A full month had passed since the mission. Ethan lay on the narrow bed in the recovery room, staring at the plain ceiling.
The mission complete notification still had not appeared. He had checked his wrist terminal every morning and every night. Nothing. Just the same empty status screen.
He could move his arms and legs without pain now. The cuts had closed. The bruises had faded. But the chief had ordered him to stay put.
"Your healing speed is too clean," the chief had said.
"Demigods recover like that. Regular soldiers do not. Keep resting until the records look normal. We already have enough problems with people like the Hound sniffing around."
What could he do but say yes, Ethan hated the room. It smelled of antiseptic and old bandages.
The walls were boorish gray. The window showed only a slice of the training yard. He spent most days reading reports or watching the same three training videos on loop. Anything to keep his mind from turning in circles.
His wrist terminal buzzed.
Ting.
A message from Karisa.
Finally something...
He sat up carefully and opened it. A holographic recording projected above his arm and her face appeared, a little tired but clear. She wore a simple noble coat. A small crown sat on her head.
"Hey," she said. "How are you doing lately? Hope you are doing well and fully healed. The ceremony here just ended. I am being placed as the true matriarch. " She pointed at the crown.
"I will be sending funds in the name of donations starting today. Inform the chief on my behalf. I wanted to come and visit, but the city area is dumped in Olympian politics. But I will come surely. To visit you at the least. So..."
She paused. Her eyes dropped for a second. "Wait for me."
The recording ended. Her face had turned red at the last line. Ethan sat there for a moment, still smiling. He did not know why the smile stayed. Maybe because, She looked freer than the last time he had seen her. Less trapped. Which was more than good for him.
Knock. Knock.
"...Who’s there?" Ethan called.
"Who else?" Marcus’s voice came through the door. "There is literally no one who knows you. You loser."
"Haa...Yeah, yeah. Come in and stop talking already."
Marcus pushed the door open as he carried a thin stack of papers. Ethan’s eyes locked on them. Hope kicked in hard. Release papers. Finally.
"Please tell me it’s good news," Ethan said.
"Yeah. Good news. Very good news." Marcus tossed the papers onto the bed. Ethan caught them and started reading.
Yes, Release papers. Confirmed. But there was more. Something he had never guessed. Literal Transfer orders with ranks?
"What in the name of the gods... transfer? Transfer to fucking where?"
"Keep reading."
Ethan flipped the pages. Then he read it, New names. New positions. Not one step up but, Two.
"We are now signifier and aquilifer?" he asked.
Marcus grinned. "Yes and yes. You are promoted to signifer. Me, aquilifer."
Ethan stared at the papers. The titles carried real weight. Signifer carried the unit’s standard. Aquilifer carried the eagle. Both positions sat above regular legionaries and gave direct access to higher command channels. These ranks were not handed out for free.
"These were given by the chief for one reason," Ethan said. "To push the revolution."
Marcus nodded. "We have enough trust now. Enough power too. From the details, we are moving to—"
"Corner of the empire," Marcus finished for him. "The Canadian hills. Where all the credits are kept.
Hmm... Do you think it’s a... coincidence?"
Ethan leaned back against the bed. His head felt heavy. "I hope this isn’t what we think it is."
"Shit. I hope not." Marcus sat on the edge of the bed. "Because if we are targeting their treasury, then we are literally announcing to the empire that we exist and we are here."
"Yeah. We lose the element of surprise...makes you wonder huh, like who is above all this assignment? Who do you think is managing this?"
"Don’t know. Don’t care. It’s better we don’t even get a sniff of it."
Ethan agreed. Keeping identities hidden made sense. Still, it felt wrong. Serving something faceless. Following orders without knowing the full plan. They could be used as sacrifices and never see it coming but...
The empire is a mighty foe. Risk was unavoidable.
He thought as he threw the papers back at Marcus.
"Oh hey, don’t you have some manners?" Marcus said.
"Now you know what I felt when you threw them at my face."
"Still sensitive even though you have Zeus’s blood running deep? Did his wisdom get skipped when he made you?"
Ethan smiled. "Joke all you want. I will reach a higher position eventually. When I do, I will work you to the bone."
"Ha. Let’s see about that. But..." Marcus’s tone shifted. "I actually don’t mind it. What I mind is that at some point we could be...separated."
Ethan’s smile faded but He forced it back on. "I ain’t that gay for you. Now fuck off. Don’t forget you are still on duty."
Marcus stood up promptly. His wrist terminal lit up with a new message. "Shit. You’re right. Some of the Hound’s unit are still trying their very best. And yeah, I also came to warn you about something..."
"What do you mean?"
"It was registered that you have ember. The three mages are interested in testing you before you leave."
"Tell them I am still sick then."
"Actually... they are outside. And from what I know, our new titles are not certified yet. You are still under them."
Ethan’s expression flattened. "Bullocks!"
"Ha. Enjoy."
Marcus left. The door closed while Ethan stared at the ceiling again. The room feeling much much smaller.
***
Meanwhile, across the base, Chief Barry sat at his desk. An email confirmed the promotions for the latest batch of cadets. Ethan and Marcus were both on the list with their new names. Barry simply closed the message and leaned back. With relief when another disturbance came.
Beep. Beep.
He answered the call. One of his men reported that the work was finished.
His irritation was gone as he exhaled. The dead clones were Finally prepared.
Beep. Beep.
Another call came in. He knew who it was, and the timimg couldn’t be perfect, so he answered immediately.
"Yes, General."
"How long do we have to wait?" the general’s voice snapped. "It’s been months, Chief Barry. If this continues, the new Hound and you, both of you, will be demo—"
Barry cut him off by sending the photo. Two bodies. Look-alikes of Ethan and Marcus, arranged carefully, faces clear enough for identification.
"Not to worry, General. I hope this much proof will do. I also sent the actual DNA report to confirm their identities. This should be evidence enough."
Silence.
The general reviewed the files. His voice calmed. "Good. Now I can relax. Do you know how much pressure I was getting because of this? With this, another prophecy leading to the empire’s fall is sniffed out. It was late, but good job, Chief Barry.
Long live the empire. Long live the gods."
"Long live the empire. Long live the gods."
The call ended and Barry let out a long breath. It was done. Everything had gone according to plan now ... Stage two could begin.
He opened a hidden folder on his terminal. Files labeled Canadian Hills appeared. He clicked through them. A large vault of credits sat there, salaries for an entire section of the empire, stored in one heavily guarded location.
Barry stared at the screen for a long moment.
Boys, I hope you are ready for this.