perception: chapter 1 the sultan's barcode

8/14/2019 Perception: Chapter 1 The Sultan's Barcode

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Chapter 1

The Sultan's Barcodes

The grand hall of the Imperial Palace was something of

wonder to the citizens of the Arabian Coalition. With its gold

Covered walls, enormous Chandeliers, and jewel encrusted

furniture it was a considered one of the eight modern wonders of

the world. Then there was the palace itself. A giant fortress

built to withstand the attack of a army of any size who might

attack the proud nations of the High Sultan. This monumental

building was responsible for the respect, and prestige the

Arabian's had recently earned, and with all the defenses it was

just as deadly on the outside as it was extravagantly beautiful

on the inside.

Even for all it's luxuries , and grandeur the palace was

built for one thing. That one thing was the one thing the world

seemed to revolve around, war. Built with an array of large


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artillery guns attacked to its thick plated walls. The Palace

was truly a fortress that was designed specifically to withstand

a modern army. It's cannons could strike at targets up to two

hundred miles away, and it's spires reached the clouds. It was a

fearsome sight to any Non-Arabian. With only four other

structures in the world that rivaled its ability, and power the

Imperial Palace was once considered impregnable.

Once. Thought Alex Sigma as he walked through the Grand

hall which was now littered with the hundreds of bodies

belonging to the palace guard who had just recently died trying

to stop him, and his fellow brother. Funny how all these

defensive measures that were designed to stop whole armies could

not stop two simple soldiers.

To the soldier's credit though Alex was more than just a

soldier. He was a soul forged assassin sent by his masters to

kill his mark. Letting his twin swords go slack in his hands, he

looked around gazing at his most recent victims. These men who

were so eager to die had little chance against the psychic

assassin's of The Company, but they had impressed Alex. They

were well trained, and well equipped even being able to graze

his arm during the fight. He could feel blood slowly trickling

from his arm.

Around him the once grand halls were now bullet hole

ridden, and the furniture now just match wood. Quietly he


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started walking down the hall casually stepping over the dozens

of bodies. Ahead of him he could see his brother in arms, and

leader Octavian Alpha who was operating the main security

terminal, reading the recent reports trying to find signs of

their target.

"Any Luck?" Asked Alex in perfect French as directed by his

masters, casually wiping his twin swords on the jacket of a

nearby fallen solider of the blood that it had become drenched

in.

After a few seconds of him reading the screen of the terminal

intently he looked up at Alex smiling.

"I've disabled their communications systems. Their last report

was logged 10 minutes ago. It says that the target was moved to

his quarters on the 100th floor right above us in the very

center of the palace." said Alpha grinning with anticipation.

Casually he tapped the screen of the terminal using a

decoder to hack farther into the palace's network. "They also

have set up some kind of defense around the only elevator

entrance on that floor. Though if it's anything like what they

had here then this will be a lot easier then I had hoped." he

said chuckling slightly.

"Our mission is to kill one man, shouldn't we be more

discreet in our movements? " questioned Alex he already had a

idea about the plan Alpha was forming in his head. Killing was


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Alpha's calling, he always had a taste for blood, and he already

had made a mess of the mission. Assassin's were suppose to be

discreet, but this was anything but. Unless you call the

hundreds of dead littered around the giant hall discreet. Who

was Alex though to judge the methods of the leader of his order.

Octavian Alpha was the first Assassin to be forged, and he was

the best among them in the art of Fire, the art of the kill.

Alex was chosen by The Company to support him, and learn from

him not judge Though Alpha's French was still terrible Alex was

willing to judge him on that.

Alex smiled wickedly at this he stared at the terminal for

a minute then turned to scan the ruined grand hall. Sighing he

looked towards Alex, smiled again, and said "Sometimes you have

to use force when performing your mission. It makes things so

much simpler."

"It's slowing us down though." Alex said questioning "Isn't

killing the entire guard garrison a waste of time?"

Alpha looked at Alex almost amused by the question, and

closed the terminal. "Think about it like this Sigma, We kill

our mark then we try to leave, but find ourselves pinned by the

enormous amount of guards there are garrisoned in this palace.

So if we kill a large amount of them before we kill the mark it

will be that much easier to get out. You have to keep the

greater plan in mind Sigma."


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With that he turned around walking to the end of the hall

to the mag rail elevator. By the elevator was the body of a poor

guardsmen who was pinned to the wall by Alpha's enormous twin

bladed scythe. He grabbed the handle, and yanked the scythe out

of the corpse, watching it slump to the ground with a breath of

satisfaction.

"Let us go Sigma We've already wasted too much time, and we have

more guards to kill" Alpha's continuous smile grew even wider as

he walked to the end of the hall to summon the elevator.

Alex could not stand the methods of Octavian Alpha, it

disgusted him. If The Company had just picked him, and Davian

his long time comrade the mark would have been already dead, and

they would be at the extraction point. There was no "greater

plan" that was just a ruse to hide his true motive. Alpha wanted

to kill just to kill, he reveled in it, and as a Assassin of the

most powerful company which was responsible for the production,

and making of everything from being the provider of eighty

percent of the worlds food supply to being the only Company to

sell the soldiers of the future, the genetically enhanced

legionnaires Alpha was never discreet.

However that same will to kill had made Alpha the ultimate

weapon to The Company, and causing them to found the Order of

the Forge, a small group of psychically enhanced assassin's kept

hidden from the world whose skills, and strengths were enough to


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crush whole armies with no more than just a small handful of

men. Alex was the 18th of 22 assassins who were initiated, and

forged becoming a warrior gifted with the amazing reflexes, and

psychic senses most importantly he had the gift of perception,

and foresight which was the forged assassin's trademark. It was

what made them better than anyone.

This was Alex's 8th year since his initiation. It seemed so

much longer than that. How many people had he'd killed in those

8 years? He couldn't remember anymore. He was tired of it, but

made no attempt to chance, because it was all he knew, and he

knew that after this mission there was going to be a lot more

killing to follow. They were here to kill a mark, and frame a

fellow ally, which will start another war. War made profit for

The Company, and so war was what Alex was going to give it to

them.

Alex started making his way to the end of the giant hall by

where Alpha was. Alex had been in many of the grand fortresses'

of the world, but this one was truly a cut above the rest. Every

room they had been in was filled with elaborate decorations,

priceless art, and the aroma of perfume. It was the chandeliers

that really impressed Alex the most. There were three giant

chandeliers in the grand hall, and the crystals around the main

piece seemed like they were floating in the air, catching the

light in a certain way causing a full spectrum of colors. It was


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almost like a rainbow was shielding each individual crystal as

they floated along the main piece. It was a shame that these

chandeliers were the only thing left intact. He couldn't help,

but wonder about how much of these statues, and paintings could

ever truly be replaced, people just didn't make good art

anymore. Not in a world of war.

More guards were finally coming now. Alex could sense them,

their minds making little footnotes in Alex's own mind. They

needed to get moving, or they were going to miss the mark. Of

course there was always the factor of the mag rail elevator.

There was only one way to get up through the palace, and that

was through the mag rail system which was installed throughout

the palace. No stairs were put into place as it was thought as a

unnecessary liability creating weakness in the palace's

structure. This was after all a fortress first, and a palace

second, and with the elevators being ran by magnets there was no

worry about cable snapping's or liability during sieges. Plus

palace security could control the elevator's movements. No doubt

they were letting the elevator down to try, and trap them, but

that was foreseen, and it was exactly what they wanted.

Alex stopped right beside Alpha as they waited

patiently for the elevator to come down. It was still a ways up

so Alex did a final check of his gear, noting the slight tear in

his suit from the graze. Slightly annoyed by it he tore his


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attention to the floor marker above the doors. Alpha started to

twitch slightly as the tension started to build in him. They

needed to keep moving though they had some time since they had

cut their communications.

They watched the elevator go down slowly floor by floor all

the while the guards were getting closer, and closer. The mag

elevators were usually incredibly fast, and the fact that they

were going slow down meant that security despite the

communications block out was able to see them coming . Alex

could sense them now not far off from the grand hall. It was

frustrating that their whole mission is stalled by a simple

elevator, but to the builders credit that was unavoidable.

It had passed the tenth floor it was almost there now, and

Alex was starting to get tense also. It was not fear he knew,

but the anxious anxiety, the excitement of the hunt. It was like

the rev up on the starting line during the countdown of a huge

race. Once the doors opened nothing would be able to stop them.

It now hit the fifth floor.

Alpha checked the clock that was integrated into the

computer on the wrist of his suit. "We have three hours before

we are to rendezvous with extraction, and it will take us at

least thirty to reach it from the quarters so that gives us two

and a half hours to kill the mark, and get out of the palace."

He looked up from his watch at Alex flashing his smile.


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"Shouldn't be too difficult." he said "If we don't run into more

resistance then just their initial setup. We will need to make

it a clean, and simple takedown. We'll be hitting them from

above the only way into the floor will be through the narrow

vent entrance. It'll be right above the door. We'll jump in, and

down through the vent."

It hit the third floor

Alex nodded they must have studied the schematics of this

place a thousand times.

"Very well then you know what to do" Alpha was now checking his

own gear, Folding his scythe down to where it easily fit in his

hand, and became like a double curved bladed knife. "You take

the guards in the elevator"

Alex could sense the elevator coming down through the walls

now. It was getting closer. He also sensed four guards coming

down with it. The guards were dead when they stepped into the

elevator. Alpha looked up also, and grinned while nodding at

Alex. He wanted Alex to take them which surprised him. After all

the talk he would've thought Alpha would want to be the one to

make the kill. No matter it would be done.

Calmly he unsheathed his twin blades from their sheaths

crossed on Alex's back. They were long, about the size of his

entire arm, and spun them around so that the knives attached to

the shafts were forward, and the long blades were back. He then


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knelt down right at the door, with his long blades pointing up,

while leaning on the knives attached to the shaft, ready to

pounce as soon as the door opened.

Alex could see them in his mind, their red, and gold

uniforms, their chrome rifles at the ready. He could sense the

sweat running down their faces, they were scared.

Alex already knew exactly what to do when the door opened.

He had already ran the whole thing in his mind, and knew their

movements before even they did. The elevator door opened, and

Alex didn't miss a beat exploding out of his knelt position into

a series of lightning fast movements towards the first two guys

slicing across their stomachs with the shaft knives then rolled

down past them to the back two spinning the hilt of his swords

on them, using the long blades to cut into their side. This made

them lean forward in shock exposing their necks perfectly, and

with another spin they were effortlessly decapitated. He then

pointed the swords back, and fell back on the first two

finishing them off. When he stood up Alpha was already in the

elevator looking at Alex's work with approval.

"Their reinforcements are about to enter this hall Sigma it's

now or never" Alpha said looking toward the main entrance where

they could see the guards from the nearby Palace garrison's

finally rushing into the hall. Even Alex couldn't, but smile at

their hesitation to enter from seeing all the carnage they had


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caused. After a couple of seconds though they regained their

composure, and saw them in the elevator. The first couple

started shouting, raising their rifles. Seeing what was coming

Alpha hit the close door button while Alex took cover. The doors

slammed shut just as they heard the clanging of the rounds

ricocheting off the metal doors as the guards unloaded their

machine guns into the door in a vain attempt to get through it.

The clanging was getting in more, and more rapid echoing off the

walls threatening to bust Alex's ear drums.

Though no surprise to Alex the elevator's floor controls

had been locked out, but that was okay. They were in the

elevator, but more importantly they were in the mag rail shaft,

and as long as they had that they were right on schedule. Alpha

didn't even seem to take notice of the constant gun fire,

casually attaching his since folded scythe to its sheath on his

belt, he reached to the chandelier hanging from the elevator,

and yanked it down making it fall with a crash that would've

been loud had it not been for the ear splitting racket coming

from the door. Alpha then pointed up at the ceiling, and Alex

was right there stabbing his swords into the ceiling, cutting a

large circled through the metal. Though the metal was tough

Alex's blades were master crafted from the iron of a meteorite

he had found during one of his first missions.


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The Company had been ecstatic to work with the metal

designing a alloy from it that was much lighter, but did not

lose any of the strength. If there was one thing the company did

well it was the making of weapons, and Alex's swords were no

different cutting through the elevator like it was never there.

A perfect circle fell to the floor, crushing the bloody messes

that had use to be guards.

Just as abrupt as it had started the gunfire stopped, which

from Alex's experience in being in "trapped" situations was a

bad thing. It usually meant that they were stopping to come up

with a better way of entry. Usually explosives were the

solution, but by the time they got them primed they'd be long

gone. Alpha jumped up into the hole Alex had made, pulling

himself through. It was Alex's turn, sheathing his swords he

leapt out of the now ruined elevator, and into the mag elevator

rail shaft.

The shaft had no support beams, rafters, or cables. It was

a giant tube with two metal large strips called mag rails to

conduct the magnets for the life, and lights to mark every floor

with vent- entrances. The mag elevator used magnets, and

electricity to move at amazingly fast speeds from floor to

floor. Which was necessary since the floors since the floors

were weren't 10 feet apart, but were every fifty feet from each

other since the architect was worried about the structural


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integrity of the palace since a building with the standard 10

foot floors would easily fall to the might of modern artillery

fire which was common in sieges.

They worked fast on the elevator knowing they had minutes

before security figured out what they were up to, and have the

electricityto the mag rails shutoff. Alex had repelled with

magnets before, but nothing like this, and he was a little

unsure despite himself. Alpha sensing his uncertainty gave him a

encouraging nod, and pulled out two metal blocks that had been

attached to his belt, and then attached them to the side of his

shoes. He then got another two blocks out, and fitted them into

slots on the palm of his hands. Alex quickly followed suit.

The plan as they had discussed in training weeks earlier

was to use the mag rails to get from floor to floor, but with

security controlling the elevator's the shafts were basically

death traps., and they were never ones to fall into traps. With

the metal blocks they would use electricity generated from their

suits to magnetize the metal becoming their own lift. It was

suicidal for any normal person to attempt it, but they weren't

normal. In fact they were the farthest from it.

Alpha watched him as Alex set up his own gear. For all the

missions Alex had done this was the Alex's first time

manipulating a mag rail, and Alpha's second for even the

assassin's of the forge avoided mag railing for its dangers.


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After Alex got himself, prepped Alpha looked up into the

shaft which seemed to be a endless darkness, even with the

occasional lights which marked the floors.

"Remember we are going to the 100th floor you'll only have

fraction of a second to jump through into the vent up there. the

momentum will most likely smash you through the vent, and drop

you down right on top of them" Alpha said going over the plan

one last time before they got into the thick of it, and

instincts took over. "From there we are to head straight to the

mark, and take it out, just as planned.

Alex nodded at Alpha signaling that he was ready to go, and

then stepped toward to the mag rail magnetizing his metal

buffers on his hands, and feet so that they were the opposite

charge making him become attached to the rail making a loud

thunk. He couldn't move at all.

Alex sighed, the next time he would see Alpha they'll be at

least 5000 feet higher on the hundredth floor surrounded by the

Royal Guard of the High Sultan. Maybe five years ago he would've

been excited to be a part of this but now he was just tired of

the killing. It should be left to men like Alpha. Cold-

calculating killers who would strike at the helpless from the

dark. Alex preferred fighting opponents that fought back.

However, he wouldn't shrink from his duty. This was probably the

most important target of his career. The ruler of the entire


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Arabian Coalition. The High Sultan himself. Though all knowledge

of his appearance is hidden for his safety he has been

responsible for ending the great civil war that had divided the

Arab's conquering India in the name of the middle east bringing

the east powers under one banner. Though great were the deeds

that united a people who until then had always been divided.

Their mission was to kill the Coalition's beloved Sultan, and

frame the assassination on the European Federation who were

known to deploy their own assassin's which was why this mission

they were required to speak French to each other, and wear the

euro version of their stealth combat suits. The more convincing

the better

Alex didn't like the thought of war, but that was something

he kept to himself. The Company was his family, and he like all

other assassin's would gladly die for it, but not tonight.

Tonight the High Sultan will die for Alex's family.

He could feel the electrical pulse from the mag rail flow

through in, and out of his body as it pulsed upwards. It

thrummed like a slow heart beat along the beam constantly moving

the electricity up the shaft. The energy was overwhelming.

Alpha was standing by him Taking one last look in the elevator

then said "Remember when you land move quickly out of the way

cause I'll be right behind you."


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"I understand" breathed Alex. He had heard stories about mag

railing, and none of them were making him feel good. The sooner

he was on his feet the better. The whole ordeal made him want a

smoke. Of course if the Companies physicians would throw a fit

if they found out he was smoking again.

"Now, or never" muttered Alex to himself, and with that he

switched the charge of the electricity of his suit with his

mind, making it the same charge as the rail. The blocks suddenly

pushed away from the mag rail, and with perfect timing Alex

angled his hands, and feet downward just like he had practiced a

thousand times making him shoot upwards at a incredible speed.

Straining to maintain control he looked up to keep track of the

floors he was passing, However the task proved to be near

impossible as the wind blasted his face like he was in a wind

tunnel.

It was exhilarating, but he also knew how fast he could

lose control. He was literally floating in the air as he

rocketed up floor by floor 100's of feet at a time. One wrong

move would send him flying in some odd direction, and ultimatly

falling to his death. His hands, and feet kept wanting to jerk

one way, or another. Alex forced himself to become rigid

struggling to lock his arms, and legs using a great deal of

strength he kept them in a exact position. Alex was starting to

gain more, and more speed with every electrical pulse that ran


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up the mag rail. Until finally he hit a pulse, and rode it going

as fast as the electricity was going, and he lost all perception

of everything. He even lost count of the lights that was marking

the floors for him. He had lost his only reference.

He didn't need it though he was a psychic assassin of the

forge. Concentrating he reached out with his mind searching for

the vent duct that would lead him to his goal. The strain of

holding his position was starting to overwhelm him as his hands,

and feet jerked harder, and harder as he gained more speed. He

ignored it though staying focused in his mind. There, the vent

was not far off, and it was going to come up behind him. With no

reference he knew he had to trust his abilities for everything

had to be perfect. IF he was a fraction of a second off in his

get off there wouldn't be much left for the palace guard to find.

He knew he had seconds until he would pass it. He needed to

find its exact position, and get ready for the dismount.

Frantically searching for the right vent Alex suddenly flashed

with his foresight. He saw a vision of himself releasing into a

vent, and flying through into the darkness of the shaft. At that

very instant Alex trusted his abilities had saved him. Blindly

he jerked his limbs to face away from him, directly facing the

wall of the shaft, which repulsed him straight back with bone

crushing force. Curling himself into a ball, and detaching the

metal buffers in the air. Alex crashed into the vent duct, and


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flew into it the tight tunnel which barley fitted him as it was,

and with a loud groan the bottom of the vent came out making him

fall into the foyer of the hundredth floor.

He saw visions of the guards, dozens of them all pointing

their guns at the elevator doors while hiding behind barricades

expecting to what was about to fall right on top of them.

Crashing through the vent he was in freefall. Drawing his blades

in the air, he regained control of his body doing a somersault,

and landing on his knees with his swords at the ready, but

instead of a guard filled room which had been brightly lit in

his head he found himself in complete darkness. He looked around

stepping out of the way conscious of Alpha dropping in at any

moment.

Something wasn't right. He could sense something in this

room, but couldn't place what it was. Alex kept his swords at

the ready growing more, and more tense with each passing second,

with each second feeling like eternity. He walked slowly in

circles around the area in which he dropped from totally blind.

He sensed nothing alive, but he had a gut feeling he wasn't

alone.

Wait.

There was something behind him, something big. He spun

around to see a pair of red eyes staring at him, glowing in the

dark. He immediately went into a fighting stance waiting for


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something to happen. Another pair of eyes were behind him. Then

another to his right. Then another, and another until the whole

room filled with red eyes starting Alex down. He didn't need his

psychic senses to tell him he was surrounded.

Suddenly a bright light burst in the room nearly blinding

Alex. The room was then revealed, and Alex saw the owners of the

pair of eyes.

The Owners were praetorians. The Companies finest super

soldiers. Half machine, Half human these modified soldier's

specialized in the killing of psychics. Which explained why his

perception's had been wrong. They were tall about two head spans

taller than he was. Each with a powerful frame, staring coldly

at him. All of them were standing at attention with their arms

crossed swords in each of their hands.

Alex swore under his breath. The company didn't tell them

that the Arabian Coalition had Praetorians. It was the kind of

information you don't leave out. In unison they all unfolded

their arms silently holding their swords at attention.

Alex smiled this was going to be interesting.

All at once they came at Alex, swarming around him, and

attacking like a pack of wolves. Alex lunged at the first one

straight ahead of him striking with both swords into the heart

of the praetorian which it blocked with such force that it

almost knocked Alex's swords away from him throwing him off


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balance. The praetorian retaliated with a kick to the gut

sending Alex flying straight up towards the ceiling. Recovering

mid flight he bounced off the ceiling to the nearest wall, and

then kicked off that wall towards the nearest praetorian, which

was still turning to face him, and in a crash it fell to the

ground giving Alex the chance to stab down, and make the first

kill. They were amazingly strong, and their speed matched their

strength. Alex knew that surrounded he'd die, but with all them

coming from one direction he might stand a chance long enough

for Alpha to arrive.

Another one lunged at him, and in a spin, Alex sliced

across it's chest, and then jumped on the Praetorian, stabbing

into its chest through the opening in the armor created by the

slash, making it crash backwards. Alex landing on the fallen

Praetorian's chest immediately rolled back with both swords in

his hand, back to his knees crossing his swords over his head to

stop a strike that was crashing straight down on him like a

hammer. Jerking the swords to his side he swung his knees around

tripping the Praetorian while bring his arms back, and stabbing

into it while it was still falling down.

He looked to the next ones just in time to catch three more

lunging at him. Forcing Alex to kick back against the wall

holding off a dozen of praetorians. It was exhausting, and he

knew he couldn't last forever, and with them handicapping his


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abilities he didn't want to risk going straight on the attack,

but soon decided doing nothing would get him killed as more, and

more Praetorians tried to get to him.

Alex pushed forward off the wall using his twin blades with

the ferocity of a lion, and in a blur of sparks he dropped two

more Praetorians creating a gap which Alex quickly capitalized

on, stepping forward fighting all around him using the swords to

control the overwhelming number of the enemy. He Constantly spun

back and forth to block, parry, and counterattack the relentless

amount of attacks coming in. It was all Alex could do to not get

overwhelmed, and with his psychic sense blocked off the only

thing that kept him alive was his lightning fast reflexes, and

years of experience.

The praetorians were amazingly fast circling around Alex,

and striking with power to break steel. Alex parried another

attack coming from behind him deflecting it towards his side

using the Praetorian's own momentum against it, and Alex pulled

his sword back across it as it was coming forward slicing it in

half.

That was the sixth kill, and there seemed to be no stopping

them. Even in the fury of the melee he could see others still

standing at the edge of the room with their arms still folded

waiting their turn. At this rate he knew he wouldn't last much

longer. He was getting desperate.


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Stealing a glance at the hole in the ceiling that he fell

through he hoped beyond hope that Alpha would fall through. He

soon regretted looking though as it left him open, and

distracted one of the Praetorians was so eager to point out. It

cut in slicing at his face which Alex caught at the last

seconding pulling his head back while trying to duck leaving him

with a deep cut into his check all the way to his ear. The cut

started burning as brightly as the lights in the room. Making it

feel like his whole face was going to melt off. His eyes started

to water blurring his vision.

Then came another cut from his side which Alex deflected

followed by a stab from behind which he pushed to the side with

his swords. Alex wasn't going after individual's anymore they

were way to many of them, and the attacks were coming to fast

from too many angles. All he could do was parry, and deflect the

barrage of attacks that were coming in all around him, and his

ears were starting to ring from the sharp sounds of the constant

clashing of metal against metal.

Alex knew his time was running out. What precious seconds

he had left all depended on when Alpha would fall in. Each

strike that came at him felt like it had the force of a wrecking

ball, and with every hit it took more, and more out of him.

Frustration was slowly building up within him. Without his

perception he felt blind. With it he would've had the entire


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fight played out in his head. He would've known the exact moves

of both parties before they had even formed them in their own

minds. Without it he felt like how a sailor would have felt at

sea if he had lost the stars. He had no guide, death was

becoming a distinct possibility.

Frustration was also building from the absence of Alpha who

should have arrived a long time ago. It seemed impossible to

think that the leader of the entire order couldn't make the mag

rail, after all he was the one who trained Alex to do it.

Thought he didn't dare to try to steal another glace up at the

hole in the ceiling, Alex knew that Alpha was his only hope of

coming out of this fight alive, and on with the mission.

There was a loud crash, and Alex felt the intensity slow

down, the attacks becoming fewer in number though still

frequent, it allowed him to strike back. He caught a strike from

above, spinning into the owner slicing it in half, and came back

down to stop a stab into his gut which he deflected, and

countered slicing off the praetorians head while spinning

forward making the Praetorian fall to the ground revealing the

source of the crash.

Alpha had fallen through another part of the roof making a

second hold. His scythe was fully extended again, and he used it

with polished force spinning in full 360 sweeps becoming a


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whirlwind of fury, cutting down the five Praetorians surrounding

him with ease.

Alex was washed over with relief. It looked like he would

be able to surviving after all, and the mission still within

their grasps. With his new found strength he quickly finished

off the two Praetorians near him. By the time Alex killed the

remaining Praetorians around him. Alpha had destroyed the

remaining Praetorians with a indomitable fury

Alex was genuinely impressed. Even without his perception

Alpha was seemingly unstoppable. He manipulated his scythe to

the point of perfection. His every movement was gracefully

calculated, his every strike powerful, and precise, and

everything was done with speed like no other. Spinning into the

very last Praetorian cutting off its legs, and then made another

spin cutting across its head. both separated at the same time.

All the Praetorian's had been defeated, and Alex could

slowly feel his perception returning although he knew it would

be awhile before his psychic abilities fully recovered from the

attack of so many Praetorian. I had been a close one. His face

still stung from the deep cut that was bleeding profusely. Now

Alex really wanted a smoke.

Alex turned to Alpha who was looking at the bodies.

"What kept you?" inquired Alex trying to sound calm, but had a

edge to it which Alpha noticed, but didn't address.


25/38

"Palace Security had shut down the mag rails when I was coming

up, and I was forced to climb" Said Alpha folding his scythe

back up, looking around the room bemused "It seems like I was

missing quite the party though who knew the Arabian Coalition

had Praetorian's stocked up" he paused looking straight at Alex

with a comical look on his face, and then unable to control

himself burst out laughing "Oh my what happened to your face?!"

laughing in between each word.

"I was busy" dismissed Alex who was even more annoyed now.

"I can tell" now laughing harder "You look terrible"

"Are you done?" shot Alex "Maybe I wouldn't have gotten this if

you hadn't taken your sweet time getting here."

"Calm down kid I told you they had shut off the electricity, and

I had to climb the rest of the way. You did alright

though...despite the face" sniggering a little more.

Ignoring Alpha's comments Alex started walking to the single

passage which lead to the only door in the room

"The mark should be in his quarters which is right behind this

door if the information is correct. What's the ETA on the guard

coming up here?"

Alpha shrugged "With the elevator shut down it will be another

30 minute before they will get it operating again so we have all

the time in the world. We could even toy with the mark a bit if

we wanted to." pausing to let the suggestion float around for a


26/38

bit before starting again. "But that wouldn't be too nice now

would it."

"No I don't think we should." Alex said pulling out a French

pistol from his back pocket. It was a variant used exclusively

by their assassin's. With this the framing would be complete,

and the mission a success. Alex look at the pistol then sighed "

Let's get this over with" then pulled the gun back to load it,

and made his way to the door.

As he walked to the door he tried to use his senses to see

what was behind it, but they hadn't fully recovered from the

praetorian fight yet. The headache that followed the attempt

reminded him of that. Alex gave e the door a quick check to make

sure there were no surprises. It seemed like a normal door, well

as normal as you could get in this place. Like everything they

had run into it was lavishly decorated with gold statues coming

from it. On the frame was the mural of some famous battle

pasted. It was a marvelous piece of art just by itself.

To bad they were going to blow it up. He pulled out a set

of explosives from his belt that were made to blow down door. He

then placed his two charges, and stepped back looking at Alpha

for the go ahead who nodded back giving the all clear. Alex

squeezed the trigger of the remote causing a small explosion to

erupt form the door, covering it in thick black smoke.


27/38

Alpha took the incentive rushing through the smoke his own

pistol drawn, and ready. Alex was right on his heels, but

quickly lost sight on Alpha in the smoke even if he was only a

couple feet ahead of him. He heard gun shots. Rushing through

the smoke, and gun at the ready he got clear of it to reveal the

High Sultan's quarters. Alpha had capped a single guard which

had been right by the door when it exploded. He laid on the

ground dead with the splinters of the door imbedded into his

entire side, but he also had a rather large hole in his head.

Alex looked around the quarters. Even though they were in

the very center of the palace which was hundreds of yards inside

the massive fortress they could see the outside around them.

They saw every detail of the massive city surrounding the

fortress, but even the massive sky scrapers seemed small from up

in the quarters. Suddenly the enormity of the palace was

starting to sink in. The room was dark, but had a blue glow to

it making the room almost have a translucent feel to it. Even

the furniture only seemed partially there.

The initial sight of the room had, distracted Alex so much that

he almost didn't notice the five sudden flashes that seemed to

come out from the walls themselves. He hit the floor hard as the

wall behind him turned into matchwood distorting the outside

vision. He popped back up squeezing a couple rounds into the


28/38

flashes hoping to score a hit, but just heard the blunt thumps

of the rounds hitting the wall.

Alpha jumped behind a nearby couch flipping it over then

attempted to take a quick peek over it to see their adversaries,

but quickly ducked back down when machine gun fire swarmed

around his head.

Alex rolled to a side getting behind a desk that was right

by the door, and as he did spotted the muzzle flashes, and

praying slightly shat at the flash hearing a satisfying slump.

He ducked back down as the response fire came in. Alpha on the

other side took advantage of this popping up, and unloading his

clip into the flashes making 3 kills.

Alex took a glance out looking for the last one, and got

tackled by a massive weight which sprawled him out. He could

feel I on top of him crushing his chest. The pain from his ribs

was intense. He tried to get back up, but felt something shove

him back down. Something was on him. He felt hands grabbing for

his throat trying to choke him out, but he shot his hands across

feeling investigable arms, and wrestled with them as he fought

for his life.

Suddenly a man appeared on top of Alex. He was wearing the

assassin's suit, but had a mask on. His whole body went limp ,

and the figure slowly rolled off Alex, and fell to the ground


29/38

with a hole in the side of his head. Alex turned to Alpha seeing

his gun smoking.

"Nice shot" gasped Alex trying to regain his breath.

Alpha did a brief check around the room to make sure no one

else was out there. He then rushed over to help him up looking

at the body that had seemed to just appear out of thin air.

"Look" said Alpha pointing at the figures back. "That one of

them prototype cloaking shields. What a nasty little surprise

they had setup"

"They were waiting for us, but how could these guys know we were

coming?"

"They couldn't of" replied Alpha grimly. He looked just as

dumbfounded as Alex was. Praetorians were one thing. They were

designed sentries, programmed to kill whoever came that wasn't

authorized. They were just reacting, but these guys were waiting

for them,, and with communications down there was no way they

could have. Alex had a feeling that there were factors in this

game that they weren't aware of.

"And these suits besides the backpacks they are the suits

assigned to our order." analyzed Alex kneeling down by the one

that had tackled him. It was the same type of suit in every way

except for the missing computer which was hardwired into all the

assassin suits.


30/38

"Let's see what's behind the mask" said Alpha, and Alex obeying

yanked the mask off like a sock hat revealing a bald younger

looking white man. Alex's blood froze. It couldn't have been

possible. He rolled the body over, studied his face immediately

noticing scar lines that formed a M over his face, starting from

one cheek bone going down his nose then to the other cheek bone.

Familiar with the scar lines he then shot his gaze directly into

the bodies eyes revealing two barcodes which was hidden in his

pupil's.

Alex's worst fears had been confirmed, and he knelt there

transfixed . These men were programmed. He'd only seen it in The

Companies genetic soldier's, but he'd seen it so many times he

could spot it instantly. The man's will was not his own. These

men were more than just brain washed, kidnapped, and forced into

surgery to alter their consciousness to their abductees own

will. The barcodes were for marking, and were impossible to see

unless you knew where to look. Ultimately they were puppets, and

The Company was the only organization that Alex knew of who had

the capability to do it. This mission had gotten a lot more

complicated.

"Alpha, take a look at this" Alex murmured not wanting to

believe what he was seeing.

Alpha stepped by Alex, to look at the body. Studying the

person "Well isn't that interesting" was all he could manage. He


31/38

was transfixed on it not quite knowing what to say, and that

bugged Alex even more. Alpha always knew what to say. They both

stared into the bodies eyes hoping the bar codes would disappear.

"Something's not right here" said Alex finally getting up. "This

mission sucks"

"Agreed" whispered Alpha still staring at the body. Then as if

someone had flipped the switch on him his old self suddenly

popped back in. "we need to find the Sultan. Just, because he

has programmed guards doesn't change the mission."

"Your right" acknowledged Alex he had almost forgotten about the

mark " All information said he'd be in his quarters which we are

I, but where is he?" he said glancing around. He tried to focus

his psychic sense into finding him, but soon wished he hadn't as

he still had not recovered from The Praetorians, and as a result

was gifted with a massive headache.

Alpha grimaced at him "I should have warned you about that.

Don't try to use your abilities for awhile. I'm still feeling it

from when I did"

"So how are we suppose to find him then?" stammered Alex he was

getting a growing craving for nicotine with each passing second.

"We got to start looking in other places." shrugged Alpha "If

he's not in this room he could be anywhere, and the rest of the

guards are still scrambling to get their act back together so we

got some time."


32/38

"But in a building this big where do we start? We had one place

that we knew where he was at, and that was here. There is no

other place that he could..." he paused he thought he had heard

something. "Did you hear that?"

There was something else in the room. He had heard it, and he

started soft stepping further into the room walking around the

turned over furniture .

"Hear what?" questioned Alpha, but stopped when Alex held a

finger at him.

There it was again, it came from the bed, and Alpha heard

it this time also. it sounded like sobbing. They silently crept

to the bed hearing it again. Alpha nodded at Alex who immediately

caught on, and at once they dove under the bed pulling a small

Arabian boy out of it throwing him on the bed.

The boy was dressed in expensive silk robes with jewels

embedded into the lacing that glistened in the blue light. in

his hands he clutched tightly the crown of the High Sultan, and

a golden scepter that was traditionally carried by him at all

times.

"So the Sultan is in this room after all" exclaimed Alpha.

The boy started crying silently staring at them both. Alpha

smiled back at the boy. He was shaking, terrified by the two

figures that loomed over him like dark mountains. Alex studied

the boy. He was a dark skinned Arabian boy who looked like he


33/38

was no more than 10 who was scared out of his mind. This was the

High Sultan of the Arabian Coalition, a boy. After all the great

things the High Sultan had done for his country he ended up

being just a boy.

Alex looked at his face which was lined with a very long

scar, no not just a scar thought Alex. He grabbed the boys face

tilting it. Those were the same scars that the other man had. He

quickly jerked his head back straight, and gazed into his dark

eyes, and he was utterly baffled at what he saw. Inside the boys

teary dark eyes were barcodes.

Alex's heart froze, he suddenly released the boy, and

staggered back aghast. The boy had barcodes in his eyes. The

Sultan was programmed. So many questions popped into his head at

once. How was he programmed? Why were they sent after someone

who has already tampered with? Why were they not told that their

target was a child? The Company simply hadn't told them anything

about this. How could they send them to kill a programmed child?

It was wrong the boy wasn't even in control of his own actions.

The Sultan was just a boy trapped in his own body.

Even Alpha looked dumbstruck staring at the boy in

disbelief. "This night is getting more, and more complicated he

said finally "but we have a job to do" Alpha said sternly

cocking back his pistol, and pointing at the boy who cowered in


34/38

response, looking as if he was trying to sink into the bed

itself.

"Wait" protested Alex grabbing Alpha's gun gently pointing it up.

"What is it Sigma?" Demanded Alpha clearly annoyed. Staring down

Alex like a predator would stare down a piece of meat

"This, this isn't right" stuttered Alex unsure of what he was

doing. "This can't be our mark, they didn't say anything about

the Sultan being programmed, or that he was a boy"

"They said he was in his quarters" Alpha snarled waving his

other hand around the room. "That is the Sultan's crown, and

scepter" Pointing at the Sultan's hands in which each item was

being strangled by the boy's death grip. "He is no doubt The

Sultan Sigma. Barcode, or no barcode the boy dies" he ended

finally pointing the gun back at the boy's head.

"But he's just a boy, and he is just a puppet to someone else,

he has no real value. You can't kill him" declared Alex "He's

been programmed. We should take him back so that they can

release his state of mind. Maybe then we could figure out what's

going on."

Alpha suddenly turned the gun on Alex

"They gave us a mark Sigma, our job as their assassin's, Their

Angels of Death is to deliver retribution to whoever should be

consider a threat to them. It is not your place to decide who


35/38

dies. We are the messengers of death not the judges, and it's

time that you understand that" he said while shaking with anger.

They both stared at each other, the gun inches from Ale's

face. He knew Alpha would pull the trigger to if he felt he had

to. Alpha didn't care who he killed as long as his mission was

done.

"He's just a kid Alpha" he said as loud as he possibly dared as

to not provoke the animal that was Alpha.

Alpha dropped his gun "He's just a kid huh? A mark is a mark

sigma. Age, gender, or state of mind it doesn't matter. You do

your job, it's time for you to learn that." Alpha spun the gun

around with a flick of his wrist, and catching it so that the

grip faced Alex "You win in one regard Sigma" he paused looking

at the boy. "I won't kill him. You will." He said smiling as he

looked back at Alex

"Me? But..."

"But what?" said Alpha sarcastically cutting Alex off" We will

be here until either you kill him, or till the guards finally

find a way up here. I am going to be outside, and if I don't

hear a gunshot, I might just have to kill you, and the kid" with

that he walked outside whistling as he left, leaving Alex alone

with the gun, and the mark.

Alex looked down at the gun, studying it. He had never

killed a child before. Even his man assassination missions that


36/38

had earned him the rep he enjoyed today he always killed grown

men. Adults, people who could fight back. There was honor in

that. in this though there was no honor. This truly was murder.

Slowly he raised the gun to the child who started crying

out loud staring at Alex with a terrified look. His barcode

pupils glistening in the blue light. So many things tonight did

not make sense, and Alex decided that he would demand some kind

of answer from The Company. This mission was not a mission

anymore these complications ruined it, and Alpha, the cold

bastard was right in one thing it was his duty to carry out The

Companies will. no matter how much he disagreed with it.

He pulled the clock back, making a loud click which also

made the boy jump sobbing even louder. Some people would be

begging for their lives right about now, but the boy just kept

crying as he stared at Alex. He was helpless to stop his own

death. Though he had no weapon the boys eyes seemed to dig into

Alex's soul making him feel disgusted with himself.

Slowly he forced himself to put his finger on the trigger.

Putting pressure on it aiming for the kids head. Giving the kid

a cold black stare in return. Alex felt almost as powerless as

the boy felt. Two prisoners inside a world they didn't want to

be in. He almost felt sorry for the boy. Who knows how long he

had been programmed, but all of that didn't matter now. Alex was

the assassin, and the boy was his mark. Alex squeezed the


37/38

trigger, and the resulting scene would never leave his mind.

A couple of minutes later Alex walked out of the room cold,

and bitter. Alpha was leaning on a wall by the door.

"Is it done then?" he asked seeing him walk out of the room.

"It is" Grudged Alex.

There was only one thing Alex wanted right now, and this

night had been too much. Pulling from his back pocket a pack of

cigarettes, and a crude lighter which he had found off the guard

that was first killed, he pulled a cigarette out of the box, and

stuck it in his mouth. Lit it, taking a long drag. He let the

smoke out slowly enjoying the taste. It looked like he wasn't

going to quit smoking after all. With that they decided to take

the primary extraction route since they took longer than

expected, and the palace security was finally getting their

systems back up. Sneaking by the patrols they finally got out of

the palace, and beyond the city to a far hill a couple miles out

of the outskirts of the city. A single black ops helicopter made

by The Company was waiting for them on top of the hill. Behind

them Alex saw the palace in all of its splendor, alight by the

city lights with its endless spires rising high into the sky.

It was time for them to go. Alex turned, and got into the copter

buckling in beside Alpha who closed the doors, and stared straight

ahead not giving the city a second look. Without speaking to the pilot

they took off into the night as silently as they had came. Even the


38/38

helicopter made no noise, and unnoticed they traveled away from the

city, leaving a nation in chaos. They would vow for revenge, and

immediately declare war Alex knew. It was part of The Companies grand

scheme. Whatever they may be, but there was one thing Alex knew for

certain. There was going to be blood, and that blood Alex knew would

be on his hands.

perception: chapter 1 the sultan's barcode

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