by T. C. Edge
It’s the face of AK1.
But on his head isn’t the usual hood. I see a helmet, hovering on the top of his dome, wires sprouting out of it and connecting to the surrounding equipment.
And before I wake, a final thought enters my own head.
This is his special purpose.
This is why he’s so important.
They’re going to use him to give life to these clones…
20
Diversion
When my eyes open up in the darkness of my new accommodation, it takes a moment for me to remember where I am.
I’m immediately out of bed and feeling for my clothes on the floor, and wonder for a second why it’s so much warmer than it’s been for a while. The floor feels odd too, and it isn’t until my eyes grow accustomed to the light that I get a feel for the shape of the claustrophobic little room.
I feel my way straight for the door and flick on the light switch. Then I’m back to my bed and scooping my watch from my bedside table to find out the time. It’s earlier than I thought, dawn still a way off and the camp outside largely silent.
I move towards the only window in the room, however, and see that it’s still fairly busy outside. Many soldiers remain on patrol, vigilantly watching the extremities of the base. Here at Fort Warden, the night doesn’t give way to inactivity as it does elsewhere.
Fully clothed, I quickly leave my room and try to recall where my parents are. Then, I remember that we all have our own rooms, this particular block only housing single beds. I take a guess, and knock at the room across the hall, and after a couple more efforts hear the sound of footsteps.
The door opens, and my father stands before me, clothed himself and with the light on in the room. I can’t quite work out whether he hasn’t yet gone to bed or has already woken for the day. Neither would surprise me.
“Theo…what’s up?” he asks quickly.
Any interruption of this kind can only really signal one thing. He’ll know that I’ve seen something important.
“We need to talk,” I say hurriedly. “All of us.”
“Cyra and Drake?”
I nod, the look in my eyes calling for quick action.
“OK, I’ll fetch them. Wait in your room.”
I return to my little room, and a few minutes later hear the sound of movement outside. The door opens, and Jackson peers in.
“This way, Theo,” he says.
I follow him out and down the corridor, where we go through a door and into a small, simple office. Already awaiting us are my mother and grandfather, their eyes bright as they watch me enter. It looks as though neither have only just been woken. That, like Jackson, they were already awake and busy.
“OK, Theo,” begins Drake as Jackson shuts the door tight. “What have you seen?”
I come straight out with it without delay.
“I think I know what AK1’s special purpose is,” I say immediately.
They all look to each other and then back to me, waiting for me to continue, to offer some further explanation.
“They’re using him as a donor,” I say. “Like, a host of some kind. I think the Baron is planning on creating more clones, building some sort of army…”
“An army,” says Jackson. “But it’ll take years for them to develop. Even if they have accelerated growth, they won’t be any use in this war.”
“Maybe it’s not for this war,” I counter. “Maybe he just wants to spread Knight’s genes all over the country, maybe the world. The man’s insane, he worships Knight like he’s a God…”
“And he’s playing God right now,” adds Cyra. “He’s looking to secure the future with Augustus’ progeny right at the heart of it. He wants him to live forever, and if he defeats us, he’ll have the means to do it.”
“How did you see this?” asks Jackson. “Explain it to us in detail.”
I do as I’m told, taking the three of them through everything, step by step. From the old lab, to the sight of the Baron, to the image of AK1 hooked up to that machine. And behind him, the many tubes just waiting to breed more of him.
And, now that I think of it, more of my mother too.
“So the Baron was there?” asks Jackson. “In this facility?”
I nod.
“Then we have some hint of his location. We need to find this place and shut it down at its source. We’re no longer just fighting for our future, but for that of generations to come. Four clones is bad enough. An army of them will never be defeated.”
“Well, perhaps all of this is a smokescreen,” says Cyra. “Perhaps destroying Eden and clearing that stretch of coastline has cleared the path for this. Maybe Lord Kendrik or another member of the Cabal has been building a base there in secret, just like before, somewhere where his full strength is gathered…”
My mother is interrupted. Not by another voice, but by a sound. We all turn to Drake as he sighs deep, staring at the ground and shaking his head. So far, he’s stayed conspicuously silent.
“You know something, Drake…” asks Jackson.
Slowly, he begins to nod, before lifting his eyes to ours.
“I know where they are,” he says.
“What! Where!”
“You’re right, Cyra,” he says quietly, “about there being a secret facility. Only, it wasn’t a member of the Cabal who built it…it was Aeneas…and me.”
The room is buried in a brief silence. We look upon Drake, impatiently waiting for him to proceed.
“For years, Aeneas and I had been trying to rebuild the Watchers in secret,” he continues eventually. “You’re all well aware of that by now. With the Senate overruling us, we looked to Athena to develop her own followers without their knowledge. But that wasn’t all. We also began development of a research and training facility on the coast, built into the cliffs at a quiet stretch of land between Piscator and Mercator…”
“Drake…I can’t believe I’m hearing this,” interrupts Jackson. “You abused your power, and went against the orders of the Senate? What compelled you to do such a thing?”
“Necessity, Jackson,” says Drake, his eyes beginning to firm up. “We were growing weak, and defenceless. It was only a matter of time before something like this happened. Aeneas and I were merely trying to safeguard the country from future threats. We never expected something this drastic to happen.”
“And now this facility is going to be used to create an army of clones,” says Jackson. “I can’t believe…”
Cyra’s voice cuts in, shutting her husband down.
“This isn’t a time for throwing blame, Jack,” she says firmly. She turns back to Drake. “Dad, you say that this facility was for research and training?”
“Yes, it was intended to be a state of the art base for developing and training Watchers,” he says. “Aeneas and I were pushing a new vote through the Senate, and were gathering a lot of support to reinstate the Watcher program. We were merely preparing for that.”
“And by developing, you mean what, exactly?” asks Cyra. “Please don’t tell me you were looking into cloning technology.”
Drake’s eyes screw up, and his head shakes vigorously. “God no, Cyra. We were merely attempting to design better ways of discovering Watchers, and more efficient methods of opening their pathways and advancing their powers.”
“Jeez, Drake! What if the Seekers are using these new methods?” says my father.
“Settle down, Jackson,” says Drake, clearly getting a little irritated by the interrogation. “The research hasn’t yet been completed. By the looks of it, the Baron has gotten wind of this facility and is merely using it as a base from which to develop his clones. What Aeneas and I were building was entirely different.”
“And who else knew about it?” asks Cyra.
“Not many,” says Drake. “It was a top secret project that was being built under the guise of a power station on the surface. The real work, though, was being done below ground.”
“But…someone like Lord
Kendrik, with all his sway, could have heard about it?”
“Oh, it’s entirely possible that one of the Baron’s many supporters heard, or were even directly involved. None of us knew how deep his roots went into our own government. But this is a positive, and an opportunity. We know where he’s hiding, and we know what he’s planning.”
“And what about AK1,” says Jackson. “If he’s there, then that means we’ll have to get past him first. Cyra, have you seen anything new?”
“I know he’s stationary,” she says. “He’s not on the warpath like the others are. And he’s still just as confused as ever.”
“And do you think he knows about his role in all this?”
“He didn’t know when I met him,” I say. “Maybe he’s learned since.”
“I don’t think so,” says Cyra. “He still seems conflicted.”
“But anyway,” I add. “Do we want to take him on? I’m not sure that’s right…”
I glance over at my mum as my dad does a little half roll of his eyes.
“Why is that, Theo?” he asks accusingly. “In fact, don’t answer, because I already know, and this is exactly the problem. You two are invested in this boy now because you feel this connection. But he remains our enemy and that won’t change. If he’s in the way, he needs to be taken out.”
He looks to Drake, keen on hearing his opinion.
“Jackson may be right,” says my grandfather. “If we can catch AK1 alone, then our combined strength will be enough to overpower him.”
“But Link’s not here…nor is Ajax,” I argue.
“Regardless, with Athena and the three of us in this room, not to mention Velia and a few of Athena’s trainees, we have enough strength…”
“To kill him?” I ask. “This is half mum, remember.”
“No, Theo,” says Jackson loudly. “This boy has nothing to do with your mother. For goodness sake, Cyra has been built by her experiences, not the genes in her body. All they have done is give her this power that she never wanted. This boy isn’t your brother. He is a science experiment, nothing more.”
His voice rings around the room a few times. I see my mother’s eyes drop. Drake looks upon her with a hint of sadness. Jackson appears to immediately regret his words, or at least the way he delivered them. More quietly now, he speaks again, calming his voice.
“We have to remember that we’re trying to win a war here. We’re trying to save millions of lives. Not just those living now, but many generations yet to get a chance of a normal life. If anyone stands in the way of that, they are our enemy. That is a fact, Theo. You must understand it?”
I sigh deeply and begin nodding.
“I do,” I say quietly. “Of course I do. I just…hope there’s another way.”
“So do I, son. But if there isn’t, then we have no choice…you have no choice. We may have to count on you to do what must be done. You have to be willing to take that step when the time comes.”
“We don’t yet know what will happen,” adds Drake. “We don’t yet have the full picture. What we do have is a vague plan that needs to be developed. We know that the Baron has taken that stretch of coastline as his base, filling the cities of Mercator and Piscator with his soldiers. They are fortresses now, and the space in between is likely to be crawling. Getting through won’t be easy.”
“Then…how will we get there?” I ask.
I see a light begin to shine in my grandfather’s eyes, a plan beginning to form. On the wall, the black window brightens, yet another dawn beginning to rise. I never thought I’d witness so many. I never thought I’d live on so little sleep.
But right now, my mind is alert. And so are my eyes. And so are those of all the people in this room.
And quietly, Drake turns to us all once more.
“A diversion,” he whispers, nodding. “What we need, is a diversion…”
21
A White Lie
Drake doesn’t offer any further explanation before the meeting ends. I’m used to his cryptic ways, and so, it would appear, are my parents. We all share knowing looks as he leaves the room, my father making a move to follow.
Left now with only my mum, she comes over to me and takes a closer look at my face.
“You look tired, Theo,” she says, giving me some sort of facial appraisal. “You should get some more sleep.”
“More sleep? How can I with all this going on? What did grandfather mean by a diversion?”
She shrugs her shoulders and shakes her head.
“You know what he’s like. Let him figure something out. We’ll be caught up soon enough.”
“But…”
“No buts. We need you strong. Try to block everything out for now and get some proper rest. Think of home, of the woods, of something relaxing. Then you’ll drop off.”
I try to offer another counter argument, but am quickly shut down again. In the end, she actively leads me back to my room and threatens to tuck me in like she did when I was a child, unless I get in bed myself.
“Fine…I’ll do it,” I say. “Jeez…”
She smiles warmly as I climb under the sheets, feeling as if I’m nothing but a kid again. It’s strange how mothers can do that to you. I mean, I’m out here in the centre of a war, and yet she’s trying to tuck me like I’m an eight year old.
When she finally leaves me alone, I spend the first few minutes thinking I’ll never drop off. After five minutes are up, however, I’m beginning to feel drowsy. As my eyes shut, and fresh sights of carnage begin to creep into my head, I open them wide again and resolve to stay awake.
Then, I follow my mother’s advice and begin thinking of home, of Lignum, of the quiet woods and babbling brooks. Immediately, thoughts of Ajax and Link appear before me again, and in my mind’s eye I can almost see them, dashing through the forests and little woodland towns, cutting down the enemy as they continue to ravage our homeland.
It’s not a vision, just part of my imagination putting images in my head. Images that make me smile. Images that I’d like to be a part of.
In the early days, it was hard determining what was what. Dreams and fantasies and proper visions were all muddled up. Now, they’re distinctive, each carrying a unique feel that I’ve grown accustomed to.
And this is nothing but a fantasy. Something I hope and pray is happening. That the brutal and ferocious father and son combo is wreaking the same havoc as the Seekers, spreading fear through the enemy ranks.
Let them have it, I think with a smile. Give them a taste of their own damn medicine.
In the end, my mind tumbles away and I imagine something more calming. Just a scene in the woods, sitting down by the lake near my house, watching the animals drink at the water’s edge. The birds whistle in my ears, and the insects buzz around me, and through cracks in the overhanging foliage, shards of warm light spread down to the forest floor.
It’s a familiar image, and a relaxing one. What was once a place where I felt like a prisoner is now the one place I truly want to see again. I just have to hope that there’s enough left when all this is over.
And there, sitting by the water’s edge, I feel a presence beside me. But it’s not Ajax, my confidant, by best friend, by brother in arms.
Instead, the soft face of Velia appears, her hazel eyes shining, her lips curved up in a rare and beautiful smile. I move in to kiss her, something that feels so natural now, and run my fingers through her silky brown hair.
It feels so real to me, a moment of peace in my mind amid all the violence. I watch her lips now as they open, her voice coming out quiet and weak in my ears.
Slowly, her words form, and all I hear is my name.
“Theo…Theo,” she says, looking right at me.
And slowly, my eyes open, and no longer do I see the trees and lake and bright green foliage. All that is gone, replaced by a cold and lifeless room, the walls functional and grey and dull.
But one thing remains the same: Velia, staring down at me with those s
ame hazel eyes, that same brown hair and soft skin.
“Theo…Theo…wake up,” she says as my mind brings itself out of the peaceful dream.
“Hey,” I croak.
“There’s a meeting,” she says. “Your dad told me to come get you.”
The fog continues to clear and I sit up. I look to the window to see that the world is fully lit, the sun high in the sky. I must have been sleeping a while.
“A meeting?” I mumble.
“Yes, Theo,” she says, laughing, “a meeting. Now come on, get up!”
She hurries me out of bed before I realise I’m wearing only shorts and nothing else. As I begin pulling on my clothes, I catch her watching.
“Do you mind waiting outside,” I say jokingly.
“Do you mind if I don’t?” she responds with a cheeky grin.
I shrug as I pull on my trousers, before dragging a t-shirt over my top half. She gives up the pretence of trying to avert her eyes, looking on admiringly at my frame. The look in her eyes causes a stir in me that I quickly try to keep at bay.
Soon enough, however, we’re marching quickly from the room and heading towards the primary command centre in the middle of the base. Inside it’s a hive of activity, intelligence officers shuffling here and there, other technicians and soldiers going about their work. We go straight towards the main control room, where we find all of the usual suspects waiting for us inside.
Unlike the war room in Petram, this place is all high tech and filled with screens and computers. In the centre, a large table sits, with a hologram of the mainland shining out from it. All across it, little figures hover, signifying towns and military units spread across the land. Areas of fighting are depicted too, with the various areas now taken by the Baron lit in red, and our own strongholds still in blue. The amount of red on the map is disconcerting.
When we walk in, a discussion is already raging. With so many of our soldiers and militia converging here at Fort Warden, organising them is proving to be a logistical challenge.
