by J. R. Pond
Locke walked with Doc and his two nurses towards the rear entrance expecting the worse; which is what he got. Locke saw nothing but death. Every single soldier was dead, Clyde holding his stomach in pain mumbling incoherently, Sam’s body bleeding from it’s headless neck, and Ray faced down with a puddle of blood under his chest. The Doc ran over to Clyde seeing as how he had the greatest chance of living among the soldiers with intestines falling out their chests and appendages yards away from their bodies. The two nurses began work on Clyde; applying pressured to his stomach wounds. “I…was…supp…osed…ta…protect her,” mumbled Clyde to himself. Locke looked over at Clyde in confusion, “Her? There weren’t any girls back he-“ Locke stopped speaking at his realization, I sent Ruthie back here! Locke ran over to Locke and pushed the nurses aside and grabbed Clyde by the sides of his head, “Ruthie! Where is she?” “I…was…supp…osed…ta…protect her…They…took…her,” mumbled Clyde again who was obviously disillusioned due to the massive blood loss that seemed like a mote around him. Locke banged Clyde’s head against the wall he was leaned up against and began yelling hysterically, “Where the fuck is she!!!” The Doc grabbed Locke and tried to get him off of Clyde, “Stop! You’ll kill him!” “Dammit!” yelled Locke crawling away, his emotions too intense to allow his to stand, “Ruthie! Oh Ruthie! FUUUUUCK!!!” Tears oozed through Locke’s eyeballs as he slammed his head into both of his hands. After several minutes he realized something to his left, Ray was breathing. “Doc,” said Locke abandoning his emotions for a second and pointed to Ray’s body, “Ray’s breathing.” Doc ran over to Ray and flipped him over gently and saw that the only part of his body capable of movement was his mouth and lungs. Doc peeled back his shirt where it was cut and noticed the coloration of the wound, “A rabid blade.”
Eve, Terra, and Julius arrived at the rear entrance and saw the carnage. Eve immediately ran to Ray and began stroking his forehead, “Ray, talk to me. Please?” “He’s been stabbed with a rabid blade. It paralyzes your entire body making your allies think your dead, so they wont bother to help and you eventually bleed out.” Eve began to sob, “He wouldn’t want to live paralyzed.” “Don’t worry,” said Doc pulling a syringe from his bag, “He’ll get better over time. A few weeks and he’ll be fully recovered. Helena, bring the gauze.” The Doc rolled up his left pant leg, poured some beige liquid, and then stuck the syringe into Ray’s right leg and pressed the plunger down. Locke sat on his knees with his head down scared to death as he punched the hard ground repeatedly in anger. “Locke?” said Alex who was bloody herself, “What happened?” Alex knew something was wrong. “Bridget!” said the Doc pointing to Alex. Alex waved off the young nurse, “I’ll live.” Pearl kneeled next to Locke along with Alex. “What happened?” asked Pearl sincerely. “They got Ruthie!” said Locke grabbing Alex with one arm and Pearl with other and began just holding them for emotional support. Terra just stood in shock over Ruthie, she hadn’t moved a muscle since she heard. “Shit! The bleeding wont stop,” said Doc sounding flustered. Terra snapped out of her trance and rushed over to Ray and placed her left palm on top of his wound. The Doc wasn’t sure what she was doing, but when she removed her hand the wound was sealed and the bleeding had ceased; Doc was in awe. Terra looked over at Locke, who was being consoled by Pearl and Alex, and wondered how Smith would want to handle this.
CHAPTER 18: ULTIMATUM
The shining sun was directly overhead when the smoke cleared and the smell of gunpowder began to evaporate from the blood soaked town of Harmon. The Returners were preparing for the trip home while the Doc assessed injuries for those who managed to sustain their own lives. Ray and Clyde had no choice but to stay behind with their injured brethren. Locke stood there at the west entrance waiting to leave, counting less than a third of the soldiers they had arrived with. He saw the look in everyone’s eyes, not knowing what they were going to do next; Locke knew exactly what he was going to do. Terra stood with Locke in shock of what had happened to Ruthie, Is she dead? Will she be dead? “What will they do to her?” asked Terra to Locke. “I don’t know, but I know what I’m gonna do,” answered Locke being ambiguous. “What?” “I vowed to protect her from the second she was born,” said Locke as he began leading the troops home to HQ.
The long trip home took longer than before due to the level of exhaustion that flamed inside of everyone, but they wanted to get home. The intensity of battle and the lives lost caused the soldiers to not speak a word the whole way home. Terra walked alongside Alex wondering what Locke was thinking while Locke and Pearl led their soldiers back to HQ as the afternoon sun got hotter and hotter.
“Halfway!” yelled Pearl back at her followers assuring them they’d be home in about three hours. “Anything I can do?” asked Pearl sincerely. “You can be quiet. I’m trying to think,” said Locke tranced in thought. “I know as well as you do that you’ve already made up your mind.” “Yes, I have.” “Smith wont go for it.” “Too fucking bad.” “You’ll be banished.” “Ruthie means more to me than Smith does. I value Ruthie’s life more than I do my own.” “Locke!” “Please, just be quiet.” Pearl didn’t speak another word the whole way home, but she was concerned for Locke.
“He’s going after her,” said Alex abruptly with eyes forward. Terra looked to her left where Alex was walking, “You think?” “Yes, she’s like a daughter to him.” Terra had come to the same conclusion, but Alex saying it also confirmed her beliefs. Terra realized that Ruthie was right about Locke; he’s a good man beneath the rough exterior. Terra’s eyes canned those in front of her, so few had survived. There were only about fifteen soldiers left after the Pan’dier soldiers went home and another ten staying in Harmon to recuperate as well as Ray, Clyde, and Eve; Eve stayed behind for Ray’s sake; to make sure he was okay.
When they arrived at HQ, Smith was waiting in the dining area for survivors. Pearl, Lars, and Terra went to talk with Smith, the Velxeer archers went to gather their property for the trip home, and Locke ran straight to his room. “So few left,” said Smith to Pearl as he looked at the people returning to their designated rooms. “Many stayed behind to treat their wounds as to avoid infection,” said Pearl. “The outcome?” asked Smith inquiring about who ‘won’. “We were victorious…Sam died, sir,” said Pearl in a consoling way knowing that Smith had known Sam a long time. “My Jehovah, anymore Returners?” Pearl rubbed her neck, not wanting to mention the abduction, “Well, Ray and Clyde were badly injured but alive, in Harmon recovering.” Terra was slowly getting angry and even Julius, who was standing next to her, could tell. “What the hell, Pearl? They took Ruthie, Smith!” “Dammit!” yelled Smith at Pearl as he ran to Locke’s room knowing what Locke intended to do. Pearl looked at Terra with a stern eye, “That’s why I didn’t tell him.” Terra’s lips tightened as she ran to the women’s dorm. “Will someone tell me what the hell is going on?” asked Julius who was confused about the whole exchange. “Locke raised Ruthie and he thinks that she’ll still be alive when he reaches her,” started Lars, “When Smith knows that she’s already dead, which is a valid conclusion. Locke will try to go after her anyway and Smith can’t have that, because he’ll most likely die trying to save her.” “Ah,” said Julius finally understanding, “Well, I’m gonna go pack. Unless I’m needed here.” “I’ll help you,” said Lars following him enthusiastically. Alex was now alone in the dining area and decided to walk to the kitchen for a little whiskey. She got a bottle and began drinking while she stood in the kitchen and smoked a rolled cigarette. Wisco and her two cooks watched Alex relieving her stress from within the kitchen, knowing that it was a tough battle.
Smith peeked in Locke’s room to see him stuffing herbs, vials, bottles, and clothes into a duffle bag. “What are you doing?” asked Smith. “I’m going out.” “You just got back.” “Yeah, and now I have to leave again!” yelled Locke looking up at Smith with tear filled eyes. “She’s dead, Locke!” Locke shook his head in disagreement, “No. She’s alive, they need her. They
wouldn’t kill their hostage.” “Locke! She’s gone. Accept it. That’s the penalty of war; you lose the ones you love. You know that.” “I’ll be back, I’ll get Ruthie and we can start preparations for our next attack in Pan’dier,” said Locke lifting the duffle bag over his right shoulder. “If you walk out that door, don’t bother coming back!” yelled Smith as he walked away and headed for his room. Alex was down the hall listening the whole time. When Locke approached his door to leave his room, Alex was staring into his eyes. “Let me go too,” she asked. “I need you here,” whispered Locke, “Watch over things for me. You’re our only defense if an attack were to take place. An imperial could have followed us home. Protect the families and Smith, you’re worth twenty soldiers.” Locke kissed her lightly on the cheek and breezed past her. “Locke?” Locke turned around expecting her to beg him to stay. “They most likely would take her to our internment camp southeast of Velxeer,” smiled Alex wishing him luck. Locke nodded and went into the dining room.
Locke waited several minutes for Velxeer to come to the dining room; he hoped to catch a ride with them to Velxeer aboard their vessel. Locke had Pearl pleading in his ear the whole time, “We need you here,” she kept saying, but Locke’s mind was made up. Finally, the Velxeer archers and Reuben entered the dining area, changed into their spare clothes and holding their bags. “Captain Antleon,” said Locke rising to his feet. “Yes, Commander Locke?” “May I accompany you to Velxeer? I’d like to deliver the news to Chuck personally. That he may return home. I have other business as well,” asked Locke respectfully. “Certainly, I’d enjoy traveling with such a fine warrior,” said Reuben shaking Locke’s hand out of respect. “I’m going too,” said Terra walking into the dining area holding a duffle bag and wearing her favorite skirt. “No,” said Locke sounding like Smith did just a few moments ago. Terra walked up to Locke as she looked into his eyes, “It’s not a request. Either let me go with you or I’ll go alone my own way.” Locke looked at Pearl, blaming her for Terra’s newfound courage. “Let’s go,” said Locke walking towards the front entrance with Reuben as Terra and the Velxeer archers followed. “Should I tell Smith I’m leaving?” asked Terra to the back of Locke’s head. “If you do, you’ll miss the train,” he retorted. Jillian stood in the dining area as the rest of them left. Reuben stopped and turned to Jillian, “Ten! March!” “No.” “What? Get in line soldier!” Jillian hesitated, then followed. Alex stood at the ‘Returners’ door glaring at Terra as she walked out following Locke. Pearl was downtrodden as they left HQ.
They stood at the tracks waiting for their transportation to arrive; everyone was quiet. “How are we going to find her?” asked Terra. “We’ll start in Velxeer and obtain horses for travel, then we’ll head south east; there’s an imperial camp there.” “How do you know that?” asked Terra. Locke was about to answer when he saw captain Antleon looking at him as well. “I’ll tell you later,” mumbled Locke silently. Terra nodded. “Are you sure she’s alive?” asked Terra. “She has to be.”
In the dining area of HQ, Pearl and Alex were sitting with each other drinking from the bottle of whiskey. Smith walked in the room and took a look around the desolate area that was devoid of habitation. “Pearl!” “Yes sir,” she said standing up respectfully. “Your second in command now. Locke is to be turned away if he should ever return. Understood?” spoke Smith. Pearl paused for a moment as her heart dropped. “Yes, sir,” she said halfheartedly. “Where’s Terra, I’d like to speak to her,” asked Smith. “She’s gone,” said Alex not looking at him. “What do you mean?” asked Smith angrily at Pearl who was now his go to ‘guy’. “She went with Locke,” said Pearl nervously. “Damn that Locke. Enlisting people to take part in his suicide mission? It’s a death sentence.” Alex couldn’t hold herself back any longer, she sprung up and turned to Smith; red in the face. “Are you insane? They are trying to save their fellow Returner, it’s called teamwork and if you cant understand that, go join the Empire…if you haven’t already,” hissed Alex at Smith just before storming off to the dorm. He looked at Pearl after Alex left, “Never mind turning Locke away. Kill on sight.” Smith turned around and started for the ‘Returners’ door. “What if Ruthie comes with him?” Smith opened the door and just before slamming it behind him he noted, “She wont.”
Locke, Terra, and the Velxeer archers watched as the Velxeer train slowly ceased movement in front of them; the Velxeer archers and captain Antleon boarded first. Locke picked up his Damascus and his baggage, then walked to the train’s door and ascended the steps. Once atop the steps he turned back to Terra, who hadn’t moved from where she was standing. “No turning back, partner,” said Locke. She watched him walked into the train and could see him through the car windows walking to the middle of the car and taking a seat by the window. She looked down at the blue bandana wrapped around her right palm. She took a deep breath and walked to the train and climbed the steps. “I’m coming, sister,” whispered Terra to herself.
EPILOGUE
To the east where central Asia once stood was a tower in the center of the scorching sands that housed the Empire’s base. The tower stood miles high shaped like a tall black pyramid. The top floor of this tower was where the Empire’s top people met to make decisions on their next attack. “She’s being held at the prisoner’s camp, my lord,” said a General sitting at the round table in the center of the room that was surrounded by a long balcony circling the tower with two other men sitting at the table. “Get anything?” asked a man of about thirty-five years of age in a clean business type suit. “Nothing yet Mr. Germ,” answered the General. The two men exchanging information were Ralph Germ and General Coop who sat across from one another. The third man was well into his sixties with neat blonde hair, chiseled features, and wearing a black robe and an amulet around his neck that glowed blue. “Two weeks and not a single speck of information on the Returner’s whereabouts?” asked the third man. “No, my lordship.” “Fear not Emperor, she’ll talk,” said Ralph reassuringly. “And if she doesn’t, then what said?” a voice from the balcony. They were all silent as the man came inside from the fresh air, it was Krazz growing impatient. “General Coop, have you met Krazz? He’s my number two,” said Emperor Gerard. “I’ve heard of him, sir.” Krazz walked around the table and positioned himself behind Coop and tapped his long sharp fingernails on Coop’s shoulders. “Germ,” said Krazz, “Three things I want: First, their hideout so we can eliminate those filthy rats. Two, that man…Locke. I want him for myself…nobody challenges me and lives. And third, how they knew about our attack on Harmon before we even attacked.” Ralph nodded, “Maybe I tell her that we have the man by the name of Locke and that he’ll be killed unless she talks.” The Emperor nodded, “Worth a try. But, the most important thing to remember is that I need that girl. The one with powers and green hair. She’s vital to the advancement of the Empire.” “Is he?” asked Krazz referring to General Coop. “Nah,” waved Emperor Gerard. Krazz dug his sharp long nails into Coop’s throat and lifted him into the air with a single hand and pressed him against the wall while he squeezed his throat. Slowly the nails penetrated the flesh of Coop’s neck and blood began to seep through the skin until Krazz tightened his so fierce that the flesh ripped out and the man fell to the floor bleeding to death slowly, gargling on his own life juice. Krazz looked down at him getting a sense of enjoyment out of the whole ordeal, then licked his fingers clean. After his fingers were cleaned, he knelt down and looked at the dying General. “Look at me!” yelled the deep voice of Krazz. The General’s eyes drifted to Krazz with his body’s last ounce of energy as Krazz was now whispering, “I want to be the last thing you see.” Krazz stood up and picked up the late General’s chair that had been knocked over prior to his death. “Thank you, he was starting to annoy me,” sighed the Emperor as he stood up, “I’ll leave it to you gentlemen.” The Emperor walked out of the room, only then did Krazz and Ralph speak. “Does he know?” asked Ralph. “No, as far as he knows, she ran away to esc
ape the Empire.” “General Alexandra Leshea and the Returners. Seems kind of odd.” “She’s a very odd girl. Kill her on sight and tell the Emperor it was the Returner’s doing. Then, capture the green girl and kill the rest. If Gerard knew about Leshea becoming a traitor he might reevaluate his own prospects.” “Don’t worry, we have a spy within the Returners. The mission is simple: Kill General Alexandra Leshea, capture the spellcaster, and inform us of their location in the depths of the night before they even know they’re gone. Then, we can simply wipe them all out in one fell swoop before they’ve even finished their breakfast the next morning.” “Good. When?” “We wont know till he’s captured the girl.”