Sanctuary 2 (The Foliage Series Book 4)

by Aline Riva

  Then she slapped his face.

  Riley stepped back, looking shocked.

  “And the programming will guide him, his wiring is compatible – those Protocol Five units are considered invincible for a reason – because they work! And please ease up on the slaps, Joy, they're getting harder!”

  Joy's anger simmered down as tears filled her eyes.

  “I just want him back home!”

  Riley hugged her as he assured her Jekel would be returning very soon, as Joy blinked away tears, watching the skies and wondering if she would ever see the war bird to cut through the air again.

  As the war bird flew on through the skies away from Freedom, the gates far below were in sight.

  “A few more miles and we'll be clear of City airspace,” said Jekel, as at the back of his mind the red circle rotated then suddenly turned green as No Hostility Detected shone brightly. As he looked to the monitor and saw the fleet drop lower in the skies and turn back, he laughed.

  “We've done it!”

  Darren watched from the window.

  “More like they saw the size and design of this craft and shit themselves!” he remarked.

  “A whole fleet, are you stupid?” asked Lynch, “They just turned back because the peace declaration was accepted. I'm willing to best Josh is no longer Premier, too!”

  “Let's hope Sylvia Payton got the job,” Jekel replied as the war bird flew on past the gates of the city and out of Freedom airspace, “We really will have unity now.”

  Then he opened up the channel and tuned into Joy's communicator.

  “Joy? Can you hear me?” he said loudly.

  There was a pause, and then as he looked at the monitor he saw Joy, looking stunned as she watched the communications device jump into life once more.

  “Ash? Yes I can hear you!Are you okay?”

  He smiled as he looked ahead, watching the skies rush past as he took the straight route back to Cyborg Valley.

  “I am okay and so is Felix. Tell Elise and Fi he's coming home. And Joy, the war bird is okay too, just a few scratches – I'm sorry about that love, it couldn't be helped.... Is Riley there?”

  “I'm right here, mate,” he heard Riley say as Joy passed him the device.

  “Everything worked like you said it would, I now have a green circle at the back of my mind...”

  “That means mission accomplished,” he replied, “Expect the battle unit to shut down on landing. It won't hurt, the circle will just vanish.”

  “I'm not far away,” Jekel replied, “Tell your robot butler to put the kettle on and make the tea - and I'll have some of those cup cakes of yours to go with it. See you very soon!”

  Then he flew the war bird onwards, heading straight for Cyborg Valley. In the distance, he saw the hills and valleys and the road that led to the gateway, and as Lynch saw it too he felt tears sting at his eyes as he had recalled being led away as a prisoner. Now he would be returning a free man, going back to Elise and Fi who he had, only a few short hours before, felt convinced he would never see again. It really was over, he had made it and he was going home...

  Then as they passed over the border and headed for Sanctuary, Darren sat up straight in his seat, listening intently.

  “What's that noise?” he said.

  Lynch listened too, hearing a tick-tick-tick that was growing louder by the second.

  As an alert lit up the controls, the light in the back of Jekel's mind turned red once more.

  “What's thermal overload?” he wondered, then he let the system guide his hand as he turned off all but vital functions, killed the shields and watched in alarm as the circle inside his head turned over, drawing out a map of the war bird then focussing on the rear of the craft, down low where the landing gear was controlled, as it lit up and the danger was spelled out to him clearly.

  “Shit!” said Jekel as he turned the craft sharply, heading for the flat fields that led to Sanctuary hillside, “You two had better stay buckled up – this craft is a few years old...I've used a lot of energy via the shield systems and we've got a major overheating problem that's going to affect ability to land! I'm trying for the fields down by the hillside....no houses, no people...just in case!”

  Darren shot a look of alarm to Lynch.

  “I've only just met you, Dad! If we die now I'll never get to know you, that's all I've ever wanted, to know you!”

  “Well, we've met now,” Lynch replied dismissively, “So we know each other!” then he looked to Jekel, “Follow the guidance system, Tiger.”

  Ash clutched at the controls as the war bird went into a slow and careful descent and Jekel looked back at him.

  “Too right I will, I'm not bloody landing it myself! I'm no pilot, Felix, it's the program that's guiding me!”

  “Let's hope it knows its stuff!” Felix added, keeping his sights on the field far below as the war bird continued to descend.

  As they stood together by the mansion house, the mood among those who waited on the ground was one of celebration. As Kade hurried up the path to join them, his eyes shone with triumph.

  “I just heard on a bulletin – Sylvia Payton – my Mum - is the new Premier of Freedom!”

  “And I'm sure the new ruler of this valley will spend many a happy hour discussing politics with her,” said Riley.

  Elise had just laughed as she threw a posy of picked flowers and Kait caught them, after Kait had told her now Lynch was coming home she had better make sure she stayed true to her word and got that man down the aisle. But on hearing his words, Elise and Kait both turned and looked at Riley, as did Kade.

  “You're standing down?” he said in surprise, “Why?”

  Joy had been looking to the skies watching for a sign of the war bird, and on hearing the conversation unfold, she looked back at Riley.

  “But your people need you, they look up to you!”

  “I know that, Joy. But where was I when Leather took the town apart? And then I was convinced I could save Felix by way of negotiation... it wasn't enough...I'd rather stand down and focus on what I do best – running the med centre, looking after the cyborg population's needs.”

  “Who else could take your place, Blake?”

  He turned around to see Melissa and Dorian were standing side by side, both looking at him in dismay.

  “Your people look up to you,” Dorian reminded him.

  “But my friend,” Riley said sadly, “Admiring my skills as a cyborg technician, maintenance man and android designer is a long way from admiring me as a leader.”

  “Maintenance man?” Joy exclaimed, “You're so much more than that – Ash is alive today because of your skill!”

  “Yes Joy – my skill! What I do best, as a cybernetic surgeon! I need to hand the leadership of the Valley to somebody else!”

  She stared at him in disbelief.

  “There is nobody else!”

  “Yes there is,” he said quietly.

  Then as the sound of the war bird's engines filled the air they all looked skyward, as Joy's eyes widened in horror as she saw the craft slipping into an unsteady dive, thick smoke trailing from the back of the craft, low on the underside.

  She grabbed the communicator and spoke into it.

  “Ash, are you hit?”

  Jekel's reply came back crackling over the line and with no vision on the screen.

  “No - she's overheated, old thermal component overloaded.... heading for the field ...no casualties that way...I love you!”

  “Ash!” Joy yelled as the war bird dipped out of view, then she broke into a run, heading for the hillside as the others ran too.

  As the ground rushed closer, the red circle inside his head turned and mapped out the landing site.

  “What?” Jekel exclaimed as he saw two choices,“Oh great, it's playing bloody games with me now!”

  As Darren clutched at the seat Lynch was doing the same to his own chair as the ground loomed closer by the second.

  “What choices?” he demanded
.

  “Field or road...either one....road's empty...field's empty...”

  “Grass might offer softer impact but if we skid we're more likely to sink and roll...”

  Sweat ran down Jekel's face as he steadied the shaking craft as it struggled towards ground.

  “Guidance says fifty-fifty! Oh, this thing inside my head is shit at emergency landings! Sod it, I'm going for the road - ”

  He veered the craft sharply right, waiting for the cue to lower from the guidance system, then pulled up sharply as the war bird failed to stop and hover, instead it shot along the road, the hull of the craft hit the ground roughly, jolting the bones of the occupants then continuing to skid as sparks showered from both sides as metal screeched on the road surface.

  Jekel was still clutching at the controls as he pulled up on the emergency brake and more sparks showered from the sides as the craft shuddered and with a scream of ripping metal and popping bolts, the overheating back of the craft began to rip away, hanging loose as the guidance system in Jekel's head told him explosion was imminent. Suddenly the back of the craft tore away, and as the front containing the occupants went into a spin, coming to a thudding stop sharply as it hit the hillside, the back half of the war bird spun violently, slowed and also came to a stop, perilously close to the front half of the craft.

  Jekel looked up the road where a short distance away, flames were licking at the other half of the broken craft as the red circle in his mind altered yet again, sending out a message.

  “Thirty seconds!” he yelled, ripping his belt free as Lynch and his son did the same.

  Darren was up and stepping down from the broken floor as Lynch struggled to stand.

  “I can't run!” he exclaimed as Jekel grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the road.

  “Then start limping - fast!” Jekel said urgently, and he pulled him from the craft as Lynch stumbled, compromised by his damaged robotic leg as his son also supported him and together they made a difficult run for the hillside as close behind them the ticking stopped and then the back half of the war bird exploded, sending a ball of flame and blackened smoke into the sunlit skies above.

  As the explosion shook the hillside, Joy reached the top as the others followed and she looked down at the road where, a short distance away, the back of the war bird was in scattered, burning pieces as shards of metal littered as far as the eye could see.

  “Joy!” yelled Jekel, and she turned her head and looked down, flooded with relief to see Ash and a man she did not recognise helping Felix up the hillside.

  “Dad!”Travis called, and as the others met them at the top of the hill and Felix wrapped his arms around Elise and held on to her tightly, Joy looked on with relief in her eyes as Jekel walked over to her, as he reached her she wanted to hold him but Travis was there first, slamming into the tough battle suit as he threw his arms around his father.

  “Dad, you saved Felix!” he said as he looked up at him.

  Jekel looked down at his son and smiled as he ruffled his hair.

  “Yes I did, son,” he replied proudly.

  “And you broke the war bird,” Travis added.

  “I did that too...Sorry, Joy!”

  As she met his gaze he knew where he wanted to be, and he stepped closer as she embraced him, then he put his arms around them both, holding his wife and his son as far below on the road side, the last of the burning debris smouldered sending smoke trails into the air as the red circle in his head turned green, gave the message Protocol Five Deactivated, then disappeared. Jekel blinked and as he looked at Joy, the war machine was gone from the back of his vision.

  “The unit's deactivated and I feel fine,” he assured her.

  “Told you so,” said Riley.

  Jekel and his best friend exchanged a glance and a smile, then Riley spoke up again.

  “I'm standing down,” he said, “I want to concentrate on what I do best – and its not politics.”

  “But you can't,” Jekel replied, “Who could replace you?”

  “A far better man for the job, who better than a cyborg folk hero?”

  As he spoke, he was looking to Felix Lynch as he embraced Elise and kissed her deeply as they stood on the hillside together. Felix broke off from that kiss and looked at him in alarm.

  “But I don't want a kingdom!”he protested.

  “You can live at the mansion. I'll hand over the army and the land and everything I control...it's all yours, you deserve it.”

  Elise, who still had her arms wrapped about his waist, gave him a squeeze and smiled.

  “I like the sound of that, no more living between the pub and the motor home...”

  “But I like living at the pub and going off in the motor home!”he exclaimed.

  “Felix,” Riley said, “The job's yours if you want it, okay?”

  “All I want right now is one of your technicians to repair the wire in my leg,” he replied. Then he looked down and saw Fi was at his side, and his heart filled with love for his daughter, the child he had thought he would never see again.

  “I'm glad you're back, Dad,” she said to him.

  Felix let go of Elise and leant down, looking into his daughter's eyes as he recalled that conversation from his cell on the eve of what he believed would be his last day on earth, then his mind was made up on Riley's offer.

  “You know how you said you wanted to be a princess?” he reminded her, “Well... I think you might just get that wish.”

  Her eyes lit up with joy as she laughed.

  “Really?”

  “Yes, really!” Felix replied, suddenly feeling excited at the idea simply because he knew it would bring his family happiness. Then Fi's expression changed to one of worry as she indicated to Darren.

  “Dad, that stranger just said hello to me...”

  “He's not a stranger,” he replied, “That's Darren Lynch, he's my oldest son.”

  She looked to Darren in surprise.

  “You're my brother?”

  “Yes, I am,” he replied.

  “I didn't know brothers could be as old as you!” she exclaimed.

  “Thanks kid,” he said reluctantly, feeling sure that was no compliment, “I guess that's cos your Dad's been making babies for a long time!”

  “And you're welcome to stay around,” Lynch promised him, “I was no father back then but perhaps its not too late?”

  Darren smiled, then he stepped forward and briefly hugged his father and let go again.

  “What did you do before, in the old world?”Lynch asked.

  “I was in security, I was a bodyguard. Had a few high profile clients too.”

  “Then you're definitely on my team,” Lynch told him, “You can start by protecting Ash Jekel during the festival. The ECL abducted him but we got him back – we can't be sure they are entirely eliminated, so it makes sense to have extra protection as well as the planned security.”

  “Thanks, Dad. I was hoping you'd ask me to stick around.”

  “And on that note I need to be off,” Kade said, pausing to shake Jekel's hand, “I'm off to meet Steph, she's on her way. Nice flying Ash. Crap landing though - you really need to work on that!”

  Jekel laughed.

  “I'll see you tomorrow,” he reminded him, “Last day of rehearsals!”

  “I'll be there,” Kade replied and then he walked away, leaving the others at the top of the hill.

  “Come on,” said Jekel, putting an arm around Lynch as Darren did the same, “We got you all the way from Freedom, let's get you back to the house.”

  “We'll be off too,” Flynn called to Lynch, then he chuckled, adding, “Your Majesty!”

  “And don't forget to keep that promise!” Kait said to Elise, who smiled knowingly, her mind already made up that after all they had been through, she was determined to be Mrs Felix Lynch, no matter how resistant Felix was to the idea of marriage.

  Flynn and Kait made their way together down the hillside towards Bullet as the others made th
eir way towards the mansion house at Sanctuary, and as he limped on his damaged leg, Jekel and Darren supported Felix all the way.

  Chapter 13: The Death of a King

  When morning broke over a new day in Cyborg Valley, Joy was still sleeping but briefly woken by a kiss that made her smile, then Jekel turned from the bed and looked to the mirror, smiling as he took in the sight of his new suit, and the new diamond tie pin that sparkled in his silk tie as it caught the light. He laughed softly as he wondered if Kade would be annoyed about that new addition and rush off to get an identical one made, then he ran a comb through his hair, turned his head to admire the way the light caught on the engraved veneer at the side of his head, then he left the mansion house, and headed off across the fields to the place where the stage was set up.

  Kade was already there when he arrived, and as Jekel joined him in the wings, Kade studied his appearance closely.

  “Where did you get that tie pin?” he asked, and Jekel laughed.

  “Not telling you.”

  “Oh please don't be like that! I really like it.”

  Jekel shot him a knowing look.

  “I thought you just wanted to be a bit like me, not exactly like me?”

  “That's right...It's just that I really like it and...I think my Mum knows a jeweller who can replicate that...”

  Jekel laughed again, shaking his head.

  “You can try,” he said as amusement danced in his eyes, “But you'll never be me, Kade!”

  Then his smile faded as he stepped out on the stage, looked down and saw a familiar face looking up at him. The barriers had not yet been erected and Violet Silver was standing there, looking up at him with such warmth in her eyes that the memory of what they had shared when he believed he would never see Joy again seemed so sweet and wonderful he felt instantly weighted down with guilt he had not expected to feel after swearing he would have no regrets.

  “How are you, Ash?” she asked, as it occurred to him that since he had made the announcement to the press, no one yet knew he had recovered.