by JN Chaney
The large one, Ludo, presented her with a wide grin. He was broad-chested and intimidating, so unlike any of the other men in her city. His skin was rough, not smooth or clean. Is this how all the natives looked?
No, the woman beside him was even more distinct. She looked pristine, almost delicate. Her bald head indicated she was a priestess, blue tattoos on her head and neck. Such things had always felt so archaic and uncivilized, but here, up close, she found them enchanting, like a piece of art in human form. The woman’s dark skin glistened in the light. How could someone from the wilds look so beautiful?
“It is good to meet you,” said Ludo, offering his hand to her.
She took it, then returned his pleasant smile. “Believe me, the pleasure is mine. Terry speaks highly of you.”
The farmer’s face grew warm with kindness, relaxing her. For a man so large and intimidating, she could sense his gentleness. His great affection.
“Where’s your ship?” asked Terry.
Ludo pointed behind him. “The shore is close. Hux is waiting there for our return.”
“Then let’s not keep him,” muttered Jinel Din, who had been standing silently beside them. She began walking deeper into the woods. “I have something urgent I’d like to discuss with your captain.”
******
Standing on the deck of the Waveguard, Terry felt Hux’s heavy arms embrace him, squeezing his chest so tight he couldn’t breathe. “Terry, my good friend!” exclaimed the wavemaster.
“Good to see you, too, Hux.”
“I wasn’t sure we’d find you, Little Traveler. What a gamble it was!”
“I can’t believe you came here,” said Terry.
“The seas were fierce, but I’ve never met a storm I couldn’t weather,” Hux said.
“We witnessed a Guardian in the water. You would not have believed it,” said Ludo.
Hux’s eyes lit up. “Truly, a mighty beast! It was twice the size of the Waveguard. A monster like nothing you’ve ever seen!”
“You’ve come a long way just for me. I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Please, no need for that,” said Hux, smacking him on the back. “Now, tell me please, who are these friends you’ve brought?”
“Jinel Din and Lena Sol,” said Terry.
Hux nodded at the two women. “Are they from these lands?”
“We’re both from Everlasting,” said Jinel.
Ludo’s mouth dropped.
“Is it so?” asked Hux.
“It’s true,” said Terry.
“The city is in turmoil. The Leadership’s forces have—”
“You mean to say you come from the Holy City?” asked Ludo, nearly fumbling over his words.
“It isn’t holy,” said Lena. “We’re people, just like you.”
Ludo looked at each of them, totally confused. “How can this be? What about the gods? They fly higher than all others, higher than any of us. What of the Guardians? The Priesthood and the Order?”
“I don’t know where those things came from, but none of that is Everlasting,” said Jinel.
Ysa stood with a quiet look of disbelief on her, and for the first time, Terry realized what was truly happening.
Each had lived their lives under the belief that the gods were real, that Everlasting watched over the whole world and kept them safe. Most of all, however, they had thought their rebellion from the temple a sinful act, a defilement of their beliefs. They’d chosen love instead of faith, burying their guilt beneath all else, forced to live with it.
Here was the truth of the matter, proving all their worries to be for nothing.
If they didn’t understand it yet, they soon would.
“Captain Hux,” said Jinel Din, staring up at the wavemaster. “I would like to ask a favor of you, if I might.”
“A favor? What would someone from Everlasting need from a man like me?”
“Terry tells me you’re from Tharosa…that you’ve traveled most of the world in this ship.”
He nodded. “I have seen almost every land there is.”
“How long would it take you to sail to Tharosa from here? How great is the distance?”
“Five days, I think, depending on the winds.”
“What is this Tharosa like? Is it true they live in the mountains, mining metals and jewels?”
He nodded. “The capital city is built into the rocks. Much of our wealth comes from the mines, but also the trade it creates along the coasts.”
“And the metal in that sword,” she said, pointing to the weapon on Ludo’s hip. The same one Terry had wielded against the titan Guardian along the wall.
“Also from the mines,” he answered. “Though, it is far rarer than any other.”
“That’s good, because I would like you to take me there.”
“You wish to go to Tharosa? For what purpose?” asked Hux.
“To save Everlasting and the people who live there,” she answered. “To end the war of oppression that threatens to kill us all.”
CHAPTER 8
Leadership Report 226905.117
Recorded 03.27.884
Subtitled: Update 107
GEL: What do you know about the vessel departing from the western shore.
JUNE: Very little, I’m afraid.
GEL: The satellite detected two of our citizens on board the ship. One of them appears to be dressed like a Garden soldier.
JUNE: I suspect they are Jinel Din and Lena Sol, but I’m not entirely certain.
GEL: Analyst Sol, you say? What gives you that impression?
JUNE: The two of them escaped with the rest of us during the attack, but while we fled to a neighboring Garden base, they went elsewhere.
GEL: For what purpose?
JUNE: I’m afraid I don’t know, exactly. However, I believe they intended to deliver Terry to his allies from beyond the wall. I suspect the ship you speak of is theirs.
GEL: Why not simply take the boy to his associates and return? Why would Jinel Din and Analyst Sol join them and risk exposure to the gas?
JUNE: What is their current heading? The northern continent?
GEL: An accurate guess, Vivia. They seem to be going to the mining country.
JUNE: There was talk of going after some orinchalium to bolster Garden’s arsenal. Terry offered information about the origins of his sword. I would imagine they intend to find more.
GEL: Interesting.
JUNE: Will you pursue them, sir?
GEL: Only after they’ve attained the orinchalium. We could use that to repair the damaged sentries.
JUNE: An excellent idea, sir.
GEL: Keep me informed. Remember, Vivia June…all is for the good of Everlasting. Do you understand?
JUNE: Yes, sir.
End Audio File
An Unknown Room
March 27, 2351
“Another one. You won’t feel it,” said Fentin as he once again injected something into Mei’s neck.
She wanted to ask him what he was doing, but her entire body was numb and she couldn’t move. She couldn’t even close her mouth to keep from drooling.
“There we are,” said Fentin.
The blood in her veins, saliva, skin cells, bone marrow, hair follicles. They took little pieces of her every hour of every day, and she could only watch.
Let me out, she wanted to cry. Let me go!
But the words were stuck in her throat, replaced with soft groans. The medication kept the sounds from forming, turned her into a ragdoll. A toy girl for them to poke and prod and tease. She was nothing but an object now.
Her vision fogged and she blinked, although she couldn’t feel it—not even as the tears trickled down her cheeks.
Fentin took a cloth and wiped her mouth. “Time to put you away,” he said in his native language.
Mei had paid attention during her time in this place, listening and watching, observing the men who came and went. She still didn’t know half their language, but she was getting better a
t it.
Though her body was lost, her mind was not. She could still absorb information. She could watch and learn. No matter what other freedom they took, she still had her mind.
Until they put her back to sleep.
The door opened and a voice called for the doctor to come outside.
“Right now? Very well,” he said, placing the medical tool on the table.
Mei watched him head into the hall. The door closed behind him, and she was alone. She could hear a long, low voice like gravel, punctuated briefly by a higher one in response. Was this an argument? New orders? I need to focus, she thought, but had little experience honing her abilities. Not like John, who had trained for years to be the best he possibly could. If only she’d spent more time on it, maybe she wouldn’t be in this position now.
No, she couldn’t think like that. Mei could do this if she wanted…if she focused and called on her Variant strength. Just do it like John showed you, she told herself. Focus and listen.
She struggled to close her eyes, but slowly managed it. The drugs made it difficult to do much of anything, but at least she had some control. She concentrated on the two voices on the other side of the wall. Two males, one deep and rigid, the other light nervous. The voices grew a bit louder and more pronounced. Better, she thought, but not quite enough.
She reached with her mind, tried to pull at the sounds. Tried to—
“…report is looking positive…”
The words faded in and out, but she was nearly there. Just a bit more.
“The new tests are done. We’re ready for another sample,” said one of the voices.
“I’ll extract one from her,” said the doctor from before. The one who had left the room moments ago.
“Be careful with her. We can’t afford to find a replacement specimen.”
“She is small, but her body is…” He said a few words she didn’t recognize. She still had room to develop her vocabulary, it seemed.
“I trust your judgement. Take as much as you think she can handle, but if she dies, you will be…”
“Very well. Please inform Master Gel that the operation is going smoothly.”
Mei’s eyes cracked open. Did he just say Gel? Was she hearing this right? No, there was no way that was possible. She must have mistranslated. It wasn’t possible, not after everything she’d done for—
The door opened and the scientist entered the lab. He had a worried expression on his face.
Despite knowing she couldn’t, Mei tried to move again, tried to do anything. Instead, she only sat there with her mouth open, her entire body numb and useless. She was desperate to understand what she had just heard. Why would Gel have her abducted? Didn’t he understand she was trying to help him find a cure for the gas? Was he trying to keep the people from having the cure? Nothing about this made any sense.
The doctor came and sat beside her, picking up a needle and a piece of wet cloth. He dabbed Mei’s arm, pausing to smile at her. “Here we go once more,” he said, sticking the needle inside and drawing blood. “We have a long day ahead of us.”
******
The Waveguard
March 27, 2351
Terry was glad to be on the sea again after spending so long underground. He found Garden’s base to be dimly lit and claustrophobic, especially after spending years in the open country of this beautiful world. The facility had been void of life and color, almost leeching the joy he’d once felt while under the blue leaves of the forests. He hadn’t realized how powerful his nostalgia was until the moment he left the tunnels and entered the woods near Everlasting. Now, sitting here with his feet dangling off the side of the boat, he couldn’t imagine a life without it.
That wasn’t to say he didn’t appreciate Jinel Din’s help and subsequent protection. He might have died in the lab where she found him, never to breathe the free air for the rest of his days. Thankfully, this had not been the case. With any luck, it never would be.
The sea stretched into the bent horizon, the two suns high above. Their heat hugged his neck and arms, warming him in a way he hadn’t felt in weeks. Taking a deep breath of the saltwater air, he exhaled with satisfaction, and smiled. It was good to be back.
The Waveguard would spend a few days at sea while it made its way to Tharosa on the northern continent. Hux had said the acquisition of orinchalium would not be a simple matter, but he assured him it would nonetheless be possible. The wavemaster had many contacts among the more established traders in the region as well as a handful who were, as he called them, of a less savory kind. One way or the other, Garden would have its precious metal.
“Enjoying your thoughts?” asked Lena. Her words pulled him back, and he turned to look at her.
“Just thinking about everything we have to do,” he said.
From what little he could see of her face behind the mask, she seemed to be smiling, though he couldn’t say for certain. “May I join you?”
“Of course,” he answered.
She sat beside him, letting her feet hanging over the side of the boat just like him. For some reason, it surprised him to see her this way. Despite the mask and the equipment, she looked relaxed, like she was enjoying herself. This was a stark contrast to her usual demeanor. Less rigid and more open.
“How do you like it outside the city?” he asked.
“This isn’t the first time I’ve left Everlasting. I used to visit Dr. Curie and Sergeant Finn when I was a liaison to the Leadership. Come to think of it, that wasn’t too long ago.”
“Were you scared when you first did it?” he asked.
“Terrified,” she muttered. “Protocol required us to wear full body environmental suits to minimize any potential exposure, yet I was far more afraid than I am now.”
He looked at her hands, which remained uncovered. In fact, aside from her normal clothes and the mask she wore on her face, Lena had nothing to shield her from Variant. “Is it safe for you to be out here?”
“The air doesn’t bother me unless I breathe it,” she explained. “In all honesty, the suits were unnecessary. We wore them as a precaution, not as a necessity.”
“What about the mask?” asked Terry.
“Extremely necessary, I’m afraid. This filters the Variant from the air and allows me to breathe. I’d be lost without it.”
“Then, how do you eat?”
“Very carefully,” she said, and he thought he caught another smile. “As long as I’m quick about it, I can remove the mask to eat and drink, but it is not a pleasant process.”
He sighed. “No wonder you never leave that place.”
She dipped her head, looking into the rushing waves along the base of the ship. “It isn’t so bad. Things could always be worse.”
“Terry!” shouted Ludo. “Come and see this!”
Lena and Terry both turned to the starboard side of the ship to see Ludo holding a large fishing pole. Hux let out a heavy laugh, smacking his chest. “The farmer has become a fisherman!”
“I’ve caught one!” said Ludo.
Terry got to his feet and went to his friend’s side. Lena followed, too. They peered over the side to see the splashing fish as it struggled against the line.
Ludo gripped the wooden pole with both hands, pulling it back and away from the water. “I have it! I do!”
“Hoist it free,” said Hux. “Put your back into it!”
Ludo lifted the struggling fish out of the waves and into the air. It was massive in size—roughly as large as his arm. With hardly any effort, Ludo managed to pull the beast onto the deck, flopping it in a pool of seawater.
“Quick, use something to crack its skull. Sederin! Come out and bring me the hammer!” yelled Hux.
Sederin came running a short moment later from within the cabin. “I’m here, captain!”
Hux took the tool, cupping the fish by the throat with his other hand, and preparing to strike.
Lena turned away. “I can’t watch this.”
With a quick,
precise strike, Hux brought the struggle to an end. He handed the oversized animal to Sederin, who had to hold it with both arms. “Have this one prepared for tonight’s dinner.”
“Yes, sir!” said Sederin, leaving with the meat.
Hux grinned. “Such a fine display, my friend. We will eat well tonight!”
“Was it truly necessary to kill it?” asked Lena, her eyes sinking.
Hux chuckled. “Of course. Have you never caught a meal?”
She shook her head. “In Everlasting, we only consume plants and artificial meat.”
Hux seemed confused. “What is artificial?”
“It’s not real meat,” said Terry.
“Not real? But fishing is the way of the sea! Poor Lena, wait until you try our cooking tonight. You won’t believe what you’ve been missing!”
******
Everlasting
March 27, 2351
John received a call from Master Gel’s office in the middle of the afternoon, asking him to report in as soon as possible. He tried to get more information over the communication channel, but the secretary wouldn’t clarify. “The Master says the information is rather sensitive and to come at once,” said the person on the other end, then they closed the line.
He grabbed his pack and proceeded into the hall, knocking on Short’s door. Right away, she opened it, geared and ready to go.
“You get a call just now?” he asked.
“I sure did,” she said.
The adjacent door opened and out walked Track. “Oh, I guess everyone’s going,” he said.
“Let’s head out and see what’s going on,” said John, securing his vest.
The three of them boarded an Egg transport to the Citadel, the floating tower high above Everlasting near the edge of the domeguard. One of the analysts met them on the landing pad and escorted them to Gel’s office.
“Wait here,” John told Short and Track as they entered Gel’s outer office. “I’ll be in and out with info as quick as I can.”
“Maybe there’s a mission in this,” said Track.
“Could be,” said John.
As he took a seat before the Master Analyst a few moments later, the man in charge of both the Citadel as well as the city’s military forces beamed a smile from across the desk. “I hope you are prepared, Sergeant Finn, because I have some very good news for you today.”
