Ultima Ratio: Prologue

WARNING: This story contains depictions of suicide and violence that may not be suitable for some readers. Reader discretion is advised.

Year 2198, the second time

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

His eyes followed the trajectory of a broken cargo door as it fell past his vast office windows and plummeted to the ground below.

This wasn’t what he planned.

A burst of light erupted from the corner of his eye, and he slowly turned his head to watch one of the engines be engulfed by flames.

He was Verus Rex, the ruler that would bring peace to a united world.

Out of nowhere, a fighter jet appeared outside his window, hovering steadily with a missile aimed for his face. He blinked and it had vanished, leaving nothing but a violent explosion.

Why was this happening to him?

“Your Majesty?”

The words were like the gentle chime of bells in a tornado, a dash of comfort amidst the chaos. It was just enough to remind him of the greater picture. He was still Verus Rex, and he still had a purpose in this world. He still had hope.

With that assurance, and a deep, steeling breath, he turned to face the bells.

And there she stood: a living display of his accomplishments, as if to remind him of the wonders he was capable of. She didn’t even realize her own significance, based on her questioning expression, as her small frame held an engine twice her size up on a single shoulder.

At that moment, Verus Rex realized: she was looking to him for guidance, and it was his duty to provide it.

“Danya, status report,” Verus Rex ordered, amazed by the calm in his own voice.

“Civilian evacuations are complete, sir,” Danya said as she set the engine on the floor with ease, like it was nothing more than a small stack of books. “The aft module has fallen, and the starboard side might be next, but we’ve concentrated 90 percent of our defenses at midship.”

Verus Rex held back his frown. “How much time do we have?”

“The Nations won’t want us falling on their own land,” Danya replied dutifully, too young and naive to realize she was stating the obvious. “They’ll wait until we’re above water to bring us down. That gives us about…fifteen minutes, minimum.”

Verus Rex nodded once, short and sharp. Now wasn’t the time to teach her the art of concision. He would have plenty of opportunities to do that back at home.

“Good,” he said.

And with the sounds of his exploding exploits echoing in the background, he looked down at his left arm and drew back the sleeve of his robes, revealing another of his great accomplishments embedded in his inner forearm.

He knew he couldn’t take credit for the gadget’s basic functions; scientists long before his time were praised for developing this world-changing technology, not to mention its sleek design and seamless interface with the human body. But he knew with certainty that it was his own modifications that brought out the device’s true potential, and no one could possibly deny that. Not in his era, or this one, or the one before.

The one before…

At that moment, he realized what he had to do; home would have to wait.

With a newfound sense of purpose, Verus Rex began to rapidly tap the device in his arm, his fingers blindly typing away at the computer he knew better than the back of his hand. Even when a blast violently shook the room, and even when another sent a section of the ceiling crashing towards him, he continued to work. Because he was Verus Rex, and he had a responsibility to uphold.

Besides, he had nothing to worry about. Just as he intended, Danya was there. From the corner of his eye, he saw her leap straight up into the air; the next moment, there was a crashing sound from several meters away, and Danya obediently returned to his side a second later.

It didn’t take much longer before his preparations were ready, and once they were, the realization hit him with a wave of emotions. All at once, he was filled with disappointment, failure, loss, regret, hopelessness…

When he first arrived, he had a magnificent dream of leading the world into a new age of wonder. But as he took a long look around his office as it crumbled to rubble before him, that dream crumbled as well. And with every piece that broke off and plummeted to the earth below, a piece of his soul fell with it.

“Your Majesty?” Danya asked.

When he turned to face her, Verus Rex felt his sense of calm return. She was part of his legacy, and because of him, she wouldn’t break as easily as this cacophony of metal.

Verus Rex glanced down at his left arm for a moment before lifting his hand, letting the backs of his fingers brush gently against Danya’s cheek. Her eyes widened at the touch, but she didn’t move; instead, she kept her steady gaze on his.

“My little dove,” Verus Rex whispered. “You are one of my greatest achievements.”

Danya simply stared back at him, unable to comprehend his words.

An explosion crashed closer than ever; the door to his office cracked and caved in.

They didn’t have much time left. Verus Rex lowered his hand slightly, leaving his palm upright between them. Danya glanced at it, then at Verus Rex, before taking his hand with her own.

“Where are we going?” she asked, her light voice ringing sweetly through the hollow bellows of his shattering soul.

“To a time that needs us,” he said, gently tapping a button at his left wrist.

And then they were gone, just in time.