This is a fanfiction written about a particular Exo before the Collapse named Ithamar. Many other characters embark with him throughout his journey; some of them include Charles, Henry, Jk-Bx, and Athena. This is the seventh chapter, not counting the prologue, and takes place on Venus sixteen years after a tragic event that Ithamar and his security team survived. They are there to take part in viewing of new, weapon known as an Alpha Series Exo, that is being demonstrated by the Arcus Corporation. Thank you for your time and I hope you enjoy the read. Domitoris Awakening Chapter 7: Sixteen Years Later [i]Venus, Arcus Corp. Facility October 12, 0130 hours[/i] Sixteen slow years passed after the events that unfolded at the meteor base. We were debriefed shortly thereafter and were not permitted to share what we witnessed at the facility with anyone, not even discuss it among ourselves. The Vanguard began a large investigation into the Shoo-Lawn Industries’ doings outside of the legal system and discovered that Professor Leonard was working closely with Mr. Dudley on several illegal projects. They claimed to have known this and were waiting to make their move, but this seemed unlikely to Charles and me. Professor Leonard was presumed dead after an incident at one of his recently discovered illegitimate experimentation facilities near Freehold, though investigations into what he may have been doing were still underway. Mr. Dudley was also presumed dead after the Vanguard engaged one of his transports with him in tow. However, they were unable to discover his true identity because his DNA was not on in any file system and his body was severely burned beyond recognition. I was able to reconnect with Athena after we broke away from the meteor base. She had been trying to reach us for some time, unsuccessfully. She informed us that Shoo-Lawn Industries had been seized by the Vanguard, pending further investigation. Vanguard reports had no trace of the escaped ship that had dropped the alien container on the meteor, nor did they have any information of on what we encountered inside the facility. Commander Frost had given the search-and-seizure order for all Shoo-Lawn transport vessels order for all search and seizure of Shoo-Lawn transport vessels, had their warehouses investigated, shipping lanes closed, and business personnel detained for questioning. Whatever Mr. Dudley and Professor Leonard were working on involved Cicatrix, who seemed to vanish without a trace during our escape, leaving no evidence and no indications was found on his whereabouts either. We did learn of his extended relationship with Leonard thanks to some data files in Charlemagne, where a recent man of genius had emerged from the private sector of the Vanguard of Earth. Cicatrix had been splicing some kind of DNA into his Exo body and it was affecting him physically as well as psychologically. His whole left arm was almost entirely organic tissue. It was reptilian, scaly, and black. It was unclear if any other parts of his body were affected in the same way. However he manipulated matter was still a concept that was hard to grasp. The Traveler would inform us of was that he used some kind of advanced cell-manipulating technology that was early in development. We were given little insight as to how he was capable of doing such things without having absorbed some of its own energy. It did however reveal that Cicatrix couldn’t use his “power” for prolonged periods of time and he could only focus on either using his abilities to aid himself physically or manipulate objects around him. However he couldn’t manipulate Glorian or Opaquian ores for unknown reasons. Julia was taken from us the moment we made port and was placed into protective custody. We did not get to say goodbye to her. She was put into a private and secure school for girls where she would be safe from harm and educated properly. We did return John’s belongings to his family on Earth as well before we were sent onto our next assignment. His family was obliged, though very sad to learn of his death. Being reassigned was overcomplicated. We must have been transferred four times before we landed a position working for the Arcus Corporation, a very prestigious arms and armor manufacturer. Private security and investigation of potential extraterrestrial threats is where they put us. Arcus Corp. took good care of us; even gave us new equipment as a welcoming gift. I, myself, was graced with an Arcus Shogun -R8 assault rifle. Needless to say, I was pleased. The Arcus Corp. was directed by the mastermind Maximus Charlemagne, a man of high esteem and brilliance. A whole city was named after him, the City of Charlemagne, but he didn’t take well to being glorified for his works. All his labors were done by his hands and mind alone without the Travelers aid. Maximus was very independent; he didn’t like seeing mankind bow low to the Traveler, treating it as some kind of deity. Charlemagne had been handed the Alpha series specifications when Shoo-Lawn Industries went under investigation and he delivered the first prototype in two weeks and has been progressing ever since. We were presently on Venus to observe a demonstration of the most recently developed Alpha series codenamed: Paul. Riding in the elevator to sublevel 14, we awaited our future companion. Jk-Bx played a song for us while we descended into the Arcus Corp. R&D department. “Will you stop that?” Max asked. “You have been making that racket since we landed two hours ago.” “Nope, can’t stop,” Jk-Bx retorted and picked up the tempo. Max was leaning on the side of the elevator with his arms crossed, his new Arcus armor plating finely polished. Charles stood at the back. Nothing had changed about his appearance, aside from some maintenance he had done to replace damaged armor connectors. Henry had gotten a new hand and an update in medicine and doctoral practices. Jk-Bx and Bm-Bx were still the same noisy, irritating little robots as usual. I hadn’t changed much either, though I did exchange my former enforcer armor and replaced it with some I formerly worn and had in storage. It rather expensive getting it restored; after all, it was pretty old and uncommon to most armor smiths. “Why do we have to do this again?” Bm-Bx asked. “Did Max lose another bet?” “I did not! Besides, I only lost once and those ship races were rigged anyway,” Max protested. “We were asked by Charlemagne himself to represent his business interest here on Venus,” Charles said. “I know that. It’s just that I don’t understand why he chose us over all the qualified people?” “Are you saying we are not qualified?” Bm-Bx asked gingerly. “No, I just thought that it was odd that he selected us.” “Oh, did you now?” “Yes, Charlemagne has been acting strange lately. Haven’t you all noticed the mobilization of Arcus private military services? The archives here on Venus were energized with new research reports from deep space. Oh, by the way, I don’t know why, but I’ve been requested to join some analyst and archivist at the Venus Selden Academy,” Bm-Bx informed us. “Finally, you’re getting your head examined! About time.” “Shut up.” “Sub level 14, Level 12 clearance required,” the security A.I. notified us. “Level 12 clearance found, welcome Lieutenant Ithamar of Recon Team Beta. Please proceed to the security checkpoint.” I was promoted to lieutenant shortly after the meteor base incident. On request from the Vanguard, though against Commander Frost’s wishes, I was given rank of lieutenant and Charles was ranked sergeant. Our ranks were irrelevant to us and were either was used for the record books or formal meetings. Time would tell if I would be able to handle a leadership position again. We spent the next fifteen minutes passing through security checkpoint after security checkpoint in order to get to the presentation area. There was no joke about security. Some of Charlemagne’s biggest secrets of the Arcus Corp. were kept and tested regularly here. The presentation area was walled in with some large safety-glass windows around as well that you used to look into through safety glass. The space was more a workshop or lab that was modified to test and demonstrate new products or experiments that Arcus Corp. created. The room was one-hundred yards in length with twenty foot ceilings and the lights off on half the room. Standing around the windows were anonymous officers, military officials, business persons from various companies, investors, technologists from Jupiter’s Nexus Laboratories, a few astrologists visiting from Earth, and about a dozen engineers and technicians from Saturn’s moon, Titan. Many Vanguards were present as well, such as Galic Malen, Jacob Blackwater, Angela Ericson, Commander Frost, and others. “Ah, Exo-0300,” Davis said from behind me. “How have you been?” I turned around and accepted his outstretched hand. He hadn’t aged a day. “I have been well, sir. How have you been?” “Very well, thank you. I was so sorry to hear what happened at the meteor base. James Wess was one of our best… He deserved better.” The crowd around us made up for the silence that hung between us with the many conversations and footsteps. “Have you heard from Julia?” “No, we haven’t spoken since her father passed.” “Ah, I see. Well, I’ll have you know she is doing well, very well in fact. Julia has been working for Charlemagne on Mars as part of his research and logistics division. Married a soldier; Phillip Blackwater I believe was his name. Speaking of Blackwater, do you remember General Blackwater?” [b]Continued below[/b]