by Lake, Edward
Without hesitation, I fired a constant beam at the wall above the entryway and let it cave in on them. They were blocked off, and I was free for the moment. I got low and snuck around the building. In the sky, I saw ships flying in from all over.
I stayed hidden behind the pillars as I moved ahead. I made it to the theater that was attached to the building and went inside. Luckily, it was empty.
On the outside, I could hear hundreds of soldiers marching around the buildings, and even more ships flying around. The soldiers would no doubt be entering the theater at any moment to search for me and Samantha.
I quickly looked around in desperation, trying to find something to hide behind. On the stage, I saw a massive drum set that was probably being assembled for an upcoming performance. I hurried to it and ducked down. I turned off my shield so that I could blend in with the shadows.
Then, from above, I heard someone walking down the pathway that led to the stage. I looked up and saw Mother.
She stopped and let out a miserable grunt. “Juozas.”
I rose and glanced at the entry. “Why haven’t you called for the soldiers?”
Mother took a few steps forward. “Because I want to reason with you and end this tragic conflict.”
I watched her carefully, and I was prepared to turn my shield back on at any moment. “Are you willing to end slavery on all five planets, and liberate the four civilizations the Mamluks have conquered?”
She shook her head. “No. That will never happen.”
“Then we have nothing to talk about.” I walked forward and gently placed Samantha in a chair. She began to cry. “It’s all right. I will return shortly.” I looked up at Mother and marched toward her with my sija aimed. “Since you have foolishly confronted me alone, I will take advantage of this opportunity and kill you now.”
Mother turned on her shield and backed up the walkway as I approached. “I am not yet skilled enough to face you, Juozas. However, I have found a new protector in your absence.”
Out of the shadows from above, someone came forth, wearing a hooded black cloak. The mysterious figure pulled the hood back and revealed his face as he stepped into the narrow sunlight coming from the window on the far wall.
I paused and studied him. “Father.” Then, without pause, and in a rage, I ran up the walkway and fired a shot.
He activated his shield just in time and the laser bounced off the force field. Father responded with a constant beam and blasted down the walkway. All at once, I turned on my shield and jumped into the seats. The constant beam ripped through the floor and sent chunks of stone and metal flying all over.
I sparked a constant beam of my own and aimed it at Father. The lasers connected, and the force from the colliding beams knocked me back a little. We held our ground for a short while, and the laser beam grew into a massive orb.
I rolled to the side and the orb exploded, knocking us both back a few feet. I got up in a hurry and ran at Father again. He staggered ahead and created an orb around his fist. I copied him, and when we reached each other, I leaped over him and landed near Mother.
I tried to attack her but Father spun around with only a moment to spare and shoved me to the wrecked floor. I got up and tackled him. Our shields sparked and flashed against each other as we grappled. Father punched and kneed me, but I couldn’t feel anything with the force field around me.
Finally, he pushed me away and jumped to his feet. I went at him again, but this time, Mother fired a steady laser that blocked me. I ignored her for the moment and focused on Father, but she kept shooting at me, and Father charged me and knocked me to the floor.
I popped up in a flash, but unexpectedly, I felt exhausted. I took deep breaths under my shield as I glared at Father. He came at me again and kicked my chest. I flew back and slammed into a broken chair. Father wasted no time and ran up to me. He punched and kneed me with blazing speed. Desperately, I tried to get away, but my exhaustion had gotten worse. What’s happening to me?
For me, the fight should have been no contest. I had already beaten Father, foiled his techniques, and demonstrated my superiority. I kept trying with all the strength I had left, but Father continued to dominate the fight.
Moments later, droves of soldiers burst into the theater and marched into the rows of demolished seats with their sijas aimed.
I heard Mother call to them as I scrambled on the floor. “Stand down, Soldiers. We have him.”
Father backed away and watched me for a moment. He was surprised to see me like this. “Get up and fight, Juozas.”
I tried to get up. I kept trying, and trying, but I couldn’t. I felt completely drained without having taken any damage. Father kneeled and lifted me up. He wrapped his enormous arm around my neck and squeezed hard. Still, with my shield protecting me, I felt no pain, but if he could keep me like this, the pressure would knock out my force field. I reached up and grabbed his arm. My hands sparked as I tried to break the hold, but it was no use. Father was incredibly strong.
After a few moments, as Mother and the soldiers looked on, my shield went down. I felt Father’s mighty grip and hurled up a clump of saliva. Gradually, my vision began to blur. I reached out to the crowd of soldiers. I had grown up with them, shared laughter and tears during our time at the academy. It can’t end like this.
I shifted my eyes, trying to spot Samantha. I could only see her tiny feet dangling off the edge of the chair I had placed her in. She was crying loudly, and hearing it was making me cry. “Please, please help me,” I slurred to the soldiers. I moved my eyes back to them and saw Lauren-Lynn and London standing in the crowd.
London had his arms crossed with a smirk on his face, but to my surprise, Lauren-Lynn looked deeply concerned.
I heard Father let out a long exhale. “Juozas, my spawn. Humanity has made you weak.”
Right after, my arms went limp, and just before I blacked out, a crushing thought crossed my mind. Forgive me, Samantha. I’ve failed you.
Chapter 50: Emily
I released a sigh of relief as I watched Juozas fading away. Farewell, my son. At last, the leader of the rebellion would soon be no more. To demonstrate our supremacy, I planned to display his dead body to the masses. Such a resounding message would no doubt hinder any others in our society who dared to defy me.
With Juozas immobile, Adomas let his guard down and turned off his shield. Then, out of nowhere, a soldier in the crowd screamed and leaped at him. I focused my eyes and realized it was Lauren-Lynn. She quickly blasted Adomas with a rapid shot and turned on her shield. The laser went right through his stomach and he crumbled to his knees, dropping Juozas.
The theater fell silent as I looked on in utter disbelief. I released a cry of shock and ran down the walkway in a fret. “Adomas!”
The soldiers rushed to him and surrounded Lauren-Lynn.
I pushed through the crowd and lowered myself to the floor. “Wait!”
The soldiers backed off a little.
Lauren-Lynn touched Juozas and her shield covered him, too.
I hurried to Adomas and reached out to his lifeless body. In a rage, I slowly looked at Lauren-Lynn with my teeth bared. “How could you do this?”
She shook her head at me with a long frown. Then she looked around at the others. “Look at what we’ve become, My Friends. Is this to be our legacy? To kill the ones we love?” Finally, she looked back at me. “There must be another way, My Ruler.”
I stood up and spat at her. “No! There is no other way. This is our world. And you are soldiers of my rule. Now kill this traitor!”
Half of the soldiers quickly aimed their sijas at Lauren-Lynn, and the other half hesitated.
London emerged from the group and heatedly pointed at her. “All of you! Obey your Ruler at once! Aim your weapons and fire!”
Lauren-Lynn’s eyes watered as she stared at him. “You would kill me, Old Friend?”
London glared at her. “You’re not My Friend anymore.”
I nodded i
n response to his loyalty and stared at the soldiers. “Do it.”
Then, a massive blast from behind rocked the theater and made us all stumble a bit. I spun around and saw the walls crumble to the floor. A ship flew into the theater, and it was set to fire with its force field turned on.
Someone in the crowd spoke out. “Lauren-Lynn is right. We can’t go on like this.”
I shook my head in frustration and backed away. “Those who are still with me, kill the traitors!”
All at once, the soldiers turned on their shields and started shooting at each other. There were even a few soldiers shooting at me. I turned around and nudged through the chaos. When I broke free, I locked my eyes onto Samantha and ran to her. Then, just before I could grab her, Lauren-Lynn swooped in from behind and snatched her up.
I looked back and saw a group of soldiers helping Juozas to the ship, fighting off my soldiers as they went along.
“I’m sorry for Adomas, Emily.”
I looked back at Lauren-Lynn and got in a fighting stance. “Don’t worry. You’re going to pay for it with your life.”
I quickly fired a constant beam at her. She ran toward the ship but I chased after her with my laser locked on. Then, when she tried to jump to the ramp, I leaped through the air and knocked her off course. Samantha fell from her grasp and bounced off her chest as they landed on the floor. I quickly tried to grab Samantha as she cried out, but Lauren-Lynn kicked my hand.
From behind, a soldier snatched her off the floor and ran to the ship. “No!” I desperately shot at him as he jumped to the ramp.
Lauren-Lynn tried to get up and run again but I blocked her off.
She backed up and aimed her sija. “Stop this trivial battle, Emily. You can’t defeat me.”
I laughed. “Then demonstrate your excellence and finish me.”
Lauren-Lynn smiled and got in a fighting stance. I bent down and prepared to strike. She came at me with a swift combination that sent me stumbling to the floor. My shield protected me from feeling any pain, but I was still embarrassed. She was good.
I got up and waved her on. Lauren-Lynn leaped through the air and did a front kick to my chest. I went flying backward and hit the wall with a resounding thud. Before I could get up, or defend myself from the floor, Lauren-Lynn hit me with a constant beam that held me down.
I just barely managed to block it with a laser orb, but she was able to break through it, and her constant beam went back onto my shield. “Help!”
Finally, a swarm of my ships flew into the theater and fired at the enemy ship. Over the radio, I heard one of the disgraced soldiers call to the other traitors. “Hurry soldiers! Into the ship before the shield goes down!”
Lauren-Lynn ignored the request and maintained her fire, and it appeared as if my shield was going to go down at any second.
I quickly radioed to my ships. “Someone please help me! Lauren-Lynn has me trapped!”
They responded promptly, and through my bright, white cocoon, I saw them fly over us and attack her.
Lauren-Lynn tried to fight back but it was no use. Within seconds, her shield went down. I heard her scream just before her body was vaporized.
From the floor, I waved off the ships and stood up. They flew away and continued the attack on the other traitors. I looked down and saw a deep, black burn spot in the floor where Lauren-Lynn’s body had been.
I smiled passionately. “For you, Adomas. But it’s not over yet.”
I turned around and watched my ships finish off the few traitors who were still fighting on the theater floor. The enemy ship was flying around in the limited space, trying to save the others. Then, when the last soldier was killed, they sped up and flew to the outside. My ships followed them, but I knew the cowards would accelerate and get away. Still, I looked on and let out a woeful screech as they fled. Samantha.
As the dust settled, I saw London march up the pathway. I gave him a harrowing stare when he stopped before me.
He kneeled and bowed his head. “We will get her back, My Ruler.”
I shook my head and moved past him. It was time to take matters into my own hands. “No. I’ll get her back.” I marched to the other soldiers and briefly looked them over. “Take the dead soldiers to the beach. Ally or traitor, it doesn’t matter. They will all receive a proper burial.”
“Right away, Great Emily.”
As they got to work and moved around, I saw them pick Adomas up and carry him to the outside. I put my hands on my hips and lowered my head.
London walked up from behind and took a deep breath. “And Lauren-Lynn?”
I waited a moment before responding. “She was vaporized. Still, I want you to find something that belonged to her and bring it to the beach. A brush, a pair of boots, anything. We will honor her soul as well.”
London gave me a bow and headed out with the other soldiers.
I stood there, still in shock after another outburst of betrayal. This time, I had lost three loved ones, but Samantha was my saving grace. Our saving grace. I had to find her and bring her back—by any means necessary.
A moment later, a devastating message came over my radio. “My Ruler, thousands of soldiers from across the globe have turned on us and fled into space. In fact, the numbers are growing rapidly.”
I stood tall and looked up at my painting as I replied. “Don’t worry, soldier. Just let them escape. Once they are in space, my fleet will wipe them out.”
The soldier sent a speedy response. “Affirmative, Great Emily.”
Feeling sickened, and overwhelmed, I reached out to the nearest chair and held on tight, stopping myself from throwing up. I stayed there for a moment and closed my eyes.
My thoughts were scrambled, but there was one notion that kept me grounded. This war will no doubt go down as the greatest challenge of my rule. But I have to stay strong. For Adomas. For Samantha. For my people.
Chapter 51: Juozas
I woke up on a ship and rose. There was a group of soldiers surrounding me, and in the background, I could hear lasers blasting.
A soldier kneeled and helped me up and into one of the chairs that was built into the wall. “Are you all right, Juozas?”
I sighed and gave her a nod. “Yes—and thank you.” I gasped and looked around. “Samantha!”
Another soldier quickly stepped forward. “Worry not. She is safe.”
I found the soldier and saw him holding her. My eyes watered a little as he brought her close. The soldier handed Samantha over to me and I hugged her like I hadn’t held her in ages. It was now clear that I had somehow made it out of the theater safely, and with my beautiful daughter. But how?
I looked up as I gently rocked Samantha and checked the soldiers. There were a lot of unfamiliar faces in the group. “Have you joined the rebellion, My Friends?”
They nodded as one. Then, one of them spoke up to explain. “Lauren-Lynn saved you from Adomas.” He solemnly looked around at the others with great shame in his eyes. “She’s dead.”
When he looked back at me, I put my head down and closed my eyes, shedding a few tears. “Lauren-Lynn.” Finally, I stood up and stumbled to the control board. Out the window, I saw that we were in space, being chased by Mother’s massive fleet. “Have you contacted our rebel friends?”
A soldier in the cockpit gave me a quick response. “Yes, My Champion. We are united, and together, we will win this war.”
I turned around and went back to my chair. I sat down and kissed Samantha’s head. “Never again. I won’t ever lose you again.” The ship rocked, and I nearly fell over.
“They’re swarming us!” a soldier called out.
I looked around and handed Samantha to an idle soldier. “Watch her for me, please.”
She kindly took her and found a seat. I hurried to the cockpit and looked out the window. Our ship was being blasted relentlessly, rocking us as we dragged along. After a long silence, I looked down again and exhaled deeply. “This could be the end, My Friends.”
> Chapter 52: Emily
As always, the ceremony began when the sun started to set. I was at the beach with my loyal citizens, and there were a few soldiers sprinkled in the crowd. Dalia was standing with me by the shoreline as we watched our departed loved ones come forward. I am grateful for your service, My Soldiers.
But no matter how hard I tried to overcome the tragedy, I knew there was one loss that would surely haunt me forever. Adomas, My Love.
Ignas carried his deceased son in front, leading a group of soldiers who were carrying the others we had lost. I glanced at Dalia with tears in my eyes, feeling as if I had failed her. When Ignas got to the water, Dalia and I, and the never ending parallel lines of onlookers, stepped back a little to give him and the soldiers some room.
They formed a line with Ignas in the middle. Then together, they kneeled and released the dead bodies into the water. We all turned and faced the ocean. I stepped forward with Dalia and stood by Ignas. Everyone froze and stared as the bodies floated away.
I took a deep breath and moved ahead, stepping deeper into the water. As I gradually lifted my hand and held it out toward the ocean, my eyes locked onto Adomas. “Become one with planet Earth, my soldiers—My Love.” Heavy tears poured down my face as I continued, and my voice became choppy. “Fly with the sea. Let your souls escape the flesh...and return to the source.”
As I lowered my hand, a rage sparked inside me. I dropped to my knees and released an angry cry as I looked on. Adomas’s body drifted away at a steady pace. When he finally faded from my sight, I reached into the swaying water and dug my fingers into the cold sand. I grabbed hard and looked down at my reflection, feeling lost without him.
Even amidst my grief, I knew he would want me to go on. To rule with grace, to end the war and bring peace to our society. I lifted my head and stared at the orange sky. At last, the sun went down, and I made a lasting promise to Adomas.
