Edra closed in. “I saw your little planes, suits and gizmos. If my goal’s to serve Summanus then why did I not seise upon a most perfect of opportunities?”
Mezox stared into her eyes, stumped for a response. He took another swig of whisky and returned to work. There, an examination of labs and hangers proved untouched by Edra’s presence.
He came home to find Edra asleep on the sofa. At that moment, a fresh wave of empathy turned into a desire to be around her. In the potential and temporary corruption of his mind, a sandwich was made. With the first bite came an idea, but mildly unethical. Options and risks were weighed at the table while devouring the snack.
A shake to the shoulder and she woke. “If you want me to trust you, then you’ll have to trust me,” he said before wrapping a piece of cloth around her head, covering her eyes. He took her hand and guided their way.
Aware that she’s back in the lab area, the blindfold was removed to reveal a fighter stood before her. Two suits drooped at the hinge of a raised cockpit screen. There was no believing her eyes.
The latest generation fighter took reduced inertia into consideration. A pilot could effectively lay almost flat. Their head would sit within the fighter’s transparent nose cone. One’s flying experience was enhanced to the extent of forgetting they were in a vehicle.
A co-pilot not only monitored and controlled weapons, but also take the wheel in an emergency. For that to occur, the primary pilot must authorise said action. At the point of death or decrease in brain activity, they revert automatically.
Edra’s experience left her speechless. Several thousand feet into the evening sky, not a word could be muttered when it came under her control. Gentle head movements gave large responses. A reduction in sensitivity boosted her confidence. And still, she navigated around columns of clouds with poetic elegance.
A return of functionality to Mezox was followed by a swift and smooth landing. He hopped out in a bid to collate her experience.
Edra peeled the facial part of her suit away, revealing a smile that refused to fade. “You just flip a switch and go. No revving the engine or ear-splitting sound…” She continued to list the differences between old and new technologies while climbing out.
She missed a step when Mezox latched onto her. Chest to chest and arm around her, she asked, “What must I do to prove my fidelity?”
Hesitant, Mezox finally got his words out. “You just did.”
They moved simultaneously for a little tonsil tennis. For Mezox, it was more genuine than any of his previous experiences, extending beyond pure lust. They Christened the hanger that evening as Mezox discovered she wasn’t one for puritanical procrastinations.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Three years later
March 2136
Hypatia was alive and undergoing continual change at an unprecedented rate. Everywhere one looked there were scaffolds and cleared sites for new projects. Pictures and stories circulated across the British Isles and the world of Hypatia’s wealth and prosperity. Summanus’s depravities saw his northern cities finally side with the separatists. Their openness was rewarded with electricity from Hypatia, improving their living standards. It also served as a means to mitigate the influx of refugees.
The realm’s population swelled to two and a half million inhabitants. The army’s ranks went from ten thousand to over two-hundred thousand. A major drive for pilots gave them eight thousand for four thousand fighters.
All that required a lot of space. Much of the earth’s dry land was inhabited, except for one – Antarctica. A warming planet had left a perimeter of land exposed - free of snow and ice almost year-round. It would come to serve multiple purposes, each essential to Hypatia’s cause. For one, it provided privacy from prying neighbours. It also served as an outpost for evacuees in an emergency. But, for Mezox, it was somewhere to initiate new ideas with relaxed rules.
Thousands of miles from home, he would return once a month to see Edra, his wife, and daughter, Arianne.
They married in the summer of 2135 shortly after Arianne’s birth. Life was perfect as flowers grew and dropped their petals across the city. All this while London descended into anarchy. Since Summanus couldn’t punish Hypatians, frustrations were directed against his own people instead. Even pro-theocracy advocates held rallies, calling for Summanus’s ousting. If one’s name came up as a hopeful contender, their head would come to roll across the axeman’s stage.
Hypatians could dare to discuss the idea of an invasion. Word reached Summanus of such a plan’s existence. His grip on power could only be maintained under the Alliance’s umbrella. Revenge became his ultimate goal.
On the third anniversary of Hypatia’s victory at the battle of the Pennines, a dinner party was organised for crucial figures and those involved. A few representatives from other countries were permitted to join, including those from the Christian Alliance. The key was to secure lasting peace through dialogue.
Edra was one of those invited. With Mezox in Antarctica, she would go alone. After a little indecisiveness, she decided to attend. From the losing side, she had reasons to feel nervous.
Professor Jones was on hand to speak with guests. Glass of champagne in hand, Edra entered his person’s of interest the moment she arrived.
“I feared you wouldn’t show.”
“Yes, well, babysitter issues.”
“I’ve been there,” he said with light reflections. “Care for some wine or” –
“No thanks, I don’t drink. It’s bad enough that my husband does,” she said clutching her purse and scanning the scene.
“Yes, he’s known for his little capers. Yet, they didn’t always require alcohol to be present in his system.”
Edra rubbed her exposed arms from the long green dress and feigned a smile.
The professor found her body language to remain a little closed off. “I have someone you might like to meet.”
Jones waved over a male guest. “As our religious affairs liaison, I believe you two have much to discuss,” he said before moving on.
The six-foot-seven-inch stranger extended his hand to her. “I’m Nicholas from the Christian Alliance’s American division,” he said with a deep voice.
She shook his hand. “I never imagined anyone from the Alliance could be found openly wandering Hypatia.”
“We were approached by your guys. The Alliance asked that I scope it out and here I am.”
“Oh? And how are you finding it?”
Nicholas struggled to find the most accurate adjectives. “Surprisingly civilised, interesting and… a bit alien I must admit,” he said laughing it off.
“That’s normal, but you soon get used to it.”
“Oh yeah,” he said pointing at her. “Because you’re that enemy pilot these guys shot down before switching sides?”
He then neared her, winked and gave a couple of light nudges. “Smart move.”
“You can thank Summanus for my switching,” she protested, all the while thinking ‘great, another idiot with a drinking problem.’
“So you’re a bit of a bipartisan?”
“Not anymore.”
“What changed?” he asked with a more mature level of composure.
“I discovered the truth.”
“And that is?”
“That the retention of faith doesn’t require forced observance authored by an autocratic regime.”
Nicholas chuckled. “You can’t have people believing anything they want, it would lead to mayhem.”
“We have Atheists, Hindus, Muslims, Christians and more. Look around and tell me how chaotic it appears.”
His head swung left and right within seconds. “I see infidels, blasphemers and fornicators. It’s not always what you see on the outside that counts.”
“And that’s where we differ.”
“How so?”
“My God doesn’t care what one believes. Yours possesses a narcissistic personality of such magnitude that only the vainest wou
ld consider amicable because he’s an extension of themselves.”
Nicholas downed a large gulp of champagne. “Wow. Well, I guess political correctness resides within your contract as liaison for religious affairs.”
“Isn’t it forbidden to drink alcohol where you come from?”
“Yes, but it makes a great coping mechanism in the land of sin,” he said before excusing himself.
Nicholas would glance Edra’s way periodically, and she noticed. Uncomfortable with his presence, she returned home to her daughter.
Two days later and the phone rung endlessly at seven in the morning. Edra gave up the acquiring of further sleep.
It was her employer asking if she’s watching the news. A press of the button on the box and it came alive. Seconds later, the first Hypatian channel was presenting a ‘breaking news’ clip. The first word that caught her attention was ‘terrorism.’ Christian martyrs, part of a group calling itself ‘his apostles,’ had blown themselves up in a bid to destroy one of the city’s military checkpoints.
Fear could not prevail, and her presence was required to quell any discontent. Readily known across the realm, thoughts of cameras and speaking to an audience remained an unnerving task.
By lunchtime, she had come to sit with a panel of speakers, from security to politicians, against a dark backdrop. Reporters and observers itched to begin and ask their questions. It didn’t help that Nicholas was present and staring her way.
In a bid to ignore him, she revised her notes while others presented their speeches. Twelve soldiers were killed for three of the terrorists. They aimed to penetrate Hypatia’s heart but failed.
“Those three men acted in the belief their God would reward them. Yet, it seems, God denied them their ultimate goal in exchange for such a sacrifice. I know many don’t believe in a deity, but this tells me that God, in either case, isn’t on their side.”
Edra left the studios with an intention to drive home when Nicholas flagged her down. “What do you want now, Nick?” she said still walking with her back turned to him.
“I’ve spoken with your father. He wants to know if you’re interested in meeting him?”
She leaned against the car door and angled herself ninety degrees from him. “I have no interest in speaking with him. And how did you come across him?”
“Look behind me, I’m surrounded by security. I’ve met many of low rank to high. He’s a fine man.”
“He may be a fine man to you, but not a fine father to me. Good day,” she said stepping inside her car.
He knelt down to match the vehicle’s window level. “Someday, you’ll find yourself repenting for your abominations against God.”
“I’m not the only one,” she said before pulling away.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Yes, Captain
Another two days later and Edra’s dealing with her temperamental toddler when the phone rang. She put it to her ear but found the caller challenging to understand. The caller ruffled around a bit before his muffled voice became discernible enough.
The stranger spoke with a slow and tinny quality. “Listen now. Bombs will blow, and death will come. People cry and need your words, but instead guide them to God. Advise the faithful to take up arms and besiege the enemy within. Failure will lead to grave consequences for you and that bastard child. We are everywhere,” he said, then followed it up with a light cackle. “And there’s nowhere to run.”
The phone disconnected and she was left feeling isolated. There was only one person trustworthy enough to ask for help: Joe.
She refused to discuss the matter over the phone, but her voice revealed enough for Joe to prepare.
Joe arrived an hour later with a large case. “So what’s going on?”
She divulged the unusual call. Visibly upset, she said, “I don’t feel safe anymore.”
“Could it be a prank?”
“No, I don’t know. What must I do if there’s a terrorist attack?”
Joe suggested, “We should bring Mezox back – or better still, hide with him in Antarctica?”
“The caller said, ‘there’s nowhere to hide.’ It makes me think they’ve infiltrated that base, too. And my departure may lead to further retaliatory strikes. I don’t want blood on my hands.”
Joe threw his case onto the sofa and opened it. “Fear not my dear, for you’re not alone. Meet my new sidekick,” he said pulling out a weapon.
“It looks like an expensive water gun,” she said while hardly impressed.
Joe agreed. “Looks are most certainly deceiving with this one. Charged by a hypertron, this baby stores enough energy to produce ten shots, each equivalent to a fifty calibre round. It’s a new issue for our soldiers.”
“And if eleven people came?”
“Shoot ten and smack the last one around the head with it,” he said, looking on at her as though his answer was rhetorical.
“There’s something else,” said Edra. “I came across a very suspicious character lately, and I believe he has something to do with this.”
Packing away his weapon, he said, “I’m listening.”
Edra searched for a news article left laying around. Once found, it was opened to the correct page in an instant, and presented it to Joe. “This guy.”
Joe took back his seat clutching the paper. “This guy really does look familiar.” He thought hard about where such a face was seen. Then it struck him. “Captains’ quarters. I’ve seen him in the foyer as I waited for my partner, and on more than one occasion.”
The following day couldn’t pass without investigating the reasons for Nicholas’s presence at the Captains’ quarters.
He arrived earlier than usual under the pretence of visiting his partner, Michael. It didn’t take long for Nicholas to appear and take a seat nearby, who’s head then wilted with hands in pockets.
The environment bustled with greater activity than usual. Michael breezed past but chanced upon a glance Joe’s way. “You didn’t mention coming today. Where did you go yesterday?”
Joe had hoped to dodge him. “I’m a little tied up. I’ll explain later.”
Michael found Joe’s lack of acknowledgement a little disconcerting, especially when his attention’s focused Nicholas’s way. “Okay, I’m going to need a little context here.”
“Remember that lady, Edra? I’m staying at hers for the minute. She’s got a bit of an issue,” said Joe in a desperate bid to shift him.
“You mean the bigot that called us ‘sinners?’”
“Yeah, that one. And what’s with this place today?”
Michael sensed an intentional tangent but went along with it. “We believe the Alliance is readied, and about to make their move against the Islamic Empire.”
“What’s that got to do with us?”
“Some are concerned by the level of activity on England’s southern coast.”
Another male approached from behind in the hopes of catching Michael’s attention, informing him of a meeting that afternoon. His focus then shifted sharply to Joe.
“I’ve seen you on television,” he said, shaking hands with him. “You know what, I’m a huge admirer of those air-fighters. Maybe you can give me a tour one day?”
Joe stood as the commotion increased and strangers glared his way. “I can't issue such clearance, I’m afraid.” He excused himself and left.
Joe’s abrupt departure didn’t bode well with the Captain. “What’s his problem?”
“I’m not sure,” said Michael. “But he’s staying at your daughter’s to help resolve some dilemma.”
The Captain turned to Michael with a look of surprise. “Is he now?”
Nicholas approached from behind and formally greeted him. “Captain Edwards.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Kidnapped
Joe’s level of notoriety in recognition of his service had come to work against him. There was no slipping under the radar. The act of following anyone without an occasional stranger hoping to shake his
hand would brand such a quest ineffective. A disguise was out of the question for it would not wash in passing security.
As the day wore on, Edra came to suspect that the call was a prank. The news played, and for hour after hour, nothing of a fresh terrorist attack. Contingency plans and different scenarios were discussed at length. Joe later made lunch for the three of them, and dreamed of adopting a child one day.
Later that night, Joe found himself waking without apparent cause. He tossed and turned for optimal comfort on the sofa. While found, the issue of sleep eluded him. A quick bladder check revealed a potential hindrance.
In a daze, he was in the process of relieving himself when a distant mumble reached his ears. A breeze tearing through crevices could have explained it. Malcontent with the idea, his ear was angled nearer the window ahead. A few seconds later and there it was again.
Edra awoke to Joe’s words, “I thought I heard something?”
She went into action. Her daughter’s room was sealed, and knives acquired. Downstairs, all lights were extinguished and hiding positions taken up when a bang occurred upstairs. Edra bolted back up when, at the summit, the front door shattered into little pieces. A blast of air gushed into the house, whipping the living room’s door into Joe’s face.
In pain, he maintained composure as footsteps advanced sluggishly down the corridor’s entrance. Two invaders worked their way up the stairs toward Edra, who was in the process of unlocking her daughter’s room. Her frantic nature delayed its achievement. Inside, Arianne had vanished. Curtains were sucked outside the open window and flapped wildly. A car could be heard driving away.
Another two men passed Joe as they cleared rooms. Joe revealed himself, only to shoot one in the back. The second moved in for a kill when Joe shot the trespasser’s arm off, who winded up writhing on the floor.
Meanwhile, Edra’s anger sent her adrenaline skyrocketing. Set on giving chase in her car, the two men blocked her path downstairs. Her flight or flight response chose to kick the lead male, setting them both on a tumble. From several steps up, she pounced on them, stabbing maniacally.
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