“I’ve had about enough of everything today! I don’t need this!”
“Maggie, calm down!” Ember cried, not liking what his sister was becoming.
“No Ember… I’ve had about enough of this!” she shouted, her hand trembling. “Just give us the cable and no one gets hurt!” Styles applauded her gleefully with a slow clap.
“Go ahead, stab him. I don’t care.”
“Boss?!”
“You’ve been nothing but dead weight all these years! I don’t care. Stab him! Kill him! Do whatever you want with him! See what I care.”
“But boss?!”
“Lower your knife Maggie. It’s okay,” Ember said. Maggie lowered her knife hesitantly, her lip still quivering.
“What’s going on here?” came a calm male voice with an authoritative tenor. Even in the darkness one could surmise his symmetric features and impeccable posture.
“And who might you be?” the hunchback asked suspiciously.
“The name’s Abe. Now what seems to be the matter?”
“These hooligans were trying to rob us!”
“They threatened to stab me!”
“Ya, nobody cares about that,” the hunchback said wryly. “The important thing is that they were trying to steal my inventory.”
“Is that true?” Abe inquired, looking judgmentally at Maggie, who was still gripping the knife tightly.
“They… I… They tried to… They were going to… It’s been… We really need… I…”
“Let me handle this,” Luna said, putting her hand calmly on her shoulder before walking up to the stranger. “Hello, my name’s Luna.”
“Hello Luna, nice to meet you.”
“What is this, a play date?!” the hunchback complained bitterly.
“Are you from around here?” Luna asked.
“I suppose I should ask you the same question.”
“Just trying to make small talk… You know…” she said, toying a pebble lazily with her foot, “I’m one too.”
The stranger looked her up and down slowly, and then said, with a smile, “I suppose it’s easy to spot one of us from down here… We’re the only ones that don’t look like we’re dying.”
“I guess so…” she said with a smile.
“Can you two do this somewhere else?!” the hunchback complained.
“How much do they owe you?”
“What? They haven’t bought anything yet… You mean, for the cable?”
“Sure, for the cable.”
“Well… ordinarily I’d sell it for fifteen nyx… but,” the man said, greedily licking his lips, “after that little stunt they pulled… it will cost you thirty.”
“Okay,” the stranger said, quickly pulling something from his back pocket.
“Forty-five!” the man corrected eagerly. “It’ll cost you forty-five nyx.”
“No problem.”
“Sixty… no seventy… no eighty nyx!” he said correcting himself again.
“Here’s one hundred nyx,” the stranger said, handing the hunchback a handful of fluorescent gems. “Go ahead Luna, take your cable.”
The hunchback rubbed the jewels avariciously between his palms as his partner came running forward. “Let me see… I want to see.”
“And what brings you down here,” Abe said, shepherding Luna and the rest of the party away from the buffoonish charlatans.
“Why do you want to know?!” Styles questioned abrasively.
“It’s okay,” Luna said with a hush. “We have the sequence.”
“What? You mean… The sequence to—”
“Yes,” she said with a nod.
“I see… and how are you planning to get there?”
“We were hoping—” Luna began.
“Can you help us out?!” Sven bursted, sounding more desperate than he would have liked.
“Hmm…” Abe murmured, stroking his chin.
“Please, it would mean a lot to us!” Kara added.
“You do know… that you’re asking to go to a place that most people spend their lifetimes trying to leave, right?”
“I know… but we think this sequence will change everything… we think… we know that it’s going to work! Please sir!” Kara pleaded.
“It means a lot to them,” Luna said, looking at Sven and Kara’s faces. “It means a lot to us.”
“And why exactly are you helping them.”
“They’re my friends,” Luna said, as if no further answer were necessary.
“Hmm… which one?”
“Imperium,” Styles said unexpectedly. “Can you help us or not?”
“You’re in luck… I can help you get there… Actually, I’ll get someone else to help you for me. He’d love to meet you guys.”
“Oh, that’d be perfect!” Kara shrieked excitedly.
“Milo?!” Abe shouted. “It’ll only be a minute,” he explained.
“Thank you so much!” Sven said effusively.
“You do know the stories about Imperium, right?”
“Yes. We know them. We’re familiar with them. It’s not enough to deter us,” Sven declared valiantly.
“Right…” Abe mumbled skeptically.
“Soon the Underground will be free!” Sven continued.
“Right… good luck with that. Oh, Milo, you’re here! Good to see you!” Abe said, as a small greenish man lurked forward.
“Hello Abe,” Milo said intolerably slowly.
“These nice folks would like to see the tunnels, you think you can take them there?”
“Oh… Let me see,” he said with the same unbearable slowness. “One… two… three… Four—”
“There’s six of them Milo. Six.”
“Six. That’s the one after five.”
“Yes Milo, yes it is.”
“Six,” he repeated.
“Milo here is going to show you all the tunnels,” Abe explained. “You can follow the center one all the way into Imperium. It will bypass all those walls and guards… By far the easiest way to get in. The problem will be in getting back.”
“Perfect!” Styles said with an unusual display of relief.
“Yes. Okay. I’ll take the six of them.”
“Okay, great!” Abe said, guiding Ember towards Milo with a light push on his back.
“Where do you want me to take them again?” Milo asked slowly and with monotone.
“To the tunnels, Milo, to the tunnels.”
“Thank you so much!” Kara called back, as she followed behind Milo.
“Thank you, Milo,” Ember said, feeling bad that Abe was getting all the thanks.
“Hmm… What’s your name?” Milo asked, walking as slowly as he talked.
“I’m Ember,” he said politely.
“Emmbbbeeerrr?”
“Yep, that’s my name.”
“Ember?”
“Yep.”
“Until next time!” Luna shouted back, blowing a kiss to Abe.
“Next time?” Milo parroted, with different intonation.
“Hey Milo, where exactly are the tunnels?” Sven asked.
“Ember… that’s a word,” Milo said. Sven slapped his forehead in frustration. “A lot of people pick on me,” Milo admitted.
“Is that so?” Styles said condescendingly.
“Yes. A lot of people pick on me. Not Abe though. Abe’s a good guy. I like Abe.”
“I hope you like us too,” Kara said, cheerfully.
“You are nice too. I like you as well.”
“I’m glad, Milo. We like you too.”
Milo took them back through the door from which they came, and through the passage and back into the world of darkness. Maggie breathed deeply so as to slow her heart rate.
“If you want,” Milo suggested, “you can come over to my place.”
“Are you sure you know how to get to Imperium?” Styles asked sternly, as a parent might of a child.
“Imperium? Yes… Center tunnel.”
“I think it’s a
good idea,” Sven said suddenly. “We need to discuss our plans… and we should rest.”
“I’m with Sven,” Ember said, secretly fearful of Imperium.
“I agree,” Maggie said, excited by the thought of sleep and the likely prospect of finally having an emotional brother-sister talk later in the night.
“I don’t mind,” Luna said, not wanting to stand in anyone’s way.
“I live out here… I like it better here… Not as many people… It’s quiet. I like the quiet.”
“Do you have lights?!” Maggie asked eagerly.
“I can light some candles. Do you like candles? Emmmmbbbeeeerrr?”
“Uhh… ya… they’re lovely.”
“So you’ll come over to play?”
“And food and water?” Maggie asked with equal animation.
“Yes… I have those. I like food and water.”
“Styles?” Maggie seemed to plead.
He stroked his chin pensively. “Okay, we can come over to play.”
***
Milo’s domicile was buried within the outer wall, directly opposite from the end of the coiled path from which the group came. Though the light that adorned its door was exceptionally faint, Milo had no trouble finding it.
“Do many people live out here?” Sven asked. “I mean… in the outer ring?” he clarified, correctly assuming that Milo would have difficulty with his question.
“Outer ring?”
“Ya, you know, outside the main city?”
Milo scratched his head. “I like it here. The isolation is soothing. Sometimes its best to be alone.”
“I guess that answers my question,” Sven muttered as Milo opened the door to his residency.
“Please, come in.”
His place was, in many respects, identical to the woman’s: small, dimly lit, and with flattened dirt mounds for tables and chairs. It had three rooms, divided into what might be called, a kitchen, a living room, and a bedroom—the distinguishing feature of which was the geometry of the flattened dirt mounds: circular for the kitchen, resembling a table; long and rectangular for the living room, so as to give the appearance of a couch; and nearly square shaped for his bedroom, to be used as a bed.
On the far corner of the living room was a heap of old, mostly broken electronics that Milo claimed to have collected over the years. In a rare burst of eloquence, Milo explained that he had turned to collecting as a way to compensate for his lack of friends. The hobby had, he argued, provided him with endless hours of enjoyment and consolation.
“Batteries,” Milo declared proudly, pointing to a small flickering light bulb.
As Luna and Styles examined his collection—which consisted of, among many things, surprisingly advanced technologies that were exceedingly rare in the rest of the Underground—Milo discussed openly about all his shortcomings and unlikeable personality.
“I’m ugly and stupid. That’s what they tell me. If they say it, it must be so,” he said, descending into a self-deprecating rant as passionately as he could.
Luna and Styles were too engaged with the computer interfaces, electrical cords, and touch sensitive monitors of his collection to offer their attention, let alone any sympathies—not that Styles would anyways.
What is beauty and intelligence but the collective perception around an agreed upon average, Ember thought to himself. Since he could not, of course, explain this concept to Milo, he simply advised him not to let other’s opinions shape his self-perception or sense of identity—but even this idea proved to be a bit much.
“Self-perception?” he repeated with inquisitive intonation.
“Ya. You are who you think you are, not how other people think you are.”
“Self-perception?”
“I think what he’s trying to say is that you shouldn’t let other people bother you,” Kara said, simplifying perhaps a bit too much.
“Idiot, that’s what they call me.”
“You’re a nice guy, Milo. We all like you,” Maggie offered. Milo seemed to be cheered by these words.
As the night continued, Ember became increasingly aware of Milo’s ability to manipulate the conversation so as to receive further compliments and sympathies. On the one hand Ember was annoyed by Milo’s almost neurotic need for reassurance and kind words, but on the other hand he felt guilty for not feeling more sympathy for him.
“I want to talk to you outside,” Ember said about half an hour later.
“Me?!” Maggie said, with more than a hint of excitement.
“Actually… I was hoping to talk to Kara for a little bit. That is, if she doesn’t mind?”
“Uhh, sure… what’s this about?” she said, already having a good idea.
“I’d rather talk outside,” he responded, as she expected.
“Ohhh… okay…” she said, pretending to be surprised as she headed with Ember out the door.
“We’ll be back soon,” he shouted as he shut the door closed.
“Be careful!” Maggie called out after him.
They did not stray more than a few dozen steps from the home for fear of getting lost.
“What is it?” she asked again.
Ember closed his eyes, though it did not make a difference to his vision, and spoke slowly, “It’s just that… tomorrow… I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
“Ya, I know… It’s going to be awfully exciting! I’m finally going to see the rest of the world again. We’re all going to be heroes!”
“That’s not what I meant… I meant that it could be dangerous.”
“Definitely. I mean, I have no idea what’s going on tomorrow. I can’t imagine how he plans on getting to the Gate. I’m sure it will all be fine though. He seems to be really good at these types of things. I bet within twenty-four hours he’ll have that Gate open.”
“We could die.”
“Come on Ember, don’t be so pessimistic. We’ll be fine. If you made it this far, then you can last another twenty-four hours.”
“I mean, tomorrow could be our last day. Ever. Ever, ever. For the rest of time. This could be it.”
“Ember! We’ll be fine.”
“Maybe you’re right… but I just wanted to tell you once more that I love you… just in case.”
“Ember? Please! Stop it, you’re scaring yourself.”
“Kara, I love you.”
“Don’t talk like that. There are still plenty more days to live!”
For the next minute, all that filled the void was the sound of Ember nervously scratching his head. When he spoke at last, his words were magnified by the virtue of the preceding great silence. “Why do you do that?”
“Do what?” After it was clear that he was content for another round of silence, she repeated, “Do what Ember? What am I doing?”
“Look, we can die tomorrow, okay?! Don’t you want to feel something?! Something?! Anything?! What if… you know… we only live once. This could be it! ”
“Is there something I should want to feel?”
“Do I have to spell it out for you?!” he laughed desperately. “Love, Kara, love. Don’t you want to feel in love?!”
“But Ember… I just… I don’t know if…”
“For crying out loud, Kara, can’t you just pretend!!” he shouted with frightening anger, as if he had just realized the depths of his own self-deception.
“Pretend?” she said meekly, taken aback by his fury.
“Yes! Pretend! It’s not that hard! Just pretend!”
“But Ember, why—”
“I want to feel in love, Kara. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“Ember, I have known you for three weeks. You can’t fool me.”
“But I have, Kara! I have loved you from the moment I set my eyes on you. I promise! I’m not lying!”
“That’s not what I mean… I mean that love… I know it’s not all that you’ve ever wanted. I have heard you talk… I have listened to your beliefs… I know that you desire meaning… answers… tr
uth… you like philosophy… I know that there is more to you than this.”
“But this is all I want. Love. To be with you and make the universe small again. To be alone with you and feel important... like nothing else matters. What’s wrong with that?”
“Ember… this thing… that you want… it won’t bring you happiness. I’m afraid that nothing will. You’re in love with the idea of being in love.”
“Why can’t you be that person, Kara! Regardless of who you were before… We’re here right now… and anything’s possible. Anything can change. Regardless of whether or not you believed in love before… It can happen… even now. Can you feel it?”
“Ember…”
“Why can’t you be her… Why can’t you be that girl… I love you Kara! Why can’t you love me?” he screamed through the tears.
“Ember,” she said in a softened tone as she went to hug him. “It will be okay. We aren’t going to die tomorrow. You’re not going to be a tragic figure. It will all be okay. And I’ll tell you what,” she said, leaning in to him, and rubbing his back, “when we finally get out of this place… back to the world above… we will laugh about this. And… who knows what will happen. Maybe someday—”
“Fine,” he said, angrily breaking away from her. “If unrequited love is what you want then it’s unrequited love that you’ll get! I’m not going to let you tell me who to love!”
“But Ember… that doesn’t even— and that’s not what—”
“I’ll love you forever, Kara, even if you don’t.”
“Okay Ember…” she said with a genial laugh. “You win. I love you.”
“You don’t mean it,” he said childishly.
Kara walked slowly up to him, more intimately than before. She dragged her fingertips delicately across his face and when she caught his lips, she leaned in to kiss them. “I love you, Ember. I do.”
Ember hugged her hard. “No matter what happens tomorrow… No matter what goes on in the rest of the Universe—”
“—we can know that we shared this moment together… and that we were happy once,” she said, continuing his thought.
“Make me believe,” he said closing his eyes, as silent tears rolled down his cheek.
“I love you Ember. I have always loved you. I was just too afraid to admit it, because I was too afraid of losing you.” She kissed him again, but this time on his cheek. Surprised by the salty wet taste on her lips, she jerked her head back.
Revolution in the Underground Page 29
