by Paris Singer
***
I was one of the first to arrive to the Dome that morning. From my peripheries, I spotted something closing rapidly on me. Before I had time to turn, I heard it. “Who’s the coach?” Sally whispered loudly. “Who’s the coach? What’s he look like? You better tell me.”
“Sorry, man, I can’t.”
“What? You gotta be kidding me. Don’t hold out on me, kid. C’mon, tell your buddy Sally who the coach is.”
“I can’t. They told me not to tell anyone who they are.”
“You’re not serious. Kid. It’s me.” Sally’s expression changed from light-hearted to serious. I knew I was hurting his feelings, but I didn’t think I could tell him about Alana. She was already taking a risk by communicating with me, so I didn’t want anything to jeopardize her secrecy, even if it might hurt my friends.
“Sorry, can’t do it. I’m sure you’ll get to see the coach soon enough, though.”
Sally frowned and shook his head. “Thanks, kid.”
“Everyone get changed for class,” came Ms. Aerifer’s stern voice. I felt guilty as I walked to the changing screen, but I knew I’d made the right decision. When we had all changed, I walked over to the teacher, trying to make eye contact with Sally, but he ignored me. We lined up in front of the teacher and activated our suits. I’d grown to like the waves of muscle-relaxing electricity emitted by them. It had been useful during Alana’s rigorous training.
“Watch me, then repeat,” said Ms. Aerifer, as she lay down on her front. She placed her hands by her sides and raised her feet and legs off the floor until her back was arched and her lower half pointed straight up. Slowly, she lowered her legs until she was in her original position. She got to her feet, and said, “Your turn.”
I had become much more flexible than when I’d first arrived, but even that seemed challenging. Just as I dropped to my knees, the elevator doors opened. Five mean-looking Torus guards stepped out.
“Can I help you?” asked Ms. Aerifer, looking perplexed.
All five turned and the closest to me said, “Come with us.”
“What is this about? You can’t just barge into my class, and—”
“Silence,” said another Torus glaring at Ms. Aerifer, white steam rising from his nostrils. “By order of the Council, you are to come with us at once.”
“What’s happening, kid? What do they want with you?” said Sally, crouching beside me.
“I have no idea,” I replied, though I feared they had come because somehow they had found out about my meeting with Alana. I stood up and walked toward them.
“Kid, you don’t have to go,” said Sally.
“No, I think I do,” I replied. “Don’t worry, though. I’ll see you tomorrow.” The Torus surrounded me and we walked into the elevator, and out of the class. I didn’t know it then, but that would be the last time I‘d ever step foot inside the Dome.
CHAPTER FORTY TWO
Outside was a long, black vehicle without windows which looked like the one that had brought me to the academy when I’d first arrived. It glinted in the suns rays and emitted a purple light on the ground beneath it. A VAIA stood behind it. As I was led toward the ominous vehicle, the VAIA pressed its head into the back section, and its holographic body dematerialized. No sooner had it done so than the entire side of the vehicle compartmentalized into hexagonal shapes, the ones in the center sliding back into the ones before them, until the entire side of the vehicle was open. The Torus stood in two rows with one still behind me.
“Get in,” he grunted.
“What’s this about?” I asked, only to be nudged forward.
“Get in,” he repeated. As soon as he did, two of the Torus got in the vehicle ahead of me, one on either side. Given I had little choice, and no hopes of an answer, I stepped inside. The vehicle seemed far more spacious than its dimensions would have suggested. There were two rows of white seats on either end that could have allowed four or five people to sit comfortably next to each other. In the center was a long, oval purple glass table. The other Torus got in, moving up so far I thought I would be crushed between them. Everyone seated, the side of the vehicle closed and a bright interior white light came on. A low hum showed the vehicle had started moving though I could feel no gravitational push or pull as I would have expected.
We spent the next few moments in silence, except for the occasional grunt from the Torus. I felt increasingly nervous. If they had been sent to get me because Alana and I had seen each other, it probably meant she was in trouble, too. The Council had been friendly enough when I’d first met them, but after what Sally, Milo and Sova had revealed about them, I wasn’t so sure anymore. I couldn’t just sit there, I had to get information about what was happening out of the Torus, somehow.
“So, nice morning we’re having,” I said.
The Torus stared straight ahead as though I hadn’t spoken.
“Nice ride,” I persisted, looking around me. “New model?”
The guard opposite me replied by shoving his index finger high up his nostril as if in search of something. It wasn’t working, so I decided I had to be a little more direct.
“Look, what do the Council want with me? I haven’t done anything wrong.”
To my surprise, the Torus to my right answered. “You’ve been summoned, so you must go. That’s the end of it. So shut your trap or I’ll do it for you.” All five guards loomed over me grunting and gritting their teeth, white steam billowing from their nostrils. I would not get any answers from them.
“Friendly bunch, aren’t you?”
Soon, the hum of the vehicle ceased, and I knew we’d arrived to our destination. The side of the vehicle opened, and we got out. I was in the same large hangar within the Council building from which the VAIAs had taken me to the academy. The Torus guards escorted me to the elevators.
“Hall,” grunted one, and the elevator rose. A moment later, the doors re-opened. The Torus led me out into a room of enormous proportions. It was around three times as long as it was wide. Two rows of thick cylindrical columns on either side reached up to a ceiling that seemed at least a hundred times my height. Like the columns, the floor was made of a violet, marble-like material, which had silver, semi-translucent streaks throughout it. Draperies of the same two colors hung from golden rafters on the ceiling, and from the upper halves of the columns and back wall. The room appeared empty but for a long golden table in the center. High-backed golden chairs with violet upholstery stood all the way around it.
Heavily armed Morex stood to the left of the table behind a single, bigger one who sat with confidence on a chair. He was missing an eye from his stony, gray face and, unlike the other Morex, whose muscular bodies were only partially covered in green and brown moss, an abundance of yellow moss covered his entire back, neck, chest and head. So thick was the moss it resembled the mane of a kini beast. Unlike the others, too, his face appeared more rugged with sharper features and a longer square chin.
On the other side of the table were two of the three councilmen. Behind them were around thirty to forty Torus lined up in rows. Beside the guards were four VAIAs and standing between them was Alana. My theory that the Council had brought me there because they’d found out that Alana and I had met seemed likely but, if that were the case, why were Morex there? Wasn’t Simia at war with them? What was going on? Everyone turned when we entered the hall.
“We have been waiting for you,” said Fhior, who was sitting between the other two. “We may now begin.” The Torus guards nudged me forward. I noticed the larger Morex squinting at me till I stood next to Alana where he turned his attention back on the Council. The guards that had escorted me fell in rank with the other guards. I tried to make eye contact with Alana, but she gazed at the floor just ahead of her, as if purposefully ignoring me. I guessed she didn’t want to make the situation worse.
“You have fulfilled my request,” rasped the larger Morex with a deep, throaty tone, “Perusak thanks you.”
“P
erhaps you can now tell us why you insisted they be brought here,” said Valeta.
“As Perusak communicated with you, we Morex propose peace with here Simia, yes?”
“That is the only reason we have allowed this meeting, Perusak,” said Fhior, in an authoritative tone. “It is in everyone’s best interests to have a permanent cease-fire, once and for all.”
Perusak grinned and narrowed his eye, “Yes, it is. You have lost much in this war. Perusak thinks you don’t want to lose more.”
Fhior banged his fist on the table. Perusak’s grin broadened. Placing her hand on his forearm, Valeta said, “Don’t.” His anger subsiding, Fhior said, “Yes, you are right. My sincere apologies.” Perusak nodded.
“Now,” began Valeta, “if you would enlighten us as to why you requested Alana and Seven join us. What have they to do with this accord?”
I had not seen Morex since Alana and I had escaped from their research ship. My heart beat faster as rage filled my chest. I thought about the last time I’d seen One before they killed him. My fists tightened. I wanted to jump over the table and hit the larger one over and over again. Then, something grabbed my hand. It was Alana. She was gazing at me with a look that suggested she knew what I was thinking.
“Not now,” she mouthed.
I wanted to ignore her, to get my revenge on the Morex that had taken everything away from me. But then I understood. Not only would I almost certainly be killed or arrested if I tried, but would ruin Simia’s chances at peace. As hard as it was, I knew I couldn’t act on my feelings. Not then, anyway.
“They are traitors,” said Perusak, “and must be tried as traitors. Hand them over to us, and the Morex will cease fire. Peace with Simia.”
“They are citizens of Simia, and will remain here under our protection,” said Valeta.
“The female is not Simian, Perusak knows; she does not fall under your protection. Give her back, she belongs to me. She must be punished for her treason. And that one,” Perusak nodded toward me, “That one was born under Perusak’s care. He is mine, too.”
“I am sorry, Perusak,” said Fhior, “they are Simian citizens by law, and will be protected as such, like every other inhabitant of Simia.”
Perusak spat something in a coarse-sounding language I didn’t understand. “Protection? Like the many you failed to save from our attacks?”
Fhior snapped to his feet, causing the guards behind him to draw weapons they’d had by their sides. As they did, so, too, did the Morex, who extracted a series of weapons from within the moss on their backs, legs and arms.
“That is enough,” cried Valeta. Turning to the guards, she shouted, “Weapons down. Now.” The guards obeyed, and looking at Fhior, she said, “Peace will never be reached if we cannot control ourselves, Fhior. Do not let him get the better of us. There is too much at stake. We have been at war for so long. Let us end it today.”
“He cannot be permitted to say such things, Valeta.”
“They are but words, Fhior. Words designed to instill violence. Do not let him conquer you mind, nor your heart. Peace is within reach.”
Fhior gazed at Valeta for a moment, then sighed. “You are right. Once again I must apologize, Perusak. I allowed my emotions to rule me momentarily.” Perusak grinned. “We wish for peace between the Morex and Simia. However, we cannot adhere to your request.”
“You have something that belongs to me, to Morex, so it would be good for you to give me the traitors, yes?”
“We cannot accept. There must be another solution we can find so our nations may finally be at peace.”
Perusak gazed at Fhior and Valeta, grinning all the while.
“Perusak, we must insist on an answer. What can Simia do to bring a speedy treaty between Simia and the Morex?”
Perusak cocked his head and squinted, but still said nothing. Was he testing them? Was he playing some kind of game?
From somewhere behind the large columns there appeared a cloaked figure that made its way to Perusak’s side.
CHAPTER FORTY THREE
The figure wore dark cloth over their mouth, and a dark green hood attached to a buttoned long coat hid their eyes and body.
“Who is this?” demanded Fhior, causing the guards behind him to stir.
Perusak raised his hand. “An associate who has arrived late, yes?”
The cloaked figure leaned toward Perusak’s ear and seemed to whisper into it, causing him to grin once again. When the cloaked figure stood back up, Perusak said, “One last chance to hand over the traitors in exchange for peace. A small price to pay, yes? Perusak will accept no other alternative.”
Fhior and Valeta looked at each other. Their expressions reflected a range of emotions. With a serious frown on his face, Fhior turned to Perusak, and said, “We have but your word that the Morex would uphold the treaty, and not use what you call traitors to gather information on Simia to your advantage. We cannot give them to you.”
A deep, low growl came from inside Perusak’s throat as he narrowed his eye. “So. You reveal the true reason for your refusal to hand them over. Lies and hypocrisy lie in the hearts of Simians, much unchanged for centuries. You have stolen what is ours. We will get it back.” Perusak got to his feet. He was much taller and bulkier than he’d appeared sitting down. Fhior and Valeta stood as Torus guards and Morex soldiers aimed at each other.
“We shall meet again, yes? We shall meet again.” With that, Perusak turned and gazed at me again for a moment. He frowned and narrowed his eye. Then, with the cloaked figure standing beside him, marched out of the hall, followed closely by his Morex soldiers.
There was a brief silence within the hall as though everyone was contemplating what had just occurred. Alana walked over to the Council and said, “Why did he say you’ve stolen what is theirs? What did he mean?”
Waving her off, Fhior said, “He was referring to you both—to you and Seven. Nothing more.”
“He would have used you to gather every scrap of information you have on Simia, especially from you, Alana,” said Valeta. “They would likely have tortured you until they obtained what they wanted. You know their ways, Alana.”
“You may be right,” said Alana, “Perusak is cunning and ruthless when he wants something.”
“We have saved you from an unspeakable fate,” said Fhior. “You should both be grateful.”
“What will happen now?” asked Valeta. “Any chance of a ceasefire is g—”
“We shall fight,” cried Fhior. “We will decimate each and every Morex until none are left. Perusak will lament his decision to defy us.” Without saying another word, he marched out of the hall, through an exit I hadn’t seen on the far left.
Valeta turned to face Alana and me. “The VAIA will escort you back to the academy when you have said your goodbyes, Seven. Alana, you will resume your duties early tomorrow—we must now triple our efforts.” With that, she followed Fhior out of the hall, with the Torus guard behind her, leaving Alana, me and the four VAIAs alone.
Alana gazed ahead as if deep in thought.
“Was that large Morex guy their leader?” I asked.
“Yes. He ascended shortly before you were born. He was once the commanding general in the House of Sigra.”
“What will happen now?” I asked.
“Something’s not right,” she replied, lowering her voice, no doubt so the VAIA couldn’t hear her.
“What do you mean?” I whispered.
“I don’t know, yet, but it feels like the Council is hiding something.”
“What could they be hiding?”
“I don’t know. Perusak mentioned that the Council had stolen from the Morex.”
“Didn’t he mean us, though?”
Alana paused a moment, then said, “Maybe. Look, go back to the academy. I’ll stay here and see what I can find out. Somehow.”
“Okay, but be careful.”
Alana smiled. “You don’t need to worry—I rescued you, remember? I’ll tell you if I fin
d out anything when we meet at the place,” she said, winking. I winked back.
“He is ready,” she said, speaking to the VAIA. They marched toward where we stood and halted in twos on either side of me.
“This way, Mr. Seven,” they said in unison, and marched toward the elevator. I looked at Alana. She nodded at me, and I at her, and I followed the VAIA out of the hall.
CHAPTER FORTY FOUR
I lay in bed replaying the meeting between the Council and the Morex leader Perusak. How I would have loved to get my hands on him—on all of them. Part of me still wished I had tried to do something against the Morex, especially as the attempt at a treaty had failed. Now, with talks having broken down, the war would surely get worse. More attacks would soon begin.
I thought back to what Alana said about the Council hiding something. Perusak had said something about Simians having stolen from him, but I still thought he’d meant Alana and I.
The Codex screen turned itself on and emitted a bleep. I got up and walked over to it. A small, white square flashed continuously in the center. I pressed it. It was a message:
MEET ME TONIGHT AT USUAL TIME IN USUAL PLACE.
A.
A moment after I read it, the message vanished, and the Codex turned itself off. It could only have come from Alana. She wanted to meet at the Sphere gym that night. It wasn’t a practice night, so I guessed we’d be there alone. I wondered if she’d found information she needed to tell me.
***
Night came. I headed down into the usual tunnel that led into the park, then made my way through the lively city. It was strange going to the gym without Sally. I reached the old industrialized zone and gave a series of knocks on the door to the gym. The metal slot slid to one side and the doorman’s eyes stared at me with his usual suspicion.
