The Reclamation and the Lioness

by Robert D. Armstrong

  Leo smiled politely and nodded. “I can’t talk about it,” he answered.

  A young, thin lady draped in a dark hooded cloak stood in our path. She reached out for Leo.

  “Ma’am, excuse me,” Leo said, stopping. I noticed dried blood on her fingernails as she removed the hood from her head. She had long, dark curly hair and was unusually beautiful. She had an aura about her that seemed almost magical. Her narrow face and perfect porcelain skin stood out in a crowd. The woman’s green, gleaming eyes seemed to mesmerize Leo. He smiled at her.

  Her lip trembled as she glanced at me. She pointed at my face. “Young knight, that’s her, isn’t it?”

  I moved away from her. “Me?” I asked.

  “From Titan? You’re L-Luther’s, aren’t you?” she asked. Now I was curious.

  “I haven’t seen you before. Who are you?” Leo asked, narrowing his eyes at her.

  “A friend,” she said. Her smiled flattened out. Without warning, she socked Leo in the sternum with her fist, knocking him down. My eyes bulged as Leo gasped for air and held his chest as he rolled on the ground.

  “Leo!” I yelled. The civilians around us backed away. The punch didn’t make sense to me. She was extremely frail compared to the sledgehammer force she generated with her hand.

  Her eyes turned milky white as she marched toward Leo.

  “Fuck,” I muttered, reaching for my sword. I wasn’t fast enough. She changed directions and lunged at me, opening a mouth full of black saliva. Metal fangs thrust through her gums. Blood and saliva dribbled onto my fur garment as I clamped her throat with all my might. She forced me to the ground as I put my knees into her chest.

  The corners of her lips tore as she opened her mouth wider than any human range of motion. I could hear her skin stretching like leather, ripping and pulling apart. She pushed her head past my knees, chomping at my face like a shark bursting through a cage. “You bitch!” she yelled in an electronically altered voice.

  I heard Luther’s mighty voice echo in the distance as Leo threw his weight at her, bashing her with his shoulder and knocking her to the ground. She quickly recovered and scampered on all fours across the floor and up the wall. I snatched my sword and held the handle in front of me.

  She scaled the ceiling, scurried in my direction, and dropped near me. She slashed at me wildly with her claws as I moved back.

  The creature jumped into the air as I held my sword high. I ignited it at the last moment. The scorching plasma speared through her upper chest as I ripped the sword upward, cutting her head in half as her corpse knocked me to the ground. Her white eyes faded to black.

  My chest pounded as I stared at the carnage.

  “Victoria! You okay? Were you bitten?” Leo asked frantically, searching me up and down.

  “I don’t know!” I wiped ash flurries from my face.

  “Get the fuck off of me!” I yelled, kicking the corpse away. I stood up, pointing the blade at the monster. I held the fiery sword next to her flesh, burning it away as bits of cybernetics were revealed underneath. I gritted my teeth as I slowly stabbed the blade into the corpse, melting the metal as I twisted the sword handle.

  Then I felt Luther cup his massive hands over mine and turn the dial on the handle to retract the blade. “It’s dead,” he said softly.

  “That’s not a Mave drone. What the hell is that?” Leo asked, holding his chest.

  “It is Mave but some sort of spy. Something new?” Neona guessed, looking up at Luther.

  He kneeled, inspecting it closer. “The Architect’s tactics are changing,” he muttered.

  He glanced at me. I wondered if Neona’s fate could be the same one day. It was revealed that she and Vlad were both kidnapped by the Architect. I stared at the creature as its limbs slowly morphed into cybernetics and swarms of nanomachines crawled all over her body.

  “Anyone seen this woman before?” Luther asked.

  Neona examined the corpse. “It’s difficult to identify her now, but if I remember correctly, this woman was the nomad that came to the Legion a few days after the Elders were murdered. She was alone,” Neona recalled.

  Leo walked over, looking up at Luther. “Victoria was the target, sire. No doubt about it,” he said.

  “When she returns to the training barracks, post two sentries at her door,” he commanded, lowering his voice.

  “Of course,” Leo said.

  Luther turned toward his men. “Knight Renheart, order the lab technicians on station immediately. Have them examine the body and take samples. I want to devise a way to detect this new abomination. Until then, all new arrivals from the past week will be separated from the main population and put under surveillance in holding unit echo until then. Understood?”

  “Yes, sire,” he replied.

  He met eyes with each of his knights. “It’s likely this isn’t the only infiltrator among us. We must assume there are more. Knight Clovess,” Luther said.

  “Yes, my lord,” he replied, stepping forward. Clovess was a tall, lanky man with long, thinning white hair. He wore an eye patch. I noticed a slight limp in his step.

  “Before you retired, you were a counterintelligence operative for the knights uprooting criminal activity within the Legion. I want you to form a special investigation unit to identify these creatures that hide among us. I need you to question loners, new arrivals, and anyone acting unusual in the last few weeks. Coordinate with the lab technicians once they devise a means of detection,” Luther commanded.

  Clovess lowered his eyebrows. “And until then, my lord, what shall I do with individuals who fit the profile of these potential threats?”

  “Put them in prison, in individual cells, until we know for sure. Renheart, set a curfew for nineteen hundred hours for common areas and corridors. Restrict the population to their living quarters after that time. Clovess, question anyone that breaks this curfew, any wanderers. You have your orders. Dismissed,” Luther said. He glanced at me before storming away. He flipped his shiny new white cape over his shoulder. I got the sense there was an enormous amount of pressure on his shoulders, now more than before.

  I wasn’t helping matters. Not only was he worried about the thousands under his command, but it appeared I was in grave danger and being specifically targeted by the Architect. It was terrifying to imagine that anyone in the crowd could be infected and waiting to ambush me. As the thought entered my mind, I grabbed my sword and held it tight.

  Leo followed Luther with his eyes before turning toward me. “Hey. You okay?” he asked.

  I took a deep breath. “Yeah.”

  He nodded. “Come on. I’ll walk you back to the barracks. We need to be rested just in case the Engineer chooses us to go to the android colony,” he said.

  I WOKE UP IN A COLD sweat, panting heavily. I was dreaming about the Mave I killed. In the dream, my arms and legs were powerless as it held me down, sniffing my neck as it heckled at my fear. Its white eyes pulsated as it stared at me. I was helpless.

  “Ah,” I muttered.

  It took me a moment to realize where I was. Neona put me in the recruit barracks so I could begin training, but I wasn’t used to it yet. My room was very modest. There was a small twin bed, a wooden nightstand, and pegs stabbed into the ice walls for hanging garments. That was it.

  I pushed back my fur blanket and sat up in bed, wiping sweat from my brow. The cool air kissed my body. It was initially refreshing, but I quickly felt the chilled air penetrate the layer of warm sweat on my skin.

  “You’ve always had nightmares, ever since I can remember,” a voice said. I wasn’t alarmed. I knew who it was. I turned my head toward the makeshift wooden door and noticed it was cracked. The door opened as Luther appeared. He walked in slowly and shut the door behind him.

  I stood up as he stopped in front of me. “Being hunted by cybernetic extremists won’t lessen the nightmares,” I said.

  A candle beside the door illuminated him, giving me a better view of the crack in his mask.
I stared into his eye for a moment.

  “I’m sorry this happened,” he said softly.

  We both stepped forward, embracing one another. I sighed in relief. In that moment, all my fears left me. Despite the cold metal from his armored fingers gently caressing my back and arms and the frigid chest armor against my face, he made me feel warm again. He leaned his head against mine as he turned his face away from me.

  We held each other for over a minute without a word. He pulled away slowly and stared into my eyes as he held my arms. “I haven’t come to see you since you started training. I don’t want to be a distraction,” he said.

  “That wouldn’t distract me,” I replied.

  “Not you. The other recruits in these barracks, Victoria. I don’t want them to think you’re getting any special treatment because of who you are,” he said.

  I looked away from him. “Then why did you decide to stop by now, in the middle of the night?” I asked rhetorically.

  He nodded and glanced toward the door. “With yesterday’s attack, it’s clear you’re in grave danger here. You, like everyone else that’s close to me, is in the Architect’s crosshairs.”

  “If it’s so dangerous here, then let me go to the rebel android colony with Leo. What’s the difference?” I asked.

  “You belong here,” he replied.

  I put my hands on my hips, narrowing my eyes at him. Leo was right. “Luther, if you send someone else and accept the rebel androids’ offer, you’re gonna need a pilot to fly the ship back,” I said.

  He held up his index finger. “We evaluate the deal first,” he replied.

  “But I can take a look at the ship before we make a deal to see if it’s even worth it,” I said.

  He leaned forward. “What we need is patience. I don’t need you, an untrained knight and my only pilot, headed off into the wasteland to make a deal that might not even work out to begin with. It’s possible you’ll be killed before you even get there. I can’t afford to send a large strike team with you either,” he explained.

  I shook my head, staring at him for several moments. “You couldn’t stop me all those years ago, could you?” I asked.

  “What?” Luther stood up tall.

  “Before we went to Titan. I left you at home during military deployments and you had no control. You were helpless. But now, you have all the control, don’t you?” I asked.

  He tilted his head. “How dare you accuse me of putting you over the betterment of the entire Legion. If you truly believe that, take your weapon and strike me down. I deserve it if what you say is true. You’re staying here because it makes sense and you’re completing the knight training that you agreed on,” he fired back.

  I turned away from him and nodded slowly. Something popped in my mind. Perhaps I was projecting my own weaknesses onto him—could I place the wellbeing of the Legion above Luther if the situation was reversed? I wasn’t sure.

  I sighed. “There’s no excuse for me jumping to conclusions about your reasons. Sometimes I speak without thinking, you know that,” I said.

  He paced the width of the room. “And you’re used to making decisions too,” he said plainly.

  I crossed my arms. “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “In our relationship,” he replied.

  My eyes widened. “Well yes, there’s been a shift in our dynamic.” I smiled.

  He pinched his fingers together. “A slight change, Mrs. Belic. You were the leader in our relationship by default. Depression crippled me, but those days are gone. Let me be very clear. I want you involved in military matters and I need you to voice your opinion on strategic situations, but don’t ever try to challenge my loyalty to the Legion to make your point,” he said. His tone reminded me of the way he commanded his soldiers.

  I still felt I was the best choice to go to the android colony, but I lacked the perspective and growth he had accumulated as a leader in this mad world. I wanted to embrace him and apologize. I grinned and took a step toward him.

  “Victoria,” he said with authority, freezing me in place. I gulped. It was clear he wanted me to confirm that this would not happen again.

  “I’m sorry, Luther. You’re absolutely right. I shouldn’t have assumed. It won’t happen again,” I said, slumping my head.

  Luther stared at me for a few moments. He nodded and stepped directly in front of me. “Apology accepted,” he said softly. I looked up at him and slowly raised my hands toward his mask, touching it. I gently tugged at it as he cupped his hands over mine. “Can I remove it?” I asked softly.

  He nodded. “Here... like this.” He unfastened it. I removed the mask slowly. For the first time, I saw his face up close. His square, chiseled features were just as I remembered. He was older and more distinguished, and there were hints of the Mave infection—small specks of metal layered throughout his face—but it didn’t matter to me.

  I didn’t need to imagine him the way he was. I was still very attracted to him. He closed his eyes, and in that moment, I caught a hint of insecurity. I looked pretty much the same as I did the last day he saw me, but he didn’t. I was sure that bothered him.

  “I didn’t get to tell you before, but you’ve barely aged,” I said.

  He sighed. “Oh, but I have, and I’ve earned every wrinkle.”

  Without his apparatus, he began to wheeze. He tried to hide that he was struggling to breathe, and he smiled when I noticed. It reminded me of when he was hospitalized for depression. He always tried to make me feel like he was fine.

  “Let’s put your mask back on,” I said softly.

  He stopped me. “No... just... for a few more moments,” he said, staring into my eyes.

  “Okay,” I said, reaching for his face slowly. Just before I touched his skin, he grabbed my hand gently with his armored fingers. “No skin contact at all?” I asked. I thought the virus could only be delivered through bodily fluids.

  “I can’t risk it,” he replied.

  “Sire,” a voice called out from the hall.

  Luther continued staring at me. “What is it?” he asked.

  “There’s been a break-in at food storage,” he replied. He secured his mask and stood up, squeezing my hand before turning away. “I have to go. The barracks are on lockdown and my guards are outside your door. You’ll be safe here,” he said softly, storming outside.

  Chapter 2

  EARLY THE NEXT MORNING...

  “Wake up,” someone said. I leaned up in my bed and noticed Leo in my room.

  I lowered my eyebrows. “Leo, I don’t have training for another two hours. What the hell—”

  “Up! Now! This is part of your training,” he said.

  “Okay. Shit,” I said, rubbing my eyes.

  “Put on your cold weather gear. Bring your helmet too. We’re training outside today,” he ordered. It felt like I had only slept for a couple of hours. Leo walked out of my room and shut the door as I threw on my spacesuit and fur garment over the top of it.

  Groggy, I grabbed my helmet and headed out the door. I noticed Leo check to make sure I had my sword on me. He nodded as he headed down the corridor in a hurry. “Let’s get a move on. I’m training three more knights before I leave for the android colony later.”

  I looked at him a few paces ahead of me. “Wait. Luther already picked you to go? Who else is going?” I asked.

  “An older knight you don’t know,” he said.

  I shook my head as we made our way to the railroad tracks. Something was different. The curfew Luther proclaimed made the Legion a ghost town. It was strange to see the large underground complex so vacant. I could hear the wind howling in the tunnels more clearly without the ambiance of the civilians.

  A frightening thought entered my mind: if the Architect won, this place would be much like it is now.

  Leo trotted forward. I noticed a young handsome man with long dark brown hair waiting for us on the dock. I didn’t recognize him. He had boyish good looks with small features and piercing blue e
yes. “Hola,” he greeted, smiling. He was leaning against the handrail with a bit of swagger.

  “Hey,” I replied.

  “The legendary lioness,” he said as I stepped onto the dock.

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “Where did you hear that name?”

  “Your robot said it to you, just before she took off into the stars,” he said, pointing his index finger up.

  I paused, remembering the day Xena left. “How could you have heard us? No one was that close,” I said.

  “No, but I can read lips,” he said.

  I arched an eyebrow. “So, you know everything she said then?” I asked.

  “Pretty much. I know the people of Titan see you as a hero. The question is, will the people of the Legion see you as the same one day?” he asked.

  “Well, that’s not really my goal... to be a hero,” I replied.

  Leo glanced over at us. “Hey. Let’s roll. Martinez, get us to the exit please. I have things to do,” he said. I boarded the small rail cart as Martinez began to operate the crank.

  “Yes, knight,” Martinez replied.

  After a ten-minute ride, we approached a dead end.

  “Halt. This is far enough,” Leo ordered.

  “Thanks.” I nodded at Martinez.

  “My pleasure. Safe travels to you, lioness,” he replied. We walked through several layers of barbed-wire barricades, rounded a corner, and entered a room with sculpted ice walls. Sunlight beamed in, reflecting off the white snow. Without my helmet on, the light was so bright it nearly blinded me.

  I put my hand up to block the sun. I noticed at least a dozen guards standing around. As we neared them, I saw that all of them were heavily armed. The first person to look back our way was a teenage boy carrying a grenade launcher. He was wearing a ski mask, but even through the garment I could tell he was just a boy by his lanky, awkward frame.

  I saw the puffs from his warm breath in the cold air. They were faster than the others. I gathered he was nervous. His eyes widened as he saw us.

  The overhanging ice on the entrance had been cleared, giving way to gun emplacements with sandbags on each side. One was a large minigun and the other was a fifty-caliber machine gun that overlooked the area.