“And the doctors removed you?” I asked.
“No. Luckily, at that time, there were only three of us in the cage... and I was forced to be the last one standing,” he recalled, pausing for a few moments.
“Your husband reminded me of a mummy when I saw him here, covered from head to toe with bandages,” Renheart added. My chest hurt as I imagined all the pain he endured, and I was unable to help him.
Luther faced forward. “After the attack, the doctors isolated me from the rest of the incoming infected. They vigorously began a series of studies on my blood for a cure,” he said, lowering his voice.
“They hoped they could replicate what happened to you,” I said.
Luther stared at the floor as we continued walking forward. “So did I. They thought they could at least slow down the virus, but I wasn’t much help to their research,” he said.
“Your blood might not have helped their research, but no one can deny your service to the Legion. You struck fear into the Architect, sire, keeping her at bay for many years,” Renheart said.
We exited the medical lab through a set of double doors with two guards on each side. As we walked into the corridor, there was a group of about thirty people waiting outside. Most of them were lying down on the floor with blankets.
Luther stopped when he got close to them. A young woman stood up to greet him. “My lord, we’re all waiting on the prognosis. Our family members were infected, and we await news from the doctors of their recovery. We were told since the Architect’s death there is a chance?” she asked.
Luther panned back and forth. He paused for a moment. “The doctors are doing all that they can. For now, I need all of you to go back to your homes and await the results there, not here,” he ordered. We walked away as the people stood up. I turned around as they began to gather their things.
I saw a young, blond-headed boy staring at us as we walked away. He appeared confused, worried, and sad. I got a strong feeling one of his parents might have been infected.
As we headed down the corridor, I wondered if Neona and the infected had a chance at recovery. Luther seemed to think so, but how much of this was influenced by the love he had for his daughter?
We walked into the docking area and stopped. The crowd ahead of us had their backs turned. Luther took a few steps forward and assessed the situation. There was a tall, barrel-chested man up on the dock. He wore a dark-colored three-quarter length coat. I noticed a few patches on the coat, and despite its age and worn appearance, it looked good on him.
“That’s Senator Barrus, a great nephew of our former commander from many years ago,” Renheart said, leaning in.
“I’ve never seen him before,” I said.
Renheart nodded. “Well, he’s kept to himself for several years. Most people refer to him as a senator, but there’s no such title within the Legion. Not sure how that got started, but the people that support him claim he’s a man of the people,” Renheart said.
“Really, how can you be a man of the people in hiding?” I asked.
“Good question,” Renheart replied.
He had shoulder-length dark hair and a five o’clock shadow. His black, bushy eyebrows and long, angular face reminded me of a hawk as he lowered his eyebrows and panned across the crowd. “And will you, the good people of the Legion, allow this to happen all over again?” he shouted.
Several people threw up their hands. “No!”
“Allow what to happen?” Luther roared and stepped toward the crowd with us in tow. His voice was so loud that it silenced everyone as they looked back at us. They seemed quite surprised to see Luther.
Luther marched through the middle of the assembly as the people parted ways. The large man on the elevated dock widened his eyes as we approached, but he did not answer Luther’s question.
“Allow what to happen?” Luther repeated, crossing his arms as he looked up at the man on the dock. His white cape fanned out as he looked up at Barrus.
Barrus grinned. “The Engineer. You grace us with your presence. I was just expressing my right, my freedom of speech, on that matter at hand.”
“What matter is that?” Renheart asked.
Barrus shifted his weight, scanning the crowd. He put on the appearance that he was confident. It was here that I noticed his black boots. They were immaculate and had a mirror-like shine. They were easily the best-looking boots I’d seen since my return to postwar Earth. The more I looked at him, the more out of place he appeared.
Barrus seemed to stop himself from chuckling. “As you might expect, there are concerns with the infected individuals being held in the hospital. There are fears—”
“What fears?” Luther asked. In one motion, he leaped atop the chest-high dock with ease, his cape swooshing upward and slowly falling back into place. He landed like a feather despite his size, making almost no sound as he stood face to face with Barrus. They were almost the same height and size, with Luther being slightly broader.
“You know what we fear, Engineer. Emotions run high. Yes, the Architect is dead. We can thank you and the Legion knights for that. But for the first time in many years, we have the chance to be able to breathe as a people again. There are many here today that believe that the remaining infected should be dealt with in order to make absolutely sure there is never another outbreak,” Barrus said in an overdramatic, inspirational tone. He clenched his fist in conclusion, pulling his dark gloves tight.
Luther glanced down at me before staring at Barrus. “You’re implying that we kill the infected? Who here believes that I should order their deaths? Speak freely, please,” Luther demanded. He took a long look at Barrus as he walked past him, brushing his shoulder. Luther stared into the crowd. “Anyone?” Luther asked again.
Barrus sighed. “Engineer, our people are aware of the unfortunate news of your daughter. We know she’s infected and we all pray for her, but—”
Luther got in Barrus’s face. “But what? Have you ever held someone dying from the Mave in your arms?” he demanded.
Barrus leaned back. “Well, no.”
“And have you ever killed Mave in defense of the Legion?” Luther asked.
“No, I haven’t, and my hope is that no one else has to,” he replied.
Luther backed up two paces away from Barrus, stood profile to the crowd, and looked up. “The doctors inform me the Mave nanobots are no longer contagious since the Architect’s death. They’ve tested all the infected individuals.”
Barrus crossed his arms in front of him. “Sire, I’ve also spoken with the doctors. The people asked me to do so. The Mave is in a state of change. There is no evidence that it won’t be a threat later,” Barrus countered. This was beginning to feel like a political debate, like a town hall meeting between two candidates.
“And there’s no evidence it will be either,” Luther said.
“Precisely, my Engineer. You’re absolutely correct, and this is the reason we must act. The unknown is not a gamble most of us are willing to take, considering the consequences,” Barrus said, narrowing his eyes as he panned across the crowd.
“Speaking of gambles, what risk have you taken for your people, Barrus? Many of us haven’t seen you in months. Were you in hiding while the Mave sacked our walls?” Luther asked.
Barrus gulped and smiled. “I might expect such accusations from you. I was among the crowd that stood at the gates. I was with my family and I witnessed a great many horrors.”
“Horrors?” Luther asked.
“Yes,” he replied.
Luther crossed his arms. “I didn’t see you there. You’re a tall, powerful man, Barrus. You stand out in a crowd. I ordered the men to the front ranks to defend the Legion against the Architect’s horde. You must have cowered somewhere in the middle, hiding among the women and children, waiting for your opportunity to slither away.”
Barrus bit his lip. “I never claimed to be a warrior, Engineer. Not once Men can have other talents.”
“And what is your
claim? What are your talents?” Luther asked.
“I’m a leader, just like my uncle. There are many people that demand I rise up and showcase my natural talents,” he replied.
The crowd was dead silent as they waited a few moments for Luther’s response. He nodded slowly. “You believe the knights are no longer needed?” Luther asked.
“It’s my belief, and that of many others, that the Legion knights have served their purpose. They’ve served honorably. After the Elders’ demise and the victory over the Mave, our community demands government, not a military jurisdiction,” Barrus explained.
“Military jurisdiction,” Luther repeated.
Knight Renheart leaned in. “There is a faction within the Legion that believe Barrus’s uncle was our greatest leader, that his downfall was a conspiracy. I’d wager we stand among them now. They want to see the return of the good ol’ days, I presume. They likely see an opportunity now,” he said, rolling his eyes.
I sighed. “Great.”
Luther circled Barrus. “You know, I knew there would be challengers who’d rise up against us, but I’m surprised at the timing. It’s almost as if you were waiting on the sidelines for your chance. The Legion knights have suffered devastating losses in battle against our greatest foe, and out of thin air you appear after the threat is destroyed, wearing your black cloak and speaking of change. Don’t you find this a bit odd? Not once have you ever offered to assist us in any way,” Luther said.
Barrus raised his eyebrows. “Every man has his time. I, and many others, believe now is mine,” he said.
Luther looked into the crowd. “Many in this crowd might believe that, but I’d wager the bulk of the Legion’s population would strongly disagree. Let me explain something to you, Barrus. I’ve learned something from all my foes, whether they be political adversaries or enemies on the battlefield. I even learned something from the Architect—”
“I’m not here to debate how much military experience you’ve garnered. We all know you are a seasoned warrior, my lord,” Barrus interrupted.
Luther stabbed his finger at Barrus. “Don’t insult, deflect, or interrupt me again. I’m talking about leadership, and the least you can do is pretend to listen,” he warned.
Barrus slumped his head as Luther took a step toward him. “As I was saying, the Architect was right about one thing: in general, we humans are violent creatures. We don’t have to worry about it being contagious. It’s who we are. My wife and I lived in a world full of governments and politicians that served the corporate world. They did nothing to prevent wars. If anything, they incubated them out of their own greed. Some of you might not know this, but the androids that almost destroyed our planet were given choice. Humans decided to give them freedom. This was done purely out of greed so that the machines could communicate and perform their own maintenance without human intervention. This is when they collaborated to destroy us. Do I speak the truth?” he asked, staring at me.
My eyes widened. “Yes. I lived during this time. I fought against them as a fighter pilot before the nuclear devastation,” I responded confidently. Several people stared at me after I answered, then looked back up at the dock.
“Engineer, there will always be human suffering. We understand this. That is not the point,” Barrus countered.
“That is the point. As long as there are people, you can expect violence and war. Without the Mave, the human population will increase, and we’ll begin to see more nomads freely wandering these lands. Those nomads will form clans, and some will grow large and powerful. We need protection. We need the knights now more than ever,” Luther said.
Barrus grinned. “Fear mongering. We will ally with our human brothers and sisters and form connected communities,” Barrus said. The crowd began to stir. Despite Luther’s valid points, dozens of the people seemed to side with Barrus.
Luther shook his head slowly, looking into the crowd. “It appears some of you support Barrus in his endeavor to lead. You’re free to form your own opinions, of course, but there are many matters within the Legion besides the infected in the medical wing. I’ll give you another example, but first, let me ask you all a question. What is your stance on machines that inflict suffering on humans to benefit themselves?” he asked, staring into the crowd. Luther pointed to someone in the front row, a man of Asian descent. “What do you think?”
“I think it goes against everything we’ve fought for,” he replied.
Luther nodded. “And you?” he asked, pointing at a woman.
“The same,” she replied.
“Does anyone here disagree? Do you disagree, Barrus?” Luther asked.
“I do not. Too many have died, and as leader, I would stand against it,” he responded, holding his head high.
“Really? As we speak now, the androids of the Reclamation have stolen countless samples of human DNA. They’re experimenting with clones to eventually recreate their previous owners from many years ago. These clones are suffering at their expense. Despite being clones, they’re still human. They feel pain and have emotions. Tell us, Barrus, how would you plan on standing against this with no knights, no military experience, and only a few handfuls of soldiers and sentries? Keep in mind, the Legion needs protection. You cannot assault their heavily armed compound and leave our home defenseless,” Luther challenged.
Barrus cleared his throat. “Engineer, my goal is not to ignore the need for a strong military. My plan is to recruit new soldiers for the Legion’s army.”
Luther outstretched his arms. “Well, then tell us, Lord Barrus, when will these unknown soldiers be ready to address the android cloning research? In six months? Six years? Who will train them?” Luther asked.
“I have a plan in place that could have recruits in fighting shape within months,” he responded confidently.
Luther looked into the crowd, gesturing toward Barrus. “A plan to create a military? From a leader who has zero military experience? You didn’t answer my question about who will train them. This tells me the answer is no one. The hard truth is, you will be starting from scratch and our troops will be ill prepared to face off against over six hundred armed androids. You also have to consider the unknown threats.”
Barrus took a step away from Luther. “Barrus, Listen to me. I have a real plan in place, with actual experts in firearms and sword-handling to rebuild our military quickly. We will correct our forefathers’ decision to allow machines choice by wiping them out. Every. Last. One of them!” Luther said, staring at Barrus.
“For the Legion!” a middle-aged man shouted, clenching his fist. It seemed Luther’s words were turning the tide.
Luther turned toward the train tunnel behind him. He looked over his shoulder at Barrus. “Get off my dock. You’re an imposter and a coward, riding the coattails of your late uncle,” Luther said. Barrus did a double-take at Luther and began to breathe heavily. I heard a few people gasp.
Barrus walked toward the crowd and began to step off the dock. “Barrus,” Luther said, tapping his shoulder.
Barrus looked up at him. “What?”
Luther tugged under his arm. “You’re going the wrong way,” Luther said, pointing toward the tracks that led to the exit. I felt the chill air from the tunnel breeze flooding the docks. “You don’t understand. You don’t belong here anymore,” Luther added as he pulled Barrus to his feet with one arm.
“He deserves a trial! You can’t just banish him!” a man yelled.
Barrus jerked away from Luther’s grasp. His black coat whipped upward as he lost his balance. He stumbled and nearly fell. Barrus stood up in a fit of rage. He put up his fists but quickly lowered them. “If you weren’t armed with that sword, I’d show you something!” he shouted, gritting his teeth.
Renheart immediately pitched Barrus his own sword. “Go on then. Show us something.” Renheart smiled. Barrus fiddled with the sword handle and dropped it between his feet.
In a small way, I almost felt sorry for him. Barrus wanted to cry, humiliat
ed in front of the dozens of supporters who could only watch in silence. I got the feeling that the meeting was an attempt to convert more to Barrus’s cause.
Barrus jumped down off the dock. He walked slowly down the tunnel without turning back toward us. Luther faced the crowd. “Now, which of you men want to be a part of moving forward and rebuilding our military? Raise your hands!” he said.
From where I was standing, I couldn’t tell exactly how many men volunteered, but it was at least fifty. Not bad considering this was only a fraction of the population.
Luther panned back and forth. “Good. Knight Renheart will take your names and give you dates on when training starts,” Luther stated, jumping down into the crowd with me.
“Let’s go,” he said to me. We walked through the crowd as they moved aside.
“That wasn’t what I expected,” I said, looking up at Luther.
He sighed. “It’s not something I enjoy, but I’ve learned in the past that I have to deal with these upstarts quickly and decisively before people start believing their lies,” Luther said.
We stepped toward the corridor leading to the medical wing. There was an old man with a cane standing at the exit. He must have been near eighty years old and had a long gray beard that stretched to the middle of his chest. His back was hunched badly as he extended his cane toward us.
“Yes?” Luther said as we stopped beside him.
The old man grinned. “You don’t recognize me, do you, Engineer?” the old man asked.
Luther stared at him for a few moments. “Yes. I do. You’re Elder Constas’s brother,” Luther replied. I imagined it was somewhat awkward considering Vlad was responsible for his brother’s death.
Luther stepped close to him and put his hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Most of us have lost something, haven’t we?” he asked. The man looked at the floor. His wrinkled timeworn face gave me a slight glimpse into the hardships he’d experienced as his dark eyes drifted to some faraway place.
I wondered how a man with such limited mobility survived the attack, but I gathered he was extremely perceptive. What he lacked in legs, he likely made up for with insight. Maybe he found somewhere to hide during the siege.
The Reclamation and the Lioness Page 16
