Cyberknight: One Path

⁕ Athena (part 1)

The moment the crystals became illuminated with power and Athena's will, the room flashed violently as if the universe embraced her soul. As the small clouds of smoke cleared from her crystals, Athena witnessed the shackling of her destiny to that of a deity who was tasked with the protection and ascension of humanity. The crystals were both wings and a pair of chains, which allowed her to fly as high as she desired, but never beyond the bounds of her duty.

[Mike] - "What is your fear? "

[Athena] - "The failure to accomplish my duties. "

At the same time as Athena responded, she activated her crystals and began to lift the cyberknight symbols out of the altar around her. Delicately, without breaking any of the runes or the altar itself, Athena eventually raised most of the symbols from the altar for a total of 22 symbols of different sizes.

[Mike] - "Where is your faith? "

[Athena] - "My faith in the absolution of yours and the Emperor's will, where I shall not fail as long as my task is sanctioned by my only two lords! "

Said Athena with a determined look in her eyes.

After carefully inspecting each symbol for damage or imperfection, the engineers promptly fuzed all 22 cyberknight runes onto different parts of Athena's armour, with three going to her helmet from an altar on the side.

[Mike] - "What is your weapon? "

[Athena] - "My compassion, my logic, my humanity. Never are my abilities considered only weapons, but tools which serve to fulfill my destiny. "

With Athena's last sentence, her helmet was slowly lowered above her head. However, unlike Mike's helmet, which covered his head in its entirety, Athena's helmet exposed her mouth and cheeks.

[Mike] - "For the purity of intention in your heart, I, with my authority as Grand Knight, second only to the Emperor himself, grant you the rank of Marshal Knight of the order. From today onward, I will be your superior only in name, but equal in identity as a servant of the greater good. Arise, knight Athena, Goddess of war of the 9th fleet! "

Said Mike as he withdrew his sword from Athena's chest.

[Athena] - "Thank you, my lord! "

Said Athena humbly as she stood up.

Later, as the engineers and witnesses left the room, Athena took off her helmet and stared at its strange design for the exposed mouth part.

[Mike] - "I made a few little modifications before the ceremony. I hoped you didn't mind it. "

Said Mike as he surprised Athena with a shoulder tap.

[Athena] - "Why did you remove the mouth part? I wanted it to resemble your helmet. "

Said Athena, puzzled.

[Mike] - "Most helmet designs have an enclosed design. Yet, I find that it lacked the human factor. To the normal people, they wonder what's behind that mask? Perhaps aliens, lizard people or... even Gods? With you, your soldiers would know you are just human like the rest of us. Besides, you love lollipops, so this design will be quite comfortable for you compared to an enclosed one. "

Said Mike with a friendly elbow nudge to Athena.

[Athena] - "I suppose you have a point. "

Said Athena as she put her helmet back on.

In a swift motion, Athena pulled a lollipop out of her pocket and shoved it in her mouth. Back then, she didn't understand the full intention of Mike's action, but her perspective changed during the cleansing crusade of three years.