No Turning Back

Chapter Six: A Deal With The Devil

"I can stop him if we get to Russia. But I don't know where the Cosmodrome is. And--", I began before Maxis cut me off.

"Yes, und jou vant to know how to get zhere - und before Edward does", Maxis finished my sentence as I nodded.

"Ve vill help jou", Maxis stated before Samantha looked up at him with disapproval.

"It only levels zhe playing field. Surely jou don't zhink Edward is doing all zhis vithout his own ethereal allies? He is not zhat smart jou know..." Maxis asked rhetorically before ending with the low jibe.

"Ve can get jou zhere. But, I ask for vone zhing in return", Maxis stated as Primis and I both looked at eachother in anticipation.

"I vant jou to put him down. Jou may have refused my daughter's request for zhis but jou have left me no choice but to force jour hand", Maxis said sternly as he looked at me.

"Fine", I said nonchalantly - taking Primis by surprise.

"Kiana--", Primis tried to protest before I quickly shut him down.

"I am quite frankly sick and tired of trying to help him. You are right, Maxis. He does need to be put down", I continued as I looked directly at Maxis and ignored Primis. Samantha eyed me with suspicion.

"Hm, jou have had a change of heart?" Maxis questioned.

"Aye, he's a lost cause -- he's an incurable monster. I know that nothing I can say will ever get through that thick skull of his. Plus, I cannot forgive him for leaving Edward at the mercy of those creatures. It's a miracle he even survived", I explained candidly as I walked everyone through my thought processes. Though, Primis went as white as a sheet at the mention of him narrowly avoiding being eaten alive by the undead.

"Und do jou know vhat caused zhe undead to spare him?" Maxis queried.

"Yes, I believe it was Samantha. Which I should have thanked you for", I said as I nodded at the girl.

"Not so childish now?" She snarled back irritatedly as she crossed her arms and shot me another glare.

"I'm sure jou know zhat zhe undead only follow Edward-- zhe Edward who did this to us" Maxis explained as I nodded.

"Jou are sure jou can put him down vhen zhe time comes?" Maxis asked as he narrowed his eyes at me.

"Yes, it must be done" I said solemnly.

"If jou do not follow zhrough I vill see to it zhat jou are pursued by zhe undead -- to jour very last breazh", Maxis warned malevolently.

"Any chance of getting me home to my universe if I do it?" I asked casually.

"Ve vill talk about zhat after jou do it", Maxis quickly replied dismissively.

"Vhen jou vake up, jou vill both be at zhe Cosmodrome. Do not disappoint me", Maxis snapped before he clicked his fingers.

Primis and I both fell to the ground as we both passed out in the dream. Sure enough, when we woke up we were in the starting room for Ascension.

"Are jou alright?" Primis asked in his usual caring manner.

"I'm fine, thanks" I said before pausing and frowning. Primis looked at me in confusion before I continued.

"You know, no one ever asks how you are. And I'm sorry for not realising until now", I said with a small empathetic smile.

"How are you feeling, Edward?" I asked as he looked extremely taken aback.

"I- um- well-- I'm okay, zhank jou", he replied as he stumbled through his words. I don't think anyone truly did ever ask how he felt. It was sad to think about.

We had been laying directly underneath the centrifuge with our belongings - well, all my stuff really - strewn next to us. Primis began to stand up before I cautioned him about the centrifuge.

"It will spin around whenever anyone uses one of the landers. You'll see what I mean when Richtofen and the guys get here", I explained.

Primis gingerly got up as he kept an eye on the machine before helping me up. I gathered my things into a small tan leather satchel Primis found for me back at the theatre.

"Vhere are ve going to hide vhilst ve vait for zhem to arrive?" Primis enquired as we began to brainstorm a plan.

"Richtofen will likely seek out another office to station himself in. If I were to guess I'd say he would choose the room below the power switch. This facility is quite open and it feels like that would be the only room where he would feel the most hidden and tucked away", I began to hypothesise before Primis frowned at me.

"Did jou really mean zhat about him?" He asked lowly before I raised an eyebrow.

"Did jou mean vhat jou said to Maxis?" He asked again impatiently. I paused briefly before I caught myself and gave my response.

"Yes...", I replied in a faint whisper.

Primis' eyes widened in disbelief.

End of part six...