by Dawn Norwell
“After we penetrated the dome the first time, Concord’s tech team will have taken extra precautions against further infiltration,” he had said. “It will be unlikely, if not impossible, for us to breach the dome again.”
Zander’s forehead creased with worry. “What do we do now?” he asked, his original plan foiled.
“We prepare as much as possible,” Blythe said. “And then we wait. We don’t have the means to keep the Syndicate out, so whether we like it or not, this battle will take place on Nova ground.”
My heart sank at the idea.
**********
Between the Syndicate files and Blythe’s intellect, we were even able to build an electromagnetic field along the perimeter of Nova. The current halted conductive materials in their tracks- like ammunition and military arsenal- preventing them from reaching the city. The force field wasn’t impenetrable, but it would buy us time if the Syndicate arrived.
Blythe also developed a device that he could use to hack into Concord’s nerve center- the main power line that provided energy for all tasks in Concord. With the press of a button, the device interfered with every aspect of life inside the dome, including the genmod labs. This meant that the Syndicate wouldn’t be able to create new artillery or have the energy to power their entire fleet of fighter planes, giving us a huge upper hand. Unfortunately, it also meant that Concord could no longer grow food, and given the fact that suits had never been hungry in their lives, this would affect them dramatically.
I felt bad knowing that some of the people who I grew up with- individuals who were innocent in this whole situation- might suffer at our hands. I convinced myself that it is in their best interest and that it will benefit them in the long run if we freed them of the Syndicate’s control. But that doesn’t stop the gut-wrenching guilt that gnawed away at me when I pictured how hard life must be for them right now without power and having limited resources.
It was also disheartening because I knew that by cutting them from their power source, Nova had made the first move toward war. We had poked a sleeping bear, and the raging creature wouldn’t let us leave unscathed. The Syndicate now had the motivation they needed to retaliate. When that unavoidable time arrived, and we learned just how outnumbered we were, every individual would make a difference.
“I could be useful in the battle, you know,” I said during target practice one day, averting my eyes at the look of agitation that crossed Zander’s face. I was careful to word the comment up gently, knowing this was a sore subject for him.
“We’ve been through this, Kai,” he said quietly, brushing my face with his thumb. I leaned my head into his palm and closed my eyes. “I can’t risk losing you. Not when I finally have you back.”
I sighed. “I don’t want to lose you either. But I understand why you have to help protect Nova. I hope that you can see why I need to do the same,” I said. “The Syndicate put me through hell, Zander, and I’m going to do everything in my power to keep them from doing that to anyone else. I’ve let other people fight my battles for long enough. I can’t keep sitting on the sidelines anymore.”
“It’s not just you that I’m worried about.” He placed his hand on my protruding belly. “We have to think about her, too.”
I was filled with dread at the thought of what could happen to our baby if we went to war. If the Syndicate got their hands on me again, they wouldn’t hesitate to kill me just because I was pregnant.
But I couldn’t let Zander use my apprehension to dissuade me. What sort of example would I be to my child if I lived my life in the shadows, avoiding my fears instead of confronting them? If there was one thing that I had learned since fleeing Concord, it was that fear could debilitate you faster than any bodily ailment ever could. Just as Leilani had promised, being courageous was the only way to be truly free, and that was exactly what I intended to do now, no matter the circumstances surrounding the situation.
“I am thinking about our daughter, Zander,” I said, squaring my shoulders. “She’s the reason I have to do this. She’s going to be half suit, half unsuit, and won’t be welcome in either city unless things change. Is that the kind of world we want her to grow up in? One where she’s forced to hide half of herself and is treated differently because of things that are beyond her control? How could I ever live with myself if she grew up experiencing these injustices when I could have done something to stop it?” I said, looking earnestly into his eyes. “If we win this war, she has the chance to live in a time where she can be truly free.”
I grabbed his hands and held them tightly, trying to help him see my perspective. He bit the inside of his jaw, trying to contain his frustration, but let me continue without interruption.
“I know that my tenacity bothers you sometimes, especially when it comes to this topic.” Zander scoffed, but his eyes softened. “But my drive to make this world better is what led me to you in the first place, and now look where we are.” I smiled. “Our love has broken boundaries, has challenged the perception of what a relationship should look like. It has resulted in this baby, this little life that I will do anything to protect, even if I have to give my own life in the process.”
My words caused Zander’s face to contort with pain, but I refused to back down. I truly believed that my involvement in this war would make a difference. I was determined that my daughter would have a better childhood than what Zander and I had, no matter the cost.
**********
As Nova’s battle plans continued to develop, so did our baby girl. My stomach grew a little more day by day until I could no longer see my own feet. By the end of my second trimester, I felt like a beached whale. Sitting or standing became a seemingly impossible task. I ached all over, and it was becoming harder to breathe. Even the most minuscule tasks resulted in fatigue, but I refused to let it show. The last thing I wanted to do was give Zander another reason to discourage me from helping the resistance.
At times it still seemed surreal that I was going to be a parent. I think a small part of me refused to accept the idea for fear it wouldn’t come to fruition. Not knowing the long term effects my imprisonment and interrogation might have had on her, I didn’t want to get my hopes up just to be let down if something went wrong.
But when I experienced the sensation of our baby moving inside of me, the reality of motherhood finally sank in. I cried tears of joy, finally accepting that she was okay, despite everything we had been through. Zander was startled by my reaction until I placed his hand on my distended abdomen, and he was able to feel her movements for himself. We laid in bed together, laughing and smiling the entire night, as our baby girl danced happily inside my stomach.
But as with most happy moments, it all had to come to an end eventually.
I was only six weeks away from my due date and was starting to hold out hope that our baby would be born before the battle, when all hell broke loose.
It was the dead of night when a terrible crunching noise woke me up. I sat up and looked around the dark bedroom, seeking the source of the noise, but I didn’t see anything. I had barely laid my head back on my pillow when I heard the noise again, louder and more terrifying than the first time. My heart dropped when a scream echoed somewhere in the distance.
“Zander,” I said, urgently shaking him awake.
He sat up abruptly. “What’s wrong?”
“I think it’s time.” He could tell from my expression that it wasn’t the baby I was referring to, but something else, something far more sinister.
The noise reverberated through the town once again, followed by more screams. Zander and I looked at each other for a fraction of a second before rushing to our feet. Zander grabbed his communication device and started pressing buttons, while I retrieved the emergency infiltration kit from under our bed, unzipping it and sorting through the weapons.
“Qura, its Zander,” he spoke into the device. “Yeah, I heard it too. Get everyone to safety and start preparing for battle.”
As he
hung up the phone, Zander grabbed an M16 and several bandoliers and slung them across his torso.
Though I was still a novice at shooting, I pulled a sniper rifle over my shoulder and strapped a pistol in the holster on my hip. My hand shook at the idea that I might have to actually use it.
I went to the living room and grabbed the photo of my father and Zander’s from the mantle. I stuffed it into the backpack, along with Leilani’s jewelry box, hoping that by keeping them close to me, I could keep the items safe.
Once we were fully armed, Zander and I embraced each other tightly, knowing this might be the last time we saw one another alive. My eyes welled as I stared into his face, every worry and fear I’d ever had for him running through my mind. I didn’t want to leave him, to go our separate ways, and not know if the other was okay. But we each had a job to do, and the enormity of that knowledge was stronger than my fear of the things to come.
“I love you,” I whispered, placing a gentle kiss on his lips. A single tear fell down my cheek.
“I love you, too. Both of you,” he said, his hand falling to my enlarged belly.
We interlocked hands and hurried to our front door. With a deep breath, Zander turned the knob. Then we stepped over the threshold, ready to face whatever horrors awaited us on the other side.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: DEATH & DISPAIR
Y ou can sense when a storm is brewing- the eerie calm of the air, the soft blowing of the wind, the stillness of the world. That morning, the imminent tempest was tangible in the air, a storm the likes of which we had never experienced before. It ran bone-deep, could be felt in our very souls- the calm before the storm.
Although we had been running practice drills for months, nothing could have prepared us for the pandemonium that ensued that night. Aircrafts hovered above us, barely visible in the darkness of night. The loud noise that had woken us was the sound of missiles raining on our heads. Blythe had done an impressive job at making the shield as strong as possible, the bombs disintegrating in the electromagnetic armor before they could cause damage, but it was only a matter of time before the Syndicate would breach the force field.
Zander and I gave one another a final look before releasing hands and running in opposite directions. My heart shattered into a million pieces as I left him behind, not knowing what his fate would be. But we each had tasks to perform for this moment, and lives could be lost if we didn’t carry them out.
So, instead of clinging to one another as I wanted, Zander ran to the military headquarters to set our defensive plans into motion, and I ran to the school that would be doubling as a safehouse for the children and a hospital for the wounded.
The Nova courtyard quickly became mayhem. Another missile degenerated above us, causing the loud bursting noise to resonate through the city once more, louder this time than the ones before. The bomb exploded into minuscule pieces the moment it touched the barrier, lighting up the sky like fireworks on the 4th of July.
Each new eruption caused complete chaos. People ran past me in a panic, their training quickly forgotten in the heat of the moment. Some were carrying hastily packed suitcases as if they hoped to outrun the impending attack. Others hid in the obscurity of alleyways, rocking back and forth with fear. I couldn’t blame any of them; I was just as terrified as they were. Once upon a time, I would have reacted the same way. But now I couldn’t let my fear show now- not if I wanted everyone else to remain composed. We needed to stick with our plans if we wanted to succeed.
“Everyone remain calm!” I called out as people continued darting across the courtyard. “Remember to follow protocol!” I yelled, but no one was listening to me.
What do I do? What do I do? I wondered. A thunderclap resonated through the city as dark storm clouds rolled in. We had to hurry.
I’d asked Zander to let me be involved, to help when the attack occurred. He obliged, giving me and Ximea total responsibility of the children and the hospital, but how was I supposed to take charge if no one would listen to me?
“Phreeeet, phreeeet!” I whistled, the sound echoing around the courtyard. People paused, turning to look at me, their eyes full of dread.
“I know that you’re scared, but I need you to calm down and go to your designated unit. Children, please form a line, just like we practiced,” I called, surprised to hear the composed authority in my voice.
Many people looked torn, as though they were still contemplating trying to run away and save themselves, but I glared at them. “If you’re considering fleeing, just know that the Syndicate will find you, and when they do, your fate will be much worse than if you had stayed to fight. Trust me, I know,” I warned ominously. “So, please, do as we practiced. This isn’t up for debate. This is the best way to keep everyone safe. If you want your children and loved ones to survive, do as I say.”
I knew I was being harsh, but I didn’t have time to coddle them. The shield that was keeping missiles from falling on our city could fail at any moment, and I needed to get as many kids to the safety of the school as I could before that happened.
Heeding my words, the unsuits lined up, corralling the children to the middle of the courtyard. Everyone who over the age of sixteen and able-bodied was required to participate in the fight, so parents were being forced to leave their children behind. Children screamed and grasped at their mothers and fathers, begging them not to leave, but the parents had no choice. They reluctantly detached themselves, wiping tears from their faces as they went to meet their assigned battalion.
I bit back tears as parents hugged their children for what might be the last time. My hand falling involuntarily to my stomach, thinking of my baby. It broke my heart to see families being separated. I could only imagine the anguish I would feel if I were in their shoes and had to leave my child behind. But I couldn’t let my emotions interfere with the task at hand. It was now my responsibility to keep their kids safe. These parents were putting full faith in me to protect their children while they did what needed to be done. As the gravity of this task weighs down on me, I began questioning what I’d volunteered for.
“Okay, everyone,” I called, working to keep my voice cheerful, and putting on my bravest face. “Remember what we practiced? Everyone join hands,” I said, walking down the line of terrified children to make sure they are linked to one another. “I need everyone to follow me as quickly as possible,” I explained, leading the line quickly, but carefully toward the school.
Explosions continued to fall overhead. Many of the children whimpered behind me as the bangs seemed to come louder and quicker. The electromagnetic field was built to withstand a lot, but it wasn’t impenetrable. It wasn’t a matter of if the barrier would collapse, so much as a matter of when.
I was terrified that it would come crashing down and that I would be left in the middle of the courtyard with dozens of innocent children when the TIMs stormed in. The idea of these children having to endure even a portion of what I did while in captivity made me sick to my stomach, and pushed me to get them to safety. I picked up the pace, checking every couple of feet to make sure they were all with me.
“There you are!” Ximea exclaimed in relief when we arrived at the school.
She had already gathered the children from her designated sector. They were huddled together in the corner of the room, begging for their parents and clinging to one another with fright.
I guided my group inside, making them sit away from the windows so they couldn’t see the horrors that were about to befall their friends and family, and closed the classroom door to mute the sound of explosions.
Ximea hugged me, and I could read the panic on her face. “Do you think they’re going to be okay?” she asked, trying to be nonchalant, but I could hear the panic in her voice. By they, I knew that she was referring to Blythe and Zander, who would be in the center of the impending battle when the force field inevitably gave way.
“I’m sure they’ll be fine,” I lied.
The truth was that I wasn’t sur
e of anything. Zander had trained for battle his entire life, and Blythe’s inventions had and would to help everyone exponentially, but who knew what the Syndicate had up their sleeves? Maybe there was a reason they waited all these months to retaliate against us. Maybe they were simply toying with us now, having some fun before they effortlessly wiped us from the face of this planet. The idea frightened me, and I had to cross my arms across my chest to keep them from trembling.
For the first time since the assault began, the explosions stopped. It became eerily quiet outside the school, the calm before the storm. Children tugged at my shirt sleeve, asking if the silence meant the battle was over. I smiled at them but didn’t answer. I didn’t know why the attack had stopped, but I knew that peace would only last momentarily. When the fighting began, we would all be wishing for the solace once again.
I hurried to the closest window just in time to see dozens of missiles dropping at once, perfectly timed to hit the barrier in sync. As they dropped, the loudest explosion yet resonated through the courtyard. The children screamed and covered their ears to keep out some of the painful noise. I wasn’t sure what breaking the sound barrier would sound like, but this has to be close to it.
It was like the sky was fire and ice, all at the same time. Bright red, yellow, and orange hues filled the air, mixing with clouds of smoke and large pieces of ash that fell to the ground like snow. The sight was beautiful, but terrifying at the same time, because it meant that the force field had been breached. It was time to fight.
I watched in horror as the city filled with swarms of TIMs. Large airships carrying thousands of soldiers floated inside the barrier, landing in the middle of town. They were stationed right in front of the school, so close that I could throw a stone at them. I cursed silently at the proximity of the suits and androids to the children. I knew the Syndicate would show no mercy, even on the little ones, if they were detained. I vowed that, so long as I was alive to do something about it, they wouldn’t get that chance. I unlocked my gun from its holster, hoping I didn’t need to use it, but keeping it tight in my grasp just in case.
