by Jade White
“Father, I-” Stephen began.
“Everyone, leave,” Magnus commanded. He watched the men exit, save for his son, who was handcuffed. Stephen looked like he would pose no threat, but the handcuffs were still on, and Magnus couldn’t be bothered to remove them. “What have you done, Stephen?”
“Father, I don’t know what took over me. He was feeding me lies; he told me -- he told me that A129 really was my sister. You two kept it from me? I’ve worked hard for this country, Father; I’ve worked hard for you and for myself.’
“You have done well,” he told his nearly incoherent son. Stephen blinked and looked up; his eyes were red-rimmed, and his mouth was trembling. It was most probably the medications. His bionic arm had been disabled by Dr. Wallace temporarily, as well.
“I have?” Stephen looked disbelieving.
“You’ve killed one of the instigators of the rebellion, Lieutenant.”
“So it was true; he betrayed us.”
“Execution for treason, no matter his position.”
“So, he lied?”
“He did not. A129 is indeed your sister, our youngest. It was unfortunate that she had to have certain genetics that we desperately needed. Power and order must be maintained. Chaos is only a setback, and you treated your brother as such.”
Stephen’s eyes widened. “What?”
“I would have done the same, Stephen. And for what you did, I am glad to call you my son,” Magnus said calmly. “Not many would have. You’re a Caledon through and through. Your older brother faltered with family, while you did not.”
“I didn’t think you’d-”
“I am leaving the capital, to search for your sister.”
“To Alaska,” Stephen said flatly. “You’re leaving the capital for Alaska.”
Magnus nodded. “Of course.”
“If the seat of the capital is empty, the country will be prone to-”
“It won’t be empty. We’ll come back for it. You’ll come back for it. There are certain things we must finish first, including the destruction of that secret community that’s persisted in gossip for years,” Magnus told him.
“We couldn’t even find it.”
“But they found Ryker Locklear, and now, they’ve taken your sister.”
“Whom you’ve kept away from us,” Stephen said, his eyes narrowing. “Why did you do it, Father? What did she do so terribly wrong?”
“The mere fact that she was born. She was the reason your mother withered away.”
Hadn’t their mother died in an air raid on the capital? He shook his head, trying to come to terms with the fact that what his father had announced had turned out to be true. It was difficult to digest.. He had nearly killed her twice. He had wanted her dead. It seemed like his own father had known of JJ’s treason all along. “And Jared?”
“He had the misfortune to be born a werebeing. He was a threat to us, to himself.”
“So, you just let him die? And you left her to die?”
“She’s still alive, Stephen. I want her alive; that’s why I want her back.”
“So we can be a family again?” Stephen gave a hollow laugh. “Almost all of your children are dead. You did this to us.”
“I gave you back an arm.”
“No, you decided to give me back my arm,” Stephen began, realizing that JJ’s decision to sedate him before he could kill his fiancée had been precise. He was a loose firearm, with all the medications he had been getting. His arm was being rejected by his body, but they had forced it to bond with him via the steroids from his sister’s blood. That was her use, for as long as she lived, and she was the only one who could provide that good of a steroid among all of the other test subjects…
“She didn’t have a choice. Just like how you didn’t give us a choice.”
“My dear boy,” his father said. “I was suspicious of your brother’s activities too late. He acted too rashly when he let your sister escape. He’d remembered for years what had happened to us, and my suspicions only began a few days ago.” He took a step forward, standing in front of his son. “Stephen, you’re either with me or against me. Help me get your sister back, and everything you’ve ever wanted will be yours.”
“I don’t know what I want anymore,” Stephen whispered, horrified that he was considering something from his father.
“Come now. You were born a Caledon,” his father said. “I shall be leaving for Alaska in a few. I’m taking all of the weresoldiers with me, as well. You can stay here with the prime minister if you’d like.”
“Who is Ryker Locklear?” Stephen asked. “What has he done to you to cause you distress?”
“The mere fact that he is the grandson of a man who once was the leader before our family had him killed. He is a threat, and a threat like that cannot be left alone.”
Stephen stood up, and he felt the shackles on his wrists tighten. “I’ll serve you and this country to the best of my ability, father.”
Magnus Caledon nodded. “Good. At least one of my sons has a brain.” His mind was running on to other things now, glad that that was out of the way. Now, the announcement that his eldest had died in a vicious werebeing assassination needed to be put out.
Caliban and the rest of the weresoldiers came in, including a general that Stephen greatly detested. The general stepped in to place his fingerprint on the handcuffs, effectively releasing its hold on Stephen. Stephen rubbed his wrists, a sense of relief stealing through him.
His father nodded. “Lieutenant, get your troops ready.”
Caliban couldn’t help but smile as he heard the exchange between father and son. He would finally get his long overdue revenge on Ryker, the man who had stolen Alexia from him, and the man who still gave him nightmares.
CHAPTER 15
Ryker woke up with a start. Had he only imagined the noise of war machinery? He took a deep breath, realizing he was sleeping beside Alexia. Those dreams were nonstop, even if he had her beside him already. She was fast asleep, occasionally frowning, and he shook his head and gave a soft smile.
All of a sudden, the world shook, and dust fell from the ceiling. He quickly sat up, startling Alexia. “Get dressed,” he told her, seeing her eyes wide and in a panic. Alexia did as she was told, her hands shaking.
He grabbed her hand, leading her down the hall as the remaining community panicked and shouts and screams filled the halls. They ran to the military base, breathless. He saw the community heads were already there, working in a frenzy with what they could.
“We expected this,” Leopold said. “That’s why only a quarter of the population is left.” He eyed the young lady beside Ryker. Whatever was going to happen began with Ryker’s and Alexia’s lineage. They were star-crossed lovers, so it seemed. Survival was paramount, but how long could they hold out? By the looks of it, their weapons could only hold off a maximum of half a day for a full assault. The Auberons had built the compound to withstand two nuclear bombs, but that had been before, when the world had heavily relied on nuclear weaponry.
Things were different now, and Leopold had no idea what Caledon had in store for them. Ryker listened to the Alaskan military defensives. Offensives had to be minimal, he knew. Their stored ammunition wouldn’t last a month with what Caledon and his military had brought in. Their old sensors spotted fifteen jets, a host of tanks, and helicopters.
“The weresoldiers will have no weapons,” he spoke up. “They’ll be relying heavily on their enhanced bodies.”
Leopold gazed at Alexia. “Can she help us? With her blood?”
Alexia was looking at his codename: Silverfox. It was Leopold, a trusted adviser of Ryker’s grandfather. She felt he was the only rational person here, despite what he had gone through.
Ryker shook his head. “We don’t have the weapons for that. Our best move is to take down Caledon. He’s the only one holding this together.”
“Who else do we have to watch out for?” Leopold asked.
“Aside from the wer
esoldiers? Caledon’s son, Lt. Stephen Caledon. He’s as bloodthirsty as the werebeings he has trained.”
“The boy with the new arm,” one corporal said. “He was televised. We caught that feed. For valiantly defending the motherland. He had been given a new arm.”
Ryker nodded, remembering the black and titanium arm he had sported as they had taken Alexia away with their cruel hands. That man had been Alexia’s older brother, a man who probably didn’t know or who probably didn’t care. There was never going to be an opportunity for a treaty; there was never going to be a peace between them. It was going to be a bloodbath on both sides unless they came up with something brilliant…
Alexia was quiet as she listened. She could feel the frosty gaze of the remaining officers in the room. Her presence was unwanted, and she knew they must’ve thought of her as a spy. “I’ll surrender,” she suddenly spoke up amid the din of the conversation.
Ryker stopped. “What?”
The room fell deathly silent.
Alexia closed her eyes, mustering her courage to talk to them. “I’ll surrender when they get here.”
“That doesn’t mean they’ll stop. He has a bone to pick with each one of us,” Sarah’s father said.
Alexia shook her head. “He’ll be distracted. I know I’m not the only reason he’s here. He wants to destroy the people my older brother helped-” she paused, remembering what her brother had said.
“I want you to live a long life; I want you to be the happiest you’ll ever be. I want you to be happy for the rest of your life. I want to give you that chance to be free from everything that’s destroyed our family,” his voice choked.
“You’ll remember things soon, Alexandra,” he told her. “You’ll remember everything, and I want you to be safe when you do.”
“Come now, you don’t expect a girl to stop this, do you?” a doubtful corporal said.
Ryker nodded at Alexia. “Go on.”
Leopold nodded, giving the girl the floor.
Alexia took another deep breath. “I’m not sure what he’ll do. But if he’s as cold and calculating as you say he is, he’ll find some use for me first. A display of power is what he’ll do. He’ll show he’s in control.”
“Where are you going with this, Alexia?” Leopold asked.
“I’m walking out of here,” she replied.
Ryker seemed to read her mind. “You aren’t walking on that lake.”
“They won’t know it is, right? It’s been buried under tons of snow for years now…” she said, remembering a conversation she had had with a doctor.
Ryker shook his head. “No, it’s too risky for you-”
“Then all the better,” she said, unable to believe she was actually saying this, asserting herself. “There will be lesser to deal with. Just those that aren’t with him.”
“He won’t sacrifice his troops for one person,” a colonel scoffed.
“But he will for a daughter, a daughter he needs for his troops,” Leopold said in a quiet voice. “How many so far? The tanks and jeeps?”
“Twenty-five jeeps and ten tanks,” Sarah’s father said. “ETA is in twelve minutes.”
The rest of the men began to mutter and talk aloud, considering or denying Alexia’s plan.
“Will you do it?” Leopold asked her, knowing there was still a host of people in the shelter, people who couldn’t leave now unless they wanted to face certain death. There had to be a sacrificial pawn, but he wasn’t willing to let the last Auberon out of his sight.
Alexia nodded. Leopold muttered instructions, and the men left the room, all except for Alexia and Ryker.
“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” Ryker spoke, aghast.
“Saving people, as much as I can,” she told Ryker. “It’s not a foolproof plan; I’ve only based it on what I’ve known so far about this place. We’re in an islet; there’s a lake before they can get to us.”
“They’re desperate, but you don’t have to be,” Ryker said, trying to talk her out of it. “I’ll go. They want me, too. I’m a traitor; think of what they’ll have to show the country.”
“Not as much as my father wants me back,” she said. “At least I’ll be face to face with him after so long.”
Leopold watched, and his heart felt heavy. He had been empathetic about Alexia’s plight, but a Caledon couldn’t stay here, unless it was by some miracle. He had done his best, done his best for over thirty years in this community, only for all of his careful choices to end with a reckless one by a Caledon.
“What makes you think he won’t kill you there?” Ryker snapped at her, feeling heat rise in his face.
“Don’t shift now,” Alexia warned him, unconsciously holding onto her neck. “He won’t. He might have a televised show of this. If he wins, it’ll serve as a warning to the remaining werebeings out there.”
“Then we won’t let him win,” Leopold said.
“Don’t do this,” Ryker pleaded with her, grabbing her hand.
Alexia looked at his hand and shook her head. “Ryker, this has to stop. You said so yourself.”
“I didn’t mean that you have to do this,” Ryker protested, disbelieving that his plans could crumble so, all because of her decision. “I wanted to protect you. It shouldn’t be this way-” he stopped, realizing he sounded needy and defeated. He nodded. “I’ll go with you. You have no say in that.”
Alexia was quiet, knowing that that part she had no control over. She slowly turned to face Leopold.
“First things first,” Leopold told her. “We have to have you protected, a lightweight vest. Ryker, will you be needing weapons?”
“A knife,” Ryker said. “Or any blade. I don’t want to shift just yet. It’ll destroy what little plans we have.”
Leopold nodded. “Alright. Alexia, kindly proceed to room 22; it’s down the hall. Your vest will be there. Ryker, I’d like to have one last word with you.”
Alexia left, her heart hammering over what she had done. A vest would not protect her against a grenade or a weresoldier’s bite to the neck. She looked at Ryker, who was now engrossed in a conversation with the tribe’s leader.
“She is not going there alone,” Ryker told Leopold once more. “You can’t expect me to just sit here-”
“You are the last heir to the Auberon family. You are a political savior, and they can turn you into a political prisoner.”
“I’m not leaving her out there,” Ryker said. “Someone else can be leader. My time isn’t now. It won’t be until the next- what? Thirty years? Leopold, how can you allow her to go out there-”
“It is her choice, and not mine. Not even yours.”
“I’m not leaving her,” he repeated again.
Leopold nodded. “Then so shall it be. You are far more stubborn than your father was as a child. I have a few arrangements I have to make. I will see you at level 5 in ten minutes.”
Ryker watched as Leopold walked out of the room. He didn’t waste time in going after Alexia. She had just put on a bulletproof vest over her head when he came in. There was little he could do to sway her choice. Determination was in her eyes.
“I won’t back down,” she told him, unable to look at him. “I’ve been helpless for too long. This is the least I can do-”
“If you die, it will be the last you can do,” Ryker told her, narrowing his eyes at a soldier, who quickly excused himself.
Alexia glared at him. “You’ve been ordering me around since we met. This is my choice. That man out there, the man who’s about to kill us all, that man is my father. The least you can do is to help me. You think I’m not scared? Well, I am. I’m scared as hell, but it’s better than just being hidden away, all because you said so. Ryker, this war started because my ancestors killed your family. I can see that Leopold wants you safe, and I want that to happen for you, too-”
“No,” Ryker insisted. “I’m an Auberon, but it doesn’t change the fact that I swore to be there for you, to protect you. Allow me to protect
you.”
“You can’t protect me from my own father.”
“And you what? Plan to kill him?” Ryker asked her, as if challenging her. “It’s my job, but I won’t do it if you won’t allow me to.”
She closed her eyes, feeling the sting of tears. “I don’t know, Ryker. But I have to face him, do what I can.”
“Then I’ll be there,” he insisted. “We’ll face him together. He stole our childhood, after all.”
*
Caledon was staring at the expanse of snow, snow so white it blinded everyone for a moment. The sun was at its highest, with what sun Alaska could afford. There was little wind chill, but everyone, except his weresoldiers, wore thick jackets and covered their faces.
The president stood in front of his fleet, flanked by three of his five favored generals, Stephen, and a few Alpha weresoldiers, including Caliban. There was no sign of a community. There had to be an entrance underground. A hundred years ago, this place had been a glacier, and it was now covered up by heavy snow, the result of that brutal nuclear war his grandfather had inflicted. It had assured that the werebeing community was no more.
If it were not for his eldest son’s betrayal, Magnus would have never found out they were still thriving while hiding. How difficult could finding them be? Their sensors couldn’t pick up any signs of life on the surface. The cold was too much for their heat technology, and a general had already suggested bombing the whole state to bits. They could certainly afford to, albeit at a great cost. Caledon wouldn’t have it.
He had taken the precaution to have it streamed live, so everyone could see the treacherous community that had threatened to destabilize the country and his rule. In this country, there could only be one leader, with a family name and legacy to uplift.
A few men had checked the stability of the sudden fall beneath them, attesting that it was solid ground. Caledon nodded. This had been a glacier, a glacier had to have a lake somewhere, and if it was underneath all of this snow, then the community wouldn’t be too far off. He had to marvel at the ingenuity of the werebeings. They were so desperate to stay alive and to keep safe from him that they had never ventured above ground—until Ryker had come into place.