by C. R. Allan
“Is it mom?” Asked Alex, with a notable worry in his tone as he looked across at the faint figure.
“I don’t know, I have to go see... You need to stay put though.” Responded Jacob, looking briefly back at Alex to ensure he was not following.
Slowly and painfully, Jacob moved through the cramped space over sharp and rugged debris. Coming up beside the figure, he could hardly recognise the woman as his mother, the faint light enough to expose the severity of her wounds. Tightly holding his mother's hand, Jacob looked over her torn and crushed body. Buried up to her chest with large slabs of concrete, it was as if she were part of the building itself.
“I’m here...” Said Jacob, fighting back the tears.
Angie slowly tuned to look at her son, the pain and confusion evident on her face as she struggled to breath and form words. Moving closer to his mother as she tried to speak, Jacob could feel the tears now streaming down his face. He fully realized, in that moment that his mother was dying and there was nothing he could do to save her. Murmuring between whispered and forced breaths, Angie tried to form words. All her efforts only resulting in sputtered and fragmented gasps of breaths. The strain proved to much as she drew in air one last time before succumbing to her injuries.
“Mom... mom...” said Jacob, in a strained whisper.
A sharp pain resonated from his chest, as Jacob laid across his mother and broke down and sobbed. The brief period of mourning was interrupted by the beam of a flashlight being cast down from above, illuminating a mostly intact floor above through twisted metal and concrete. Jacob could hear two men talking above as the light paned around the cavern, barely missing both Jacob and Alex. Leaving them safely hidden in the shadows.
“Live one over here.” Said one of the men, in a language Jacob had never heard, as he turned his light away.
“Unsuitable for recruitment, terminate.” Said a second unintelligible voice, followed by the loud snap of a rifle.
Alex jumped following the noise of the firearm discharging, sending some nearby concrete fragments rolling down across the rubble and debris. The light from the flashlight burst back into the cavity this time shining right on Alex. Screaming and crying out as he panicked, Alex started quickly making his way across the ruins towards Jacob. As Alex passed by, one of the men reached down through the web of twisted metal and wire. The man's black leathery military garb and respirator style mask under thick brass googles became exposed against the bright beam of the flashlight. Grabbed by the hair, Alex begin screaming and violently thrashed as he pulled at the man's hand in a desperate attempt to free himself. Darting towards Alex, Jacob grabbed a nearby piece of concrete. In a violent act of desperation, Jacob began smashing the piece of rock against the man’s arm for several seconds until he withdrew in pain. Taking Alex by the hand, Jacob quickly manoeuvred through the narrow space toward the opening in the wall.
“New recruits!” the man yelled repeatedly to call for reinforcements, as Jacob and Alex fled below among the mess of twisted debris.
“Hurry!” Said Jacob, as he frantically helped his little brother through the extremely narrow maze of rebar and concrete, barely big enough for either of them to squeeze through.
Briefly looking back across the dark space, Jacob could make out, among the light from the flashlight trailing him, that one of the men had broken through into cavity. Arriving at the break in the wall, Jacob urgently helped Alex between the metal bars. After managing to get Alex to the other side, Jacob could see their chaser quickly approaching from behind, crawling face down through the narrow space. Picking up some nearby stones, Jacob started hurling the objects at the man, in a desperate attempt to slow them down. Hitting the man hard in the googles, Jacob heard him yell while briefly slowing down. Taking the opportunity, Jacob began squeezing himself through the opening in the wall.
With only part of his upper body through, Jacob briefly hesitated, as he saw Alex standing in front him. The smell of smoke and fires permeated the outside air along the ruined streets and collapsed buildings. The warm orange glow of flames cast long dancing shadows across the remains of the place Jacob once called home. Feeling someone firmly grab him by the ankles, Jacob snapped back to focus as he tightly held onto the metal bars surrounding him. Bracing himself against the wall, he started frantically kicking at the person pulling him, as he tried to escape. Resisting as long as he could, Jacob came to a point where he lacked the strength to continue fighting. With his grip giving out, he felt himself being pulled back into the darkness of the ruinous hollow. Looking into his brother's eyes, Jacob could see the fear on Alex’s face has he frantically tried to pull his brother towards him. Hearing the echo of many footsteps approaching, Jacob could see the shadows of people bouncing across nearby walls as his grip finally gave out.
“Run, Alex!” Shouted Jacob, just before he was dragged down the narrow path and back the area where he watched his mother take her last breath.
Screaming and shouting could be heard from the outside beyond the wall. Alex's voice, at first loud and distinguishable, before becoming mixed with others among the commotion. His cries faded into a faint murmur, as Jacob could hear his brother disappear into the distance. Frantically, Jacob tried to grab onto anything he could to resist as he was pulled along the rough and jagged ground. Finding a piece of broken steel bar, he pulled it loose just as he entered the largest opening among rubble. knowing he had little time to react if he were to help his brother, Jacob sat up and started stabbing the sharp point of metal deep into his attacker. Catching the man off guard, Jacob hit him repeatedly in the shoulder and neck. With cries of pain, the man let go as he tried to stop the rapid bleeding from his wounds. Darting back towards the opening, Jacob forced himself through the tight gaps between bars. Standing on the smoke covered street, he could hear the distant sound of fighting littering the air all around, Alex nowhere to be seen.
V
At the top of a twenty-floor tower, Ettimis gazed out his large office window of thick aged glass. To his right a great expanse of stars and to his left the bright green and blue hues of the planet Issa. Dividing these two planes, sat the infinite city of Avus. Its orange and yellow lights stretching out into the distance before expanding around again. Reflecting on the message from the board, Ettimis stared with cruelty down at the planet Issa, viewing it as the one obstacle that stood in the path of his ambitions. Expressed though the urgent message in the relay probe, the board informed Ettimis was in a beneficial position. The company was in immediate need of large amounts of refined aillinium within an extremely narrow time frame. After further review of prior scouting expeditions to the planet Issa. The Board had reason to believe there was large amounts of already processed aillinium on the surface. Aillinium the Company required for a massive project of immense importance in the central region. If successful in location and getting the aillinium, Ettimis had been promised his much-awaited promotion. However, failure would have him working in the outer systems for far longer, possibly forever. Pondering the ultimatum, Ettimis began pacing back and forth in his office. Periodically stopping at his large desk of tarnished metal, covered in papers and mechanical trinkets, before turning back around. Muttering to himself in frustration along the way.
“Deliver hundreds of tons aillinium and I will have a position in the central region they say... How could they put this on me, after all I’ve done for the Company? There is no way I could deliver... what if their intel is off?” Ettimis inaudibly mumbled.
“Call command deck.” Said Ettimis, as he pressed a chipped and weathered button, next to a faded brass speaker on his desk.
“President... how good to hear from you, any updated from the central region?” Answered Oret.
“The board needs this operation greatly sped up. I need you to bring me the leaders of this wretched place at once.” Demanded Ettimis.
“Of course, President, but may I ask for what purpose?” said Oret, with hesitation in his tone.
“Simpl
y put, the board is not pleased. They need results much sooner. Now find me someone on this filthy rock that knows where some aillinium is.” Sneered Ettimis.
“But President, the preliminary research from the company surveyors showed this planet has yet to discover aillinium, I don’t think anyone from this world will be useful to us.”
“You would be surprised at how incomplete and outdated information from the research department can be. Either way the board has sent updated information that contradicts their preliminary findings.” Said Ettimis sarcastically, pausing briefly before he continued. “Most harvesting operations would fail if all we depended on was company research, Oret... I assure you Oret, someone down there knows exactly where some aillinium is.” Said Ettimis as he abruptly ended the call.
Standing up from his chair, Ettimis walked to the window with his hands folded behind his back contemplating his plans. Peering through the thick glass into the distance, Ettimis leaned forward to better see. The light from the stars began to slightly shift and warp. With an instantaneous snap of light, a union vessel dropped out of ethereal space. Appearing to remain motionless only a few hundred yards away, drifting in unison with Avus. The small union craft consisted of cental vessel surrounded by an enclosed habitat ring and reflected brightly as the blue star rose from beyond the curvature of Issa. Glaring upon the craft in contempt, Ettimis knew the unions presence offered nothing but a hinderance to his grand ambitions.
“President, a union ship has dropped from ethereal space in our vicinity. The ship's captain wishes to speak to you.” Said Oret’s voice, crackling over the speaker on Ettimis’s desk.
“I am aware of the union vessel, Oret. Route the communication to office.” Responded Ettimis as a small glass screen flickered into focus on his desk, showing the face of a women dressed in the traditional union attire before him.
“Inter-planetary trading Company vessel Avus. I am Captain Reliq of the Galactic Union; I presume I am speaking with the person who oversees Avus.” Said Reliq, with assertion in her tone.
“Captain Reliq, I am Ettimis, President of the Company vessel Avus. I am in charge of this small resource extraction operation on the planet's surface.”
“President Ettimis. I am here at the request of the Counsel of Judicators, of the Galactic Union, in response to a relay probe message stating your vessel and aillinium extraction operation is in violation of intergalactic law on several accounts. Ranging from illegal mining far outside company territory. To the enslavement and genocide of developing seed species... As such President, I must inform you this operation is to be suspended until a proper investigation can be conducted.” Continued Reliq
“Captain Reliq. Your claims are both preposterous and insulting. However, regardless of which, I can assure you this planet is well within territory legally acquired by the Trading Company. I suggest you return to the central region and contact the Company directly. Until then you are trespassing on private property captain. You have no authority to investigate or suspend any operations without a valid warrant.”
“President, may I remind you that once you violated the rights of a developing seed species the Inter Planetary Trading Company forfeited any claim any this region or the resources within it. Due to the extreme nature of the claims presented, the council must stop this operation until further notice. President, failure to comply will have severe consequences for both you and the Company.”
“Captain Reliq, you have wasted enough of my time. I will no longer entertain this conversation. Without proof, your claims are still unjustified. I assure you Captain; no such suspension of operation or investigation of this privately owned planet will commence.” Said Ettimis with hostility as he switched off the speaker, ending the transmission.
looking out across the buildings on Avus, Ettimis stared for a moment at the union ship drifting along beside the ring. Thinking how insignificantly small the ship was in comparison to the grandeur of Avus, Ettimis stood up from his chair a walked over to the window. With fists clenched in anger, he strode across the room contemplating his next course of action.
“Shouldn’t have come alone captain... By the time, the council is aware of what happened to you and sends another ship the Company will have harvested this entire planet, leaving no evidence of you or any seed species.” Murmured Ettimis, with a cold sneer and half-cocked smile.
“Oret, destroy the union vessel, Immediately!” Said Ettimis, as he returned to his desk. The anger evident in his tone.
“But President...?” Responded Oret, with reservation in his voice. Ettimis’s angry demand crackling through the command decks main speakers, for the whole bridge staff to hear.
“Oret, do as your told or I will have you demoted... destroy that ship before it gets away.” Said Ettimis, the anger in his voice now replaced with an eerie calm.
Oret stood at the centre of the command deck for a moment. The grainy image of the union vessel appeared on the main screen in front of him, with the twelve bridge workers all turned in their seats looking at their Vice President for direction. Pausing briefly before continuing, Oret knew what he said in the next few seconds could alter the history of the galaxy as they knew it.
“You heard the president. Ready the cannons and prepare to fire at the Union vessel.” Said Oret with a slight tremble, as the bridge staff quickly began relaying the orders through their speakers.
“We have confirmation that the cannons crews are tracking the Union vessel and are ready to fire on your orders Vice President.” Said a staff member from behind Oret, after several seconds.
“Let the record show this action was on the direct order of President Ettimis. Now fire the cannons,” commanded Oret, after a brief pause.
“Commence firing,” several staff members could be heard saying through their speakers.
Flames shot out of the engines of the union vessel as it rapidly accelerated towards the cannon fire. Diving under the swarm of incoming projectiles, the union vessel passed through the ring of Avus, missing the command deck at its centre by a narrow margin. Turning to follow the fast-moving Union ship, the cannons continued firing. Flinching as the ship passed close by, Oret and the other bridge crew braced as the heart of Avus shook in its wake. From his office window Ettimis watched the chase unfold with great satisfaction. Several of the projectiles hit the Union space craft, causing a small burst of light to erupt from its hull before dissipated into the cold vacuum of space. A trail of fragments and debris gleamed in the light of Issa, following the now damaged ship. Completely disabled by the severity of the cannon impacts, the ship began to spiral uncontrollably as it descended, burning across the atmosphere as it rapidly accelerated towards the planet's surface.
VI
Afraid, Jacob ran through the streets of broken roadways and ruined buildings as fast he could, chased by fear of being continually pursued by the unknown invaders. Motivated by his drive to find his brother, Jacob found himself looking down every passing street and inside every building. Hoping to find any sign of Alex, Jacob constantly played out scenarios in his mind of how he would fend off his brother's captors when he encountered them. The streets grew increasingly brighter as the sun projected shades of blue and green over the horizon. As it rose slowly over the western mountains, long shadows formed across the ruined landscape of fire and rubble. Rounding a corner, Jacob stopped running, believing he had put enough distance between him and his pursuers. Tired and out of breath, he quickly darted through a broken window leading into a partially collapsed store on the corner of the street. Retreating deep inside, Jacob hide in the shadows behind some shelving, stocked with candies and other packaged goods. Through the cracks in the shelves, Jacob looked out towards the street, catching a glimpse of a soldier passing by the far side of the broken window before disappearing out of sight. Although only a brief snapshot, Jacob noticed the figure was wearing black military gear with brass googles and a face mask. The same as the men he saw in the rubble of his building.
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br /> Continuing to watch the street from his hiding place, Jacob saw more soldiers pass, all wearing the same grungy dark coloured military drab. All carried the same rifles in hand, along with several other strange looking devices, including those gas cylinders Jacob had seen on the street the evening prior. From his place of safety, he remained still for what seemed like hours. The sun began rising high above the mountains and now sat halfway between the horizon and directly above casting its bright blue-white light over the nearby buildings and into the store. Soaked in sweat from the sweltering heat normally reserved for mid-summer, Jacob found himself extremely thirsty. Afraid to move and unsure if the men outside were gone, he came to a point of unbearable thirst. Finding himself staring at the partially intact coolers, he longed for the bottled drinks across the store from him. Believing it may be safe enough, Jacob carefully manoeuvred through the store. Staying close to the outer walls as he approached the ruined coolers near the front of the store, he periodically paused to ensure it was still safe to go ahead. Darting across the aisle, Jacob grabbed the first bottle of soda he could before stepping back behind the end of a shelf to conceal himself from the street. Preoccupied with the beverage, now warm from sitting in sun light, he twisted the cap off releasing a loud hiss. Paying no attention to his surroundings, Jacob rapidly drank the satisfying fluid. With his thirst momentarily quenched, he could feel the sugar taking effect creating a sense of euphoria. Sitting with his back against the shelving, he closed his eyes in exhaustion for what seemed only a moment.
The sound of footsteps across the pavement snapped Jacob back to alertness. With his heart now racing from a surge of adrenaline, he turned to peer through the cracks in the shelving. Standing in front of the store was a soldier with his rifle drawn. As Jacob watched, he could see the soldier scanning the store through his thick googles, that reflected in the sun light behind the scope of the weapon. Pointing the muzzle of the rifle from one side of the store before moving slowly and methodically to the other. Freezing with anxiety as the soldier pointed the rifle directly at him, Jacob held his breath unsure if he had been discovered. Filled with a nauseating sense of panic for what seemed like an eternity, Jacob felt a sense of relief as the soldier lowered his weapon and moved down the street out of sight.