For the Good of the Kingdom

Akiko stood frozen with indecision as the sounds of the combat seemed to fade all around her. To one side of the room, the sounds of the doors being pounded echoed as they wouldn't last much longer. In front of her, the voices of her allies all shouting for an impossible decision, abandon their mission and escape with their lives, which would leave the Empire with its weapon of mass destruction, or order one of her own to willingly stay behind? Our lives, or the lives of thousands? Her voice was a hesitant and quiet, "H-how many of you would it take? How many would have to sacrifice themselves?"

"Assuming the spells were set up properly, just one," Amberbrooke answered gravely, giving voice to Akiko's unspoken dilemma. "One life for thousands..."

"Also, something else you need to know before you choose," Keiko explained. "The navigation and levitation crystals don't seem to be here. Mapping and scrying yes, but ones that actually control where this floating fortress goes aren't here. Which means, they're most likely either attached to the great hall or throne room."

Akiko cringed as her eyes drifted between Keiko and Amberbrooke... don't ask me to choose, she silently beseeched, but of course as the leader, that was her job. Another blast from the doors interrupted her, causing her to return to the door to help physically restrain it from being forced open.

It has to be one of us, Keiko and Amberbooke silently thought to one another. Both of them held each other's hands for a moment before Keiko spoke with soft resolution. "You've taught me so much these past few months... if they win the day, they're going to need your wisdom for what comes next."

Amberbrooke gently shook her head. "They'll need your fresh young energy... and the many more years that you will give them. Pass on what you've learned," she urged. "Go... get everyone else off so they may continue the fight."

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Masako watched as platoons of men streamed into the portals under the castle and formed up into groups, preparing to attack objectives within the castle at her command. The Empire kept a very top-down command structure which she had become familiar with during her time spent there, not to mention her memories as Masahiro. Once again, she was struck at the irony of her current life's choice of tearing down everything that her prior life had spent a lifetime seeking to gain.

"First platoon, take the command center," Masako ordered, handing the officer a sketched map. "Second platoon, quartermaster armories, third and fourth, barracks, the rest of you follow me! We're heading into the main hall, then securing the courtyard and castle walls. Once we have the castle fully secured, we'll order the individual guard stations throughout the city to come to a ceasefire. If they don't comply, we'll threaten to torch the city from within."

The officers grimaced as the orders went out. They all knew war was an ugly business, but it would have been much easier to capture the city with cleaner hands than scorched-earth tactics. Masako's expression didn't change; she knew though they wouldn't likely need to go that far. Even the threat of such a tactic would compel the civilians to capitulate and once that happened, the individual guards' stations would be cut off from all forms of aid and supplies. Besides, once word got out that Emperor Takashi Minamoto was no longer running the show, many people would be more than fine with anyone else's rule, though maybe she needed to keep her own name out of any official announcement. Probably best not to give the impression that the next ruler would be just the current ruler's same lineage, at least in some people's mind.

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Keiko concentrated and opened a portal, calling everyone to the exit. "Akiko, time to go!" she urged. "The choice's been made! She's going to merge her will with the crystal and detonate it from within. That'll give us a few minutes to get off safely!"

Just then, the doors sealing off the chamber were blasted open and the Empire's soldiers streamed in. However, they were momentarily taken aback as they all saw the main crystal's glowing brightly and pulsing ominously. Taking advantage of the circumstances, Akiko announced, "If you value your lives over your oaths, I'd advise you find whatever methods you have to abandoning the fort before your main crystal self-destructs. Or, if you prefer loyalty to the death, just stick around and you'll get your wish, as nothing can stop that now..."

The Empire soldiers shuddered and turned, running out of the chamber. Akiko smiled with cold satisfaction. Go figure that an Empire that ruled through constant fear would inspire shaky loyalty at best, she thought. She turned back to Keiko, "Go ahead, get back to Kenji and the others. Tell them... what we had to do."

"Wait, you're coming too, right?!" Keiko exclaimed with surprise.

"I have one last thing I need to do," Akiko said with determination. "You said the only other place that would have the navigation crystals would be the main hall on the command deck? That's probably where he'll be..."

Keiko looked alarmed, "Akiko, you can't! Masako said you wouldn't stand a chance against him! Everyone else is already gone! At least come with me and we'll return with reinforcements to back you up!"

"If he gets even a hint of what's going on down here, he won't be here in a few minutes," Akiko countered. "Knowing him and every other dictator who saves themselves first, he'll have his own way off this fortress if I don't stop him!"

"Then I'm coming with you!"

"I've already had to sacrifice Lady Amberbrooke; I can't let you martyr yourself as well!" Akiko insisted. "Besides, if you're right and I don't make it, I need someone to back me up and send in the cavalry to finish what I've started!"

"Akiko... don't make this be the last time we see you!" Keiko's voice shuddered.

Akiko came close and gave Keiko a brief hug before taking off her kumihimo bracelet and handing it to her. "Take care of this; I'm coming back for it, I promise," before they embraced again, "One for all..."

"All for one..." Keiko replied, before turning away, disappearing into the magic portal.

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Emperor Takahito Minamoto watched with a mixture of cold calculating fury and grudging admiration as scrying the main magical crystal showed that it had been effectively sabotaged. These rebels had accomplished far more than he would have ever imagined. He would have to scuttle the weapon before it detonated, lest it destroy Fort Aetheria. Fortunately, the rest of the base was still operational. The men who had panicked and abandon their posts would have to be reprimanded in the harshest terms and made examples so the replacements would know better.

He turned his attention to the magical focusing crystals that were embedded in the tables and walls around the center of the grand hall. These would control the directions and speed of the fortress itself. He made plans to redirect the flight back to Fort Magish where the reserve forces were stationed. He glanced again at the scrying crystals revealing several of the men who were currently stationed fleeing by wyvern or magical portals down to the surface, in apparent fear of the crystal's detonation. It would be fit punishment if they would be caught in the blast once it was scuttled.

Just then, the slightest sound amid the chaos seemed to catch the Emperor's attention.  Having spent much of his time in this room, he was fully attuned to its rhythms and tones; nothing could catch him by surprise in this room.  "So... you've come to fulfill the Prophecy after all..."

So much for that ambush idea... Akiko thought, stepping out of the shadows.  With a flick of her wrists, both of her swords were drawn and she stood ready.  Her heartbeat slowed... her breath grew heavy... it was as if everything she had done for the past several months had been building to this moment as her eyes narrowed ever slightly.  "I have reasons to kill you that have nothing to do with this Prophecy..." Akiko coldly declared.

"Then let Destiny decide our Fate," Emperor Minamoto declared, drawing his soul sword, which began to glow and hum with its ominous power, reminiscent of Masako's sword.

Akiko swallowed a momentary lump of fear in her throat as she remembered facing Masako's weapon but set it aside.  Too late to turn back now... as he said... time to let destiny decide...