by Kate O'Hearn
These were the failures Agent PS didn’t want her to see. The price they paid for creating a super-race of New Olympians and Nirad fighters.
In the centre of the room, Prince Tobin was strapped to a table. Gold bands pinned him down and were burning into his bare pink flesh. It was Earth gold, so it wouldn’t kill him. But it scalded him until his skin smouldered, opened and bled. She watched scientists extracting fresh black blood and skin samples from the suffering young prince.
Tirk was pounding his fists against the gold bars of his cage. With each contact, he howled in pain. But his loyalty to his prince kept him at it.
Emily was so stunned she didn’t know where to look next.
‘What are you doing here?’ Agent R demanded furiously. ‘You are not allowed down here.’
He was standing back from the table and holding a medical mask to his face. Around him, other scientists in caps, masks and white jackets were crowding round the prince. Their gloves were wet with the Nirad’s blood.
Watching her friend being tortured was too much to bear. Emily raised her hand and fired her powers. The scientists were tossed away from the prince and landed on the floor several metres away.
Emily ran up to the dissection table. The prince’s eyes were shut as he writhed and howled in pain. The tight gold bands were cutting deep into his smoking, opened flesh. Emily saw the scalpels and tools the scientists were using on him had also been made of gold.
She used the flame like a laser to cut away the straps keeping him pinned down. But then she saw that the entire bed of the table was also made of gold. Every part of his back was being burned.
Emily caught hold of one of the prince’s hands and started to tug. Tobin was not a large Nirad, but he was heavy. Too heavy for her to lift. As he continued to howl in pain, Emily focused her powers.
‘Lift!’ she commanded.
Concentrating on what she needed to do, Emily felt her powers answering. Prince Tobin started to rise above the table. She turned to the side and lowered him gently to the floor.
Prince Tobin was awake and looking at her in misery. Emily cradled his head in her lap and started to stroke his face. ‘I’m so sorry, Tobin,’ she said. ‘I didn’t know they knew about gold. It’s over now; you’re safe.’
As she stroked him, Tobin’s open wounds started to close. It was slow and not complete, but it was enough to save the Nirad’s life.
Now that the prince’s pain was greatly diminished, the Nirads were released from their agony too. A-Two, A-Three and all the Nirad soldiers from outside the lab charged in. They knelt down on the floor around their prince. Tobin raised his four arms and greeted his new people.
Tirk continued to pound the bars and howl. Emily burned the lock off the gold cage door. Tirk charged out. He barked furiously and pushed through the others to get to the prince. Finally he lifted Prince Tobin in his arms and hugged the young Nirad. Emily saw that his hands were burned raw from pounding the cage. But he didn’t notice. All he cared about was his prince.
‘Emily, stop, you don’t know what you’re doing!’ Agent R was moving closer.
‘Stay back,’ Emily warned. ‘It’s over. All of this is finished. No more torture, no more clones.’
Tirk’s eyes flashed with uncontained fury as he looked over at Agent R. He handed the prince over to another Nirad and ran at the CRU agent. Emily turned away as Tirk punished Agent R for his part in the torture of his prince.
Emily looked around the large room at all the clones and worried. What was to become of them now? She approached one of the mutant Dianas’ cages. It had only one arm and three Nirad legs as it stepped forward and reached for her. Her Nirad black eyes seemed to have no understanding other than the desperate need to touch Emily.
Emily reached in and cradled the creature’s face in her hands. ‘I promise you will be free soon,’ she said. As her eyes panned over all the cages, her heart – whether she had a real one or not – went out to them. ‘You will all be free!’
Her temper rose as she charged back to Prince Tobin and the Nirads. She concentrated on the Nirad soldiers. ‘Capture the scientist and bring them.’ She looked at Agent R as he struggled to rise after being struck by Tirk.
‘It’s over, Agent R. This all ends, now!’
36
Sirens blared and soldiers armed themselves as Emily stormed through the corridors of the CRU facility at Area 51. Behind her followed an army of Nirad soldiers. Prince Tobin was being carried in the arms of Tirk as he summoned his people together.
Soon the number of Nirads joining her outnumbered the humans at the facility. Emily looked back at Prince Tobin. With each passing moment, his strength was returning.
‘Would you please ask some of your men to find Joel and Agent T and guard them? And we need to locate a man called Earl. He is a friend and is here somewhere.’
‘I – go,’ A-Three said. ‘Find – Earl.’ He called several Nirads forward. They ran ahead into the stairwell. Gunfire echoed in the long stairwell, but Emily knew it would not hurt the Nirads.
As they made their way through the huge facility, Emily asked the Nirad soldiers to round up all the humans and get them to the ground level. Emily kept A-Two back to help her find her way back to the main lab. Halfway there, she heard a familiar and very welcome voice.
‘Em!’
She turned and saw Joel running towards her, escorted by two large grey Nirads.
‘You didn’t think I was going to let you total Area 51 alone!’ Joel grinned.
Emily felt stronger with Joel at her side. ‘Of course not.’
Together they made their way through the chaos to the super-lab where the clones were created. Nirads were capturing scientists and agents, disarming them and leading them up to ground level.
Joel looked through the window of the super-lab and whistled. With the alarms still blaring, the night shift of scientists were busy trying to store away the cloning materials. They looked up in terror when they saw them standing at the large picture window.
‘Can you nuke that lab without burning down the whole facility?’
‘I can try,’ Emily said.
The Nirads tore down the secured doors to the lab and poured in. The scientists were rounded up and presented to her.
‘Get them to the surface with the others,’ Emily ordered.
Joel and Emily now walked through the empty lab and began to destroy the equipment. With each passing moment, Emily’s confidence with the Flame grew. By the time they had left the lab, Emily could look at a machine and turn it to ash in a matter of seconds.
They moved on to the secondary labs. Emily showed Joel and Prince Tobin the tall tubes that contained the clones in various stages of development from embryonic to nearly fully grown.
‘What do we do with these?’ Joel said.
‘I don’t know,’ Emily admitted. ‘We can’t destroy them; they’re alive.’
‘But we can’t leave them here either. The CRU will just build more.’
Emily shook her head. ‘Once everyone is out of here, I’m going to destroy the place.’
‘And these guys?’
‘We’re just going to have to find a way to save them. Let’s get everyone else out of here first and worry about these guys later.’
In another lab they came across Joel’s silver arm. It was laid out on a table and had been completely dismantled and was now useless. Paelen’s winged sandals were found in the same lab and they were grateful to discover these were intact. Emily prayed that Paelen was still alive and ready to wear them again. They also found Pluto’s helmet.
‘Boy, am I glad to see this!’ Joel said. ‘Pluto would have had a fit if he knew we’d lost it.’
Emily dropped her head. ‘No, we didn’t lose it. We just lost Pegasus and Alexis instead. I’m sure Pluto won’t care about his helmet after that.’
Prince Tobin growled softly. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back. When he opened his eyes again, he concentrated on Em
ily and made several sounds.
‘I don’t understand,’ Emily said desperately.
A-Two struggled to say: ‘Place – all – empty. Ours. No – more – people. All – prisoners. All – above.’
Joel approached the prince. ‘So your soldiers have gathered all the people here and taken them above? There is no one left?’
Prince Tobin shook his head and made several more sounds.
‘Pegasuses,’ A-Two said. ‘They – stay. Children – below.’
They understood that all of the CRU agents, scientists and human soldiers had been captured and taken to the surface. The facility now belonged to them.
‘All right, we’ve got to get the New Olympians out of here and the poor clones from down below. And I’ve got to free all of Pegasus’s clones as well.’
‘You’ve seen them?’ Joel asked.
Emily nodded. ‘Tornado is here too. But all the winged stallions are the same. They’re as wild and dangerous as Tornado. I’m still the only person who can get near them. I’m going to have to lead them out.’
‘Then what?’ Joel asked. ‘Em, what are we supposed to do with all of these clones? Yes, we can destroy this place, but then where do we take them? And how? Without Pegasus, I don’t even know how we’re supposed to get back to Olympus or get Prince Tobin and his people back to the Nirad world.’
Emily hadn’t thought that far ahead. Her only concern had been to stop the CRU from creating more clones. But now what? Joel was right. They were stranded on Earth with no way of getting back.
‘I don’t know,’ she said softly. ‘But Dad has got to know something is wrong by now. He and Diana will come for us. And Paelen, I hope. He was hurt, but I’m sure Chrysaor must have taken him back to Olympus. He knows where we are. We just have to get to the surface and wait for them.’
Joel didn’t sound convinced. ‘Or wait for the military to launch a full assault on us for destroying their base here.’
‘We’ll just have to risk it,’ Emily said. ‘We don’t have any choice.’
As the long night continued into dawn, Emily, Joel and the Nirads entered the secured quarters of the New Olympians. They welcomed Emily into their midst and showed no aggression towards Joel or the Nirads.
When Emily explained the situation, the clones were excited at the prospect of going outside. They had never been to the surface before.
The sun was rising on the horizon by the time all of the New Olympians emerged to the surface level. They looked at the approaching sunrise in absolute wonder. The Cupids were thrilled to leap into the air and soar in a wide open sky.
Emily took a moment to watch them with envy. Those sweet, ignorant clones had no idea of the danger and uncertain future they now faced.
There were hundreds, maybe a thousand gathered on the dry Groom Lake bed. The heavily armed Nirad soldiers kept the Area 51 personnel apart from the clones.
‘Is that my friend Emily I see?’
Emily turned at the voice and saw Earl approaching. He ran forward and embraced her tightly. ‘Ain’t you a sight for sore eyes! Lord, I thought you’d never get here. These CRU folks ain’t nice people!’
Emily clung to Earl, grateful that he was alive. There was a Nirad standing close at his side. Earl turned to introduce him. ‘This is my friend B-15. He got me out of my cell.’
As Emily greeted the Nirad, there were sounds and cries coming from the crowds. She turned and saw them all pointing up at the sky. The Cupid clones squealed in terror and quickly landed.
Emily and Joel looked up and their eyes went wide. ‘Jupiter!’
37
Emily watched Jupiter’s chariot blaze across the dawn sky, with Pluto and Neptune beside him in their own chariots.
A chill ran through her. It took the Big Three to move the Solar Stream. And here they all were.
‘That the big fella himself?’ Earl asked fearfully, watching the approaching chariots.
Emily nodded. ‘You’d better get back.’ Then she turned to Joel. ‘You too. I said I would fight Jupiter if I have to, and I meant it. He’s not going to destroy this world and all these innocent clones without one.’
‘No way,’ Joel said. ‘I started this with you. I’m going to end it with you.’
Emily’s heart swelled at Joel’s constant support and loyalty. She reached out and took his hand. Together they walked out on to the dry Groom Lake bed and awaited Jupiter.
As the Olympians drew closer, Emily noticed someone else in the sky. ‘Joel, look! It’s Paelen!’
Leading the Olympians was Chrysaor carrying Paelen. He was the first to touch down on the ground just a few metres from them. Paelen jumped off the boar’s back and ran to his friends. They embraced like they hadn’t seen each other in years. So much had happened since they were last together.
‘Las Vegas is destroyed!’ Paelen cried. ‘The military tried to kill us, but we fought back. Now it is all in ruin.’
‘Las Vegas is destroyed?’ Joel repeated.
Paelen nodded and concentrated on Emily. ‘He is going to do it. Jupiter is going to destroy this world. He’s already started with Vegas.’
This only strengthened Emily’s resolve. ‘No, he’s not.’
‘You cannot stop him,’ Paelen cried. ‘He is Jupiter.’
‘And I am the Flame of Olympus!’ Emily shot back. ‘If he wants to destroy this world, he’ll have get past me first!’
The screaming of Pluto’s skeleton stallions as the chariots landed on the dry lake bed before them cut off further conversation. Emily saw Jupiter’s face. It was furious. She had never seen the leader of Olympus so angry.
‘Emily!’ Jupiter boomed. ‘What have you done?’ The leader of Olympus climbed down from his chariot and stormed up to her. ‘You have a lot of explaining to do!’
But before she could even think of how to respond, a comforting voice cried out her name.
Emily turned round and watched as her father climbed down from Diana’s chariot. He ran past Jupiter and scooped her up in his arms. ‘Are you all right?’
Emily nodded and fought to keep control of her emotions. She turned to Jupiter. ‘Pegasus is dead. So is Alexis. My powers got away from me and I killed them.’
A shocked silence halted the Olympians. The only movement came from Neptune, his face a portrait of pain. ‘My son is dead?’
‘Neptune …’ Emily started to break. ‘I didn’t mean to… We were fighting the CRU… I got shot and lost control.’
‘They shot you?’ her father cried.
Emily nodded again. ‘I’m OK,’ she said sadly. ‘But Pegasus isn’t.’
Chrysaor started to squeal and howl in pain, breaking Emily’s non-existent heart.
‘Please, Jupiter, I beg you,’ she cried, facing the leader. ‘There has been too much death already. Don’t destroy my world.’
The fire was gone from his eyes. But his expression was still full of anger. ‘The CRU have left me no choice. Their crime cannot be forgiven.’
‘Then punish them!’ Emily’s father cried. ‘But not the whole world!’
‘No,’ Jupiter insisted. ‘There will be others just like the CRU ready to rise up and do this again. We must not let that happen. Earth must be destroyed.’
Emily stepped away from her father and approached Jupiter. ‘I understand you are angry,’ she said, suddenly very calm. ‘So am I. I have lost Pegasus. I have seen at first hand the horrors these people have done here. But I cannot let you destroy my world.’
Jupiter paused and a frown darkened his brow. ‘Are you challenging me?’
Emily inhaled deeply. This was it. She felt the Flame rumbling inside her, but felt equally sick realizing what she was prepared to do.
‘Yes, Jupiter, I am,’ she finally said.
A hush fell over everyone as Emily and Jupiter faced each other.
‘Em, stop,’ her father cried.
Emily looked back at him but shook her head. She turned back to Jupiter. ‘You know how I feel a
bout Olympus and how I have fought to protect it. I love you, Jupiter. But I will not allow you to destroy my world.’
Pluto and Neptune’s eyes flashed from Emily back to their brother and to Emily again. ‘Emily, stop,’ Neptune warned. ‘You do not want to do this.’
‘No I don’t,’ she said, concentrating on him. ‘But to protect this world, I must.’ She looked back at Jupiter. ‘You have taught me so much. Like how to care for others outside my family, my race and even my species. You have shown me the price you must pay and the sacrifices you have made for leadership. You have taught me to be a better person. How could you teach me all that and then expect me to allow you to destroy this world?’
‘This is different,’ Jupiter said.
‘No it’s not,’ Emily insisted. ‘Most of the people on this planet are innocent. They have no idea what the CRU have done. Why should they be made to suffer for that?’
‘Do you care so much for these people that you are prepared to make war with me?’ Jupiter asked incredulously.
Emily stared Jupiter in the eye. She raised both her hand as they burst into brilliant flame. The powers bubbled up from her core as she prepared to fire at the leader of Olympus. ‘To save Earth? Yes!’
38
Emily closed her eyes and commanded her powers to fly. An instant before they did, a crying whinny shattered the stillness of the air around her. It was a sound she never thought she’d hear again. A sound she loved. The Flame in her hands went out. She turned and saw Pegasus tearing through the sky. Alexis was behind him, struggling to keep up.
‘Pegasus!’ she howled.
Emily ran out on to the dry lake bed. Pegasus landed and galloped towards her. His mane billowed behind him, his nostrils flared and his golden hooves stirred a wild dust storm in the air. Pegasus was covered in foaming sweat and panting heavily as he whinnied to her.