by Jim Spencer
‘How are we doing an act of treason if we’re protecting the innocent?’
‘You should be put on trial for what you tried to pull off, Atan.’
‘Since when did we become the bad guys?’
‘You fucking coward,’ were amongst the many cries which could be heard. Atan waited patiently as the noise subsided. Patrick tried to carry it on, but stopped once Arion gestured him to.
‘Thank you Arion,’ Atan acknowledged. He then looked the other way and addressed his new subjects,
‘Disobeying a direct order is treason.’ There was a combined murmur of agreement and revolt at this, as both sides let their feelings be known. Atan continued over the noise,
‘And there is no substantial evidence that I had done anything wrong.’
‘Liar,’ Arion and Cordell screamed out in unison as the rest of the cabinet was somewhat divided on this issue
‘Where is the evidence then?’ some people shouted out. Before an answer could be given, Atan continued,
‘Our peace with Tribe country is the importance of the talk today.’
‘You don’t care about peace,’ Arion shouted.
‘Why of course I do, Arion.’
‘If you did, then why are we not at peace with tribe country now?’
‘Our cultures are very different.’
‘They’re almost identical.’
‘Oh really? In what way Arion?’
‘They use technology to survive, just like us.’ Most of the cabinet didn’t agree on this.
‘Well you know what, fine. You don’t agree. Wouldn’t it be wise to go and find out if I’m right then?’
No one had an answer to this. As he spoke, at the same time, on the opposite part of the horizon, a small batTalion cruiser was awaiting orders to strike. The people of tribe country were going about their daily lives, in hope that peace could be attained. Back in the council, Atan spoke again, over everyone’s voices,
‘I am not looking at what people have done in the past or what we don’t know. Arion may be right, there probably are parts about tribe country that we don’t know about and were ignorant of.’
As he spoke, the batTalion across the horizon received a message to attack.
‘These are things we can learn in time.’
On the other side, the first commander gave the order to strike
‘I know we can gain peace.’
The first strike hit a village of bystanders. Women and children were severed to pieces in a single moment.
‘But first we have to put aside our differences.’
A child cried as he tried to pick up the remains of his mother.
‘And learn to accept that we must change from within.’
The child’s anguished screams were silenced as a bullet went through his head.
‘I am willing to accept my mistakes and learn from them. Why can everyone else not do this?’
More bombs were thrown as people ran for their lives.
‘An effort has to be made. We have to start from somewhere.’
The bombs were thrown, now the soldiers of civil country pointed their guns at civilians, ready to write their names in the history books, something Cordell would never have allowed.
‘I am willing to begin. Let us all take this moment to begin.’
An entire town of people were shot down, target practice for heroes of tomorrow.
‘Let us discuss peace.’
The final few fell to an eternal peace.
*
‘How do you think that went?’ Arion asked Ruto.
‘Can’t say. Some agreed, some didn’t. He seems to want peace, but no way of knowing for sure.’
‘Do you have a back-up?’ Arion asked him.
‘I have two people watching over the civil country borders. They’ll send me a message as soon as they hear anything.’
‘How long does it take for a message to get to you?’
‘A couple of hours.’
‘Can’t you just use technology?’
‘Can you walk?’ Ruto asked abruptly.
‘Well, yes I suppose.’
‘Then you can move your ass and deliver me a message then.’
Arion couldn’t help but snigger at this. Ruto was somewhat single track minded. Then again, he had to be. It was the only way his people had survived for so long in the wilds.
*
They were in his house, sitting together trying to sleep. All of them had agreed unanimously to leave for Tribe country in a couple of days. Arion was surprised everyone wanted to go back. It was like they were missing home. This place literally felt like a prison to them.
‘I don’t know what I’ is, but there’s somefink about the open air,’ Patrick would keep telling him. Everyone murmured their agreement. They also seemed to be chit-chatting more, something he hadn’t noticed before. Maybe it was due to them being comfortable with one another, or simply due to the influence of tribe country. Honestly, Arion didn’t care. He hadn’t felt this alive since his father had died. In fact, the need of wanting his father alive had completely gone. With these people around him, he had all the family he needed.
Speaking of family, he remembered his family being somewhat uneasy with him going back to tribe country afterwards. He had told them it was simply due to business, though had failed to mention he was considering a permanent move. They seemed to want to sort out certain things with him, mostly to do with property. When he told them that the memories were too painful, no one questioned him. Cordell shook his head when he told them that.
‘They’re not even hiding it are they? They would much rather have your property than be bothered about how you feel.’
‘I know. Honestly, I don’t care anymore. I’m not coming back.’
‘I know. But still, they should show some compassion at least. You must be a real anomaly.’
Arion simply shrugged his shoulders at this.
‘I guess there isn’t anything else to say. I’ll be back in a minute.’
‘Where you going?’
‘Bathroom.’
Arion went into his bathroom, feeling indifferent. He knew what Cordell said was true. He had always known they were somewhat nasty, but this pretty much took the cake. As he finished in the bathroom, he heard a distant noise in the background. It didn’t seem like much at first, but it got louder. He turned around and found a masked man, who hit him on the head
*
‘We need him alive for the procedure.’ Arion could hear a familiar voice. He dared to open his eyes, as he saw a somewhat blurry image of Atan. Before he could pretend to be asleep again, Atan noticed.
‘I’m glad you’re awake, Arion.’
‘What is this?’ Arion managed to say, as he awoke and realised he was unable to move. He had been tied to a stool of some kind. As he began to struggle, Atan smiled at him and spoke,
‘You didn’t think I’d let you leave just like that, did you?’
‘What the hell is this?’ Arion shouted as he was able to take in the room. He was in Atan’s house. The problem was, no one else knew he was there.
‘You know, you really did hide the formula well. I’ve searched everywhere. I’ve been trying to hack into your systems, but none of what you’ve done is retrievable without you. Either your brain, your iris or your fingerprint. It’s such a shame that none of the weapons work without you programming them first.’
‘You son of a bitch.’
‘No need for that Arion. Oh, I can assure you, we tried for a full week to decipher what you had done. People honestly couldn’t even get close to what you have achieved. You truly are a genious, in the old sense of the word.’
‘You’re crazy,’ he argued, desperately trying to fight his way out of this trap. How had he got himself into this predicament? He was better than this, he knew it.
‘Don’t be so shocked, Arion. You knew I’d try and get you back for hitting me. I had to pull you in somehow.’
‘You call t
his peacemaking?’
‘What makes you think I’m interested in peace, Arion?’
’You’ve lost you’re mind. You can’t possibly want war. They won’t stand a chance against you!’
‘Well, every revolution has its casualties.’
‘Neutral country will never stand for this.’
Atan actually laughed at this.
‘What the fuck are they gonna do? Discuss it in a committee? No, of course not. They don’t do anything. That’s why they’re neutral. We’ll get to them soon enough. I just want to make sure everything is under control and people are using their resources properly.’
‘You just want power, that’s all it is.’
Atan didn’t answer, nor did he disagree. Arion then asked him, desperately trying to find a way out, ‘What do you plan to do with me?’
‘Extract your brain. I already told you that.’
‘Well, let’s be honest. It’s not everyday someone says that to you.’
‘I guess not’ he gestured to one of his helpers, who seemed to be busy doing something. Atan gestured to him again and he made a move, readying the machine. It was a major contraption that housed 6 screws in a sphere shape, enough to fit around his head. Arion was beginning to panic now. He had no way out. His life couldn’t end like this.
Just then, he heard a noise. It sounded like a knock on the door at first. But later he realised this wasn’t possible as it seemed to echo. This startled Atan as well. As he went closer to the door, two things happened. One, the door smashed open, and two, Tali walked in. he had never been more relieved to see him then today. As Arion lay there in shock and some pain, Tali quickly nodded to the helper Atan had spoken to previously and he left the room.
‘You son of a bitch!’ Atan finally screamed.
‘Oh yeah. Under what right do you call me that, Atan? You think I wasn’t aware of your plans? I’ve been watching you for months, little boy.’
‘I ain’t a boy,’ Atan screamed at him.
‘Don’t you dare. DON’T YOU DARE SHOW ME ATTITUDE, BOY!’ He seemed to have been holding this in for a while. It was only then that Arion realised that Tali had a metal stick in his hands. He struck Atan on the legs. As he wailed in pain after the numerous strikes, Tali made his way and freed Arion.
‘I can’t believe you just did that,’
‘Me neither,’ just as he said this, Atan stabbed Tali in the leg. He lost his breath for a moment before giving out gasped breaths. It took Arion a moment to realise what had happened. He saw Atan crawling over and took Tali’s metal stick. He beat him to within an inch of his life before Tali was able to come between them.
‘Arion, I think I need more help than him right now.’
‘He needs sorting out.’
‘It’s too late for that. The attacks have already begun. Killing him will only fuel more hatred.’
‘What attacks?’ Arion asked, worried.
‘I’ll tell you on the way. But we need to get everyone out, especially your friends from Tribe country.’
They ran back to a van that Tali had clearly driven in. Arion was shaken but had to compose himself. After all, everyone was still in danger if they didn’t know.
*
Cordell snapped awake, something didn’t feel right. He was trying to stay awake, but had suddenly fallen asleep. It was as if the air had changed. Realisation dawned on him, probably due to experience. They were being attacked. He grabbed the closest sharp object he could and prodded himself awake. The jolt was enough to get him up. Just then, he saw two men kneeling, slicing.
‘OI’ he screamed, as they panicked looking at Cordell. Some of the men awoke, with the two closest to the assassinators still on the ground. As the others got up and scurried for the two who would end them, a third figure went unnoticed as he lay next to the woman, slowly slicing away her clothes. She awoke as the cold air hit her breasts. Realising almost too late, the man was upon her, ready to devour at any moment.
But he didn’t know the women of Tribe. They were no fools. She wrapped her legs around him and used her hips. In a swift movement, she held him above the ground for a split second, long enough to take out two knives from behind her dress. She stabbed him straight into either end of his ribcage as he gasped for breath, suddenly realising he was the one being slaughtered here. Without hesitating, she turned him around, twisted the knives and yanked them out, forcing an immense amount of blood to gush out of his innards. As he lay there, going into a seizure, she stabbed him in the heart and did the same twisting motion before releasing again.
‘I fucking loved this dress as well,’ she finally said as the man simply died in her arms, literally breathless. She got up, strong arms and shoulders and turned around. The remaining men were wise enough to turn away from her topless self, as she found a fabric to lay on top of her body. Eventually she came across a bedsheet. Folding it over twice, she made a hole in the middle and lay it on top of her. Although she was covered, it couldn’t hide her figure as well as the dress did.
‘It’ll do for now,’ she finally said, as Arion and Tali came racing to the entrance to find a scene of blood and guts.
‘How many dead?’ Arion asked Cordell directly.
‘Thankfully, only two.’
‘It could have been worse,’ Tali said
‘Let me guess, Atan not playing ball?’ Cordell asked.
‘No, he’s ordered a strike against tribe country behind our backs.’
‘What?’ Ruto screamed out as he was tending to his daughter.
‘There’s nothing we can do. They’re already there,’ Tali told him.
‘We can attack from behind.’ Ruto told them.
‘That’s the plan,’ Cordell answered. He then shook his head as he said, ‘I honestly thought Atan might change his ways. He’s been hinting about finishing Tribe country for a while. I never thought he would try it.’
‘That’s why we have to react quickly,’ Arion told him. He then looked across to Sana. A surge of emotion lifted in him. He honestly hadn’t felt that before. Controlling himself somewhat, he asked,
‘What happened to you?’
‘Nothing I can’t handle. Let’s get out of here.’
They didn’t need telling twice.
Chapter 15
They were in the outskirts. No one knew what Arion had tried to do. No one knew they were out in the dark of the night. Slipping away from the guards was easy. They were asleep anyway. They made their way outside and commandeered the trailer that was sat near the massive crack. As they made their way in, Arion saw a slight movement.
‘What is that?’ he whispered.
‘Walrus.’ Cordell told him. The giant whales were lying in the crater, possibly resting.
‘That could be a problem.’
‘Not ours anymore’ Tali told him.
‘What if the structure falls?’ Arion asked.
‘That won’t be a problem,’ he told Arion as he made his way and started the engine.
‘Wait a second. What do you mean?’
The engine began to whir and they began to move away from civil country.
‘I mean that we have been working on new defense systems for a while. If that structure goes down, it will hover.’
‘Seriously? I thought they could only do that for transportation?’
‘No, they’ve been working on it for about 4 years now. Top secret.’
‘So what we saying?’
‘I’m saying, if a major earthquake happens, then there is enough of a ‘cushion’ shall we say, to allow civil country to levitate above the clouds.’
‘How the hell did Atan keep that a secret?’
‘I thought you knew?’
‘I guess not. What about the precautions I took?’
‘What, with your lab?’ Too good mate, he couldn’t penetrate it.’
‘Well at least that’s safe.’
‘For now.’
Arion sighed, ‘I know. It’s becoming a bigger probl
em by the day. If I stop him, then someone else will take it later on. Either in my lifetime or later. It needs protecting.’
‘What can we do? Pass a new law or something?’ Sana suggested. Arion hadn’t even realised she was there.
‘That’s a good suggestion actually. I didn’t think of that.’
She simply smiled as Arion began to seriously contemplate this.
*
They didn’t stop all night. Thanks to the great ingenuity of these machines, travel was a lot quicker than it would have been. What would normally take days, took hours. They arrived at the coast of Tribe country. It was deserted, although the tents were still there, smeared in fire. Ruto let out a scream of some kind and some people came out from seemingly nowhere. There seemed to be an old abandoned hut down below.
‘That used to be a nuclear bunker,’ Ruto explained to them.
‘How do you know all this?’ Cordell asked him.
‘I know my history’ he answered simply.
He began to speak with his tribesmen in his native tongue. Arion had a rough idea what he was saying, but couldn’t fathom everything. Eventually he came back to the rest and spoke,
‘Many were killed, but the women and children are mostly safe. They weren’t able to get them all.’
‘What about the rest of the tribes?’ Sana asked.
‘I don’t know. They’re making their way across. I’ve asked one of them to send as many messages as they can.’
‘Will they get there in time?’ Arion asked.
‘We have our ways.’ Ruto told him simply.
‘Come on dad. You can trust him!’ Sana argued. Ruto muttered something to Sana which made her flush, but she stood her ground in front of her father.
‘Very well then,’ he finally said. ‘We found many underground bunkers. In them, there are old computer systems which are rarely used anymore. We send an SOS signal to them.’
‘What’s the signal?’ Arion asked.
‘A siren,’ he replied. Sana muttered something back to him in her native tongue.
‘Ok seriously, what are you saying?’ Arion intervened, clearly getting annoyed at this.
‘Don’t,’ Cordell interrupted him, ‘I’ll tell you later.’ After a slight pause from Ruto, he spoke,
‘We must discuss our next course of action. Let’s make camp here tonight. And then we shall talk.’
