by S. S. Segran
“I think they’ve got local baddies on their payroll,” Kody called.
“Wouldn’t be a stretch,” Marshall said. “They need friendlies wherever they go.”
The exit of the tunnel came fast and they were back under the night sky. Oblong concrete planters with shrubbery and multihued flowers decorated the sides of the two-way road and arching street lights.
“We need to shake ’em,” Aari warned. “Now.”
“I’ve got an idea.” Mariah shimmied into the back with Kody and looked out the rear windshield.
The four cars behind them sped out of the tunnel. As the gray truck emerged, Kody saw Mariah drag two fingers through the air. One of the concrete planters swung onto the road, grinding against the asphalt. Kody, his senses still heightened, clapped his hands over his ears, recoiling. Augh! Jeez! It’s like nails on a chalkboard amplified by a million times!
A second later he heard panicked yells from the truck’s occupants just before they collided into the planter. Parts of the fender and the hood blew off. The windshield had shattered and smoke erupted from the engine in a thick curtain.
“We’re clear!” Mariah hollered.
They tore down the road and turned onto a freeway ramp under a sign for Tel Aviv. Kody kept an eye for any more tails but he was cautiously optimistic that they’d made it. He rubbed Mariah’s back. “I think we’re good, guys.”
Aari grinned. “See? We’re not helpless without Jag.”
“Speaking of which,” Tegan said, “the big guy just checked in. He and Daniel are out of danger. Louie went after the decoy.”
Marshall puffed out a breath. “Nice.”
Kody settled in the backseat comfortably, looking out at the city lights in the horizon. It’s funny, he thought. We’ve gotten so used to our abilities that it’s become second nature to us… but if anyone else saw us, they’d freak. The corners of his mouth lifted. Man, have we changed.
* * *
“I really don’t envy you, sir. This is not a call I would want to make.”
Ajajdif, hunched over in the passenger seat with his head in his hands, groaned. “Shut up, Elias.”
His phone rested on top of the dash, beeping as he waited to be patched through to his superior. There was a click, then a modulated voice said, “Vladimir.”
Ajajdif swiped the phone and turned the speakerphone off. “Hi, Boss.”
“I hope you have good news.”
Ajajdif would have rather had a drill bore through his head than deliver details of the current mishap. The Boss only listened as he gave the full rundown, all the while fighting the urge to give excuses. There was an uncomfortable, prickly silence once he finished but he dared not utter a sound.
“So,” the voice finally said, “you and Hajjar don’t even get in the game because your back tires blew. One of your team gets bested—by a flower pot—and your other team had to choose between two cars and went for the one that led them to a McDonalds drive-thru in Jerusalem. We’re a multi-billion dollar outfit outwitted by a few kids. Is this what you’re telling me?”
Ajajdif couldn’t bite his tongue any longer. “These are not normal kids. They’re smart and sharp, and”—he glanced at Hajjar, then stepped out of the car—“they have abilities. I got a concussion from that battle at the mining site two summers ago, remember that? I know I didn’t throw myself head-first through the ceiling of my office. Now, I’m not sure if it was the girl or the woman with her that did it, but these kids have abilities just like you do, and—”
“Enough!”
Ajajdif swallowed, his mouth dry. He’d never heard that tone used on him before. There was a threat in that single word, a mortal one. He immediately regretted drawing parallels between the Boss and the teenagers. Ajajdif, and Dr. Nate, were the only people in all of Phoenix Corporation and the Inner Circle who truly understood the extent of their superior’s capabilities. Even Tony Cross, the ever-faithful personal lapdog, had no clue.
Vydiot, Ajajdif thought. You’re an idiot for comparing the Boss to them. You’ll probably get your tongue cut off now.
“I’m sorry,” he stammered.
The Boss disregarded his apology. “It’s a good thing I didn’t put all my eggs in one basket. Again.”
“You’ve always been prepared like that… What do I do?”
“Nothing.”
Ajajdif’s breath hitched. “What?”
“I’m sending Tony back into the field. You are to stand by until you get further instructions. If you fail me again, you will not see the outside of a Sanctuary, ever, until your last days—if I’m feeling gracious.”
And yet, after Tony’s ridiculous failure, all you did was demote him. I suppose you pick your favorites, too, just like everyone else. Instantly, he felt guilty for his thoughts and vehemently expelled his bitterness.
“I understand,” he said, clipped. “What’s Tony’s assignment?”
“To give us a… compelling leverage against the teenagers when the time comes.”
“I’m sure Tony will be elated to receive that assignment. And what about the New Mexico Sanctuary? Will you be sending me back there?”
“No. I’ll get Arianna Abdul to move. You remember her, don’t you?”
“Da. She was my chief geologist for the mining operation in Canada. But I thought she was helping out at the Heart?”
“She is, though I’m sure she’ll be happy to serve wherever she is most needed. Besides, work in the Heart is almost complete. I’ll get Black to call her.”
“He’s a busy man, running the topside of the company,” Ajajdif said. “I know he’s a key player in the Inner Circle but he’s not the only person. I can arrange to transfer Arianna while I wait for further instructions.”
“Already trying to work back into my good books, I see. I don’t need you to do anything. Understand? Black can handle it.”
“As you wish.” Ajajdif wiped a finger on the vehicle’s exterior, leaving a clean trail through the dirt. “I know I no longer run the New Mexico Sanctuary, but I can’t help but worry about it. Has Tony managed to find the mole that helped that intruder escape?”
“That intruder said he had no help. A lie, surely. Nothing has come up yet, but I’m certain Arianna can follow up just fine. It’s no longer your problem, Vladimir. Get that through your head.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“Stay put. You’ll get your instructions soon. And, Vladimir?”
“Yes, Boss?”
“I don’t enjoy giving second or third chances. You’re like a son to me, but make no mistake. If I have to, I will make an example out of you.”
“… Yes, Boss.”
42
Kenzo Igarashi stood near the back of the crowd as the Stewards, gathered in their tranquil garden aptly named Eden, eagerly awaited the Boss’s address. The eighteen-year-old raked his fingers through his silver hair a few times, then reproached himself. Look excited, not nervous.
His cousin, Ren, chattered with a gaggle of her friends. Kenzo, barely able to distinguish her black hair in the crowd, felt a familiar stab of misery. If I can’t save anyone else, I’m going to save you, he promised silently. His cousin and the rest of the SONEs had grown into their roles as Stewards over the past year and possessed an air of determination and experience. He, on the other hand, felt more out of place with every passing day.
At the center of Eden, an immense, twenty-foot-tall projection screen displayed a golden phoenix symbol against a black background. Speakers around the cavern hummed gently along with the rest of the mechanical systems that kept the subterranean settlement habitable. Construction work on the New Mexico Sanctuary had been completed the day before, and the entire night was spent in celebration. Kenzo hated that he’d actually enjoyed the festivities; the atmosphere had been so unifying, so lively, that he almost forgot that they’d been taken from the outside world, brainwashed and dumped underground.
Since encountering Victor half a month prior, Kenzo had worked
hard to expand his network, befriending many SONEs and administrators. Tony, often sullen and refusing company, was a problem he hadn’t quite figured how to circumvent. He’d also kept watch on the SONEs, hoping against hope that at least one other youth was like him, impervious to Dr. Nate’s cerebral reprogramming but acting as one of the masses out of fear. Unfortunately, that did not seem to be the case.
The speakers suddenly crackled. The emblem on-screen morphed into an image of a figure in a black coat with the gold hood concealing a face in its shadows. A hush fell on the gathering, followed by a thrill that swelled through the ranks.
“Welcome,” the figure said, a modulator heavily altering the voice. “Thank you for joining me from different time zones across the planet just as we did almost half a year ago. I would like to begin by expressing how proud I am of each and every one of you. All six of our Sanctuaries are now nearly complete and operational.
“You’ve demonstrated that you are hardworking and dedicated, and more importantly you are, day by day, proving yourselves to be worthy of the title of Stewards of New Earth. Or, as I’ve heard you call yourselves, SONEs. It has a pleasing ring to it, I must say. You are indeed sons and daughters of a new world.”
The voice rose. “A world that will be free from the stranglehold of a society driven by greed and corruption. No longer will the cancerous culture that celebrates deviant obsessions in the name of progress be allowed to poison the soul of humanity. No more! These people, these parasites, will be wiped off the face of our planet and we will return the glory to Mother Earth. And you, the Stewards of New Earth, are the chosen ones who will bring about that change.”
Kenzo joined the thundering applause but felt sick to his stomach.
“As you have undoubtedly noticed during the course of the past few weeks, we have begun distributing new uniforms according to the five-echelon classifications for the Sanctuaries. You’ve each been carefully selected for the echelon you’re in. No one group is above the other in our collective, and each plays an important role that complements the rest.”
The hooded figure disappeared from the screen, replaced by an image of a SONE in an olive-green shirt, military camouflage pants, and polished boots.
“The Vanguard,” the voice from the speakers said. “You will ensure tranquility, order and safety, both now and in the future.”
The next image depicted two SONEs in black cargo pants, though the first wore a gray shirt and the other, maroon. “The Producers and the Builders. Many of you will serve your brethren through these two echelons. You play a significant role in safeguarding the survivability of each individual with the food you produce and the facilities you build and maintain.”
Following that was a SONE dressed in a black shirt and beige cargo pants. “The Administrators. Certainly you’re a smaller group, but no less important. Your main duty is to establish the fair and just governance of our community. You will have weekly meetings with the Head of your respective Sanctuaries to discuss this further.
“And finally, we have the Counselors. You are here to ensure our wellbeing and happiness, and to guarantee that we remain committed to our cause. As with the rest, you will attend meetings in the coming days to familiarize yourselves with your responsibilities.”
Ken looked down at his navy shirt and white pants. Guess I’m a Counselor… ‘Here to ensure wellbeing and happiness.’ Hah. More like keep a sharp eye on everyone. But this could be good. I’m sure I heard someone say that this is the echelon that has access to the CUBE. If I can get my hands on one of Nate’s devil helmets, I can toy around with it, see if I can put what I know to good use.
The hooded figure reappeared on screen. “And there you have it. These five echelons are the foundation of a new civilization that we will build when we return to the surface. Speaking of … You are aware that the process of disintegration is accelerating around the globe at this very moment. It will lead to the complete collapse of civilization as we know it, but it isn’t the first time humanity will experience near-extinction. Seventy-five thousand years ago, a supervolcano erupted and nearly wiped out all of humanity and plunged Earth into six years of volcanic winter, leaving behind fewer than ten thousand survivors. The ensuing genetic bottleneck led us along an evolutionary path to where we are today—and it is not a path that has brought out the best in this species.”
A few among the crowd murmured.
“We will correct that. The apocalypse that is unfolding today and the eventual rebirth of mankind is guided by our hand, not by a random act of nature. And as such, the recovery will be swifter. Our approach is not one that harms the planet, but rather one that destroys the vermin that decimate it. But should our venture be thwarted, I will not rule out extreme measures to reach our goal, knowing that we possess the ability to rehabilitate the planet.”
The murmurs grew in intensity.
“Moving on to a matter that I’m sure will rouse your excitement and curiosity: In due course, you will be joined by a group of rare individuals whose unique blood will usher in a new stage in your evolution, giving the next generation an array of remarkable abilities. They will be equally distributed to all six Sanctuaries. And that, unfortunately, is all I can say for now.”
Groans erupted from the gathering, followed by some good-natured laughter. Kenzo glanced at the Polynesian girl and noticed her looking around furtively. Her eyes locked on his and brief panic crossed her face before she joined the laughter, turning quickly away from him.
“These are exhilarating times as our plans fall into place,” the Boss said. “Keep faith and work hand-in-hand, and I promise history will remember us as the ones who righted all of mankind’s wrongs. To you, my SONEs, and to New Earth.”
The crowd thundered, the echoes of their roars resonating in the cavern as they threw their fists in the air. “New Earth! New Earth! New Earth!”
As the screen went dark and retracted into a concrete slit in the garden, the Stewards dispersed into smaller groups, chattering animatedly with springs in their steps. Kenzo cut through the crowd toward the administrative building behind the massive workshop. Ducking out of sight of the lone CCTV camera, he checked the signal on his phone. Victor said the best place would be—aha, here we go. Aw, man, one bar? Seriously?
He dialed one of the two contacts, named ‘V’, but got a long beep followed by dead air. He tried again with no luck. After a few attempts, including shooting out a text that wouldn’t transmit, he gave up.
Guess I’ll have to keep checking this signal. He heard someone call his name from the other side of the building and shoved the phone into his pocket. Should probably head back before someone misses me.
* * *
As soon as the camera feed to the Sanctuaries was cut, the hooded figure turned a knob on the wall behind. The wall faded into transparency, displaying a window overlooking a sandy cove that hugged the shimmering waters of a lake speckled with sampans. A secured float plane bobbed by the dock of the enormous villa.
Behind the camera, an older man who would have towered in his youth rose to his feet from a large rattan chair where he’d sat watching the speech as it was given. His full beard was dark around the mouth and chin but the edges were widely gray. Life had carved deep lines into his stern, fair-skinned face and his amber eyes flickered with vigilance. A tribal tattoo, its style unknown to the modern world, coiled around his left arm, disappearing into the short sleeve of his embroidered royal purple tunic.
“Not bad for your second address to the Stewards, Reyor,” he rasped.
The hooded figure bowed slightly. “Thank you.”
The old man waited for the hood and voice modulator to come off, but neither did. “I assume you have another meeting shortly?”
“Yes.”
The man nodded, then scowled a little as he clenched and stretched his fingers.
“Are you alright?” Reyor asked.
“Mmh, yes. The effects of the black crystal can only take me so far. After al
l these years, age does catch up.” He gave Reyor a pointed look. “And once you get your hands on the other half of the crystal, this will be your eventual fate, too—to live for centuries, see civilizations rise and fall, tyrants come and go, and then pass on and hope you made a difference for every generation you lived.”
Reyor pulled out a small control box from the void under the hood and turned off the voice modulator. “There is no need for hope. I know I’m making a difference. The only civilization to come, Mentor, is the one I’m building. I will cultivate it and sustain it for as long as the black crystal will extend my time on this planet. Our new world will not fall but will evolve as the Stewards do. But… why do you tell me this now?”
The old man went to the window and gazed out, his strong, wrinkled hands clasped behind his back. “As I said, age does catch up. And truthfully, I grow weary of this world with each passing year.”
Reyor moved to his side. “You speak as if you expect to leave me soon, Mentor.”
A small smile tugged at the man’s lips. “I have assisted you as much as I can, so whenever my time here comes to an end, I can go to the grave knowing I’ve given you all I could. You are my blood, and I am proud of all you’ve accomplished in the last three decades. You have put in so much effort building this empire. But take heed, Reyor. Never allow anger to find home in your life. This will be my most valuable counsel to you. Rage burns away reason and clouds judgement. For those of us gifted with tremendous power, it can bring untold grief that will simmer in our soul for ages. Take it from someone who has lived through it.”
Reyor looked away and instead of responding to his words, said, “You’ve never quite told me why it is you wanted the five children brought to you so badly. Why the obsession?”
“Life doesn’t allow someone to live so long without gaining some wisdom. If these five youths have truly made an evolutionary leap and the Elders believe that they are the fulfillment of the prophecy, then…”
“Then nothing. They are freaks of nature, Mentor. That’s all. Nothing more.”
