Fractured

by T. C. Edge

  I step towards her as she stands from behind her desk. We meet at the side and she takes me into a hug. "You returned in time for the battle, then," she says, pulling away and inspecting my face. "Why doesn't that surprise me."

  "I didn't want to let you down, Brenda," I say. "Brought a few extra Neoromans along for company."

  "And the Emperor? Is he here too?" She lifts her eyes. Dom has a particular impact on most people he meets, certainly over here. Though, something suggests to me that it isn't necessarily Dom whom she is asking about.

  "He's here. And Merk is too." I mention the old sailor casually, though see the hint of smile crackle behind her lips.

  "Really," she says, nodding. "Well, that's nice. Perhaps he can bore me with some more of his stories sometime."

  A grin rises to my face. "Bore you, Brenda?" I ask, suggestively.

  "Oh...stop that, Kira," she says, turning away and returning to her seat. "Don't make lewd suggestions."

  "That's a bit of a leap, isn't it?" I say, holding back my laughter. "If there's anything lewd going on, it's in your head."

  "Oh, please. I'm too old for that sort of nonsense, Kira, and Merk is too. We are only friends. Nothing more."

  "Not what I've heard," I say, stirring the pot. "At least, not from Merk, anyway. He's very fond of you, Brenda."

  "Yes. Yes, I know he is. And against my better judgement, I'm fond of him too. As a friend. I'm sure he feels the same."

  "Come on. You know better than that..."

  "Well..." She lets out an uncomfortable cough, and then turns her eyes to Burns, drawing an awkward smile. "So, to what do I owe this pleasure, Mr Secretary?"

  Burns looks towards me. The warmth of my expression reduces like water in a simmering pot, leaving behind a grim residue. Brenda is smart enough to notice. She knows immediately that something is wrong.

  "This is about Brie," she says. Her voice stays firm, though begins to tremble around the edges. "Tell me she isn't..."

  "She isn't," I say, drawing a sharp breath. "Don't worry, she's fine. But..."

  Brenda turns her eyes from me to Burns and back again. "Captured," she says, smart enough to realise that, if she isn't dead and she isn't injured, then being a prisoner of the enemy is the only viable option. "She was taken during the battle, wasn't she?"

  I nod quietly, and utter the same sentiment as I did with Drum. "We're going to get her back, Brenda," I say. "That is my promise to you. I just thought...I thought you deserved to know. I didn't want you hearing a rumour and not knowing what was going on. Already it's spread down here. Drum seems to know."

  "The grapevine is commonly picked at by the soldiers," she says. "I don't hear much, what with my work being what it is."

  I turn towards the door. "And Tess?" I ask. "Is she around?"

  "I'll tell her," Brenda says. "You don't have to be going around informing all of us yourself, Kira. I really appreciate you coming, but I'm sure you have more important things to do." She looks at me again, and softens her voice. "You should rest," she says. "You look like you need it."

  "I'm fine," I whisper. "I'm used to this."

  "I...I suppose you know best, darling. Just don't run yourself into the ground. How is Domitian?" She smiles, as if trying to distract herself from thoughts of Brie. It's something, I know, she's used to. And good at.

  "He's...good," I say. "Same as always."

  "Excellent. Excellent," she says, her eyes glancing away. Then they move towards Burns. "Any idea when we'll be out of here, Secretary Burns?" she asks. "Did the battle go well...overall?"

  "It did, Mrs Carmichael. As well as it might have, given the circumstances. We're going to assess things in the coming days, but expect to stay down here for the time being. It's possible the Olympian army may resume their bombardment. It isn't quite safe to go up top yet."

  "Of course."

  "And everything is OK here?" he asks her. "Are the facilities satisfactory?"

  "Yes, quite satisfactory, thank you," she says. "The children take some energy to manage, and can be quite a handful when managing them all in a new place like this, but we're getting by well enough."

  "Good. That's good to hear."

  A slow, creeping awkwardness begins haunting the room. I can tell it's all turned to courtesies now, Brenda's mind accosted by concerns for Brie. I decide that it's probably best for us to take our leave. I communicate that to Burns - who's probably acutely aware of it already - with a glance.

  "Well," he says, "I suppose we should leave you to your accountings." He glances down at the papers on Brenda's desk. She looks to be doing an inventory of some kind. "Take care, Mrs Carmichael. I'll be sure to come by again soon with any notable news."

  "Thank you, Secretary Burns." She stands and moves back around towards me, taking me into an abbreviated hug. "Get her back, Kira," she whispers to me. I can see a flash of pain behind her eyes. I wonder if Brie truly knows how hard it is for those she leaves behind, each time she goes out on a hunt or a mission.

  I wonder...do I?

  I nod to her, but say no words. They aren't needed now.

  We slip away at that, leaving the old lady to her troubled thoughts, and heading back around towards the main entrance to this particular cavern. When we arrive, we find a young soldier speaking with the official at the checkpoint. His eyes immediately turn up as he sees myself and the Secretary coming.

  He steps quickly away from the official and approaches us, dipping his head into a respectful bow as he arrives.

  "Secretary Burns," he says. "I was told you were here with Miss Blackstone."

  "Oh?" says Burns. "What is this about?"

  "It's President Orlando, sir," he says sharply. "She has requested that I fetch Miss Blackstone and bring her to the President right away."

  Burns glances at me. "What does she want?” I ask the soldier.

  "It's the Fire-Elemental captive called Amber,” he says. "I believe she has requested to see you."

  6

  Kira

  Leaving Secretary Burns behind, I'm led by the soldier with some haste through the Oasis, heading back towards the sprawling core, and down one of the multiple passages that leads away from it. The state of the construction grows more rough as we go, arriving into a large chamber that sits quiet, cold, damp and unused.

  I see large construction equipment dotted about, the high ceiling dripping with moisture from cracks in the rock. One section appears to have caved in not so long ago, cordoned off with fencing. There are a few guards about, standing at the interlining passages. One leads towards the infirmary down here, where some of injured from the battle have been taken. Another, across the chamber from me now, gives access to the prison cells.

  I see the President outside it, standing there with a couple of guards. Her eyes turn up to me as I arrive, leaving the company of my escort, and marching right over to join her.

  "So, the girl wants to see me, does she?" I say, arriving before her.

  She nods, and turns to the door of the prison cells. "I spoke with her a little while ago, Kira," she says. "She's very grateful for what you did for her."

  "For her?" I ask.

  "Yes, sparing her life," the President informs me. "And her young companion, Elian's, too. She asked if she could thank you personally."

  "Good," I say. "Because I'm very keen to speak with her as well."

  We begin moving towards the door, as the soldiers give us access. The interior of the small prison block is dimly lit and uninviting, lined with cells with metal doors. The President leads me towards the end, though stops briefly before entering. She turns to me with a whisper.

  "You should know," she says, "that Amber saw Brie in the enemy camp this morning, right at the end of the battle."

  I frown. "Amber was there?" I ask. "But I knocked her unconscious out on the plains."

  "She had returned to help a friend. A young slave boy by the name of Jude. They were friends back home, this boy and Amber. She was trying to get
him out when she ran into Brie."

  I frown, not fully understanding.

  "She isn't the same as the others, Kira," the President tells me. "Amber is very new to all of this. She doesn't believe in their cause, and may be made to join our own. Just tread lightly, OK. Be...nice."

  "You're saying I'm not nice, President Orlando?" I ask, deadpan.

  "I'm saying that, sometimes, you need reminding," she says with a smile. "Now come on, let's say hello."

  She turns back to the door at that, opens it up with a metallic shriek, and steps inside. I follow her right in to find the young Fire-Elemental standing beside her bed within the simple stone room, her eyes working quickly up towards the door. Without her fiery glow, she holds an innocent countenance, seeming a little awed and out of place as a captive of war.

  "Did you get some rest, Amber?" the President asks her, stepping inside. The girl shakes her head, her eyes clinging to me as she casts her eyes upon my red armour and scimitar swords, sheathed to my hips. It's a common reaction. I do rather stand out in this particular outfit.

  "I tried to sleep," she says, her voice a little croaky and unsure. "But...it's hard."

  "Of course," the President says, doing so lightly, as though speaking to a frightened child. It's not the usual way in which you'd treat your enemies, but then again, from what I've heard, this girl doesn't quite fit that bill. "Well, as requested," the President continues, turning to me, "here is Kira Blackstone, who you desired to meet personally. It turns out," she finishes, "she wished for the very same thing."

  I step forward at that, regarding the girl as I usually would when meeting someone of dubious purpose for the first time. She stands ahead of me, appearing slightly cowed by the situation.

  "Amber," I say, thinking it might be best to try to make her relax, diffuse the tension somewhat. "How's the head?" I lift a bare morsel of a smile to my lips, hoping she'll react favourably.

  She does, showing a bit of good humour of her own as she reaches to her head, and responds with, "It's fine. Better a lump than a knife in the brain."

  "Yes," I say, "that's what I thought when I threw the thing. The President tells me you know what happened with Elian?"

  She nods, displaying an almost endearing show of thanks and gratitude on her face. "I heard," she says softly. "Thank you for keeping him alive. For sparing him."

  "There was no reason for him to die," I say, briefly recalling the moment Ares stood behind the boy that morning, all but ready to execute him out there on the field. "He fought well against ares. And the battle was done. It didn't seem right to kill him at that point."

  Her voice is a whisper when she speaks again. It holds the very clear tone of shame. "I'm not sure my people would have done the same," she says.

  "Perhaps," I say. "Perhaps not." I determine that lingering on this point isn't necessary. I glance at the President. "I...hear you had an interaction with Brie towards the end of the fight," I say.

  "I...I did," she stutters. "In our camp. She was there saving..."

  "I know why she was there," I interrupt. I turn my eyes again to the President, slightly rebuking, even if that isn't the intention. It's more of a natural reaction, really. It was, after all, the President's order to have Cromwell killed that led Brie into that camp to try to save him. Then again, I can hardly question her decision on that. I don't have that right. I switch my eyes back to Amber. "Tell me," I say, "was she alone?"

  The golden-haired girl nods. "Except for the prisoner," she says. "And, there were two of those soldiers in black there too. She killed them, I think."

  "Stalkers," I say, nodding as I think of what must have happened. "They were there for a specific reason. Brie found herself in disagreement with them, it would seem." I exhale, shaking my head, turning my mind to Marcus, who remains missing. "So, there was no Neoroman there?"

  "No. Just her," she tells me. "I only saw her for a minute. I had other things I needed to do."

  "Of course," I say, now knowing just what that was.

  "You're missing someone else?" she asks, peering forward with a clear compassion in her eyes. I can see already her good heart. I can see that this girl isn't a true enemy of ours.

  "A Neoroman Captain, yes," I say. "He is of some prominence among the Neoroman soldiers. We haven't, as yet, accounted for him. I hoped you might have seen something?"

  "I'm...sorry," she whispers. "I can't help you."

  I draw a breath, my mind turning again to Brie. "Not in this instance," I say, turning to look at the President. "Brie is...dear to us here. We do not want to see her remaining with your people for long. Perhaps this is where you can help."

  "I...I don't know what I'd do," she says, sounding sympathetic and keen to help, though rightly doubtful of how she might. "The President told me that an exchange might not be possible."

  "No, not with that brutish Herald Kovas in charge," I grunt, thinking of the squat, grim-faced man I briefly encountered earlier than morning. "Though, I get the impression that someone else is truly pulling the strings."

  "I...don't understand," she says, frowning.

  "He's called the Overseer, as I understand it," I say, thinking of the strange title that Brie's voice whispered into my head earlier outside the Olympian camp. "I witnessed him subtly influencing Kovas's ruling and mood only this morning. I was there attempting to discover more of Brie's whereabouts. It seems to me that the Overseer isn't willing to hand Brie back to us, or consider an exchange at all."

  "Why?" Amber considers, her voice small and introspective. "He's...a good man."

  "Perhaps that is merely the brainwashed part of you speaking," I say flatly.

  She shakes her head, speaking quickly and, if I'm not mistaken, defensively. "No...no, I thought that at first," she says. "The Overseer has his ways, yes, but he's a kind man really. His role is to help select the Chosen for the Prime. He is the Prime's main agent here."

  Mention of the Prime has me reacting with a snarl, my mind once more conjuring memories I'd rather forget, yet those which continue to drive me forward in my bid to fight injustice and cruelty. "You know," I say with a light growl, "of Brie and my experience with Herald Nestor some months ago?"

  She nods, looking sheepish.

  "Then perhaps you know what Brie was subjected to. Perhaps you know that Herald Nestor wanted nothing more than to bring her to Olympus. To make her one of you." I put emphasis on the word, scanning for her reaction. I can see it in her eyes that everything I'm saying is familiar to her. "That makes sense to you, doesn't it?" I ask.

  Her eyes fall away a little, her voice a soft whisper. "Yes," she says, seeming to grow suddenly small. "If Brie is as powerful as I've heard and seen, then yes. I had a similar experience myself. I haven't been part of all this for long."

  I turn again to the President. "As I have heard," I say. "You have been drawn into a web of lies and manipulations, from what I can see. You appear to be a nice person, with a kind heart. Ares has said the same. You are not a born killer, This is something that has been forced upon you."

  She reflects on my words for a moment before speaking again, agreeing, at least in part, with my sentiment. "I...I guess," she says. "Partly. The other Heralds are good people too. Avon and Gailen." I listen to the names and assign them to the faces I saw beside Kovas that morning. They certainly didn't share his rough, unappealing countenance. "Lady Dianna is as well," Amber goes on. "Whatever you say about the Overseer, he's a kind man. Elian has a good heart. All of our leadership, except Kovas, are decent people really."

  I listen without buying into her words. They stink strongly of someone who has been drawn into a system of lies. Perhaps they are good people, perhaps not. Perhaps they're similarly confused as her, or merely pretending to be in order to deepen her programming, and the controls that bind her. Right now, I don't know. Right now, it doesn't matter.

  All of them remain my enemy until definitively proven otherwise.

  "And Herald Perses?" I ask her, as s
he finishes her short monologue.

  I fix her with a stare as she stiffens to the name, as though caught in a sudden, biting wind, bracing against its icy chill. "You know about him?" she asks, peering through shadowed eyes towards me, and over to the President. Neither of us answer. We wait for her to go on. "He...was a fine man, yes," she says after a brief pause, her eyes glazing over with a sheen of pain. "Perhaps...the best of us."

  I can see the discomfort my mention of the former Olympian leader brings. The President hooks my attention with a brief glare, telling me not to reveal that Perses remains alive. It is something she is intending to reveal to her soon, I know. Now isn't the right time.

  "And yet," I say, drawing the young girl's attention back towards me, "Olympus itself is strangled by inequality, and ruled by a dictatorship. Despite these so-called good, kind leaders of yours, the lands you come from are filled with cruelty, forced servitude, and discrimination." I feel the full flow of my words bearing down on her, yet don't relent. "Life here in New Haven," I go on, "was the very same not long ago. Now, we have integrated all parts of the city, and done away with what came before. You must see that your people are in the wrong here, Amber. That if there was such a thing as the good and the bad, the heroes and the villains, your side would be the latter on both counts."

  I force my eyes upon her, until her gaze turns away. I know that she isn't to blame. I sense that she would want no real part of such a world in her right mind. Yet, at the same time, I find it hard to contain my passion on this issue. It is one I have dwelled on for many months now. And here I am, confronting these people again, fixed with a purpose to set things right.

  "I do see that," she says eventually, her words small and lacking in energy. "But...they had their reasons for marching here. Some of it was about conquest, yes, but we also spoke about preempting a threat from you. After what you saw with Nestor, and his specific method of awakening, we were concerned that you might come and try to...I don't know, invade our lands, and wipe us out."