by Daniel Evora
“Wait, we’re going to Philadelphia?” Lily asked Thomas.
“We’ve got nothing else to do, and besides I don’t think the Agents wouldn’t mind if we stop by for a visit with the Rebels.”
“Alright then, let’s go.” I said
“Follow me, kid.”
This was different for me at first. I spent so much time fighting people that I haven’t had the time to meet some new ones along the way. I almost killed that man, and now I feel a lot more comfortable now that Thomas isn’t dead or else it probably would’ve been game over at this point. It’s almost like it was meant to be. We made our way into the airport half an hour later. Lily and I sat in the terminal, while Thomas went to seeo, Brenda, as he put it.
“You think there’s a better way to hide those katanas?” Lily asked, breaking the awkward silence.
“What are you trying to say?” I responded.
“Nothing just...nevermind.”
“Sorry, you look like you two have been through a lot together. But, what do I know?” I said, smirking.
“So where’s this Andrew guy that sent you? What happened to him?”
“Same thing that happens to everyone else that ticks off the Order.” I replied with a sigh.
“Hell. I’m sorry.”
“He saved my life. It’s what keeps me going.”
“Well, you’ve got us for now,” she said, holding my hand. Thomas walked in our conversation.
“Looks like you two’ve been connecting,” Thomas said grinning.
“Is she gonna get us a ride?”
“Yeah, she’s getting her jet ready for us.”
“Who is she?” I asked.
“Officer Brenda is a part of the Rebel’s air force.”
“Why is she all the way out here?”
“She told me recently that she’s been on and off with missions and being with her family. But she’ll be more than happy to help us get outta here...What the--”
Thomas looked to his left as we did too. An entire squadron of Silent Death soldiers. In the middle of all of them was Adam. He caught a glimpse of me as he stormed inside.
“Run!” I shouted.
“Crap, it's Adam. She better have that jet ready now,” Thomas said, as we followed him running onto the runway
There were too many people to try and return fire to the Death soldiers. Wasn’t worth the risk inside the airport. We made our way outside to a hangar not far. Brenda was already in the cockpit and ready to go. Thomas covered for us as we hurried inside.
“C’mon Brenda, let’s get in the air!” Thomas commanded.
“I’m going as fast as I can!” Brenda shouted back as the plane began to accelerate. “We should be in the clear soon!”
As the jet ascended into the air everyone had a sense of relief, including me. Which finally meant some time to rest. I haven’t had any good sleep for three days.
. . .
“Hey, Nate,” Thomas said to wake me up. I slowly opened my eyes as they dilated to the light and looked to my right to see Lily asleep.
“Brenda told me just about another half hour.”
“Then why’d you wake me now?”
“I just wanted to talk.”
“Okay,” I said as I fixed my posture. “What did you want to talk about?”
“You said Andrew sent you to me.”
“Lily told me you knew him.”
“Yes,” Thomas replied, moving his eyes away from me. “That was in another time. At least that’s how it feels. How is he these days?”
“Dead,” I answered firmly. “Saved my life. But, he didn’t deserve to go out like that.”
“It was his decision. I would honor his death if I were you, because if he sees something in you that much to want to die for it, then I’m all in for it, too. Although, I’m actually surprised he would do something like that. Last time I knew him he was quite the opposite for a while.”
I stayed quiet.
“Well, he’s gone now. All we can do is move forward. This war will continue to take more lives by the day. So much so that I’ve gotten used to it. Actually...there’s something else.”
“What?”
“Why’d you let me go, Nate?”
“I-I don’t know. I was right there, in the moment, but just before I was gonna pull the trigger. Everything froze around me. It made me feel uneasy, following that order, and so I let you go, without them knowing.”
“You showed empathy for me, Nate. The enemy. Something I thought none of your people were capable of.”
“We’re not all heartless.”
I peeked out the window to see the airport move away from the clouds. We landed very quickly as the sounds woke Lily. We then moved into the terminal to meet a man that could help us get to the Rebel base. He wore a black military suit with a captain badge on his shoulder.
“Uh...Thomas. Who’s that?” I asked him.
“Maxwell Umbaru, 27 years old, a rebel pilot, an old friend from way back when.” Thomas answered, as he grinned. “Well, I might be exaggerating that last part.”
Max turned to us, looking not so happy. I looked around him and saw his aircraft.
“Hello, Tom. I almost didn’t recognize you there,” Max said. He then turned his attention to me. “Who the hell is this? He here to surrender?”
“Well didn’t Chris already tell you or something? Look, Max, calm down, he's here because he wants to join you guys.”
“Really?” Max blurted, as he started to walk away. Thomas stopped him in his tracks.
“You were once like him, too. So are you gonna be the bigger man here, or be just as cowardly as the ones you came from?” Thomas asked Max.
Max sighed. “Fine, but if he tries anything on us--”
"Don't worry about it," Thomas interrupted. “He’s pretty alright in my book.”
Max turned to me and held out his hand. "Okay. Nate. I think that’s enough for me." I shook his hand as he added. "Welcome to the team, kid."
“Alright, Max. Nate, Lily, let’s go.”
We followed them out of the Philadelphia International Airport and into a big SUV with tinted windows. It was modified to hold more passengers. Max peeked into the driver's window, nodded at him.
“We’re about to make our way to the Pentagon,” Thomas said to me.
“The Pentagon? The government office? But, that’s in D.C,” I told him confidently.
“Yes, but the rebellion made one for themselves. It looks like any old regular building. Well, at least to anyone else,” Thomas informed me. “So that’s what you call it now, Max? Such laziness.”
Max rolled his eyes and sat upward. “You got any better names?” he asked.
“Yeah, how hard can it be? The building is not even in the shape of a pentagon and the majority of it is underground. So how about… Washington Post?”
“Taken.”
“Independence Fort?”
“Taken.”
“The Citadel?”
“Maybe, you should just tell Chris about it.”
“Who’s Chris?” I asked Max.
“He’s Commander over at HQ,” Max replied.
“Christopher got promoted about a year back,” Thomas added. “Why do you ask?”
“I was on a mission to destroy a village,” I explained, then looked at Max. “General Benardo Perez was there. I spared Thomas as well.”
“Is that who you are?!” Max asked, shocked. “Well, crap. Sorry, I didn’t know.”
“It’s alright,” I told him. “This is the only good thing that’s happened to me so far, ever since day one of my betrayal.”
“Hey, you did the right thing. I wouldn’t call it betrayal, but more of a...okay maybe you did betray them. At least you got out looking better than me. Couldn’t even make it to the entrance. Chris and his troops had to haul my ass back to HQ. I wasn’t able to walk for three weeks!” he laughed a bit. Everyone else sat silent, but I felt pity for Max.
Thomas leaned
towards me as I leaned in, too. “He was one of the first to switch sides and fight for their cause,” he whispered in my ear as I nodded. “You both probably understand more than I do.”
We reached the entrance to the Stronghold, as Max rolled down the window to check in with the guard.
“Good afternoon, Maxwell, welcome back from your flight,” the front guard said happily to Max.
Thomas had left me to do other business in Bloodfall, with Lily, so Sam escorted me to the Commander of the Rebellion, Christopher Greene. I had been thinking about what to say to my older brother on the way there. What he looked like, how he would react, his personality, and just the fact that he’s my family member may be too much for me to take in all at once. Christopher was at the end of the hall, most likely near his quarters, and glanced at me while walking towards us. I started to feel anxious.
“Nathaniel,” Chris said, as he shook my hand. “Welcome to the Resistance of the East. I’m glad that we finally have a chance to meet each other in person.” He gave Max a gesture that probably signified that he could leave.
“How much do you guys know about me?” I asked him, puzzled. Chris had talked to me like he already had been for several years.
“Well, admittedly, not much. Only since you’ve interfered with our affairs have the Resistance caught interest in you. However, an old contact mentioned something about you.”
“Andrew,” I said, completing the man’s thoughts. He nodded in response.
Chapter 5
The Resistance of the East
Everyone at the very least took a gander at me. I could hear some whispering things, but too muffled for me to make out what they were saying. Staring at me all the way to the General’s Circle. One of them scolded me in disgust. Another tried to spit on me and followed it with a swear. These were the so-called “good guys”? Was this the kind of treatment Max was getting when he first got here? I attempted not to look back at anyone else, but I felt angry and decided to strike back at this trooper. When first looking at him I could tell he was a veteran soldier and, at that, much older than me. Scars everywhere made me feel sorry for what happened to him, but it conflicted with my hate for his attitude towards me.
I stepped up towards him, as Chris tried to pull me away. But, I refused the order. The man stepped up as well, staring into my soul.
“What are you looking at?” I asked him angrily. “Seems like you were asking for something, so maybe you should speak up!”
The man’s eyebrows inclined on his face as he said sarcastically. “Well, I don’t know. Maybe the fact that you risked the lives of my troops during my mission, ah, you know, just a guess.”
There were others nearby that gathered around to watch our little debate. But, all of them were standing behind him. An invisible line drawn between us. Making him and I two sides of a coin. Except, no one stood behind me. My eyes were drawn from his as I looked around him. Some of them glaring in my direction.
They towered over me like skyscrapers. Casting their own shadow upon me.
The guy's eyes widened and he grinded his teeth as he swung his arm at me, but I dodged it and swept him off his feet. He was just about to get up as I brought out my katana and pointed the tip of the blade into his neck. In response, he brought out his pistol, and pointed it right between my eyes. He smirked, which made my blood boil even more to the point where I started thinking of the dozen ways to end him at that point in time.
Matthews stared at me again with that same curious, yet annoyed, face.
“Nathan! You need to calm down! And don’t make me demote you, Matthews!” Chris shouted, demanding peace between us. We each yielded and kept our distance, for both of our sakes. He stared at me with animosity.
“Yes, Commander,” Matthews saluted.
“Alright,” I replied, as I went by his side again.
“It’s sir. You need to control that temper of yours,” Chris advised me.
“What’s his problem?” I asked him.
“That there is General Matthews,” Chris replied. “He’s served us for many years.”
“Well, I don’t like him.”
“Well, Nate, not everyone here will instantly accept you as a part of the Rebellion. Matthews was the one to send Ben and his men to scout the outer areas of Skeopel Point and Kalo City. You were never a part of the equation. Now since, he’s been holding grudges against you. You’ve been the enemy for some time and that’s how some people will look at you. Because it's the only way they know you right now.”
I didn’t respond to what he said. After all Chris was right, and there was nothing I could do at the moment to defend myself. So, I just looked down to the ground since I felt bad for the pain I might’ve caused them for the five years I’ve been with the Order. For some reason Chris nodded at me, but then it probably meant that he understood my position in all this.
“Why do you need my help, anyway?” I asked Chris, bringing up the topic we last spoke about.
“Well, first, you’re...were a Silent,” he corrected himself midway through. “We could always use some more intel.”
“And if I say no?” I added. Chris sighed and glared back out to where Matthews was standing among his peers. Not aware that Chris side-eyed him. I quickly noticed him doing so.
“Matthews won’t take no for an answer--he’s stubborn like that sometimes, but we did come to a compromise,” Chris explained.
“What would that be?”
Chris and I entered his quarters as he looked out to the people in the main hall.
“If you accept my offer, you’ll be free to go in return for your service and potential intel.”
Curious. I attempted to dive deeper.
“If I refuse?”
Chris turned to me and sat down.
“If you refuse...let’s just say the Rebellion won’t be as...welcoming.”
“So what, you want me to pay for my crimes?” I asked, squinting my eyes and with a bit of attitude.
Chris slowly nodded his head, “Precisely.”
For a moment I felt like getting to the nearest exit as quickly as possible. But, this was my last and at least some of one faction wouldn’t be after my skin.
“You don’t happen to know about this camp that Ben’s being held in?” he asked back to me, as I shook my head.
“No, I had no idea. Only the generals knew about that sort of stuff.” I answered.
“Well, then that’s where Jacob comes in,” Chris added. “He knows the location like the back of his hand. So, we need to find him.”
“Who’s Jacob?”
“Jacob is a former Resistance member. He used to work with us for quite some time until the incident of ‘82,” Chris explained. “He re-engineered the InterFace for own use; an AI system originally used as a large map, communications center for our allies in other countries, and a database. Taken by the Silents and made into a mainstream device. If we find him, we might find a way to get our friend out.”
“Okay, then where is he?” I asked, with a puzzled face.
“That’s where Matthews comes in,” Chris said, then Matthews came up behind me as I jumped in fear.
“How long have you been standing behind me?”
“Long enough,” Matthews said, glaring at me. “We believe that Jacob doesn’t live very far from this place, I’ve caught rumours and used the InterFace to hone in on a certain location based on those rumours. It took a hell of a long time to get it done.”
“Which part?” Chris asked.
“According to this, Jacob is hiding himself within the Abandoned Cities of the Northwest Commonwealth--from the old wars. I don’t know for certain that my leads are legit,” Matthews informed me, rubbing his forehead. “These rumors could be true or a bunch of lies. Why'd he leave us in the first place?!”
Matthews swiftly left the room and gestured to us to follow along. He stopped in front of what I believed to be his crew. It consisted of nine people, which is a lot more than usual. Thr
ee women and five men as I counted.
“My crew will help with the mission, all of them have chosen voluntarily. So they are dedicated to the rescue of Ben.”
“Thank you, general,” Chris said to him. “Nate and I will go to Manhattan to find Jacob, then we’ll find the exact location of the camp, make a plan, and hopefully it’ll all be a success.”
“Don’t worry, Commander,” Matthews replied. “With my crew, this mission will certainly be a success.”
“Alright then!” Chris exclaimed in excitement. “Now, any questions, Nate?”
“Yes, actually.”
“I’m listening.”
“It’s about Andrew.”
“He’s dead isn’t he?” Chris’s excitement fell quickly to disappointment. “At least you’re still alive. His mission didn’t necessarily fail. It just didn’t go how I anticipated it.”
“Mission?” I asked.
“I’m the one that sent him to you,” Chris explained. “After Matthews’ mission with Ben’s troops went awry, the only person left for me to contact was Andrew. I needed him to take you in, so if any other major problems arose, the Silents would get their attention off of you. I only kept you there because of it. If you immediately came over here it would’ve made their job much easier; trying to find the location of our base. Sounds like I guessed wrong, and now my grave mistake will add another life on my head. Why must so many must die for such a simple goal?”
“I’m sorry I ever asked,” I replied.
“You don’t need to be sorry for anything. This war has been escalating ever since the Siege of Phoenix Post, and I only fear it’s going to get worse.”
...
Everywhere we went, I felt as if Adam would show up again, if always on our tail without even noticing it. He carried this sense of intimidation with him and his elite squadron, which is probably the cause of it. However, I’ve seen his white blade, and it looks a lot deadlier than mine. It’s almost like that’s how he would carry the fear with him.
But, I was starting to trust Christopher. Getting to know him more was a very interesting experience, and I could tell he was different from those of the likes of Matthews. He seemed like he would deal with situations more formally than Matthews would. Then again, I was only assuming that.