by Edward Lake
Taft and his friends gave me a spirited, lighthearted chuckle. The rapport with a few fellow recruits was a pleasant surprise, something I wasn’t expecting, at least not this soon. It was even sweeter when I beat Atom during the next march with Evander and Captain Slate. The plan was working. I was fitting in—and succeeding.
13
Zena
Several days had passed since we began our training. Evander and Captain Slate shifted the focus from physical endurance to combat training—hand-to-hand combat. From the start, they both preached about the importance of defending ourselves without a gun. I was front and center for another one of Evander’s demonstrations.
First, he showed us the proper fighting stance. “Always keep your arms up, knees bent, feet arched. That’s very important. Never fight flat-footed.” He glanced at a few of us, including me, to make sure we were following along. “Make sure your chin is tucked low, and strike with your back leg—or as I like to call it, your power leg.” Evander quickly checked the group and picked me as a volunteer. “Ezra, step up.”
Oh God, why did he pick me?! I tried my best to shake off my nerves, but it was no use. I stumbled on my feet while trying to bend my scrawny body into the proper stance.
Low laughter echoed all around me.
“Stop your cackling!” Evander ordered. He shook his head at the others, then slowly moved his attention back to me. “So, Declan, you lose your weapon on the battlefield and you come face to face with an armed enemy troop. What do you do?”
My eyes zipped around like a cluster of bugs feasting on a pile of crumbs. “Well, first, I would try to take his weapon or at least knock it out of his hands.”
“Very good tactic. But how would you do it?” Evander clicked his finger and a patrolling soldier tossed him a wooden stick. He angled the stick like a gun and aimed it at me. “Now, disarm me.”
I crept forward and tried to take the stick away from him.
He easily dodged me and knocked me on my head with the stick. “Must do better than that, Declan. Have no fear. Close the distance between us and remove my weapon.” He waved me back to my feet.
I jumped up and went right after him. Evander evaded me again and countered with a swooping, lightspeed punch. He caught me right on my jaw, sending me crashing to the ground.
“Didn’t tuck that chin,” he teased. “Stand up, soldier, and fight back! Show me what you can do!” He threw the stick down and waved me on, daring me to get up and fight.
I didn’t stand a chance against Evander, but I had to do my best. Behind Evander, I spotted Taft, Bon, and Atom looking on with worried stares.
I let out a spirited scream and leaped to my feet. I put my fist up and stalked Evander. His eyes widened as he ran forward and blasted right through my guard. He landed a sharp punch to my nose, knocking me back a few feet and back to the ground. I had never been hit that hard in my life. Everything was spinning, and my vision was blurred. Even worse, my nose had been busted and I was bleeding badly. Still, I wobbled back to my feet and put my arms up again. Evander came forward and put his arms down, daring me to throw a punch. I desperately swung a weak strike at him that grazed his arm.
He countered with a vicious backhand slap that sent me stumbling to the ground again. I heard Taft cheering me on, but it was too late. I didn’t have the skills to land a single hit on Evander. Finally, he ended my embarrassing thrashing and helped me to my feet.
He held me there for a second, then pushed me away. “I pray the rest of you see the importance of hand-to-hand combat. Anyone can fire a gun, but a gun is only powerful in the hands of a good shooter.” He turned to me and stared me down. “Your body is a weapon you can use at any time.” Evander walked past me and pushed his way through the group. “Take a break. Eat. Drink. We meet back here in an hour.”
Taft, Bon, and Atom rushed over to me.
“Geez, that was hard to watch. You okay, Declan?” Taft asked.
I grimaced. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
Bon laughed and tapped my back. “You got heart, young man. I give you that. But you really need to work on your fighting technique. Makes me wonder how you managed to survive all those years as a slave fighter.”
Atom nudged him. “Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.” He crossed his arms and looked me up and down. “So… tell us. How did you make it as a slave fighter?”
My head down, I shoved past them and limped away.
Taft chased after me. “Hey, Declan. Bon didn’t mean anything by that. He probably just wants to help you. Right, Bon?”
“I don’t care what he meant by it. I don’t want to hear that nonsense!”
Taft grabbed my arm. “Hey, slow down. Let us help you. We’re all in this together, remember? So please, let us help.”
I stood there for a moment with clenched lips, breathing heavily through my nose. I yanked my arm away from Taft and glared at his friends. “Look, I appreciate the gesture, but I really am okay. I can take a beating.”
Taft laughed. “Don’t be stubborn, Declan. Let us look at your wounds and get you patched up.”
Finally, I rolled my eyes and gave in. “Okay.”
They helped me to a nearby tent and gathered a bucket of cold water and some rags. Taft helped me onto one of the cots and gently patted my face with a damp, cold rag. I was still disorientated from the whipping Evander gave me.
While Bon and Atom snuck a few sips of water from the bucket, I looked up and saw Taft eyeing me. When I realized he was staring at my shirt, I quickly looked down and noticed the torn piece of cloth Declan and I had used to tie my breast down had come undone.
I looked up at Taft again and locked eyes with him. Even though I was dazed, I could see the shock in his eyes so clearly. I scooted backward and covered my chest, thinking he was about to blurt out his discovery to Bon and Atom at any moment.
But instead, he just stared at me, and the disbelief on his face quickly faded into worry. He peeked over his shoulder and realized his friends were not paying much attention to us. He swiftly looked back at me and helped me to my feet. He turned me around and snatched the torn cloth off the cot. In a flash, he reached underneath my shirt and tied the cloth down as hard as he could.
“What are you two doing?” Bon asked.
“Oh, nothing. Declan’s shirt was a little uneven. He’s still dazed so I was helping him straighten it out.”
“Oh.”
Taft turned around and sat down on the cot across from me. “Hey, don’t drink all the water on us.” He laughed. “These two fiends were about to leave us bone-dry. Ain’t that a shame, Declan?” He gave me a subtle nod.
Bon let out a lewd belch and playfully shoved Taft. “Don’t listen to such foolish nonsense, Declan. Taft is the greediest man I’ve ever met. He’s skinny like you, but he eats like a giant.”
I smiled and sat back down. “Is that true, Taft?” I reached into the bucket of water and scooped myself a drink. I slowly sipped the cool water from my hand and stared at him, studying his body language and wondering why he helped me. I felt bad for doubting him so quickly. I gave him a nod, too, and even though I didn’t say it out aloud, from the look in his eyes, I sensed he knew what I wanted to say. Thank you.
Taft reached into the bucket and scooped some water into his hand. He beamed from ear to ear as he drank it down. “Yes, it is true.”
14
Zena
That night, after another day of training, Evander woke me. With my eyes narrowly open, I saw him there, standing over me with a floating light shaped like a crystal ball, which brightened the entire tent.
“Wake up, soldier,” he quietly ordered.
Oh God, why has Evander sought me out? Has Declan been exposed? Have I been exposed? Though terrified, I hurried to my feet and stood at attention.
“The rest of the camp is sleeping. I want you to follow me.” He took me outside and led me to the far side of the camp. When we got there, he turned toward the open terrain and walked me
down a withered pathway, his handy floating light following us. “Have you ever stared at the stars, Declan?” He looked up at the beautiful black sky and folded his arms behind his back.
“Not really, sir. Prisoners only see the daylight sky during recreation hours. But I have seen the stars a few times.” I didn’t know what to think. Of all the recruits, he had come to me. Surely, he did not find me to apologize about beating me down earlier.
Evander exhaled. “That’s quite awful.” He looked down at me and unfolded his arms. “Before this, I had never journeyed to the North Star. I was born on the Holy Planet, Sodus. Lived there my whole life.” He stopped walking and scanned the area. “There is a real darkness on this planet. I can’t imagine living in a place like this for as long as you have.”
I wanted to engage in conversation, yet I had no idea what to say to him. All I could do was wonder. Why has he woken me for a late-night stroll? Had he decided to send me home? “Forgive me, Captain Cain, but why have you brought me out here?”
He sighed and placed a kind hand on my shoulder. “I did a little research on you, Declan. You are a slave fighter for the GGC, yes?”
Beads of perspiration began to swell across my brow. “Yes, Captain.”
“Ten years of survival as a death fighter is a tremendous accomplishment.”
My armpits and palms started to sweat, too. Still, I played along as best as I could and gave him a false smile. “Thank you, sir.”
He shrugged. “However, the kind of fighting you do is based on pure adrenaline and raw strength, not a lot of technique.” He stared at me with a gleam in his eyes. “If you survive the war, Declan, I will use my standing on Sodus to train you to be one of my subordinates. You’ll stay close to me as a slave soldier, and when the time is right, I’ll find a way to set you free.” His face became serious. “I will take your strength and that desire you showed me today and transform you into a deadly combatant. And if my plan works, you’ll never have to go back to that awful prison.”
I stared back at him with a stone face. Set me free? For a moment, I thought Evander was crazy for thinking he could save me from slavery. Yet the gesture gave me hope that maybe he was a good man, unlike the High Priest and all his rich followers. But regardless of his plan to save me, I had to do my part and survive the war. “I am grateful for this opportunity, Captain Cain.”
Evander smiled. “Believe it or not, I have sympathy for your kind, Declan. My peers would call me a fool for believing in your abilities. But I’m a caring person, and if I can save at least one of you from that prison, I would be doing a great deed.” He frowned and shook his head. “I probably shouldn’t be saying this to you.”
My eyes narrowed when I saw his face change. He looked so dejected and vexed, as if there was something eating at his soul. I had never seen a soldier look so vulnerable, especially not a soldier who had achieved the rank of captain. “Anything we discuss will stay between us, sir.” I turned my head and looked the other way. “However, I am a little surprised by your kindness.”
He let out a nervous laugh. “You think people from my world are unkind?”
I was silent for a moment, carefully putting my words together in my head before I spoke. I slowly looked back at Evander and locked eyes with him. “When you’re a slave, like me, you only see the worst in those who oppress you.”
He nodded, and his eyes grew wide. “Brave of you to say this to me.” He grinned and bounced on his feet. “That’s what I like about you, Declan. Your fearless nature gives you an edge.” He backed up a little and bent into a fighting stance. “So attack me.”
I gave him a quick nod and moved backward. I lowered myself into a fighting stance and imagined my brother’s face as he stalked his opponents on the prison yard. I copied that face and used it to stalk Evander.
“Now, to be honest, you will have to build more muscles on that skinny body of yours.” He flashed a smug grin. “But your muscles won’t always do the job. Your skills and technique must be sharp. A good defense is just as important as a good offense.” Evander inched closer. “You see, fighting is all about balance, anticipation, and proper strategy.” He waved me forward. “Come at me slowly and try your best to hit me.”
First, I took a deep breath. Then I moved ahead and threw a right-handed punch at Evander.
In the blink of an eye, he reached up with his left hand and grabbed my wrist. “Okay, so to start, I anticipated your strike, and now I have your arm secured. I can counter with a punch of my own or I can sweep you to the ground by pulling your arm forward and pushing my body weight into you.” Carefully, he demonstrated the forward motion and pushed himself into me—and kept his balance so we wouldn’t fall to the ground. He let go and backed away. “Now, there are so many things you could have done in that situation. Can you name one?”
I placed my hands on my hips and took a moment to size him up. “Perhaps a knee to the groin?”
Evander beamed. “Yes! Very good. Clearly, I was trying to overpower you because I’m bigger and stronger. A knee to the groin would have been an excellent counter, and if you do it right, you could really hurt me, which would give you more time to inflict further damage.” He bent low and gestured for me to come at him again. “Let’s try that.”
My eyes shifted a bit. “Are you sure?”
“Of course, soldier. Come forward and throw a punch, just as you did before. But remember, you have to be quick with that knee.”
I nodded and moved forward. I threw another punch, harder and faster than the last one. Evander still managed to catch my wrist, but this time, I boosted my knee and delivered a sharp strike to his groin. Yet I soon realized I’d hurt him.
He gasped and pushed me away, and his face began to turn red. He clutched his genitals and wheezed. “Declan, I didn’t mean for you to actually knee me in the—”
“Oh God, Captain Cain, I am so sorry. Are you all right?” I rushed to him and tried my best to ease his pain by rubbing his back. “Please forgive me, sir. I got caught up in the moment and didn’t realize what I was doing until the damage was already done.”
Evander laughed as he took big, deep breaths. “It’s okay. You did well, obviously.” After a few more exhales, the redness on his face faded away and he gradually stood up straight. “Well, I think that’s all the one-on-one training you and I will be doing this evening.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at myself. “Captain Cain, I am so embarrassed by this. How could I ever make this up to you?”
“Hmm, well, I only have a few months to get you and the others ready for war, so I want you to start working on building your body up. Pack some muscles on that gangly physique.”
I stood tall and gave him a quick nod. “Affirmative, Captain Cain.” All in all, it seemed like Evander really wanted to help me. Everything about him felt sincere and straightforward. Also, being so close to him might give me a chance to learn more useful information about the Holy Empire and the rebel army. If I could weaken the Holy Army from the inside, it might help me find a way to join the rebels.
Part 4
Forbidden Love
15
Zena
At dawn, over the loudspeakers, Evander and his comrade Captain Slate informed the camp that our training was complete. Several weeks had passed since the first day, and we had all come so far. Still, it was hard to believe my time on the North Star was coming to an end.
Each day, nearly every minute, thoughts of my family consumed my mind, some of them good and others bad. On the one hand, I was happy to be fighting for my brother and keeping him safe from the war. On the other hand, it seemed inevitable that Declan or I would eventually be exposed and punished for our crimes. Even so, in spite of the odds, I didn’t want to let them down.
After my early-dawn meal, I ran through the maze of tents and found a dry, rocky pasture on the other side of the camp. I grabbed two of the bigger rocks and started to exercise. I lifted the rocks up and down until my arms got tired. Ju
st as I had promised Evander, I began this routine after our late-night walk.
“Looking good, Declan,” a familiar voice said from behind me.
I spun around and saw Taft walking toward me. I then turned back around and continued my workout. “Hello, Taft.”
He came close and stopped in front of me. “Listen, Declan. I’ve been keeping a close eye on you since I found out. And I want you to know, I never said anything about it—to anyone.”
I exhaled deeply and put the rocks down. “I thank you for that.” I went into a stretching pose and took another deep breath.
He stared at me and crossed his arms. “Why are you doing this?”
I ignored him for a moment, hoping he would leave. “Look, I really appreciate you not blurting out my secret to your friends, but I don’t feel comfortable sharing my reasons with you.”
He unfolded his arms and shrugged. “Well, I can respect that.” He stepped closer. “But you won’t be able to survive this challenge you face without some help.”
I chuckled. “You must be an expert on impersonations.” I bent lower and went into another stretch.
He shook his head at me. “No, but what I do know is this: if you make one mistake and get caught, they will kill you for impersonating a soldier.”
I snapped my head around to look at him. I was already drowning in anxiety and crying myself to sleep at night, battling the depression I felt from being away from my family. Taft’s intentions seemed good, but I wasn’t in the mood for a lecture. “Like I said, I can’t let you in on this. You and your friends have been very nice to me since we first met. But I need to know I can trust you before I explain my situation.”
He slowly walked closer to me. “Declan, you don’t have to tell me why you are doing this. I can live with that. All I want to do is help you.” He stopped beside me and let out a long sigh. “We slaves do whatever it takes to survive. I assume you are doing this to save yourself or perhaps someone you love.”
