys for standing up for me. "

Said Kadyn with a smile of gratitude. 

[McCree] - "Hey, it ain't nothin'. That's what friends are for. "

[CK] - "Hope you feeling ok, comrade. If marine being a suka again, call me, I show him business! "

Meanwhile, Senju suddenly got out of his seat and leaned at a 90-degree angle toward Kadyn, indicating the deepest form of apology in Japanese culture. 

[Senju] - "I deeply apologize, Kadyn-sama. Not only did I not manage to come out and fight alongside you during the attack, but I also allowed you to be shamed by those men. I feel dishonoured and ashamed of my inability to help to person who saved my life. Please, accept my wish to offer my life to defend you if ever the opportunity presents itself. "

Said Senju with sincerity in his voice. 

[Kadyn] - "Jeez, Senju, what has gotten into you? I don't blame you for what happened, it was absolutely out of your control. "

Said Kadyn, shocked by Senju's gesture. 

[Senju] - "Please, Kadyn-sama, I won't be able to live with myself if you won't accept my offer. I wish to fight until my last breath by your side the next time. "

[Kadyn] - "Oh... well, I mean we would probably get other opportunities to fight but let's hope none of us die, that would be for the better, haha... "

Said Kadyn in an awkward tone. 

[Senju] - "Of course, Kadyn-sama. However, please do not refrain me from sacrificing myself for your sake. That's all I ask of you. "

[Kadyn] - "Oh, sure? "

Said Kadyn as she glanced at McCree for help. 

McCree, in return, signalled for Kadyn to just get on with it by accepting his request. 

[Senju] - "Thank you, Kadyn-sama! I will do my best so you don't experience the same situation again! "

Suddenly, a pilot moved past Senju and approached Kadyn. 

[pilot] - "Hello, miss Kadyn, I would like to take a picture with you. "

Said the pilot as he presented his phone to Kadyn. 

[Kadyn] - "Erm... sure? "

The two of them quickly posed for a picture but just as the pilot left the scene, Kadyn suddenly noticed to her shock the massive line of people waiting to take a selfie with her. 

[CK] - "Do you need me to send them away, comrade Kadyn? "

[Kadyn] - "Sigh... it's fine. I got the flare for posing for pictures anyway. "

Said Kadyn with a discreet smile as she motioned for the first in line to approach. 

Sometimes later, inside the special care room, Dane was able to finish working on Arthur's brain. This time, Dane had to do everything Dunkel's way as she closely observed him during the whole process. As soon as the mechanical needles were lifted from Arthur's scalp, Dunkel snapped her fingers and had her guards move Dane out of the room. 

[Dunkel] - "Be ready, mein freud! If I'm not satisfied with the result, I won't hesitate to have you do it again. "

Said Dunkel as she deposited her weapon on a chair. 

Meanwhile, one of the doctors injected a stimulant into Arthur's neck. Immediately, Arthur's eyes shot open as he looked around to analyze his surroundings. 

[Dunkel] - "Rise and shine, my dear friend! How are you feeling? "

Inside the confused man's mind, he felt something shatter. Was it his self or his memory? At that moment, as consciousness came to him, he saw his own face in the mirror placed above his head. Fragments of memories filled his mind as nothing is complete but everything makes sense. 

[Jagger] - "The... greatest knight to ever live... "

Whispered Jagger as shattered pieces of memory composed into a coherent tale tainted with agony and frustration. 

There was a fire burning inside his heart. However, that fire was no passion but a hatred for those who brought him back to life. His character was a combination of all the pain and suffering hidden away deep inside Mike's person alongside unbound ambition which flared up as he realized his power. 

[Jagger] - "Who do you think I am? "

Whispered Jagger with hatred in his voice.

Inside his vision, a sea of fire washed through his eyes as his shattered memory presented a mutilated past held together by truth and lies. Manipulations, betrayal, servitude, Sniper, the Allied Forces, Dunkel and Kadyn... He was the king surrounded by a field of flowers before the hell storm took everything away from him. He was worshiped as a God, yet his servants turned against him. The memories were far from the truth but in his mind, these were the absolute truth. 

Upon realizing that a piece of crystal was already installed into his arm, a sadistic smile suddenly appeared on his face. 

[Jagger] - "How dare you peasants disturb my sleep? How dare this world which betrayed me bring me back? "

Yelled Jagger as his eyes suddenly shot wide open. 

As the panicked doctors prepared to sedate him, all was too late as Jagger's incomplete consciousness finally finished piecing itself together. Time seemed to slow down for Dunkel, Dane and Jack as they noticed the crystal on Jagger's arm glow. 

[Jagger] - "Guilt Extension: Night of Macabre Flesh. "

Suddenly, one of the doctors' upper bodies exploded into a storm of red which painted the ceiling crimson. Without a delay, every single person inside the room, except for Dunkel turned into a gory firework. As the rest of the crystals placed themselves into Jagger's arms, he cracked his neck before abruptly standing up while the tubes connected to his body disintegrated into dust. 

Both Dane and Jack were frozen in fear as they stared at nothing but red inside the room. However, Dunkel, instead of showing fear, approached Jagger before falling to her knees before him. 

[Dunkel] - "My lord! I was the one who brought you back! I'm your most loyal subject, I'm ready to serve your every need and follow your every order! "

Said Dunkel as she willingly played along with Jagger's narrative. 

[Jagger] - "I figured you were responsible. Now, tell me everything that was lacking inside my mind. Death has left my memory incomplete. "

[Dunkel] - "It's a long story, my lord. Please allow us to discuss this at a more appropriate location. "

As Dane finally snapped out of his stupor, he took a good look at Jagger who he immediately noticed as someone different from either Arthur or Mike. What he has created under Dunkel's order turned out to be a beast which could not be tamed. Jagger, unlike Arthur, possessed pieces from Mike's memory and most importantly, most of Mike's power. However, Dane could be certain that Jagger's intentions were not those of justice or virtue. 

[Dane] - "What have I done? I... doomed everyone... "

Said Dane as he fell to his knees.

Humanity's hubris and madness often lead to the opening of doors which could not be closed. These actions were often the result of ignorance of the reason why these doors were sealed in the first place. 

Meanwhile, as Kadyn washed her hands inside the bathroom, the crystal on her chest suddenly began to glow. A strange presence immediately snapped Kadyn to attention as she looked into the mirror. Although she couldn't see anything, she could feel claws gripping around her skin. It was a familiar touch from the one she loved so much but it was somehow not him at the same time. 

To be continued...