Balance (The Neumarian Chronicles)

by Ciara Knight

  Ryder faced three soldiers. They fell as one, their eyes sightless and faces ashen. “We need air support.”

  “Not yet. The wasteland creatures won’t know the difference.” I stared at the ships. Now. Front ship, I ordered, sending them what I was seeing.

  The lead ship fired, hitting one Neumarian fighter. Ryder rushed to him. Placing his hands on the man’s chest, he sent waves of energy into the fallen warrior. Energy he’d gotten from Mandesa’s troops.

  Click, click. Clickety-click.

  I screamed into the streets, “All civilians, stay in your houses.” Most immediately complied, racing into the nearest building to hide. Those still outside froze and looked up. Giant worm-like beasts—with thousands of mechanical legs, jagged, crushing pincers, and dark eyes—advanced on Mandesa’s armada. One clutched the little ship that had fired from the sky in its pincers. It arched its head and tilted the ship into its open, waiting maw.

  “Stay close,” I hissed. “They shouldn’t attack anyone with me.”

  While terror struck Mandesa’s guards frozen, the assassins and hunters seemed unfazed and continued advancing. One assassin jumped onto the weakened platform, splitting it down the middle. Yet the assassin remained upright, halting at the edge. It aimed the weapon on its shoulder at a house and fired. Screaming, people fell, engulfed in flames, to the street below.

  From her position in the building where we’d left her, Mags tossed fire bombs.

  As Ryder finished with two other wounded civilians, an assassin turned its weapon on him.

  I focused on the target, sending a picture and order to my wasteland comrades. On platform, west side. Metal shelled man. Eat all metal shelled men.

  I heard shrill, excited squeals over the blasts and destruction. The platform imploded as long, hairy legs with spear-like talon scraped against the metal poles. The sound sent shivers through me as I remembered my own encounter with these creatures. Swallowing hard, I directed another sermechtapede to take out the second ship, while tracking the battle between the spiderat and assassin on the stage.

  For a minute, I was unsure who would win. Then a long appendage shot out, arched to the right, and speared the assassin through the chest. Its talon jutted through the other side, blood dripping from its tip.

  I felt no remorse for the human part that remained in the metallic suit. He was beyond our help, death his only release from the horror his life had become.

  “M-Mandesa escaped. Th-this won’t end if she’s alive.”

  Father? Can you hear me?

  No answer.

  A hunter caught hold of Dirt, its snarling and gnashing teeth ripping flesh from his shoulder. His screams pierced my ears.

  Mods and Tinker fired at the creature, drilling it full of holes. Yet, it still managed to drag Dirt into the alley.

  “Go!” I signaled them to follow. “Ryder, help them.”

  The advancing assassins halted, studied the scene, then followed them into the alleyways. I knew they’d rip the innocent from their homes and slaughter them mercilessly. Killing was their mission. They wouldn’t stop until everyone but Mandesa and her cadre were dead. Not even her soldiers were safe from them.

  Turning, I lifted my gun into the air and fired one shot to signal the second wave of the fighters.

  Raeth thrust her arms up with palms glowing like the sun. A wave of sand crested over the remaining ships, crashing them before the greedy, hungry creatures. Ships down. Eat. I directed them.

  Raeth shot me a grin. While I was relieved that half of Mandesa’s armada had been grounded by her attack, she’d also almost started a war between us and the Wasteland creatures.

  Armed with everything from kitchen knives to makeshift guns, men and women stormed from their homes and onto the streets. The ones reaching the downed soldiers first took their blasters. An old man hobbled out of a butcher shop, a massive knife in each hand. I almost yelled at them all to get back inside and hide. They were no match for Mandesa’s army or the creatures, but I knew they wouldn’t listen. Payback for their years of oppression was foremost in their minds.

  “There’s the queen,” someone yelled.

  “No!” I hollered. “It’s a diversion. She isn’t here!”

  Semara I’m here.

  Father?

  Yes, something’s been jamming us. Dred’s taken care of it, though. Is he cleared to approach?

  Tell him east side, avoid north.

  Affirmative.

  Need help. Queen escaped.

  Not surprised. She’s like a cockroach.

  I’ll have to correct Mags when I see her, I thought.

  The clanging of an assassin drew my attention to an alley. It leapt, his large glass eyes scanning the crowd. It fixed on me and the gun on his arm rose.

  I melted it until it was nothing but dripping, molten slag. Still he continued forward, so I fused his feet to a metal sewage grate.

  Top of two-story building. Mandesa’s arming some kind of weapon at you, Father said.

  I’m kinda busy right now.

  With his good hand, the assassin yanked his right leg to free it, ripping it apart and leaving a bloodied stump still attached to the grate. Grabbing a light pole, he bent it under the other leg and tried to lever it free. Try as he might, it didn’t work.

  I stepped back. Driven by a hunger for killing like I’d never seen, I knew nothing would stop that assassin. Drawing energy from the metal feet he’d left behind, I turned it on him. His metal shell became a molten coffin, sealing the creature inside.

  As his screeches died, I realized I’d melted all the assassins within a few meters of me. That left us Mandesa’s soldiers as the immediate threat, which outnumbered us ten to one. Their weapons might seem superior, but not against Neumarians. With our gifts focused, we could take them down before they’d even aimed and without harm to any innocents.

  Where’s Penton? I asked my father. What about the gas?

  He’s on his way. Got delayed by a hunter.

  Raeth shot a soldier then turned to me. “Is he okay?”

  “Yes.”

  Using Father as a bridge to all our troops, Penton ordered, Put on your masks. Queen’s about to release the weapon for us. I exchanged her mist bombs with my sleep agent.

  I spotted Marty. “Tell your men to put on their masks!” I shouted as I jerked mine free of my belt and slipped it over my face.

  Is Ryder okay?

  I’m fine, Ryder answered. Dirt’s okay, too. I’m headed back now.

  Good. We can’t afford to be separated.

  Overhead, a loud pop drew our attention. Blue mist covered the city, settling on the streets.

  Men and women collapsed to their knees then toppled over as they passed out. Soldiers, vagrants, council members, Neumarian slaves, and civilians alike lay, carpeting the streets with their bodies.

  Top of third building from the end of the south side street. Penton’s voice sounded in my mind.

  I stepped over several bodies and headed south, down Main.

  Mask on, Penton met us at the second alleyway.

  “N-nice of you to join us.”

  He smiled. “Good to see you, too, sweetheart.”

  Above the blue mist, explosions from Mandesa’s airships lit the sky as they battled the Wasteland creatures.

  I spotted Mandesa where Father said she’d be and yelled, “Give up, Mandesa. You’ve lost. Your ships can’t help us. They’re fighting for their lives. And I’ll melt any assassin that comes close.”

  Her hideous, bone-chilling laugh echoed through the streets. She stepped out onto the ridgeline of the roof and jumped to the center of the street ahead. The blue mist already clearing, she tossed her mask aside.

  Behind me, I heard people rousing. They deserved to learn the truth. Father, tie me into the citywide audio system.

  Done.

  Smiling, I slid my mask from my face and clicked it to my belt, never taking my eyes off her. “You’ve already lost. You just don’t
realize it yet.”

  “Do you truly believe that by sabotaging one weapon you’ve defeated me? Neumarians,” she snorted as she flipped her hair over her shoulder. You don’t have the stomach for a real war. This is nothing. When I win, this small hic-cup won’t even be remembered. No, I have a better idea. I’ll write about how I saved our planet from slaughter by the Neumarians when you turned a peace conference into a second Great War.” A sickening grin spread across her face.

  “This conversation is meaningless.” Head held high, I strode toward her. “I’m not a weak child anymore, and I know the truth, all of it, including how you murdered your sister, my mother,” I said. “Oh, and you should know, I’m responsible for the capture of your general.”

  “Where is he?” she snarled.

  Snickering, I returned, “What? Ridgecroft didn’t tell you? Oh, that’s right. He thought the general escaped the Arc when we were attacked. He didn’t. After the terrorist bombing, we put the general on trial. The jury found him guilty and sentenced him to death. It was carried out immediately.”

  Her screech could have shattered windows.

  “I look forward to taking you down personally.”

  With his mask attached to his belt, Ryder joined me and threaded our fingers together. “We’ll do it together.”

  “Forgive my manners, Auntie. Allow me to introduce you to my husband.”

  “You’ll pay for today and the insult of marrying that creature,” she said with a dismissive flick of her hand.

  “You don’t control me and never did. I am the daughter of Neumarian General Bellator and Lanena Valderak Bellator, Seer to the World.”

  “You were their daughter. Today, you die. And with your death, your father will wither into nothing as he did when I ripped you away from him the first time. That pathetic man actually wept and begged for your return.” She paused, and taking in the square and streets feeding into it. “You think you’ve won, that I’m surrounded? Ha. You know nothing.” She pulled a plastic device, resembling a tamer, from her sleeve.

  Instinctively, I raised my hand to claw at my chest, then stopped. My eyes narrowed on the device. “Get back! Run! Hide!”

  “I see you’ve heard I turned you into a weapon. You’ve also heard I have nukes,” she said, her skeletal grin declaring I own you. “That’s all you ever were to me. A weapon first against your mother, then your father and that engine rat. Now, I’ll use you against your husband.”

  Ryder shot a silver stream as I pulled energy from the metal around me and shot flames at her. It sputtered out as a green flash hit our gifts.

  “The girl. She’s still active,” I said, keeping my tone mild.

  “Of course she is. She’s the rightful heir to my throne. Although, I’m never going to die, so she’ll function as a pawn until I transplant my mind into her body.” She moved her thumb to the button.

  I tried once more to blast her metal leg into slag, but the green barrier blocked my abilities.

  “It’s time for all of you to die.” A green field surrounded her body in an aura.

  “Down!” Raeth yelled as sand descended over the city. It pelted Mandesa, buffing her to a high shine.

  Ryder and I worked to take her out of the equation.

  But the shield was too strong for any one of us.

  I looked at him. “I love you.”

  Linking hands, we stood together, waiting for Mandesa to release me as a weapon that killed everyone I loved.

  He tipped my chin so I would face him. “I love you, too. If I leave this existence first, know I’ll be waiting for you to join me, dancing on the edge of that lake of yours.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  I confirmed we were alone. The civilians had taken refuge from Raeth’s wave of sand in the surrounding buildings. Smiling, I sauntered up to the edge of the green shield. While she coveted immortality and had used science to clone herself, she’d already lost. She stood, trapped in her rotting body. No she cared too much about living to sacrifice herself. All these years I’d lived in fear, but today I saw her for what she was, a coward.

  Knowing my army was coming, I continued to maintain eye contact. “Why destroy such a weapon as me?”

  Shaking her head, Mandesa tut-tutted. “Silly girl, I don’t need you. You’ve been replaced with a younger, better version. One I can transplant myself into.”

  I met her grin. “So, I’m the nuke you claim to have.”

  “Yes.”

  “You’re lying. While at the Arc, I underwent many examinations. Besides, if I had metal inside me, I’d know. My gift, remember?”

  She fingered her device. “Really?”

  Ryder wrapped his arms around me and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “If it weren’t for the child, that shield wouldn’t protect her from me, let alone a nuke. Time she met her fate and judgment of the afterlife.”

  Her sickly smile thinned to a line of orange painted lips. The device, clutched in a death grip, remained pointed at my chest. “Whether there’s a nuke inside your wife is irrelevant. She’s a weapon none the less.”

  “No, I’m not. My mother warned me from the grave that I was a weapon or a savior.” In that moment I realized what she meant. My love could be a tool or a weapon used against me. Fear of loss crippled people, but embracing our fate was powerful. “I choose savior.”

  Fire licked at my shoulder, as if my Neumarian mark longed to release it in vengeance of all my ancestors she’d murdered.

  She lifted her chin and shouted, “Release the army!”

  A fast clicking sound, followed by stomping and tapping, catapulted us into fight mode. Ryder placed his back to mine and I scanned the area. Thousands of small creatures, resembling spiderats, skittered along the sides of buildings. People covered half in metal half in skin, swarmed from the alleyways.

  “You like my pets? They’re former friends of yours. Most of them are from the Mining Territory.”

  Turning, Ryder’s arm brushed by my ears. He blasted silver energy at the shield. It ricocheted off, striking and killing some of the grotesque monstrosities.

  A rebellion ship roared low overhead, fragmenting the green shield. It performed a roll. As it ascended, another plane did a fly-by, blowing her cyborg creations into pieces.

  “It doesn’t stop there.” She pressed the button.

  We froze, moving only our eyes as we waited for her next revolting creation to be unleashed upon us.

  “You’re not the only one who communicates with animals.” She clicked the hand-held device and a sermechtapede shot into the air, arched, and dove toward the street. We scattered. Ryder fired.

  Stop. No! A loud squealing raged in my mind. “The device!”

  Make stop, the sermechtapede begged, its voice slithering through me. Yet, it continued its descent.

  “The device, it’s driving them mad. Destroy it before they kill us all!” I screamed, holding my head. Unable to handle the splitting pain, I disconnected from my implant.

  Penton and Raeth joined us. He and Ryder sandwiched us between their backs. Kneeling, they fired repeatedly at Mandesa’s creations and the Wasteland creatures.

  The sermechtapede opened its mouth as it extended its pincers. Its razor teeth closed on Ryder’s gun arm. It amputated and swallowed it.

  Screaming, Ryder crumpled to the ground, blood spurting from the remainder of his bicep. As I dropped to his side, Penton continued firing at the creature. If we didn’t get help soon, we wouldn’t have to worry about my being a stealth weapon. The Triune would be inside the sermechtapede.

  Over my head, several explosions boomed. The sermechtepede that had taken Ryder’s arm exploded. Glancing up, I saw Mags standing behind me, her heavy caliber weapon smoking.

  Cupping my hand over the stump, I tried to cauterize it. Nothing. Where was that child? Why hadn’t Father or Dred neutralized her, or failing that, locked a slave collar around her scrawny neck?

  Penton ripped his vest off and tossed it to me. “Use
this and apply pressure to slow the bleeding.”

  I wrapped it around the remainder of Ryder’s arm and, with Raeth’s help, pressed on the gaping injury. Watching Ryder’s skin whiten, I shot a killing glare at Mandesa. “If I survive this, you’re dead.”

  Before she could respond, the flapping of billowing sails announced the Scavengers’ arrival. Their ships looked like old sailing vessels, except they flew—fast. Barbed wire ringed the deck. Dred stood in the center of the quarterdeck, shouting orders. Side hatches flipped open. The barrels of cannons and other long range, heavy caliber weapons thrust out of the openings and rained fire. Each shot hit Mining Territory creations and Wasteland creatures. Pieces of their decimated bodies smashed down on us.

  Terrified screeches and squeals filled the air. Spiderats scurried back to the Wasteland. Sermechtapedes tore through the streets then plunged into the earth, racing home. The few remaining cyborg-like creations milled around in confusion.

  My gift flared, searing Ryder’s skin of his opened wound into a closed stump. He howled and held his arm tight to his chest.

  As Dred’s ship continued to pound anything that neared us, I pointed to the emerald shield surrounding Mandesa.

  He concentrated heavy fire at the shield. It shimmered and thinned, but a moment later it regained strength. With a wave, Dred tossed a rope over the side and rappelled onto the roof of the council building somewhere behind Mandesa. The moment he landed, Dred’s ship tacked and followed the fleeing creatures, concentrating its firepower on the sand, forcing the beasts from the city.

  Terrified I’d lose Ryder, I couldn’t concentrate on the battle. Leaning over him, my nose almost touched his. “You’re bleeding out, Ryder. If that kid isn’t blocking your abilities, why haven’t you healed yourself?”

  “Can’t grow back arm. If I seal it, can’t reattach.”

  The pain drilling through my skull each time Mandesa directed one of her little creatures to do her bidding, made me want to throttle Ryder. “It’s being digested inside the sermechtapede. You aren’t getting it back. Don’t you dare leave me over a stupid arm! You’ve got another one.” I looked up at Penton, tears washing my face.