Creo watched through his scope, blinking just in time to see the raider jump to his feet and face the Knight.
“What the…” Creo whispered under his breath.
The raider stagger backwards, reaching for a pistol tucked in the back of his pants. A shot rang out over the wind, loud enough for Creo to hear it faintly.
The raider fired again, and again, watching the bullets ricochet of the Knight’s thick armor. Before long the pistol was empty and the raider fell to his knees, reaching in his pockets for more bullets. The Knight approached him cautiously, his rifle pointed down at the man’s face.
A blast of wind hit Creo, startling him. By the time he turned back, the Knight was firing on the raider. The bullets tore through his soft flesh and bone, splattering the wall where Ajax hid with bright blood.
The raider crawled across the dirt, clawing towards the Knight. For several seconds the Knight stood there, watching until the man reached his armored foot. Just when the raider made a harmless swipe, the Knight unloaded his weapon on the man until he was nothing but chunks of red meat, splattered across the dead earth.
Creo turned. He couldn’t watch the slaughter any longer. Not even a raider deserved to be desecrated.
Finally he took a long deep breath, watching the Knight climb back into his Scorpion. The trio peeled off the red cracked dirt and tore on to the blacktop, zipping away from Ajaxs’ location.
Creo dropped the scope and rested his back against a sharp rock in relief, swiping beads of sweat off his forehead. For now the danger was over, but Ajax still had a long way to go through the radioactive valley.
Time: 4:11 p.m. February 26, 2071.
Location: Abandoned Spillway. The Wastelands
Squad 19 stood at the edge of a dam, where a dirt path met the weathered gray concrete, dwarfed by the gigantic beast. Their shadows followed them down to the ledge. Obi listened to a small trickle of water spilling over the edge, a fraction of what once poured into the long since dried up lake below.
Overhead, the sun had taken refuge behind a dark gray cloud. What warmth the sun offered was now gone and the winter wind cut into his garments like frozen knives.
The dam, which had not been used for over half a century, looked like an abandoned castle, an alien in the desolate land. A thin metal ladder snaked down the cracked concrete that once held back millions of gallons of water.
Obi stood at the ledge, his orange goggles piercing the darkness below. He studied the twisted metal extending into the bowels of the old dam. Nudging the handlebars softly with his boot, he braced himself against Creo just as a gust of wind tore into his coat.
“It’s the only way down,” Obi said, stepping out of the way. “Two at a time. We can’t risk more weight than that. Ran and Nordica, lead the way.”
Nordica nudged her way carefully through the others and tested the first step with a cautious foot before she began her decent. Ran followed anxiously, his fearful eyes locking for a second with Obi’s before his head disappeared beneath the ledge.
The strain of the two scouts’ weight made the ladder creak and sway. They paused simultaneously, gripping the handlebars tightly, until the rusty metal stopped moving.
“Careful,” Obi muttered under his breath, loud enough to pinch the nerves of Creo, who watched nearby.
Nordica paused, peering up at Ran before continuing down the steps. After a few agonizing moments they made it to the bottom of the old lake, their boots created footprints in the mud that hadn’t been walked on by humans for decades.
Obi watched them disappear into the opening of the large storm drain at the bottom of the spillway. Satisfied, he nodded at Nathar and the four new recruits. They were up next.
One by one the soldiers made their way down the ladder, joining the others in the storm drain below. The squad huddled together, anxious to be out of the cold wind.
Ajax was a lucky man; avoiding the raiders, the CRK, and navigating a safe route through the radioactive valley. This much luck wasn’t something Obi was accustomed to, and he knew it wouldn’t last. Luck had a tendency to dry up and disappear as soon as you got your hands on it, like a glass of cold water on a hot day. It didn’t last. It evaporated, especially in Tisaia.
Obi switched on his night vision goggles again, the warm orange glow illuminating the darkness of the small storm drain. The rest of the squad members with goggles followed suit, lighting the tunnel with a safe and tepid orange radiance.
With the fresh light, Obi examined the tunnel. It was eight by six feet. He glanced in to the darkness where their lights could not penetrate. A set of small green eyes glared back at him. It was one of the stranger sensations Obi experienced when using the device, especially when the eyes belonged to mutated creatures. In this case it was just a rat. He paid no attention to it, watching it scamper away from the squad and into a small crevice in the concrete.
“Spurious. You’re up. Do you remember where this tunnel leads?”
“It should connect to some utility tunnels we can access through a ladder. They should take us directly to Rohania.”
“You heard him. I know everyone is tired, but this is what we’ve trained for. This is our chance. Take five, grab something to eat and then we’re heading out,” Obi said.
He crouched and grabbed an energy bar from his pack, the orange glow illuminating the faces of the four new recruits who sat huddled together, their faces all riddled with fatigue and fear. He nodded at the youngest and tossed him the energy bar.
“Are you sure?” the young man asked, his frightened eyes peering up at Obi.
“Yeah, I’m not hungry.” Obi lied, walking away to find a place to sit. He listened to his men chat and chew on their meals from a distance.
“Where are you from?” Spurious asked Creo, hoping he would be more responsive than Ajax. The question hung in the air, long enough to make him feel uncomfortable.
Creo cocked his head, chewing on a half eaten piece of bread. “I suppose it doesn’t hurt if I tell. In fact, you might be interested in the place I come from.”
A few feet ahead Ajax snorted; his gaze fixed on the dark skinned Spaniard.
“The land I come from is across the seas, where the sun is still as bright as a thousand fires. The bombs never fell there, but the radiation poisoned everything,” he added. “I left with all the other survivors. I came by boat in the year 2043 to see this world with my own eyes. After traveling from one refugee camp to another, I finally saw the great walls of Tisaia I had heard so much about. It was here I met Obi and my other companions. I have fought with them ever since.”
The story sent a chill down Spurious’ spine. He heard of the refugee camps outside the quarantine zones before, but never met anyone who had visited one.
“What is it like out there?” Spurious said, nodding towards the light from the entrance of the storm drain.
Creo’s eyes panned to the ground. He paused to take another nibble of bread, his eyes locked on the concrete floor. “The horrors I have seen are endless: children, mutated by radiation poisoning; their mothers, working the street corners to pay for a meal that only prolongs their suffering. I have seen shanty towns ruled by ruthless men, where stealing a can of peaches will get you death, and rape is the most common form of conception…” Creo paused, taking another bite and twisting his head so he could look Spurious in the eye. “It makes Rohania look like a five star hotel,” he continued.
Spurious shook the images of the mutated children out of his mind and turned his gaze back to Creo. “I have heard of the refugee camps before. You know Tisaia denies they still exist?”
“That’s because the government does not want the State employees to know the truth. If they did know the truth, they would certainly want the State to try and help those outside the walls.”
The truth behind Creo’s statement lingered in the stale air. Everyone in the group knew there were people outside Tisaia that could use the State’s help. This was information the Governor�
�s Office never shared with the public and never would. Spurious was the only one in the tunnel who truly knew how dishonest Governor Felix Steppe’s office really was. The confidential reports he had seen and the rumors he heard from friends working at the Capitol gave him ample information to believe the State knew.
“The State knows people are out there. They choose to do nothing,” Spurious said.
“Pack it up. Time to move out,” Obi said, interrupting their conversation.
Spurious stood and followed the squad down the narrow path, crouching to avoid dripping water above him.
“What I don’t get is why more State employees don’t question these things…” Spurious said, realizing he was a perfect example of a State worker that did not question due to fear.
“You’re a fine one to talk,” Nathar piped in. Spurious knew the blow was coming and shook it off easily.
“You’re right, Nathar. I have been living in a world of fear my entire life. Most employees probably are,” he said, dropping his gaze to the green trail of water below.
“You know, Spurious, your parents were examples of people who did not fear the State. As a matter of fact, from what I heard, one of the reasons they created the TDU was to help spread hope amongst State workers in a time when fear was becoming common. If it were not for them, we wouldn’t even exist. Well, at least not in the form we do today,” Obi said.
Spurious looked to Ajax and saw his scowl. For some reason, one he couldn’t quite figure out, Ajax did not approve of him. He wasn’t sure if it was due to a bitterness Ajax had for the State, or for him personally, but something had angered Ajax ever since they met a few nights ago.
“Ajax, how long have you been a part of the TDU?” Spurious asked, trying to include him in the conversation.
Ajax snorted and stared ahead.
“You know for someone trying to help you, I think you owe me some respect. I’ve done nothing wrong!” Spurious yelled at him.
Ajax stopped dead in his tracks. He turned slowly and stared at Spurious. “I owe you nothing. You’re just like the rest of the sheep in Lunia. If it were up to me, we wouldn’t be using you in the first place.”
“You know nothing about me!” Spurious exclaimed.
Obi frowned, realizing he would have to intervene. “That’s enough, you two. I already have my hands full enough and don’t need to worry about this shit!” he yelled.
Spurious and Ajax glanced at one another for one last time before they continued on behind the rest of the group.
“That goes for everyone, drop the chit chat,” Obi snapped. “Now, which way do we go?” he said, staring ahead at two different tunnels.
Spurious brought a finger to his lips, trying desperately to remember. “This tunnel isn’t supposed to stick out like this. I don’t remember there being two routes,” he said.
“Damn,” Obi murmured under his breath. He didn’t want the rest of the squad thinking they were lost.
“Ran, Nordica, you take the recruits and head down the left tunnel. Ajax, Nathar, Creo, and Spurious, you’re with me. Keep your radio channels open so we can stay in touch.” Obi paused. “Good luck, men,” he said, before heading in to the darkness of the tunnel.
* * *
The abandoned camp made Spurious’ stomach roll. When the small squad of TDU soldiers came upon it they found decaying bodies still being consumed by rats. The poor souls who had lived in the underground camp looked as though they had died recently, perhaps in the last month or so. A stench of rotting flesh still lingered in the cold air.
“Here,” Creo said, handing Spurious a handkerchief to cover his mouth. He brought it to his face instantly, trying to relieve his nostrils of the atrocious smell.
“Move on, men. There isn’t anything we can do for them now,” Obi ordered. He stopped for a second to massage his temples.
A few feet ahead Spurious tried to avoid the torn tents, cooking pot, and heaps of trash covering the concrete ground. He looked back at Ajax, who walked emotionless through the death. The young State worker gagged. “This is the future we face?” he asked, trekking on through the carnage.
Obi’s radio blared to life, interrupting Spurious.
“This is Nordica. Over.”
“Roger, Obi here, over.”
“Commander, we’ve reached a fork where our tunnel separates into four others. Which one do we take? Over.”
The aging commander shined his flashlight in Spurious’ eyes. “You heard her, which one is it?” he demanded.
Spurious mentally went over the piles of maps he studied the past few months. Within a few seconds, he remembered. “Tell them to take the third tunnel that runs east. This tunnel goes directly underneath the CRK headquarters and the Capitol.” Spurious swallowed hard, realizing what he said could seal the fate of hundreds of innocent people.
Obi nodded and relayed the message over the channel. He turned to face his men, who looked on anxiously. “How long will it take for us to get there?” he asked.
The office worker looked worried. He had no way of truly knowing the distance. Trying to conceal his uncertainty, he looked back through the darkness and found his most sincere voice. “Three hours, at least,” he finally said.
“We better get moving then,” Obi ordered without question.
The squad continued down the platform, Spurious holding the small cloth handkerchief to his nose, trying desperately to avoid the stench of death lingering in the air.
Time: 5:09 a.m. February 27, 2071
Location: Capitol Building. Lunia, Tisaia
The citizens of Lunia slept under a blanket of darkness that held the distant gray sunrise at bay. Beneath the cobblestone streets, far under the stone and soil, soldiers moved silently through the tunnels. Slowly, they made their way towards the heart of the Capitol where Governor Felix Steppe sat alone at his desk.
It was rare for Lunia’s leader to be at the Capitol so early, but something had driven Felix to make the short journey to his office. He wasn’t sure if it was the sleep evading him or the feeling of uneasiness lingering inside him since the legislature passed Bill 12b.
He knew the stress was also affecting his staff. The past few days, he watched Sonii leave work paler than he had ever seen him. His Chief of Staff was his most trusted confidante, and he knew the man was suffering in silence.
To make matters worse the Governor was served his morning coffee with a note from Commander Augustus, a note revealing his own fears—the TDU were still alive and operating in Tisaia.
The sun was still hiding along the gray horizon and Felix was on his third read of the memo. His strained face hovered over the yellow piece of paper under the orange glow of lamp light. He stroked his mustache and read the third paragraph again.
Several nights ago the TDU ambushed a squad of Knights in Rohania and captured an SGS worker who is allegedly the son of the founders of the TDU. We have yet to locate the perpetrators or the traitor.
Footsteps from the hallway distracted the Governor. He placed the memo back down on his desk and removed his thick glasses, rubbing his tired eyes gently. Sonii never ceases to be on time, he thought, rising from his desk to greet his loyal Chief of Staff.
Sonii entered the private quarters with his head tucked into his collar. He had no idea the Governor had already arrived, and it wasn’t until the politician cleared his throat the pale Sonii looked up.
“Governor…” he paused. “Uh, I did not realize you were here already.”
“I had some work to do,” he lied, concealing the fact he could not sleep.
“I see. Anything I can assist with?” Sonii asked, scratching the small beard lining his narrow jaw.
The Governor handed him the memo, pleased to see Sonii was beginning to regain color in his face. “I’d like your opinion about this report by the time the sun comes up. And find out why I’m just hearing about this now.”
Sonii grabbed the memo from his boss and slowly walked over to the mahogany conference ta
ble. His eyes scanned the document slowly, mindful not to miss a single word.
The letter confirmed his fears. He was well aware Tisaia was still not completely safe from threats. In fact, he realized the threats Lunia faced were more real than ever before. Supreme Knight Augustus had tried to ensure him on many occasions the TDU was no more, destroyed and “eradicated” from Tisaian soil, but Sonii was no fool. He hadn’t risen to the second most powerful position in Tisaia by being stupid.
Perhaps it’s time for the Council to choose a new commander.
Sonii turned back to the Governor, who sat studying another document at his desk. “I’ll call a council meeting immediately,” he said, his words cutting through the silence as he rushed out of the office.
The Governor stood and walked over to one of the bulletproof windows, watching shadows dance in the darkness hovering over Lunia. He watched the yellow hint of sunlight on the horizon like a dormant beast rising from its slumber. If it wasn’t a metaphor for the threat the TDU still posed, then he didn’t know what was. He frowned, glancing quickly at his wrist watch. It was going to be a long day.
Time: 7:00 a.m. February 28, 2071.
Location: Tunnels. Tisaia
Obi sat in the cold, damp tunnel, trying to keep his feet out of the murky water below him. His orange goggles glowed brightly in the darkness. He felt safe, surrounded by his trusted team. Creo, Ajax, and Nathar had just returned with the explosives. His plan was now in its final stages. Ran and Nordica were waiting for them a few tunnels away.
“What of the four new recruits?” Obi asked.
“Looks like they bailed, boss. Ran and Nordica said they disappeared a few minutes ago,” Ajax replied.
“What do you mean, bailed?”
Ajax took out his knife and began to sharpen the blade on the bayonets attached to his rifle. “Abandoned ship, like a bunch of cowards,” he said softly.
“Shit. Maybe they were compromised and we’re walking into a trap,” Nathar whispered.
“No, they bailed.” Ajax replied, running his knife along the edge of his bayonet again.
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