Did she believe him? There was much emotion in his eyes; she had to trust, that was the best she could do.
“Great. Now where is Ryan?”
“I have to leave him in a cell.”
“You can't. Last time he was here he nearly died.”
“No one will hurt him if I order them not to, but I have to be careful. Do you trust me?”
“In theory. Can I see him before I go?”
Annoyance and then relief passed over Ryan's face when she approached his cell. He wouldn’t be happy she was here, but she had to tell him their plans and see his face again before heading back to the compound.
With care, he put his hand through the bar and she lifted hers to hold it. They stood holding hands, expressing their love in whispers until Cody cleared his throat.
“Don’t take too long. We’ll wait out here, give you some privacy.”
Cody opened the laser door on the cell.
“I’m so glad to see you,” she whispered as she rushed into his arms. “We have a plan.” His gaze urged her to continue. “Cody has told me that all the captives and volunteers aren’t dead, but are living underground. They can help make up numbers. With us, the gangs, the prisoners and troops that no longer want to work for the Government, we should have numbers. Cody will talk to the troops and recruit. We have convinced Cody to work with us from the inside. The brother I know is still inside him. I’ve nearly brought him back completely.”
For several moments, he stared into her eyes. His expression hadn’t changed, which indicated he didn’t believe that Cody would help them.
“It’s okay. I believe and trust him. Simmo and I will talk to the gangs. Cody said they have killed a few of the renegades to make an example of them, but the majority are alive.”
“If you believe in Cody, then I will too. Let hope it’s not a mistake.”
“Time's up,” Cody bellowed into the cell block.
“I love you,” they whispered together before she dragged herself away.
After escorting Mackenzie and Ryder from the building, Cody returned to his office. He thought long and hard about Mackenzie’s words as he stared out the window. The usual peace he got from his favourite pastime held little appeal now. All he saw were brainwashed men training for another fight.
They had five days to get everyone together. Cody considered for the first time in a long time that he might lead a different life. This had been all he knew, but it was different now. Things weren’t as they seemed. He’d let himself be brainwashed from day one.
Now his love for his family won out. He wanted them to have a better life. A life without fear. To be free to choose what they wanted to do with their lives. He owed his brother and sister that much.
They made their way across the desert with Ryder asking her a million questions about the renegade compound and the people who lived there. She answered them all one after the other and it killed time as they walked. When they got to the trapdoor to take them underground Mackenzie realised that Ryan had the keys.
Pulling her comp-phone out, she sent a message to Simmo. A few minutes later the door opened and Simmo’s red head popped out the hole.
“Where’s Ryan?”
“At the GAP compound.”
“We have to go and get him.”
“It’s okay, Simmo, we have it under control.”
Simmo turned his attention to Ryder. “Who’s this?”
“My other brother, Ryder.”
“Can I trust him?”
“Yes, you can,” Ryder answered. “I want to be involved. I want to help. I can help keep Cody focused.”
“I think I’m missing something here,” Simmo said.
Without further words, his head disappeared and they followed him down the ladder. Mackenzie filled him in as they wound through the tunnels.
“I’m hungry, Simmo, I’m going to eat. Are you hungry, Ryder?”
“Yep, starving.”
“We have a plan, let’s talk over dinner.”
Mackenzie left no room for argument.
33
The Plan
Simmo listened intently as she filled him in on their plan. His face contorted into different moods as she told him what went down at the GAP compound.
“I’m not sure about this. How do I know you aren’t setting me up? Maybe this was your plan all along.”
“Do you remember this?” Mackenzie held up her wrist.
“You could have done it to show you’re with us when you’re not. It’s funny how you have another member of your family here and your brother has Ryan. How do I know if he’s even alive?”
“Simmo, please, I’m with Ryan. Always. This can be a way to end this. I know Ryan wants that more than he shows. Now is the time.”
His face contorted into what could only be described as a grimace. His eyes darted side to side as he considered whether she was telling the truth.
“Okay,” he finally said. Mackenzie let go of the breath she didn’t realise she was holding. “We should go and find Blade and other gang leaders tonight. We only have a few days. If I find out this is all lies then I will kill you and your whole family.” Simmo’s eyes grew dark and for a moment his words scared her until his face lit up into a smile. “Do you know how to use a weapon?” he asked Ryder.
“A little. Cody was teaching me to prepare me for the army. An army I never intended to join, by the way. I’m with Mackenzie on this. The time is now. Things need to change.”
“So I guess that is what we do first, target practise.”
Target practise frightened and surprised Mackenzie. Ryder had literally taken to a gun like a duck to water. Perhaps good aim was a family trait. He had become a man, a man she thought her brother to be, a man like Ryan. Now that Cody had had a complete turn around and was helping them, she was proud of both her brothers. The better Ryder shot, the more confidence surged inside her.
It was their time. This was the place where they fought for freedom. The people here deserved to understand, feel, know freedom. Free from dirt and stealing. Living without sunlight. This had to stop. They needed to take their city back. The rich and powerful would fall and the people would rise again.
The time was now.
Dusk cast a faint light over the desert as they headed into Artinean. They intended to wait out the sunset and put their plan into action. The gangs would start appearing soon; they had to find them during the night. Wherever gang members called home, they would head there before dawn.
This was their only chance and to that end, Simmo, three of their soldiers, Ryder and Mackenzie made their way silently through the city streets. Simmo knew where Blade scavenged, so it was a matter of time before they found the gang.
“How should we approach this?” Mackenzie whispered in the dark.
“Let me talk first. See where it goes,” Simmo replied with a shrug. “They know me. You can do your big speech if that doesn’t work,” he added with a half smirk.
“Ha! It worked on you.” She gave him a wink.
“Shh,” Simmo whispered. “I see one of them. A spotter. Let’s wait and see what they do.”
“I trust you,” she said into the shadows. “I can’t see you, but I trust you.” Her giggle cut through the moment before they went still.
With a quick drop, Simmo lay flat, prepared his sniper rifle and watched. Her brother touched her arm and she squeezed his hand.
“This is it, Mac. Is Cody going to come through for us?” he murmured.
“Yes.”
“How can you be so sure?” He sounded sceptical.
“Because it’s us. It’s Cody. He has done some terrible things. Incomprehensible things, but he did them. So did dad. They made mistakes. We can make it right.”
Pride for her sweet, not so little brother swelled her heart and pride filled her again. Both of her brothers were going to stand by her side as they fought for freedom. Getting numbers would not be a problem. She couldn’t let it be. Sinclair’s
government comprised of no more than twenty. His troops were a lot bigger, hundreds bigger, but how many of them would join their side? It was risky, but they had to try. People would die, but something had to change. Artinean needed to be a proper city again.
“You’re right, sis. We can do this.”
“Someone’s coming,” Simmo said.
The siblings stopped talking and waited for Simmo to advise their next move. The three soldiers they brought were spread out around their perimeter.
“Simmo,” hissed someone.
“Hey, Blade.” Simmo removed his rifle from his shoulder and stood up to knuckle crunch the gang leader.
“What you doing here, man, watching us?”
“We want to talk to you.”
His laughter boomed into the night sky. “What could you possibly want from little ole me?” He swaggered possibly from a booze stash they discovered.
“We want to overthrow the government.”
Blade chuckled, held his belly like it was the funniest thing he’d ever heard.
Mackenzie wanted to punch his smug face. After all, if it hadn’t been for Ryan, who knew what Blade would have done to her with his minions. She hated him, but wanted him on her side at the same time. They needed numbers no matter how crazy or out of control they were. The gangs would be more trigger happy than people from their compound, so they were more valuable in battle.
She shook her head. Only months ago she was a citizen living a dull life, now she thought about battle and strategies. The change excited her. This felt, good, right, exciting, so many things at once. She was ready to take down whomever she needed to. The love of her life needed her and she would deliver.
“We’re serious, Blade. We can get numbers and take them down. We can be free,” Simmo tried again.
She would have to step in soon. They might require a second opinion.
“How do we know we can trust you?”
“We’re fighting for the same thing, against the same government. We should’ve done it years ago.”
“I don’t know, man. I don’t know if I want the trouble. What happens if we lose?”
“We’re not going to lose,’ Mackenzie told him with conviction.
“Well, hello, I remember you,” Blade said with a smile that wasn’t friendly and bordered on a sneer. “So you stayed with these misfits then?”
“Yes, I stayed with Ryan.”
“Taylor is a lucky guy.”
“Enough of that,” interjected Ryder. “Are you with us or not?”
“Your brother, I presume?” Blade asked.
“Yes. So are you in?” Mackenzie demanded.
“Yeah, we’re in. What’s the plan?”
They spent the rest of the night searching out other gangs. Blade told them he would do the same and tell them of their strategy. They were to meet again at the same time the following night.
It was time for all the oppressed to join forces.
34
Renegades
The following night they waited for Blade and his gang, along with the other gangs they’d found and spoken to about their plan. Their wait was anxious, wondering if they would all turn up. With all the gangs on board their numbers would be high. Unsure as to the number of prisoners at the GAP facility, they felt they would have enough with the gangs and renegades from their compound.
Slowly figures emerged from the darkness. They seemed to keep coming and coming. Mackenzie guessed them to be up to a hundred, maybe more. They were a myriad of people; men, women, teenagers. Some dirty, some clean, but all seemed to wear the same expression. Cautious but brave.
Relief and courage surged through her. They could very well win the fight. Now they had them all together they could fill the gangs in on the course of action.
Simmo stepped forward to address the crowd. “Thanks for coming, everyone. Seeing all of you here gives me hope for victory. I assume you’re all willing to fight. It won’t be easy. Some of you may lose your lives. Is everyone willing to put their life on the line for freedom?”
There were assorted mutterings in the group; several ‘let’s get ‘em’, ‘we’ve been looking for a good fight’ and similar affirmative shout-outs, along with cheers and fist pumping.
Simmo then outlined their plan and told them to meet them just before dawn on the coming Thursday, and then, as quickly as they surfaced, the gangs disappeared again.
“I think that went well,” Simmo said with a wide grin.
Cody paced his office. Confusion over his loyalty to his government and what really happened to their father filled him with apprehension. Was he doing the right thing? Could he trust the gangs and the renegades? Was Mackenzie being blinded by love?
All these years he thought that Taylor had killed his father, but his sister believed otherwise. Had Taylor conned her or was it really someone else? The things he’d done to Taylor's family, to many citizens’ families, cause bile to rise in Cody’s throat. How could he have ordered such atrocity? How was he so blinded by a government that couldn’t care less about him?
His torment over his past filled him with dread and disgust. He had to make amends. He had to fight with his family against the tyrannical Sinclair. Cody couldn’t believe he swallowed their propaganda bullshit. It was time to make things right.
Clarification was required. He needed to hear for himself what Ryan had to say about his father. Did he owe this man his heartfelt apology? Were the renegades the scum he’d always thought they were? Talking to Ryan could clear up his confusion.
When Cody walked into the cell block he found Ryan lying on his back on the cot, an arm over his eyes. This was the man his sister loved. He had to give him the benefit of the doubt.
“Taylor,” he called.
Ryan’s arm dropped away from his face and he cast his gaze towards Cody. He said nothing, just waited.
“You didn’t kill my father, did you?”
His captive sat up, swivelled his legs around and stood. “No.”
“Do you know who did?”
Stepping forward, he looked into Cody’s eyes. They were void of emotion, but appeared honest.
“Not for sure. It was a member of one of the gangs. We were across the street. I saw your dad go down, but it had nothing to do with me or my crew.”
“You love my sister?”
“Yes, with everything I have. She has turned my world around. I miss her. I need her. She’s brave, braver than any girl I’ve known. She will come through with reinforcements. I know this in my heart.”
His words struck Cody. The sincerity and conviction ensured he believed every word. Hope sprung into his heart; maybe things could be better again.
“She is definitely stubborn,” he said with a laugh.
“That’s an understatement,” Ryan laughed too before continuing, “How many people do you have underground?”
“Around one hundred.”
“How many of them can fight?"
"Probably three quarters.”
“We need guns. We don’t have enough at our compound.”
“We will have to raid the armoury and arm as many as possible. Your friend Simmo said he would bring all you have from the compound.”
“Are there any GAPs willing to fight with us?”
“About a dozen. I don’t know who I can and can’t trust. Some of these men are so blindly loyal, as I was, it is hard to approach them without raising suspicion. The last thing we need is the government learning of our plan,” Cody said.
“Hopefully with your troops, your captives, the gangs and our people, we will have enough. How many guards will be present at the meeting? How many government members?”
“The guards are usually one per government official, which are twenty. So forty total to bring down and capture. The biggest problem will be keeping the rest of the troops in the barracks away from the government building and the entrance to the facility. I will have them run drills on the other side of the compound. I will also send as
many troops out as I can to patrol the city. The less troops here the better. At the meeting, I think we have to disarm the soldiers by taking them by surprise and getting them to lay down their weapons. It would be preferable if we can get Sinclair to step down without it turning into a blood bath.”
Ryan nodded. “Agreed. So how long do we have? I’ve lost track of time.”
“Two days. Mackenzie, Ryder and Simmo will come to the compound to see me, and then I’ll let you out. I’ll have my troops ready and then release the prisoners once they get here. While they are occupied with the meeting we can get everyone together and then storm the conference room.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“I'm sorry about last time you were here. I was blind to how the world really is.”
“For Mackenzie, I’ll forgive you. It doesn’t change the fact that you killed my family. I won’t forget that.”
“I'm sorry for it all.” He dropped his gaze and head in shame.
“Cody.”
Flicking his eyes up, he saw sincerity in Ryan’s eyes again. His gesture of extending his hand took Cody by surprise. Without hesitation, they shook on forgiveness.
His sister had found herself a noble man. This caused his heart to lighten, and his conviction to return Artinean to its former glory soared.
As Cody left the cell block, Ryan pondered over their conversation. Was Cody to be trusted? He seemed different, more like Mackenzie and Ryder now. Maybe the good brother she thought him to be still existed. Time would tell as to whether he would join them in the plan.
Thinking of Mackenzie made his chest hurt. He missed her more than he ever thought he could miss anyone after his family were murdered. Their loss caused him to suffer greatly, but missing Mackenzie and wondering if he would ever see her again stabbed at his chest almost as much.
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