Lane did it simply because he didn’t think he had a choice. In this place, you did what they asked you to do, without questions and without fail. And if you were unable to comply for some reason the consequences would be horrible. It was difficult trying to lift his finger and holding it up long enough to press the button on the screen but Lane eventually managed it. The screen transitioned to a window that opened so Lane could see the caller’s face on the other end.
“Lane?” he heard Connor’s voice. It sounded a little different over the connection but he still recognized it right away. He was thankful his vision had gotten better on the way to here.
“Con?”
“Lane, are you okay?”
Lane wondered how he was supposed to answer that question. “Yeah.”
“What did they do to you?”
Lane suddenly felt self-conscious. He knew what he looked like. He knew where the bruises and the scars and the raw cuts were, and he knew he would be lying to Connor’s face if he said something positive about this place and Connor wouldn’t want that. But before he could think of something to say, he started crying. He tried to stop himself but it didn’t help. His heart was too full. The sight of his brother made everything a little better for a moment.
“Lane,” Connor said. “I know its bad. But it won’t be for long. I’m going to break you out of there, I’ve been working with someone.”
Lane looked up at the man who had brought him here, wondered if he was in trouble, but the man said nothing. Just stood there with a blank expression on his face like none of this was his business. Lane turned to Connor. “Don’t say that,” he said.
“I’m not just saying it,” Connor said. “I’ve got it all worked out, Lane. It won’t take long, I promise.”
Lane said nothing.
Just as suddenly as he had started crying before, he felt sleepy now. He almost closed his eyes again, but the man was there to shake him awake. Lane glued his eyes to the screen and tried to keep them from closing.
“We miss you Lane,” Connor said. “Kevin and me and Dominic, we can’t wait to see you.”
“Arianna?” Lane had no idea how the name even came out or why.
“She’s fine,” Connor said. “She misses you too.”
The chemicals in his brain started dragging Lane back to sleep, and Connor must have seen it because he decided to end the call. “Lane,” he said. “You should go now. We’ll talk later.”
Lane’s sluggish brain took a while in processing that too.
“I love you, Lane.”
The man took the device from him and said something to Connor that Lane couldn’t understand. Not because he couldn’t hear it, but because the words were nothing but a jumble of noise inside his head.
“Here’s the thing,” the man said after the call ended. “You won’t tell anyone about this, okay?”
When there was no response from Lane, the man slapped Lane’s face repeatedly, but with a light hand. “Hey,” he said. “Focus! You’re not going to tell anyone about this. Is that understood?”
Since Lane did understand the words this time, he gave a nod of his head.
“Not your cellmate, not the doctors, not the guards…you can’t tell anyone.”
Another nod.
When he was satisfied Lane had understood, the man held out a hand for Lane. “Come on now,” he said, lifting Lane up. “Let’s get you back to that cell before anyone gets suspicious about what we’re doing in here.”
CHAPTER 13
THE DEAL WITH THE DEVIL PART II
ZYRON REGION-ONE
Connor handed the phone back to Aana.
“Do you believe me now?” she said.
“This just proves that you have contacts there,” Connor said. “But how do I know if you can actually get him out?”
Aana smiled. “I think someone needs to remind you of your position here,” she said. “You’re the one who wants something this bad. And if you want what’s dear to you, you’re going to have to make some sacrifices.”
“Sacrifice in this case being Jace,” Connor said. “Not the kind of thing you take lightly.”
This time Aana focused her gaze on him. “You have to prioritize Connor,” she said. “Besides. When you find out who Dyer really is, you’re going to want to rethink your strategy.”
“So tell me,” Connor said. “Maybe it’s going to make it easier for me to give him to you.”
“Don’t talk that way,” she said. “Not if you can’t deal with the truth.”
“Now I’m genuinely intrigued.”
“I can tell you his truth,” she said. “But I’m afraid you might lose a hero. I know some people who’ve hated me in the past for it. You sure you want to join the ranks?”
“I don’t make heroes out of people who’re made from the same molecular composition as me.”
“What about aliens?” Aana said. “They have a different molecular composition.”
“Technically Zyronians are the smarter species,” Connor said. “All the technological advancement you see in the Khaltars home planet is because they’ve been around longer. As a species we’ve only been around for what 3 billion years? The Khaltars on the other hand have been around three times as long.”
“Cosmology was never my strong suit.”
“So you’re a scientist?”
“Neurobiologist to be exact.”
“So what does a scientist want with someone like Dyer?” Connor said. “Are you going to make him a test subject? Find out what makes him tick and dissect him all in the name of science?”
“Talk about conspiracy theories,” Aana said. “Now I know you’ve become impressed with Dyer. Good for you.”
“Isn’t it true that’s what they’re doing to my brother and the other inmates over there? You said it yourself.”
“Yeah but what’s that got to do with me?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”
“Look,” Aana said. “I’m simply using my contacts to help you. I need Dyer, you need your brother, we can make it work and that’s all that should matter to you.”
“You haven’t told me what you have on Dyer.”
“Are you sure you can handle it?”
*
“Why are we here?” Connor asked when Aana stopped the car in front of a large house.
“You wanted to know who Dyer really is,” Aana said. “I’m going to show you. Come with me.”
She got out of the car and Connor followed her. She constantly looked around as if she was making sure there was no one watching them. She zipped up the jacket she was wearing to hide the revolver better and went up to the door. She pressed the buzzer and a servant came out.
“Yes?”
“I’m here for my interview,” Aana said, handing the servant an envelope. “This is my résumé, hope I’m not too late.”
“You’re just in time,” the servant said and looked at Connor. “Is he with you?”
“Yes,” Aana said. “Is it okay if he waits with me?”
The servant let them both through.
They stepped into the massive foyer, where the servant told them to wait. Connor was in awe of the place. He had never seen something like it before.
“Would you mind explaining to me what’s going on here?” Connor said, keeping his voice low.
“Don’t worry,” Aana said. “Fake name, fake résumé. You know what this place is?”
“No idea.”
“See those pictures?” she pointed to the far wall where a line of photographs covered the wood décor.
“What about it?” Connor asked, walking up to them.
“Look closely.”
So Connor did.
At first he couldn’t see anything, and then he noticed. “Commander Krole,” he said.
“This house belongs to him,” she said. “He’s very fond of taking pictures. You’ll see them everywhere. Keep looking.”
“What am I looking for exactly?”
“Third picture on the right,” she said. “Do you see it?”
Connor was about to say something but when he saw the picture he forgot everything else. There were more like it. Commander Krole, a Khalthar nonetheless, was standing with a wiry kid donning a wide smile and there was no mistaking his features. WORLD’S BEST SON said a sign in the picture in Khaltar handwriting. There were more pictures of the same child in different stages of his life.
“That’s—”
“The man you know as Jace Dyer,” Aana said. “His real name is Elva Krole. And he’s none other than Commander Krole’s son. Now do you believe me when I say that Jace isn’t the man he pretends to be?”
*
It took Connor a while to come to terms with that fact but before he did, they had to leave. Aana was afraid they might get in trouble if they stayed there too long. So they came back out and got in Aana’s car.
“Well?” she said when she saw Connor was quiet.
“Well what?”
“Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“I just don’t understand why he’d do such a thing,” Connor said. “I went to his house. He has a wife and kids.”
“It’s all a pretense,” Aana said. “He’s nothing but the biggest con-artist there ever was.”
“Let’s say he is the guy you claim he is,” Connor said. “That still doesn’t explain why you want him.”
“A lot of people want Dyer,” Aana said. “So does my boss. I can’t give you any more details.”
“Is Dyer going to be tortured? If I give him to you?”
“To be honest,” Aana said. “I have no idea. I work for someone and that kind of information is beyond my pay grade.”
“Well, at least you’re honest.”
“That’s the whole thing Connor,” she said. “I’m not trying to scam you. I’m just telling you the deal my boss is offering, nothing more nothing less. You give me the resistance leader, and I’ll give you your brother.”
“How will it work exactly?”
“Well, the minute you give me Dyer, I’ll assign a team to you,” Aana said. “They’ll help get your brother out, they’ll take you along.”
“You must think I’m stupid,” Connor said. “I give you Dyer and then we go save my brother? Don’t you think that’s a little convenient?”
“Unless you want your brother rotting in that prison for however long they’ve decided to let him breathe, it doesn’t seem to me like you have much choice.”
“What’s the guarantee that you won’t flee the moment you get your hands on Jace?”
“There isn’t,” Aana said. “You’re just going to have to trust me. Just like I’ll trust you to be honest with your end of the bargain and not get too sentimental over giving up a Khaltar. Well that and the fact that I can always shoot both you and your brother in the head.”
*
Connor checked his watch for the millionth time since he had come here. Time looked like it was going in slow motion. He checked his phone for messages but there was nothing new there. It was past nine in the evening, and Connor hadn’t eaten anything since that morning and yet there was no sign of real hunger in his system. Probably just nerves. Before he could check his watch again, he heard the sound of footsteps, a pair of boots walking in his direction.
“Why did you call me here?” Jace Dyer said, sinking his hands deep inside his jacket pockets to get some heat.
“I’m sorry,” Connor said, and before he could say something to respond to the puzzled expression on Dyer’s face he heard someone cocking a rifle. Two men had their targets pointed at Dyer and a third came out from the van, and Connor recognized her instantly.
“Don’t move,” Aana said. She brought a pair of handcuffs towards Dyer and restrained his hands behind his back. Dyer still stood looking at Connor, as if needing an explanation.
“I’m sorry Jace,” Connor said. “But you lied to me.”
“What’re you talking about?”
“You’re not just some resistance leader Jace,” Connor said. “You’re a fucking Khaltar! My brother is in prison because of your kind! And that’s not all—you’re Commander Krole’s son! I mean how blind did you think I was?”
“Connor you have to let me explain,” Jace said. “This…don’t do this!”
“So you’re not denying it then?”
“I’ve lied to you about this and you deserve some honesty,” Jace said. “But I never lied about anything else. The mission, the resistance Connor, its all real! You have to believe me!”
“Believe a Khaltar?” Connor said. “That’s rich!”
One of the two males took hold of Jace and led him to the van. “Connor please,” Jace said. “Please don’t do this! You’re making a mistake!”
But Connor crammed his emotions in some faraway place. If he listened to his conscience, he wouldn’t be able to help his brother. It was better this way. When they took Jace away and put him in the van, Aana stood there with him.
“Well you kept your end of the bargain,” she said. “It’s my turn.”
“Just tell me how this is going to go down.”
“Everything is on standby,” Aana said. “My people are ready to leave for Delta Bay in the morning. Go home and wait for my call.”
If she wanted to run, she could have done it by now. But she was here which meant she had every intention of keeping her end of the bargain. Connor started walking up to his car when Aana spoke. “It was a pleasure doing business with you Connor,” she said.
“Wish I could say the same.”
CHAPTER 14
PRISON BREAK
Delta-Bay, Zyron Region-Two
The little red light in the sky was a communications tower. No one could have imagined that the picturesque island of Delta Bay with its beach birds and purple indigenous flowers was home to the ugliness of a concentration camp. It was the fifth day that Connor had spent here, with Aana’s assigned team which consisted of two people: Job and Samarka. Connor wished Kevin was here with him, but he had left him a job to do back in Region One and there was no one else Connor could have trusted for that particular task. Easton was going to be difficult to have to explain things to, but Connor wasn’t going to worry about that now. Right now, the prison break demanded all his focus.
“Connor?” the girl with the striking brown eyes called Samarka said. “We’re ready.”
Connor walked towards the tiny cottage and went inside. Right in front of him on the massive table, Job was staring down at a blue-print. The first floor plan was for the administration building and the main cell house of Black Walls. “This is our way in,” Job said, pointing to the place marked kitchen. “The security around here is lax, if we have to break in, this is where we do it.”
“But this is the floor plan of the prison,” Connor said. “Aana said my brother was in the labs.”
“Your brother is scheduled to be taken to the labs tomorrow,” Job said. “The labs are a high security area, located right underneath cell blocks A and B. Acquiring the plans for the prison was easy, but getting my hands on the plans for the basement, not so much. They’re very careful about keeping that place a secret. Most people don’t even know that floor exists, and they certainly don’t know its purpose or any more details than what we already know. But we do know that there’s a secret entrance right here, in the Sally Port where the scientists take a direct route to the labs instead of going through the cell blocks.”
“But that’s impossible,” Connor said. “There’s going to be tons of guards, not to forget alarm systems that are nearly impenetrable. We’re never going to get past with what we have.”
“We have no choice,” Job said. “It’s either this or we forget the whole thing.”
“What happens if we get caught?”
“Then there’s a good chance we end up worse than your brother.”
“He’s right this is insane,” Samarka said, staring up at Connor. “But we’re hardly the sanest peop
le on the planet.”
“Well, if you think this is our best shot, I’m in,” Connor said. “When do we begin?”
“Your brother’s scheduled for 4 pm tomorrow and they keep him there until six,” Job said. “After that Dr. Wilkinson, the scientist in charge leaves the room. His car comes to pick him up at exactly six, so he heads out through a back exit especially reserved for the employees. Once he leaves the room, our friend in the building does his job. He’s a janitor and everyone’s used to seeing him clean up after the doctors leave. This day in particular, he will leave the lab door open for us so we don’t have to worry about breaking in which saves us a lot of time to concentrate on the actual escape. Once we get your brother out, we follow our plan. The minute we’re out of Black Walls, you and your brother will be on the first flight back to Region-One.”
*
“Mind if I join you?”
Connor turned to see Samarka standing there. It was dark, and Connor could barely see her face. “Please,” he said and offered the bottle of whiskey in his hand. She came to sit on the only bench on the porch, and accepted the bottle, took a swallow before she began speaking.
“Can’t sleep?” she asked.
“Not really.”
“Yeah me neither,” Samarka said. “I always get really anxious the day before a job. It’s impossible to rest my mind.”
“I can imagine,” Connor said. “How long have you been doing this?”
“All my life,” she said with a smirk. “I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t working for Job.”
“Are you two—?”
“No,” Samarka said. “Nothing like that. He’s just my mentor, it’s hard to explain.”
“And you don’t have a boyfriend?”
“Not really,” she said. “I’ve gone out with some people over the years, but nothing too serious. What about you?”
“To be honest there is someone,” Connor said, and was surprised to find himself admitting it to her. Maybe the allure of speaking to a stranger had something to do with it. “But I’m not sure where it’s going.”
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