by Paul Ormond
“We were just talking about my massive vodka still,” Artim said. “Thank you for noticing. Do you appreciate the art of liquor production?”
“I did until last night. My hangover is killing me,” Sanchez said, leaning against the rail. “Don’t you have any aspirin in this cave?”
“We have a large supply of Citrimon, a Russian multipurpose painkiller, but it is left over from the soviet era, so it may not be what you were hoping for,” Artim said. “I suggest you suck it up like a man. We have more vodka to drink tonight.”
“After last night, I quit drinking,” Sanchez said, dry heaving over the rail. “Just mentioning vodka makes me feel sick. Where the hell do I find this Citrimon?”
“Head down to the medic bay and tell Zoya you want Citrimon. She doesn’t speak English, but she will understand Citrimon. It’s directly underneath these stairs. You can’t miss it, but I should warn you,” Artim said as he watched Sanchez stumble to the stairs. “Soviet medicine packs a bit of a punch.”
“Like the good punch or the bad punch?” Sanchez asked, stumbling down the stairs.
“Depends on what you mean,” Artim said with a laugh.
“I’ll take my chances,” Sanchez said as he disappeared from sight.
“Now where were we?” Artim said, turning to his guests.
“We were discussing a new project,” Ramon reminded him.
“That is correct,” Artim said. “And we have the Master Smelter right here.”
“I’m not sure if I like this new title,” XiaoFan said, avoiding eye contact.
“You should be proud of the skills you have developed,” Artim said. “It is the strength of the worker that makes any project a success. The Cell puts its workers at the top of the pyramid. Without a central leader, our ideas and principles are what connect us together. One could argue that the Cell is one of the few successful communist organizations that has managed to survive into whatever one would call the current state of the world.”
“Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?” Ramon asked.
“Maybe a bit of both, but the concept is the same,” Artim said. “Those that do the work get the credit, and we all benefit. That was what communism was supposed to be about. Unfortunately, that wasn’t how it turned out for most.”
“You may be correct, but capitalism hasn’t really turned out all that great either,” Ramon said while looking at XiaoFan.
“This term capitalism is meaningless,” Artim said, swatting away the notion with his hand. “It is not a system as much as it is an excuse to let things go on as they have since humans organized themselves into groups. The ones at the top get the lion's share and they let their underlings fight over the scraps. It has always been this way.”
“And you think you can change that?” Christine asked.
“That remains to be seen,” Artim said. “Nothing is permanent, but any student of history will quickly realize that humanity’s desire to dominate others is a constant theme throughout our time on this planet.”
“Hard to argue with that logic,” Ramon said.
“It’s rather rock solid, isn’t it?” Artim said before turning to XiaoFan. “But enough of this philosophizing, we’ve got work to do. Master Smelter, how can we assist you in your endeavor?”
“I don’t quite know what my endeavor is exactly,” XiaoFan said as she fixed her eyes on Ramon. “You see, I have been brought here against my will.”
“Is that right?” Artim said, looking at Ramon.
“She keeps saying that, but it isn’t true,” Ramon said with a laugh. “No one forced her into this line of work, and we didn’t drag her away kicking and screaming.”
“You didn’t really give me much of a choice either,” XiaoFan said. “You told me my family would be in danger if I didn’t help you.”
“Which was and is absolutely true,” Ramon said.
“And they are in even more danger now that I am missing,” XiaoFan said. “I checked the internet through the ancient computers they have downstairs, and the news is filled with stories about a mysterious explosion in Southwest China.”
“Did they mention anything about us?” Ramon asked.
“They said they are investigating.”
“So nothing then. For now, we are in the clear.”
“When they investigate, they will discover that I am missing and they will start to ask questions.”
“But you told your sister your alibi.”
“I told her if anybody asks, I went to work in Guangdong.”
“Then what are you worried about?”
“I’m worried about everything. We just violated several international treaties, and now you want to go and start violating even more?”
“You are really going off the rails here, XiaoFan. You have one of a kind skill-set. These skills may be outlawed around the world for now, but it doesn’t negate your abilities. We are about to change the world, and you can’t do that without breaking a few eggs. The people that made this technology illegal only did it to protect themselves. They don’t care about people like you and I.”
“That’s not the point. I’m not comfortable going along with this plan of yours because you won’t tell me what it is and you haven’t given me the opportunity to choose to do what I feel is the right thing. Instead, you thrust me into a situation and gave me an ultimatum.”
“Fair enough, but I think you should realize that I didn’t have much of a choice either. We have a limited window to pull this off. There are other factors at work here. If we don’t act fast, we might not get another chance.”
“Another chance to do what?”
“To build an army,” Artim said, cutting in.
“I’ve heard about this army,” XiaoFan said.
“As incredible as it sounds, we have reason to believe we are, or will be, under attack in the immediate future,” Artim said.
“Who is going to attack?” XiaoFan asked.
“We have a reasonable amount of proof that would suggest our government and other bodies of power have engaged with an outside influence,” Christine said.
“An outside influence? Like aliens,” XiaoFan asked.
“Yes, and no,” Christine said as she activated her device. “We are well aware that the origins of this technology is off world, but a great deal of its development has happened on Earth.”
“So you are saying that all of this is alien tech?”
“It's not quite that simple, but it’s certainly not from here if that’s want you want me to say,” Christine said, bringing up an image of Robert Chapman hovering before the open portal during the incident in Kingsford. “This photo offers the best proof the public has of off world contact. There is a lot more out there, but it kind of sums up the story.”
“I’m aware of what happened,” XiaoFan said, “But I am reluctant to believe it.”
“Most people are,” Artim said. “And that is the problem. We have scores of members scouring the Internet for any signs of further proof of these entities. We recently received reports that there are substrata activities happening in Kingsford that matches what took place on the day of the incident. Plus another hacker unlocked plans from the department of defense describing a global inReal force that would be used to deter an uprising.”
“This is all a little hard to swallow,” XiaoFan said.
“It should be. I would be suspicious of anyone that took all of this in without any questions. But know this: we are out in front of this for now. If we don’t take the opportunity to prepare for an attack, we will not be ready when the time comes. You’re being given the opportunity to be on the right side of history. When this is all over you’ll be able to tell your grandkids you helped put together Earth’s resistance army.”
“What if you’re wrong?”
“If I’m wrong, then we’ll get rich selling all this stuff on the black market.”
“Or maybe that was your plan all along?”
“There are easier ways
to make money. Do you think I hid out in this mine for several years to get rich?”
“This happens to be the only way I know how to make money,” XiaoFan said as she gripped the rail. “If I were to help you, what do you want me to do?”
“Exactly what you did before, but on a much larger scale,” Ramon said. “We have the plans drawn up already.”
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle all that material,” XiaoFan said.
“Haven’t you been listening, XiaoFan?” Artim said. “This facility is fully stocked with everything one would need to smelt down precious metals. If we don’t have it, we have all the resources available to build what you need.”
“If you’ve got everything you need, then why do you need me?”
“Because, XiaoFan,” Christine said. “You are perhaps the only person on the planet we can trust to handle this operation.”
“Is that because you’ve got my head over the barrel?” XiaoFan asked. “You already threatened my father.”
“We didn’t threaten your father,” Ramon said.
“Yes, you did. You said things would go badly for him if I didn’t help you. That is why I am here, risking my life with you people.”
“Did you threaten her, Ramon?” Artim asked. “This is not the way of the Cell.”
“I was just trying to convince her to help us,” Ramon said.
“So that was a lie?” XiaoFan said as she crossed her arms. “This is just going from bad to worse. I can’t believe I was such a fool to go along with all this nonsense.”
“I’ve let this go on for long enough,” Artim said. “XiaoFan, I must apologize, for this situation is all my fault.”
“Yeah, you and your friends here have kidnapped me,” XiaoFan said before she turned to the rail in disgust.
“Yes, false pretenses were used to bring you here, but it had to be done. There is more to the story than what you have been told. You never learned the real reason your father was sent to prison,” Artim said before he reached into his pocket and handed XiaoFan a picture.
“What is this?” XiaoFan said, peering at the picture in awe. “That’s my father from a long time ago. Where did you get this photo?”
“It is my photo. Do you not recognize the handsome gentleman next to your father?”
“No, and I’m not sure if handsome is the word I would use to describe him.”
“Now you are just being rude. That man is me.”
“What are you talking about? That is impossible?”
“There is a lot you don’t know about your father nor about how he disappeared. Pan XiaoBo is your father’s name and I know him well.”
“How did you know my father?”
“I first met your father in 1989. We helped him funnel information out of China during the Tiananmen Square uprising. After proving himself capable on several fronts, we brought him into the fold of our growing organization as an operative. He soon became an integral member of our team. This photo was taken in Colombia as we assisted in a guerrilla movement to help free people from predatory mining practices. Your father has always been a freedom fighter, and he continues to be. And he is a founding member of the Cell alongside myself and O’Dell Grimes.”
“I’ve never heard any of this.”
“He never told you to protect you.”
“But why would he risk his life and his family to fight with you?”
“Because he believed in a higher cause. Your father was a chemistry professor at Peking University before Tiananmen. After he participated in the protest, he lost his post. This injustice drove him on a quest to speak truth to power across the world. When he was arrested he was doing just that.”
“I was told that he was smuggling illegal goods.”
“If illegal goods is information on a corporations wrongdoing, then he was a smuggler indeed. He had obtained data that showed a Chinese conglomerates willful destruction of a river that poisoned an entire community. He was attempting to get this information out of the country when he was arrested. That community is your hometown and the company you just relieved of its valuable metals was the culprit in question. We did manage to get ahold of the data, but your father was apprehended before we could help him. I can show you the information package now.”
“I cannot believe what I am hearing.”
“Well, they say seeing is believing, XiaoFan,” Artim said as he brought up a holographic panel of his own. “Have a look.”
“This is astounding,” XiaoFan said while she looked through the holographic pages. “And my father was arrested for this?”
“The government had been after him for years. And he hadn’t made too many friends in the business sector either,” Artim said. “But he believed in what he was doing. He always said he wanted his girls to grow up in a world where truth and justice mattered. I am sorry that we lied to you, XiaoFan. It was I that told Ramon to speak to you in that way. We didn’t want to compromise your father while we had operatives in the country, but now we can speak freely.”
“I just don’t know what I am supposed to do.”
“You know what you have to do, what your father would want you to do. Search your heart. It is the right thing.”
“To help you build your army.”
“To bring truth and justice to the world.”
“Spoken like a true freedom fighter. Fine, I’ll help you, but we’re going to do this my way.”
“I knew you would come around.”
“I never said came around. There’s no going back for me now. We’ve only got one option as far as I’m concerned.”
“What’s that?”
“We need to win,” XiaoFan said as she looked out across the scattered equipment. “Is that an electrolytic cell over there?”
“It is indeed,” Artim said. “You certainly know your stuff. Your father taught you well.”
“We’ll see about that,” XiaoFan said. “If we can pull this off, then I might be worthy of praise. Until then, let’s just focus on the job.”
“You sound just like him right now,” Artim said.
“Please don’t speak like that. It will make me emotional, and I’m doing all I can to not cry right now,” XiaoFan said without looking away from the equipment.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
“THAT IS AN interesting story, but why should I believe a word of it?” the woman asked Mitch as he sat bound to a metal table in a dimly lit interrogation room.
“Because it’s the truth,” Mitch said before he exhaled in frustration.
“You expect me to believe that you and that traitor, Drak, foiled the Masters on your home planet and then went to Jarkadu and defeated the Masters again? You do realize what you are saying?”
“It sounds a little far-fetched when you put it that way, but it is the truth.”
“And now you’re here on Chalthantar, sitting in my base trying your best to make me eat this pile of crap you are serving up.”
“You’re the one that wanted to ask me questions.”
“That is true, and it has been entertaining. The question is: what do I do with you now? You said you escaped from Captain Juvius. How did you manage that?”
“When they discovered us, there was a big skirmish. Our friends were taken, but the three of us managed to break free, and we’ve been on the run ever since.”
“Another story that is a bit difficult to swallow. You’ll have to excuse me. I’ve become somewhat jaded over time. You get betrayed once and you spend the rest of your life wondering when it’s going to happen next.”
“Who betrayed you?”
“Oh lots of people, but lets not worry about that right now. Your little escape story doesn’t make a lot of sense. From what I can tell you popped into Chalthantar in the Quansi region, but that is several sections from here. To travel that distance by foot would take even the most seasoned Chalthantarian several weeks. But according to you, you’ve only been here a few days.”
“I have no ide
a where the wormhole opened up. All I remember is that it was underground. When the soldiers in white showed up, we ran down a tunnel to escape. After a while the cave opened up, and we were here.”
“That’s not what you said earlier. You said you walked across a series of sand dunes.”
“And then we went into a tunnel.”
“Which is why you were in the Quansi region. There is no desert like the one you describe in this area.”
“Well, maybe you don’t know everything.”
“And you’re entering dangerous territory with that attitude. The truth is I know exactly who you are. Do you know just how famous you are?”
“I’ve heard a few things.”
“Does ‘The Most Dangerous Man in the Multi-verse’ ring any bells.”
“Where did you here that?”
“So you are familiar with it. It’s all over the Network. Everyone is talking about you. You’ve become quite the folk hero, or a dangerous revolutionary depending on who you talk to.”
“And what do you think?”
“I don’t believe things I hear over the network. I like to find out for myself.”
“But who are you exactly? If you don’t mind me asking?”
“You are as bold as they say. But it’s a fair question. I am General Varalis of the Revolutionary Guard of Chalthantar.”
“You’re a General?”
“Why is that surprising?”
“I’m not sure. I just thought that ...,”
“That Generals were old men?”
“Well, they usually are.”
“The RGC isn’t a usual force. Being what we are, we have to be flexible. It is difficult enough fighting a war on multiple fronts, but when your enemy is in league with an inter-dimensional empire, things get complicated rather fast.”
“It seems to me that we are on the same side. Why is it that you don’t believe me?”
“Because I happen to know that Captain Juvius sent you here to kill me.”
“How do you know that?”
“Your friend Drak has been tried and convicted for treason by the high Priestess. The trial was all over the network. They are going to execute him?”
