Aiden sat next to Zariah in the helicopter, glancing out with window with a grim expression. The closer they got to Abree City, the more and more he dreaded his and Xylem's meeting with Orion and the Other Worlders. Virgil and Rania sat opposite to Aiden, where they'd been watching over Xylem for the duration of their flight. The former General's hands were securely fastened in their cuffs, and so far, Xylem hadn't uttered a word since they'd entered the helicopter.

Theo had also been silent for the entirety of the journey. Aiden hoped that he would abide by his promise and remain in the helicopter with Virgil and Zariah, but he had a lingering feeling that Theo might want to do something drastic in order to ensure that Aiden was safe. Hopefully Rania would be able to pacify him until Aiden and Xylem could return.

Well, if they could return.

"We're almost there," Theo spoke aloud for the first time in hours. "Probably ten minutes away at this point."

"Thanks, Theo," Aiden replied. He took a moment to stretch his legs while he pried his eyes away from the window. The clouds were a murky gray color, possibly foreshadowing what was to come. It seemed like a storm was brewing, and the symbolism couldn't have been any more ironic.

"You ready to move, princess?" Virgil glanced over at Xylem, nudging him roughly.

Xylem glared at Virgil, his lips thin. The light cast a dark shadow over the General's pale skin, making him look ghostly from where Aiden was sitting. Rania shifted uncomfortably in her seat, apparently getting the same effect. 

"You're all going to die," Xylem growled. "You know that, don't you?"

"That's enough from you," Zariah said sharply, eyeing him with her piercing blue stare.

Xylem flashed her a demented grin. "You're like the daughter I never had, Lieutenant Blanche. Don't worry, I'll behave."

Zariah rolled her eyes, leaning further back into her seat. Aiden instinctively reached for her hand, and she took it without hesitation.

Aiden could feel the helicopter descend, the gloomy clouds brushing past them the closer they got to the ground. After a few minutes, Aiden could begin to see the water surrounding Abree City's shores, the water dark and looming. Strange metal ships were docked in the ports, all of various sizes. Aiden also spotted various aircraft flying in and out of the city limits, presumably delivering more Eskium soldiers to their base. Aiden couldn't even imagine how many other port cities were like this. Abree City was merely the heart of a rapidly expanding beehive.

"Guys," Theo warned. "They see us."

Aiden's muscles flexed with a sudden burst of energy. Below them, he could just narrowly picture the hoards of Eskium soldiers clustering together beneath their helicopter, eagerly awaiting their arrival.

"Welcome to Eskium Base, Programmers," a voice greeted them, static crackling through the helicopter. "Don't even think about coming in here with weapons. Your two representatives are to leave all weapons behind with your comrades before they see the Supreme Leader. We'll be seeing you shortly."

Just three minutes later, Theo was touching down on one of the landing pads that the Other Worlders had prepared for them. The second they had landed, Aiden began passing all his weapons to Zariah, who reluctantly accepted them.

"You've got to at least keep one gun," Virgil urged him, scowling as Aiden handed Zariah a combat knife. "What happens when things get heated?"

Aiden shook his head firmly. "Imagine what they'd do if they found out I disregarded their warning about bringing weapons. I'll play by their rules, for now. If I don't, we'll be dead before I even get to meet with Orion."

Xylem stared at him incredulously. "You truly believe that he'll advocate for a peace treaty?" The General laughed coldly. "You're a fool."

"We get it," Zariah rolled her eyes. "We're idiots for coming here. Well you're an idiot for letting our country go to shit, and trying to kill us along the way."

Before Xylem could reply, the doors to the helicopter slid open to reveal a heavily armed team of masked soldiers. One of them gestured for Aiden and Xylem to come forward, helping them out of the aircraft before turning to the rest of Aiden's crew and narrowing their eyes. The soldier noticed Xylem's handcuffs, but made no effort to free the former General.

"The rest of you will remain here until the meeting concludes," the soldier ordered. "Until then, you'll all be searched and have your weapons removed. Acting General Lycroft and General Xylem, this way, please."

Aiden and Xylem followed the Other Worlder down the airstrip and into what appeared to be a huge boat loading warehouse. It was clearly meant for large naval ships formerly owned by the Program, but it had now been claimed by the Eskium forces, housing their own warships from whatever island of exile they had come from. Aiden took in the sights of hundreds of Other Worlders stockpiling guns and heavy explosives into massive metal crates. Aiden's skin crawled with everything between trepidation to disgust as he watched the soldiers work.

They entered the warehouse, the overcast sky disappearing behind them as they went deeper and deeper into the structure. The clanging of loud metal became louder as they walked along the lower level, sparks flying everywhere. Aiden observed a blacksmith as he set aside a beautifully crafted military sword before promptly starting on another one.

"Impressive, isn't it?"

Aiden and Xylem looked upwards to trace the source of Orion's voice. The Eskium leader looked lean and daunting as he leaned against the metal balcony overlooking the armory. The man's dark hair was accentuated by his hooded black, knee-length military jacket with red accents. He wasn't as stocky as Xylem was, but Aiden could tell that Orion was a man well-trained in combat and not to be underestimated. The Other Worlder was probably in his late twenties, possibly early thirties and despite his age, his empire was unfathomable.

"Theatrics aside, I think we've done fairly well in regards to staying under the radar," Orion added, his voice smooth and authoritarian. His icy blue stare found its way to Aiden, and his lips tugged at an amused smile upon recognizing the young Programmer's face. "Welcome, General Lycroft. Thank you for being so cooperative. I'm not fond of the moments when things don't quite go my way. You've made this interaction very easy for me."

Aiden said nothing, only allowing himself to bow his head very slightly in Orion's direction. He watched as Orion strode down the winding steel staircase towards himself and Xylem, the train of his jacket billowing behind him as a chilly breeze swept through the building. The Eskium leader kept his hood on, casting a dark, sinister shadow across his face. Aiden began to assess him as he got closer. He immediately noticed two twin pistols located on either side of the Other Worlder's waist, which were surely at least semi-automatic. More unusually still, Aiden recognized the hilt of a strange sword fastened to Orion's side. It wasn't like any military sword that Aiden had ever seen. Somehow, Aiden had a feeling that this peculiar choice of weaponry was not done as an accident. Orion definitely had more than a few tricks up his sleeve.

"Come, let me show you to my quarters," offered Orion. Without waiting for a response, he turned away from Aiden and Xylem, leading them both further into the warehouse until they reached a looming metal doorway. Four Other Worlder soldiers ushered them in, before shutting the door once they had entered. The three men were met with eerie silence, until Orion insisted that they take a seat at the polished oak table within the room.

"We've certainly come a long way, haven't we?" the Other Worlder remarked. "The General who wanted to change the world and ended up destroying it instead. The unknown leader in the shadows, seeking revenge upon the people who took his home, and the soldier who asked too many questions, only to find too many troubling answers."

"Orion, it's not too late to join forces," Xylem said quietly. He turned his head towards the Eskium leader, flashing his teeth maliciously. "Kill this traitor. Let me join you. The Program no longer answers to me, so what allegiance do I have to them? I know everything there is to know about Creatan. I will be your most valuable asset in winning this war."

"Why should I trust you, seeing how willing you are to turn against your own people? What guarantees the fact that you will not do the same to me?" Orion inquired, his icy eyes unblinking. "You're a crooked man, Xylem, but I know your game."

"I will tell you everything," Xylem continued. "Every secret, every vulnerability, every code. You'll be unstoppable with the intelligence I carry."

Fury burned through Aiden, hot and unforgiving. Xylem would do anything to save himself. No matter what, if it came to saving the lives of others or ensuring the safety of his own, he would do everything in his power to keep himself intact.

"And you call me the traitor," Aiden scathed. He could feel the anger billowing up inside of him, and it took all of his willpower to restrain himself from killing Xylem right then and there. "Look at yourself. The only thing you ever cared about were the needs of yourself."

"How noble, General Lycroft," sneered Xylem. "I believe it was you who left Sergeant Cerise back in Askus City Laboratories. You were the one who saved yourself."

"And you're the one who killed her," Aiden fired back. He clenched his fists, instinctively reaching for a weapon. His fingers brushed the empty holster, and he nearly cursed upon remembering that the Other Worlders had been very strict when it came to their weapons policy.

"Gentlemen, please," Orion rationalized. "Let's settle. I've gathered the two of you here only to make a simple agreement. The fighting will come later, believe me."

"And what exactly is that?" Aiden questioned, the hairs on his neck rising.

Xylem tried again, his voice level. "Orion. Think this over, I beg of you. I can lead you to victory."

Orion seemed to think about this for a moment, and after what felt like an eternity, moved from his seat to stand in front of Xylem. He withdrew the immaculate sword from its hilt, revealing the weapon in all its glory.

It was double sided sword with twin curved blades that each narrowed into a sickening point. It  was serrated along the sides, identical spaces cut into the sharp metal to make it lighter and more aerodynamic. Aiden recognized a button located in the center of the weapon, indicating that one of the sides of the sword were retractable. Xylem extended his hands, and Orion brought the sword downwards, easily slicing through the handcuffs and freeing Xylem from his bonds. The General stood up to face the Other Worlder leader, smiling.

"If we kill him, there will be nothing left of this war. He's their leader, and by disposing of him, the people will easily surrender to us," Xylem explained hastily. "I'll do it myself if you would prefer it. To kill General Lycroft would be my genuine pleasure, Supreme Leader."

Xylem and Orion turned to Aiden, who was still seated at the table. Aiden's heart hammered in his chest, the blood roaring in his ears. If Xylem had truly allied with the Other Worlders, the war was lost.

Aiden would die, and everyone he ever loved would die with him.

"I agree," Orion answered simply. "General Lycroft must die. The war can never be won unless we broadcast his dead body to the entire nation, and when we do, the people will know never to rebel again." Orion looked at Xylem, dipping his head.

"Let me," Xylem requested. "There will be nothing left of him once I'm done."

"That may be so," Orion replied, "but I'm not interested in killing General Lycroft at this time."

Time seemed to stop as Aiden watched in shock as the Eskium leader raised his sword and sunk it deep into Xylem's chest.

Xylem gasped, gargling as the blood began to rise into his throat and drip from his body. Orion wouldn't remove the blade from the General's body just yet, however. Aiden backed away as Orion drove the sword further upwards into Xylem's chest cavity, increasing the fatality of the wound. Blood was now seeping in large amounts from the deadly gash, and Xylem's eyes flickered with panic. For the first time ever, Aiden could see the fear and realization in his eyes. Xylem's exterior was no longer flawless and eloquently masked.

He was human.

"Y-you..." managed Xylem, his voice a strangled whisper.

"The truth is, my dear General," Orion said, leaning in towards Xylem's ear. "I don't need your help. When I take Creatan, and I will, I intend to watch every soldier and civilian writhe when I kill them, one by one. I want a bloody, gory, horrific war. My revenge will not be satisfied with the deaths of only a few. Creatan has wronged the nation of Eskium, since the dawn of the war that ended the world, to the one that will rebirth it. This is how you will pay for your sins."

Orion ripped the blade from the General's chest, twisting the weapon in his hand before slicing it across Xylem's throat. Xylem clutched his throat before collapsing onto the ground, blood gushing onto the floor and forming a scarlet pool around him. Finally, without a second thought, the Other Worlder brought the weapon down on Xylem's neck, severing the former General's head from his body. The once moving body of General Xylem now lay still and unmoving, turning Aiden's blood to ice as Xylem's cold eyes glazed over into nothingness.

And with that, Dominic Xylem was no more.

Aiden glanced at Xylem's mutilated body and back to Orion, Aiden's body shaking with distress. The room was entirely silent aside from the sound of Aiden's shallow breathing and the droplets of blood rolling off of Orion's sword and dripping onto the floor below. Aiden was positive that Orion could hear his heart threatening to leap out of his chest in fear. Aiden's gray eyes were wide with shock, his breaths coming out in ragged gulps. He readied his fists. Aiden was no match for Orion's sword, but he would do all he could to fight for his life. He would not die today.

Orion seemed to notice this, and he sighed, sheathing his sword and approaching Aiden calmly.

"You have three days to prepare for war," he told him. "After your three days are up, my forces will attack. It will be beautiful, General Lycroft. Show me just what your people are capable of."

Orion looked back at Xylem's body, shaking his head knowingly. "He was such a crazed, sadistic man. Surely you must agree, considering all that he did to you."

While Xylem was a convicted criminal, he was beginning to look like the lesser of two evils when compared to Orion, Aiden had determined. The Other Worlder had completely eliminated the odds of Xylem ever rising to power again, leaving only the threat of the Eskium soldiers and the Creatan people to defeat them. Aiden now had complete and ultimate power.

And now it was up to him to defeat Orion.

"You'll never take Creatan," Aiden growled, his voice low. The steadiness of it surprised him. Only now did he realize that the anger he'd been harboring beforehand had not yet left his system. Now that Xylem was dead, it only gave him a new target to unleash it on.

"Oh?" Orion tilted his head inquisitively. "You seem very sure of yourself, General. Arrogant men always lose."

"Then I suppose we'll see which one of us is the more arrogant man," Aiden countered.

"I'll have my soldiers escort you out, General Lycroft," Orion smiled. "I'll see you in three days. Good luck, Programmer. You'll need it."