The alarm clock began to ring. I could hear the one in Dad's room go off too. He opened his door almost immediately. I reached over and turned off my alarm.
In an instant, I felt my eyes get heavy, and my body began to beg for more time to rest. It was like my body thought this may be the last time I would be able to sleep again.
I pushed myself up onto the edge of the bed. My arms and legs were tingling, and my head started to spin. I reached over and grabbed the uniform, pulling it over to my side. I began checking the pockets to make sure that I had everything I needed then began to get dressed.
It was the first time I had worn the uniform, so I hoped it fit well. It was too late anyways.
I secured the communicator watch around my wrist and made sure that I had stored a few extra CC1586 component capsules in my arm pocket.
When I was ready, I stepped out into the living area. Dad was sitting at the table with a pile of teriyaki chicken.
“Eat up,” he told me. “We'll be able to get another hour or so of sleep once we get on the cargo plane.”
I guess he saw how tired I looked. He didn't look that awake himself either.
We both forced down a stick each, but neither of us had much of an appetite. He placed the rest in the refrigerator, and we both filled our canteens with water.
Once we were ready, we turned off all the lights and stepped out into the hallway. The lights were dimmed, and not a sound could be heard. Normal people would be sleeping right now.
Neither one of us talked until we approached the hangar.
“I don’t trust Casey,” I finally told him.
Dad was silent for a minute then responded, “The truth is that we need more people. If someone is willing to help and has a cause, then I see no problem in the extra head count. I understand how it must feel for you to lose your best friend, but give it time and he will come around. Besides, he needs us to get his family back, and he will need us alive to do it, so he will have our backs.”
He was right, but I still felt uncomfortable having Casey around, especially after yesterday. It was unfortunate, but I did not trust him anymore.
“I will keep an eye on him,” Dad added as if he was reading my mind.
We arrived at the hangar, which was a lot more active than the halls. Jason, Abigail, Peter, and Casey were already there, suited up and ready to go.
President Reeves and her aides started towards us once they noticed our presence.
“There you are Bret,” President Reeves called. “Here is the data disc that contains the intelligence we have proving that foreign powers intend to invade. Also included is footage of the attack on the fourth. President Richards was a man of reason and compassion; let's hope that this wakes him up.”
President Reeves handed my dad a small disc encased in glass.
“Good luck,” President Reeves told us. “We will have everyone on high alert in case anything happens here. Let us pray there is no retaliation for what we are about to do.”
President Reeves turned and headed towards the set of stairs we had climbed when we first arrived.
Dad placed the disc in his breast pocket, and we joined the others.
Casey was wearing a similar uniform as ours, but his seemed a little large him despite his size. I do not know if he had lost weight or if the military just did not have anything that fit him. He avoided eye contact by staring at the ground.
“This is your last chance to back out before we leave,” Dad told everyone. “I will understand.”
None of us made a sound.
“Good,” Dad acknowledged. “Let's go ahead and get in the jet. It will be tight with seven of us crammed in.”
The jet was pretty small for seven of us and the pilot for sure. We sat on tiny little benches, and we practically had to sit on our feet. There was no headspace either, and I was already getting claustrophobic before the door was even shut.
“Sir!” the pilot called back. “There is someone here to see Dalyn. Should we let them through?”
Dad looked over to me.
“Let them in,” Dad told the pilot then whispered to me, “Make it fast.”
I slid out the tiny door, and, to my astonishment, I saw Annie sprinting across the tarmac.
I opened my arms as if to say, “What are you doing here?” but Annie ignored me and wrapped her harms around my chest and squeezed.
I could feel eyes burn into the back of my head.
I put my hands on her shoulders and gently pushed her back so she could see my face.
Her eyes showed signs of crying—her cheeks were red and dry from the salt.
Before I had the chance to say anything, she grabbed my hand and lowered her mom’s necklace into it.
“You come bock,” Annie choked.
Just as fast as she had showed up, she turned and ran off.
I returned to the jet and slid into my seat. No one said anything, but I knew they were watching. I slipped the necklace into a leg pocket, taking care that it was fully zipped.
The door shut, and I could hear the engines begin to roar.
After what seemed like an hour, we finally took off. It was pointless to try and talk or even sleep over the scream of the engines rocketing us through the sky.
A few times, I looked up and noticed Abigail looking at the pocket where I had placed Annie's necklace. I felt a tinge of guilt, but I told myself that Abigail and I were never together; we were just friends. The same for Annie too—just friends.
We landed about an hour later on a deserted run strip where we then boarded a cargo plane full of food and weapons. Dad told us this plane would be delivering some supplies—and us—to the Renatus HQ.
The ride was a bit smoother than the jet and a whole lot quieter.
Abigail fell asleep on Jason's arm, while Peter and my dad both found a spot on sacks of potatoes to rest. Casey just sat in the corner, staring at the ground.
I contemplated trying to speak with him, but I had nothing really to say. He knew I did not want him there, and he was still upset about his family, I knew.
I closed my eyes and must have fallen asleep because, when I opened them, I saw sunlight slipping through the back hatch.
Everyone was still sleeping, but I noticed Casey was missing.
I got to my feet, and my head got dizzy. I closed my eyes until my head was fine then slipped between two crates. I heard Casey's voice, but could not make out what he was saying or who he was talking to. I slipped between another set of crates when Casey appeared on the other side.
His face showed signs of shock, like he had just been caught doing something he wasn't supposed to.
“What are you doing?” I asked accusingly.
Casey's face got red, and he narrowed his eyes.
“I was just grabbing an apple.” Casey raised his hand that contained an apple.
“I heard you talking,” I pushed the subject.
“There is no one else for me to talk to,” Casey snapped. “I was talking to myself, trying to get the plan straight in my head. Now mind your own business.”
“We are approaching the Renatus HQ runway,” the pilot’s voice rang over the intercom. “I recommended you head towards the front of the plane, just in case they decide to have a peek inside.”
I heard the others begin to get to their feet and make their way towards us.
Casey turned and went back the way he had come, and I continued to squeeze through the crates. The rest had just made it when we began a steep descent.
The crates began to shift back and forth, and a few times they got dangerously close to us. Finally we touched down, and the engines slowed.
We heard the back hatch open as well as some chatter. We saw lights being shone through the cracks of the crates. My heart beat into my ears as the light came closer.
“Come on out,” the pilot’s voice called to us after a while of waiting.
We slowly made our way towards the back of the plane.
The sun wa
s just breaking through the sky of dust, giving us enough light to spot an enormous building that I recognized as the Renatus HQ. It reminded me of an eighty story tall pregnant lady standing side ways. It was covered with glass from top to bottom, so the reflection of the sun made it seem yellow.
Once we all gathered at the exit, the pilot told us our ride was waiting on the other side of the runway in front of the cargo plane.
We exited the plane and made our way towards the front of the cargo plane.
We had made it about two hundred feet from the plane when we heard the roar of engines coming towards us. About twenty armored vehicles with mounted guns sped in our direction.
We had nowhere to run and nowhere to take cover.
The pilot came out from the plane and started shouting into one of the vehicles that had stopped next to him.
POP! POP!
The pilot crumpled to the asphalt.
The vehicles had surrounded us. None of us could hurt them, and we all knew it. We were out matched.
The door of the vehicle that had stopped at the plane opened up. Two sets of feet exited. One set belonged to Aaric, the other to my sister Pan.
Chapter 25
“Pan!” I screamed.
Pan just stared at me with a blank expression.
“You son of a bitch, I'll kill you if you hurt her!” Dad roared.
Aaric held his hands up like he was offended and laughed.
“I have never killed anyone in my entire life, and I do not plan on starting anytime soon,” Aaric gloated. “No, people kill themselves; I merely—suggest how they do it. I have told little Pan here, for instance, that if you attack me or any of my men, to stab herself with this knife.”
Aaric pointed at Pan's right hand, which held a short blade.
We were all tense, waiting to strike, but none of us wanted to risk it.
“Take their weapons and load them in the cars. Remember to grab those amazing watches too,” Aaric ordered his Guards. “All of you will be playing a very important role in the future of Renatus.”
His smiled broadened.
“And The Lost Sons,” Aaric added. “Take them to the holding area and try not to hurt them too much before the demonstrations.”
Aaric and Pan turned and started towards their car while a dozen Guards started to frisk us.
“What about me?” Casey shouted. “What about my family?”
We all turned our heads towards him. He was red and sweaty. He was shaking violently.
Aaric stopped and turned his head but did not look at us.
Aaric let out a menacing laugh. “I don't know where your family is, boy. It wouldn't matter anyway; everyone here will end up dead anyways,” Aaric sneered. “But thank you for tipping me off—we couldn't have done it without you.”
He laughed as he continued to the car.
“What's he talking about?” I shouted at Casey. “Casey! Answer me, damnit! What is he talking about?”
Casey looked to the ground and started to sob and shake his head.
“I…I'm sorry.” Casey shook his head. “I lifted a radio from the Guard that attacked you. I used it, hoping I could work out a deal to get my family back. They asked for information, but I didn't know what the plan was until we took off. I called and told them we were on our way. They said they would let us go!”
I gave Dad a dirty stare, and he looked away with guilt.
We were each loaded into a separate armored vehicle, with our arms tied behind our backs.
Our convoy headed towards the Renatus HQ that looked even grander as we got closer.
I spotted several helicopters arriving at a helipad near the top of the tower. As soon as one landed and lifted off, another would land.
Eventually we pulled into a parking garage attached to the Renatus HQ and then hoarded into elevators. The place was clean, even when compared to Oasis. The elevator was almost completely made of glass. As we climbed, I was able to see into the lobby as people started to show up for work.
It made me wonder if anyone here knew what was actually happening or if they were just buying into the lies that even I was fed all those years.
The elevator slowed, and the doors opened. A Guard grabbed my arms and pulled me into the middle of an arena about the size of a football court. The floors were pure gray marble, surrounded by about thirty glass rooms. Only when we began to walk towards them did I notice they were actually cells. A few cells were occupied by people in blue jump suits with a number stitched on their backs.
Above the glass holding cells were rows of seats, all empty except the ones in the middle, which were occupied by several people in business suits.
They shoved us each into our own individual cells, which were facing the spectators.
I spotted Aaric and Pan exiting the elevator on the spectator’s level, making their way to an older man sitting at the head of the rest—that must have been President Richards.
Pan sat down in a chair, and Aaric picked up a microphone.
“Ladies and gentleman. On behalf of President Richards and all of Renatus, thank you for coming,” he announced. “We invited you here today to demonstrate our latest breakthrough in our first ever genetic weapon. This is the last weapon you will ever need.”
Aaric held up a vial of blue liquid.
“This little vial holds the future of warfare and mankind,” Aaric continued. “Just one small dose to each of your best warriors will unlock their true potential. A power.”
A few people snickered and started to laugh.
“Please, do not mistake what I say as some sort of magic trick.” Aaric attempted to gather the crowd. “Your body is capable of doing much more, amazing things. It has the capability of shrinking, accelerating particles to make flames, storing energy and focusing it, conducting electricity, of—”
“Flying?” a man called out, and others began to laugh.
Aaric smiled and humored him.
“I am sure it is possible,” Aaric snickered. “For instance, I can control people by touching them. That is the most effective way, to touch them, but I can also render my blood into a kind of mind control serum. With one small drop, I can tell them what to do. Like half of our demonstrators down there.”
Aaric pointed to us.
“There are side effects for the ones I touch, like memory loss,” Aaric threw in. “But I don't think any of you want me to touch you, that's why I put together this demonstration. It will be a battle to the death for these criminals, each with special abilities.”
“We're not criminals!” I yelled as I started to bang on the glass. “He kidnapped us!”
Some of the people pointed towards me, trying to make out what I was saying.
Aaric bent over and whispered something to Pan, and Pan dug the knife in her arm, just enough for blood to trickle down her elbow.
“If you can really control us, why don’t you just tell us all to buy your silly little weapon?” another man chuckled.
“Ahh, good question,” Aaric cooed. “Fortunately for you, I am smarter than that. See, I only have control for a short, random period of time. By the time you got home, it would be worn off. Plus if you returned home and found out what I did, you would not be happy. It is best just to be honest.”
Aaric turned on his heels and faced us.
“Let's get started! Release two inmates please!” Aaric demanded.
Weapons began to rise from the ground. Knives, spears, guns, and many more that I was not familiar with.
“Raise the barrier,” Aaric ordered as he turned toward his audience. “We don't want anyone getting harmed.”
A glass wall started to lower from the ceiling, covering the portion of the stadium where the people were sitting.
A loud clink echoed through the arena as two cell doors opened. A man in blue, bald and tattooed, walked out. He eyed the weapons and went forward. Peter, still dressed in his black uniform, walked out as well. He looked at me with horror, not knowing what to do
.
I nodded towards him. The only way he would survive long enough for us to form any type of plan was to fight. Besides, with the other people in blue under Aaric’s control, there was no way to reason with them.
Peter stepped forward and picked up a pair of knives.
Aaric looked at the two standing in the center of the arena and smiled.
“You may begin!”
Chapter 26
The man in blue grabbed a javelin and hurled it at Peter.
Peter side stepped and started to move in cautiously. Without our watches, we had to be careful how we used our abilities.
The man picked up another javelin and glared at Peter.
They stood about ten feet apart, each ready to make a move.
The tattooed man extended the arm with the javelin swiftly, his arm stretching as if he had no bones.
Peter didn’t have much time to react as the blade grazed his cheek.
The arm retracted just as fast as it had expanded.
Murmuring began to echo from the observers, trying to determine what they had just seen.
Peter wiped his cheek and raised his knives.
Peter lunged at the man, easily side stepping the javelin. Just as Peter was about to deal the blow, the tattooed man extended his other arm, punching Peter in the stomach. His arm continued to grow until Peter was pinned to my cell.
The man jabbed again with his javelin, this time finding its mark, Peter’s forehead.
The metal bent and the wood shattered in the man’s hands.
Peter took advantage of the man’s shock and slid from his grasp, then plunged his own knife into a tattoo on the man’s arm.
Both of the man’s arms retracted as he screamed in pain. He held his arm and started to walk around in agony. Peter ran forward, but the man extended his good hand, now covered with blood, and grabbed Peter by the throat.
Peter tried to gasp for air, but the tattooed man showed no mercy.
Mary and I started to bang on the glass, demanding them to stop.
Sky of Dust: The Last Weapon Page 15