by Noah Michael
What do lizards and trees have in common? Regeneration...
The balcon tried to speed up, but it was running low on energy. It cried out. They couldn’t flee, the balcon was too tired. They had to fight. Raiden heard the buzzing sound again and yanked his beast’s neck upwards. They surged straight up, managing to barely dodge another stream of bullets. The wasp shot towards them and slashed the balcon deeply. Even as his balcon began repairing itself, the wasp was turning around for a new attack. Raiden yanked hard at the balcon’s neck, but it was useless, the creature was too tired. Its eyes were struggling to stay open. Suddenly, an explosion filled the air, smashing the wasp’s stinger from its body. Maximus’s balcon let out a battle cry. Raiden’s balcon roared at its foe with new-found spirit. The wasp hovered in place for a moment until it realized it could no longer use its stinger. It opened its claws and flew up towards Maximus. His balcon spun and swung its tail, but the wasp dodged and slashed at the balcon’s belly. Raiden’s balcon flew forward, wanting to come to the aid of its partner, but he pulled back hard.
Maximus’s balcon and the wasp battled with fury, charging one another over and over again, each of them occasionally landing blows. The wasp screeched as the balcon smashed off one of its claws. The wasp directed its remaining lower three pincers at Maximus and although the balcon dodged one, the other two pierced the creature’s neck and chest, sending them crashing downwards.
“No!” Raiden cried. Raiden’s balcon surged towards the wasp with all its might and swung its tail into the wasp’s belly, striking a clean blow. The darkness of the night was set aflame by the explosion, its boom reverberating throughout the skies, pieces of shattered, burning metal raining down to the ground below. Raiden was in shock, still trying to process what had just taken place. What happened to Maximus’s balcon? Is Maximus okay?
With its last bit of strength, Raiden’s balcon started moving again. He realized that his balcon was trying to find its mate, but instead he guided the beast down to land. It collapsed onto the ground, falling instantly asleep. The balcon camouflaged perfectly with the terrain, appearing almost invisible. Looking around, it was clear they’d landed in the wrong place, but it would be pointless to search for Maximus in the dark. He would have to wait until morning. He took a seat next to his balcon, leaning back against its large, feathered side when exhaustion hit him. He resisted it, but what good would he be without any sleep? With that thought in mind, Raiden drifted off.
◆◆◆
“Get up! Now!” an urgent voice startled him awake. It was early morning; the sky was still dark and his balcon still slept. A man with hair and eyes the color of fire stood before him. He was accompanied by a squadron of twelve black, faceless drones with red lines of paint streaming down their torsos like blood, armed with laser blasters and long, sharp blades. Beside the robots was another figure, a metal humanoid, holding an unconscious Maximus within its grip.
Fully awake now, he remembered where he was, and what he was doing here. “You are Roko’s men,” Raiden realized with dread.
“It doesn’t matter who we are. You are now our prisoners, and you will do exactly what I say or your human friend will die. Don’t try any mind tricks. My friend has a killer grip.
He thinks I’m the Reader.
“Remove your belt.”
Raiden slowly removed his weapons belt. One of the drones destroyed it with a small missile from its arm. Raiden quickly glanced behind him. His balcon was completely camouflaged. If he could stall long enough, the balcon might be able to save them. “Why don’t you just kill me?”
“We have some questions. Where is the girl?”
“What do you want with her?”
“That is not your concern. Only give direct answers to the questions asked. If you speak out of turn, the human will die. I repeat: Where is the girl?”
Raiden spat at the man.
“Tank, show the foolish Reader that we are serious!” The metallic man moved his grip to Maximus’s neck and squeezed hard. Maximus’s eyes shot open. He tried to shout, but couldn’t.
“Stop! Kill the human and I won’t say a word!”
It worked for the moment, but his heart raced. He had to play this correctly, or he’d get them both killed. The tip of the sun was visible on the horizon. Raiden looked Maximus in the eyes, hoping he’d be able to read his plans from his face. Maximus shot him a very subtle nod and stayed quiet.
“Now I ask you one more time, Reader. Where is the girl?” As he spoke, the man’s hand glowed red. He’s a Burner, Raiden realized with dread. Anger boiled inside of him. He’d learned the name from his book. They were the ones who’d killed his father and tried to kill him. This time, he was ready.
The sun rose behind them. Light filled the forest, causing the leaves on the trees to sparkle. Photosynthesis had begun. “She is directly behind me,” Raiden said.
“Enough games! A-1, A-2, search the bush for the girl. If she isn’t there, kill the human.” The first two drones approached the bush. One of them lifted its blade, slashing down. The fallen leaves grew immediately back. The bush roared in anger. Spreading its wings and swinging its tail, his balcon smashed the drones to bits with a furious battle cry.
“Destroy that thing!” The remaining robots opened fire at the balcon. Lasers struck it at a rapid pace, and its body struggled to keep up. It lunged into the air and dove straight through the laser fire at the robots. Five drones dodged in time, but the rest were sent crashing through trees. The Burner flared with rage. He aimed both arms at Raiden, his hands glowing red.
“You will pay, Reader!”
Raiden smiled back at him as a steel fist smashed into the side of the Burner’s head, knocking him to the ground, unconscious. Maximus stood while continuing to whisper into the steel man’s ear.
“The drones! Get him to destroy the drones!” Raiden cried. The remaining five drones continued to bombard the balcon with laser fire. Under the command of Maximus, the steel man punched off their heads, one at a time, just as the exhausted balcon came crashing to the ground, unable to continue fighting. The remaining drones aimed their lasers at the balcon. “Leave the creature!” the Burner shouted, having regained consciousness. “Kill the others!” The drones turned on Maximus and the steel man, lunging out and impaling the latter with their blades. As blood flowed down the man’s steel body, the drones turned towards Maximus.
The Burner struggled to his feet, battered, bruised and bloody. His entire body glowed red. The grass and trees around him burst into flames as he sent fire flying in all directions. “Have you ever felt an atomic explosion, kid?” The Burner sent a massive ball of hot flame in Raiden’s direction but before it could hit him, his balcon darted in front of him and burst into flames, tumbling to the ground.
“No!” Raiden charged forth with rage. He jumped onto the balcon’s tail and then off into the air.
“Raiden!” Maximus threw a blade of one of the shattered robots at him. Raiden caught it midair and plunged it straight down into the Burner’s chest. He fell to the ground and erupted in flames. Raiden dropped the blade and ran to where his balcon lay. Its entire body was black and singed. It looked at Raiden and let out a weak cry.
“It’s poisoned,” Maximus said. “Burners don’t usually release such high doses of radiation during battle for their own health, but this one didn’t seem to care. That blast was extremely heavy, and the radiation is hurting it quicker than it can heal. It’s going to die. We must leave it.”
“We will not leave it! It saved my life!”
A loud cry erupted from the skies and Maximus’s balcon landed beside them, fully healed. The two of them let out shrieks of excitement at their reunion, but as Maximus’s balcon nudged its head against that of its friend, Raiden’s balcon emitted a weak and shattered reply.
“It’s all my fault. I should never have flown off. The explosion from the fight last night must have alerted Roko’s men. It’s my fault he’s dying.” Raiden fell to his kn
ees, his face in his hands as the balcons began to cry. He felt a strong hand on his shoulder.
“It was not your fault. The spy drone I caught the night before, although I destroyed it, likely sent Roko the location of where it was destroyed. That’s how they found us. They found me on the ground before their drone found you. If you had not destroyed it, it would have surely killed us all. You did the best you could.”
Raiden was surprised by Maximus’s uncharacteristically comforting words. “I didn’t do enough. My balcon gave its life for me. I need to make it up to him.” Raiden put his hand on his balcon’s neck, looking it in the eyes. “Hey buddy, I owe you the world. Without you, we couldn’t have won. How about we go and finish what we started last night? How about me and you go out and reach the sun?”
The balcon’s eyes suddenly lit up. It turned one more time to Maximus’s balcon, nudging its head gently against its companion’s neck. Maximus’s balcon closed its eyes, a tear trickled down. Raiden’s balcon took a step back and then jumped into the air, flapping its powerful wings. Raiden jumped onto Maximus’s balcon who shot up after her companion, flying by his side. Raiden shouted with exhilaration as they sailed through the clouds. The Earth became smaller and smaller, the sky larger and larger. Nothing could stop them. The balcon flew with majesty and power. It was limitless. There was no holding it back. There was only one direction, and that way was up. Up to the heavens. Up to the unreachable. Up to the sun.
Chapter Twelve
Trial
School of Socrates
July 18
11:00 a.m.
The large, wooden doors swung open. Arias, the head of the Chief’s guard and closest confidant, walked into the room gripping the arm of a little girl.
“Thank you. You are dismissed,” Yuran nodded.
Arias bowed his head and let go of the girl before exiting the room and closing the door behind him. The girl raced to the door, trying helplessly to turn the handle.
“Relax, young one, I shall not hurt you.” The girl continued desperately trying to open the door. “Enough of this. What is your name?” Yuran kept his voice warm and soft. Finally, she gave up and fell to the floor, bursting into tears. Yuran placed a hand on her shoulder. “Look at me. I am like you. I have no family, they were taken from me. I shall not hurt you. I know how you feel.”
The girl looked up, her eyes red with tears. “Then why did you take me?”
“I need your help.”
“So you will force me to help?”
“No, I shall not force you.”
The girl paused, debating whether to believe him.
“I won’t help you. I don’t trust you.”
“I do not expect to have your trust. I intend to earn it.”
“Let me go.”
“In two days, the choice will be yours. But first, you shall give me a chance to earn your trust. You are under my personal protection. No one can hurt you, not even Roko. Observe me for two days, and then you may decide. If, after two days’ time, you choose otherwise, I will return you to your friends in good health.”
“You’re gonna kidnap me for another two days.”
“Yes. And I hope one day you will forgive me for that. What is your name?”
“Sarah.”
“You may call me Yuran.” The Chief reached his hand out. Sarah shot him a hostile look and ignored his gesture.
“Your test starts now,” she said.
There was a knock at the door. “Enter.”
Arias walked into the room. “The people await their Chief.”
“Very well.”
“What about the girl?”
“She is to stay by my side.”
Arias took his position at the right side of the Chief. He stood six and a half feet tall. He was very muscular, and his thick black hair was woven in knots down to his waist. He was joined by the other two members of the Chief’s guard, Bastion and Gore, two of the tribe’s most skilled warriors.
The Chief motioned for Sarah to walk in front of him. She hesitated, but complied. The guards escorted Sarah and the Chief down a large, spiral staircase hung with portraits of the school’s many previous headmasters. At the bottom of the staircase, six portraits were missing.
Sarah looked around in awe, knowing very well where she was. Maximus had told her all about this place in his stories.
“How are these paintings still hanging? Wasn’t the school destroyed by Vespirus?”
“We restored the paintings, save those of the Devil’s Six, the headmasters who joined Vespirus as the Fury. The Alliance burned their portraits.”
They entered a vast hallway and walked through it to the entrance of another room. As they entered, one of the Chief’s guards closed the doors behind them. In the middle of the room was an extravagant, black, wooden throne where the Chief took his place, flanked by his three guards.
“Arias, you are to stand with Sarah. Bastion, you are to stay by my side. Gore shall carry out the sentences today.” The guard positioned in front of the Chief drew his sword. He was the largest of the Chief’s guards. His expression was calm, composed, and focused. “Yes, my Chief,” he said.
Arias took his place at the Chief’s side and held Sarah’s arm.
“Do not let her cause any distractions.”
Sarah shot the Chief an angry look, but did not resist. Two guards walked in with the first litigants of the day. The defendant was a young man dressed in tatters with a bloody face. The Chief seemed surprised to see him.
“Raja, for what do you stand trial?”
Raja was silent. One of the guards slapped him hard across the face. “The Chief asked you a question, boy.”
“Warrior, if he does not wish to speak, he does not have to. Whatever the claimant says shall be taken as full truth.” The Chief turned to the plaintiff, a large, muscular man with knotted black hair and a sword at his side. “What is your name, warrior, and what is your complaint?”
“I am Barren, warrior of the fifth rank. I caught this one attempting to steal a sword from my home. He is a survivor, as the Chief is aware, and, as policy, he is not allowed to own or wield a weapon. According to the law, this is punishable by public stoning.”
The Chief considered him. Stoning was among the worst of punishments – perhaps even worse than the one the boy now served. Not only would he live in humiliation, but he would die so as well. In her corner, Sarah tensed. This was the first case of the day, and it already involved a death penalty.
“Barren, thank you for reporting this incident. There shall be no stoning. Raja shall become my personal servant, put under strict supervision to ensure he causes no more trouble.”
Barren’s face turned red. “Is this how we reward cowards and thieves?”
“I am Chief now, and this is my judgment,” Yuran answered calmly. “You are dismissed.” The guard escorted Barren out. The Chief motioned for the second guard to leave as well. Yuran stepped off his throne and approached Raja, whose hands clenched into fists.
“You’ve been beaten.” Raja didn’t say a word. “You are bloodied and humiliated. You look at me as if I am the reason for your ruin. As long as you use me as the scapegoat for your failures, you will never emerge victorious. You alone decide your future.”
“What do you know of victory?” Raja hissed. “You have never waged a war!”
“I grew up in the pits. I was nothing. But my father taught me that I held my destiny in my hands. It was before your time, Raja, that I slew the Chief before me and I jumped from the depths of a dungeon cell to the highest and most honorable position in our tribe. It is for that reason that I did not have you killed. I am giving you a chance to rise back up again.”
Raja smirked. “The Chief masks cowardice with kindness. He could not order a death sentence upon one deserving. Oh, great Chief, you are so kind. You are so weak—”
With a look, Yuran silenced the boy. “I do you no kindness, servant. I do what is just. I was given a chance, so I give
one to you. I choose my destiny and I choose to prevail, no matter the challenge. If you ever dare to challenge or betray me, there will be no more chances. I will personally deliver you to the grave.” Without another word, Yuran turned away.
“Gore, my new servant must be under strict supervision at all times. Make especially sure he doesn’t make any attempts on my life.”
“Yes, my Chief.”
After Gore escorted Raja away, the guards brought in the next case. This one was a land dispute, and although Sarah didn’t completely understand the details of the laws which the Chief quoted, she was impressed by the Chief’s wisdom and character. She couldn’t help but marvel at the way he commanded complete deference. Sarah had expected him to be malicious, cruel, unjust, barbaric even. She did not yet trust him, but she was beginning to respect him.
As the last trial drew to a close, the Chief stood from his throne and walked over to Sarah. She looked exhausted. He nodded at Arias, who let go of her arm. She rubbed the bruise that had formed there. “Does your arm ache?”
“None of your business.”
“If you’d like, I can send for a healer.”
“I wouldn’t trust a Shadow to touch me.”
“Did I not prove myself just and honorable in the trials?”
“Honorable doesn’t mean trustworthy.”
“Well then, it is fortunate that I have one more day to win your trust.” The Chief turned back towards Raja who stared suspiciously at Sarah. “Gore, find Raja an empty room in the servants’ corridors. I want five of our best guards at his door and another five in the hallway. Arias, please escort Sarah to her designated quarters. Stand guard over her. Her safety is of the utmost importance.”
The two guards nodded. Gore grabbed Raja’s arms and chained them, then pulled him, cursing and fussing, out of the room. Arias looked down at Sarah, who watched the incident uncomfortably. “I won’t need to use those on you little one, will I?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
