Fate of the Fallen

by Darren Lewis

  “I remember him. He was not a nice man.” Eleanor rubbed the dragon's nose affectionately, Malachite turned and stomped to the centre of the basement, muttering to himself. Eleanor spun in her chair and tapped a finger against the image of the dark rows.

  “This will be our weapon to free the rabbits and other prisoners. They will be our soldiers.” Eleanor beckoned Ellie closer and adjusted the brightness of the picture. As the image brightened Ellie saw hundreds of still figures in a standing position, every single one in a column dug into the ground. Faces appeared and Ellie gave a gasp of wonder as she suddenly recognised them. This was perhaps the most famous group of soldiers in the most known army in the world. From school and her own reading Ellie knew this army consisted of warriors, chariots and horses. In total, approximately eight thousand of them.

  “The Terracotta Army.” Ellie breathed.

  “Yes.” Eleanor said seriously.

  “They'll help my mother free my family?” Flare asked in a small voice. The small son of Rox and Plume had remained very quiet since leaving his mother and Storm in the White Room. Ellie lifted him into her arms like she had done on so many occasions to comfort Flare and the small rabbit rubbed his cheek on her chin.

  “Yes.” Ellie whispered. “They'll help us.”

  Eleanor gave Flare a comforting smile before continuing.

  “A talisman must be placed there and then one inside the Emperor's tomb.”

  More history lessons came back to Ellie, and for once she was glad that Dad liked historical programmes so much.

  “But that's never been opened. What's in there? The Emperor?”

  “I hope so.” Eleanor replied with a wry smile and cocked eyebrow.

  *

  “A man called Zheng and a magician, Anqi Sheng saved my life. Zheng became Qin Shi Huang the first emperor of China.” Eleanor span in her chair to face Ellie, who was still cradling Flare. “Amazing the people you meet at my age.” She joked.

  “What happened?” Ellie asked.

  “I promised Zheng in exchange for saving my life I would assist him in some way. Well I did.” Eleanor pursed her lips as the memory of that day flashed in her mind as fresh as if she'd sat upon Cole's back yesterday above Xianyang. “Anyway, long story short. Anqi made magic talismans to resurrect Zheng and the army so he could continue his conquest but he gave me the real ones.” Eleanor reached under the desk and pulled out a wooden box fastened with a simple metal clip. She opened the box and removed the two thousand year old talismans and smiled. “Thank you Anqi Sheng. I understand your insight now.”

  *

  Ellie smoothed the blankets laid over Mum, Dad, Jack and her two friends. She regretted leaving them like this but her older self was right. It was a hard realisation for Ellie to come to, but worrying about them alongside her would get her injured or worse. For them to accomplish anything her family must not be involved and in a place of safety.

  “Here.” Eleanor said while handing Ellie the shoulder bag that contained the talismans. As she slung the bag over her shoulder she pursed her lips and broached a troubling subject.

  “Why don't we use the orb? It was powerful enough to propel you and Cole through time. It changed the dragons into The White and Grey, why can't we use it?” Eleanor nodded and crouched down, her gaze shifting from her parents to her brother. She still seemed a bit overwhelmed at being so physically close to them.

  “And what should we do with it? Kill all the members of Baiulus? Imprison them somewhere?” Eleanor whispered. “It is an option. Remove the enemy and rescue everyone.” She sniffed a laugh and gave Ellie a penetrating look. “The orb has become sentient, it's become a living thing. You could ask it I suppose, but I think I know what it would say.”

  Ellie nodded and looked away embarrassed.

  “I just want everyone safe.” She said her eyes resting on Flare, Rox's son, sitting next to Malachite for comfort. She felt a hand on her shoulder and Eleanor turned her around to face her again.

  “Hey, me too. But right or wrong we cannot do things that way. Believe me in the last few hundred years the temptation and anger were there but I've lived far too long and seen how cheaply people discard their own and others' lives. The orb reminded me of that in the White Room.”

  Both Ellie's stared at each other for a long while before the younger Ellie placed her hand over Eleanor's.

  “I understand.” And with a deep breath she continued. “Are you sure this place is safe?” Ellie asked gazing around Eleanor's massive basement.

  “As safe as I can make them.” And she squeezed Ellie's shoulder. “Tell me a memory.”

  Ellie looked back to the older woman and frowned.

  “What do you mean?”

  “It took me a long time to come to terms with what I did. Leaving them. For years I felt incredible guilt.” Eleanor's voice dropped to a near whisper. “I may have saved the world but there wasn't a day that went by I wished otherwise. That I had stayed here in this time and sacrificed the world to be with my family. But wishes mean nothing.” And she squeezed Ellie's shoulder and offered her a wan smile. “So tell me something I missed from a year, two years after I left. You'd have been nine or ten.”

  Ellie looked back towards her parents and tried to pick a memory. Part of her wanted not to tell anything as it was like sharing a private part of herself with a stranger but she quickly dismissed the childish feeling.

  “Uh, in July or August when I was ten Dad woke me up late. He was bouncing around my bedroom all excited.” Ellie laughed softly as she remembered that night. “He threw my coat and wellies at me and we went outside. All he kept saying was `look up, look up' and when I did I saw shooting stars. Shooting stars for the first time! It was beautiful.” Ellie's voice cracked and she laughed again. “He told me to make as many wishes as I could and when I asked him if they would come true he smiled and said it depends on what I wished for. Then Mum came outside and told Dad off! But she saw them too and she made us hot chocolate. Dad laughed and said he'd wished for hot chocolate.” Ellie grinned up at Eleanor and saw a lovely, warm smile on her face rather than tears or anger.

  “That's lovely. Thank you, Ellie.”

  “You're welcome, Ellie.”

  *

  We're almost there.

  Ellie shook away the memories and saw an opening revealing itself in the dragon thread. It was the exit to their first destination. Shaanxi province in China where the Army was located. Malachite emerged from the black thread into an area as easily as big as Eleanor's basement. The lights were low and the place deserted due to the time of night. The time difference worked to Ellie and Malachite's advantage and it was just after ten p.m. here in China. Malachite flared his large wings and came to rest with his claws digging into the top of the trenches that contained the dark, still forms of the army who'd rested here ready to protect their Emperor in the afterlife for the last two thousand years. Malachite wobbled slightly as the dirt crumbled under his great weight and he twisted his neck round to look at Ellie.

  “Off! Off! Let's make it quick. I don't want to end up down there surrounded by broken pottery!”

  Ellie made her way slowly down Malachite's stretched foreleg to the top of the crumbling trench. In the dim light she made her way cautiously to what was arranged in this area as the head of the column of warriors, where the trenches ended and a tall stone wall prevented visitors from coming in too close contact with these precious artefacts. The top of the trench was crudely cut so despite Malachite's moans and groans from behind her, Ellie kept a slow pace until she reached the end of the trench. In front of her were three rows of warriors completely free of any soil or rock. They were standing imposingly and in close formation, facing the same direction as Ellie. Not wishing to disturb these ancient treasures by climbing down Ellie also feared she would not be able to scramble back up again. As a bead of sweat ran between her shoulder blades she had a horrid vision of knocking one of these statues down and then by a domino effect al
l of them, causing her to swallow and take a deep breath. This would be close enough. She'd been told to lay the talisman as near as possible to the head of the army. Ellie set her feet so she was happy she wouldn't slip and fumbled in the shoulder bag that contained the two magical items needed. Ellie removed both circular talismans and held them up for inspection. She quickly determined which she needed by the size, the smaller one was to be placed with the Terracotta Army but it was the gold sheen and intricate inscriptions that held her attention. Though she didn't understand their meaning she found just staring at them was hypnotic. Ellie's foot slid slightly causing a small cloud of dust to fall into the trench. She made a high pitched whine as she clenched every muscle to stop any part of her body moving further. Certain that she was still once again Ellie crouched slowly and cast the gold circular talisman over the heads of the still figures. It landed with a quiet crack of the stone floor. Still crouching she slipped the larger talisman back in the shoulder bag and swivelled slowly on the balls of her feet to return to Malachite.

  Malachite's eyes were narrowed and his legs trembled with the effort of digging his sharp claws into the rock. Ellie could hear quiet rasping sounds as tiny pieces of rock were dislodged and fell to the ground below.

  “When you're ready!” Malachite said through clenched teeth. Ellie allowed herself a brief, tense smile at Malachite's predicament but it fell quickly as she thought about the consequences of damaging any of these warriors. Before rising Ellie gave the closest warriors to her a quick look. Each had been made with a different face and considering the number of them Ellie wondered how long it had taken to build this amazing army. Each figure though was standing without a weapon, they had been removed for preservation or looted long ago by the second emperor. If Ellie remembered correctly the second emperor had tried to burn the place to the ground which might explain why the army survived for so long. The act of firing the place had perhaps brought the ceiling down and protected the first emperor's warriors. The detail was incredible on each soldier and she could quite easily imagine each one turning towards her and asking what she was doing. The thought gave Ellie a shiver and she cautiously made her way back to a grateful Malachite. The first part of the plan was in place and Ellie was feeling slightly more confident about the next destination. Somewhere that no living person had seen the inside of for two thousand years. The First Emperor's tomb.

  Sloan

  Sloan opened the folder that Anthony placed before him on the desk and he began reading while tapping randomly on the white plastic of the table. Across the table was Cassandra, the Institute's spotter. Cassandra was one of the many gifted people employed for certain tasks in exchange for their personal freedom. Not, Sloan thought, that it really amounted to much. Cassandra's magical talents were discovered quite by accident when she was four years old by her parents. Fortunately for the Institute but not so much for Cassandra her parents were both in the employ of the large company and were happy to pass over the keeping of one of her kind. Over the years she was trained by people similarly talented until she could be useful. The price was high however, depression and attempted suicide were rife among these folk who had escaped the long sleep in one of the Institute's holding facilities but now faced the hell of confinement to this building or one like it while coming to terms with their betrayal of people with magical talent.

  Cassandra sought her solace in food and over the years she'd battled depression with any food the Institute could provide her and they were happy to oblige as long as it kept one of their employees working. As Sloan tapped his fingers Cassandra looked back and forth from the file Sloan read to Anthony and to the door. Her breath came quickly and raggedly. Facing the Chief of Operations and his bodyguard in a small room was unnerving enough to begin with, but Cassandra could not keep her fears in check about what she had contacted and what she had done during an operation.

  “So,” Sloan said abruptly causing Cassandra to flinch. “Cassandra. Your file is exemplary.” Sloan shook his head and waved a hand over the documents he'd spread onto the table. “Your talent is invaluable to us here and so far you've acted in accordance with everything that was asked of you.” Sloan held her eyes for a long moment before moving his chair back so he could cross his legs. He then interlocked his fingers across his stomach and looked distantly to a corner of the room. “So what could it be?” He began quietly. “That would make you, of all people suddenly betray us? And to what?” Sloan's voice had not altered but Anthony moved slowly behind Cassandra coming to a stop so close to her she could feel the fabric of his jacket brushing the back of her head. Cassandra wiped a hand across her eyes to clear the sweat away and she swallowed noisily. Sloan brought his faraway gaze back to her and he smiled warmly. “Cassandra my dear, why have you become so agitated? Are we not colleagues? Do you feel you cannot speak to me?” Cassandra's eyes attempted to look at Anthony behind her without moving her head at all. She swallowed again before shaking her head. “Excellent!” Sloan said while slapping the desk making Cassandra yelp. “So let's begin. What did you find? And where might I find it?” As Sloan finished his question Anthony leaned over Cassandra's shoulders and grabbed her hands which he then forced flat on the table. Sloan shifted his chair back towards the table and leaned forward, stroking Cassandra's large fingers which were now white from the pressure being exuded on them by Anthony. “Please tell me.” Sloan whispered.

  *

  Sloan wiped both hands on his handkerchief with a twisted look of disgust on his face as he marched quickly back to his office. Cassandra was quite forthcoming with some persuasion but it was her answers that baffled and infuriated Sloan more than anything else. All she gave him were vague answers about a great power, voices, too many memories and the girl. Sloan's methods of extracting information were quick and not subtle. It was not a method he favoured as people would be liable to tell you anything you wished to hear when under duress. Sloan prided himself, however, in reading people's expressions and their ability to lie within a few minutes. Cassandra most likely was completely incapable of lying but Sloan had to be sure and it wasn't as though she would need to use all her fingers when she was placed in a holding facility. Sloan entered his office and sighed, the loss of a spotter was enormous but Cassandra was now a proven liability. This division of the Institute would cope as they had many times before against adversity. Sitting down he brought his computer to life with a quick tap. A message from operations showed a possible identification for the girl and her family including a home address. Sloan brought up the image taken from the video of the girl that Cassandra had apparently warned. Sloan placed his elbows on the desk and brought his hands together, interlocking his fingers as if praying. He stared at the girl's face for a few seconds more and then closed his eyes. Sloan's moved his head so he was resting his lips on his hands and he relaxed as much as possible before starting a private interrogation, the subject on this occasion being Sloan himself.

  I know this girl.

  Why? Have I met her before?

  No.

  Are you sure?

  Yes.

  Then why do you know her? Does she look like someone?

  Yes, possibly, that could be it.

  But who? Who would she remind you of? You don't know that many people outside of the Institute.

  So?

  So it must be someone here? A relative? Daughter, niece, you've seen their picture?

  Perhaps…doesn't feel like the answer though. People generally don't keep pictures of their family on display in this environment.

  Then a relative of someone you know?

  Possibly.

  Sloan tilted his head slightly before resuming his internal conversation.

  Relative?

  But no one here reminds me of her.

  So it's someone I met outside of work or in the past working here? Yes?

  No, no one outside of work.

  Then who?

  Those eyes.

  Yes!

  The
eyes!

  I know those eyes!

  Sloan opened his eyes and worked the keyboard until a picture appeared from the Institute's archives of a former chief of operations. He positioned it next to the girl's image. The resemblance was uncanny and Sloan was certain he'd found his answer. The girl who was rescued by the green dragon was in his opinion related to a woman who, for years, worked for Baiulus and ran its operations room until Sloan took charge. He continued his search of the archives in relation to the dragon. Many years ago the red dragon had been captured while Sloan was a junior within the Institute and this woman in charge. For this girl to be related to her and be apparently rescued by another dragon couldn't be a coincidence. The file Sloan requested opened. He knew the details and scrolled through the field report, it was the onsite images Sloan wanted to see. Near the foot of the document hundreds of pictures were attached, each with its own specific file name describing its content. Sloan's eyes searched until he saw the one he needed. A quick click gave him a full screen view of a wonderful piece of artwork.

  In December of 1994 in southern France, three speleologists discovered a cave that had been sealed off from the outside influences of erosion, animals and weather for approximately thirty thousand years. Inside they found one of the most incredible and oldest examples of cave paintings ever seen. Not only were the pictures perfectly preserved, they showed a level of detail and interaction between animal species never witnessed. What drew the Institute's immediate attention was one painting in particular at the very rear of the cave. Field units were assigned to assess the possible validity of the painting due to the poor quality of light the cavers had taken their pictures in respect of not damaging the images on the wall. The high quality video and pictures shot by the field team led the Institute into a public course of action. The caves were sealed from the public and any science groups that wished to investigate. An airlock was constructed to preserve the pristine atmosphere captured within the cave all those years ago. Baiulus issued a statement in the guise of one of their subsidiaries claiming the priority was to carefully preserve and examine under controlled conditions. Many scientists, universities and governments around the world objected but no one could find a way around the red tape the Institute had wrapped the whole situation in. Over the years the objections became less frequent until the cave was forgotten.