“Good, because this thing is over and we need to get down there to start picking up the dead and wounded.”
Felix looked up to the screens and found she was right. The Wardens were holding the hallway, while the center of the screen was a bloody mess.
“Not quite. We still have to clear the lobby, and whatever they’ve laid in wait for us outside.
“This isn’t over, I’m afraid,” Felix said morosely.
Chapter 25 - Clearing the Field -
“I object to this. There’s no reason to put yourself in harm’s way,” Miu said sternly, trailing at Felix’s heel.
“Noted, but I really think I should be down there. So I’m going.”
“I don’t like it. I don’t like it at all. What if you get hurt?” Miu’s voice had changed pitch entirely, her voice bordering on breaking.
“Really, it’ll be fine. Everyone is there. I’ll stay back, but there’s nothing I can see from the control room that’d help me.”
Miu’s breathing became irregular, rapidly speeding up over the course of ten seconds. Then suddenly it returned to normal, the sound of it being replaced by the sound of their shoes striking the floor.
Andrea skipped ahead and thumbed the elevator button. “It’s okay, Miu. Everyone up there wants him to live as much as we do.” Pressing her back to the frame of the elevator, Andrea pulled out her tablet and started to tap her screen.
“You alright, Miu?” Felix asked, turning his head to Miu.
“Yes. I’m fine. I don’t like you risking yourself. It’s troubling. You risk everyone.”
He couldn’t exactly disagree with her. She wasn’t wrong. But nor did he really want to sit back the entire time and do nothing.
Her reaction was also pretty strange.
“I get that. I promise I won’t take unnecessary risks.”
“I’ll kill anyone who gets close to you.”
“I don’t think you need to go to that extreme, but please do watch over me. I’m in your care.” Felix gave her a smirk.
The elevator chimed and all three entered. Nothing was said as they rode the elevator up.
With a chime, the elevator stopped and opened up into a landing behind the security hall’s opening lobby. This was meant as a fallback position and sheltered enclave to take wounded.
And wounded there were.
Laid out all around were his wounded. Those who suffered so that Felix could remain in power. Telemedics, medics, and doctors were working through everyone there. It was clear the truly worse off had been triaged to the medical facility, the rest being held here.
More of Felicia’s beds would be needed in the immediate future.
When resources were available.
Heads turned his way as he exited the elevator. Bloodstained and weary, they looked to him.
“I appreciate your service. All of you. You will receive the best care to put you back to rights in every way possible.
“I will personally make sure you all are healthy, mentally and physically. There isn’t anything I cannot fix given a day or two.”
Heads nodded slightly, fingers unclenched from sheets, eyes softened.
“Let our very talented medical staff take care of everything they can. And everything that’s beyond the purview of modern medicine will fall to me. Trust in your peers, trust in Legion.” Felix bowed his head to everyone, then moved on.
Turning the corner, it was like walking into a slaughterhouse. Bodies, body parts, and blood were liberally smeared over and on everything and everyone.
It looked as if a massacre had taken place.
Meeting the eyes of anyone who looked his way, Felix refused to turn away from them. This was all for him and everyone in Legion. He’d feel shame to not meet their gaze.
Lily and Ioana were organizing what he could only guess was a counteroffensive near a back wall.
Before he even made it halfway across the room, a bubble of protective magic snapped into place around him.
“Felix!” Lily shouted, jogging towards him. Her corporate attire was gone, and in its place was tactical gear the likes of which he saw many of his people wearing. It gave her a different look, especially with her hair pulled back into a tight bun behind her head.
“What in the seven hells are you doing here? Miu, I thought we agreed to keep him out of this?” Lily turned her glare on the woman who had escorted him here.
“He overruled me. I pleaded with him.”
“She did, and I did. I’m here. Deal with it. Might I also say you look rather fetching?” Felix tried for distracting her. It worked elsewhere, why not here?
“What? Don’t be stupid. Fine, you’re here. Come. You’re staying with me and Ioana for now.” Lily turned around and headed back towards Ioana.
She started talking into what he guessed was her mic to someone else.
Miu, Andrea, and Lily escorted him to Ioana, who gave him a death stare down the bridge of her nose.
“You are not to be here, Felix. Your strength lies elsewhere,” said War Maiden, speaking from her old persona to the inch of it.
“I know, Ioana. I know. But I couldn’t sit back and not show up at this point. Not after everyone already fought and bled for me. I can’t. I won’t.”
Ioana narrowed her eyes, then suddenly nodded her head. “Good. I dislike you being here, but your reasons are good. Stand beside me.”
Ioana turned her head and snapped her fingers, and pointed at someone in the crowd.
Felix wasn’t tall enough to see over the sea of heads and bodies.
Then Victoria appeared, garbed in her lightweight tactical vest and sword baldric.
She was very similar to Kit in build and body type. Athletic supermodel sprang to his mind as a good definition. Tall and lanky, she had a body that looked lithe and swift.
She was also rather pretty. Not as striking as Lily or “girl next door” as Andrea, but definitely pretty. Certainly above the average.
Her hair was pulled back from her face in a similar style as Lily’s, though a few dark brown curls had slipped free.
Probably when she got turned into a Christmas tree.
Large dark green eyes peered at him, her face turning a light pink in tone, her lightly tanned skin darkening.
Victoria stood in front of Ioana and went to attention.
“You’re on guard duty under Miu. Keep Felix here out of trouble.” Ioana jerked a thumb at Felix as she spoke. After having given the order, she turned back to the people she’d been working with when he’d arrived.
“Felix?” Victoria said softly, her eyes locking on to him.
“Heya. Sorry for ending up as my babysitter. I couldn’t sit behind and wait.”
“You’re on point, I’ll take the rear. Remain at his side,” Miu said from behind him.
“Of course, Miu.” Victoria bobbed her head, not taking her eyes off Felix.
Felix gave her a smile and then turned his attention to what was going on around him.
Teams of supers were working to haul the damaged armored cars out of the open area and to one side.
He imagined Felicia would get them to a garage somehow and rebuild them. She enjoyed those kinds of projects.
“Idiot. What are you doing up here? Don’t you know your place? I know mine, and it sure as hell ain’t here,” grumped the woman he’d just been thinking about.
Meeting Felicia’s stare Felix couldn’t help but smile. “Ho there, friend Dwarf. If this isn’t your place, what are you doing up here?”
“Doing your little princess a favor. She called me all worried about you getting your dainty ass hurt. Your mark two armor is this way.” Felicia did an about face and marched over to where a team of her people were unpacking.
Felix was surprised.
Mark two?
From those boxes and crates, a suit of armor emerged. One that looked nothing like the set he’d worn previously. This one looked more between the first suit, an exo-frame, and the Warden.
“Uh… pretty sure I’m not going to be going to Mars to slay aliens or anything. So what’s up with the Space Ma—”