Zena- Soldier

by Edward Lake

  “God, what have I done?” I cried out. From the beginning, this was supposed to be about saving my brother. I had lost my way, and now, I feared Pastor Saros would go looking for the real Declan Ezra—and punish my brother for his involvement. “Forgive me, Declan.” Grandma? Turk and Lydia? “Please… forgive me.”

  Part 6

  The Fall of an Empire

  24

  Pastor Saros

  God did not have a simple way of doing things. Everyone served a purpose that led to the Holy Spirit’s will. From the weak and mentally challenged who dwelt in my special care facilities to the highest-standing citizens in our society, we were all meant to serve God.

  Chapter fourteen of The Teachings of Our Lord told the story of a man named Samson. Abe wrote that this Samson fell in love with another man and revealed himself to be a deviant soul consumed by the devil within. Naturally, Abe killed Samson and warned his disciples that Samson’s behavior was “savagery.” Thus, from then on, anyone who behaved in such a way would be executed at once.

  Zena would now become my Samson. But sadly, my very own daughter would be forced to suffer the same fate as her lover, for that was God’s will—and the will of God was the law of the galaxy. Yet with this conclusion, a Saros relative would be summoned to take my place when the time came.

  Aboard my grand space station and inside one of my many bedrooms, I stood in front of a wall that displayed dozens of family pictures. Agnes, arched forward with her hand clasped to her forehead, sat at the table in the center of the room. I checked each photo, one by one, frowning at the ones that showed Sadie. I found a picture of her when she was a young child and reached out to touch it. “Remember that big smile she had when she was little?”

  Agnes did not respond. I turned my head and took a quick glance at her. “She was so sweet and innocent back then, wasn’t she, dear?” I clenched my lips and put my head down. “How could we have let this happen to her?”

  Still, she ignored me and remained slumped over with her hand on her brow.

  I turned around and walked over to her. “This is going to be difficult, my love, for both of us.” I bent down and hugged her close. “But we must be true to God.”

  Before I could continue, Commander Vault walked into the room. He showed a blank, unyielding stare on his face. “Your daughter has been stripped down and bound by restraints, my priest, just as you requested.”

  I nodded. “Very good, Commander. Send Captain Cain to my estate and have him bring Zena to the sermon.”

  He bowed. “Right away, Pastor Saros.” Commander Vault turned and left the room.

  On the far wall, a transparent screen came on and showed my reporter, Vin Naas. “Linus, are you sure about this? I can cover this up, my friend.”

  I stood up straight and softly caressed my wife’s shoulders. I wanted to say yes and save our only child from execution, but the devil had taken her soul. She needed to be killed so her suffering could end. “No, Naas. Her sin of savagery is punishable by death. As the High Priest, it is my duty to be true to our Lord and Savior. Therefore, we shall carry on as planned.”

  Agnes pushed my hands away and stood up. Her face was damp and blemished from crying. “The sooner we do this, the better it will be for all concerned.” She rubbed away a few tears and dashed to the hallway.

  At dawn, when the sun rose, my congregation headed to the Stadium of Sodus and filled the seats. Naturally, it was only appropriate for Agnes and me to bring Sadie forth for her punishment. She was held captive in her room, surrounded by a group of servants and several soldiers watching the doors.

  When Agnes and I arrived at the room, we hurried inside and walked over to Sadie’s bed. The servants guarding the bed respectfully moved aside.

  My heart sank when I saw my once holy daughter nude, curled up in a ball, and looking past us with a somber, blank stare. I had no idea she had become such a disgusting creature. I stepped closer, then knelt and reached out to her. I thought she would pull away from me, but she didn’t. She was in a daze, perhaps lost in her own misery.

  “Sadie, your mother and I are doing this because we love you.” With all my strength, I held back my tears and leaned forward. I shut my eyes and planted a firm kiss on her forehead. “It is time for you to return to God.”

  I stood up and ordered the servants to carry Sadie into the hallway and hand her over to the soldiers. Once everyone was in position, we flew to the stadium and landed at our usual spot. After leaving the ship, I escorted the group to the tunnel that led to the stage. I had the soldiers take Sadie in first. Once she passed the dimness of the long tunnel and hit the bright light of the sun, the crowd began to stir.

  There was no choir singing the sounds of glory as my wife and I walked to the podium. No cheering and clapping. Just whispers of crying and a sea of befuddled stares. At the edge of the stage, on the right side, I spotted the large chains that would secure Sadie.

  The soldiers rushed my daughter to the chains and strapped her in. I glanced around the stage, wondering why Captain Cain was taking so long to bring Zena to the sermon. To check, I had one of the soldiers call the captain on his communications device.

  “Captain Cain, what’s the status on Zena?” the soldier asked.

  “I am approaching the chamber doors now,” he promptly responded.

  Feeling relieved, I took a deep breath and walked to the speaker that hovered over the podium. “Good dawn, Starlight.” I placed my hands on the golden trim that lined the platform. From the corner of my right eye, I saw Sadie’s matted hair whooshing with the wind. In my head, I saw flashes of all the good times we shared—the games we played when she was a child, the dress she wore for her first dance, and all the times she told me she loved me.

  My heart rumbled as I broke out of my daze, and a small tear crept down my face. I turned my head and looked down at her. “This is a very difficult time for me and my wife.” My hands shook as I moved my eyes to The Teachings of Our Lord and opened it. “We all know the story of Samson, yes?” I peeked at the crowd to ensure everyone had prepared their digital copies of the book. “Chapter Fourteen: The Laws of Temptation.”

  I waited a moment to give everyone a chance to get there. “We reference this passage of the book so often because it is the key to maintaining our devotion to God. Temptation is in all of us, Starlight, but we cannot allow the devil within to feed on our temptations, which makes the beast more powerful.” I sternly pointed at Sadie. “My very own daughter has committed the crime of savagery. Like Samson before her.”

  A noisy, steady gasp took over the stadium.

  “Settle down, settle down,” I ordered. “Soon, Sadie and her lover, Zena, will be executed here on the stage. I pray this capital punishment serves as a reminder to you all that no one is above the law.”

  I was expecting the congregation to stand, cheer, and clap for my ruling on Sadie and the imposter known as Zena. Yet all around me, I heard an outburst of disapproving chatter and even a few boos from the upper levels. Have my own people turned on me?

  “Does anyone object to my ruling?” I snapped. “Please, if anyone feels that what I intend to do is wrong, I invite you to the stage to plead your case.” I looked high and low, waiting for someone to come forth. I continued to scan the crowd, anticipating at least one brave soul to say something. Finally, the chatter calmed, and no one challenged my ruling. “Very well then. When our second offender arrives, we shall proceed with the execution.”

  Alas, Captain Cain was delaying the slayings of the perpetrators and my patience with him was running thin. Evander, where are you?

  25

  Evander

  My hands placed at my sides, I stood over Zena. Seeing her beaten and bloodied on the stone floor of Pastor Saros’s chamber upset me. I had never met a woman as brave as her. Sure, she had impersonated a soldier, which was against the law. She was also a savage. But beneath that, she was a kind, spirited person. How could I hate her for that? I believed in G
od, but I did not believe the Holy Spirit wanted Zena or Sadie to die. Even so, I figured there was not enough time to think of a plan to save them. Yet I can still try.

  I bent down low and pulled up the log on my communications device. “State your name, prisoner,” I asked Zena.

  She turned her head and peered at me through her bloody eyes. “Captain Cain?” she said with a raspy voice.

  “Yes, it’s me.”

  She smiled. “Zena Ezra is my name. Sorry for letting you down.”

  I grabbed Zena and boosted her to her feet. “Can you walk?”

  She slowly nodded.

  “Listen, I can’t promise I can save you, but for what it’s worth, I wanted you to know that I don’t believe you should be killed for this.”

  She tried to talk but instead pushed out a few heavy coughs. Then she exhaled and mumbled, “I always knew you were different.”

  I sighed and clenched my lips as I took her to the hallway.

  One of the troops on standby took out his metal locks and secured them around Zena’s wrists and ankles. Then a few others came over to help, and we dragged her down the hall and took her upstairs to my ship, the EC3. I flew to the stadium in a hurry and landed near the tunnel that led to the stage.

  In my head, I desperately tried to formulate a plan to save Zena and Sadie. But I was outnumbered by thousands of soldiers and battleships. Any kind of rescue mission would be impossible to pull off without some help.

  Pastor Saros seemed greatly pleased when he saw me arrive at the stage with Zena. However, Agnes appeared distraught, staring at Sadie with her hands held close to her heart.

  The soldiers brought Zena to the large chains on the left side of the platform. They quickly lowered her to her knees and locked her in place.

  The High Priest looked on with a gleam in his eyes and firmly placed his hands on the edge of the podium. “Soldiers of the Holy Guard, you may proceed with the execution of Sadie Saros and Zena Ezra for their crimes of savagery.”

  The soldiers took their positions and aimed at Sadie and Zena. My arms and hands shuddered as I helplessly looked on, yearning to do something.

  “Wait!” Agnes ran to her daughter and sank down to her level. She hugged Sadie and kissed her head. “Linus, I can’t do this.” Her cries echoed throughout the stadium like waves from the ocean washing across the shoreline. She squeezed her daughter and rocked her as if she were a baby again. “I can’t kill my only child.”

  I turned my head and watched Pastor Saros.

  Heavy tears formed in his eyes and leaked down his cheek as he watched his wife. Finally, his mouth dropped open, and his lips quivered when he talked. “God is all-powerful, Agnes.” He raised a shaky hand and held it out to her. “Let Sadie go and come to me, my love. She has fallen to her desires, which means the devil within her soul has taken over.” He waved his hand over her, which prompted the soldiers to move in and remove Agnes from Sadie.

  She kicked and screamed as the troops dragged her off the stage. “Linus! Don’t kill her! Please, don’t kill our daughter!”

  The pastor took a deep breath and dried his eyes. “Brothers and sisters of the Holy Empire, I hope you can forgive me someday for this… failure.” He shook his head. “I let my own family down.” He waved his hand over the crowd. “By failing them, I’ve failed you.” Once more, he looked down and carefully set his hands on the podium. “Soldiers of the Holy Guard, you may execute the perpetrators.”

  I was out of time. I closed my eyes. Farewell, Sadie and Zena. I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.

  Then, suddenly, one of our ships swooped into the stadium and fired a laser blast that struck the High Priest’s podium. Pastor Saros staggered backward and the troops on the stage rushed to his aid.

  It all happened so fast, yet from where I stood, the moment was so clear. How can I fight for a man who would kill his own child? I had followed the High Priest and his twisted ideology for long enough. It was time for me to follow my own beliefs and do the right thing.

  I drew my gun and hurried to Zena. I aimed my weapon with a steady hand and blasted the chains and locks, freeing her, then quickly did the same for Sadie.

  The entire stadium erupted into a panic and everyone scampered to the nearest exit. I looked up and saw the same ship that blasted the podium swooping down over the stage. The ramp opened in a flash and two soldiers jumped out and rushed Zena and Sadie to safety.

  “Captain Cain! Stop those traitors!” Pastor Saros shouted to me.

  Without thinking twice, I ran ahead and leaped onto the ramp. I spun around and blasted away at the troops on the stage and the patrolling ships in the sky. The ramp closed and locked as we scurried into the ship. “Put on your boosters and get us to outer space! We won’t last long on Sodus!” I hollered to whoever was flying. When I entered the cockpit, I checked the soldier operating the control panel. “Who are you?”

  “My name is Taft, Captain Cain. I’m a friend of Zena’s.” He looked down at the control panel, his eyes shifting from left to right. “Where are the boosters, sir? And how do I work them?”

  The ship wobbled like a rock falling down a hill. Taft clearly had no pilot training. “Move aside, soldier. I’ll get us out of here.”

  He hurried out of the chair and stepped back.

  I sat down and plotted a course for Mercilus.

  With the name of the planet blinking on the holographic map of the galaxy, Taft asked, “Why Mercilus, Captain?”

  “It’s a dark wasteland with plenty of places to hide.”

  From outside, a swarm of ships chased us into the blackness of space, rapidly firing lasers and powerful missiles. “Prepare yourselves for takeoff!” I called out. I looked down and pressed the button for maximum acceleration. “We will be accelerating to lightspeed in three… two… one!”

  26

  Zena

  I sat on the floor of the ship, Sadie nestled under my arm. I was in shock but grateful to be alive. Yet now that Pastor Saros knew I was Zena, my brother Declan was in grave danger. Somehow, I had to find a way to get to him before Pastor Saros could—or die trying.

  Inside the storage compartments on the ship, Taft, Bon, and Atom found shirts and pants for Sadie and me. The clothes were rather long and baggy on us, but they helped us cut the ends of the shirts and tie the pants up so they wouldn’t fall down.

  “When I found out about your planned execution at the pastor’s sermon, I told Bon and Atom everything I knew,” Taft said. “That’s when we decided to rescue you.”

  I took a moment to look at each of them. “I can’t thank you enough for this. You all risked your lives to save mine.” Heavy tears leaked from my eyes. “For that, I will always be grateful.”

  Taft smiled. “Glad we could help, Declan.”

  I dried my eyes as I looked them over. “My real name is Zena. Declan Ezra is my brother. I was trying to save him from the war.”

  Taft seemed thrilled I had finally told him who I was and why I joined the Holy Army. He reached out and gripped my shoulder. “I hardly know you, Zena, but I’m proud of you for what you’ve done.” He squeezed hard and shook me a little. “I’m sure your brother would be proud, too.”

  Bon shook his head and held his hands out like he wanted more information. “So this whole time you’ve been a woman pretending to be a man?” He reached up and scratched his head. “This is wild.”

  Atom shrugged and confessed, “You had me fooled. Very impressive, Declan. I mean… Zena.” He blew out a long breath. “Your fondness for women is repulsive, but I suppose I can look the other way.”

  Repulsive? I glared at him and grit my teeth. “Keep your opinions about who I like to yourself, Atom.”

  He smirked. “Young lady, don’t ever tell me what to do.”

  Taft put his hand up and pointed at Atom first, then me. “Enough! We have more important things to worry about. The two of you can fight it out some other time.”

  “Your friend is right,” Evander said
from the cockpit. “The Holy Army is now our enemy, and Commander Vault’s fleet will soon be on our trail.”

  Sadie and I ignored the chatter as we huddled on the floor. I held her close to me, trying to comfort her. The others left us and walked over to Evander. They gathered around the large windshield and gazed at the ghastly planet Mercilus. The atmosphere was dark and hazy, like a smoke cloud hanging over a burning tower. Far away in the distance, I saw a few sparks of lightning. I imagined a time when the Serpent species called Mercilus home. Judging by their horrid demeanor, it seemed like an environment they would thrive in.

  Evander flew us down to the pebbly, barren landscape. He landed near a series of caves and turned the jets off. “Okay, we need to head out and find a place to hide so we can regroup and think of our next move.”

  I stood up and hurried over to him. “I need to get to the North Star as soon as possible. Now that Saros knows I’m not the real Declan Ezra, he will go looking for my brother.”

  Evander nodded. “That may be true, Zena, but we can’t go to the North Star. Not yet anyway. It will be much safer for us on an undeveloped planet like Mercilus.”

  I grit my teeth and blew out a hard wheeze through my nose. “This might be my only chance to save my brother. I must go to the North Star!”

  He leaped out of his seat and pointed at his head. “Think, Zena! What kind of chance would you have on the North Star? That planet is crawling with Holy Army troops who will be looking for you.” He set his hands on his hips and looked around at the others. “I agree with your friend Taft. You’re a very brave woman for what you’ve done.” He looked back at me and let out a deep sigh. “But I’m not risking my life to save your brother.”