The Night Shadow

by William J Gaskins

  This guy’s cooking skills might not been up to par, but it was “food” so I was not going to complain. And for a guy who hasn’t really eaten in a while, it was delicious. The smell of fresh poop hit my nose again, reminding me that this man was still in the room. He moved a chair up next to me and was now staring, waiting for me to acknowledge him.

  I put the food down and spoke, “So, Mr. rude pants…. what’s the deal? Who are you…if you don’t mind me asking and why did you save me?” He looked at me for a good two minutes before answering.

  “Cory… and I was part of the perimeter defense team for my people. Now…thanks to you, I am the only surviving member.” Cory stared at me and I couldn’t help but feel slightly guilty. I definitely know the feeling of losing a team. I could only imagine the anger he holds towards me. But it’s not like I started this fight. So, he can deal with it. After a few moments he continued. “We have heard of you before, the lone surviving soldier that everyone in this country is looking for. The one and only surviving member of the invaders. There is quite a bounty on your head soldier boy.” I quickly interrupted. “First off, don’t call me Soldier Boy. My name is Will. Secondly, I won’t apologize for the loss of your men. I was attacked and I fought back. Any one of your men would have done the same. Lastly…I know I’m alone, you really don’t have to run it in.”

  Cory stared at me, unblinking and not fazed by the words I spoke. There was a brief pause and he continued as if I had never spoken. “My people call you the lost ghost. Always roaming, always killing and never headed towards a predictable point. You see, when the Uppers want your head on a platter, we want something more valuable. We want your skills. Unfortunately we need your skills. We are tired of fighting and living underground. We have neither the strength nor the man power to surface and demand our rights to the Uppers. Though our neighbors are very primitive…and dumb at times, we would like to share the world as one people. Many of our children have not even seen either of the suns beams on their bright little faces. We were told if we found you, that we were to bring you in alive and ask for your help.” I couldn’t help but think if this how they get you to help them, I would hate to see what they do to people they don’t need.

  Cory broke into my thoughts and continued on with his speech. “I’m sorry about the arrow; he was new and was only doing his job. You were too close to the city. We do understand however, you were fighting for your life and for that reason and that reason alone…your life was spared. I am the city’s health lord. So as such, it was my job to insure you survived long enough to speak to the governor and listen to his proposition. I must inform you however, that if you deny the Governor’s request, then my obligations to your health and survival are no longer valid. You won’t ever leave these caves again. The choice is totally yours of course.” I thought for a good second and couldn’t help myself from making a smart ass comment, “No pressure, huh? So, fight for you and I live. Or, not fight and die in your underground club house. Hmm, looks like I have some thinking to do, so many choices.” Cory didn’t even let me finish before he turned heel and left the room, closing the door a little too hard on the way out. “What a dick huh, Boe?” I grunted to my companion who was still staring unwarily at the door.

  There were two voices down the hall. I could barely make out what they were saying. “Is he the one? Will he help us? What is he like?” The new voice was pelting Cory with a thousand questions all at once. I could hear Cory’s deep voice cut in. “He is definitely the one everyone is looking for. He will help us. I didn’t give him a choice. I’ll tell you what he is like…arrogant and cocky.” Who’s he calling arrogant? I am definitely a little cocky, but arrogant is a little rude if I do say so myself. They continued, this time it was Cory’s voice. “Mr. Mason wants a peaceful conflict, just amongst the councils. If we bring this Soldier into this, there will be nothing but bloodshed, because that is all he knows. We don’t want that.” I interrupted him immediately, screaming through the closed door, hoping my voice would reach the room he was in, “Cory! Come here!” I had some questions and I’m sure he had the answers.

  There were too many similarities between us to ignore. Like the fact that there is absolutely no language barrier. Even all the way down to the back and forth banter or the government structure. The chance of both worlds calling the same thing by the same name is just too eerie to ignore. These people have definitely been influenced by someone human. Belver’s name flashed into my head from Boe’s tower. I don’t know why but Belver just seems so familiar of a name. Like, I should know who that is for some reason. I swear I have heard it before somewhere. Oh my god. It hit me like a ton of bricks. Belver…Mike Belver. He owned Tansa Pharmaceutical. It was all over the news when he went missing. Mike Belver was a multi-millionaire who became terminally ill due to cancer. He was obsessed on finding a cure for cancer. About twenty years ago, he disappeared after a news conference saying he was taking some time to himself to see places he hadn’t seen yet. It made headlines across America. No one ever heard from him again. After a few years the search was over and everyone said he had died. They just gave up searching. Some ten years later the company sold out and took a new name…Tansa Global. I remember the company took a huge loss in profit after the death of Belver. But if Belver was here…then he never died on earth. That would explain how these people came under an American influence in their culture.

  Surely Belver died here, I remember seeing pictures of the man. He was not in the best of health to say the least. The doctors had only given him a year left to live…tops. So many more questions came rambling into my mind. Why did Belver come here in the first place? Hawaii would seem a little more peaceful to spend your last days if you ask me. Where was the rest of his team that came? Surely they died off eventually…maybe they came back home after Belver died. Cory came bursting through the door, unnecessarily loud as usual. I wonder if this is going to be a reoccurring thing for this guy. If it is, this is going to take some getting used to.

  Chapter Nine

  “Connect the dots”

  Cory’s companion made his way in right beside him. They looked at the two chairs on the other side of the room, and motioned for them to sit. Once seated, I took the time to introduce myself. I wasn’t comfortable, and they made it quite clear by their attitude towards me and Boe that my “comfort” was not on the top of their priority list. Right now, I really didn’t care. All I cared about was getting home, and if I sit here and act just like a prisoner I was not going to get there. They were going to use me and dispose of me at their will. If I flipped the table on this situation and took charge, I just might be able to come out of this thing alive.

  “Here is the deal. You’re right, all I know is war. I am a soldier and damn good one at that. There is a time for diplomacy and a time for war. I come in on the second part. So tell me your story. Why are you here and why are you hiding like cowards in caves? Why are you built smaller than the boys upstairs? Now answer my questions and I don’t have all day,” I said in my big boy voice. Intimidating to some, annoying to others but it usually works all the same.

  Cory spoke up, he was obviously in charge here. “Back before my time, my grandfather once said…” “This is not going to work” I rudely interrupted. “I don’t have the time nor the patience for this story telling business. We’re not sitting around a campfire roasting marshmallows here. I want facts and I want them today. I want to know why you guys barely leave the cave and hardly anyone knows anything about why you are here and what you are doing.” I could tell ‘ol Cory was getting quite agitated with me, which was a good sign. It meant I was officially in charge. And the sooner he realized this, the sooner I got home.

  “We were considered outcast and cast down to live in the shadows of the caves. I would say roughly fifteen years ago. It was right after the brotherhood showed up.” “What brotherhood?” I interrupted politely and very interested. “The Brotherhood that
united our people. They showed up like you did… from the sky. They shared knowledge on many subjects. They created our government…schools and power. The sky was the limit on what these brilliant men knew.” “Cory, about how long ago was this?” I asked curiously. I can tell Cory likes to teach to a willing candidate because he continued eagerly. “I was real little, I would say about fifteen maybe twenty years ago. Anyways, no one really knows what happened for sure. But…People started turning on people. Tribes killed other tribes and cities crumpled other cities. There was war everywhere we turned around and for no reason at all. Mason took charge and said we would be safer if we moved. A group of people…my parents included…followed him to the caves. After a few more years we began to fight amongst ourselves down here. Mason stopped the uprising and kicked about twenty families deeper into the caves. We lost a lot of good relatives during that split.” Cory stared off into the light coming in from the window, lost in his memories.

  “So, why the split man? What was the fight about amongst yourselves that couldn’t be settled?” I asked Cory. He snapped back to the present time with me and continued on. “Well, like I said I was still a teen. But the word was is that some people felt it was unfair to stay down below in these caves. That it wasn’t right. They felt that if the government couldn’t help them reach a simple goal…freedom…then the government shouldn’t be around at all. They were banished and we weren’t allowed to speak to them anymore. They are still around though…here and there. In the shadows,..waiting.” Once again he stared off into the window as if I wasn’t there at all.

  “So, I get the idea of moving away for safety. But why stay hidden in the caves? Why can’t the kids go outside and play?” I asked. Cory’s friend chimed in. “Because we get killed if we go out. Mason worked out a deal that the Uppers won’t come looking for us if we stay out of sight. We stay underground…we stay alive.” “Yes, Johnny is right. We stay down and we live another day. It’s a rough life but it is livable.

  “Ok, I’m tracking. I’m tracking…Tell me about these visitors…did they have names?” I asked Cory and Johnny, probably a little too directly. “No, they just called themselves the brotherhood.” Johnny said with a smile on his face. I detected a bit of an attitude in his voice. “Johnny…grown-ups are talking. Cory, does the name Mike Belver sound familiar to you? What about Tansa? Are ya getting anything here? Anything ringing a bell here?” I asked a little more impatiently. Cory shook his head no and continued on. “We have been trying for years to arrange a meeting with the Uppers to discuss the possibility of our returning to the surface. It’s hard enough dispatching a messenger. It’s even harder getting one to return home alive. This Is where you come in. Mason is thinking you can sneak your way through to the uppers and demand our release.”

  Cory grew silent and had a slight frustrated look on his face. Heck, I was frustrated with the tactics of these people. You would think after a decade or two, someone would grow some balls and go up with force and demand what they want. If they wanted help, they would have to do it my way and Cory was right. There would be a lot of bloodshed. “I’m assuming Mr. Mason is the governor. I want to see him… immediately. Well, as soon as you hand me my clothes that is. I also want the commander of the forces you have.” Cory looked at me in disbelief. “You aren’t anywhere near ready to speak to anyone. And if you do, that dog will not be in here and further more we do not have nor want any forces,” he told me matter of factly. “Well Cory, it’s a good thing you’re not calling the shots here. Seeing as this is a small underground community, I expect him here in… let’s say one hour. As for your forces, you need one and you will have one. Every great conflict has been solved by war. When we have time later, I’ll explain to you some of the wars from back home, and the lives and countries that they have saved due to the sacrifices of others. On another note, if you touch my dog, I’ll kill you. Good day.” I pointed towards the door and Johnny and Cory left just as quickly as they had appeared.

  There was no time to spare so I started looking around for my pants. It was always hot out here, so all I had was a pair of pants and a cut off t-shirt. Unfortunately it was my uniform. The ACU digital pattern on my uniform was horrible, you didn’t blend into anything unless you were completely filthy, which I happened to be, so I need not complain anymore. I slowly and painstakingly put on my pants one foot at a time. He was right. I was nowhere near ready to do much of anything besides use the bathroom. But I refuse to sit around this place waiting to get better. The longer I wait means the longer it takes me to get home.

  If I they want my help, they are going to have to get off their rear ends and stand up for themselves. They are going to have to take what they want by force. Neither side has any direct military structure whatsoever. If I am able to train these men to some basic standards, then we should have the upper hand. I slowly pulled on each of my worn out boots, grimacing as I laced them up and tucked them in. The t-shirt was the most difficult part as I tried to slowly pull it down over my broad shoulders and a huge hole in my chest. The instant stinging, stabbing sensation made me remember the poop. I don’t know why in the hell I didn’t punch him the face for putting poo on me! I had somehow temporarily forgotten about the substance on my chest. How could I forget about that? I just realized that my t shirt had been washed. A small hole the size of a dime was in it right over the poo stains. Hard to believe that little hole almost took my life. It took what felt like an eternity to put on my clothes. I was running out of time and I wanted to look partially put together when this man showed up. I have to call the shots; after all…my life depends on it.

  Chapter Ten

  “The meet and greet”

  A weak knock on the door interrupted all my thoughts. I could tell whoever was behind that door was somewhat intimidated by me. This was a good thing. It meant I already had the upper hand in running this show. “Come in, the door is open.” I said in a loud assuring voice. I had positioned myself high up on the chair that was next to my bed, so as to not look so pathetic in my weakened state, and more in control of the situation and my condition.

  Mason walked in followed by two burly looking fellows who seated themselves at the far side of the room. The man on the left had dark hair and wore a rugged smirk across his face. The man on the right had bleach blonde hair and had a very square face. If i was back home, I would have guessed this man to have a name like Ivan. Either way these two men had been outside a lot because they were both very tan. The two saps were obviously trying to intimidate me, and were failing miserably. Though they looked to be about forty-five to fifty years old…they were definitely built like a brick shit house.

  Mason walked up to me and extended his hand in a friendly, confident gesture. A smile a mile wide came across his face and revealed a set of perfect pearly white teeth. Judging by his features I would guess that Mason was around his mid-fifties and wearing it very well. He had a kind look on his face that, judging by the permanent creases in his smile line, was always there. This man was no fighter…he was a politician true and through.

  He reminded me of my old principal in preschool… all smiles all of the time and full of shit. I took Mason’s hand and shook it firmly. He had a weak shake. This man was definitely no fighter. I hate a man with a weak handshake. Looking at Mason’s tan face and defined features, I would say he is definitely in shape and he gets out a lot. Bright blue eyes brightened his face that was topped with short black well-kept hair. He wore his buckskin clothes very well too. They were tight fitting and almost in like a slacks/button up shirt style combo. I could tell immediately that he was no commoner.

  “Mr. Will, I have been so very looking forward to meeting you. I hate to hear that you had such troubles along your journey to find us. Also…I hope you don’t hold the whole arrow through the chest thing against us. It’s merely business. We’re really a friendly people here.” Mason said enthusiastically and overly apologetic. “My name is…” �
��Mason…you’re the governor of this…town… I guess you could call it.” I interrupted him immediately. I was good at that and I could tell from the slight drop of the smile at the corners of his mouth and the twitch in his eye…that he didn’t like it one bit. Mason continued slowly with a slight tone of disgust in his voice. “Yes…I see you already know who I am and quite frankly I have already heard enough stories about you. So, there really is no need for an introduction. I don’t want to waste any more time so I suppose I’ll get right down to it.” I could tell that this guy was as fake as they come. God gave me a gift of pissing people off and this guy was kind of fun to agitate. So, naturally…I interrupted him again and finished the conversation for him.

  “You want me to go upstairs and whoop some ass for you.” I said as I stared into his eyes. I didn’t want to break eye contact for a second. I had to own this moment. “Yes, Will. It’s actually as simple as that. You see a man named ‘Q’ runs the uppers with an iron fist, a very nasty critter this guy is ‘lemme tell ya.” Mason started in still agitated with my interruptions. “You see, if…and when you kill ‘Q’, you will gain control of the Upper world. All you have to do is simply hand it over to me. Once I gain control of the uppers, I free my people. We all make peace and live happily ever after. You see, our children are sickly. They have rarely seen the light of day if even at all. It is my sole responsibility and mission in life to return my people to the surface where we belong.” There was definitely something fishy about this guy, I didn’t like him at all. “You know, for a man that looks as well kept and tan as yourself. You sure do seem to care a lot about your followers. Riddle me this…” I broke in and paused for effect. “why do you and the Ivan’s back there look so damn good…for a couple of guys squatting in some cave’s it sure does seem like you get quite a bit of face time with the suns.”