by David Meyer
However, he was beginning to realize there was some real wisdom embedded within the Code. Wisdom that had enabled humanity to survive centuries on an otherwise dead planet. Sure, the Code wasn’t perfect. And yes, it needed some changes. But still, it was better than the alternative.
At the same time, he was starting to see his father in a new light. Jayter was far more than a mere enforcer. He’d been a moral beacon, a person to whom Naticans could look to for guidance on how to live their lives.
Titus didn’t know how to salvage their current situation. He didn’t even know if it was salvageable. But from here on out, he was going to do whatever it took to bring the relatives home, to knit Natica back together again. To make this right.
“Well, we’re stuck.” Sanza finished checking over the cell. “I don’t see any way out.”
Stanner lifted his gaze. Slowly, he trained it across the other faces. “Did anybody manage to sneak something past the guards?”
Titus felt the pockets of his cloak. “Not me.”
“Me neither,” Podey said.
“They cleaned me out,” Sanza added.
“Me too. So, no weapons, no tools.” Frowning, he glanced at the cell door. “I’ve locked hundreds of people in these cells. Not a single one has ever escaped.”
“That opens the door, right?” Podey nodded at the wall-mounted computer. “How does it work?”
“It’s pretty simple,” he replied. “The monitor shows a map of the prison. Clicking on a cell brings up a couple of prompts that let you control its door.”
“What would happen if the monitor shorted out?”
“The locks would come loose.” Sanza shrugged. “But that’s easier said than done.”
“Chow time.” Kew hiked down the steps with Private Lork in tow. Lork held a small tray, topped with rascos. A single canteen hung from his shoulder.
Passing Kew, Lork walked to the cell. Carefully, he opened a small compartment and shoved the tray into it. Then, without so much as a single look at the prisoners, he retreated up the steps.
Kew lingered for a moment. “Enjoy those,” he said. “They could be your last.”
As he walked up the stairs, Podey shook her head. “I really hate that guy.”
Stanner, meanwhile, hiked to the compartment. Reaching inside, he extracted the tray. He proceeded to pass out the rascos, then set the tray upon the floor.
“What’s the deal with that tray?” Titus frowned. “It looks like one of the reservoir’s bladders.”
“Actually, I think it is a bladder,” Stanner replied. “Sliced open so the tray could fit inside of it.”
“That’s weird.” Sanza retrieved the tray from the floor. She studied it for a moment, then pulled the bladder back. A wicked grin crossed her lips.
Podey’s eyes opened wide. “Is that a tablet?”
“It sure is. In fact, it’s mine. Dayson must’ve gotten it from my apartment.” Excitedly, she wrenched it out of the bladder. She studied the screen for a few moments, then began pecking away at it.
“What are you doing?” Titus asked.
“Natica’s devices, and at least half of the machines, are hooked up to our intranet.”
His gaze went to the wall-mounted computer. “What about that one?”
Instead of answering, she touched the screen with a flourish. The lock clicked. The cell door cracked open.
Stanner pushed it open the rest of the way. Standing aside, he let the others out of the cell. Sanza, her gaze still focused on the tablet, was the last to leave.
“What’s the plan, Sir?” Stanner asked quietly. “Fight Stubbels? Or go after the relatives?”
“We don’t have the manpower to take on Stubbels. Then again, maybe we don’t have to.” Titus took a deep breath. “Private Lork can’t be the only one still with us. I say we go outside, talk some sense into everyone.”
“We’ll need a distraction to get past the guards,” Podey said.
“On it,” Sanza replied, studying the screen.
“Oh, I see,” Podey said. “You’re going to use the network to access one of the machines, right? You’re going to mess with it?”
“That’s the idea.”
“Which one?” Titus wondered.
“All of them.” Sanza focused her attention on the tablet. For the next few minutes, her fingers were a whirlwind, click-clacking the screen.
Stanner hiked across the room. He grabbed the torches from the wall and offered them to Podey, Sanza, and Titus. Podey and Titus each took one. But Sanza turned him down.
“This is the only weapon I need,” she said, her gaze locked on the screen.
“Suit yourself.” Keeping the third torch for himself, he walked to the staircase.
At last, Sanza lifted her right index finger, poising it over the screen. Eyes blazing, she glanced at Titus. “Are you ready?” she asked.
“I’ll signal you.” Torch in hand, he walked to the staircase. Glancing upstairs, he saw a tiny bit of light squeezing through the closed curtains.
Passing Stanner, he climbed the steps. Grabbing one of the curtains, he pulled it slightly to the side. Outside, he saw four of the eight men who’d shepherded them to the prison.
Titus gave them a quick study. Kew Jonnison and Private Rex held the center spots. They were flanked by Private Cliffe and a solar farmer by the name of Sydone Kraft. The foursome stood on the hot sand, quiet and still, their shoulders slouched under the intense heat. They might have been statues if not for the occasional twitching of a limb.
Where are the others? he wondered.
His question was answered a moment later when quiet snores drifted into his ears. It came from around the bend and he realized the other guards were napping in the shadow afforded by the entryway.
Shifting his gaze, he saw a group of civilians walk into view. Some carried canteens. Others wielded pouches, torches, and other things.
Supplies, he realized. Stubbels is outfitting his army to go after the relatives.
With his eyes locked on the civilians, he twisted sideways. His gaze met that of Stanner and he gave the man a nod. Stanner returned it, then spun toward Sanza.
A loud, blaring noise filled the air. Two more joined it in quick succession. Startled, the civilians reared back. Thrown off balance, they dropped their supplies.
Privates Rex and Cliffe, also caught by surprise, went for their swords. At the same time, Sydone shrieked. Covering his head, he ducked down low. Kew, meanwhile, perked up. Sword in hand, he started to turn around.
Kew was the immediate threat. So, Titus decided to rush him. After dispatching the man, he’d tackle the soldiers. Of course, that still left Sydone plus the four other guards. But hopefully, Stanner and Podey could help out in that respect.
His free hand clenched the curtain tightly as he prepared to shift it open. Just then, someone tugged his sleeve. Arresting his movement, he glanced backward.
“Sanza says to wait,” Stanner mouthed.
Titus looked down the steps. Podey, looking like she’d lost some color, clutched her torch tightly. Sanza, meanwhile, continued to focus on her tablet.
A series of alarms and sirens, each louder than the last, rang out. Titus spun back toward the curtains.
Peeking out, he saw tufts of smoke rise in the distance. The civilians looked at one another, then took off in separate directions, abandoning the fallen supplies.
Shifting his gaze, he watched Kew turn away from the curtains. The other guards, now awake, darted into view.
“What’s going on?” Orro asked.
“Don’t know,” Kew responded. “Everything was fine a minute ago.”
“We should check it out.” Private O’Brien frowned. “It could be the bloodfiends. Or even the Banished.”
“I don’t know.” Kew sounded doubtful. “We’re supposed to be watching the prisoners.”
A nearby alarm blared. Farther back, squeals arose from the wind farm. Despite the still air, the windmills began to tur
n at staggeringly high rates of speed.
“Okay.” Kew took a deep breath, then pointed at the soldiers. “Rex, check out the wind farm. Cliffe, see about the gate. O’Brien, make the rounds. See if anyone knows anything.”
The soldiers shot him nods. Swords in hand, the three men hurried across the sand.
“Hey.” Kew frowned. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Orro paused in mid-stride. Spinning around, he gave Kew a look. “I need to check on the solar farm.”
“Don’t you dare.”
Two of the guards, Wanick Dorsen and Zyle Elam, caught sight of the raging windmills. Both wind farmers, they looked at each other. Then they hoofed it across the sand.
“Get back here,” Kew screamed.
Orro seized the moment. Turning toward the solar farm, he took off. “I’ll be back in a minute,” he called out.
Titus glanced backward yet again. Sanza continued to monitor her device, tapping the screen at odd intervals. She looked up long enough to give him a sly grin.
He shook his head, impressed. In the span of mere minutes, she’d reduced their guards from eight to two. Now, just Kew and Sydone remained.
He turned back to the curtain. Looking outside, he saw the panicked Sydone was starting to calm down. Kew hiked over, laid a hand on the man’s shoulder.
Titus waited for just the right moment. Then he ripped the curtain open.
And stalked outside.
Chapter 16
Kew noticed Titus out of the corner of his eye. He started to call for help, but there was just too much noise. So, he whirled around instead. Lip curled in hatred, he directed his blade into a series of quick thrusts.
Torch held high, Titus went out to meet him. Kew was a tough guy, tall and muscular. He packed a pretty good punch and once upon a time, would’ve given Titus a battle. But the last six months—filled with endless marches across the hinterlands—had turned Titus into a hardened warrior.
So, he had no trouble dodging the man’s opening thrusts. Before Kew could switch tactics, Titus jammed his torch into the man’s belly. Kew screamed as flames ignited his cloak. Consumed by fire, he fell over and died.
Grabbing up the man’s sword, Titus swiveled toward Sydone. But the solar farmer had already relinquished his blade. Meekly, he cowered on the sand, refusing to meet Titus’ gaze.
“I’m sorry, Sir,” he blubbered. “They made me do it.”
Titus stared at him for an extra moment. Then he stepped forward. His shadow crossed over Sydone and the man cringed in terror.
He lifted his sword into the air. Then he slammed the butt down on Sydone’s head with as much force as could muster. The man uttered a soft, strangled groan. Then he slumped over into the sand.
For a moment, Titus rooted around the area. In the prison’s shade, he located their belongings. Whistling, he drew the others around him. They quickly grabbed their stuff.
“Shut off the alarms,” he told Sanza.
She worked the screen. Moments later, the alarms faded away. The sirens died off and the windmills slowed to their normal speed.
“Naticans.” Titus lifted his voice to a shout. “Hear me now.”
He waited for the residents to emerge, to gather around him. But no one arrived. Puzzled, he shifted his gaze from side to side.
At last, he spotted someone. It was Private Lork, coming from the east. The man sprinted across the sand, his face twisted with nerves. “Keep it down, Sir,” he whispered. “Or they’ll hear you.”
Stanner stared at him. “Explain yourself, Private.”
Lork slid to a halt. Panting hard, he cleared his throat. “Stubbels ordered the population into shelter. He said it was a precaution, but I think he’s just paranoid of an uprising. Regardless, only his supporters are allowed to roam Natica. Everyone else is locked in the compound until further notice.”
Podey frowned. Stanner’s muscles turned tense.
Sanza glanced up from her device. “You brought us this,” she said nodding at the tablet. “Obviously, you’re not with him. So, why aren’t you in the compound?”
“Stubbels thinks I’m on his side.” Lork exhaled. “I’ve been cozying up to him for a while now.”
Titus arched an eyebrow. “Why?”
“Because I thought something like this might happen, Sir.” He glanced over both shoulders. “We’ve got to go.”
“Where?” Podey asked.
“Anywhere but here.” He gave her a look. “Stubbels and his goons mean to kill the four of you, just as soon as they get finished killing the relatives.”
“Can we get to the compound?” Sanza asked.
He shook his head. “Not unless you’re ready to fight twenty guards.”
Titus groaned as all of his plans crumbled into dust. “Then we’ve got no other choice,” he said. “We’ve got to go into the hinterlands. Or best bet is to link up with the relatives and find a place to hide. Hopefully, we can put our heads together and figure out a way to fix this mess.”
“Maybe you should stay here,” Stanner told Lork. “You could do us a lot of good on the inside.”
“Too risky,” Lork replied. “It won’t take them long to figure out someone gave you a tablet. And I’ll be the prime suspect.”
“Very true,” Titus said. “So, you’ll come with us.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“We’ll need supplies.” Podey’s head swiveled toward the sand. “And I think I know where to get some.”
Following her gaze, Titus saw the fallen canteens, pouches, and torches. Grabbing four canteens, he fit their straps over his shoulders. For good measure, he picked up two more canteens, adding them to the load. As an afterthought, he grabbed a few rasco-filled pouches. They could live without rascos for a few days. It wouldn’t be easy, but they could do it. However, if they ran out of water, they’d be dead by nightfall.
Stanner rolled the well-charred Kew across the sand, extinguishing the last few flames. Then he dragged the body to the prison and flung it down the steps. Returning outside, he grabbed Sydone’s legs. Quickly, he hauled the man past the curtains, then closed them over, effectively shielding the unconscious solar farmer from view.
Lork, Podey, and Sanza hurried toward the supplies. While Lork and Podey hit up the items, Sanza took a moment to work the tablet, resulting in new alarms blaring every couple of seconds. Then she started helping herself to pouches and canteens.
Stanner ran across the sand. He put out his torch, then stuffed it into his cloak. Hurriedly, he picked up canteens, arranging their straps over his shoulders.
Podey looked around. “How are we going to get out of here?”
“Not through the gate,” Lork replied. “Stubbels is still there, along with his army.”
Titus ran a hand through his hair. “We could hang around, wait for them to leave.”
“I wouldn’t recommend it, Sir,” Lork said. “We need to get going if we want to beat them to the relatives.”
“Maybe we can clear a path.” He tapped his jaw, then glanced at Sanza. “Any ideas?”
“Give me a second.” Brow furrowed, she switched the device to her right hand. She wrung out her left hand, then started using it to touch the screen. Almost immediately, a wailing siren rang in the distance.
“That’s one of mine.” Podey looked impressed. “It’s only supposed to start up if there’s a problem with one of the aqueducts.”
“Exactly,” Sanza replied, a mischievous look upon her face.
“We need to hide,” Titus said. “Follow me.”
He led them away from the main thoroughfare and they ducked down behind an equipment shed. Peering out, he waited for Stubbels’ army to sprint past them. Moments later, people did hurry past their position, en route to the reservoir. But just two of them.
Titus shared a troubled look with his friends. “Wait here,” he said.
He snuck out from behind the shed. Keeping low, he hurried across the fort. Taking refuge behind another sh
ed, he peered out. Stubbels, along with dozens of others, stood next to the gate. They looked more annoyed than concerned with all of the ruckus.
His heart thumped against his chest. Turning around, he weaved a cautious path back to his friends.
“What’d you find, Sir?” Stanner asked.
“They’re gathered around the gate. I don’t think they know what’s going on, but they don’t seem all that concerned about it, either.”
Lork’s jaw tightened. “They must be on to us.”
“Hopefully, they’ll blame it on malfunctioning equipment,” Sanza replied. “Either way, we should leave.”
“But how?” Podey asked. “Clearly, the gate’s not going to work.”
Stanner cocked his head, then stared across the fort. “How about the breach?”
It wasn’t a bad idea. But the private’s small grin confused Titus. He gave the man an arched eyebrow.
“Sorry, Sir,” Stanner said, his grin vanishing. “I just found it funny, us needing that breach. If the Banished hadn’t made it, we’d have no way out. Guess we owe them one.”
“The only thing we owe them is a bunch of swords to their throats.” Maintaining a low profile, Titus left the shed. He crossed a short stretch of sand, then took refuge behind an apartment entryway. Falling to all fours, he scrambled across still more sand.
He continued like that for a bit, dodging the occasional passerby, until he finally caught sight of the breach. To his surprise, the nearby platform was empty.
“I imagine Stubbels isn’t worried about an attack or another storm, Sir,” Stanner said, reading his mind. “Right now, he’s only thinking about two things. Maintaining control and killing the relatives.”
Titus nodded, realizing the private was right. When the alarms first went off, Stubbels had probably been confused. He might’ve even worried about an attack and sent additional guards to the platform. But with every passing second, those worries would’ve melted away. Eventually, the man would’ve withdrawn the guards, retasking them to his army or to the compound.
Titus sped to the waiting ladder and climbed to the platform. Stanner, Lork, and Podey were right behind him. Sanza took a moment to stow the tablet inside of her cloak. Then she climbed up to join them.
