With Cole leading, the small group sets out to rendezvous at the human’s bunker. The forest is crushed, all but gone. If the vegetation wasn’t destroyed from the battle, then the super storm took care of the rest. With the storm now dissipating, the light of the day finally sends a ray past the thick clouds. Cole moves next to Arch, probing, “How did you know the battle would go down that way? You knew we would get overrun. You knew Cain would show up. Your accuracy was uncanny!”

“I told you I’m the Architect. This has all been part of my master plan. I’ve been using my power of the super probability matrix to predict how things would play out. This was the only way the battle could go down without us losing completely. I’m sorry for keeping you in the dark. I needed to let things play out to expose their plot. I’ve been speaking with the Enlightened Ones well before your arrival. Just as they told you, they told me about the power of the Black Prophet and Cain. They told me about the reaches of their influence, but alas, Cain got away. We still have much to uncover, but at this moment our only threat is Death. You know he will be waiting for us as soon as we get there right? Now that he’s weakened it makes him that much more dangerous. What are you planning to do?”

“I haven’t thought that far. I was just planning on going there, and you know, wing it.”

“Wing it… Hmm…”

Arch closes his eyes for a moment before speaking, “Here’s how I see it. The best thing for you to do is keep him talking. You’ve especially pissed him off. Let him show his hand.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well if we think about it. He ripped off his ears and I doubt he fixed them. He’s low on his crystals. He retreated back to the bunker for a reason. Maybe he got more? We also know that’s the base where Blood Hunters have been created. A lot happened in that battle. There’s more Ultras in there that need our help.”

“Are you saying he has more Blood Hunters!?”

“Chances are high.”

“Then we need to pick up our speed! You can catch up. I will jump ahead with Rush much faster.”

“No! If you go without us we’ll all die! If you go before the rest of us get there then our probability of failure increases by 90 percent.”

“What! Are you sure?”

“Don’t you trust me after what I told you about the last battle?”

Cole’s eyebrows bow in suspicion, “Yes, but there’s something you’re not telling me.”

“Of course.” replies Arch.

Cole watches a burst of sparkles materializing a white cross hanging from Arch’s neck, signifying that he should be trusted.

“Ok then. Your plan it is.”

As a group they arrive at the bunker. The blast door still hanging by a thread just as Cole saw it the first time. They were about to enter but Death stepped out greeting them before they could. Sure enough his ears are still missing. Death has a crazed smile. His skin sags from his eye sockets.

Arch called it. I won’t be able to use my words on him.