CHAPTER 23
I t was two days later when Ethan felt strong enough to be taken off the machines. He was still somewhat fragile but his body was healing nicely, despite the trauma it had been put through. Apparently dying had taken a lot out of him.
Halson spent most of his time with Ethan, which was a surprise to absolutely no one, playing caretaker; not that Ethan minded. The MalJari boy would help him every morning with his shower, then getting dressed, followed by ordering breakfast and finally spending hours talking or reading. The annals of the MalJari had plenty of information for Ethan to soak up, chronologically detailing their history both on earth and elsewhere. Regardless of their similarity in physical features, he found the MalJari’s views and ideologies as varied as humans.
Just as earth’s history was marred with revolts and injustice, the MalJari’s narrative was painted in a comparable light of bloodshed and unrest. They came from a planet not unlike earth in search of expanding their vast resources while acquiring new ones. Earth was filled with rich minerals and its position near the sun made it an ideal location for an alien race who relied heavily on natural sources of energy.
But as with any hierarchy, the strongest and most cutthroat took their place in positions of power, often ruling with a firm hand. MalHalen was only one of many leaders as Ethan learned. What was once the United States was now dotted with MalJari cities resembling Kowend, each one with six human cities surrounding and maintaining it. In total, nine colonies were left, Kowend being number five and while they were proportionate in size and structure, they differed greatly on the treatment of humans. Halson was not familiar with the other colonies, having heard almost nothing about them from his father. Kowend was meant to be his priority but with the current threat facing them, Halen saw fit to educate both Ethan and Halson on the finer details of the MalJari occupation.
While Ethan was disgusted by the MalJari’s method of reanimation for humans, he was at least thankful for their lack of involvement in his daily affairs. In Daventry, humans could live how they wanted if they did their jobs and stayed within the confines of the city. Most of the other colonies were not as lucky, consisting of nothing more than slave encampments where humans were left with minimal choice in any part of their lives. Jobs were assigned and enforced with brutal insistence. There was no community or individual identity. Instead, these cities thrived on the chaos caused by violence when resistance erupted.
Ethan’s stomach churned as he read the details of Colony Three; the closest to them. Kalsion was led by MalSenten, a devout follower of the Commissioner, hater of mankind and overall bad guy. He relished in causing pain and torment, treating humans as trainable animals that existed solely to serve the MalJari. He showed them no mercy, no kindness and above all, no leniency. To him, humans were expendable creatures. Once one disobeyed, he would put it down and activate another like a revolving door of workers.
Halson was having his own difficulty understanding the inner workings of Colony Four, Kinkasa. Their leader, MalAlstin, wasn’t quite as bad as the others in his general treatment of humans, but he had a habit of public executions as a determent method. Apparently, it was successful since the age at which humans died naturally in Colony Four was the highest, second only to Colony Five, of course. With MalHalen’s modest and unimposing system, Colony Five fared best when it came to the length of a humans’ life as well as their contribution to the MalJari system.
Ethan had no idea he would one day think of MalHalen’s treatment of humans as caring or sympathetic, but after what he had read, MalHalen’s image would forever be changed in his heart.
The boy startled when a hand grazed his shoulder, causing him to drop the tablet he was reading. Before it could hit the ground, however, it was recovered by Halson’s quick reflexes. “You scared me,” Ethan stated. Halson handed the tablet back before apologizing, “Sorry. I wanted to show you something.”
Halson motioned to the bed, where they both sat side by side. In his hands, Halson’s tablet was showing a map of the world, not as it once was, but as it is now. There were various land masses surrounded by water while others ran the expanse of mountain ranges. The topographical grid highlighted areas with colonies, thirty-eight in total, covering the vast territories. Each territory had a Commissioner assigned to oversee the colonies. Ethan had never heard of the regions mentioned but committed them to memory regardless.
Topographical Territory Analysis – Earth 2270
Europe:8 colonies5 active3 destroyed
Asia: 6 colonies4 active2 destroyed
Africa:4 colonies1 active3 destroyed
South America:3 colonies2 active1 destroyed
Central America1 colony0 active1 destroyed
Canada2 colonies1 active1destroyed
United States13 colonies9 active4 destroyed
Australia1 colony0 active1 destroyed
Total382216
Somehow, his very existence had diminished under the scope of reality. Daventry was not the heart of his problem. Not even Kowend or Colony Five amounted to the issue. Halen was right; this problem was quite bigger than Halson or Ethan could ever imagine. But how would Ethan fit into this new equation?
According to Halson’s father, the Commissioners from each territory along with the Colony leaders were gathering soon to discuss their plans for the human race as well as the future of the planet. Some wanted to continue to run their colonies as they saw fit, arguing that change would lead to devastation. Halen was one of those leaders. While others insisted that progress could not be made without necessary steps including the treatment and use of mankind. Their goal was to modify their workforce without care of the consequences. It wasn’t important to them that people have lives of their own, or independence or love. They were simply results driven.
The teens shared an expression of disbelief as they continued to educate themselves on the intricacies of the MalJari’s vanquishment. The more he read, the more ashamed Halson became of his people and oddly enough, the more he understood his father’s decisions. Ruling over various cities and tens of thousands of people was never easy but after learning what other leaders had been doing to humans, he realized his father was more empathetic than he ever imagined.
“I guess your father’s not so bad after all,” Ethan said sheepishly. Halson rolled his eyes but agreed, “Yeah. I should probably talk to him.” Halson wasn’t sure what he was going to say to his father. He didn’t think an apology would be included in the conversation but he would at least be civil. After the pair finished their lunch, Halson agreed to meet his father, much to the leader’s surprise.
“I was hoping you would come,” Halen stated as soon as Halson entered his office. The teen stopped short of his father and sat in one of two chairs located next to a large window. The city below them was bustling with indifference. The MalJari of Kowend had no idea what was happening in the rest of the world and even if they did, they certainly didn’t seem to care. It angered the young man as he watched his people go about their day as if great injustices weren’t taking place all around them.
“Do not be upset with them Halson. They do not know.” Halson turned toward his father and really studied him. He was a statuesque man with a strong build, chiseled jaw, much like his own and piercing green eyes. But underneath the façade stood a weathered leader, tired from lack of rest and from being emotionally pulled in various directions. On one hand, he had to think of his people but on the other he had the fate of an entire civilization who didn’t ask to participate in the MalJari’s game of conquest. And now his only son was in love with one of them. What was a father to do?
“I do not forgive what you did to Ethan,” Halson said, turning his attention back to the window. “But I understand why you did it.” Halen approached his son, placing his hands on the back of his chair. “How is he?” the leader asked. Halson sighed. “Better physically but mentally, as ravished as me. It’s a lot to take in father.” Halen nodded absentmindedly, tapping his son on the shoulder
before moving to his desk, where he sat down, tilting his head back and closing his eyes.
“Daventry is in danger. All of my cities are.” Halson tensed at the comment. He was aware of the possible danger but he thought they’d have more time. “The Commissioner no longer feels that allowing humans their emotional connections contributes to their productivity. He sees my cities as weak because I let them live in peace.” Halson stood and walked toward his father, stopping short of the desk. It was stark black obsidian, made from the rock of the surrounding mountains when they had first arrived. It was the very antithesis of their color scheme but Halson loved it.
“What are you going to do?” Halson asked. Halen sighed deeply in return. “I do not know. I want humans to live freely but I cannot hope to defeat the Commissioner. His hatred of humans is far stronger than any army I could conceive.” Halson thought back to his conversation with Ethan. “What if you could convince him to back off?” Halen perked up at his son’s question, urging him to continue. “Ethan mentioned talking to the Commissioner, reasoning with him. It might work since Ethan is both human and MalJari. He’s… special.” Halen began to shake his head before Halson was even done speaking. “The Commissioner cannot be reasoned with. He is a vicious leader who solely cares about the MalJari. He has no sympathy for humans or their suffering.”
Halen ran a tired hand through his hair, another idiosyncrasy learned from humans, before addressing his son. “There is no easy answer here. I don’t know yet what Ethan’s involvement will be, if any. Hopefully, Preston and the Commissioner will forget about Ethan Drake.” Halson huffed at that statement, throwing his head back. “Not likely. I don’t think you realize what Godrik has done.” The eyebrows on the leader’s face shot up in alarm. “What do you mean?”
“Godrik never told you? He made Ethan stronger and more dangerous than any MalJari including all of the Commissioners.” Halen gawked at him like he had two heads. “What are you talking about?” Halson crossed his arms across his chest, smugly, as if finally, he knew something his father didn’t. “Once Godrik figured out that Ethan’s DNA could bond with Ender’s, he began to intensify it and inadvertently multiplied the power of his abilities.”
“So, it was an accident?” Halen deduced, eyebrow quirking. “That’s his story,” Halson replied snidely. It would take a miracle for his hatred of Godrik to fade. “It doesn’t matter whether he meant to do it or not, the point is Ethan is powerful and that scares the Commissioner. Why else kill him unless he was a threat?” Halen contemplated his son’s statement carefully. It would certainly explain the Commissioners insistence on getting rid of the boy. Nothing would be more dangerous than a human who could defeat a MalJari. And it would explain why he was suddenly campaigning to remove emotion and free will from all humans. If word got out that a powerful human existed, who knows what the other Commissioners and leaders would do. Suddenly a clear picture was being painted.
“But why would the Commissioner ask Godrik to splice the DNA in the first place?” Halson asked after a beat. That was one thing he never quite understood. If the Commissioner wanted Godrik to start bonding DNA between species, why would he then get rid of his achievement?
“It wasn’t meant to succeed, at least not the way he intended. He was toying with the idea of a stronger work force, so he ordered Godrik to begin testing out serums but he failed because each subject lacked the right genetic make-up to bond with the alien DNA. It wasn’t until he found Ethan that his project showed any signs of hope. Unfortunately, it looks like his plan worked too well and now the Commissioner is trying to shut the whole thing down.” Everything his father was saying made sense but there was still one thing bugging him.
“Godrik was never supposed to make him this strong. So, why did he?” He had never had the chance to ask the doctor what his true intentions were. It was clear that he didn’t plan on following through with whatever the Commissioner wanted, so why create a superhuman instead? “Isn’t it obvious?” Halen asked. “Godrik wants to fight back.”
A long silence fell upon them, as they let the statement sink in. Was that really what it would come to? They were in no way prepared to launch any kind of defense so the idea of fighting back seemed unfathomable. As the silence stretched, Halson feared what an attack would entail, especially for Ethan. He would obviously be a target but could Halson really protect him? Could anyone?
The room signaled a visitor, followed by a sliding door revealing Doryn, who was very much out of breath. “I’m sorry MalHalen,” he wheezed. “But we’ve received word that he’s on his way to Daventry. He will arrive next week.” Halson’s eyes widened as he turned toward his father to gage his reaction. The leader appeared deep in thought. “The Commissioner is going to Daventry?!” Halson asked in alarm. Halen shook his head. “Not the Commissioner, but his second in command.” A sudden tension filled the room as Halen spoke. “MalStryker.” All the blood drained from Halson’s face the second the name slipped from his father’s lips.
CHAPTER 24
E than had officially been in Kowend for almost a week. He made sure during his recovery to ask about Edred and the others, needing confirmation that they were still unharmed. Halson visited them every day to give them updates on Ethan’s health. The first day had been difficult since word had reached them about Ethan’s death. It took Halson over an hour to convince Edred that it wasn’t true but once he did, the visits became less heated. They weren’t friends by any stretch, but they could at least be in the same room without wanting to kill one another.
When Edred asked why they were still being held captive, Halson explained it was necessary to keep up appearances but they would be freed soon. At first, Halen had been ordered to destroy any human who would dare breach their gates but the leader argued that their deaths would be noticed and might incite a revolt in Daventry. The Commissioner allowed Halen’s leniency, claiming the human’s deaths as eminent regardless. Naturally, Halson left that part out when he told them of their next move.
“It’s time to go,” he said to Ethan, watching as the boy stared out the bedroom window, seemingly lost in thought. Ethan turned and gave a small nod in acquiesce. He was happy to learn that Edred, Connor and the others were being allowed passage back to Daventry alongside both he and Halson. For the purpose of concealing Ethan, their departure was being executed in the middle of the night, away from Preston’s prying eyes. Word would eventually reach him of the unscheduled arrival within Daventry, but by then, Halson hoped, a plan would be forged to deal with both Preston and the upcoming visit from MalStryker.
For his part, Halen had argued that Halson would remain in Kowend and Doryn should be the one to accompany Ethan back to Daventry. Unsurprisingly, that plan was stricken down immediately, both boys maintaining their refusal to be apart from one another. Not only that, but they had also somehow convinced Doryn to go with them anyway. They reasoned that if MalStryker was going to try anything while in Daventry, then Doryn should be there as MalHalen’s eyes and ears. It was also brought up that the MalJari soldier could work with Edred and the other Awakened to prepare them for the eventual fight.
They were no longer saying ‘if’ but ‘when’ and that alone had kept Ethan from a peaceful slumber the previous night. Halson had come into the room and given him a detailed account of what Doryn and his father had discussed regarding MalStryker and what his visit to Daventry could signify. They toyed with possible theories ranging from intel gathering to asset collection. But in the end, the theory that won out was simple; MalStryker was there to check on Godrik and verify that the Commissioners orders were being followed. Godrik would no doubt be kept under a watchful eye going forward. After all, he was responsible for creating a weapon that could potentially defeat the Commissioners inadvertently ending the MalJari rule, not that they were aware of that fact. They simply learned of an uncontrollable human with MalJari abilities and that was enough cause for concern.
The ride back to Daventry was, for the most
part, calm. Edred and Connor caught up with Ethan, regaling their tales of imprisonment, much to Ethan’s amusement. He was also happy to see Edred and Halson getting along once more. The older man had long since forgiven Halson for his necessary omissions and now regarded him in high esteem, especially after learning that Halson was indeed the reason for their fair treatment. Now they appeared to share a growing respect for one another. Connor, however, was still slightly wary of Halson, having experienced the capability of his power first hand. It wasn’t a lack of trust as much as maintaining a cautious distance and Halson understood that.
As they approached the city gates, Ethan stood and admired Daventry from afar. Lights dotted the black horizon, signaling the end of their journey, though, to Ethan it felt like the beginning. Everything that was happening was so much bigger than him but he knew sooner or later he would be forced into a fight he never wanted. Sure, he was angry at the MalJari, not necessarily Halen, but the other leaders and their crass treatment of human beings. If there was something he could do to help, then he would. He hoped for more time but that was a luxury they didn’t have. MalStryker was due to visit Daventry in less than three days. That was not exactly a lot of time to build up a resistance but Halson had an unwavering confidence in Ethan that made him believe anything was possible.
The group divided and went their separate ways once they arrived. Edred and Connor retreated to their residences in the West tower while Doryn, Ethan and Halson were shown accommodations elsewhere. Not only were they fugitives, but Halson and Doryn’s appearance didn’t exactly scream ‘I am human’ which prompted their current circumstance. Ethan learned their new home was the same dwelling that hosted the other city leaders when they had previously travelled to meet him. It’s location beneath the city streets would at least ensure Ethan’s defection thereby maintaining the much-needed element of surprise.
Awaken_Ethan Drake Chronicles Page 24
