740 Can't Touch This (3)
Ibis, realising that her orders fell on deaf ears, seethed with frustration. She could see the Infiltrators dropping their weapons and raising their hands in surrender through the feed, and her anger escalated to levels she had never even dreamed about.
"Stop this nonsense!" Ibis yelled into the radio, desperation evident in her voice. "Your families will have to pay the price for your-"
With his hands behind his head in a gesture of surrender, Linas calmly interrupted her, "Ibis, it's over. Don't disgrace yourself by involving our families in this." This content originates from n0v3lbin•
"Disgrace? Do you even know what that word means?" Ibis struggled to maintain control, grappling with the reality of their defeat. "This was a disgrace. You've disgraced the Infiltrators!"
Linas, unyielding, retorted, "Siding with the strong isn't a disgrace; it's a way of survival."
"You pathetic bastard!" Unable to contain her frustration, Ibis shouted, "You've betrayed us! You've betrayed everything we stand for!"
"No, Ibis. We're adapting to survive. That's what true Infiltrators do." Linas replied with a hint of sorrow in his eyes.
Linas knew very well what betrayal meant for a Xyran. But for him, his squad was the only family he had, and as such, their safety took precedence over anything. Even Ibis's commands. As Ashton approached the Infiltrators, Ibis continued, saying, "You'll regret this, Linas! I will make you regret this, even if it's the last I do."
"We'll deal with the consequences when they come," Linas, still in a surrendering posture, glanced at Ashton. "But we won't be senseless martyrs in your quest of senseless 'revenge'."
By this time, Ibis recognised things were going south and needed a strategic retreat. So, she devised a plan to flee the planet. While their ship wasn't the biggest one they had, it was big enough to store several smaller aircraft. They would use those ships to get away from the chaos.
"Your plans fell apart, Ibis," Ashton addressed Ibis directly as they gathered. "What's your next move?"
"We adapt. We always do," Ibis, undeterred by the setback, replied, "This doesn't change our objective."
"So you still want to kill me?" Ashton chuckled a low rumble that echoed through the chamber. "Your persistence is commendable, but you can't deny the reality of your situation. Surrendering is your best option."
Ibis, unwilling to concede defeat, shot back, "Like that's ever going to happen."
"Your loyalty towards your kind is commendable but misplaced, Ibis," Ashton sighed and sat down on a nearby rock. "There's a bigger picture here, one you fail to see."
"Stop with the lies," Ibis mumbled. "The bigger picture I'm concerned with is your pic on your grave."
Ashton smiled and was about to say something. However, a sudden movement caught him off guard before he could utter another word. Linas had launched an unexpected attack on him from behind.
But Ashton didn't do anything and let Balmond do the work for him. While the soulblade parried Linas's attack, Ashton's newly resurrected soldier slashed Linas in half, his blood splattering around the area.
As Linas fell to the ground, Ashton turned back towards Ibis. A sly smile played on his lips as he addressed Ibis, "Did you forget I have a handy ability to sense if someone's lying to me?"
Ashton had seen through Linas's facade during the so-called surrender. Besides, the code words between Ibis and Linas had not escaped Ashton's attention. Also, since Ashton knew Ibis to be calm-headed, her over-the-top acting about being betrayed gave her plans away. Also, Linas did not seem to be someone who would give up without putting up a fight, so Ashton already had his senses on high alert. Now confronted with the repercussions of her failed plan, Ibis struggled to find words. Ashton, revelling at the situation, decided to take matters a step further. With a wave, he gestured towards Linas's lifeless form. "Let's make this interesting, shall we?"