The Renewal

by Joseph Ferguson

  Chapter 33

  The thing that ZonTaylor was skilled at Treyson thought was mind games, the prison cell with the water and now no shoes. How his feet ached from walking on the cold stone floors. The room they had put him in gave no relief even the bed was a thin piece of plastic. He could feel the pain extending into his calves as they led him through an archway that opened up into a huge outdoor arena. He hated this sunless cold planet, he yearned for Earth. He missed his wife, his home and even his job. He would give anything to be in Ms. Thompson’s office being yelled at right now.

  The arena was full of people, aliens who looked really no different than Earthlings, even the languages were close maybe it was kind of technology here but everyone spoke English. If he didn’t know better the sounds would make you think you were at a sporting event back on Earth as cheers went up from the crowd. They brought him up some stairs to small topless booth and pushed him in. He heard them laugh, but he didn’t care there was a low bench to sit on and he could rest his feet. He didn’t care what type of games were played here from where he sat he seeing over the top booth was impossible and he was not about to stand up.

  He wasn’t sure how long he sat there rubbing his feet and listening to the chatter of the crowd when he heard a loud hum. The crowd went wild as cheers grew louder and a Zon chant began throughout the stadium. A Taylor chant was also began though it was more of a whisper which sounded cool to Treyson even kind of catchy, he thought. He even found himself mimicking it, “Zon” loud then whispered “Taylor” with the crowd. He laughed in spite of himself because he hated that guy. An announcer that sounded like a game show host back on Earth spoke, “our great and fearless leader ZonTaylor.” Again the crowd’s cheers grew in volume as they all came to their feet applauding. “Boo,” he mumbled.

  A new voice spoke, one that was familiar, one that he hated.

  “My people,” ZonTaylor’s words brought loud cheers from the people. Treyson realized that these people love him. Maybe he thought, they love him because of his ambitions to conquer Earth and the talk of restarting their sun. As with all leaders he spoke in half-truths to try to convince them what he was doing was right even though he was about to commit atrocities, he grimaced at the thought. His charisma would carry him for he is skilled with the use of words. They finally quieted so he could continue to speak.

  “My People,” he started again. “What we are about to do, will change this world forever. It will be the beginning of a new era for us, for our desires are within our grasps. (Applause) We send our troops through the portal not to conquer, but to embrace. We send not soldiers, but emissaries, to negotiate a better life for them and for us.” (Standing ovation)

  “Sadly,” ZonTaylor spoke on after the people settled down, “the people beyond the portal are stubborn and rebellious. They fight even amongst themselves. We mastered peace many millennia ago, but the people of Earth have learnt nothing other than war. We have allowed technology to pave the way to everlasting harmony; they have rejected technology not wanting to leave their old ways. But we can teach them,” he spoke with both hands raised. Again the people rose with applause and the ZonTaylor chant.

  “LIAR” Treyson screamed, yet it could not be heard for the noise of the audience.

  Again a smiling ZonTaylor waited for the din to die down before he spoke on. “Some here want to return back to the old ways of war and rebellion, but it will not be tolerated; we’ve come too far to allow it. So according to the laws set down by skilled men before us we judge them accordingly. (Pointing to the five standing on a platform) These have undermined the great work that went into achieving our goals to restart our sun and to cause rebellion on the planet beyond the portal. These five have betrayed their people and now nothing less than death would be too good for them.” He pointed at a man with a red hood seated beside them who then stood and placed a ring around their necks. Treyson stood though his feet still ached and watched. The man from the cell with his wife and the three boys stood on the platform. The man had a smile on his face and the three boys all made the same hand gesture towards ZonTaylor. A wave from ZonTaylor signaled the hooded man who tapped the back of his gloved hand causing the rings to jerk skyward hanging them while their torso’s twisted in midair. Gasps from the audience mixed with cheers as the bodies soon became lifeless. “Rebellion will not be tolerated,” ZonTaylor screamed. The stadium erupted in cheers.

  He allowed it to go on for a bit before saying with raised hands motioning for everyone to be seated, “we have more business to take care of.” He smiled a sideways sneer, “we have their leader with us today. Today he will pledge loyalty to me and to our cause.”

  Never, thought Treyson as he felt the floor of the booth start to rise. Looking up he saw the hovering dais with ZonTaylor standing holding up the sword of MacAlistair and looking down at him.

  “Touch your monitors and watch the defeat of their leader at my hands,” ZonTaylor spoke as the people reached forward touching the blue buttons in front of them. “Notice how easily I beat him at sword play. How dare he even challenge my skill,” he laughed.

  The rising floor beneath Treyson turned blue as he also saw video, but not what they saw. Ye Min lay face down on a slab of wood hands and feet chained to the floor. She was stripped of her clothes except for a thin cloth covering her buttocks; at least he thought they have some dignity. Red dots were drawn randomly upon her hands, up her arms and down to her toes. He felt the floor stop rising. He heard ZonTaylor speaking but his mind was on the vision projected in his head. A man dressed in white with a pencil like object in his hand released a droplet of clear liquid on the red spot of her big toes. Her screams were instant as he saw the liquid eat at her skin and begin to bore a hole. The image stopped as he was standing facing ZonTaylor, “kneel before your master and lord”.

  He heard what ZonTaylor had spoken, but it didn’t register, his eyes were upon Sara. She was beautiful, he missed her. He wanted to run to her and pull her into his arms, but something was wrong. It was the way she was looking at him sitting there smug in her chair.

  No smile.

  No soft caring eyes.

  But it was her words that hurt him the most “kneel before your master and queen.” They had come from her lips, but how he couldn’t figure it. Why? How? His mind was reeling. The pain was unquenchable. Fury was starting to wheal up inside him. Now he looked back at ZonTaylor anger had replaced confusion. What did he have to lose he had already lost everything. He stepped towards ZonTaylor with intent to kill, but the image of Ye Min laying there screaming writhing in pain came before his eyes again.

  He knelt and bowed his head, “my liege”.

  Cheers with laughter went up from the audience.

  “You will lead my armies through the portal and defeat our enemies,” he heard as the pedestal he was on started to descend. He heard a baby cry. Looking up he saw Sara reach and look into a bassinet with caring eyes. My son, he thought as he continued down out of their sight.

  The crowd was cheering the noise of it was thunderous and ZonTaylor let go on for a while before quieting them again. “We have one more event. One that I am sure you will enjoy. We have with us one of their warriors, a female (he smirked) I think.” He pointed down to the fighting cage set in the middle of the arena as Esther was pushed unwillingly into the ring. “Boo’s” emanated randomly from amongst the crowd as she sat down square in the middle. Laughter followed after she looked up to where Treyson watched and gave him the finger and mouthed “traitor.”

  The laughter quickly turned to cheers, whistles and cat calls as a muscled female entered the cage. “My best female student, SheyLeann,” ZonTaylor announced, as the people continued to celebrate. “Their best female warrior against ours seems only fair,” he shouted. She had black hair cut short with a black top that showed her belly and a pair of black loose fitting shorts. On both hand she had tight thin black gloves and shoes to match. She grinned when she saw Esther giving a
glimpse of her pearly white teeth.

  Esther stood up, she would fight she would not give in like Treyson did, he such a coward, she thought. SheyLeann flexed as she danced around the ring. Esther stood still and moved only to face her direction. Esther thought if Treyson won’t fight for Earth she would as she watch the woman throw feint punches into the air. She looked quickly up at Treyson hoping he was watching when she felt SheyLeann’s foot catch her right jaw knocking her to the floor. She quickly got to her feet knowing she deserved it; she would have to forget about Treyson and focus. She remembered her and Elisabeth’s trainer favorite thing to say was “distraction works with you or against you, it’s your choice.” Again she watched, waiting for her to move, waiting for an opportunity, she would not allow any distractions. SheyLeann was lightning fast spinning and putting her foot in Esther’s chest knocking her backwards and onto her butt. The audience started celebrating with a loud “Shey” echoed with a quieter “Leann”. No one can move that fast Esther thought as she watched from the floor; SheyLeann was taunting her, challenging her to get up. She heard ZonTaylor from above, “take her down and quit toying we have a war to start.” Esther again got to her feet, her eyes on the woman watching as she danced around. Again with impossible speed she was on Esther landing a right and a left to her head. She was dazed feeling her back hit the cage wall and falling to the floor. SheyLeann put her hands in the air looking up at ZonTaylor, “Finish her” he said. The crowd picked up on it as the chanted, “finish her”.

  Esther laid there replaying it in her head and realized her opponent had tapped the back of her gloved right hand just before hitting her. She was using technology to give her a boost of speed. She was cheating. Esther was angry before but now she was pissed. Shaking it off she got back to her feet this time she would watch her hands. She waited and watched her dance around punching the air. Time seemed to slow as their eyes met and SheyLeann tapped her right hand. This time Esther saw it, stepping right then ducking forward avoiding the right cross of her enemy. Bringing up her palmed fist with force she caught SheyLeann in the neck. SheyLeann’s momentum bought on by the technology caused Esther’s hand to penetrate the skin crushing the wind pipe her head moving abnormally forward then snapping backwards. The crack of her neck braking was loud as it echoed through the now silent arena. Time seemed to catch up as SheyLeann’s body crumpled to the floor. Esther looked at her bloodied hand then the lifeless profusely bleeding body that lie before her. A tear trickled down her cheek; she didn’t mean to kill her she just wanted to survive. She realized the audience had went quiet, possibly a stunned silence. She turned and looked up at ZonTaylor who was staring open mouthed. His stare turned to glare, “I have a mind to come down there and destroy you with my hands,” he said looking intently at Esther, “but I will save that for our victory day celebrations.” He motioned for the guards to take her away.

  Esther turned to walk away she felt a stinging in her hand. A small piece of bone was sticking in the palm of her bloody hand. Pulling it out she tossed on SheyLeann, “I’m sorry” she said as the guards led her out.