by Ugo, Kachi
The response was instant. The crowds went wild with cheers of support while some of the Elders loudly opposed the proposition. Grey Crawford’s smile broadened as he gave a nod to his son.
Peter realized that his father supported this rash move.
Grey allowed the loud arguments to continue for about three minutes before he called for silence with a raised palm.
“We have two options,” Grey said. “Attack these Metallic bases, thereby declaring war on the Metallics. Or seek a diplomatic resolution of the crises. Can we at least agree to these options?”
The Elders nodded.
“Then, shall we put it to a vote?”
The Elders nodded again.
“Those who favor diplomacy, raise your hands,” Grey called.
Six Elders raised their hands, including Elder Arman and Elder Show, much to Dylan’s irritation.
“Those who favor war, raise your hands.”
Five Elders and Julian raised their hands.
“We have a tie,” Grey said.
“No we don’t, Dad,” Julian said. “Peter hasn’t voted.”
Grey glanced at Peter. Before Grey could speak, Elder Arman intervened.
“He’s not a member of the Council,” the Elder said. “I understand Julian being on the Council. He represents the Woodland League. But not Peter. He cannot be allowed a vote.”
“That’s not entirely true,” Grey said. “As long as I offered him a seat on this table, he has temporary voting rights. Those of Elder Triton who now lies in the hospital.
“You change the rules to suit your own purposes?” Elder Arman glared at Grey. The man was considerably older than Grey, and it was no secret that there was bad blood between the two men. Even in Chicago, Peter had heard the stories.
“I will not be challenged, Balthazar!” Grey replied with a distinctive edge in his voice.
For a moment both men glared at each other, a cold withering silence coiling between them. Wood energy pulsed from both of them. Woodfolks around tensed.
Would they fight?
Then Balthazar shrugged and turned away. “Doom us all, Grey.”
“What would it be, Peter?” Grey said, ignoring Balthazar’s comment.
Peter didn’t think about it. In a sudden self-preservation–driven moment, he blurted, “Diplomacy.”
“What?” Julian snapped.
Grey Crawford rolled his eyes. There were audible groans and hisses from the surrounding crowd.
Peter could feel Julian’s furious glare burn into his temple. He kept his eyes down.
Elder Arman erupted into mocking laughter. “Even your son detests your logic, Grey. Diplomacy has it.”
Grey Crawford did not reply. He still had one trump up his sleeves. He could still veto the vote. It was a tricky proposition. It could lead to his ousting, but he could still play that card.
“I should think that you would have learned a thing or two from your last two adventures,” Grey said finally. “Obviously, I was wrong. You disappoint me, Peter.”
Peter flinched, his father’s words stinging with the fierceness of a scorpion’s bite. Grey had finally said it. You disappoint me.
Elder Arman sensed what Grey was about to do and started to speak. But Grey cut him off with the wave of a hand.
“We will go to war,” Grey said.
Elder Arman shot to his feet. “You can’t do this!” the man yelled. “You can’t disregard the votes of the Council.”
“You’re right, I can’t disregard it,” Grey replied. “That’s why I’ve vetoed it.” To the crowd, he said. “War!”
The crowd went wild with cheers and then chants of war.
Julian smiled, satisfied.
Now that Grey had spoken, no one dared oppose him. There would be no more deliberating or arguing. War the Chief Elder had declared. War they would wage.
CHAPTER TEN
G
rey waved for the crowd to settle down, then gestured for Julian to speak. “Tell us your plan of attack.”
Julian retrieved two large pieces of paper from Dylan and spread it across the table. Each piece of paper had a light blue background and thick black lines outlining sections, rooms, levels, and other areas.
Peter leaned in closer to read some of the tiny texts and realized these were site plans. One was for a storage facility, while the other was for a residential building. Both were on the outskirts of Maine, arguably outside of Maine.
“We are going to strike at these two Metallic facilities,” Julian said. “Our mission is simple. Complete eradication.”
“And how are we sure these are, in fact, Metallic facilities?” asked Elder Show.
“We’ve known for a while,” Dylan replied. “We only allowed them to exist because we didn’t want any trouble. But given the current situation, I’ll say now is as good a time to strike.”
“Besides, it’s against the Accords,” Julian said, pointing an accusing finger at the plans. “Having a Metallic operational base within Woodfolk territory is a flagrant disregard for the Accords. It’s high time we set things right.”
“How many men can we amass for such a radical operation?” Elder Bishop asked.
“We have exactly two hundred and ten able-bodied Woodfolks ready to move at my command,” Julian said.
“Are you referring to the home defense force?” Elder Bishop asked.
Julian nodded.
Elder Bishop turned to Grey. “Don’t you think that’s a bit reckless?”
“What say you, Julian?” Grey inquired.
“We don’t have a military,” Julian replied. “The Metallics do. The Earthlings do. But we don’t, because we are a peaceful bunch. However, what we lack in terms of military might and skill, we more than make up for in our numbers.”
“Good and fine,” Elder Bishop said, “but you’ve still not answered the question.”
Julian looked to his father for help. The Bishops were close to their family; he didn’t want to ruffle any feathers.
“What he’s trying to say, Tom, is that we are ill-prepared for an operation such as this,” Grey said. “Our protectors and guards will have to suffice.”
“Even if it leaves the Tree House undefended?” asked Elder Arman with sleight in his voice.
“Indeed, Balthazar,” Grey replied in a heartbeat.
Peter saw that most of the Elders, not just Balthazar, didn’t appear convinced by Julian’s brash plans. But no one wanted to challenge Grey, not after he’d shot down Balthazar. To be sure, the tension at the table was high, and Peter knew Grey would suffer the consequences of his actions in the coming days.
Woodfolks might have a Chief Elder, but it didn’t make their system of governance an autocracy.
“How are you dividing the home defense force?” asked Grey.
“One hundred and twenty men with the Alpha team and ninety men with the Theta team,” Julian said. “Alpha team will attack the storage facility in Saint Stephen, while Theta team will attack the residential building in Lubec.”
“Who leads each team?” Grey asked.
“I’ll lead Alpha team while Brad will lead Theta team,” Julian said.
“No,” Grey replied.
Julian paused. “No?”
“Brad will not lead Theta team. Peter will,” Grey said.
“What?” Peter blurted, stupefied.
“You will lead the second team,” Grey said, “and I will not change my mind.”
It was the fiery determination in his father’s eyes that restrained Peter from responding. However, he fumed silently. He didn’t give a damn what Grey said. No one was going to make him go anywhere, certainly not on a suicide mission.
Oddly, Julian didn’t argue the point. Maybe it was because of what he saw Peter do back at the training facility. With such a delicate mission, there was no time for sibling rivalry. They needed their best man at the head of the charge.
Jul
ian spent the next few minutes going over specifics and dividing out the home defense force into the two teams. As soon as this was done, he yielded the floor to Grey.
“That’s it, folks,” Grey said. “Go and bring us victory.”
The meeting ended in earnest. The Elders retreated into the Tree House, while the crowd slowly separated into two large chunks. Peter pushed through the crowd, hoping to disappear into the Tree House and hide there until this was all over.
But the moment he was past the crowd, he felt a strong arm grip his shoulder. Surprised, Peter turned and saw his father. The man pulled him to the side of the Tree House, out of earshot of the teeming Woodfolks. With him were Delphina and Stephanie.
“You must think me a fool,” Grey said with stern features.
Confused, Peter hesitated, not sure how to respond.
Grey sneered. “What is it?”’
“What?” Peter blurted, further confused.
“You didn’t come here just so you could see me or Julian or your friends again,” Grey said. “You came here because you needed something. What is it? Is it money?”
Peter’s first instinct was to deny the allegation. He didn’t. He was simply done playing games. His games so far had only led him to the gates of death.
Peter gave a slight nod, noting the flushed look of disappointment on Delphina’s face.
“Why?” Grey asked next. “Are you in some sort of trouble?”
“I don’t want to rope you into my problems, Dad,” Peter replied. “Let’s just say I owe some very powerful people money.”
“I’ll make you a deal then,” Grey replied. “If you go on this last mission, I’ll give you all the money you owe. I’ll also give you my blessing to go wherever you want to.”
There was silence. At first, Peter was surprised. Surprised that his father didn’t punish him for employing deception to achieve his aims.
“You’re hesitating,” Grey said. “Why are you hesitating? Isn’t this what you wanted?”
“It is what I want,” Peter replied. “I just didn’t think I was going to have to make a deal for it.”
“The same way we didn’t think we’ll have to bribe you to fight for us!” Delphina retorted.
Grey shot her a glare and she mellowed down.
“Well?” Grey asked, turning back to Peter. He still held Peter’s shoulder with a strong clamp.
“What happens to the prophecy?” Peter asked.
Grey shrugged. “That will no longer be your concern,” he replied.
“You said I couldn’t run away from it,” Peter pointed out.
“Maybe I’m wrong,” Grey said.
“You’re rarely wrong about that sort of thing, Dad,” Peter said.
“There’s always a first time for everything.”
Peter thought long and hard on Grey’s offer, trying to figure out if the money was worth the risk to his life.
“I’ll go on the mission,” Peter said. Because if he didn’t pay the money within the stipulated time, no one could save him.
Grey moved quickly, taking Delphina’s right hand and joining it to Peter’s right hand. “I’m going to bind your will to Delphina’s will,” he said. “This way we can be sure that you’ve held up your end of the bargain regardless of the outcome of the mission.”
“In other words, if you run again you won’t be getting your money,” Delphina said, then saw Grey’s disapproving look and turned away.
“So you don’t trust me, Father?” Peter asked.
“No, Peter, I don’t,” Grey said matter-of-factly. “Do you agree to the binding?”
Peter swallowed down his hurt and nodded.
“Stephanie, do you witness these terms?” Grey asked.
“I do,” Stephanie replied, thoughtful.
“Then let these two be bound,” Grey said.
Peter saw no flash or shimmer. He only felt a tendril of power coil around his hand into Delphina’s, clicking with a soft snap.
“It is done,” Grey said. “Now go and bring us glory.”
“Come on,” Delphina said, grabbing Peter’s arm and leading him in a jog to the fence. The two teams were already being conveyed to their staging areas, which were walking distances away from their targets.
Already, Peter’s mind was working in overdrive. He recalled the floor plan of the residential house and started coming up with a plan to take down the Metallics with as little loss as possible to the lives of his men.
He realized that defeating the Metallics—basically defeating any stronger foe—was really about strategy. With the right strategy, he could defeat the Metallics with ninety men.
Two vans waited along the road. Julian was in the process of entering one of the vans when Peter called after him.
“We don’t have time for chitchat,” Delphina said, angling toward the other van.
“Just a second,” Peter said as he headed toward Juliann’s van.
“What is it?” Julian snapped. “I don’t have time to waste.”
“I wanted to give you a tactical piece of advice,” Peter said. “Don’t go in strong because these guys will just defeat us. Employ tact and use stealth. Separate them and then pick them out one by one until the deed is done.”
“And why should I take tactical advice from you?” Julian glared.
“I trained and worked with the CIA for almost three years,” Peter replied.
Julian only shot him a withering gaze, ducked into the van, and instructed the driver to move.
“Peter!” Delphina called from their van. “We have to go!”
Peter sighed and headed over to the waiting van.
The journey to Theta team’s staging site passed in silence. A couple of times, panic stabbed at his heart. He thought of aborting the mission but had not the will to do so. He had resigned himself to doing this. If not for anything, at least for the money or rather what the money meant to him.
They arrived at a deserted waterfront, where Theta team was gathered.
“Have them surround the car,” Peter said. “I want to address them before we go in.
While Delphina alighted from the vehicle to give the instructions, Peter grabbed his staff and the floor plan and climbed on top of the van’s roof.
The area was peaceful. Gentle waves lapped at the pebbly beach. Soft winds came in from the sea, rippling through their clothes. A couple of vessels hovered just at the horizon, power lights casting gleams on the silvery surface of the sea.
To the side was a small rocky hill and further down the other side of the hill was their target house. It was a private residence with a beachfront. Seven bedrooms, two living rooms, an assortment of areas and spaces. For all intents and purposes a difficult place to plan an assault.
But Peter felt he had the perfect plan. Or, as perfect a plan as anyone could have come up with in less than twenty minutes and with nothing but a floor plan, which they weren’t certain of its accuracy.
Soon, silent anticipatory faces stared at him. It was difficult to make out their features in the dark, but he could sense their apprehension.
They might be scared, Peter, but they’re also determined.
They had probably heard what he did at the training facility. That’s why they looked up to him as some sort of savior. That’s why they were willing to heed his words and charge into battle.
They believed victory was certain when Peter wasn’t so sure.
Peter spoke in a steady voice, not too loud, not too soft. Everyone who listened heard him, and there was no denying the gravity of his words.
“We have all been violated today,” he started, turning slowly so every pair of eyes could see his face. “We have lost friends, loved ones, families. For too long we have stood in the oppressive shadow of the Metallics. From today, no more.”
The result was climactic. Unexpectedly so, as the young men roared, “No more!” their voices bristling with anger.
&nb
sp; It was like a spirit—it lanced into Peter’s heart, buoying his mind and suffusing it with reckless euphoric rage. Bolstered by this feeling, he went on, gripping his staff tightly.
“Today, we show those uncircumcised Philistines that Woodfolks will no longer wallow under their boots. Today, we avenge our fallen!”
“Avenge our fallen!” the Woodfolks went wild. Even Delphina joined in the clamor.
Peter could already feel his power core flaring, sending pulse after pulse of power through his body and then outward, forming defensive and offensive folds in the air surrounding him.
It was as if his power was ready to attack, ready to avenge with him, the fallen, even Cynthia whose death remained unavenged. And this far away from Mount Desert Island there was no resistance, no searing pain in his chest.
“I need only ten of the strongest here to go with me into the warehouse,” Peter said.
The startled crowd immediately fell silent, looking at him as if he’d lost it.
“Just ten?” Delphina blurted.
“Look, these Metallics aren’t clairvoyant. They might have a more powerful and more pliable element than we do, but it doesn’t make them smarter.”
Peter saw some people nodding so he continued. “The element of surprise is our greatest tool in this mission. They will still be licking their wounds. They will never believe that we’ll have the boldness to strike back, more so the same day.”
“They’re not expecting us,” Delphina said, apparently understanding.
“No, they’re not,” Peter concurred. “I just need ten. To take advantage of the element of surprise, we need stealth. We sneak in, locate the enemies, strike them down, and that’s it.”
Peter paused. Then he added, “Look, sometimes winning wars isn’t about large-scale engagements with blood and screaming and explosions and glory. No. Sometimes to win, you’ve got to be subtle. Precise.”
“What happens to the remaining eighty men?” Delphina asked.
“They will hide in the surroundings to pick out runners,” Peter replied. “And if we fail, they engage head-on.”
Now that everyone was on board, it was easy to progress with the plan. Since Peter didn’t know the people well enough, Delphina selected the ten Woodfolks who would follow them into the house.