The Arliss

by Ann Bakshis

  I toss out the rest of my food and return to the apartment, get under the covers, and try to get some sleep. But my mind is too restless. I get up and remove the notebook from under the sink to see if there’s anything useful in it, but a lot of it is gibberish and difficult to read because of the faded ink. I hold up individual pages to the light on the nightstand to see if that helps. It does a little, but the only information I can read is what the Arliss has already told me about his resurrection and the imprisoning of the Pheles. I catch a couple of references to the historian and something about Telus Mesa, but my eyes begin to hurt from the strain. I put the notebook back under the sink and am about to go return to bed when Nex’s voice sounds over the speakers.

  “Sara Gentry, please report to the medical ward,” she says methodically.

  I don’t want to continue running around in hospital garb anymore, so I put on a pair of black pants and a hunter green shirt. Once I get my boots on, I head up the stairs and into the medical ward. Macom has the divider open for me when I get there and I’m directed to isolation, specifically Cody’s room, but Nex stops me before I enter.

  “He just woke up, and has been asking for you,” she says as I glance into the room. The curtains are no longer blocking the door. “I’ve informed Grimm, who will be here once the rotation change is complete now that Andra is away. I can only let you stay for a few minutes, as Cody needs his rest.”

  I nod my head as she slides the door open. When I’m inside, she closes it behind me but stays there, watching us. I stand at the foot of the bed, partially to block Nex from witnessing our conversation, but I also don’t dare get any closer in case the Arliss can sense what Keegan has done to me. The Arliss smiles, eyes tired and lips chapped. He signals for me to come closer, but I refuse to move.

  “Scared of your master all of a sudden?” he asks in a weakened voice.

  “No, I just don’t want Nex to read our lips,” I reply.

  “Smart girl,” he croaks. “How are you doing?”

  “I’ve been better. You?”

  “I wasn’t expecting the kid to put up this much of a fight,” he says, trying to snicker. “I give Cody credit for trying to stick around.”

  “Did you finally kill him?” I ask coldly.

  “He’s beaten back enough for the moment for me to gain the control I need, but I’m not sure how long that’ll last since he’s battling me something fierce.”

  “Why’d you ask for me?”

  “I need a favor,” he begins, then pauses as a coughing fit wracks his body.

  Nex is about to bolt into the room when I move over to the Arliss’ side and help him get a sip of water, which appears to help. She doesn’t come in, but continues to linger on the other side of the glass.

  “When do you not need a favor from me,” I groan.

  He’s about to speak when his eyes narrow. “You’re different,” he hisses.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say as my stomach tightens.

  “He knows, doesn’t he?” the Arliss asks, seizing my wrist. His strength is beyond immense and I can’t break free.

  “Who?” I ask, pain shooting up my left arm.

  “Your husband,” he replies through clenched teeth as he tightens his grip to the point where I hear my bones crack. “What did he do to you?”

  “Let me go,” I beg.

  “He changed you… into one of his,” the Arliss says, becoming furious. “How could you let him do that?” he screams, which draws Nex into the room. “I’ll kill you, Sara! The moment I get out of here, you’re fucking dead!”

  “Macom, where’s that shot?” Nex hollers.

  The nurse rushes into the room and jams an injector into Cody’s neck, knocking him out. When my wrist is free Nex checks for fractures, but it’s badly bruised. I leave the ward just as Grimm enters, which allows me to exit through the divider. He glares at me as I hurry back to my quarters.

  I pace in the living room, trying to figure out what to do. Since Andra is away and Grimm is probably still in the medical ward, I decide to head to the preparation room to snag a survival pack along with some surveillance equipment and cameras. I hurry up to the top level of the barracks then move quickly through the rec room and weapons bunker. Thankfully, everyone’s at their stations or sleeping, so the tunnels are clear. I remove a pack from the wall and grab a small container of cameras that are the size of a pin, then I have to search for the matching tablet. I shove everything in the pack except the cameras, which I place along at the tops of the walls as I make my way back to the apartment.

  I probably should’ve also snagged my weapons while I was in there but I’m sure they’re on lockdown, meaning my code to call them up will be flagged, preventing Squad Five from sending them along with some extra ammunition. I settle on the couch and turn on the tablet to make sure the cameras I placed are working. Everything is functioning normally, so I take a few minutes to place a couple of them around the living room, bedroom, all open levels of the barracks, and inside the tunnel leading to the medical ward. I’ll need to figure out a way to put one in the control room and the medical ward itself, since my access to both areas will be heavily monitored.

  I set those aside and rummage through the survival pack, checking the contents: two flashlights – one of which will reveal the Mulgrim – dried food packets and nutrition bars, an empty water canister, a tightly rolled tarp, a large hunting knife, and several boxes of matches. I put everything back into the pack, adding the tablet and cameras. I’m about to hide it at the bottom of my locker when I decide to put Wavern’s notebook in there as well. I dump my clean clothes on top, concealing the pack. The next thing I do is switch out the broken plasma screen, so I take one from an empty apartment and leave the broken one in its place. When I have it secured to the wall, I turn it on and look at the Daily Slate as I lay on the couch.

  Sure enough, Squads Nine and Ten are listed as being in Demos, because the Factory is currently on lockdown. Squads One and Three are making adjustments to the Occlyn Ring for the Rodinea Expanse and security patrol; Squads Two, Four, and Six are in the control center, kitchen, and garage respectively; Squad Five is split between sleeping and working in the weapons bunker; Squad Seven is sleeping; and Squad Eight is in Demos. It’s just past six in the morning, and since I’ve been up all night I’m finally starting to tire. I pull the blanket from the back of the couch over me and fall asleep.

  A high-pitched beeping wakes me. I’m surprised to see it’s coming from the Daily Slate. An emergency message scrolls in red along the top of the screen, followed by a mechanical voice stating that the leader of Demos will be making an announcement shortly. I’ve never known any type of message being broadcast from the Daily Slate before, so I’m concerned. This probably is in conjunction with the meeting everyone went to, but why is Myr giving the compounds the message instead of Andra or Demmer? She’s never addressed us before, with the exception of the memorial. Why the change? I take a quick look at the time and realize I’ve been asleep for over twelve hours; as it’s now well past eighteen-hundred hours. I remain wrapped in the blanket as the Daily Slate disappears, the beeping ceases, and Myr fills the screen.

  “Good morning citizens and soldiers,” she starts, her voice trembling ever so slightly. “As many of you are aware, there was an incident in the Factory during the memorial service. One of our cherished citizens was brutally killed in what has been determined to be an accident with a cutting machine. This is the first type of incident to have befallen our community in all the time we’ve lived here in Demos. The farmers who live and work below the Factory saw this as an opportunity to escape their confines. Emergency measures were immediately taken, so the Factory is currently closed to all individuals. Soldiers from Rinku are working to control the growing unrest. It is imperative that we maintain order to secure our survival, so I’m enacting a curfew for all citizens of Demos until this situation is resolved.” Myr takes a deep breath before continuing. “
To enforce the curfew, squads from Rinku and Quarn will each be patrolling our streets and arresting anyone caught violating these orders.”

  “There’s more that she’s not mentioning,” Keegan says as he closes the door and sits beside me on the couch.

  “The meeting wasn’t about the guy’s death?”

  “No, it was, but it was much more,” he says, turning the volume down on the screen. “A small spider tattoo, much like yours, was discovered on Tennison’s body when it was examined by the doctor in Quarn. It was also determined that the fatal bullet was fired from Cody’s weapon. Myr was made aware of this during the meeting and Wavern made the mistake of mentioning that he’d given you Cody’s guns before the memorial started. An inquest has been called and Demmer is waiting in Andra’s apartment for you, so he can take you back to Quarn for questioning.”

  “What? You’ve got to be kidding me,” I almost shout.

  “I told Demmer I’d come get you, since you’d be more cooperative if your husband was the one to break the bad news.”

  “You know I didn’t shoot Tennison on purpose. It was self-defense. Did you tell them that?”

  “I did, babe, but Myr is still insisting that you be questioned by an impartial person, such as Demmer. Nex will be going with you as well, as she took care of your injuries from Virtus.”

  “But what about the tattoo on my wrist? He’ll definitely be suspicious if he sees it.”

  “I thought of that,” Keegan says, removing a hunting knife from a survival pack strapped to his back. “Give me your arm.”

  “Are you nuts? You’re going to cut it off me?”

  “Do you have any other ideas?” he snaps.

  I hesitate, but do give him my arm. When he flips my hand over so it’s palm up, he notices the bruises, which masks the tattoo, though not perfectly. Deep purple and blue fingerprints are embedded into my flesh. The bruises have grown in size and are more profound and sensitive since the Arliss gave them to me.

  “Where’d you get these?” Keegan asks, putting the knife aside to examine my wrist.

  “Cody,” I say softly. “He woke up and asked to see me. Nex let me into his room but he noticed I’m no longer one of his slaves, so he gripped my arm tightly as he yelled. I thought he was going to break it. Macom gave him something to knock him out.”

  “He won’t live to see another day,” Keegan utters, his eyes turning red.

  “You can’t kill him, remember? The Arliss will simply return to the plateau and wait.”

  “I don’t care—he has to pay for what he’s done.”

  “Fine, but let me do it,” I say. “I need to be the one to do it.”

  “Okay,” he responds, changing his eyes back to normal. “Let’s get you up to Andra’s apartment before they grow suspicious.”

  Thirteen

  Demmer is in a heated conversation with Wavern when Keegan and I enter Andra’s apartment. Grimm is standing off in the corner, watching it all unfold.

  “You’re not her squad leader anymore,” Demmer says, poking a finger in Wavern’s face. “I don’t need your permission to take her out of the compound. I only need Grimm’s, which he’s given.”

  I stare at Grimm, but he refuses to look at me.

  “You need to get your squad ready for Demos,” Andra chimes in. “I assure you, Sara is in good hands, Wavern. You’re acting irrational about this whole inquest. If you don’t back down I’ll have you confined to quarters, and Jules can take command.”

  “If you won’t let me go with her, then order Grimm to,” Wavern demands. “She can’t go by herself.”

  “Sara can handle herself just fine,” Grimm comments in a sarcastic tone. “Besides, Nex will be going as well. No one else needs to be a part of this.”

  “Agreed,” Andra says. “Wavern, this is your last warning. Return to your quarters and round up your squad for patrol. Am I understood?”

  “Yes,” Wavern answers sharply. “Come on, Keegan, we’re not welcome here.”

  Keegan kisses me then disappears into the hallway with Wavern.

  “Do you need anything else from me?” Grimm asks, sulking.

  “No, Grimm, you may go,” Andra replies.

  Grimm gently closes the door as he leaves, still not meeting my gaze. I feel like he’s abandoning me all over again, just like he did eight years ago. I don’t care what Wavern said about Grimm not having a choice—he could’ve taken me with him, regardless.

  “Now, Sara, I’m assuming Keegan explained everything to you,” Andra says, taking a seat on one of her couches. “The inquest won’t take long. Just answer Demmer’s questions truthfully and you should be back by morning.”

  “Why can’t I answer them here?” I ask.

  “Myr has requested that the questioning take place in Quarn,” Demmer says with clear contempt. “Now, I think we should get going.”

  “Nex will meet you in the garage,” Andra says dismissively.

  I follow Demmer as we make our way through the various sections of the compound before entering the tunnel that’ll take us to the garage. I’ve never had much contact with Demmer before, so I don’t know much about him. He’s tall, perhaps around six-feet-five-inches, and medium build with graying hair. He has to be around Wavern’s age, maybe slightly younger, but there’s no way to tell for sure since his face is full of creases Wavern’s is lacking. He doesn’t say a word to me even as we climb into the ATV, with Nex taking the front seat beside him. It’s going to be a long ride to Quarn, three hours if I calculate it correctly. I still don’t see why Demmer has to take Nex and me to his compound. What exactly was Myr told? Was the Arliss even discussed, or just his marking?

  “Do we really have to drive all the way to Quarn?” I ask after quite some time. “I mean, we’re already an hour away from Rinku—couldn’t we just do this now and get it over with?”

  “You’re as stubborn as Wavern,” Demmer grumbles.

  “I just don’t see what the big deal is about Tennison’s death. Everyone thought he died in the blast in Virtus and it happens they were wrong. But he’s officially dead now, so what’s the big deal about when his death took place?” I ask, seeing how far I can push Demmer before he snaps. I’m not sure why I want to push him, but something is telling me I need to in order to stop the interrogation that I know is coming.

  “It’s not how he died, but what was found on his wrist that has everyone greatly concerned,” Demmer says, becoming hostile. “I don’t give a damn that the motherfucker is dead.”

  “Well, that’s good to know since you dropped a bomb on him a couple of years ago and that didn’t kill him like you planned,” I let slip on purpose.

  Demmer hits the brakes with such force he nearly loses control of the vehicle.

  “What’s she talking about?” Nex asks, perplexed.

  “You shut your fucking mouth,” Demmer says, seething as he spins around to face me.

  “Does Andra know what you’ve done? Do you know what she’s done? I’m curious to see who’s covering for whom.”

  Demmer reaches around and grabs my throat, squeezing it. “You have no idea what the hell you’re talking about,” he practically spits.

  “I guess everyone forgot to mention to both of you that I’ve gotten most of my memories back, and that’s not good for either of you,” I squeak. “What’s my silence worth to you?”

  “Sara, what’s going on?” Nex asks, becoming nervous.

  “He and Andra are responsible for the bombings,” I reply.

  “This bitch doesn’t know what the hell she’s talking about,” Demmer says, squeezing harder.

  Spots fill my vision, and my hearing wanes. “You murdered Tennison a couple of years ago… just like Andra tried to kill me the other day.” I suck in as much air as I can since I’m beginning to see black around the edges of my vision. “Whose idea was it to bomb the abandonment home? Yours or hers?”

  “What?” Nex practically yells, glancing between the two of us.


  “You don’t know anything,” Demmer says.

  “I know more than you do! Why do you think Andra tried to kill me? Because I found out what the two of you had done,” I retort.

  Demmer loosens his hold.

  “That’s why you ran into Lymont?” Nex asks.

  I nod. “Myr has no idea the two of you have nukes hidden in those precious satellites, does she?” I ask as I try to take in more air, which leads to a coughing fit. “Why’d you keep it from her?”

  “She never asked,” Demmer says, sitting back in his seat.

  “That’s a bullshit reason,” I say. “You just didn’t want to give your power over to someone with a Levo heritage. You and Andra are still trying to carry on a civil war that ended decades ago. I just can’t figure out why.”

  “We’re not,” he blusters. “My father was a Levo, so there goes your theory.”

  “Then what is it? Why was Tennison chased from Virtus? So you could drop a bomb on him and kill him?”

  “I have no fucking clue,” Demmer says, turning back around and putting the vehicle into drive. “Myr knows about the bombs, by the way. Who do you think gave us the order to nuke anyone who’s caught on the surface? There’s been more bombings than just the two of you, but she’s not about to admit to her citizens that she’s authorized genocide. The one for the abandonment home couldn’t be so readily covered up like the others.”

  “Why does she want you to kill her own people?” Nex asks.

  “To prevent a specific person from returning,” Demmer replies.

  “So, murdering everyone was her answer?” I ask.

  “She wanted to stop them from finding him, whether it was on purpose or accidental,” Demmer answers.

  “Who?” Nex asks.

  “The Arliss,” Demmer replies.

  “But that’s crazy. He was killed, which is how the war ended. Why would she think he could possibly return?” Nex asks.