by Eliza Green
Bill entered the unfinished building, and the soldier followed him. He stepped over stacked bricks and bags of bonding materials. The soldier pointed to a door at the back where Bill found six toilet stalls on the other side of the door. He locked himself inside one, while his military escort waited outside the stall.
Bill sat down on the seat and removed the stone from his bag. The concentric circles glowed bright blue. He held it up to his ear. Nothing. With someone so close, he couldn’t risk talking into it.
From the strength of colour the stone emitted, Bill guessed that New Melbourne was right above District Three. Bill knew the Indigenes exited from their tunnels at various points across the land, but with more city walls being built, the less safe it became for them to surface without the risk of capture inside a fortress like New Melbourne. It was as though this construction was designed to force them to surface at specific points.
Bill waited for the stone to activate, do something. But nothing happened.
‘Are you okay in there?’ said the soldier.
The silence in the room worked against Bill. He removed the bottle of water from his pocket and poured some of it down the hole. The bowl sanitised itself and he opened the stall.
‘So what’s this city called?’ Bill washed his hands in the sink.
The soldier frowned. ‘New Melbourne. You saw the giant sign on the way in, didn’t you? It’s hard to miss.’
‘It’s a big turnout for such a small meeting, don’t you think? How long will you be stationed here?’
‘As long as it takes.’ The soldier shrugged.
Bill turned and dried his hands on the front of his black combats. ‘There’s an odd feel to this city, don’t you think?’
His military escort frowned. ‘Huh?’
‘One way in and out. Two small tracks branch off behind the yellow building. It almost feels like you’re in a trap.’
‘Excuse me?’
Bill turned to face the mirror, studied his reflection, then laughed. ‘I mean, it feels claustrophobic, that’s all.’
‘Er, I hadn’t really thought too much about it.’
Bill smiled as genuinely as he could. ‘No, I guess not. You move around a lot, see plenty of open spaces. It’s probably been a few years since you’ve been back on Earth.’ The young soldier nodded. ‘The closed-in feeling on Earth gets under your skin. The last thing you want in a new city is small, confined spaces.’
Bill didn’t wait for an answer. He left the bathroom and the soldier followed him. Was it really a new city or had it been deliberately built with the Indigenes in mind? When he emerged outside, he saw one of the board members’ bodyguards walking towards him.
‘Come with me.’ The bodyguard had an abnormally deep voice. ‘The Chair wants to see you.’
Bill followed him through the right hand door of the yellow building. They walked through the unfinished front section to arrive at a large completed room at the back. Bill looked around at the sky blue walls and newly laid stone floor—a room he was sure had been equipped with additional security measures. Tanya Li sat at a large desk near the back wall. She had surrounded herself with what looked like maps, or schematics, and a large monitor. She looked up at Bill when he neared.
‘Leave us,’ she said to her bodyguard.
She waited for the man to close the door before she spoke. ‘Where are they, Bill? The Indigenes should have been here by now.’
‘I’d like to know the same thing too,’ said Bill.
‘They’ve taken Laura, but for what purpose I dread to think.’
Tanya watched him, too closely. She was testing him to see if he’d told the Indigenes not to come. The thought had crossed his mind, but in the end they would do what they wanted.
When he passed her test, Tanya stood up and leaned on the table. ‘Their actions today do not bode well for them. They’ve forced us to hand over one of our own, our weakest and most vulnerable party member. Perhaps you were wrong about them. Perhaps they used you to gain this advantage over us. Now we’re on the back foot. Charles Deighton thinks we should dispose of the Indigene race entirely and run with plans to alter humans into a new generation of super humans that are more agreeable and easier to control. What should we do?’
‘My only priority is to get Laura back safely.’
Tanya pursed her lips. ‘I would still like to hear your opinion.’
Bill smiled. ‘It doesn’t matter what I think. You’ll do whatever you want. But I will tell you this—I’d think long and hard before consulting Deighton on anything. He’s a dangerous fucker with a personal agenda.’
Tanya smirked. ‘That’s funny. Daphne Gilchrist said something similar the day before she died.’
31
Two days and nights had passed since the female took Laura and no new Indigenes had showed. There had been plenty of false alarms; the military checked every stone kicked and every howl in the distance. But the checks became an irritation and their enthusiasm waned. On the second night Bill heard a noise in the distance: a struggle, a whimper, then silence. Somewhere beyond the gate, an animal had run out of luck. The military men and women roaming the streets didn’t react to the noise. Buzz Guns and Impulse Tasers remained holstered.
Bill had stopped checking the communication stone for signs of Stephen. He knew the Indigenes would come; he just didn’t know when. But how could he warn them about this trap; a single street, a mile-long stretch of unfinished buildings and no easy way out. But the earlier group would have reported back the layout. Tanya Li had been studying maps or blueprints of the area in the room next door. Just what had the board members planned?
On the third night, when the military had abandoned their high alert status, Bill heard a new sound beyond the city walls. He left the supply room and looked towards the gates. Tanya emerged from her side of the building. He noticed she wore an energy-absorbing suit similar to the military.
‘Is it them?’ she said.
‘I’m not sure.’ He had no idea of anything anymore.
Tanya clicked her fingers and the board members joined her. The bodyguards stood out in front, towering over everyone else. The military created a tight circle around the bodyguards. Bill noticed everyone wore an energy-absorbing suit.
Except for him.
Large solar lamps illuminated the road leading to the entrance while the wasteland beyond remained in total darkness. Bill could hear movement outside the high walls.
Seven Indigenes rushed through the gate and past the unprepared military lining the street. Bill tensed when the group, dressed in the same hooded black outfits as the ones who took Laura, slowed to a walking pace when they got closer. Two females led the group, one of them he recognised to be the influencer. Her blue eyes honed in on the military surrounding the bodyguards and the board members.
Static—from the Indigenes and the charged guns—filled the air and nipped at Bill’s skin. Without an energy-absorbing suit, he was vulnerable to a blast from a Buzz Gun. Beyond the females Bill saw two faces he recognised: Pierre and Stephen. He released a breath and asked them silently about Laura, if she was okay. His question went unanswered. Neither Indigene even acknowledged his presence. Behind them were three other males, Leon, Anton’s father, who he’d met, a second around Pierre’s age and a younger male whom he couldn’t see properly. They must be the welcoming party because Bill saw an even larger group of Indigenes that had gathered at the gate.
He searched Stephen’s face for a confirmation on Laura’s condition. But Stephen kept his yellow-flecked eyes fixed on the tight group of board members. Their military protectors opened a small gap just big enough for Tanya and her genetically modified bodyguard to squeeze through. Bill estimated the modified men were probably as strong as the Indigenes. It would be a fair fight, if that’s where this was headed.
The female Indigene with the blue eyes continued to concentrate on the military. Then she nodded, almost imperceptibly, in a certain direction and Bill saw how
far the military had drifted apart and away from the board members with no one noticing. She was good.
Pierre stepped forward. Bill tried to catch his eye, but the elder, similar to Stephen, wouldn’t look at him.
Laura. Something’s happened. That’s why you’re ignoring me, isn’t it?
His mind worked overtime and his breathing became erratic. He tried to calm down; now was not the time to lose it. Pierre had confirmed nothing.
Movement nearby snapped him out of his thoughts. Tanya and her bodyguard had moved closer to Pierre to stop about ten feet away from him.
‘I need you over here,’ Tanya said to Bill.
Bill caught the look of surprise on Stephen’s face, the one that questioned Bill’s loyalties. With no news about Laura, Bill couldn’t say which side he supported. If Laura didn’t make it, then the Indigenes would be to blame for her death. They had unleashed their genetic code inside her without knowing how their specific mutations might affect a human. He was certain he could not live with losing another woman he loved. Bill stepped forward but remained in the middle, attaching himself to neither group. He’d play it by ear.
Pierre pulled back his hood to reveal his smooth, translucent skin. He cut an almost serene figure. But the determined look in his eyes said otherwise, that he’d come prepared to fight.
The military men gasped at Pierre’s reveal; it was probably the first time they had seen an Indigene up close. Propaganda photos showed the Indigenes as wild, aggressive animals. Bill expected the almost human appearance of the Indigenes would come as a shock. A few military let their Buzz Guns drop; others tightened their grips.
The remaining board members and their bodyguards wedged through the gap to stand next to Tanya. Deighton appeared eager to see who had come. He held a DPad, which he smiled at periodically. He looked first at the screen and then up at the group.
‘Who am I speaking with?’ said Tanya.
‘Pierre is my name.’ His words were slow and deliberate. The Indigenes talked at a much faster speed.
‘Pierre, thank you for meeting with us. We wish to discuss a way forward.’
Pierre looked around him. ‘Are you afraid of us?’
Tanya frowned.
‘The military you have brought,’ said Pierre. ‘Is this all for us?’
Tanya smiled. ‘I couldn’t be sure how many of you would come. We are strangers. They will follow us until both parties can reach a mutual understanding.’
‘We debated for days whether we should come at all,’ said Pierre. ‘I was voted down in the end.’
‘We’re here because humans want to live in peace on Exilon 5 without threat from the Indigenes,’ Tanya explained. ‘Some time ago, we considered living side by side with your race, but it didn’t pan out that way. We plan to invest a lot of money in this planet and I feel we can be of benefit to each other.’
Bill saw Deighton’s reaction switch from amusement to fury. He stared at Tanya.
‘Is this something we could consider—to live side by side?’ said Tanya. ‘We are prepared to listen to your demands. In return we have demands of our own.’
‘That was the bullshit we fed to Taggart so he’d help,’ Deighton hissed at Tanya. ‘I never agreed to this, to living with these degenerates.’
‘Our demands are simple,’ said Pierre. ‘We wish to hunt without your military tailing us at night. You will build your cities far away from our districts. We want you to set up exclusion zones where we can hunt freely.’
‘That’s a lot to ask without us knowing if we can trust you,’ said Tanya.
‘Discuss it with your team,’ said Pierre. ‘We will wait.’
Tanya turned around and the board members huddled close to her. Bill stepped closer so he could hear the discussion.
‘What do you think?’ she said.
‘If I’m to vote for a move here, we need a lot more industry to make it financially viable,’ said the conservative member. ‘I could think of several uses for the Indigenes, but I’d feel much happier if they were separated from humans.’
‘I won’t agree to that,’ said the liberal. ‘They need to pay their way. Anything we give them should be used as a bargaining chip.’
‘Charles? If you have an opinion, now’s the time to share it,’ said Tanya.
The words exploded from Deighton’s mouth. ‘They can’t be trusted. Don’t believe their lies. Why are we negotiating with them? They should all be put down.’ He pointed a shaking finger at the Indigenes. ‘Look. Anton’s here—the one we caught on Earth, and who killed one of our doctors. Look into his eyes and tell me he’s not a killer. And the one in the front with the blue eyes, that’s Serena—another murderer.’ Deighton gave her a vicious stare. ‘And now she’s leading their group. It’s despicable.’
Anton pushed through to the front of the group. ‘I’ll never forget what you did to me,’ he said to Deighton. ‘And I know why you’ve come here. You gave me the gift of your memories, remember?’
Deighton’s expression hardened as he stepped forward, but the military stopped him from getting any closer.
Tanya turned to Bill. ‘You’ve been very quiet. What’s your opinion on this situation?’
He looked at both groups. ‘I didn’t think I had one. You seem to have thought of everything.’
‘Well, the Indigenes kidnapped your girl. Surely you can offer your opinion when I ask. You know them better than we do. It’s in the girl’s best interests you speak your mind. Should we kill them or offer them a second chance?’
‘A barbaric race should not be saved,’ Deighton spat out.
‘Well, Laura’s situation aside,’—Bill glanced at Stephen, hoping for a signal but getting none—‘their race is unique and we have no right to decide their fate, even if there are financial gains to be had. They may be an advanced version of us, but they’re no longer human in the traditional sense. We continue to persecute them, hunt them and experiment on them, and why? Because they turned out better than we had hoped. They follow their own rules and are no less barbaric than humans are. Yet they seem more capable of controlling their urges. Why not give them the same rights and freedom we enjoy? Collaborate with them, don’t control them.’
Deighton shoved his DPad under Tanya’s nose. ‘Now that the omicron rock no longer blocks the signals from the device in Anton’s head, I’ve managed to download his memories. You can see for yourself how “friendly” this race is. I urge you to consider all angles before deciding —Deighton took a deep breath—‘and I think they should all volunteer blood samples.’
Tanya frowned. ‘Blood samples, what for?’
Deighton appeared to be nervous. ‘They might carry the same disease that struck down that poor O’Halloran girl.’
‘The girl didn’t get sick because of a disease, Charles. She’s experiencing changes because of mutated Indigene code. Speaking of which’—Tanya turned to Pierre—‘we want all the data you have on her changes, before and after she was treated. That’s not negotiable.’
Deighton laughed. ‘Is that what they told you was wrong with her, Tanya? How can you be sure it wasn’t a disease? Perhaps they’re performing tests on us... maybe even poisoning us, but disguising it as help. You’re all fucking naive—and gullible to believe them without evidence. Let the doctors take samples. Only then can we be sure.’
‘Is Laura okay?’ Bill could no longer keep silent on the matter. But the Indigenes said nothing.
‘See? They can’t even give you a straight answer.’ Deighton laughed.
‘Charles, you seem intent on ignoring me for some reason, considering the lengths you went to get my attention.’ It was Pierre who spoke. ‘I can understand why you’re interested in Anton and Serena, and I can hazard a guess as to why you want our blood so badly. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about seeing you again after five decades, but you haven’t changed one bit.’
Deighton narrowed his eyes. ‘It should have been me, not you, Andrew,’ he said. ‘You prete
nded you weren’t interested in the programme, but that’s all you wanted—to get away from your father.’
‘I’ll admit my poor relationship with that man, but you put my name forward for the early alteration programme,’ said Pierre. ‘You didn’t seem interested in changing into a new species, but you were happy to push me. So here you are now, fifty years later, interested in my life again and punishing me by killing my wife.’
‘What’s this about? Have you two met before?’ Tanya looked between the pair.
‘They served together on the World Government board,’ said Anton. He tapped the side of his head and stared at Deighton. ‘Your memories are all up here.’
Deighton turned to Serena. ‘Have they told you where you came from, my dear? Grown in a lab. You killed one of our own doctors. Now that they know what you are—a killer and a liar—you won’t be welcome anymore.’
Bill saw Serena switch her focus to Deighton. He grabbed his head and grimaced with pain.
‘What are you doing to me, you bitch?’ Deighton cut his eyes to Tanya. ‘She has powers. Can’t you feel it? Shoot her.’
Stephen stepped in front of Serena in a protective way. ‘We know where she came from and that you, Deighton, killed the female doctor. Anton remembers the day the Medical Facility transferred your memories to him and forced him to kill Elise. Serena means us no harm. You will not win here today, Deighton—or any day.’
Deighton hissed at Stephen and all eyes were on the old man. A quick nod from Stephen froze Bill to the spot. What did it mean? Was Laura okay, or was it a signal for him to do something?
‘Who were you in your human life, Pierre?’ said Tanya.
‘I was Andrew Cantwell, son of Peter Cantwell the Third.’
Tanya shot a hand over her mouth. ‘Andrew. I... I didn’t serve with you, but your reputation lives on, as does your father’s. I feel his guidance every time I sit in his chair. Forgive me for my next question if it’s too personal, but were you altered... voluntarily?’