Maria sat up and looked at Henry, confused and scared. “I didn’t… I didn’t do that… I’m sorry…”
Henry shook his head. What the hell just happened? He realized that nothing was done deliberately by Maria. He looked at her. “It’s all right. It’s not your fault.”
“I didn’t want to hurt you. I notice something before I fainted. Something very mighty, that might…” She broke off in the middle of the sentence and leaned back on her palms, hastily lowering her head so that her curly red hair floated in the wind and covered her pretty face.
“What did you see?” Henry came close to her and shouted, “Maria!”, but there wasn’t any reaction.
Henry bent to touch her shoulder but before he could touch her Keniko Sun pulled him back. Sun surprised him, as just a moment back she was standing with a group who didn’t want to go to Godeena. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you!”
He watched her round Asian face with the thin green eyes, “And why would that be?”
“You wouldn’t be in good shape if you touched her right now. You already experienced that, didn’t you?”
The dread of which she was speaking was enough to convince Henry. But for a moment he focused more on Sun than the event itself. “Why did you stop me, Miss Sun, if you anyways didn’t care about us or the mission?”
She loosened her grip on his elbow while still watching Maria, “I wasn’t sure if I could trust you, but when you jumped to help Maria, I knew that you stood by us rather than just take us a guinea pig. I think I will join the crew. I hope that’s fine.”
“Yes, that is fine. There still is ample space.” He then looked at Maria. “Is she in some trance at the moment?”
“Something likes that, or maybe she isn’t with us at all at the moment. Once in Hades, she sat like this for a whole day and when she came back to consciousness she described this day exactly as it is; everything – you, the runway, the prisoners, the two sides and every single person standing here all. I didn’t believe a word that day, but as the events unfolded today, I could see that she was right. She also told me that you would die if you touched her again unless I prevented you. I don’t want you to die.”
Henry looked at her serious face and asked, “She told you all that?”
Keniko threw back her long black hair, “Believe me, Brigadier, when I say so.”
“I have no reasons to doubt you, especially when I was thrown away like a pebble. I couldn’t believe that someone could be faster than me.” Henry knew that something alarming had happened to him because his whole body was still recovering from the rush of adrenaline. Just then he realized, “She bridged the biogenetic protection and attacked me. The doctors said that that was impossible. Tell me, how did she do it?”
Keniko laughed out loud. “She used her power and hypnotized the doctors and made them think that they had already installed it.”
Henry looked at Maria’s head and – there was no trace of any scar. She was still sitting on the ground. It would be extremely hazardous for them to use her might; according to the data he had read in her file she had killed some people in a hotel, and then her cellmate in her first prison. Still, although she had thrown Henry through the air, he didn’t think that she had intended to kill him. “Has she told you why she does this?”
“She usually tells me after she wakes up and that this is something she isn’t able to control.” Keniko stopped for a moment and looked towards Maria as if she was asking for some approval from her. “Do you know that people named her Witch?”
“All of you have your own nicknames which are very interesting but not really something we try to investigate. Yours is Cutting Edge.”
Keniko smiled, “At Hades, all of us had nicknames for a reason. And Maria got hers when she killed her cellmate.”
“I saw the photos. The woman was literally butchered.”
“Did you read how she was killed?”
“Her whole body was cut by something sharp. I thought that that was a horrible sight.”
“Did you see the weapon it was done with?”
Henry said, “A sharp knife, I believe, made from a piece of hard plastic.”
“And did you notice that the knife wasn’t bloody at all?”
He closed his eyes to recall details from Maria’s file. That detail had slipped by him, even though it was so obvious. “True, it wasn’t bloody. I don’t know how I missed it when I was reading the report.”
“Then you certainly don’t know that Maria didn’t have a drop of blood on her body and that she was found sitting scared in the corner of the cell when the episode was discovered later.”
Henry curiously looked at her. He was surprised because there was not a word about that in the report. “I didn’t know that.”
“A guard and two prisoners in the opposite cell saw Maria’s cellmate approach her with the knife, saying that she would kill her. Then a monster appeared and cut the woman all over. All that was hushed up and Maria was transported to Hades, where she was named Witch.”
“I don’t have any information about that. How come you know about all that?”
“Maria told me.”
“Why you? Why not anyone else who could help her?”
She smiled and threw back her black hair, which was floating in the breeze. “Maria chose me for her friend. I know that you’ve got information about me, you’ve read all about my past. I was no saint before Hades, but she’s changed me completely since we met. When I saw Maria for the first time, I was convinced that she would be easy prey, but I was wrong.”
“Easy prey? You intended to rob her?”
“Back then I was leading the gang, The Cutting Edges, who took clothes from new prisoners and anything else they had. We had done that until the day Maria arrived. When I approached her to take her things, she warned me, ‘I think I’ll trim your Cutting Edges!’ I laughed it off.”
“And did she?”
She appeared puzzled at Henry’s question. After all, he had a first-hand treatment. “What do you think, Brigadier? Maria threw me high in the air; I flew ten odd yards and bumped hard against a wall. She walked over to me as I watched helplessly as the other Cutting Edge members flew through the air all across the room. She stood above me and asked me if I wanted to be her subordinate.”
Henry said with a smile, “You didn’t refuse her, did you?”
“Yeah right, would you do that?” Sin said with a smirk.
He looked at Maria and with a serious expression on his face, said, “I hope that she won’t wake up and ask me that question.” The comment was hilarious and Sunburst out laughing.
“She didn’t come here to take over your command. She came to help you.” Keniko looked towards Maria with an only gladness written all over her face, “She did the same with my gang. After her action, all the oppressed found refuge in The Cutting Edges. Since the moment she appeared there were no more taking clothes from new prisoners, and if they wished they could join us too. Other gangs in Hades didn’t- create any more problems for us and they gave us all the space that we required. She changed everything for the better, and we lived almost like before we were in prison if you know what I mean,” she paused for a moment and looked at Maria, “A month ago before you appeared in Hades, she told me that you would come to take us away. I laughed at that, but she knew, and you really came to take us.”
At that moment Henry heard Maria’s voice. “Brigadier!” She was still in some trance and was looking at him, but Henry thought that she couldn’t see him. “The group that will be going to save the General’s granddaughter…” she closed her blue eyes, in which he noticed tears for the first time, and when she opened them again, they had grown black again. Henry stepped back. Her voice wasn’t human anymore. It was more like a scraping from the bottom of some deep abyss. From the coldness of that voice came a prophecy, which gave Henry goose pimples. “They all will perish!” Her head sank again.
Keni
ko quickly ran up to her and hugged her. When Henry made a move to help, Keniko advised against, “Don’t come close. I’m not sure if she’ll hurt you. She’ll be all right soon. This time, you’ve seen the lighter side of the monster within her, but when you meet her darker side, you would learn to be extremely wary and cautious.”
He followed Keniko as she brought Maria to join the others on his right side. Henry then looked at the two remaining prisoners, Vandor Bult and Endy Van de Mort; he asked them, “So you two don’t want to go with us?”
They looked at him. Endy was the first to speak up. He was fed up of Hades and had no intention of going back to that damned place. “After this episode, Brigadier, I don’t want to miss this circus. It’s going to be crazier than Hades I am sure. I’m looking for any fun, and for that reason, and only that reason, I’ll join your crew.”
Henry was curious, “I’ve already agreed to take the biogenetic device out of your heads if you want to go back then why the change of heart, Endy?”
“I think I told you already. With all the actions that I can expect going forward and the prophecy of our lady prophet there, things will only get interesting. I don’t intend to miss that.”
“Hmm. That means that you’ll go through all the training and preparations?”
Endy looked towards Sergeant Colburn. Although he didn’t like him at all for his lunatic behavior, he shrugged his shoulders and commented, “The Sergeant is attractive, and I can’t refuse him easily.”
Colburn threatened him with his fist. “I’ll show you attractive!”
“As you can see, Brigadier, it’s mutual love!”
He laughed with the others and Colburn added, “It’s true, I’m enjoying roughing him up.”
“I’ve got to admit, he has a strong right fist, like you,” said Endy with a smile. “I hope I can join your crew then?”
Henry waved his hand, “Welcome to my group.”
Vandor Bult then said, “If this fool is going with you then I’m going as well! It would be boring without him Hades.”
Endy grinned. “I was worried that I’d miss you if you went away.”
“I can imagine though you are still a thorn in my ass.”
Henry shook his head and said, “Oh, that’s too much love for a single day!” Everyone laughed. “I can see that everything is again as it was. Sergeant, line them up.”
The Sergeant stood up and yelled, “You heard the Brigadier! I want to see you lined up before me, right now!”
When they were all information Henry turned to Major Vallery. “What do you think Major?”
“We’ve got a lot of work to do, Brigadier.”
“I agree, but we’ve got plenty of time to get that done,” Henry turned from and called, “Sergeant.”
Colburn looked at him over her shoulder, “Yes Sir!”
“Unlock all the separated rooms. From today they may spend time together freely, but at 6:00 AM they all must be on their feet.”
“I’ll take care of the last one myself, Sir.”
“I don’t doubt that. Dismiss them. Today has been adequate training, and we’ve had some surprises.”
The Sergeant shouted with a surge in his voice, “You heard the Brigadier! You’ve free until 6:00 AM. But if you even dare cross the lines of discipline, I assure you a personal visit.” Somehow even Sergeant was glad that the team was starting to get together.
“Sergeant, when you are done with their amusement park comes to my office.”
From the corner of his eye, Henry noticed Maria watching him and whispering something in Keniko’s ear. She laughed, and Maria looked once more over her shoulder at him, and then left with the other prisoners.
Sergeant Colburn
V
The training ground was situated on the other side of the island of Astasan. In a large area some ten miles square in size, a couple of thousand different targets were erected for trainees. There were many transport vehicles and some old Kert-class battle tanks. Some of the targets were peppered with many holes thanks to several years of training, and they looked as though they could be turned over easily by a strong wind. Besides these there were thousands of silicone targets in the form of human beings and Anskers, hidden behind parapets or fortifications, and, above them all, a Harpoons-class cruiser positioned on a sea reef some two hundred yards distant from the coast. Gliding on the sea water, it was more than impressive. Its massive features were deformed a bit by burns and numerous holes, through which rays of sunlight pierced and created fantastic lights and shadows in its various cabins and corridors. Major parts of the inner corridors were visible where the wide sheets of iron that protected the interior of the ship were no more there. Most had been worn out during the years of exercises, and the remnants of the parts could be found in the sea all around the cruiser.
Vallery watched the cruiser as they flew past it towards the shooting range. She commented, “What a pity, it was a beautiful cruiser.”
“I agree,” Henry added.
“Does anyone know why it was stuck there?” None volunteered to answer.
So, Henry continued. “At the very beginning of the war, it was heavily damaged in the battle of Seltfura. Its repairs were abandoned because the main motors were destroyed, so they mothballed it, took off the equipment which had some greater value, and it was transported to this training polygon and left.”
Vallery murmured, “Hmm, so it ended up in the junk like anything else that loses purpose. That’s something I am familiar with.”
Henry did not respond. He knew why she had said that. He only held onto the wheels of the antigravity vehicle and carefully watched the irregular ground above which they were flying. The sun was rising in the East and promised another nice, warm day. Henry set the vehicle down not far from Sergeant Colburn, who had arrived at the polygon the previous night with the prisoners and a group of young soldiers.
When Sergeant saw Henry coming out, he saluted sharply and commanded, “Attention.”
The look of the prisoners surprised Henry – all of them were well shaved and dressed up in their army gear. He laughed and tapped Colburn’s shoulder. “Now they look like real soldiers, Sergeant.”
“A lot of time was invested in it, Brigadier.” Then he cried out, “At ease!”
“Have you brought everything that I ordered?”
“It’s all there, Brigadier!” He pointed behind his back, where there was a large heap of armaments neatly arranged on five foldable desks. “Weapon is ready for use.”
“Good. I would just like to add something before we begin training.”
He nodded and Henry passed a look over the present company. “I know that most of you know a lot about weapons and have even used some of the armaments on those desks, but I also know that you haven’t had a weapon in your hands for a long time. That’s why I ordered the majority of the equipment to be brought here, for I doubt that most of you know about the Anskers’ small, personal weapons…”
Endy van de Mort interrupted by raising his hand.
“What is it, Endy?”
“I know explosive devices best, but I don’t see any of those toys.”
Henry looked at him and said, “Those ‘toys’ would be extremely dangerous in your hands, Endy!”
They all laughed, but he made the sad face and angrily said, “Why are you laughing? It’s a serious matter! These are not my babies.”
The prisoners knew about Endy’s past and how many people Endy had blown up with his ‘toys’.
Vandor was the first to speak, still controlling his laughter. “It’s a very serious matter. The toys you play with are dangerous for all the babies around here.”
Endy said humbly, “It’s true that I’ve been a little coarse with handling my toys but isn’t wouldn’t that device in my head prevent me from doing anything foolish, Brigadier.”
Henry was pleased that Endy remembered, “You don’t have to worry, all the toys y
ou adore, and even the ones you don’t, exist and, will be on the desks tomorrow. However, I’m interested in knowing about the weapons you know and are able to use in close combat. Explosives are more suited for an attack from a distance.”
Stretching his broad shoulders, Endy turned his eyes to the table. “I like knives, but I don’t have anything against energy guns and rifles. I had used them before I went to Hades.”
Henry looked at Colburn. “Sergeant, send one of the soldiers to bring those knives.”
“Yes, Sir.” He quickly turned to the soldiers who were standing by the equipment and Henry made a sign to Endy to come closer. “I want you to show me what you know.”
He approached and asked, full of self-confidence, “What do I have to hit?”
Henry chose one of the silicone targets and pointed at it. It was at a distance of thirty yards, behind a rampart such that only the upper part was visible.
“Can you get that target?”
He narrowed his eyes and after some time concluded, “I reckon I can.”
The Sergeant got the knives and handed over to Henry. “Here are the knives, Sir.”
“Perfect. Stay here; I think I’ll need your professional knowledge for the evaluation.”
He nodded and Henry handed one of the knives to Endy. “Let’s see how good you are.”
Endy took the knife, weighed it for a minute in his hands to get the feel of it, and then launched it with a jerk towards the silicone dummy. While it was still in the air, Henry knew it wouldn’t be a fair hit, but he didn’t say anything until it struck the hand of the figure and landed somewhere on the ground behind it. Endy shrugged his shoulders and made an unconvincing hand movement. “It seems I’ve got a little rusty in Hades.”
“It’s all right; you still hit it. With some practice, you’ll improve. Now back to formation.” Henry looked at the rest of them. “Anyone else thinks they could do better with the knives?”
Godeena: SF Novel Page 10