All Chapters of Achilles: The Warlord Emperor: Chapter 321
- Chapter 330
377 chapters
321: Really Over?
“Money. Same reason anyone does anything.” Dr. Chen shrugged: “The Archelords paid me two million to set up this system. Another million to maintain it. Best job I ever had.”“People are going to die because of what you built.”“People die every day. At least I got paid for my contribution.” No remorse or guilt in her voice. Just a cold calculation.Achilles had met evil before. Combat. War zones. Terrorists who believed in their cause.But this was different. This was evil for profit. Evil without ideology. Somehow that felt worse.“Transfer is processing,” Dora announced: “Five minutes.”Fourteen minutes until activation.Dr. Chen typed something on the terminal: “Just updating the countdown display. Thought you'd like to watch.”A timer appeared on the screen. 13:47... 13:46... 13:45...“Once you give us the codes,” Achilles said, “You're under our protection. But if those codes don't work, if this i
322: Final Words
Achilles stood outside Ethan's cell. He'd put this conversation off for hours, but it couldn't wait any longer. Tomorrow, Ethan would be transferred to a maximum security prison to await trial. Tonight was the last chance for something resembling closure.The guard unlocked the door. Achilles entered alone. Ethan sat on the edge of his cot, looking smaller somehow. The fight had gone out of him. His shoulder was properly bandaged, arm in a sling. He looked up as Achilles entered.“Nephew. Come to say goodbye?”“I need to understand.” Achilles pulled a chair over and sat facing his uncle: “We stopped the infrastructure attack. Arrested all the operatives. The Archelords are finished in Britain. It's over.”“Over.” Ethan smiled sadly: “Nothing is ever really over. There will be others, more attacks. More wars, the cycle continues.”“Maybe. But not today. Today we won.”“You won. I lost everything.” Ethan looked at his hands: “My brother. My freedom. My purpose. What's left?”“The truth.
323: Ethan's Words
“Every day. For twenty years. He never forgave himself for that mission.”“But he never tried to find me. Never looked to see if I'd survived.”“Because the military declared you KIA. Dead. Confirmed by witnesses who saw you go down. He believed you were gone, and that guilt destroyed pieces of him.”Ethan sat back down heavily: “I spent two decades hating a man who hated himself more than I ever could.”“He didn't hate you. He hated what he had to do. There's a difference.”“Is there? The result was the same. I was left behind. He moved on. Built a life and became a hero, while I rotted with the Archelords, plotting revenge against someone who was already punishing himself.”Achilles sat back down: “You could have come home. After you recover. You could have contacted him and told him you were alive.”“And say what? That I survived because the enemy saved me? That I'd spent months recovering in their camp? The military
324: Tough Stand
[RAF Fairford]Achilles woke to alarms. He'd only been asleep for three hours, having finally crashed after spending the night with Gabrielle. But the moment the base sirens wailed, he was on his feet, reaching for his weapon as he felt something was wrong.His phone rang; Brigadier George.“Warlord, we have a situation. Multiple vehicles are breaching the north gate. Armed hostilities, at least twenty of them.”“What?!” Achilles was already pulling on his tactical vest: “How did they get past perimeter security?”Brigadier George swallowed: “We don't know. They had access codes. They knew exactly where to breach. Warlord, they're heading straight for the detention wing.”Ethan.They were coming for Ethan.“Lock down the facility! Get every guard to the detention wing now!” Achilles ran into the corridor: “Where's my daughter?”“Safe room with Star and Dr. Lloyd. Already secured.”Achilles instructed: “Keep them there. Full guard detail. Nobody gets near them.”Achilles ran toward the
325: Ethan's Aid
“The command center,” Achilles said. “Reinforced. Multiple exits. We can defend it until backup arrives.”They pushed forward. Ethan stayed close to Achilles, handcuffed but moving.An attacker appeared from a side room. Aimed at Ethan. Achilles shot him before he could fire.“Why?” Ethan asked. “Why save me? You could let them kill me and solve all your problems.”“Because you're my prisoner. My responsibility. And because I'm not them.” Achilles kept moving: “Now shut up and stay close.”They reached the command center. Secured the door. Set up defensive positions.Six of them are left standing. George and Rachael were wounded. All were low on ammunition.And outside, the attackers were regrouping for a final push.“Three minutes to reinforcements,” the base commander reported.Three minutes. Could they hold that long?The attackers hit the door with everything. Explosives. Sustained fire. Th
326: Recovery
[RAF Fairford Medical Wing – Three Days Later]Achilles sat beside Brigadier George's hospital bed. His friend and teammate was recovering well from the shoulder wound, but the doctors wanted him monitored for another forty-eight hours.“Warlord, you should be resting too,” George said. His arm was in a sling, but he looked better than he had after the assault: “You took three hits to your vest. Your ribs are probably still screaming.”“They are. But Gabrielle wants her daddy mobile, not laid up in a hospital bed.” Achilles shifted, gasping at the movement. “How are you feeling?”“Like I got shot. But alive, which is what counts.” George gestured to the window: “Heard they're transferring Ethan to maximum security tomorrow. First time Hector's been in that prison.”“Won't be the last if I keep making enemies.” Achilles managed a small smile: “But yeah, trial starts in two weeks. Crown prosecution is going for treason and multiple counts of murder. Death penalty for sure.”“You going t
327: Colonel Pemberton
“Need to ask you a few questions, about security protocols during the assault.”“Of course. Happy to help.” Pemberton gestured to chairs: “Please, sit.”Achilles remained standing. Margaret closed the door behind them.“We've been investigating how the attackers got access codes,” Achilles said. “Tracing communications. Financial records.”Pemberton's smile didn't waver, but something flickered in his eyes. “Good. We need to know how they compromised us.”“We do. And we found something interesting. Communications between someone on this base and Dr. Sarah Chen. The woman who tried to sabotage the infrastructure shutdown.”“Really? That's concerning. Do you know who?”“We do.” Achilles moved slightly, blocking the door: “It was you, Colonel.”Pemberton's smile faded: “That's absurd. I've served this country for thirty years—”“While also serving the Juma Archelords for at least six months. Probably longe
328: The Ceremony
[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst – Three Weeks Later]The grand hall was packed. Military brass from across Europe. Government officials. Diplomats. Media crews from every major network, and somewhere in the front row, Gabrielle sat between Star and Margaret, swinging her legs excitedly.Achilles stood backstage in his dress uniform, adjusting his collar for the third time. He wasn't a big fan of ceremonies. Too much attention and formality.“Stop fidgeting Warlord,” Brigadier George teased, arm still in a sling but present: “You look perfect.”Achilles chimed in: “I look like I'm playing dress-up.”“You look like a Colonel who's about to be promoted to Major General and decorated for saving the country.” Rachael Beauty smiled. “Embrace it.”The trial ended two days ago. Ethan Hector was convicted on all counts, sentenced to death by hanging. The verdict was expected, but it still felt heavy.Colonel Pemberton; Raven, had also been convicted. Life imprisonment with no possibility of
329: “Your Daughter Likes Me”
More applause. Longer this time. People stood.When it finally died down, Achilles continued.“But I also accept this with a promise. I will continue to serve. To protect. To lead. But I will also be a father. Be present for my daughter. Because my father's one regret was not spending enough time with family. Not balancing duty with love. I won't make that mistake.”He looked at Gabrielle. She waved at him, grinning.“This uniform represents duty. This medal represents honor. But that little girl represents why we serve. Why we fight. Why do we sacrifice? She's the future we're protecting. And I won't forget that. Ever.”Achilles stepped back from the podium. The ceremony continued with other commendations— the Faithfuls each received medals for their service. Other soldiers were recognized for their roles in the operation.But Achilles barely noticed. He kept looking at Gabrielle. At her innocent smile. At her pride in her father.After the ceremony, people swarmed him. Handshakes. C
330: Star's Confession
[Achilles' New Residence – London – Two Weeks Later]The apartment was modest by military standards but luxurious compared to the safe houses and barracks Achilles had lived in for years. Three bedrooms. A proper kitchen. A balcony overlooking the Thames.Gabrielle's room was already decorated with her drawings and stuffed animals. She'd adapted quickly to their new life. Therapy was helping with the nightmares.Star had requested a private meeting. She arrived at seven, dressed casually. Nervous.“Thank you for seeing me,” she said as Achilles let her in.“You're Gabrielle's mother. You're welcome ‘cause she needs you in her life.” He gestured to the living room: “Tea? Coffee?”“Water will be fine.”They sat across from each other. The silence stretched.“I need to apologize,” Star finally said. “Properly. For everything.”“Star, we've been over this—”“No. We haven't. Not really. You've been gracious. Kind. Forgiving because of Gabrielle. But I need you to hear this. Need to say it