“Yes,” Jeremy agreed. “The big companies have made it so expensive right now. It’s meant to be very cheap. It used to be.”
A long silent pause followed.
“Do you have an army defending you in here?” Kimberley began.
“No,” Jeremy replied. “Almost all the soldiers went to the war. We civilians occupied the underground cities when we got news of the red bomb.”
“I thought there were established colonies on other planets,” Mariah began. “What happened to those colonies? Did refugees reach out to them from Earth?”
Jeremy looked away. “The Red War started in the colonies,” he said. “Nations of the world destroyed one another’s colonies before bringing the war down to Earth.”
“I see,” Mariah said.
Another long silent pause followed.
“What were you doing out there all by yourself, Jeremy?” Kimberley began. “Glad that you helped us, but how come you braved the dust and radiation just to do that?”
“I am a Volunteer Watch,” Jeremy replied. “I save people who seek refuge from the Slums.”
“The Slums?” Kimberley got confused.
“Yes. That valley outside leads to human settlement farms we call the Slums. In these farms, the Kannibals raise mammals for food.”
“For food?” Aiden gulped hard. “Gross,” he blurted out.
“Like, you mean people there are raised as livestock?” Kimberley was stunned. What had the world turned into?
Rachel couldn’t believe her ears as she came in from the kitchen with some plates and spoons. “That’s gross.”
“Yes,” Jeremy agreed. “People often escape from these prisons and the Kannibals hunt them down at the valley if these men, women and children fail to reach safety in time. That’s where I come in, and the nearest settlement farm is where I think you guys escaped from, right?” Jeremy turned to Mariah for confirmation.
Kimberley coughed for attention. “No, we…”
“It’s the Ankh Sikama, Kim,” Mariah cut in.
“What?” Kimberley looked up and noticed Jeremy’s surprise stare.
“You know about the Sikama?” Jeremy began.
“What about the Sikama?” Kimberley asked him.
“They run the Slums and we escaped from them,” Mariah said. “We need to find the Cross Sikama right now.”
Jeremy frowned. “There’s nothing like…”
“An X2 mobile unit we could use to get to the other cities?” Mariah interrupted him. “We needed to find an intellectual amongst your people, Jeremy. We need to do that right now.”
Kimberley sighed. “Jeremy, there’s…there’s something you really need to know.”
The young man looked up. Ginia came into the living room with a pot of freshly cooked potato porridge. Tilia followed her sister with a jug of water. “And what is that?”
Rachel prepared the table in the middle of the group for a meal. “That we’re not from these parts?” she quipped.
“But you’ve said that before,” Jeremy pointed out. His sisters sat down beside him and dished out the meal.
“W-We’re not really from anywhere near here, Jeremy,” Kimberley said, receiving a plate of porridge from Tilia.
“Not even the Slums,” Aiden added, scooping a spoonful of porridge from his plate.
“We’re from the past, Jeremy,” Mariah said. “We’re here to stop evil before it destroys us.”
“I see,” Jeremy said in confusion. “The Sikama?”
“Yes,” Mariah agreed.
Jeremy frowned as he ate. “You tell me you’re from the past? How do I believe that? I need proof of your being from the past.”
Kimberley shook her head in frustration.
“Look, Jeremy, we’re good Sikama sent by Yahweh to stop the bad Sikama now causing mayhem in your world,” Mariah said.
“The Sikama lead the Kannibals. How are you gonna stop them?”
“We have a magic book to help us stop them,” Kimberley explained. “We only need to find someone who can help us use this book…properly.”
Aiden displayed the white book for the hosts to see.
“That’s the proof I wanted right there,” Jeremy said. “An ancient book.”
Aiden blinked twice. “Wait, you mean you guys don’t use books anymore?”
“No, we don’t,” Jeremy said. “Seen any since you came in here?”
Aiden frowned. “Well…. What about the paintings?”
“We use TelepathyG7 for everything now,” Jeremy pointed out. “The artwork is later printed on the wall using Modu Print technology. There’s no raw material for paper now.”
“Ok, that explains that.” Kimberley sat up. “Jeremy, we know you’ve been kind to us by giving us food when you know how scarce this food is, and we’re very grateful for that, but right now, Jeremy, we need you to help us on this.”
“We don’t have magicians who use ancient tomes,” Ginia chuckled. “Those guys died off a long time ago, even before the Red War.”
“We only have scientists now,” Tilia supplied.
“Yes,” Kimberley whispered in relief.
“Like old Professor Goldenberg at the Bravery Plant Research Institute,” Jeremy added.
Mariah brightened. “Exactly the kind of guy we need.”
“Plant food is very expensive and only greedy companies have monopolized farming in the massive green house shelters they have constructed over the years,” Ginia explained. “Because of this, the professor has been working on improving genetic farming for Earth’s population after the Red War.”
“He’s a very busy man,” Tilia said.
“Doesn’t matter,” Kimberley waived. “How do we get to this Plant Research Institute?”
“Bravery is the next city,” Jeremy replied. “Follow Route 21 from here and you won’t miss it.”
“Okay, thanks,” Kimberley got up. About time, she thought. “So grateful, Jeremy,” she said. “We won’t forget this.”
“And you won’t regret this,” Aiden added, jumping up.
“I know you didn’t tell me everything,” Jeremy directed at Kimberley. “But I know you’ll do so when you think the time is right to do so.”
This moved the Portwood sergeant. She thought better of saying something and turned away. “Thanks for that,” she murmured.
“I’ll take you guys to Bravery on our X5,” the young man surprised her with. “That way, I’ll also see more proof of the story you just told me when it unfolds before me.”
Kimberley rolled her eyes. “Okay, that’s not a bad deal.”
“Good.” Jeremy stood up as well. “No time to waste, then.”
Aiden turned to Jeremy. “So, where’s the X5?”
“It’s parked near the Canvass.”
“The Canvass?” Rachel smiled.
“That’s our shelter’s name,” Ginia said. “Tilia named it.”
“So, who’s the best artist amongst you guys?” Mariah quipped.
“Tilia,” Ginia chuckled. “She’s quite remarkable…”
“Are you getting this message on your feed?” Jeremy cut in, swiping out his virtual TelepathyG7 screen from the gadget on his wrist. “There are…multiple reports of unknown deaths in the Resilience B23.551 area?”
Aiden realized he wore a wrist gadget as well. Everyone had wrist gadgets. How come he never noticed? Jeremy’s screen appeared on the wall and he gaped at the violent footage coming from Resilience B23.551. People launching themselves into the air and crashing to the ground without cause, remaining visibly immobile afterwards as their TelepathyG7 vital signs data pronounced them dead.
“What is killing them?” Jeremy wondered with a shaking voice.
Kimberley boiled. “Carl Bain.”
“We can only help them if we go now,” Mariah urged.
“How do we tell them to put this symbol on their shelters and rooms?” Rachel asked Jeremy, virtually sending him a message containing an ankh symbol.
&nbs
p; “Good idea,” Kimberley said. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
“You don’t have a cross?” Mariah asked Rachel.
“Oh, for the love of God!” Kimberley wailed.
“And what is that?” Jeremy demanded.
“That’s an ankh, Jeremy,” Mariah said. “The demons now killing your people avoid anyone who has an ankh or a cross near his or her person. If you can share that on your feed, many lives will be saved around here.”
“Good idea,” Kimberley agreed. “Now, on to Bravery.”
Rachel smiled and Aiden frowned at her. “What?”
“I’m still getting used to this tech,” she told him. “And I’m loving it!”
* * *
Carl Bain watched in dismay as the caused symbol appeared on every shelter in the five underground cities and beyond. He realized he could no longer use his powers and stepped out into the street. The huge virtual screens all over the place highlighted the current news that the spontaneous deaths had stopped. This meant that his infernal masters had ended their assault on the cities’ occupants once the caused symbol showed up everywhere.
The American hustler turned away, deep in thought. No time to grieve this unfortunate turn of events. He needed a plan he could execute as a human being.
The voice came through loud and clear. The next city it is, then. He hailed an X5 unit.
“Where to?” the unit’s operator asked him.
“Bravery,” he said. “I have some friends I’m dying to meet over there.”
And finally deal with.
Chapter 34: Benjamin Haddad
BRAVERY’S city emblem consisted of a shield protecting a shovel and farm fork. Its major source of income included the many greenhouses constructed with custom armor glass and occupying acres of choice land in the underground farming city. These structures jutted out above ground level in order to enable the greenery they housed make use of the little remaining sunlight available to Mankind. Heavy security defended the glass openings against Kannibal attacks.
Whenever the red dust blurted out precious solar rays by settling on the greenhouses, the city’s farmers had to use artificial lighting instead. Expensive artificial lighting from NGVTech, the energy company that had successfully monopolized Compound V.
Genetix wanted to change this narrative. The institute strived to improve genetic farming for Earth’s population. This meant that crops being developed by this research facility could one day exceed expectations in the red environment the world’s remaining greenery must now survive in.
The X5 unit swerved into the black gates of the research institute and stopped before a grand portico with a wide staircase taking visitors up to the main entrance. Its occupants exited before it powered down. They scaled the steps leading to the high-tech doors of the complex.
“Amazing,” Aiden said, turning around.
“We need to see Mr. Goldenberg,” Jeremy told a security personnel who stepped out to receive them.
“It’s a matter of the utmost importance,” a smiling Mariah said.
The unsmiling fellow nodded. “This way please.”
Kimberley wondered why Mariah had a smile on her lips as they walked down a long crowded passage. Most of the passersby carried a particular plant probably on transfer from a nursery or some place with the right conditions for growth.
The guard stopped before a bold door atop which a LABORATORY sign glowed blue. He waved his right hand across the door and the aperture opened automatically.
An elderly man sitting on a traditional lab stool looked up from a crowded transparent laboratory table at the farthest end of the room as Kimberley walked over to his position with her friends. He had braided black beard properly continuous with thinning hair that shaped out the facial positions of deep brows and calculating eyes. An ignoble nose and a resolute mouth completed the fearless expression on his face, while the penetrating nature of his eyes accentuated this blank countenance. The man’s pristine black suit looked out of place in the cluttered laboratory.
“What is it, Rewder? I thought I told you not to disturb my work?”
“Yes, you did, sir, but your visitors checked out and they said they have an important message for you.”
“How did we check out?” Kimberley asked the guard.
“He ran a background check while we were coming here,” Jeremy explained.
“They escaped from the human farm, sir,” Rewder continued and his principal looked up from his work on the lab table.
Kimberley noticed the man’s peaked attention.
“Now, did they?” he began. “And who’s their leader?”
“Me.” Mariah stepped forward, hands outstretched.
“What’s the meaning of this, woman?” Mr. Goldenberg demanded, standing up from his laboratory stool without taking the Sikama’s outstretched hand. “Who are you people?”
“We-We escaped from the Kannibals,” Mariah said, withdrawing her hand. “We have relevant information for you, sir.”
“Then let’s hear it,” Mr. Goldenberg bellowed. “Stop wasting my time.”
“The Kannibals plan to attack your city,” Aiden said. “What did I just say?”
Kimberley knew what just happened. Alternate memory. So, they actually had important information to share? Wow.
“Are you sure of this?” Rewder asked the boy.
“Yes, sir,” Aiden affirmed.
“They dare not,” Mr. Goldenberg said. “We have guards and an elaborate security system.”
“They’ve found a way to go round your security, sir,” Mariah said. “If only you’ll allow me to show you.”
Mr. Goldenberg sat down again. “I need to know your background story,” he began. “Introduce yourselves.”
“I am Sergeant Kimberley Reyna of the Portwood Police Department in Portwood, Oregon,” Kimberley said. “I believe you must know Oregon, sir?”
Professor Goldenberg scoffed.
“The United States ceased to exist a long time ago, Sergeant Reyna,” Rewder said. “I believe you should know that.”
“It still existed in our time,” Aiden said.
Mr. Goldenberg sat up. He thought he didn’t hear the boy correctly. “Rewder, leave us.”
“Yes, sir,” the guard said, turning. He left the laboratory.
“Going with what you think you now know, sir, you must touch one of us,” Mariah said, stretching out her right hand again.
The elderly scientist hesitated before taking the hand. His transformation wasted no time. The blank pupils preceded closure of both eyelids, then a frown and a reopening of both eyes. A reawakening and a response. “Mariah, my dear. So glad to see you again!”
Kimberley rolled her eyes. No bother. Both individuals were Bookmakers and must have known each other back at the Mine, although something really bothered her about Mariah’s present countenance. Something she could not lay her finger on.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you again, Ben,” Mariah enthused.
Ben Haddad smiled and embraced his former protégé. “The pleasure’s all mine, Mariah. The pleasure’s all mine.” He kept her at arm’s length and admired her. “Just look at you. No scratch.”
“We came with the book, Ben,” Mariah said, pointing at Rachel. “We also came with her.”
“No way.” Ben Haddad peered at Rachel as if she wasn’t there at all. He turned to Mariah. “Is she?”
“Yes, she is, Ben,” Mariah chuckled. “She is his flesh and blood.”
* * *
Carl Bain alighted from the X4 unit and walked up to the gates of the Genetix complex. His infernal masters had already smothered everyone in the compound except his protected enemies and those in their midst.
Despite the earlier warning his primary targets had sent out to residents of the city of Resilience and beyond, no lifeless occupant of the research institute had any protective symbol on their dead body and no cursed symbol projected anywhere on the premises. A possible TelepathyG7 Exclusi
on Error T2 that had worked to the human minion’s advantage, judging from the lifeless nature of the many halls and corridors inside the complex he was about to enter.
The American hustler simply walked through the black gates of the institute, ignoring the dead bodies littered all around him. He knew his enemies knew he had arrived, so he squatted beside a cold security personnel and retrieved a Colt XF9.0 RapidFire from the dead man’s holster. He would need the weapon if he found himself in a situation where he couldn’t use his powers.
More dead bodies as he walked across the empty passage and headed towards the laboratory door. How to open it? A wave of his right hand? He did just that and the door slid open to reveal a gratifying sight. His enemies supported by security personnel stood at the farthest end of the laboratory. “Well, well, well, what do we have here?” he began as he stepped into the brightly lit hall. “Is this a trap?”
“Not at all,” Kimberley stammered, looking away. “We’ve decided to end this.”
“Really?” Carl Bain could not believe his ears, but remained alert. “I know you don’t believe the lie you just told me,” he growled. “So, I’ll ask you this just once. When will you reveal the trick?”
“There’s no trick, my friend,” Ben Haddad told the human minion. “You must have realized that you don’t have your powers anymore? Now, why is that?”
Carl Bain frowned and tried to start fire with his right hand. He could not. “I knew you drew cursed symbols on your arms,” he said. “I knew that before I came here, old man. Now, hand over the book and my package.” He raised his lazer gun.
“Wait, we have decided to give you the book and your package,” Kimberley said. “No need for violence here.”
“And we’ll clean off our symbols so that you can leave this time and place without harm, if you promise not to harm us as well when we do so,” Mariah added, looking at the laboratory floor.
“Really?” The American thug lowered his weapon. “Okay, I take my stuff and go my way, you go your way. No hard feelings.”
“No hard feelings,” Aiden repeated, looking lost.
“I feel your pain, boy,” Carl Bain told him. “You lose some and you win some.”
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