Dreams

As the last rays of sunlight disappear over the horizon, Magnus walks up the ramp onto the airship.

"Leaving without saying goodbye?" Turning at the voice behind him, he hides his smile at Amirah standing at the bottom.

"Didn't want you to miss me too much, you see."

"Oh, so you're being an unsociable prick for my benefit. I see." Laughing at the tone in her voice, he reaches the ground and looks her in the eye.

"In all seriousness, Magnus, please be careful. You're being sent right into the middle of it all." Smiling wryly, Magnus looks her in the eye.

"I'm always careful, but I feel you should heed your own advice there, Amirah. After all, you will be in the lion's den yourself. And I won't be close enough to pull you out if things go sideways." Looking away as he finishes, his cheeks glow red for a moment and he mutters under his breath.

"I don't want to lose you." Smiling, she rushes forward and wraps her arms around him before he can protest.

"I don't want to lose you either." Before he can say a word, she leans back and pulls his lips to hers. Letting him go finally, she turns and walks away, leaving him standing there with a bemused look on his face. Chuckling to himself, he turns and heads back into the transport ship. Taking his seat, he looks out the windows as lights begin to wink on in the town, and closing his eyes, falls into a restless sleep.

Opening his eyes, Magnus looks down at the file in his hands, confusion filling his brain.

"Sergeant." Looking up from the file in his hands, Magnus quickly stands to attention as an older man walks over to him.

"At ease, sergeant. Did you just get in?"

"I arrived about half an hour ago, sir."

"Good flight?" Laughing at the older man's tone, Magnus replies.

"Good enough, Sir. I have to ask, Sir, why am I here?" Gesturing for Magnus to walk with him, the greying Colonel leads him away from the table.

"You are here, sergeant, to take part in the Eden project. Have you heard of it?"

"Only rumours, Sir. It's all very hush-hush, but the word on the street is that it's a project to create super soldiers. I have no interest in being part of that."

"That's what we suspect as well. I've read your file, Magnus. You have a reputation for doing the right thing. Here." With a wave of his arm, a door opens, revealing a room with a handful of people sitting around it. Stepping into the room, Magnus feigns a sigh.

"Really must be desperate if they've brought Arthur here." Getting off the chair where he's sitting, the young man struts over and stops in front of Magnus.

"Wow, you're looking old, brother. Sure, you can keep up with everyone here?" Laughing, Magnus embraces the younger man in a hug.

"Well, if they've brought you here, little brother, I'm sure I'll manage. "Laughing, Magnus pushes his brother to arm's length and looks over him. "It's been a while, Arthur. How are doing?" Stepping back from the older man, Arthur's laughter dies a little, and he looks Magnus in the eye.

"You heard about the latest from the Front Lines?"

"Yeah. The Eastern nation's advance is showing no sign of slowing. Those bezerkr soldiers are really giving us grief."

"Yeah. They feel no pain, so they keep coming right until they die. But they cover so much ground before they do."
"I take it you've fought them?"

"Yeah, a few times. They're something else, Magnus. Truly terrifying. So, any idea what this is about?"
Looking towards the front of the room as a High ranked General takes up a spot in the front of the room, Magnus shrugs.

"None. But I think we're about to find out." Taking a seat as a man clears his throat from the front of the room, Magnus and Arthur look at each other as a tall, dark-haired woman walks into the room. As she gazes around the room and her eyes meet Magnus's, an icy shiver runs down his spine. A small smile twitches across the edge of her mouth as she places a folder down on the pedestal at the front of the room.

"I'm here today to talk about the war with Eastoria. My name is Dr. Vivienne De'Staminay. You are all here today because you've been selected to take part in the Eden project." As she continues talking, the scene fades to black, and Magnus blinks, looking down at the sword clutched in his hand and the burning laboratory around him. Looking down at Arthur trapped under the rubble, with his eyes glowing crimson, Magnus suppresses his anger and grief.

"Why Arthur? This is madness, why did you go along with it?"

"You know why. They had this coming."

"That's bullshit, and you know it. This has nothing to do with the war. What Vivienne did…"

"Was more than you or any of the so could military leaders had the stomach to do. It was something that should've been done a long time ago."

"What? Doom humanity? You're deluded if you think that's an acceptable solution."

"Fuck humanity." Sighing at the hatred dripping from his brother's words, Magnus waves his hand and the sword disappears.

"You chose the wrong side, Arthur." Trying to crawl his way out from under the rubble, a look of hatred that crosses his face and fills his eyes.

"Mark my words, Magnus. Even if it takes me a hundred years, I will find you and I will kill you." Turning from his brother, Magnus walks away, talking over his shoulder.

"You're welcome to try. Let's have a wager, shall we? Let's see if you kill me or I burn Eden to the ground first." As he walks away, leaving his brother cursing his name, Magnus hits the switch on the wall, never even batting an eye as the sprinklers activate and spray water from the roof.