Author's Note
I forgot to post these chapters to the CV Fanfic Forum due to working reasons.
So here we go!
I hope you enjoy The New Empire Chapter 5! If you want to read the other chapters in the Falcon Universe, or you want to read that failed Kombat Universe, click on my Fic-O-Pedia - Also check out my site. I usually post daily updates of when I am going to post a chapter on my website.
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Chapter 5 of Exitium
“We need to land.” Nick spoke over the ships speakers as he made the ship hover high over the country of Japan. Vitae and Mortem were resting in two of the ship’s bedrooms. Nick had already prepared for the arrival by changing his clothing to a dark, unnoticeable outfit knowing that the only places to land in Japan would be on the northern, government controlled, side. They needed to get to the southern, corporate controlled, side but unfortunately they couldn't land planes there. They would be hit with a rocket on sight.
Technically they were supposed to tell an airport authority that they wanted to go to the corporate side but they all knew that wasn't an option. They would probably just be captured and executed on the spot.
Vitae awoke from his deep slumber and replied, “Ok, I will get ready. Is Mortem awake?”
Nick looked behind him and saw that Mortem was adjusting a watch on his left wrist, “Yeah, I’m awake. Didn't exactly have the mood to rest.” Mortem was ready long before Nick or Vitae. He had prepared a small bag with supplies and gotten dressed in dark clothing. Difference is that Mortem preferred his tank top, black jeans, and black boots over Nick who had to put on a black overcoat.
Vitae stood up from his bed naked and made a gesture to the wall that made a holographic screen appear with a view outside the ship. It was nighttime meaning it would be easier to cross borders.
‘Probably if we didn’t have to fly so low in order to avoid detection, we would have arrived earlier.’ Vitae thought as he pushed a spot on the walk across from his bed.
The wall transformed and drawers, a small kitchen with a slide-in table, and a television appeared. Vitae opened the fridge and grabbed an egg which he left cooking while he went into his closer and picked out something to wear. A black jacket with black cargo pants and combat boots was what he picked out. He went back to his eggs and ate them from the pan.
He went into the bathroom and didn't take long showering. While quickly brushing his teeth, he checked his phone and looked at the map for a place to land. He knew that Nick didn't think where he was going to actually land.
Vitae quickly looked in the mirror before heading back into the room. He was very muscular and appeared twice his size because of it.
‘Mortem has the same type of body. Years of that goddamn factory has at least some benefit.’ Then Vitae remembered that people easily gained that much muscle by just changing their genetics, ‘Everyone is healthy and fit. That's the good thing. Just wish I lived a pampered life since birth instead of growing up in terror.’
He walked out of his room and into the pilot cabin, “Land here,” Vitae marked a rooftop on the screen in the console.
Mortem noticed Vitae approaching him, “Well how’s the morning, bro?”
Vitae folded his arms, “One, don’t call me that. Two, it’s nighttime.”
“You called me that yesterday.” Mortem chuckled.
“No I…. Oh my god that’s right.” Vitae quickly averted his eyes from Mortem’s gaze.
"Some habits don’t die.” Mortem commented as the hidden staircase opened and Nick walked into the living area.
“Ship is cloaked but you still may want to dissolve it. Your call.” Nick stated as he followed Vitae and Mortem outside.
“How should people approach this issue inside Great Britain?” An anchorman asked The President on international television as they all stepped out of the ship. Vitae, Mortem, and Nick watched the giant holographic screen from the rooftop of a tall skyscraper overlooking a giant avenue. The six-lane street divided into two as it passed a triangular building.
They were in Japan and that's what the whole thing was known as to anyone who has lived outside the country. After the enslavement, corporations with government approval started making inroads on the environmental sections of the country. The entire island no longer has one single tree that isn't artificially planted and was dominated completely by skyscrapers. Eventually, a civil war ensued, mostly between corporations and government, which caused the land to be divided in half. Vitae, Mortem, and Nick were trying to get to the corporate half, which was the bottom of the country.
Meanwhile, The President and anchorman were sitting in the United Nations building. They had the logo at the background of the two men the camera was focused on. What The President said and did next would completely destroy any love for that branding.
“It's a showcase of power by the United Nations and should be treated as such. Any more protests that occur, peaceful or violent, will be immediately disbanded.”
Vitae and Mortem stared in shock while Nick looked relatively calm.
The anchorman looked almost a little to closely at The President, “Why the peaceful protests? Are you just trying to remove freedom of speech?”
“I’ve had enough of this.” The President waved to someone off camera. From one moment to the next, the anchorman dropped dead at the table. Another gunshot followed killing the cameraman. A technical difficulties screen showed up before the holographic screen immediately disappeared.
"They are going to do literally anything to stay in power.” Vitae commented as they walked to the edge of the roof.
“This is nothing new.” Nick replied.
Vitae looked back, “I guess you working with him directly made you insensitive to his actions.”
Mortem jumped, rolled, and took of running toward the waypoint with the bag he packed slung over his shoulder. Vitae and Nick followed him as Mortem wall ran across the back of a giant billboard to get to the next roof. Vitae caught up to him and was on his heels before Mortem launched himself and barely coiled over a barbed wire fence onto a roof that was slanted.
An automated stationary drone popped up out of the roof and started shooting at him. Mortem dodged and took cover as Vitae kicked the drone, breaking it into millions of pieces. Nick arrived just after the drone was destroyed.
“Where are we going now?” Nick asked, “I don't see a way to the other rooftop. We may have to go street level.”
Vitae and Mortem looked down from the edge of the slanted roof. There was another skyscraper in front of them and a wide street prevented them from going further. Mortem focused on the ground and saw police stationed at ever street corner and realized that they were going to have to stick to the rooftops.
“There are a ton of cops down there.” Mortem commented.
Vitae jumped to the top of a cell tower and fired a line of metal rope across the huge space to the next skyscraper, “Don't get rope burn,” he yelled as he grabbed the metal rope and flew across the wide street. Mortem and Nick followed while Vitae fired another line across a wide street.
Together, they continued running across the rooftops and it took them ten minutes to reach the space between the corporate and government sides. They all stopped before continuing.
“Can we make it across quietly?” Vitae asked as he stared down at the border patrol. Some cars passed by while others were sent back.
“They are most likely going to detect us either way. Right now, we have a height advantage. So shoot a line to that apartment building,” Nick pointed, “and then we will escape.”
Vitae fired a line and as they passed an alarm went off. Gunfire ensued upon them as they flew across the wide space. They landed on the roof and ran faster compared to before.
A scary red and white VTOL began to chase them down the rooftops. They quickly got to lower buildings in order to evade it since it was so large it couldn't fit between the massive skyscrapers.
The VTOL started firing upon them and missed. Chaos ensued as lasers blasted through glass and people started screaming. They were unaware of the trips presence.
Vitae quickly dodged an automated turret which fired a missile at the VTOL. It hit one of the sides and the VTOL crashed into the street. A few seconds passed before a massive explosion happened.
Nick was right; they were able to clear out quickly and escape at the expense of burning wreckage. Vitae quickly looked into the past and saw that no one had died from all points of perspective. The VTOL was computer operated. Also, he knew no one died otherwise Mortem would have had a massive panic attack as he saw the burning wreckage hurling toward him. Just like he saw the future of The President killing Vitae in that room. They were now on the corporate side. Vitae kept why they were going there a secret but he decided to tell them now.
“You guys have blindly followed me and not asked why.” Vitae stared at the burning wreckage.
“Well, what other option did we have.” Mortem replied.
“The corporations are the only possible people who will offer us refuge. We just needed to get to a place where a clear, most importantly guarded, divide existed between our enemies and our allies. From here, we can start the process of bringing the system down.” Vitae stated.
Nick and Mortem nodded in approval before Mortem replied, “Politics sometimes needs someone watching.”
Vitae found a pipe and began to climb down with Mortem and Nick above him, “What do you mean?”
“We need our own political spies. Some of the corporate executives might do.” Mortem spoke as he scurried quickly down the pipe. Vitae jumped down and Mortem and Nick followed.
“I'm going to have to get support. Follow me.” Vitae ordered as he walked down the street.
The corporate side of Japan was by far the most elegant in design compared to the government side. The corporations made an effort to make a showcase out of what they won in the civil war. The buildings were never just bland rectangles but interesting shapes and designs. Every skyscraper had a feature that differentiated it amongst the others.
"This is so beautiful.” Mortem commented.
Vitae jumped around and walked backwards, “You are such a tourist.”
“What, did you forget the fact that this doesn’t exist in Old São Paulo.”
Vitae thought for a moment before responding, “So you are saying you have a right to act like a tourist.”
Mortem rolled his eyes before responding sarcastically, “Yes, it is my right to act like a tourist because I am so uneducated.”
Vitae turned back around as Nick brought up a similar subject, “You two bicker as much as my brother and I do when I got to family gatherings.”
Vitae stopped before crossing a street and turned around as cars began to pass by behind him, “You have a family! You told me that you were created in a lab as an experiment.”
“I don’t necessarily mean he is my ‘brother.’ He technically isn’t but I consider him to be a ‘brother’ because we pretty much grew up in those conditions together,” Nick replied, “Besides, I had to survive when we were put in prison somehow. My brother is quite a lot bigger than me.”
Vitae turned around and started walking again, “Well you never told me anything.”
“Where are we going anyways?” Mortem asked.
“The CC building just two blocks that way.” Vitae pointed at a skyscraper which stood much higher than the others surrounding them.
“CC building?”
“The Corporate Conglomerate building. CC is their official name and they have ten seats in the United Nations.” Vitae informed.
Nick added, “I’m pretty sure they no longer hold ten seats.”
They crossed the next street they had to pass and entered a huge courtyard completed with metal sculptures and genetically-edited blue trees. The courtyard surrounded the building which was in the center. The skyscraper stood up in an odd spiral which seemed to stop at some points and continue at others. There seemed to be an exposed part of the building at the very top but it was just extremely clear glass.
Vitae opened the door and entered. The first floor was a showcase of all of the Corporate Conglomerate’s products. Everything was featured there and cool futuristic concepts were also a part of the showcase. Vitae didn’t care for any of that and walked directly up glass stairs to a balcony with elevators. He entered one and pressed the top floor.
‘Has he been here before?’ Mortem questioned as the elevator shot up.
Vitae stepped out and greeted a tall, green-eyed, man with brown hair, “Jake, it's so nice to see you again.”
Jake looked up before responding, “Fuck and I thought you were never coming back.” He stood up and went around the desk just to hug Vitae.
The entrance to the head of the CC’s penthouse was extravagant, the actual apartment was divided by a rough aluminum wall, and more beautiful things awaited inside. That is if one of them didn't have a rage fit at the sight of him. Vitae knew the man for many years but Mortem was definitely going to possibly kill him.
‘That is if he doesn’t see the future and tries to kill me beforehand.’
Mortem and Nick stood with shocked faces as Jake introduce himself to Vitae’s best friend, “You must be Mortem,” Jake held out his hand.
Mortem looked back up and down, “Pass. Who are you exactly?”
“No need to be hostile, Mortem.” Vitae warned.
“No. I want answers and I want them now!” Mortem shouted, “Who was your mother, oh don’t give me that look Vitae. It’s not like you would exactly have been able to get in bed with the goddamn Corporate Conglomerate.”
“And we will all be able to discuss that in my office.” A deep-voiced, green-haired, blue-eyed, blonde man emerged from a door and stepped into the room. He nodded at Vitae as he walked in.
Mortem immediately recognized him and his eyes ignited with fury, “You fucker!” Mortem punched the man and knocked him down. He grabbed a knife from his combat boot and was about to stab him before Vitae grabbed his arm.
“Let go of me you asshole!”
“Mortem, stop.”
Mortem shoved Vitae away, “You expect me to stop when you know the goddamn man who was a major part of the Enslavement in the first place! It was his guards, his fucking protection, that kept us working in that goddamn factory!”
Nick stepped further away from Vitae and Mortem who were both about to murder each other, “That’s Lancer.”
Lancer stood up from the ground and eyed Nick, “You can say my last name.”
“I would rather not.”
Lancer then eyed Mortem and smiled, “I am truly terribly sorry for that… event long time ago. I didn’t want to do that but the government forced my hand.”
Vitae then seemed to switch sides, “Shut up Lancer. Don’t think I am kissing your ass either. You wanted the Enslavement and just because the governments profited from it doesn’t mean that you came up with the idea.”
Lancer’s face seemed calm but he was truly furious, “Well, I am sorry for the loss of your mother.”
“Oh, one of her ex-husbands who is a very good mischievous, greedy, executive is sorry for her death. You know we planned it and the CC is going to benefit so much from destruction.” Vitae replied.
“So my assumptions are correct,” Mortem stated. He felt betrayed by Vitae and mostly confused.
“This is much bigger then what you understand Mortem. My higher-ups are going to literally murder me if nothing turns out the way they planned it.” Lancer seemed to be able to subside the tension in the room.
Except Mortem didn’t really calm down, “Higher ups! You are technically the owner of every single fucking corporation!”
“Your opinion doesn’t matter.”
“And what does yours matter. Do you people realize who is the most powerful right now? The United Nations and its governing bodies are. There have been no protests ever since the Massacre of Britain and now whatever that murdered news reporter incident will be called.”
Lancer and Vitae looked at each other before Vitae replied, “Crap, you’re right.”
“Unfortunately. Hopefully you have come up with an idea that will benefit us all.” Lancer stared at Mortem attentively and with that he admitted defeat. Mortem’s opinion did matter after all.
At the same time he was kind of annoyed, “Political fucking spies. Do you not have any bought politicians or hidden corporate executives who would gladly revel in basking in Corporate Conglomerate’s wealth? Like oh my fucking hell its right in front of you!”
“What could that possibly do?” Lancer truly questioned making Mortem even angrier.
“You know how much blackmail you would have and how much people would be less afraid if a pornographic film of a fat-ass is the most talked about news of the month?”
Vitae then realized where they could start, “The United Nations elections.”
“No, Vitae, we would be so late to that.” Lancer was skeptical.
Vitae rolled his eyes, “You control the media and have thousands of marketing teams and you can't gain at least the ten seats you lost when you pulled that stunt with the Head of the Secret Service.”
Lancer looked at the view before his mind returned to the matter at hand, “Gun to my head, I have no other options.”
As soon as they entered the apartment, Mortem couldn't even see anything inside it as Vitae dragged him to a room quickly and shut the door. The room was nice a big with a living area. It was possibly bigger then most houses and like the rest of the interior of the building, everything was white with some sort of black contrast.
“What was that!” Vitae screamed quietly.
“What the fuck are you doing with the person who enslaved us in the first place.”
Vitae turned away from his friend and rubbed his forehead, “He’s the reason I am still alive. When we first arrived here, The President set to make an example out of us. We were going to be executed as soon as we entered the goddamn country. My mother and I knew it.”
Mortem eyed his friend and stayed quiet. Vitae was never the type of person to owe debt to someone. But this is something more than debt and Mortem knows it better than Nick. Vitae has a lust for power. Ever since they were little, Vitae would always talk about politics and owning the world as if it were his property.
“How much do you actually hate Lancer?”
“I don’t hate Lancer. He’s just another puppet.” Vitae replied.
“How can he be another puppet. Are you talking about his superiors?”
Vitae flipped back around and looked at Mortem, “I have a lot of reason to believe that his superiors are the Falcon’s themselves.”
Mortem considered all possibilities and considered the fact that this planet was under Siloteri rule long before the Falcon’s arrived, “It could be the Siloteri.”
“No, it definitely isn’t.”
“Then who else can it possibly be?”
Vitae looked at his friend and realized Mortem may in fact have the answer, “You can see the future! I forgot about that.”
“I am not going back to that realm of thinking. All the math that went through my head just to undergo a simulation of a possible future made my head buzz. That and I don’t want to see another scary President killing me by stabbing my chest repeatedly.”
“This could provide answers Mortem!” Vitae pleaded, “If we can at least see something of the future we can understand what has happened in the past.”
“You can see the past!” Mortem shouted, “You don’t need me to do that.”
“I can’t see that far. Come on, I will be there with you as you experience the future. I have to know for reasons of my own if the Falcon’s are behind all this.”
Mortem looked at his friend and realize Vitae was kneeling down almost begging. He had never done that before and felt a new sense of power inside him.
“Fine, but I stop when I want to stop.”
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