by JN Chaney
“…human…yes…good blood…” She managed to pick a few of the alien words out, having studied the language for a few weeks. It wasn’t enough to get everything, but it helped. If only she’d learned more when she had the chance.
The only door in the room opened and a man entered. She didn’t recognize him, but that was no surprise. Mei had never officially met anyone from Garden before.
He glanced at her as she sat there. “You…awake…”
She said nothing. Better not to let him know she understood anything. Better to play ignorant.
The doctor went to the nearby countertop and grabbed a small device. He thumbed the side of it, turning a switch, and placed it on the tray nearby. “Can you understand me now?”
Oh, good, she thought. They have a translator. “Yes.”
“Excellent,” he said. His lips didn’t match the word, which made for an odd visual, like watching a video that isn’t synced with the audio. “Can you tell me your name?”
“What is this?” she asked.
“I’m trying to assess your current condition,” said the doctor.
She fidgeted beneath the straps. “Why am I tied to a chair?”
“I’m afraid that it is for everyone’s safety, including yours. You are to remain where you are for the time being.”
“I will not. You let me out of here. As soon as my people figure out where I am, they’ll come for me.”
“Unlikely,” remarked the doctor, reaching for a small device. A ring of sorts. He touched her temple with it. “Remain still or this will hurt.”
She felt a quick shock throughout her body, and suddenly her arms and legs went numb.
A second later, the feeling returned to her limbs, but now she was terrified.
“Fascinating,” muttered the scientist.
“Get me out of this thing!” yelled Mei.
He ignored her, pressing the device to her temple a second time. Like before, her muscles went numb immediately, only to thaw a few seconds later.
She struggled beneath the straps. “Why are you doing this?”
“To test your nervous system. Isn’t it obvious?” he asked.
She squeezed the arms of the chair until her fingers hurt. “Let me out of here!”
“I suggest you remain calm,” said the man. He retrieved another device. A needle this time. “This is going to put you to sleep.”
“No, don’t!”
But before she could say another word, she felt the metal pierce her skin.
The doctor stepped back, lording over her and watching. “You must be quiet now and rest,” he said, smiling calmly. “My name is Fentin, so please remember.”
“Fentin,” she muttered, her voice fading. “…hate you…”
The edges of her eyes darkened, fading quickly, like entering a tunnel.
She lost her will to struggle, forgot her problems, let go of all the fear. Her will to fight evaporated, and with it, the world.
She faded, drifting into darkness as quickly as she had awoken, lost to a dreamless sleep.
Helpless.
******
The Tunnels Beneath Everlasting
March 26, 2351
Terry, Jinel, and Lena made their way through the tunnels beneath Everlasting with little hindrance. According to Jinel, the Leadership’s forces rarely came through these sections, which was why Garden had established a base nearby. The only real problem was the terrain. It was cramped, requiring them to crawl through increasingly narrow passages and channels to get from one section to another. It wasn’t difficult, but the hindrance slowed them down significantly. On the surface, it only took half a day to walk the length of the city, but down here the same distance could take days.
Terry moved as fast as he could, assisting the others when the situation called for it. For the most part, Jinel knew the path and had no need of him, but Lena wasn’t used to traveling like this. Still, she didn’t complain, not even once. All things considered, she’d been exceptionally brave.
By the end of the day, they found the final tunnel, which Jinel said would lead them to the exit. “There’s a gate down here that we have to open. They used to have it locked, but we broke it months ago and had it replaced with one of our own.” She revealed a device she’d had in her pocket. “This is the new key.”
“Why lock it at all?” asked Terry.
“It’s safer than the alternative. Imagine if a wild animal found its way inside. The domeguard doesn’t reach this section of the tunnels, so the gates are all we have.”
“I’d be more concerned with the people,” he said.
“The natives?” asked Lena.
“Most of them think Everlasting is a holy city. They worship it. There’s a whole religion based around this place. If you gave them the chance, some would probably try to come inside.”
“More reason to keep it locked,” said Jinel.
They found the end of the tunnel and, subsequently, the gate. To Terry’s surprise, it was actually invisible. No, not exactly. He could see there was something there, but barely.
“It’s hard light,” explained Lena.
“What’s that?”
“Manipulated photons made to create a solid object. They’re largely used in construction as temporary support for larger buildings. I’m actually surprised this one is still in operation.”
“Why’s that?” he asked.
“It isn’t very energy efficient. Not for long term use. The city has had to transition to more traditional material in the last century.”
Jinel shrugged. “No one comes down here anymore to fix or replace anything. They’re too busy worrying about other things.”
“You mean like Garden?” asked Terry.
“Population control. City expansion. The two dozen scientific research outposts they’ve set up all over the planet. They’ve been busy.”
“She’s correct,” remarked Lena. “Though, there’s more to it.”
“There always is,” said Jinel. She took the key and showed it to them, ready to activate it. She pointed to her mask. “The air outside is toxic, so make sure your filter is secure.”
“Of course,” said Lena.
“The filtration system in the tunnels will automatically clean the atmosphere as it enters, but there’s no such safety out there. We’ll have nothing but our masks to keep us alive. Are you sure you can handle what lies ahead, Lena Sol?”
“I’ve been in the field before. I’m not afraid.”
“Good,” said Jinel Din. She tabbed the device in her hand, causing the light to dissipate. “Out into the wild we go.”
CHAPTER 7
Ortego Outpost File Logs
Play Audio File 1427
Recorded: March 26, 2351
MITCHELL: I have received word from Sergeant Finn that the genetic material is still being sent from Everlasting. I suppose this is good news, considering recent events, but my thoughts continue to linger on the fate of my mentor. On Doctor Curie.
Garden has made no demands, which leaves me to believe that they intend to use her, as I suspected. Finn assures me that he is working tirelessly to find her and bring her home, but his words have brought me little comfort.
Nonetheless, I will do everything I can to adequately test the sample. Doctor Curie risked her life for it, so I owe it to her to see this through. The blood may very well contain the solution to the gas, which could result in it saving millions of lives, now and in the future.
Doctor Curie once told me that humanity would fill the world someday, that together we could change the future. I believed those words, and I believed in her. I still do.
It is a truth that will never change.
End Audio File
The Woods Outside Everlasting
March 26, 2351
The area beyond the gate was covered in dirt and water, but still immersed in the familiar Everlastian stone and metal architecture. Cracks ran through the foundation, allowing the occasional blade of gr
ass to rise from the earth. The further they walked, the more abundant the fauna became. After a few dozen meters, the landscape had transitioned from one of brown and gray to cerulean blue. The walkways teemed with roots and vines, bushes and flowers, the makings of the natural world. Before Terry knew it, they’d stumbled into an actual forest, surrounded by trees as tall as buildings, overshadowing them so they couldn’t see the sky. They had found their way out of the city’s underbelly at last, brought out into the world and all its dangers.
“Finally,” said Jinel, staring at the thickened wood before her.
“Where to next?” asked Terry, looking to Lena for direction.
She retrieved her device, which held a map and could direct their path with some proficiency. “We head east.” She motioned to their right. “That way.”
“Let’s hurry,” he said, and together they began to move.
The walls of Everlasting rose high, even taller than the trees of this forest, giving Terry a general idea of his direction. He could also smell salt in the air, far as they were from the sea. If he had to, he could probably find his way to the beach with only his senses to guide him.
Still, the map was more accurate, allowing them to make a straight run for the exact position of Hux’s boat, the Waveguard. If they kept the pace, the trek might take them a few hours, but there was no telling what fate might befall the crew in the meantime. After all, they had ventured into what was arguably the most dangerous place in all of Kant. Here there were monsters, and they would not take kindly to intruders.
There was no time to waste.
******
Ludo stood atop the sand of Everlasting’s shore. The holy city of the gods lay before him, tucked between the distant forest trees and the violet horizon. It glimmered with the light of the two suns, glowing like an inviting beacon, a pilgrim’s destination. Ludo had long dreamed of the sight before him, of standing so close to the City on the Hill. Would he soon be struck down by the gods for defying their will? Would they punish him for his transgressions? He was a mortal man among the divine, and he sensed his sin the moment he pressed his foot into the dirt.
But Terry had been taken from him, his chakka-kin, his family, and he could not let this pass. Whether god or Guardian or priest or common man, Ludo would fight them all to see his friend returned.
Hux had secured the Waveguard some distance from the shore, but insisted they wait overnight before heading to the beach. Should any Guardians be in the vicinity, it would be easier to make their escape if everyone was still aboard the ship. As it happened, however, no enemies had come, much to everyone’s relief. The following morning, Hux gave permission to Ludo and his wife to take one of the ship’s dinghies and make landfall. They were to scout ahead and return with a better understanding of the layout of the land. Given their combat experience and familiarity with the Guardians, it only made sense.
Ludo pulled the tiny rowboat near the edge of the trees, then waved at the crew.
Ysa closed her eyes to listen to the sounds of the forest, which would give them a better sense of danger. “I sense nothing to hinder us,” she said, once she was done. Ludo certainly had a talent for meditation, but no one was as proficient as his wife. She remained the greatest of all the priestesses, a stronger warrior than he could ever dream to be. Her chakka ran deep and her soul’s wings stretched wide. “Wait,” she said, grasping his wrist. “Something comes towards us from the west.”
Ludo gripped the hilt of Terry’s sword as it sat on his hip, sheathed in a leather scabbard. Should they run into any enemies, he would not hesitate to strike. This blade could cut straight through the skin of a Guardian. All it needed was a strong arm and a sharp eye behind it. Terry had wielded the weapon to its full potential, proving its true worth. Ludo had no such strength, not like his chakka-kin, but he would use the blade as best he could to see this mission through. He would make his friend proud. “How far?” he asked his wife.
“A long walk,” she said, listening. “I sense there are three of them.”
“Whatever comes, we will be ready.”
She nodded. “I know it.”
They stepped through the tree line and into the forest’s shade.
******
Terry and the others continued to the east in their efforts to reach the coast. Lena had some trouble with the terrain, so he slowed to help her keep pace.
“I’ll take the lead,” announced Jinel, and she ran further ahead, her weapon at the ready.
“Sorry to be a hindrance,” said Lena. Her voice sounded slightly muffled behind the breathing mask.
“Don’t worry about it,” Terry assured her. “We’ll get there soon.”
It was clear Lena wasn’t used to exerting herself this way, especially while wearing so much equipment. “Is it harder with the mask?”
“A bit,” she answered, though he could tell her breaths had grown more shallow. The filter on it seemed to limit how much air she could take.
The thickness of the woods made it hard to tell what lay ahead, even with Terry’s enhanced eyes, which were only as good as the available line-of-sight. Now that he thought about it, he couldn’t even see Jinel Din through all the foliage and trees. Had she gone so far ahead already? “Hold on a second,” he told Lena.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, placing her hands on her hips, clearly struggling.
“I just need a minute,” he said, then closed his eyes to listen. Far ahead, he heard Jinel’s breathing, her footsteps rustling the leaves, touching the bark of a tree and squeezing the butt of her rifle. She wasn’t far away.
Good, he could reach her quickly if he had to. No need to worry too—
He paused. There was something else beyond her, another sign of life. An animal, maybe. Two of them, moving in Jinel’s direction. They were—
People. Could it be the Waveguard’s crew? Was it someone else? In either case, they wouldn’t know Jinel was a friend. She might overreact and fire at them. Things could go wrong very fast.
“What is it?” asked Lena, who must have seen his expression.
He listened, hesitating, and then he heard a voice. A whisper from far away. “Someone comes,” it said. “Prepare yourself.”
Terry opened his eyes. “Wait here!”
“Why?” asked Lena.
But he didn’t wait to answer, and instead burst into a dash through the woods, avoiding fallen trees and leaping over roots. In a matter of seconds, he was already nearing his target.
Jinel didn’t have the luxury of advanced sight, so she wouldn’t have the long-range advantage that Terry did. He could get there and stop her from using the gun if he hurried.
The soldier came into view soon, her rifle extended as she stood there, aiming into the forest. She stood in a clearing—a vale within the thick of the woods.
“Hold it!” shouted Terry, arriving from her back.
“I have something up ahead,” she said.
“Those might be my friends,” he answered, sliding to a stop. “Lower your gun!”
She raised her head from the scope. “It isn’t them,” she explained.
“Of course it is. I can hear them.”
She shook her head. “There’s something else. I’m picking up a vessel. No, wait…”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s coming from the sky to the north. I’m tracking now.”
That was when he heard it. Engines like a soft roar, gentle and powerful at the same time, growing louder every second. It was faint, but coming fast, heading in this direction. “What the hell is it?”
“It looks like a ship,” she answered.
At that moment, Ludo and Ysa appeared from beyond the distant trees. Terry’s eyes met theirs, and he could see the shock in their faces.
But before anyone could say a word, a loud hum filled the area, and the ground began to shake. Terry watched beyond the trees as a craft appeared in the distance, heading straight towards them. “Run!” he shoute
d, pointing to the forest, and the others quickly followed.
Hundreds of leaves scattered into a flurry. The earth rumbled, and Terry felt the ship’s vibrations throughout his body.
The vessel flew across the sky, booming overhead and away from them. It soared towards the south, passing the forest and the nearby sea, ignoring them.
Terry let out a short sigh as he watched. “That thing was in a hurry.”
A hand touched Terry’s shoulder, a reminder of who was there. He turned to see a wide and happy grin. “Terry, I cannot believe it!” exclaimed Ludo.
“I take it this is your friend?” asked Jinel.
Ysa smiled.
Terry embraced them both. “Ludo! Ysa!”
“We came to find you,” said the farmer.
“A foolish thing to do,” remarked Jinel.
“Brave is the word I would use,” said Terry. “Did you have to fight anything?”
“We saw a Guardian in the water during a storm, but nothing happened. It moved on and ignored the ship,” said Ludo.
“That’s lucky,” said Jinel. “You arrived at just the right time. The satellite system couldn’t detect you during the thunderstorm.”
“Satellite?” asked Ludo, unfamiliar with the word.
“I’ll explain later,” said Terry. He looked across the vale toward Everlasting. Lena was there, walking slowly between the trees, minding her footing. “I’ve got another friend to introduce you to. She’s just over there.”
******
“It’s very nice to meet you,” said Lena to the man and woman from beyond the wall. She’d never actually met any of the wild people, but knew their languages and customs about as well as any analyst. Until recently, field work had remained outside of her occupational experience. She’d been content to watch these people from the safety of her terminal, using the Rosenthal Satellite as her personal set of eyes, never getting too close, always watching from afar.
But here she stood here before them, close enough to see their eyes and touch their hands. These distant creatures from beyond the wall had always felt so different, so separate, but now…
Now, they were real. More than images bouncing from one corner of the world to the other.