Sanctuary 2 (The Foliage Series Book 4)

by Aline Riva

  “Oh that's nothing, Elise! You know what these places are like...I slipped in the shower. Slipped so bad I cut a nerve-connecting wire to one of my legs, too – which can easily be fixed when I get back to the Valley. The wrist is fractured but its not too bad... I managed to get some bruises as well - and that shower was so hot I accidentally burned my chest... I guess the water in this city doesn't like the sight of UNA tattoos...”

  Elise had got the message – Felix had been tortured...

  “And did you complain?”

  “Thanks to the Culture Minister word got back to Sylvia Payton and the Premier and there will be no more accidents,” he replied carefully.

  She caught a flicker of pain in his eyes and Elise held firm to the promise she had made before this meeting to keep her tears back in front of Fi.

  “I'm glad there will be no more accidents,” she replied, “I've been busy while you've been away...searching for something... I'm waiting for the process to end and then I can perhaps put this code of my own personal protocol to good use...I have so much stuff on my to-do list in your absence...”

  His gaze was locked with hers. She saw a spark of recognition in his eyes as her veiled message fell into place.

  “We all need those sometimes,” he replied, “I bet you've got several...in priority... first, second, third...”

  “Fifth being the one I'm focussing on,” she replied, then she caught the ghost of a faint smile about his lips as he gave her a discreet nod.

  “Yes it would be a good idea to do that,” he replied, “So good to know you're organised, my darling.”

  “I try to be, but it often depends on how I work my way through...five is definitely the one. The fifth...I just need to make arrangements...sort the pieces out...It's a big to-do list...”

  Lynch exchanged a glance through the screen that Elise shared as Fi looked on saying nothing, remembering her mother had made her promise to say nothing about their plans in front of the camera, because the conversation would not be private...

  “Well maybe I'll be home before you need to work your way through that list. Let's not assume the worst yet.”

  Then a red light blinked in the corner of the screen.

  “Time's up,” Lynch said, hiding his emotions from Fi as Elise read every ounce of his heartbreak in one glance, “I'll speak to you both again soon. Fi, be a good girl for me. And Elise...See you soon.”

  She managed a smile.

  “I won't have it any other way,” she replied, “Yes, we'll be seeing you very soon. I love you.”

  “Love you too – both of you,” he said, then the screen switched to static snow.

  Elise got up from her seat and turned to Riley.

  “Thank you. It means a lot to be able to speak with him.”

  Riley nodded.

  “It's the best I can do for now. All we can do is wait for the appeal process to begin – tomorrow morning, I managed to push it forward. Just keep hoping for the best.”

  As Fi walked over to the door and opened it she waited for her mother, not hearing what she said as Elise turned to Riley, stepped closer and whispered her parting message quietly:

  “My code processing will conclude eventually. This could be the only chance Felix has left. Find me an android, Blake...”

  Chapter 7 : The Fall of Hope

  The meeting was started at nine a.m. The mood was sombre as Josh looked about the table and began to speak.

  “Let's get this over with quickly. Cards on the table – if we execute Lynch we make an enemy of Cyborg Valley. If we don't execute him, we have a possible ally in King Steel's army should we need it – we have no idea the true extent of the capacity of End Cyborg Life and make no mistake about it, we will be targeted again because they object to us withdrawing the City Guard from the Valley. Killing Lynch won't satisfy them – he's one cyborg. I propose we either reduce the death penalty to a life prison term or we issue a fine substantial enough to cost the Valley dearly.”

  “Cost the Valley?” echoed his wife as she shot him an angry glance, “It was bad enough to find out Lynch had been tortured, now you want to cripple those poor people financially too?”

  Josh winced as he looked down at the table, feeling the accusing stares of all of the circle , including Sylvia Payton, who was a lethal combination to undermine his authority when combined with the opinion of his pro cyborg wife...

  “Torture?” said Spear.

  “I really don't think that should be made public,” added Temple, “That could stir up trouble for us on both sides – here and in the Valley.”

  “And it's worth remembering that this situation has only been made worse by holding Lynch prisoner,” said Sylvia, “Execute him and you unjustly kill a man for taking something he needed that was vital to his survival – he was a victim of anti-cyborg laws that never should have been passed. If we release him, which is the only sensible course of action, as you surprisingly said, Premier – we do make an ally of the Valley. I think you have answered your own question there. Yes, let's make an alliance with Cyborg Valley. The way the true terrorist situation – with End Cyborg Life – has worsened, we may well need their help.”

  There was a pause, Josh watched as the others debated while his wife and Sylvia looked at him accusingly, both ready once again to defend Felix Lynch.

  Finally, after a discussion that was made between ministers and then the chiefs of law and defence made suggestions quietly, the others murmured and the response was uneasy. Finally, it was General Temple who spoke up for the others, addressing Josh as Steph and the Vice Premier looked on.

  “A sensible compromise is in order,” Temple began, “We suggest a balance in the outcome – an offer to the Valley of a substantial fine in exchange for the release of General Lynch.”

  “And that matter should be debated at the final appeal,” Josh agreed, knowing instantly he had just been thrown a life line by way of an easy way out.

  “Wait!” Sylvia said in alarm, “We haven't discussed the terms.”

  “It will be a matter of price,” Josh replied, “This will show the Valley we are willing to consider mercy and send a message to End Cyborg Life that terrorism will not be tolerated.”

  “That's all?” Steph said, “Can't you make this decision final now?”

  “Shortly before he is due to be executed, the Valley will be made the offer, if they agree, they get him back alive.”

  Steph looked to Sylvia, starting to worry as Josh declared the meeting closed, then he got up and so did the others. As they left the room, Steph lingered behind to speak with the Vice Premier.

  “Please tell me some good came out of this meeting,” she said anxiously.

  “I can't, because it didn't,” she said in a hushed voice, “They will wait until a short time before Lynch is due to go to the gas chamber and then tell Riley the Valley can have him back for a price. They will make that price so high that Cyborg Valley won't be able to pay it.”

  Steph looked at her in alarm.

  “They can't do that!”

  “They just did,”Sylvia replied sadly, “And we can fight this all the way but we will be out voted. This is politics at its worst – and I'm really not sure what we can do about it - but we need to think of something before they schedule his execution.”

  As the broadcast went out, it ran from Freedom City to Cyborg Valley, where in the Valley Elise and her daughter watched anxiously as Flynn and Kait looked on. Riley was up at the mansion, Joy beside him as she and Jekel listened to the outcome as Del watched from a distance, standing beside an open window as he listened to the outcome as he turned his head, looked into the garden below and saw Melissa Thorn walking by the roses. She seemed to sense she was being watched and turned her head, looked up to see the mutant, then she looked away again and headed into the house. He looked away too, as he focused on the broadcast guessing that having been mutated by the Howler virus, it was likely no woman would ever look at him again – especially not one
so lovely as Melissa...

  As the broadcast started, those who were in the Wired Circuit watched on in silence.

  “As the situation now stands,” said the broadcaster, “While there is no doubt of the General's guilty verdict, it has been suggested that on the second appeal shortly before the time execution is due, there may be a deal on the table to secure the release of Felix Lynch. The ruling circle will be considering the possibility of a fine – the extent of which is yet to be specified – in exchange for his release. But for now, until terms are made solid, the General is still on Death Row awaiting execution. If Lynch is executed he will be the first inmate at the new Freedom City Prison to die by gas chamber...”

  As the voice was muffled by static and the picture rolled, Flynn switched off the set and looked to the others.

  “He never should have taken the bait, I knew this was a trap! A fine? They'll make sure it's so steep we can't pay it!”

  Fi blinked away tears as she looked up at her mother.

  “Don't let them kill my Dad!”

  “I won't,” Elise vowed, “We'll find a way... there has to be a way...”

  Back at the mansion House in Sanctuary, Jekel looked in shock at the screen as the broadcast ended.

  “They want him dead, this is just a sneaky way of going about it!”

  Riley gave a weary sigh.

  “And all I can do is speak up for him and hope they will ask for a realistic sum or the equivalent when we find out the extent of the fine. All this talk of releasing him is bullshit. They want him shipped back in a pine box to send a message to their own rebels and to remind us their laws will be upheld. I'm not expecting this to end well at all.”

  Joy glared at the static on the screen. Fire was in her eyes, it was the kind he had not seen since the days when they had fought side by side, but as Joy spoke up she sounded every inch a fighter once more.

  “I say we take the war bird in and get him out.”

  “And start a conflict, Joy?” Riley exclaimed, “The clue is in the name of the vessel – War Bird! You fly that craft into their airspace and start shooting, we're all at war and after what the world has been through there won't be any of us left to pick up the pieces. Another war will finish us all off!”

  Then Melissa entered the room as Travis ran in after her.

  “What's happened?” he said, looking up at his father.

  Jekel shook his head.

  “Its not good news about General Lynch, son. They're talking about letting Felix go if the Valley pays a fine but the fine will probably be too steep – so they get their way and send him to the gas chamber...Bloody Freedom City, I hate that place!”

  “I still want to take the war bird in there,” Joy added.

  “Mum you can't!” Melissa said in horror, “You'll start a war...if you start killing people -”

  “Nobody is killing anyone,” Riley insisted, “There could still be a way around this...I just need to work on some ideas...and I'm not discussing them further at this point.”

  It was then that Del stepped forward.

  “If I may make a suggestion,” he said in his well spoken, soft voice, “Although I recall little from my former life, I do feel sure I would make an excellent representative on behalf of the Valley...I could perhaps visit Freedom by arrangement and attempt a peaceful, humane solution?”

  Riley gave him a weary look.

  “No offense, Del,” he said flatly, “But you look like an alien and you smell vaguely of Howler – they'd take one look at you and say Kill it with fire.”

  Del blinked his wide, dark eyes and his shoulders sagged as he looked down at the floor sadly.

  “Sorry,” Riley added.

  “I understand,” Del replied, then he left the room as Melissa watched him leave, feeling sorry for the man who looked so different but only wanted to help.

  “You're right,” Jekel agreed, “He does look alien...and he smells! He stinks of Howler sometimes! I can smell a vague trace of it in the air now...Nice bloke, though.”

  Joy cast him a warning look as she shook her head.

  “We all know he smells, Ash! You don't have to be so blunt about it!”

  Riley looked to his best friend, who stood beside the desk looking elegant in his dark suit.

  “You're looking well today, Ash. No side effects from the pain shots yet?”

  “None what so ever, and now I'm off to rehearse for the show – before Kade takes advantage of my lateness and steps in for me!”

  He kissed Joy goodbye and left the room, heading for the stairs, and Joy watched as he walked briskly away, feeling relieved that at least her husband was able to do so much more since the treatment had stopped – even if the future was looking bleak.

  Joy then turned her thoughts back to Lynch.

  “We just have to hope we can pay that fine, no matter how high it is – Felix needs to come home. He's got his family waiting for him.”

  “Yes he has,” Riley agreed, silently considering Elise's request to find a suitable android – it was a near impossible task, but as this was cyborg valley then perhaps there was an ex UNA android out there somewhere, whose wiring would be so advanced it could take the ESBA unit... As he thought it all over then saw Melissa and Travis leave the room, he looked again to Joy, gesturing her to come closer.

  “There might be another way,” he said in a low voice, “But this has be strictly between you and me – I need to find an ex UNA android that has high design specifications, very high... Can you quietly scout around the valley and see if you can come up with one?”

  “I can try. It's better than sitting here doing nothing while Lynch is behind bars waiting for execution. Yes, I'll do what I can...Not sure if we have any in the Valley but if there is one, I'll find them, I promise you that.”

  Riley smiled.

  Thanks, Joy, I knew I could rely on you.”

  “Always,” she replied as she thought of Jekel and the legacy of his battle injuries, “My Ash is dying because of the injuries he got when he fought for this town. And he's as committed to the Valley as Lynch is - we have to try, this is for both of them.”

  As Violet sat alone in her attic room over the old tailor's shop on the outskirts of Freedom, she looked through the dirty window past the grime and to the skies as the sun tried to break through, and thought on the news she had just learned through the broadcast : General Lynch was still facing the death penalty, but there was possible room for mercy. Although it seemed perhaps this offer was simply there as a false show of consideration, she had a sinking feeling that hearing of the suggestion of a fine would spur Jet into action – and as she heard her sister's boots as she hurried up the stairway, she knew she was right.

  “Vi,” called her sister as she opened up the door, “Guess what?”

  There was a smug look on her face and a fanatical gleam in her eyes that almost matched Jet's in that moment as she made her announcement.

  “They're talking about waiving the death penalty, so we are off to Cyborg Valley – we have a festival host to abduct.”

  Violet got up, feeling sick at the thought of what she was being dragged into.

  “I can't wait,” she said, lying convincingly as she silently hoped there would be a way to save Ashley Jekel from such a terrible fate – she had long questioned the idea that cyborgs were evil, and after seeing his interview she felt sure that he was a human being like any other, and certainly didn't deserve to go through the ordeal of being held prisoner. He didn't deserve any of that – he needed to be home with his family, the poor man was dying. As she left the attic room and went down the stairway with Jasmine, the thought occurred to her that if she saw a window of opportunity to prevent this abduction, she would have to take it – even if it meant shooting her own sister in the process...

  Two days passed by.

  Elise had been in the kitchen over the Wired Circuit while Flynn and Kait worked the bar. It was a busy evening and Mandy One was helping out, while above the
bar, all was quiet as Elise finished clearing up after dinner and then as she looked to the window and the hillside and her thoughts drifted far off to Lynch, who was achingly out of her reach, the internal processor stopped, she blinked, saw the series of codes playing at the back of her mind and turned to the table, snatched up a pen and grabbed a piece of paper and began to frantically write down the alien coding.

  “Mum I was just going to use that!”said Fi, but her mother didn't answer as she leant over the paper, the pen scratching at the paper as she write down the code displayed inside her mind. Fi watched as the pen shifted from one line to the next, as Elise drew another set of symbols, her hand moving in a rapid blur. After the third set of symbols

  she set the pen down, then she sat down at the table, ran her fingers through her dark hair and studied the coding.

  “Give me some more paper,” she said, and Fi handed her another sheet, then watched as her mother placed the coding above it and began to write out a series of numbers.

  “Okay...” Elise began as she finally put the pen down and looked at the translation, “Code A is the physical unlock to remove the unit...Code B is the programmable key and Code C is the locking code that shuts down Protocol Five.”

  Then she looked across the table at her daughter.

  “I need your help with something, the back of my head...on the left side...I've got an artificial skin seal that lifts up...I'll need to go to the motor home and get out your Dad's tool kit – the one he uses for his own minor repairs, you know, because he doesn't like anyone else touching his robotics?”

  Fi nodded.

  “Then what?” she asked.

  “After that I need to position two mirrors so I can see the back of my head so I can open up the casing and very carefully using special wire cutters, remove the Protocol Five Command Unit,” she said.

  Fi's eyes widened.

  “What do you want me to do?”