No Turning Back

Chapter Fourteen: Assailant

"How could zhey do zhis to me?!" Richtofen screamed internally.

How could they just replace him like that? He was the one and only Edward Richtofen! But then, all the doubts, all the suspicions - they had not been in vain! Richtofen had tried so hard to escape his ever creeping doubts but now it was unavoidable. These advanced beings were no better than humans. But they were far more dangerous.

The thought of Richtofen being used as a mere expendable pawn angered him. His mind raced with murderous thoughts as he calculated every possible way he could wreak vengeance.

"Zhey vill pay!" Richtofen exclaimed in his mind.

His attention then turned back to the man before him who stood eyeing him apprehensively. Richtofen raised an eyebrow as he watched Ultimis try to compose himself whilst he awaited Richtofen's response.

"How could zhey zhink zhat zhis man could take me out?! It is downright inshulting!" Richtofen growled to himself.

He then realised his response was becoming long overdue.

"So, jou are from shome kind of alternate universe then?" Richtofen replied curtly.

"Ja, vhen zhe original vone of us overloaded zhe teleporter und travelled through both shpace UND time it caused zhe universe to fracture und branch off into different paths", the doppelganger replied matter-of-fact.

"In mein universe, I vas unable to shee zhrough mein grand scheme", Ultimis added.

Richtofen thought about what was just said. If this was true then these infinite iterations of himself were all vying for power. And, it meant that what Kiana told him was true. Primis hadn't been some kind of trick, he really was just another version of himself. He really was him from another universe!

"Mein diary..." Ultimis began which caught Richtofen's attention.

"Go on..." Richtofen murmured menacingly.

"It must be zhe key! If only I hadn't listened to zhem, perhaps zhen I could've shucceeded!" Ultimis spat regretfully.

Richtofen's heart skipped a beat as the walls of the room closed in on him - the sudden revelation made the room spin. This was why his masters had been so adamant in talking him out of pursuing his diary. It is the key! They knew that their hold over him would diminish once he found it. Richtofen had never even needed their help in gaining control of the MPD!

Richtofen's obsession with retrieving his diary had created a rift between him and his masters. And the more time that went by; the more insubordinate Richtofen became. They wanted to replace Richtofen with a more obedient version just so they could regain control of their pawn. Perhaps even, if Richtofen wanted to really allow his paranoia to take hold of him, perhaps these beings made his Ultimis self fail in order to convince him to take Richtofen out.

But the question was, what made this time line so significant?

Richtofen's fist tightened as his heart swelled with anger and betrayal. He could feel himself slipping into that dangerously violent mood which proceeded his terrible tirades. But for now, he would have to contain the rage and hold it at bay. There were more pressing matters at hand.

"Oh, zhat old zhing? I forgot all about it!" Richtofen said nonchalantly as he waved dismissively.

In reality though, Richtofen's diary contained details of his research and was the amalgamation of all the knowledge he had gained over the long years - it was the road map for enacting his grand scheme! But it was now clear, Richtofen needed to find his diary at all costs. He had to get to the cosmodrome as soon as possible! At present, he was vulnerable and powerless without it.

Suddenly, Ultimis' voice pierced through Richtofen's thoughts.

"Nein! Edvard, it is zhe key! Ve need to find it! I vill shucceed zhis time!" Ultimis interrupted.

Richtofen instinctively closed his eyes and smiled upon hearing Ultimis' choice of words.

"How quaint", Richtofen laughed to himself.

His eyes then suddenly shot open as he shot an icy glare towards Ultimis.

"Oh, I'm very shorry jou couldn't shucceed and all..." Richtofen began.

Ultimis raised an eyebrow whilst apprehensively waiting to hear what he was going to say next.

"But I reeeeally do need zhat dashing schpace suit jou happen to look so handsome in", Richtofen sang as a menacing smile crept across his lips.

Then, his smile twisted into a devilish snarl...

End of part fourteen...