After returning to the Tower, Ashton, Anna, and Mazton sat around a table in the meeting room, discussing the events that had just transpired.
Anna was frowning, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She had a feeling things were going too smoothly and something would go wrong. However, even she hadn't expected the Cult to be the source of their problems again.
"I can't believe the cult was behind all of this," she said, shaking her head. "We should have seen it coming."
"Diego is a loose cannon." Ashton leaned back in his chair, his expression grim. "Who knows whether what he said was even true or not."
"Whether it was true or not, we'll need to do a full investigation into the Cult's activities on this planet. They may have other operatives here." Mazton cleared his throat. "I'll get the president's approval for the mission and let you know."
Anna nodded, her eyes relaxing a bit. "Thank you. Also, we'll need to be more careful moving forward. We can't afford to let them catch us off guard again."
Ashton nodded in agreement.
"We'll also need to reevaluate our recruitment process. We can't risk bringing in any more operatives who might have ties to the Cult."
"What?" Anna was taken aback, "One of us betrayed us?"
Ashton shrugged. He wasn't sure about it; hence he wasn't pointing fingers. But thinking the Cult's presence on Econium was a coincidence would be a fool's gamble.
He pulled out a tablet and began typing. Moments later, Malekith appeared before them; his voice no longer represented a god but a loyal AI.
"I'll start compiling a list of potential candidates for further screening," He said and disappeared into the tablet.
Anna sighed, running a hand through her hair. "This whole situation has been a mess. But at least we could stop the Cult's plan before it could do any real damage."
Ashton remained silent on the topic. Diego said it wasn't over and that Ashton was trapped, and as for damage... Shian's critical condition was enough to wound Ashton's pride.
Then there was the energy surging within Diego. Had it not been for that stupid power, Diego would be under arrest, and they'd be interrogating him instead of solving mind puzzles on their own.
Ashton nodded in agreement. "We'll need to remain vigilant, though. This won't be the last time we'd face the Cult."
"We also need to figure out how to handle the financial repercussions of this," Anna said, her brow wrinkled in concern. "Econium is demanding compensation for the damage caused during the mission."
"Tell them to pound sand-" Ashton lashed out but soon regained his senses, "How much-"
"Don't worry about it," Mazton mumbled, "They have no right to demand compensation from the Ghosts as the contract prohibits them from doing so. The most they can do is refuse your payment, which they already have."
Ashton nodded. Money wasn't his concern at the moment, and the well-being of his trusted soldiers took precedence over everything.
"We also need to focus on Shian's recovery. He's in the hospital right now because of my mistakes." Ashton sighed.
Shian was supposed to be his tool like Balmond was. But now he got turned into a potato because of his stupidity.
[Relax, he'll be fine... or so I hope, at least.]
***
An hour later...
Ashton stood before the glass window, watching Shian lay unconscious in his hospital bed. He had been there for several hours now, recovering from the injuries he sustained in the battle against the Cult. Viper joined him, standing silently beside him, his eyes fixed on Shian.
"How is he?" Viper asked softly, breaking the silence.
He was injured as well and was covered in bandages. But Viper's astonishing healing speed did wonders for him.
Ashton sighed, running a hand around his neck. "The doctors say he's stable, but he's not waking up."
"Do you think it's because of his powers?" Viper frowned.
"It's hard to say." Ashton shrugged. "We don't know much about his abilities, but I'm starting to think they might have something to do with it."
Viper nodded, his eyes still fixed on Shian. "It's a shame. He's a strong fighter. It would be a loss to our team if he can't continue."
"We'll give him all the time he needs to recover. And then we'll help him get control of his powers so that he can fight with us again." Ashton turned to him, his expression serious.
"We'll need him. The Cult won't stop coming after us." Viper nodded in agreement.
Ashton turned to the window, his gaze fixed on Shian's still form.
"We'll be ready for them. And we'll make sure Shian is ready too."
The two men stood in silence for a few more moments, lost in their thoughts, before Ashton turned to Viper.
"Let's go. We have work to do."
Viper nodded and followed Ashton out of the hospital room. All of them had to be prepared at all times to face the Cult.
***
The cult leader sat in his dimly lit chamber, seething with anger. He had just received the news of the failed operation on Econium, and he was not pleased. His followers trembled in fear as he paced back and forth, muttering curses under his breath.
"Damn it, damn it, DAMN IT!"
The cult leader, a tall and imposing figure with a face covered in a hood, slammed his fist on the table in anger. The other members of the Cult cowered in fear as he yelled at them for their failure to capture Reaper.
"I trusted you all to carry out this mission successfully, and you have all let me down!" he bellowed. "You were supposed to bring me Reaper, not disclose our plans to him on a platter."
The cult members hung their heads in shame as the leader continued his rant.
"We cannot allow him to interfere with our ultimate goal. We must find a way to eliminate him before it's too late."
One of the members spoke up hesitantly. "But, my lord, Reaper is a skilled and powerful mercenary. He also has the support of the Kernel Tower and the Empire. Fighting him head-on would be catastrophic!"
The cult leader let out a growl of frustration. "Excuses! Do you think that will appease me? We had everything riding on this operation, and you and that bastard, what was his name... Diego! You and Diego, let him slip through your fingers."
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "We cannot let this setback stop us. We will regroup, we will come up with a new plan, and we will strike again. But this time, we will not fail."
His subordinates nodded in agreement, relieved that their leader's rage had subsided, at least for now. But they knew that the cult leader would not rest until he had achieved his goal, no matter the cost.