Crashing Tides

by Gwendolyn Marie

  All were out of earshot; only she heard the threat, knowing it was not baseless. Hollow was the two’s amity, but the gun was not. A bullet marked for her flesh laid in the chamber, though Nyx did not plea for her life. Instead, she focused on what Megaira said about the Chaots for it went against reason. The Chaots were mindless, or so the Thalassicians supposed, but her conviction that they followed the soldiers, directed by a reason, contradicted any prior beliefs. The Chaots were led. They withheld the attack until the opportune moment, and Nyx believed that the strike coming when she was absent from the group was not a fluke. Then they withdrew after Dio was infected: this did not sound like an unrestrained frenzy, leaving her to wonder if the Pathfinder was behind it, wondering if his pack of Chaots was still near. Also if the soldiers were wrong about this aspect of Chaot behavior, what else could they be wrong about.

  Megaira believed she had succeeded in making her point and proceeded to wrench her shoulder to pull her forwards. She was surprised Megaira had not yet riddled her with bullets considering her tone, but the soldier had to answer to Hector. If ever the large hulk was taken from the picture though, Nyx knew she would no longer be safe.

  “Why we ever picked you up in the first place is beyond me,” Megaira said. “We should have left you to be a feast for the infected, bitch.”

  “Why did you then? I did not want to be here.”

  “Just keep moving! I know you are not one of us! I always did and knew you were working for them to lead us to our own deaths!”

  Them? The accusation itself was not extraordinary, for even she felt the insurmountable distance between herself and the other humans. And she could not forget the kinship she felt in the ways of the Chaots, the feeling she was home among those without restraint. But was it the Chaots Megaira spoke of?

  “Quiet Megaira or I will lead you across the Styx myself!” A deep resonance interrupted as Hector plunged like an ox through the foliage back to the two, separating them by his body.

  “You like her?” accusingly Megaira said, staring at Hector. “Is that it, is that why you protect her?”

  “You know that you have my affection, Megaira,” Hector stated, the tone distant. “However, Nyx is not the one responsible for Diomedes.”

  “I never had your affection or anything else of yours, Hector. You are a cold wall and that’s it. And even if you cared for me in your own warped sense, guess what—you mean nothing to me. I just wanted someone, anyone, and you just happened to be the bastard I ended up with,” Megaira said, turning on Hector. She continued in threat as her stare passed Hector and came to Nyx. “Watch her back is all I can say, because I will do what you can’t. If I find the chance, it will be done with, and the girl will be no more,”

  Hector conveyed no heartbreak as he stood unmoved between the two. His position unretracted, especially in consequence to Megaira’s outburst. Too many comrades he had lost, too many hardships he had faced, to allow for an emotional attack to faze him. Wrath and woe strung together in Megaira, as she turned from the two. Her weapon clenched, she went to the rear to watch for Chaots, her words following her.

  “I will go as far as the research station, for Diomedes sake. Then, it’s me or her, Hector. And you know the only way to take her to the Thalassic should be dead, contained and prepped for experimentation. And if the prion is no longer active, as she claims, then we really have no use for her.”

  He said nothing in reaction to Megaira’s words, rather he offered Nyx all she could ask for: a calming presence. Nyx wanted to comfort Hector as well, wondering if Megaira’s sentiments hurt the stoic warrior. But truly nothing could be said, and any comfort offered would not be welcomed.

  “Megaira is right, Hector,” she spoke as Megaira disappeared from sight. Her voice did not contain sorrow but rather confirmation of what Megaira had accused her of. “If not for me, all would be saved. Dio would still be here.”

  Words held more truth than she knew how to convey.

  “If not for you, we may be okay. Or we may all be dead. One can never predict what could have happened,” Hector said.

  “I disagree,” she said. A breath. A pause. Emotionless eyes, but yet the depth of conviction reflected in them. “I was lost, you found me. Or did you? Am I the lamb you freed from the slaughter or rather the slaughter which came upon the lambs?”

  Her voice solemn as she continued, not wishing to look upon him for fear of what might lay within him. Perhaps she would find what was never there before, and she would see a wish to confine her, to tame her. “I should leave before more die. I should leave before you die.”

  “If I die, it is my time. I will fight until then. I will not cross the Styx with trepidation, but rather with fearlessness through its water.” Stopping his stride, he grabbed her arm to halt her in her wake. Grip powerful around Nyx’s flesh, not to hurt but to make her understand and look at him rather than away. “If I die because of you, I will be honored.”

  “I cannot stay,” she said, sadness sounded in her voice as she loosened Hector’s hold and started walking away.

  She had found herself in his eyes, in his soul. She saw no conflict of the desire to control her. Not to be caged nor captured. Unlike Leander who still did not understand, Hector did not wish to impose upon her. Yet it was impossible to compare the two; they were opposing forces in her mind. Leander aroused in her desire and impulses that she feared to indulge in. But Hector stirred understanding between them. Not lust nor romance, rather he contained a missing piece of her wayward soul. He had seen chaos, still was in its midst, yet honored rather than abhorred it.

  Footfalls halted, a tremor upon her lips not wanting to be lost again. She would never know what would come of Leander if she left. Knowing that danger would always find the winds of lawlessness, and death would eventually end her bedlam.

  Not turning from her fixation upon the birch trees ahead, she listened with a longing unbeknownst to all around. Hector’s footsteps came up behind her. Stopping. She felt his hand rest on her shoulder in identification with her tribulation.

  “I am too much risk to you,” A whisper fell from her lips, though with a refusal to believe her own words. The voice of the sirens, holding ruination for all that she should touch. Why such thoughts, why was she haunted so? But she had to help Dio, and did not want to lose her ties to Hector and Leander.

  “I accept it,” Hector said. “And I will go beside you.”

  Chapter Fifteen: Telphousian

  Two years previous: In search of command

  From the fighting Telphousian came, tired of war. She fought, she saw the most vicious sides of humanity, and wanted it to be over.

  She could easily leave the military, never again go on the battlefield, and live at peace. Gods knew her ability on the front lines was not the greatest for her aim was shaky under pressure. She would be glad never to fire another bullet again. But she wanted her just reward for fighting, and so Telphousian came to the Grand Master of the Bavarian Coalition himself.

  “Tilphê, it is good to see you,” Hyperion said, using her nickname to begin the conversation. But she knew the true meaning behind those friendly words: it is good to see her, dependent upon the reasons of her visit, that is. “How is the fight overseas against the Uprising? I have not seen very many encouraging reports ...”

  “And that is why I come to you,” she responded before Hyperion could finish. Not everyone could come to the Grand Master as she had; lucky for her, her connections ran deep through her family name. Her grandfather had been a respected member of the Bavarian Coalition, long before they had secured the power they now held. “I wish for reassignment to the Thalassic Undersea Colony.”

  Research based. Fighting would never occur there, even though it often served as a pivotal military intelligence location. Perfect for herself: never fire another bullet, especially considering that would be hazardous to do underwater, yet still be a pivotal authority in the government. But more so, she could escape her fears. Hide fro
m them and never again be reminded of the chaos surrounding war.

  “And I want title of Admiral, to be in command of the Thalassic,” she finished.

  This demand—yes demand, not simply a request—startled Hyperion as he took his time to reply.

  “You know this is impossible. You are a Lieutenant—”

  “—Lieutenant Commander, sir—”

  “Whatever it may be, I cannot grant that much of an advancement. I can station you aboard the Thalassic, you have done your time fighting. Plus, I owe much to your grandfather. However, you will keep your current rank.”

  “I am capable of running the colony, Hyperion. Furthermore, I believe it is in your best interests that I be promoted,” she said. “I know of the Bavarian Coalition, I know a select group runs the Coalition, and the one world government was formed in their best interests and not that of the people. Has it always been the Bavarian Coalition’s objective to rule the world? Establishing a totalitarian world government, the New World Order, in order to dominate it.”

  “You are paranoid, Telphousian. The times of secret societies and conspiracy theories are over with.”

  “That is because they are now a reality. And you realize, given my namesake and grandfather, I am privy to documents to prove the world government’s creation was not to establish a worldwide peace, but rather to serve its own self-motivating purposes. I understand this would not serve to destroy the world government, but I am sure you don’t want more uprisings on your hands.”

  “Perceptive and demanding,” Hyperion said after a long pause. After a longer pause still he added one more description. “And an extortionist at your best.”

  Telphousian smiled a hard wired smile for she knew she had won. And his next words confirmed this.

  “Not full Admiral, not the head leader. But I will promote you to Rear Admiral of the Thalassic and you will be second in command. You will have to earn the rest of the silver stars on your own.”

  Two weeks previous: In the sea below

  She never earned those stars; however, with the true Admiral surface side during her emergency quarantine of the Thalassic, she conveniently replaced him. Though the Thalassic held many political officials who had taken refuge aboard the undersea bunker, she was the highest military ranked official. And now, with the convenient use of martial law, she was the law.

  Heels clacked down the circular corridor of the Thalassic. Two by two, pair by pair, the feet stepped in line. One pair belonged to the Admiral of Thalassic, Telphousian. The other pair belonged to her thorn, Leander. And though the steps were in line, the conversation, however, was everything but.

  “It has been over a year, enough time has passed. We have to go surface side, for not only our sake but for those who may have survived the outbreak,” Leander said

  “Let’s not discuss this,” Telphousian replied, letting her hand brush Leander’s arm. She let it linger there longer than appropriate among colleagues, smiling to herself as he pulled away. If he was going to make this difficult, all the better. They had years under here, and she had as much time as she chose to break him in. “Let’s focus on something more realistic.”

  Leaning towards his neck, still keeping up with his gait, she let her breath caress his skin. Her hair of red fire lashed against his shoulder as she did so. A small delight to herself, even if her gesture was uninvited. “Be my side man, on and off duty, and I will make it worth your while. And maybe I will even approve this mission of yours.”

  He stopped. Here it is, she will finally get her wish.

  “I am tired of this, Admiral. I am not about to sleep with you in order for you to do what is right.”

  But no; he disappoints. Blunt as ever, as well, as one passerby in the hall gave the two an uncertain lift of the brow. Let them talk, she was in command. If anyone stepped out of line, she could easily make them fish bait.

  “Why won’t you, Leander?” If he could be blunt, so could she.

  He did not even answer; probably because he could not tell if she was serious or joking. Out of all of Thalassic, it was Leander she wanted. Perhaps because she followed the old saying of wanting what you cannot have. Unlike the other Thalassicians, he would not cave under her desires and power. And that, in and of itself, not only caused her to want him and hate him in the same breath.

  But if he wanted her to be serious, she would. Though, she surmised, he would not like the answer.

  “I already have discussed this with you: the outside is considered under quarantined until I say otherwise,” she said, her voice monotone as she restated her rejection of going to the surface. “That means no one in and no one out.”

  Would he continue to be a thorn in her side? If only he could look past his need to be a hero, and see what he could accomplish under the Atlantic. Or if only a rat could come along, to help this lioness remove the thorn.

  “If you see fit to reach higher than your captain status, and actually have some say in the political process,” she continued, her tone growing sultry as she began walking again, Leander taking step alongside. “I have already proposed how to do so.”

  “You already know my answer to that,” he said, but then he slowed in his step. Would this be it, her chance to claim him? “You may tell yourself you want me, but you don’t. Whatever you feel toward me, is not real. It’s a need to control things, to control me. You believe if I will be yours, then you can manipulate me. But trust me, this would not be the case.”

  And no. Not the chance. He was always the one to adhere to his ethics, and it sickened her. Maybe he was right, she thought, but did not really care. Either he would be by her side, or she would stand opposed to his efforts. She could not run the undersea colony with people questioning her authority, after all, she knew enough about mutiny on the seas as it were.

  “Then you will stay down here, as all others are ordered to do. It is for our own good. I am the colony’s leader and ...”

  She was about to go on, but Leander interrupted: “And you should listen to the Thalassicians as our leader. All I am asking is for a small squadron to go surface side and investigate.”

  “Right now appeasing people is on the low list of priorities,” she replied. Now was the time to pull rank and rid herself of the bother. “Foremost, I am not only your leader but I outrank you. I am the one who is Admiral; you will do as I order, without question.”

  She stopped this time, and stared at him. Not as a seductress, but as his commander.

  He stopped as well, staring her right back as he called her out.

  “This is not about who has the highest rank, it is about what is happening surface side, as well as the future of those onboard the Thalassic. How long do you think we can hide down here?” he asked, persistent as always. He continued, knowing the truth behind her ‘rank’. “But if you want to try pulling rank, Admiral, first ask yourself how you earned that rank.”

  “It is about who out ranks who.” And Leander would just have to accept that. And if he does not learn his place, she would see to it he is stripped of all honor. She would find the rat to remove the thorn, and make an example out of his subordination when she does.

  “What matters is that I am your commander,” Telphousian said to Leander, turning into her quarters to dismiss his ambitious ideas. But before she slammed the door in his face, she left him with one piece of parting advice. “You are a soldier, you will obey.”

  Present: And through hell

  “Someone has breached the moon pool, Admiral!”

  “How is that possible?” Telphousian said in irritation at the cadet. No one should be able to bypass their security, after all an entire ocean protected them. But as she looked at the log she saw that the codes of Leander had been used to enter.

  “I will handle this. Security come with me.” She started down the hall to meet the offender. He and his squad had went against direct orders and broken quarantine. Now they were back, and she just had to pray that they did not inflict false hope o
f returning surface side in their ventures. The Thalassic was not ready. She was not ready.

  The sight that met her solidified her control though. There was no hope that came to her sight. Leander was stabilizing a cot that had Diomedes on it. Dio seemed incapacitated and the others were no where to be found.

  “You dare return after disobeying orders? And I see you bring risk to us all?”

  “I bring Diomedes back, and he is sedated. I need him sequestered and put under medical stasis immediately to stop the infection,” Leander said. “And Admiral, I accept any punishment you decide. But please, help Dio.”

  She knew what he would say next. That she owed it to Dio for what she had done to his family. How she had not granted permission for them to board, and therefore sentenced them to death. But was she not right? If she had let them come onto Thalassic who knew what would happen. Leander should be happy she allowed him back on board after that incident.

  But he said nothing. He just remained silent and looked with a frigid certainty that she had no choice but to agree to his terms. It was either agree and help Dio, or face a rebellion from the crew that flanked her. She was their Admiral, but if she chose to turn her back on one of their own she would pay the consequences.

  And if she chose to help, she could control the situation.

  “Get Diomedes to the medical bay and send a waiting party to the shore for the other insubordinates,” she said to two of the officers and then turned to Leander as she addressed the others. “And please escort the former captain to the brig.”

  As the sleeping giant of a man was pulled pass her, she looked down at him. She had never seen the disease of Chaos before now. Dio was no longer the man she remembered. Sleep did not bring a sweet meandering of sugar plums and dreamscapes but rather the sleep covered a beast. The slumber threatened to break, the monster would be awoken. She shivered at the sight of him, wondering if she had made the correct choice.

  Chapter Sixteen