Omnium's Fables

Omnium 21295:The Lone Soldier

In the upper level of the Vienne's operational sector, the gunnery control cabin stood as a corner of perpetual tension, illuminated by a gloomy red glow, a reflection of the monitors that pulsed like a mechanical heart. A low, constant hum mingled with the intermittent crackle of the systems, a background noise that amplified the sense of anticipation. Here worked Gabe and Mana, a contrast of inexperience and perfection in an environment that tolerated no errors.

Gabe, an inexperienced young man with fragile features, had a pale face marked by anxiety, his tousled brown hair betraying his youth. He fumbled clumsily with the long-range gun controls, his uncertain hands sweeping over the targeting data, every gesture steeped in a nervousness that seemed on the verge of breaking him.

Mana, an ethereal beauty of Venasian descent, was his opposite: a contrast of grace and ice. Her ivory skin shone like moonlight, her golden eyes cold and distant, fixed on the screen with relentless concentration. Her strikingly colored butterfly wings—crimson, gold, and turquoise—shimmered against the cabin's metal, a touch of life in a sterile environment. She wore a blue jumpsuit, different from Maverick's, with the word "Parvati" embroidered on the back, a tribute to the Venasian capital planet, clinging to her body like a second skin. She worked in silence, calibrating the defensive lasers with surgical precision, her movements fluid and mechanical, an implacable perfection that left no room for error.

Mana barely turned toward Gabe. Her movements were precise, almost mechanical, as she scrutinized the young soldier beside her. "You seem more troubled than usual today, boy," she said with that cold, measured tone that sounded carved from ice. "Any problems?"

Gabe, hunched over one of the controls, ran a hand through his hair with an irritated gesture. "Never mind," he muttered, his voice laden with frustration. "I can't figure out anything about these things."

Mana arched an eyebrow, a barely perceptible movement. "Well, yes, that has been obvious to me for some time," she replied, unperturbed. "But I must say you are even worse than usual today. Is it because of the argument with your father the other day?"

The boy stiffened, his fingers drumming nervously on the edge of the panel. "Don't worry," he said, trying to maintain a neutral tone. "He's always like this. Since I was little, I've had decent abilities in Imprint control, and that secured my father the Hereditas, at least until I turned eighteen. But he always wanted me to attend some university on Axis, to serve the Republic as an engineer and not as a soldier."

Mana observed him for an instant, her face impassive. "That sounds like excellent advice from your father," she commented, her voice devoid of emotion. "Why not follow it?"

Gabe spun sharply toward her, his eyes blazing with sudden passion. "I don't want to become a damned engineer!" he exclaimed, his tone vibrating with determination. "I want to be a soldier, a hero, just like the Division generals!"

A heavy silence fell between them. Mana tilted her head slightly, as if analyzing a curious piece of data. "Interesting," she finally said. "So humans tend to reject the experience of their adult kin, even if they are family."

Gabe scoffed, crossing his arms. "Nah, it's not exactly like that. Some people prefer to decide the path they take in life for themselves, and not be told by someone else."

"Interesting," Mana repeated, her voice flat. "Though stupid. Lacking experience, how could you decide the most efficient path?"

Gabe stared at her for a moment, then looked away, mumbling something under his breath. "Wow, beautiful as a star but cold as a machine," he whispered, quiet enough that he hoped she wouldn't hear him.

Mana frowned, turning slightly. "What did you say, excuse me?" she asked, her tone sharp despite the difficulty in catching his words.

Gabe flushed, scratching the back of his neck with a nervous gesture. After a long breath, he turned back to Mana with a shadow of shyness in his eyes. "Listen, Mana," he began, his voice uncertain, "I wanted to ask you something."

She didn't avert her gaze from the monitors, her hands steady on the controls. "Of course, ask away," she replied, her tone cold and measured as always, an icy thread cutting through the air.

Gabe scratched the back of his neck, hesitating. "But why are you here? I mean, this is a Maverick ship, and you're not part of the army."

Mana barely tilted her head, a minimal gesture that hinted at thought. "I do not, in fact, belong to your army, nor your Republic," she said, her voice flat. "But your government and mine often make agreements of this type. It is a give and take!" she explained, unperturbed. "We frequently provide technological support to Axis. In return, we receive various kinds of favors."

The boy stared at her, trying to put the pieces together. "What kind of favors?" he asked, his tone still veiled with perplexity. "If I may ask, of course."

Mana didn't answer immediately. Her fingers brushed a command on the panel, as if buying time. "Well, for instance," she finally said, "my government is interested in a certain commercial ship that recently disappeared near Osiris. Your division allowed me to take advantage of your journey along this very route to investigate it better."

Gabe leaned slightly toward her, intrigued. "What is so interesting about that ship that it would move the Venasian government?"

Mana looked at him for the first time, her eyes cold and penetrating. "The manner in which it disappeared," she replied, enigmatic.

A heavy silence fell between them. Gabe chewed on his lip, then cleared his throat, his tone uncertain. "And listen," he said, "the other man who boarded the Vienne with you a few months ago... who is he? He seems human."

Mana remained still for an instant, a shadow of a pause that was uncharacteristic of her. "I do not know who he is," she finally said, her voice strangely empty. "It seems he was hired directly by your government. Even his name appears to be unknown."

Gabe frowned, thinking back to the mysterious man. "He's an extremely quiet guy," he commented, almost talking to himself. "Even his suit, despite being Maverick issue, bears no recognition signs of any division. He spends all his time in the hangar, in his mech. I wonder what he does in there all the time." He paused, then added: "It may be strange, but he emanates a very strong Imprint. In a way, it's reassuring to have a guy like him aboard."

Mana nodded slightly, an almost imperceptible movement. "Yes, he is undoubtedly strong," she confirmed. "I know only one thing about him."

Gabe lit up, curiosity kindling his gaze. "And what is that? I'm curious."

She hesitated, then shrugged as if dismissing an insignificant detail. "Nothing important," she said. "I only know that the name he is registered under on the Vienne is Lone Soldier."

Gabe repeated the name under his breath, almost savoring it. "Lone Soldier?" He remained strangely silent, his gaze lost in the void, as if something were buzzing in his mind.

Mana observed him, tilting her head. "Does that mean anything to you?" she asked, her voice sharp but curious.

Gabe shook his head slowly, returning to the present. "I don't know," he murmured, "but that name sounds familiar."