by Marc Mulero
Lito nodded, “Roger that, boss.”
Eugene nodded in agreement. “Briggs,” Eugene said as he looked over his left shoulder, “how are we on communications?”
“We've been jammed since Mulderan appeared on that screen, which further indicates to me that we're in imminent danger,” Briggs replied.
“Fuck,” Eugene said, shaking his head. Drino and the other commanders expressed similar concern. “Ok, what about the extraction of Ayelan?” Eugene questioned, switching topics.
“We've cracked most of the encryption and have approached the final algorithm. My best people are on it. I expect Rodest will be able to crack it shortly,” Briggs said confidently.
“Alright, please keep us informed on the progress,” Eugene said. “Lastly, has the screening process been strict and successful?”
“Yes, all of the adults have been given rigorous testing both psychologically and socially. We are confident in our process,” Briggs said to Eugene.
Eugene took some comfort in that. “Volaina, can we send a scout to find the whereabouts of Lesh and Sabin?” Eugene asked.
“No,” she said in a Russian accent, “All of our scouts and spies are deployed. Communications are jammed so Briggs and I think it’s too dangerous to send any of our reserves.”
Eugene was not happy with that. Although he disliked Sabin, he recognized his and Lesh's value. “Alright,” he said after a pause, “please do what you can to scout them out personally, within close vicinity.”
Volaina nodded.
“Drino,” Eugene pointed, “please organize the fighter positioning and arming. Forward your map to my device when completed.”
Drino pounded his chest, “Roger that,” he said eagerly.
“Volaina, since your reserves can't be deployed, please have them organize the medics,” Eugene said. “Briggs,” he continued, “please have your men keep the scientists safe while dealing with the Ayelan.”
“I will, Eugene,” Briggs said, punching his arm, “I'll see to it personally.”
Eugene looked around the table, “Alright, we're all set. Let's save our home.” Everyone pounded their chest.
“We will come out on top,” Blague said confidently, “Let's do so by minimizing the damage.”
Everyone nodded and proceeded to work.
Chapter 9
On the main floor of the mansion, Cherris stood at the center of a circle of mothers and children. She preferred to stay near her wagon, which was large, comfortable, and contained everything she needed to help out the orphans and less fortunate families within the group. Fear was beginning to spread since Mulderan made his appearance, leaving the people feeling unsettled and wary.
“We’re all going to have to pitch in so that Blague and his team can successfully protect us,” Cherris said.
“What can we do but hide at this point?” one of the mothers said, holding her little boy tightly in her arms.
“There’s plenty for us to do. Help the medics prepare for battle, keep food and supplies flowing for the fighters, and keep the morale support high. That’s what we can do,” Cherris said with high hopes. “I’m going to need help pushing my wagon to the southwest corner of the mansion. I’ll house anyone who needs my assistance,” Cherris continued.
“Which rooms are set up for medical assistance during battle?” another woman asked.
Cherris pointed and the circle of people followed with their eyes. “Room 1-N, 2-N, 3-N, and 4-N,” Cherris responded. “The rooms are directly above each other. We expect, if battle is to erupt, that the main floor and fourth floor medical rooms will be most occupied, considering we have most fighters stationed on the roof and the main entrances. We all have to pray for our group and our families,” Cherris concluded.
“I want my daughter to grow up here,” a mother confessed, “This shelter and this group is everything I could hope for as she grows up.”
The other mothers agreed with her. “I want to help anyway I can,” another mother asserted.
Cherris smiled. Please let us keep this home. These people deserve a break.
Everyone was winding down from a long day of intense preparations. Briggs allowed Kentin to have a sleepover with Milos and Felik in Cherris’ wagon, which was now in one of the safest locations in the mansion, tucked away in a corner. It was about midnight and Kentin was snoring loudly, annoying Milos, who would have been unable to sleep regardless. After about an hour of twisting and turning in his sleeping bag, Milos got up to see if anyone was up at the other end of the cart. There was a group of kids sleeping, but one sleeping bag was empty. It was hard to make out who was who with only the faint shine of Cryos marks as the only source of light.
Is that Felik’s sleeping bag? What could he be doing at this time at night? Maybe he wants to continue helping the medics prepare. Maybe I should go give him a hand. I don’t think I’ll be getting much sleep anyway.
Milos flipped over his green sleeping bag and got up quietly. Cherris generally maintained a light sleep outside of the wagon to listen for any potential threats. The wagon had a large cloth ceiling that was held up by multiple durable support beams. It was strangely cozy, mostly because of Cherris’ motherly hospitality. Milos slowly tiptoed toward the back exit of the wagon. He jumped off to the floor and peeked around the side. Cherris was sound asleep with her back against a wall of the wagon. She looked exhausted. Milos scratched his head and pulled out a small device for light. Most of the rooms had no lights on and the other wagons scattered around the main floor were all dark. About twenty feet away, Milos saw a small glimmer of light and heard a very faint sound coming from a small open space within the structure of the mansion. He tiptoed over to see if it was someone who could use his help. As he got closer, he heard what he thought was Felik’s voice. Milos was confused. As he inched toward the crevice, he slowed down. He was now sure it was Felik’s voice, but he was speaking very strangely in a very low tone, almost a whisper.
“Coordinates 17.5 through 14.2, safety zone. Coordinates 67.3 through 71.1, safe passageway through front entrance. Ayelan concentrated in laboratory basement, unmoved,” Felik’s voice slightly echoed outside of the nook.
What is he saying? Why is he talking about the Ayelan that Kentin’s dad was talking about? Milos was finally close enough to sneak a peek at Felik. He stuck his head out just enough to catch a glimpse. I can’t believe it. Felik was giving the same weird sign as that Jeck guy did when he finished his speech. That’s the same sign the guards did before one of them killed my mom.
Milos began breathing heavily, his thoughts started to race.
Felik is bad, he has to be bad.
He peeked again. The device Felik was speaking into displayed a 3D image of a person with the same attire as Jeck.
“You've done well and you will be rewarded accordingly,” the 3D image responded to Felik. “Now retreat back to base. The mansion is no longer safe.”
Milos felt his heart beating through his chest. All of the energy he'd been lacking for weeks rushed through his body at that moment.
I have to warn the others. No, I have to stop him now. I acted too slow before, that's how I let my mom die. I'll never let that happen again.
Milos drew his knife and glanced into the nook once more as Felik put his device away into his pocket. Milos saw the opportunity and stormed in while Felik was turned to the side. Time slowed down for a moment, while Milos could hear nothing but the sound of his own pulsating heart. His instincts quickly took control over his body. He lunged forward and stabbed Felik in the stomach. Blood gushed as Felik dropped his device and keeled forward, staring Milos in the eyes with a look of disbelief. Milos’ face was filled with rage. Felik quickly overcame the shock and desperately punched Milos in the jaw; the force of the punch was not that of a child's. Milos fell to the side but held on to the knife, dislodging it from Felik's stomach. Felik screamed in pain as the force of the punch caused the wound to open further. Blood trailed in the direction Milos was
thrown. Felik tried to stop the blood flow by covering it with his hand. He gasped for air as blood dripped through his fingers. Felik screamed again and charged Milos. Milos, rehashing all of his initial suspicions of Felik, regained his posture, knowing that he had to stop him. He dodged Felik's clumsy charge, causing Felik to slam his shoulder into the wall that Milos was leaning on. Although Milos was frightened and couldn’t believe the situation that was unfolding, he knew he had to finish what he started. He stared at Felik, who was dazed from the blood loss, struggling to regain his position. A flash of his mother being shot in the head blocked out his vision. Milos pulled Felik's bald head back and opened his throat with his knife.
Cherris woke up from the screams and rushed over to the scene, only to see the massacre all over the walls. Milos dropped the knife and slid to the floor with wide eyes and no trace of emotion.
Felik was bad, he wanted to kill more of us like the guards did the day of the bomb. Felik was bad. I had to stop him. I had to kill him.
Eugene sat in a marble chair in his room, and rubbed his temples, while taking a breather from the long day of planning. Narene had just finished a night shift in the medical room. She sat on a chair next to him, smiling; her nose ring shimmered in the light.
She put her hand on his, “You did great today Eugene,” she said genuinely. “I saw you coaching and arranging your snipers. You're doing everything you can to protect us. I appreciate that,” she finished.
Eugene looked over and sighed, his shoulders were hunched. His confidence was low regarding the Hiezer threat. “Thank me when this is over and we're both still here,” he said.
“No,” she said calmly, “I think I'll continue thanking you now. Do you know what I did today?” she asked. Eugene shook his head. “I tended to a child, in a real medical room. Not some rusted hut. It was a real, legitimate medical room. I haven't been able to do that since I was a Terra eight years ago. I thank you for letting me act as a nurse again and letting me help someone. The fighters made that possible. You made that possible,” she said, leaning in. Eugene looked at her, not saying a word. She leaned in further and kissed his cheek, staring into his eyes.
Just then, his device rang. He looked down to see Cherris' name pop up. He gave Narene an apologetic look and picked up.
Blague's voice echoed through, “Get down to the main floor near Cherris' wagon, southwest side.”
Eugene kissed Narene quickly on the lips, “Sorry, sounds like something's wrong.”
She nodded, bit her lip, and folded her arms. “See you later?” she asked.
Eugene smiled on his way out of the door, “Hopefully,” he said.
Eugene rushed down the stairs toward the corner of the mansion that had some light coming from it. The pitch black marble floor added to darkness surrounding him. As he rushed toward the dimly lit corner, he noticed a silhouette of Blague, Cherris, and Briggs standing near a wall. As he approached, he pushed Briggs' big arm out of the way so he could have a look.
“What's going o-... shit,” Eugene said. Blague nodded. “He's just a kid,” Eugene said, shocked, “Who would do something like that?”
Cherris looked at Eugene and frowned, pointing to Milos who was sitting, holding his knees with a towel over his legs.
“He won't say a word,” Briggs said.
“Isn't that the boy who lost his mother?” Eugene whispered to Blague.
Blague nodded, holding his hand to his chin, thinking and staring at the young corpse on the floor. Blague and Eugene walked over to Milos, who stared at the floor. Briggs radioed for someone to come clean up the mess before making his way over.
Blague bent down and put a hand on his knee, “What could he have done to deserve this, Milos?” Blague asked calmly.
After about a minute, Milos realized Blague wasn't moving until he got an answer. Milos looked up and tensed his brow, angrily. “I had to, he was bad,” Milos admitted.
Blague's eye twitched, “Bad? How was he bad?” he said aloud to himself. Blague saw that a transponder laid next to Felik’s body; he quickly stood up.
Eugene looked at him, puzzled. “What is it, Blague?” Eugene asked.
“I just came to a very harsh realization. I don't think Milos was to blame in this situation,” Blague said.
“Um,” Eugene responded, while pointing to the blood bath they were both now walking toward.
“Briggs,” Blague said in a commanding tone, “take off this boy's shirt and flip him on his stomach, quickly.”
Briggs hustled and Eugene walked over beside him, confused. Blague stopped walking at Felik's feet and stared at his back for thirty seconds. Briggs and Eugene looked up at Blague, not quite sure what he was trying to accomplish. Cherris stood next to Blague, still horrified from what had happened.
“Do you see the discoloration?” Blague asked all three of them.
They inspected the skin along the spine and began to nod.
“What color do you see, Eugene?”
“Orange,” he said.
Briggs made a face like Eugene was crazy.
Blague's eyes moved to Briggs.
“Gold,” Briggs said.
The mark was small, but apparent.
“This boy, what was his name?” Blague asked.
“Felik,” Cherris said.
“Felik,” Blague continued, “was not a kid. He was probably around forty,” Blague said, still thinking.
Cherris looked up at him, “Have you gone mad, Blague?”
Blague ignored the comment, noticing the puzzled look on everyone's face. He knew he would have to explain. “Felik was injected with the Ayelan shot when he was young. He was brought up as a Hiezer and trained as a spy.” Blague extended his hand toward the body. “This is a product of weaponizing human preservation. The Hiezers stunted his growth physically and trained him mentally for many years.”
Briggs, having never seen the effects of the infamous Ayelan shot, was in disbelief. “You can tell all of that from discoloration on his back?” Briggs asked.
“I know that mark,” Blague confirmed, “and judging by how small it has become, chances are he's quite old.” Blague looked over at Milos huddled up in the corner. “I'm even more perplexed by how an actual boy managed to outsmart and overpower an adult,” he said.
Eugene pointed to the blood leaking onto the floor from Felik’s stomach, “It looks like Milos may have gotten the jump on him. There are two wounds.” Blague continued staring.
“So the Ayelan shot would have made him live like this for another forty years?” Briggs asked.
Blague shook his head, “More like another hundred and forty years. The shot increases the regeneration rate and reduces the death rate of human cells throughout the body.”
Although Eugene was taken aback by the matter at hand, he knew he had to focus on the imminent threat that they faced. “We have to interrogate Milos, immediately,” Eugene abruptly said.
Cherris looked upset, “Please don't, Eugene. He obviously can't handle anything right now.”
Eugene looked up at Cherris, “We have no choice. What if he heard a conversation that could prevent us all from getting killed?”
Blague turned to Cherris, “I'm sorry, but he's right.” He put a hand on her shoulder, “We'll need you there for his support.”
Cherris’ eyes were glassy, fearing for the boy's wellbeing. She closed her eyes and nodded, “We need to help him.”
Blague stood silent, not knowing what else to say. Eugene stared at Felik's corpse.
This Hiezer experimentation is straight out of a horror movie. He's not deformed, but something just doesn't seem right. I got goosebumps when Blague said he was an adult. What kind of fucked up world are we living in?
Eugene stood up and gave Blague a look, motioning to get moving.
Briggs looked around for a moment. Then he excitedly said, “Guys, local radios have been operational, but outside signals have been jammed since Mulderan appeared on screen. Could Felik have caused
that?”
Briggs looked to a corner in the nook that they stood in and Eugene shined a light in that direction. The blood stained transponder was sitting there. Briggs ran over to the device and pulled out some small tools to dismantle it. “Eugene,” Briggs said while tinkering, “try to radio Sabin.”
Eugene pulled out his communication device and shifted to Sabin's channel, “Does anyone copy?” They all waited a moment, then Eugene shook his head. “Nothing,” he said solemnly. They all made their way toward Milos.
“Eugene, is that you? You son of a bitch!” a voice came out of Eugene's device.
Blague started to laugh and Eugene rolled his eyes, but smirked. All of them were relieved to hear Sabin's voice.
“Sabin,” Eugene said, “where the hell are you?”
“Been busy, buddy, I have Lesh and some cowboy next to me jogging our way back to the mansion. The dust storm in Clestise slowed us down for a day or so. We're a little fatigued, but ok!” Sabin screamed through the wind hitting the radio.
Everyone looked even more relieved to hear that Lesh was alright too.
“Do you ever shut up?” Eugene asked, jokingly, “We will send Volaina to escort you back.”
“Oh!” Sabin said, “That's ok, we found her too!” “Ok,” Eugene replied, “then get your asses back here.”
“Oh, boy! Someone gets cranky past his bed time!” Sabin responded.
Briggs chuckled.
“Alright,” Eugene said, “I'll see you not too soon.” He turned off his radio, sighed, and continued to walk toward Milos.
Milos heard the faint sound of laughter as he stared at his blood soaked hands and the blood stained cloth that covered him. He was unarmed, cornered, and in shock. A faint ringing filled his ears and his heart continued to beat at what felt like three hundred beats per minute. The sweat dripped down his face from his straggly black hair.
