Restart Again: Volume 2 by Adam Scott (best adventure books to read .TXT) 📗

retook their resting positions, then looked back to me and smiled. “I’m truly sorry, but I am unfamiliar with whatever information you’re looking for.”

My growing uncertainty tied knots in my stomach, and my anger flared up in response. “I thought it was your job to know everything about everyone?” I mocked. “Your soldiers with the distorted eyes and enhanced abilities. The Dominion.”

He snapped his fingers excitedly as a wave of recognition passed over his face. “I see! Please forgive me; I was unaware they had come to call themselves ‘The Dominion.’ The men here certainly have a flair for the dramatic, it seems.” He sat back down in his chair, clearly relieved. “They are quite a marvel, aren’t they? As our plans for the acquisition of Attetsia crystallized, I realized it was the perfect opportunity to test out my newest pet project. Where else could I find a population more willing to take modified Warp than a group of angry rebels?”

The last thing I had expected was a seemingly honest explanation. “Warp?”

“You’ve...never heard of Warp? Fascinating.” He tapped his chin quietly for a moment, then shook off whatever line of thought had distracted him before continuing. “Warp is a drug of Doramese origin, initially created by overworked miners to increase productivity and enable longer working hours. Side effects are minimal, given that you adhere to the recommended dose, of course. It’s been an integral tool in the Company for years.”

With a small hand gesture, he summoned the woman in white to his side. “As a show of good faith, Virram offered me a gift when our negotiations were finished: his most promising disciple from the Unity Cathedral in Yoria.” He smiled up at her sweetly. “And what a gift she’s been! Within a week of joining my service, she identified multiple avenues for improvement in our Warp supply. A week! Doram’s been using Warp for decades, and she makes it better in a week!”

Val stirred behind me. “The Yorian cathedral?” She stepped forward and peered over my shoulder at the woman, then gasped as recognition finally came. “Solette Barrow,” she called out, somewhere between a question and an accusation.

“Yes, Commander,” the woman replied. “We were never properly introduced before my dismissal, but we met several times in passing at the cathedral.”

“Gullen branded you a heretic and exiled from the capital.” There was an unusual waver in Val’s voice as she spoke. “How did you come to be in service to the Company?”

“I already told you, Commander,” the Strategist said, annoyed, “she was a gift. It’s not as though they could give you the true reason for her disappearance. I never inquired as to their cover story, but...heretic seems a fitting reason, don’t you think, dear?”

“Yes, sir,” Solette nodded. “Gullen didn’t approve of my unorthodox methods of prayer. He was glad to see me go; I believe he feared my connection to the Primes.”

“Unorthodox, yes,” the Strategist mused with a grin. “The Warp distributed among the Unbound so far has already surpassed our wildest expectations. Based on that data, Solette has created another batch that stands to change the course of history. Soldiers fighting with the strength of three normal men, unable to be stopped by injury or pain.” He paused for a moment in consideration. “I have been looking for something to call these men, come to think of it. Perhaps the ‘Dominion’ isn’t the worst name. A bit ostentatious, maybe, but—”

“Enough!” I shouted. “I’m sick of listening to your bullshit lies.” I tried my best to disguise my shattered confidence with anger; every instinct hammered into my head from the years of fighting in Hedaat told me the Dominion was on the brink of devouring another world, but my gut knew something was off. Solette. It has to be her. The mana signature, whatever this “Warp” nonsense is, the claims of heresy: it HAS to be the Dominion. She’s hiding the corruption somehow, but she’s the Conduit.

The Strategist’s eyes narrowed. “You speak like a man who has never been punished for his insolence. That will change.” He held up a hand and snapped his fingers above his head. “Solette, take out their tongues; I will not be interrupted again. General, make sure they stay for their lesson. If they move, kill them.”

A jolt of adrenaline surged through my body as the room readied for combat. The General slid over the table and landed in a lithe crouch, drawing his swords as he descended the short staircase to the chamber floor. Solette cupped her diamond orb to her chest with both hands and closed her eyes. “Primeval of Darkness, I beseech thee-”

“Val, countermeasures,” I whispered.

“-grant unto me the power to silence the foes of my master-”

I turned to Val and found her staring vacantly at Solette. “VAL!” Her eyes snapped to attention, and she quickly dropped to one knee, planting her shield in the ground in front of her as she started to chant.

“O Prime of Light, divine above all-”

“-and allow your word to ring true-”

“-bestow upon me the power to protect my allies-”

“-within the ears of the damned!”

There was a soft pop inside my ears, followed immediately by a heavy wave of vertigo that nearly knocked me to my knees. Val’s chanting abruptly stopped behind me, and I felt my heart sink as I let out a silent gasp. Looking down to her confirmed my fears; though her lips were moving, she didn’t make a sound. The realization came to her a moment later as she reached up and grabbed her throat, trying in vain to make even the softest noise. When all of her attempts failed, she looked up to me with an expression of abject terror and mouthed a simple phrase: “I’m sorry.”

I felt a gentle nudge at my side, and I turned to find Lia standing next to me with her sword at the ready. Our eyes locked, and I felt the warmth of her aura reach out to mine. The pure, unwavering confidence emanating out