Interlude: The Spear of Destiny

Interlude: The Spear of Destiny

…

Commissioned by: Ihaxlikenoob

Wordcount: 2537

…

Upon humanity, there never seemed to be a lack of threats.

Not that I could complain, given both my power and the luxuries granted to me and mine, but a man needs to be cautious, no? Pride is quite dangerous. I do not wish to be a man who dismissed danger, even if that danger saw him a threat too. A mere man, even one such as myself, needs to be cautious and careful, especially with all the responsibilities I have.

Besides, caution and care never does a man wrong in battle.

In fact, I’m sure that both lend themselves well to anyone who chooses to take them along into war.

No matter how powerful you might be, taking a moment to think and discern in battle is never wasted.

I’m sure that I wouldn’t have grown so old in my profession, if I didn’t have both as constant companions.

Even if times have changed so much.

The time has gone and passed when Earth was my battlefield, when I once fought against other men, and saw my tribe as my only people. Sometimes, I longed for those simpler days. Then, I remembered I once took on a whole fleet for a stranger who gave my father a few gifts, and I like my complexities a tad bit more. True, while the world has changed utterly, there’s no saying that it has changed for the worse.

It is merely different.

And, changing with the times is a great necessity.

One cannot lambast the coming of new technologies and decry them as luxuries that are unneeded. How would armies fare now without communications, supplies from up high, and other such things I needed to ensure worked perfectly for me and mine? While the days of yore had their romance, in which I stood alone, with my spear, and my skills alone, the role I have now is more grand and with greater responsibilities. All the things I had to remember, all the duties I now had, and all the people I had to track and order were one and all necessities due to both my position and time.

What kind of a man would I be, if I allowed myself to merely wallow in what little I knew, instead of growing, learning, and becoming stronger.

Dead, most likely.

Though, I had to admit that I had more stresses upon myself this year than I’ve ever had in my life.

The Chimera have returned in greater numbers and with more forces, as expected of their last, desperate push. The eve of victory draws ever-nearer, but the enemy is now willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of merely a defeat from which they can recover. It is the best, absolute chance to finish the Chimera, but they are at their most dangerous, too. The number of gates we’ve closed shut are beyond counting, so much of our number has been injured twice over, and many would be dead or crippled if not for the materials, magic, and beyond-modern technologies valuable to us alone.

At least, the greater threats are being dealt with by the newer generation.

And, what a generation it is.

The Preservers mark a turning point in history. Barely active for a few months, they’ve heralded the coming of a new age, in which magic is not of myth and legends are being born by the dozens. Hearing of their exploits, from Li Song to those who “merely” have Longinus as I do, always takes my breath away… and makes my heart shudder at the thought of them ever turning against humanity.

Ah, Sheridan’s pessimism and caution is truly contagious.

I would like nothing more than to praise them, to work with them, and perhaps lend the whole of the ITF to their aid. Our missions, our capabilities, and our assets are much the same. While they are more concentrated, more concise, and more powerful as individuals, I was sure we had a semblance of parity with one another, especially if we employed our greatest weapons and cared naught for own lives and loves, but only of their defeat. Soldiers will always have sacrifice as a weapon against the greatest of warriors, no matter how bitter that pill is to the soldier’s heart and mind.

And, well, the ITF are composed wholly of the most excellent of soldiers.

But, that is Sheridan’s pessimism speaking again.  

It is the joy of a Chieftain to look upon the next generation and see one better than the their own. If they are willful, strong, and pursue great dangers headlong and return home, that is the fruit of many great labors undergone by a tribe. Sheridan sees a potential threat to the whole of humanity, because that is his duty, however I see the fruits of all the lives and time spent for this new generation.

The Preservers could not have been born, could not have saved so many lives, and will not lead the peoples of this place into a greater age without the sacrifices we made previously. Fearing them was the same as a farmer fearing that his children have matured into strong, powerful, and willful individuals with the drive to change the world. They will make enemies, they will change things, and they will fight, but such things always precede change, adaptation, and a continuous march towards the future.

It’s a bit silly that the man who’s utterly changed the world a multitude of times in his lifetime fears the doings of others.

The Preservers are doing little more than what CORE has done, albeit at a faster and more rapid pace, and with a little less technological advancements. Their strength, might, and abilities are changing the world, but they do so in response to dangers that we could merely stall, threats that we could not touch, and enemies who have hidden themselves and bid their time. Like a parent that looks upon a child stronger, more talented, and willful than they, CORE frets in regards to the Preservers, imagining the very worst… but almost forgetting the good that that they do.

It’s almost quite silly how most of the people I know always expect the worst.

Granted, we’ve faced quite a few challenges over the course of many years, but that’s no reason to forget to be overjoyed when something or another goes exceptionally well without our own intervention.

Why was it that I was the only one who felt that it was a time to be relieved instead of worried?

The next generation of humanity has grown its teeth and has shown its worth.

Quite frankly, it’s about time I pass on my spear, instead of dying like all the others who held it.

Alas for me, I must remain so I can shoulder the burden of being the only possible counter humanity currently has.

Truly, Sheridan ought to be more considerate of me!

…

Of all my sons and daughters, I have chosen my youngest to inherit the Longinus, should I fall.

Anais was not the strongest, the smartest, or the most cunning of my children.

But, whilst all the others gave up, faltered, or looked to run away, she continued to get up, always pressed on, and never showed the slightest sign of fear. In her gaze was fiery determination to be the victor, the arrogance to always see victory as possible, and rage like a raging storm against the unrighteous.

It was quite fun tempering, blunting, and honing her rambunctiousness as a child.

And, if the stars align and fortune smiles upon me, the same can be said for today.

As it was now.

Her footwork was speedy, delicate, and precise, like that of a dancer’s as she advanced through the thrusts of my practice spear, and brought the bottom and shaft of her own to bear upon me. She was aware of her weakness to the accuracy and strength of my blunted, practice spear, given so she took that away, and forced me into close combat.

There she stood a chance, instead of having no chance whatsoever.

The speed and flexibility that her form provided her allowed her to block blows, attempt feints, and attack in close quarters, whilst I rained down blows upon her due to my experience and skill, even as my own form could not compare to hers. She was taller, longer, and healthier than myself, due to her body being raised in better conditions than myself, and even with my blessings and magics, she will likely outlive me.

However, again, experience and skill decides far more in battle, and she only had a chance at being victorious against me in a duel with spears.

She was capable of blocking, yet I none of her blows reached me, and the efficacy born of experience in battle made it so that I breathed evenly even as her breath began to become labored.

I was tempted to tell her that she’ll lose in a battle of endurance, but I remembered our last bout.

Anais was a “cheeky shit” as Jones said and I agreed.

She’d used that moment of giving her advice during battle as a means to attack against me many, many weeks ago.

She’d probably thought I’d forgotten.

I would’ve, if not for Jones’s memorable description, too.

So, since I knew her plan, I opened my mouth as though to speak.

And, swept her up when she tensed to initiate her strike during a perceived opening.

There’s nothing quite like the sight of seeing my taller, better-bodied daughter flying and scrambling in the air before falling onto the dirt ground. One might say that a parent should never draw pleasure in bringing any sort of harm to their children. That is completely true. However, in the ring, where I am training Anais, she is an individual whose life I intend to keep alive at any cost.

So, I am quite free to lean upon my spear and laugh lightly when she lands on her side upon the packed dirt.

Tossing larger, younger individuals into the air never loses it’s luster, especially when they’re quite cocky and talented.

And, even more so when they make an aggrieved growl, haunch their shoulders, and loom over me with a furious blush on their face.

Ah, only my daughter does that.

That makes it triply amusing!

“Father, you said that you wouldn’t do that to me anymore!” Tall as she was, and as fast as she was, she was not out of my reach from a quick tussling of our shared, ivory locks. She retreated with another aggrieved noise at my touch, shaking her head and her mane, much like a large cat from my touch. She stamped her foot too. Ah, truly, it’s a wonder how some parents complain about their children being tempestuous and throwing tantrums. It’s absolutely adorable, especially when one knows they’ll never be such in public and in combat. “S-stop that! You know that this practice spear make it difficult to defend myself against that sort of attack! You told me yourself!”

Well, if she was resorting to dirty tricks, then shouldn’t I?

“!” My question had Anais flush further, flounder for an answer, and take a step back. The tables were turned and my dear daughter’s features switched from recalcitrant, to worried, and back to being angered. Ahaha, she’s quite the sight and pleasure to annoy. Her mother is much more so, though! They’re alike, but Anais is half myself, so she can’t ever be lovely and adorable. “W-what of it! You told me that I should always take every advantage I have! The only reason you knew I was going to that was because… because…”

Her shoulders slumped and her will to fight faded.

Very good, I praised her fully and completely, even ash bowed her head and flushed at the praise and accepted her defeat.

“A warrior does not blame their enemy for their own mistakes.” Anais raised her head, nodded, and sighed as she said the words I taught her so many years ago. Should she not have known how to accept defeat, I would never have continued to train her, as that would have merely been allowing my pride to kill my daughter. However, that was not the case. She had the right body, will, and spirit to inherit my spear. “I understand, father.”

So pleased I was with my daughter’s words, that I couldn’t help but offer to ask her if she wanted a treat. Her mother always tells me to not coddle her, that I shouldn’t give her treat, but how can a father not do such a thing, especially when they’re a warrior so commonly afar from home? It wasn’t as though I preferred her. The fact I heard the same complaint from all the mothers of my children is a testament to that!

I didn’t know how they could bear to ask me such an impossibility!

When my children flush and nod and smile at the thought of having a treat, how could I not offer them such things?

We both separated and went to clean ourselves in the locker rooms, but she was still giddy once we met.

For the life of me, I cannot guess the reason why treats are so forbidden!

It wasn’t as though any of them were becoming ill or large…

Ah, I suppose it’ll just be something I’ll leave a mystery for the sake of peace.

“Father.” I turned to my daughter as we walked together through the base. It wasn’t home, but it quite close to home for both me and Anais. Whilst her brothers and sisters were up above in the Cradle,  along with her mother and my other wives, she and I spent much of our time on Earth as we always did. The headquarters’ of the ITF was a city in its own right, though one without much people beyond soldiers, and there were many luxuries afforded to us as the elite of Earth’s elite. There was much I could give to my daughter as a treat here, regardless of how far the nearest Arcology was.  “Do you think I should join the Preservers?”

Ah, that was a question that I did not want to answer.

My current mission, should the absolute worst arise, would be to fight against Li Song who has decided to work against humanity, and that would include the firm friends he has amongst the Preservers. If my daughter joined the Preservers, things would become very complicated. Though I believed that Sheridan and his ilk were far too pessimistic, I couldn’t deny their caution, the worth of a weapon kept carefully hidden, and my earnest desire never to hurt any of my family.

Yet, even before my thoughts as man and responsibility as a soldier, I was a father.

I only needed to know three things from any of my children if they chose a path?

“Will you be able to ensure your own safety?”

“I will, Father.”

“Will it make you the best you can be?”

“I believe so, Father.”

“Will it make you happy?”

I awaited that answer whilst not missing a single step.