Cyberknight: One Path

⁕ Duel of Fates (part 1)

[Mike] - "The third transport craft on that level is your getaway ship in case things go wrong. I had rigged explosives on the central deployment rack to prevent any pursuing fighters. On the other side, I rigged the communication system and command tower with EMP charges to block communication and the launching of AAM toward your craft. Finally, Kadyn had designed and installed a stealth system on the craft, which can further increase your chances of escape. "

Said Mike while pointing his finger at each of the relevant areas.

[Ethan] - "Understood, son. Ah... Can't wait to go home and meet my son after all these years. Good luck on your fight, my boy. "

Said Ethan as he tapped on Mike's back.

As Mike prepared to leave, he noticed Kadyn standing on the catwalk to the escape craft. With one last shared look, Mike reluctantly left for his possibly one-way trip.

Soon, Mike landed like a shooting star in the main hangar of Base Taj in India. His sudden appearance shocked the personnel and other staff working at the hangar, as people immediately saluted or kneeled before him out of respect and fear. Sniper had chosen the place of the meeting carefully after all, as Base Taj was the same place where Michele made his last stand before being killed by Sniper himself. It was a clear message to Mike about his fate if he were to disobey Sniper, yet the Grand Knight walked fearlessly without carrying the trophy the Emperor demanded in his hands.

Arriving at the back of the gigantic hangar, Mike soon found Sniper waiting for him, surrounded by a group of six Grand Cardinal cyberknights. As Mike arrived before Sniper, he simply stood his ground without even the slightest intention of showing him respect by bowing or kneeling. Shocked by the disrespectful action of the Grand Knight, the six knights around Sniper immediately activated their crystals in preparation to eliminate the transgressor. However, with a gesture of his hand, Sniper immediately signalled for the six knights to back off.

[Sniper] - "You've got guts, Grand Knight. However, Michele also has guts, and it splashed onto the ground like an unsavoury insides of a rat as that traitor gasped for air like a dying fish out of water. So again, I will give you the opportunity to consider: Where does your loyalty stand? "

Said Sniper, chin raised out of arrogance and pride.

[Mike] - "My loyalty stood with the Empire, the code of the cyberknights, and the people of this world. It doesn't belong to the corrupted mouth of a false God. "

Said Mike as he pointed his finger directly at Sniper.

The act offended the six knights, who Sniper had to signal a second time to stand down.

[Sniper] - "The Empire, cyberknights and people are all but an extension of me. I built this road, so you could ride on it. Maybe I don't understand the source of your mental corruption, but what's 23 more years, Grand Knight? Just like Michele, you are replaceable. You are not special! You are nothing more than a tool made to serve. Your power doesn't come for free, Grand Knight, it flows from my lineage as a unique gift of those who share blood with me. The price of your power is your servitude to me, your creator, your God! "

Said Sniper with confidence in his voice, while looking to belittle Mike.

Yet, Mike would not yield. Despite the shockingly cruel words of Sniper, considering what Mike had done in his name, the Grand Knight felt nothing but more resolve in his heart.

[Mike] - "I am my own master now! You don't own me! "

Proclaimed Mike as he defiantly stood before Sniper.

[Mike] - "I never wanted this, I never wanted to turn against you. But you betrayed us! Together, we banished the ignorance of the old world. Yet, you betrayed the very code of honour you created and lied to your knights. Any of you standing beside your so-called God, have you no shame serving a man who burned this world just so no one could call him out on his hypocrisy as a false God? Have you no shame in killing civilians and burning cities in the name of a just Empire? "