The Dawn

by Auri Blest

  31

  Cain hears footsteps approaching the cell. The soldiers find Cain sitting on the ground facing the cell bars. He had gotten very little sleep. He sat watching and waiting, peering out into the dimly lit corridor. They grabbed him up from the floor and walked him down to an elevator. “Where are you taking me?” Cain demanded.

  No one uttered a word in response. Once out of the elevator, they briskly walked down a hall and pushed him into a room. “Shower. Ten minutes,” one of the soldiers said while closing the door behind him.

  Cain’s bag from the plane was on the bed, and someone had laid out a fresh uniform for him. The uniform he currently wore was covered in dirt and mud. He opened his bag. They had gone through every inch of it. He eyed the fruit on a table in the corner of the room. He hadn’t eaten any of the food that had been brought to his cell. He paced back and forth in front of the table. It could be poisoned, he thought. But, at this point, what have I got to lose? He grabbed an apple and quickly walked around the room looking for a way of escape until he realized there might be a camera on him. He had seven minutes left. Wherever they were taking him next, they wanted to make sure that he was fit to be seen. He reached for the clean uniform and headed for the adjoining bathroom.

  At ten minutes, as promised, the door opened and Cain was taken back to the elevator and up to another floor. The elevator opened to a grand hallway and beyond that was an arched doorway with two ten-foot, ornate glass doors. The doors opened to a formal dining-hall that had been converted into a palatial throne room. Large windows, matching the ornate design of the doors, ran the length of the top of the walls on each side of the room. Under the windows, IMO soldiers lined the walls, standing erect with their arms at their sides. They looked like statues.

  Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling and there were matching sconces on the walls, above the soldiers. On the far end of the pristine room was a monstrosity of a desk that was raised up two feet higher than the floor of the rest of the room. The Emperor sat behind it in a huge chair.

  Cain walked towards the desk with two soldiers on either side of him. Their footsteps echoed on the shiny marble floor. He looked on, realizing that he had been unconsciously fixing his uniform because of the Emperor’s presence. The Emperor took notice and nodded. The soldiers stopped him ten feet before the desk.

  “General Cain.”

  “Emperor,” Cain saluted.

  “How good it is to see you.”

  He laughed at the Emperor’s pleasantries. “Is this how you treat everyone that you are happy to see? I’ve been held captive in a dungeon for two days.”

  “That was only to protect y—”

  Soldiers entered, escorting the Director.

  “Ah, Camille. You look well.”

  Cain looked at the Director. Is he not seeing what I’m seeing? She looked spent.

  “Excuse me, Emperor.”

  “Yes, General?” The Emperor looked at him as though he were eyeing him over the top of invisible reading glasses.

  “May I ask why you have brought us here? —and the way in which you brought us here. You are the Emperor of the entire world. You need only summon us and we would arrive in haste. Why drug us?”

  “Straight to the point. I like it.”

  He paced the floor behind his desk with his hands clasped behind the back of his fitted, black and gold floor length coat. “This government represents a unified world. However, the North American IMO has been working in secret, without the consent of the Imperial World Council which means without my consent. Secret plans, secret missions, secret biological weapons, secret cities—would you like to add something Camille? Maybe about taking over my rule as Emperor?”

  “You may refer to me as Direc—”

  “How dare you tell me what to do!” the Emperor exclaimed. “Why don’t I just refer to you as nothing because you are nothing.”

  One of the soldiers hit her on her side, which dropped her to her knees.

  The Emperor wagged his finger. “No, no Ivan. No violence. I think she understands now.” He looked over the desk at the Director. “Am I correct Camille?”

  She slowly nodded, “Yes.”

  “Good. Bring her in,” he ordered into his intercom.

  As he waited for them to walk in, he continued addressing the Director. “The council has unanimously voted. You have been sentenced to death for treason.” The Emperor ignored the expression of shock on Camille’s face.

  From a door behind him, the flight attendant and two pilots, all now in traditional black IMO uniform, walked in behind Director Ashanti of Africa.

  “Ah, Camille, your confidant is here. Due to her alliance with you, the council did not require her vote. We’ve had a lengthy conversation in which Director Ashanti shared your research and plans.”

  Cain looked at the bruises on Ashanti’s face and the way in which she walked. He was certain that they had had less of a lengthy conversation and more of a lengthy torture.

  “Now, there is someone that I would like you all to meet. Simone,” he said and motioned to the flight attendant. “Bring him in.”

  Simone glanced at Cain before heading to the door at the rear of the room. Cain almost jumped at the sight of bright blue where the whites of her eyes should have been.”

  Cain looked away, thinking hard on exactly what was going on and why he was involved. When he looked up, the leader of Legion X stood at the side of the Emperor’s desk.

  “What the—” He didn’t realize he had said this out loud.

  “Ha! Ha! General Cain, you amuse me. You’ve met before, no? I have a proposition for you, General. It involves you becoming the new Director of the North American International Military Order. I only require something very small from you.”

  “What would that be, Emperor?”

  “Bring the woman to me.”

  “What wom—?”

  “Don’t insult me, General. You know exactly whom I speak of.”

  “What if I can’t?”

  “Then you will suffer the same fate that Camille here is going to suffer. But let’s not speak of such terrible things.”

  “You have a way to contact her, no?”

  “What makes you think—”

  “Let’s not play games, General. I have eyes and ears everywhere,” he said as he scowled at the Director.

  “She saved you, did she not?”

  “Yes, but she was already there.”

  The Director looked confused. Cain hadn’t told her anything about this.

  The Emperor faced the Director and clinched his fists. “I don’t know why Camille did not inform me that she had her right there at Hanover base. I had to learn this from Dr. Voight. He is very loyal. I get the same feeling about you, General.”

  “And that thing? What does it want?” asked Cain.

  The leader of Legion X rose into the air and landed down in front of Cain. Cain wasn’t moved by his scare tactic and glared back at him. The Legion X leader caught him with a blow to the jaw with such force that it sent him flying over to where Director Ashanti now stood. Cain felt as if he had been hit in the face with a boulder. He held his hand to his jaw. Ashanti struggled to help him up. As she did, Cain tapped the place on her arm where her watch used to be. He could see the tan line there.

  Seth turned back and looked at those that were standing outside of the main entrance of the Global Network Operations Center. They had come out to see the team off. No one made a sound. Raymond patted his left breast with his fist twice and rested his had there with his fingers outstretched. Those behind him repeated the gesture. The team humbly smiled at them before boarding the cargo truck, surprised to have been given the salute. It was their form of homage, their way of showing deep admiration and thankfulness.

  Crystal walked out front, waved and blew a kiss. Her eyes watered as she remembered Dawn’s words that it could be a one-way trip. Seth had watched her move forward to the front of the group. He pictured himself running back a
nd embracing her. He wanted to say something to her but couldn’t find the words.

  He climbed up into the passenger seat of the truck and stopped before closing the door. He extended his arm and pointed his forefinger at Crystal. His face was stern. She nodded. He was charging her to be strong; everyone would be looking to her for leadership now.

  Seven of them stood looking up at a jet parked on the runway of a secluded private IMO Air Patrol base. Dawn, Jade, Seth, Ryan, Darryl, Nguyen and Soldier all boarded the plane. “How did you work this out?” asked Seth.

  “No, this one was not me. Bishop knows people in high places.”

  “How far is it taking us?”

  “London.”

  Dawn looked around at her team as the plane departed. Their heads laid back against the seat as the plane climbed, making its initial ascent to thirty-five thousand feet.

  There was a genuine camaraderie among this group, but right now everyone was solemn and quiet, absorbed in their thoughts. Dawn peered out of the window. Maybe this was too much to ask of them. Perhaps I should have done this alone, but that was not my instruction. Dawn suddenly stood up as if a fire had been lit under her. Startled, everyone turned to face her.

  She held her hand up and pointed around the plane. “Someone’s going to tell me—who farted?” They all broke out in laughter.

  She’s good, Seth thought. She lightened the mood. Now everyone is more relaxed and talking. He smiled and gave Dawn a thumbs up.

  “Seth did it!” Jade yelled. “You smell like wet booty, Seth.”

  Soldier choked, “He smells like what?” He laughed so hard that his eyes began to water.

  “Please don’t humor her,” Seth responded. Now would be a good time to make payment on that bet I lost with Dawn, Seth thought.

  When they settled down, Dawn instructed them to get some rest because they were going to need every ounce of their energy in Austria.

  Seth sat back and reclined his seat. He closed his eyes but was suddenly interrupted by someone plopping down into the seat next to him.

  “Seth, you awake?” whispered Jade.

  “No, I’m just searching for cracks.”

  “Searching for cracks?”

  “Yeah, that’s the only reason I would have my eyes closed. I search for cracks to see if any light is getting in.”

  “Ha, very funny.”

  “What’s up?” Seth asked without opening his eyes.

  “We are about to face some serious mess.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Have you ever known Dawn to make a joke?”

  Seth opened his eyes. “No.”

  Jade sat back in the seat. “You know she is not going to tell us anymore than she already has.”

  “Until it’s necessary,” Seth added. He looked at Jade, “Are you worried?”

  “We are flying to a whole nother country, where there are unknown dangers, where we may not all make it out alive. Nope. Not worried at all.” She lightly smacked Seth across the forehead and went back to her seat.

  Seth tried to shake off what Jade had just said. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, attempting to relax. “You could have kept all of that to yourself.” he thought as he exhaled.

  32

  Dawn and her team exited the plane via the airstairs that let down from the door near the front of the plane. As they stepped down, Dawn pointed. “There.”

  “Wooooooo!” exclaimed Ryan as he jogged off towards the UH-70 Black Hawk helicopter. The others followed behind with bags over their shoulders. They left Dawn at the plane. She was talking to who they assumed where undercover IMO pilots. She called one of them Dak and thanked him. When they got to the helicopter they found Dawn already there, speaking with Ryan. They turned and looked back behind them at where she had just been standing with the pilots.

  “I hate when she does that.” said Jade.

  “Hate is a harsh—”

  “Shut up,” she said, cutting Soldier off.

  “Jade!” reprimanded Nguyen.

  “I know, I know. I’m a work in progress.” She glanced at Soldier, “I apo—I apolo—.” She pretended to throw up as she uttered the words. “I apolog-.”

  Soldier shook his head. “Forget it. Apology accepted.”

  They flew undetected from London to Northern Austria.

  Dawn instructed Ryan to land the helicopter in the valley they were approaching.

  “Ryan, stay with the helicopter,” said Dawn.

  “Are you sure?” He seemed disappointed.

  “We can’t take a chance on losing the only one that knows how to fly this thing,” said Seth.

  “Yes, I’m sure,” Dawn replied. “Keep your eyes and ears open. Radio if you notice or need anything.”

  “Where to, boss?” asked Darryl while looking at the mountains south of them.

  “There’s an old farmhouse over that hill. From inside, we can get to the erdstalls. We need to move quickly before it rains.”

  “Erdstalls?” asked Soldier.

  “Yes. A network of tunnels.”

  Nguyen pointed to the mountains. “The Alps?”

  “Yes.”

  “I wish we were here under different circumstances. It’s a beautiful country,” said Nguyen.

  “Please don’t start twirling around and singing The Sound of Music,” Jade teased as she pushed past Nguyen.

  “How do you even know what that is? Oh, you saw the hip hop movie remake. Good for you.”

  “Un uh, who’s been teaching Nguyen how to clap back?” Jade asked while looking directly at Darryl.

  “What’s clap back?” Nguyen asked.

  “See, you just lost your cool points,” Jade laughed.

  The six of them headed out through the tall grass to the farmhouse. As they trekked through a sparse area of trees, Jade gasped and jumped. “Is that a snake?”

  Darryl walked over and kicked it. “It’s a stick.”

  “Oh.”

  Darryl laughed, “I thought you weren’t afraid of anything.”

  “I’m not.”

  “You’re afraid of snakes.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “No, you’re just afraid of things that look like snakes: sticks, yarn, string, water hose.” Seth laughed.

  “This coming from the man that jumped on top of a table because of a teeny-tiny black spider,” said Jade.

  Soldier looked over at them and smiled, enjoying their banter.

  “It was a tarantula on steroids,” Seth exclaimed.

  “It was a common house spider,” said Jade.

  “Lies!” Seth exclaimed.

  “Shh…” Dawn hushed them.

  They continued along with no concern for the dangers that awaited them. They were chosen for that reason. There was no place for fear on this mission.

  They reached the farmhouse, the base of which was stone. The rest of the building was clad in dark wood. Soldier tried the front door; it was locked and wasn’t budging.

  “Stand back,” Soldier exclaimed. He drew his pistol and the door opened. Dawn stood in the doorway. “Or, we can just do it your way,” he said under his breath as he placed his pistol back in its holster.

  “How did you get in?”

  Dawn pointed to the top open window.

  Once inside, they followed Dawn into the kitchen. She turned around. “Darryl, this is where we leave you my friend.”

  “What?”

  “Many areas of the erdstall tunnels will be too tight for you to fit through. I need you here to watch our backs.”

  He turned around and looked at his surroundings. The place was dusty and dark.

  “Are we good?”

  “Yeah. We’re good,” Darryl responded.

  “No lights. Radio if you see or hear anything. If we are not back in five hours, get back to Ryan and you guys get out of here.”

  “Haul tail,” Jade added while pointing at him.

  Seth clamped his hand over her mouth, but she pushed it awa
y.

  Darryl started to refuse but answered, “Affirmative.”

  Soldier patted him on the arm and followed Dawn down below through the trap door in the floor.

  They each slid vertically down into the tunnel a few feet before it angled off. Although Dawn, leading the way, didn’t need one, Seth grabbed his flashlight.

  There is no way Darryl could have squeezed through these tunnels, thought Seth. Some areas of the damp passages were so tight they had to crawl through them.

  “Dawn didn’t say anything about us having to wriggle through dirt,” Jade groaned behind Seth’s feet.

  Soon, they came to a passage in the tunnel where they could walk hunched over. After a few feet, the air became very thin.

  “Soldier, are you okay?” asked Nguyen.

  “The air—I’m okay.”

  He pressed on. Just when he thought he wouldn’t be able to make it much further he felt a draft.

  Two of the soldiers that escorted Cain into the room pulled him away from Director Ashanti and back to a standing position. As they pulled him up, he looked at Camille and then at the pistol in her guard’s holster. She half nodded.

  “I’m sorry General Cain, but you brought that on yourself,” said the Emperor. “I would ask that you watch how you speak to my brother.”

  Cain looked at him. “Your brother?”

  “Yes. His name is Osiris. There is a resemblance, no?” he joked.

  The Emperor seemed to enjoy listening to himself talk. Cain allowed him to do just that. His rambling could buy them some time.

  Ashanti wondered why Cain tapped on her wrist. She glanced at her arm. They had taken her watch when they searched her. Wrist. Watch. Dial. She looked around but didn’t notice a watch on the others. She tried to scan the room without being noticed. She then saw a huge clock high on the wall to her left. There was a hint of light emitting from the center. She looked at the Emperor and then back at the clock. The light was reflecting on him. She almost gasped. He wasn’t in the room at all. The light projected a three dimensional image of him.

  Cain glanced at Ashanti. He could see that she had figured out what he was trying to show her. Fix your face, he thought. She looked at him, and his eyes directed her to the pistol in her guard’s holster.