Standing

by China Dennington

  “Fingerprint scanners. That’s all. Like I said, he has become relaxed since there haven’t been any rebellions for a long, long time. He used to have the best security systems around, but as each piece of equipment broke, he didn’t bother getting anyone to fix it. He focuses anyone handy with technology on weapons.”

  “Well, that’s the easiest one in the book, lift the fingerprint from the glass of a cup or something they touch. The question is, do we have the materials to do that, and how would we get a fingerprint?” asked Gale.

  “I have the perfect solution to that problem. Jaegear has installed carriers to bring clean water to all of his workers in the city. The water, though it looks clean, is contaminated. They use it for restrooms and the like, but it isn’t pure enough to drink. Anyway, it is their “reward” for being loyal to Jaegear. The three people going in should be dressed as carriers,” said Taynar.”

  “It’s not foolproof. But I think that we have to try at least. Liam, could you work on hacking and Taynar, would you help get the disguises ready, since you know what they look like?” asked Force.

  “Will do,” replied Liam as he left the tent.

  Taynar did the same thing. Only Tivia, Gale, Force, and of course Junior were left.

  “Now we have to decide who will play which roles in this performance,” said Tivia.

  “I volunteer to be a carrier,” said Force.

  “So do I,” said Gale seriously.

  “Me too,” said Tivia.

  “Alright. I guess we have our carriers. Now for the general. Who should it be?”

  “Liam,” Tivia and Force said simultaneously.

  “Agreed,” answered Gale.

  “One more question, when?” asked Tivia.

  “Day after tomorrow?” answered Force, looking to Gale for confirmation. She nodded her head.

  In the winter gale, she huddled in a tent. It didn’t do much to keep out the cold, but at least it was something. The fourteen-year-old girl wrapped her dirty scarf around her head again and rubbed her hands together vigorously to try and keep the cold at bay. Loneliness surrounding. She had no idea how long she would last. None at all. She was all alone on the plain. Her parents had died in a bombing. She hadn’t seen anyone else for weeks. She felt the cold creep deeper into her. Loneliness surrounding. She started crying. She was a child, but she had no choice but to try and survive on her own. She had been eating off of the food supply and soon it would be gone. She was clueless about how to get more. Loneliness surrounding. It was all the fault of the petty war that Ginvay and Jaegear had brought on the world. If her parents had died before the war she would have lived in a city. People would have taken care of her. Loneliness surrounding. Her tears froze as they fell from her eyes, then they shattered as they hit her lap. Then all of a sudden she was in a camp with people. Actual, real people. They had found her. They would take care of her. Even the poverty looked like heaven to her. People.

  The next day was very busy. Liam was preparing for his role, and at the same time hacking into the computer in the Overseer Chamber. Taynar was conferring with the people, sewing the disguises to make sure that they looked authentic.

  Gale was worried. This plan is so fragile, one little misstep and we get caught! She could feel the fear and anticipation of the seventeen people around her. She looked around and realized how the feelings of worry from everyone were effecting everyone else. Then it hit her. I’m one of the leaders, if I worry then so will everyone else. She looked around. As the cold breeze hit them, many people were biting their lips and looking around anxiously. I need to be confident. For them. She closed her eyes and buried her fear deep within her soul.

  She went to the nearest person, a young woman with long brunette hair who was sewing a disguise, and said as she smiled, “Good job. Keep it up.”

  It’s time. Gale took a deep breath. She had just changed into her red carrier’s outfit. She was waiting for the others in between the camp and Draysok. Tivia was the first to come.

  When she joined Gale she said, “And they say that girls take a long time getting ready!”

  Gale smiled.

  Soon they were joined by Force. And Junior.

  “You can’t go with me right now, but I will be back,” Force was saying to Junior.

  Junior tilted his head to the side and gave a pitiful moan.

  “Don’t worry, I won’t be gone long. See you soon, Junior.”

  Gale felt sorry for the flamien as he plodded back to camp. She had to quickly refocus her attentions to the task at hand.

  Force turned to them and said, “I just left Liam. He is ready. He successfully hacked into their system and will sent his transmission in two hours. That should give us enough time to get to the Overseer Chamber. Do you have the fingerprint lifting supplies?”

  “Yep! Right here!” said Gale pointing to the carrier’s pouch strapped to her leg. She felt a seriousness coming from Force that she rarely felt with him. Usually he was feeling jovial, even in tense situations.

  They set out to walk the short distance to Draysok. They got inside easily enough. There were no guards there. As Gale looked around at the faces of the people and the space-scrapers she felt and thought, This city is so colorful, but the color is fading. There is a literal darkness here. All these people...I can feel their pain and guilt. It is etched out on their faces. But the fear…it is too much for them. At this, tears started to slip out of the corners of Gale’s eyes.

  Force noticed and whispered, “What’s the matter?”

  She could feel the care and worry coming from him.

  She looked up and said, “I‘ll tell you later.”

  Then she tried to ignore the pain and suffering. She tried to focus on her mission. But it was so hard, especially since she could feel it in her heart, not just her mind.

  They got to the palace and walked right past two guards, who just assumed that they were carriers. Gale felt their scarred and calloused emotions. The guards tried to be cold and ignore the fact that they were guarding an immoral man, but they couldn’t. They were not truly loyal to him.

  As Force, Gale, and Tivia walked through the overly grand glass and marble halls of the castle, they tried to put on an air of confidence, like they belonged there. Gale glanced over at her two friends. They were doing a great job acting calm. She looked down at herself and saw that she was trembling. She tried to stop. The danger was very real.

  They quickly strode through the corridors using a map that they had memorized. The closer that the trio got, the more nervous Gale felt. Finally, they could see the door to the Overseer’s Chamber and the fingerprint reader, so Gale decided it was time to get a fingerprint.

  She gave a pointed look to Tivia and Force as she separated from them and silently went up to the guard, filled a glass cup from her belt with water from her pouch, and offered it to the the bearded man. He snatched it roughly and drank it down quickly. Then he shoved it back into her hand with a growl. She walked away around the circular hall at what she hoped was a regular pace, being careful not to touch the place where the guard had held it.

  Now to find a safe place to lift the fingerprint. She looked at the various doors. Then she recognized the universal stick figure girl symbol. The restroom.

  Gale went through the door and entered a stall, then quickly opened her pouch and started the process of getting the fingerprint off of the glass. Her hands were shaking, and she had to take a moment to calm down. The trio were at one of their most vulnerable positions right now.

  Her heart froze as someone entered the room. She heard the click of a woman’s heels. She felt the woman’s alertness and cruelty. The sound of her shoes paused for a moment, then slowly approached the door of the stall. Gale tried to stop the crackling sounds of the tape she was using to lift the finger print. No! No! We are so close! Gale mentally screamed. The woman paused at the door. A wave of determination came over Gale as she quietly sped back into motion. If that woman wants to open the door, sh
e isn’t going to catch me doing anything. The woman threw the door open.

  Gale had the glass and fingerprint safely in her pouch. The woman’s stern face displayed a frown and her black hair was back in a tight bun.

  Gale acted outraged, “How dare you! You need to be more careful! I can’t believe you just did that!”

  The woman’s look was guarded but Gale felt her confusion. Confusion about what? She also felt that the woman was trying to figure something out. She didn’t seem the least bit embarrassed. Gale pushed past her and back out into the hallway where Force and Tivia were waiting for her. Whew! I can’t believe I made it through that. I hope that she doesn’t suspect me of anything.

  Gale gave the other two a discrete thumbs up. She had to keep from laughing as her companions’ foreheads wrinkled in confusion. They must not know what it means. Over the years technology had developed and things had changed, but there were also the things that didn’t change, like bravery and love.

  She mouthed the words, “Good to go.”

  She had the fingerprint, and Liam should do the call at any minute now. When he came on the screen in the Overseer Chamber dressed as a general to announce that the city was being destroyed, it would hopefully cause a lot of panic.

  They tried to look like they were milling about as they approached the door to the Overseer Chamber. When they neared, Gale heard a shout! People were running past them now! They started running toward the room. It seems that Liam did a good job! thought Gale. A guard knocked her down. Force’s firm hand reached her hand and pulled her to her feet. They were at the pad. Time to see if this works! thought Gale as she brought out the piece of plastic with the fingerprint on it. She laid it onto the scanner then pressed. They waited for a few seconds...it wasn’t working. Gale felt Force’s and Tivia’s anxiety as well as her own. The emotions were almost overwhelming her. Then the door slid open. Gale felt the relief. They rushed into the room as the door closed behind them.

  Gale took a quick look around and saw no guards. It worked! She thought exuberantly.

  “Don’t move!” called Force.

  The three of them faced a man who was roughly fifty years old. His blonde hair looked greasy. Jaegear. He seemed perfectly calm and perfectly arrogant. Then Gale saw why. With one tiny push of a button two large doors opened and into the room streamed more guards. They surrounded them and rushed at the small group of three. There were about thirty in all.

  “Uh, oh. We didn’t bargain for this. Who are these people?” asked Tivia.

  Gale, Force, and Tivia stood back to back as they brought out their stun guns.

  “His truly loyal guards...they weren’t in this room, they were behind the doors,” Gale whispered in shock.

  “What do we do?” asked Tivia.

  Tivia had been afraid before, but now the adrenaline rush was taking over and she was ready.

  “We don’t stand a chance three to thirty with stuns guns,” said Force.

  Gale looked around rapidly for solutions. She closed her eyes and focused on the emotions of the guards for a split second. It rushed into her. Fear...trapped...stuck...no control...mind. She drew a sharp intake of breath as it hit her. The guards were almost within shooting range.

  “They’re under mind control. We need to free them,” she said addressing Force and Tivia. She turned to the guards. “Listen to me! Fight harder against it! You don’t have to let Jaegear use you and trap your mind.”

  A few of the soldiers stopped, like they were trying to piece something together.

  Gale raised her fist in the air and shouted, “Don’t give in! You can be free! You can be free.”

  She felt their struggle. They were fighting. Fighting to be released from the prison of their minds. They had stopped. Their teeth were clenched and they were all holding their heads.

  “Fight! You can do it.”

  Then suddenly, one of the soldiers looked up, his eyes were crystal clear. “I’m free,” he said in disbelief, “I’m free!”

  Then it was like a chain reaction, suddenly people were panting and smiling. If Gale had been watching, she would have seen Force’s lips smile slightly in amusement and knowingness as he watched her. The guards started rushing up to them and telling of their gratitude. Gale stared over their heads at Jaegear, who was still in his seat, frowning angrily. We have to get to him before he gets away!

  “Clear a path. We need to get through to him,” she called.

  A muttering of, “Yes, yes,” went through the crowd as a path was rapidly cleared.

  Tivia, Force, and Gale calmly and quickly walked to the chair where Jaegear was sitting tall. Why isn’t he trying to make a bolt for it, and why is he so calm? He’s a little nervous, but not much. It doesn’t add up.

  A slight movement of Jaegear’s hand caught her attention. The she realized why. In his hand he held a weapon. Gale gasped as her eyes went to the silver gun and it’s target. No! Force! Jaegear’s finger was about to pull the trigger. Gale sprinted into action and tried to snatch the weapon out of his hand. Shots went off and rang through the room, barely missing Tivia and Force. Jaegear had a death grip on his weapon.

  “You will never win!” he snarled with a throaty accent.

  “Oh really?” she asked, then she quickly let go of the gun, spun around, and kicked it out of his hand. It flew across the room, then hit the wall with a thud.

  Force stared at her in amazement, “Whoa,” was all he said as he grinned.

  She grinned, Wow! I really just did that! Gale could feel Force’s gratitude.

  Tivia moved into action and said, “Let’s tie him up.”

  Gale and Force joined her in bringing hidden ropes from their pouches.

  The dictator laughed crazily. “Do you think that two girls and and a boy are going to bring my reign to an end?”

  Gale felt that inside he was afraid, terribly afraid. He was crazy. His mind had gotten away from him over the years.

  “Your reign has already come to an end. The only thing that you can do is accept it,” Gale said calmly as she tied his wrists behind his back.

  As Tivia, Force, and Gale hauled Jaegear through the city to the prison (they had been directed there by the guards) people turned and stared, as though they couldn’t believe their eyes. Gale was overwhelmed with excitement, I can’t believe it worked! It actually worked! She thought. Then she felt another wave of the pain of the people.

  As they reached the center of town, she saw a huge white column twisting into the sky. Stairs climbed up around it. It was a stage. As Gale looked at the people surrounding her, she felt their fear. Trick...test of loyalty… were the words that trickled to her from everyone’s thoughts. They need to know that this is not a trick.

  “Wait,” she told Tivia and Force, who stared at her with confusion.

  As fast as her legs would go, she ran to that podium. She climbed the steps. The ground dropped beneath her and her adrenaline was rushing. At the top stood a white skinny stand that looked like a microphone. On the top was a panel with labeled switches. Town Center Soundsystem, record, ahhh...citywide soundsystem.

  She pressed the button that said citywide soundsystem and began to speak to everyone, “You are free! This part of the world is free! Jaegear is not in power anymore. Forget anything that you did out of fear that makes you ashamed! It’s time to start over! Focus your efforts on peace! Destroy the weapons that he forced you to make! Rebuild your cities! And most importantly, love!”

  Whispers spread through the crowd, “Jaegear is dead?”

  “Is it true?”

  Then an uneasy silence settled over the people who were staring up at her.

  Suddenly a woman in the crowd said loudly, “No more fear.” Tears glistened on her cheeks.

  Those simple words flowed over the crowd and suddenly, it was like a wave breaking. People started crying and hugging each other. Someone started singing, and soon almost everyone had joined in. She descended into the crowd of singing people staring
at her with tears of joy in their eyes. She rejoined Force and Tivia. Two men were now dragging Jaegear along beside them. A gag was tied around his mouth, but he was still screaming, shouting, and struggling with all of his might.

  Gale could make out a few of the stifled words he was saying, “I...will...kill...you all! Your homes...will...destroyed! Make...suffer!”

  Gale almost laughed. His threats were useless now. They meant nothing. As they hurried through the streets with their prisoner, singing and dancing continued and broke out all around them. Children singing of peace and old men singing of love. People followed them as they neared their camp, thanking them profusely.

  Gale, Tivia, and Force were greeted by a cheer when they entered the camp. Liam and Junior ran out to meet them. Junior roaring happily as he went straight to Force. Gale laughed when she saw Liam in his ridiculous-looking disguise. It was all bright red and green, and a huge hat was perched on his head.

  “What?” asked Liam, throwing his hands up.

  “Nothing. Oh, by the way, I heard that the reviews of your performance were stunning!” answered Gale with a smile.

  “Did I get applause?” he asked with jocularity.

  “More like the running away for joy type of applause,” she replied with a grin.

  “My highest compliment yet!”

  Gale laughed.

  Games were commencing in the snow and people were starting to eat lunch. It was turning into a large picnic.

  That night, laying in her bed, Gale let all of the relieved and overjoyed feelings of everyone in camp flow into her. With that she drifted into a deep, deep sleep.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “Times have changed for the worse! We must fight against this evil! Look what it has done to all of the great civilizations of the world! It has devastated us! What world will your children live in if this is not stopped in its tracks? Shout if you will join me in stopping this terror! Will you join this rebellion against selfish greed?”