Birdee readjusted the image. From Lena’s angle, she saw a manhole cover sliding into place.
“By golly, Lena,” Birdee hollered. “You’re right. Okay, so they slipped into the sewer to get out of the compound. They wanted the blast to cover their exit, and it almost did. Smart,” Birdee announced. She readjusted the image again, her eyes scanning the image. “But where do they come out at?” As she reduced the hologram to see more of the surrounding area, Lena hopped off the table.
Military and emergency ships rushed toward the compound. Birdee kept zooming out to include more of the surroundings. The compound consisted of one main building surrounded by a circular security fence. The fence had four towers spaced evenly around it.
“Here,” Jonah said, pointing to a medi-ship, docked a little less than a mile from the compound. “All the ships move out right after the explosion. Except this one. It’s just sitting there.” He forwarded the footage, until the ship started moving, nearly ten minutes after the others.
“There is a sewer beneath this ship,” Birdee said, pointing to a sewer cover on the ground.
“But why is it going back to the facility?” Lena questioned. “If it’s them, shouldn’t they be going the other direction?”
Nobody answered as they tracked the ship back to the facility. Jonah focused only on the image, leaving creases at the sides of his eyes. Birdee’s eyes swooped side to side, studying each scene in detail.
The airship parked and three people, dressed like medics now, exited the ship and walked back into the bombed building, pushing an empty stretcher. The scene was chaos. Medics ran around, yelling commands at each other. Soldiers, black and coughing, limped away from the building, many grasping injured body parts. Others pulled out on stretchers. It was Birdee who found the three again, her perceptive sight picking them out of the crowd. Like many of the Medics, they pushed a stretcher. Whatever lay under the sheet looked uneven and lumpy, and not like a body at all.
“I doubt that’s a body. What in the world did they take?” Lena asked, watching them load the stretcher into the ambulance.
“And where exactly are they going?” Jonah added.
Birdee’s hands flew over the hologram’s controls. Tracking the ambulance ship proved trickier than Lena imagined, but Birdee controlled the holograms with unquestioned confidence. The night grew even later. Numerous times Birdee needed to rewind the footage, following them through several transportation changes. Lena found herself pacing nervously behind Birdee. In the end, their destination was unmistakable—rubble, debris and a glistening blue lake.
“Everleigh,” Lena gasped.
“Everleigh? As in the Everleigh that the Priestess destroyed?” Jonah questioned.
They watched in silence as a fourth person joined them on the shore of the lake. “Can you zoom in any closer? Who is that they’re meeting?” Lena said.
“Isn’t that Thora?” Jonah asked.
Lena studied the fourth person. She stood feet from the water splashing against the shore. Her tan loose skirt blew with the breeze. Lena had never seen Thora’s hair down, but the woman had the same dark hair, with silver streaks. It was the stately way she stood that gave it away, confident and poised. Even as a servant, Thora had that same radiance about her. “It’s Thora,” Lena confirmed.
“How is she involved in any of this madness?” Jonah said.
Birdee repositioned the imagery, coming in as close as possible. Thora opened the back of the airship and studied whatever lay inside. Birdee shifted the image again. The viewpoint of the satellite let Lena see only a portion of the contents. But it was enough.
“It’s a server,” Lena stated. “What would they want with that?”
“That server came from a guarded facility,” Birdee said. “Which means that whatever is on it can’t be accessed nowhere else. But, I bet my buttons no one can see what’s on it without bypassing heavy security. And ta do that ya’d need an insignia from the Most Honored Priestess herself.”
Lena looked at her hand and ran her thumb over the image. She’d be able to access whatever information the server contained. And Thora knew it. “I need to get to Everleigh,” she said. Lena raised her eyes to see her two friends looking at her.
“What makes you think Thora will take you in?” Jonah asked.
“I have what she needs,” Lena replied. Her friends eyed her skeptically. They didn’t know about her insignia. She wasn’t going to tell them.
***
As they exited the satellite room well past midnight, Gideon stood at the end of the hall, his back against the wall, his arms crossed. He studied the three of them. Standing straight, his eyes locked with Lena’s.
“Recruit Jonah, I need to speak to you in private,” Gideon called.
Lena’s heart nearly stopped. She turned her gaze to Jonah. He stood tall.
“Yes, Captain,” Jonah replied. Grabbing Lena’s hand, he gave it a quick squeeze before walking towards Gideon.
“Recruits Birdee, Lena, return to your quarters,” Gideon said. Without another word, he led Jonah down the hallway. Lena’s heart sank watching them both walk away.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Lena pushed herself from her pillow. The last few nights of little sleep were taking their toll on her. Climbing into the shower, she let the warmth of the water relax her nerves. At least her arm was starting to feel better. As she dressed, she wondered when she’d see Jonah. Her thoughts raced with anxiety, wondering what had happened to him last night. Leaving the room, she heard Birdee shuffling in her sleep. Lena exited the room and headed for training before Birdee woke up.
“Recruit Lena,” a timid voice said. Stopping she looked around to where the voice came from. Sticking her head out a hidden door, Trinity stood motioning for her.
Without question, Lena slipped through the door and closed it. “Hi, Trinity.”
Trinity stepped away from her. “I got a message for you. You are wanted in the dungeon.”
Lena smiled, glad for the opportunity to see Dorry again. “Thank you for the message, Trinity.”
“Yes, miss,” Trinity said, giving her an awkward bow before walking away.
Lena looked at the time. She’d be late to training but knew if Dorry sent her a message, it was important. She jetted into the depth of the facility. Crossing the catwalk to his office, she saw him. He stood facing away from her, grabbing at things and throwing them into a bag.
“Lena, dearie. I’ve done it,” Dorry cried.
“Done what exactly?” Lena asked. Her face twisted in confusion.
“Well, do you remember when I said I was working on making up for past mistakes? Well, I’ve finished it. And I need you to take it with you when you leave.”
“What exactly does it do?” Lena asked.
“Agency, my dear girl. Agency. It will give it back to those from whom it has been taken.” He shuffled around the room, a smile spread across his face. “Take it to Everleigh when you go. Keep it safe.” He shoved a small box into her hands, no bigger than her palm.
“How do you know about Everleigh?” Lena asked. Dorry gave her a knowing smile and gestured to the surveillance screens that lined the walls.
“Oh, and the Captain knows too,” Dorry added as he grabbed a satchel of tools. Lena felt sudden panic.
“I don’t even know if I’m going to Everleigh,” Lena said.
“Well then, wherever you go, take it with you. Keep it safe,” Dorry added.
“This is it? It’s so small.” She looked at Dorry as he continued to shove things into packs. Before she could ask how it worked, the realization hit her. “Dorry, where are you going?” Alarm filled her. She’d never known Dorry to leave the facility. Why was he leaving now?
“Away my dear girl. I do not believe I will see you again.” Lena’s heart plummeted. He paused, turned, and gazed into her eyes. “You changed me, you know. Gave me a reason to live again. Gave me a reason to fight.” His pointer finger wiped a tear from his eye. She
couldn’t imagine him being gone. A tear fell from her own eye. “Agency is a beautiful thing, my dear girl. Fight for it. For yourself and others.” He walked forward and placed his wrinkled old hand on top of hers. Leaning in he kissed her on the cheek. Lena wrapped her arms around him. He returned the gesture. “Goodbye, my sweet Evangeline.”
***
Lena ran all the way to the Physical Combat room. Gideon stood on the center mat waiting for her to arrive.
“Sorry,” she panted, running up next to him. Gideon didn’t ask for an explanation. Lena didn’t give him one.
They started stretching. “I know what you found about the bombing. I watched the footage with Jonah,” Gideon replied.
“You did what?” Lena gasped.
“Eves, whatever you’re planning, I’m begging you, stop.”
She turned towards him. His deep brown eyes looked at her worriedly. Looking at his hands, she noticed he still wore his ring.
“Do you ever think of home?” she asked.
Gideon’s stance softened his eyes searched hers. “Your home was the only one worth remembering,” he replied. “But yes, I think about it all the time.” He studied her face. “You want to go there, don’t you?”
“I want answers,” she replied. “Answers you won’t give me.” Lowering her eyes, she reached for Gideon’s hand, the one that held the ring. She held his hand to look closer at the engraving. “Gideon,” her voice sank, as she ran her thumb over the symbol carved into the ring. She pulled her own necklace from beneath her shirt. “For years, I thought you destroyed me, my home, my family. I blamed you for a lot of things.”
She hesitated and Gideon brought his hand up to examine the necklace. “You remember the mystic’s words?” Lena asked.
“I remember,” he replied.
“I don’t know if I believe in mystics or not. But if I did, the truth is,” she continued, “that you’re not the destroyer at all, you’re the one who saves. You’re the one who saved me from Everleigh, from the Priestess.” Lena locked her gaze with Gideon. “You’re the Angel, Gideon.”
A sudden movement caught both of their eyes. Turning they saw Lucius and Wetsel stand on the outskirts of the room. Lena went cold as Gideon tensed. It all happened in an instant –Wetsel and Lucius running from the room, Wetsel screaming into a com device, Gideon grabbing Lena’s shoulders, pushing her to a servants’ entrance. They’d heard it all. She’d been found.
Chapter Thirty-Three
The blare of sirens filled the air. “Lena, run to Jonah,” Gideon shouted. Pushing against her shoulders, he spurred her into action. “He knows what to do.” Gideon took off running in the other direction as Lena burst into a sprint.
She heard Gideon’s voice over the intercom system. “Recruits, man your stations, this is not a drill. All recruits to your stations.”
Passing the shooting range, she turned and burst through the doors. She wanted weapons. She saw Ruddy across the room at the weapons wall, strapping guns and ammunition on various parts of his body. He turned as she sprinted across the room towards him.
“Recruit Lena.” Ruddy grabbed her shoulders as she skidded to stop in front of him. “She knows you’re here?” Ruddy asked, as his small eyes probed hers. Lena didn’t ask how he knew. At the moment, she didn’t care. She just nodded her head in affirmation. Ruddy pulled her towards him and started wrapping gun holsters around her. Shoving belts of bullets into her hands he asked, “How long has it been?”
“Just now.” Lena gulped down air. “Wetsel and Lucius overheard us talking. As they ran out of the room, Wetsel was calling someone.”
Ruddy cursed under his breath. “Get out of here,” he yelled, pushing her towards the exit. “Don’t let her find you.” At the room’s exit, he pushed her one direction and took off in the other, yelling into a com device as he ran.
The siren kept blaring as a voice came over the intercom. “Recruits, man your stations, this is not a drill.”
An explosion sent Lena flying to the ground. Landing on her back, she felt the wind knocked out of her. Dust settled around her. Her chest hurt. A daze of confusion swept over her mind. She forced herself to sit up. Her ears rang. She shook her head and focused her thoughts.
The Priestess was here for her.
Standing up she saw where the hallway’s roof had collapsed.
“Lena,” Ruddy yelled. He sat about twenty feet from her, a beam lying across his leg. Lena stumbled through the debris to him. “Run, swiftly. Stop for no one. Get to the forest and hide. You can’t let her find you.”
Lena ignored him and searched for a lever to hoist the beam off his leg. She found a rod across the hall. Ruddy kept arguing with her to leave. She shook her head as she lifted the beam and pulled him out.
“Can you put any weight on your leg?” she asked. Looking down at his leg, it streamed with blood. He looked livid but nodded as she put his arm over her shoulders and helped him stand. “Where is the best place to be?” Lena asked.
“For you, another planet,” he replied. “Get me that,” Ruddy yelled, pointing to a half blown apart gun barrel. Using it as a cane, he limped towards the exit to the training fields. His face twisted in pain.
“Lena, you sure as the stars better get out of here or the Captain will have my head.” Exiting with him into the courtyard she could taste the dirt in her mouth. The dust made it hard to breathe. When her eyes adjusted to the morning light, her heart dropped. Recruits ran in all different directions, some screaming, others crying. A large piece of the facility wall lay shattered on the ground.
A shadow fell across the courtyard. A black airship glided towards the ground, its black wings emblazoned with the red insignia of the Priestess. A cold fear penetrated the crowd.
“Lena.” Jonah stood next her, grabbing some of her guns. “Follow me, stay close,” he whispered. “No matter what, do not stop.
She looked to Ruddy. She didn’t want to leave an injured man. He gave her a hard look and pushed her towards Jonah. “Go,” he yelled. Lena fell in step behind Jonah. They pushed their way through the crowd, moving in the direction of the airship hangar.
“Everyone, to your station. To your stations,” Gideon’s voice ordered over the intercom.
“Lena,” Gideon yelled. Turning her head, she saw him pushing through the fleeing crowds toward her.
“Gideon,” she said, faltering in her step.
Jonah tugged on her shoulders. “No, come, now. He’ll catch up.” Jonah pushed against her.
They were at the door to the hanger. Jonah punched in codes and scanned his insignia. The doors didn’t open.
“The Priestess is locking down the facility,” Gideon said, now standing behind them. He scanned his insignia to open the hangar doors. It didn’t work either. Lena reached in front of them with her insignia. The doors opened wide. Jonah gave her a questioning look as Gideon’s arms wrapped around both, shoving them inside.
“Jonah, which one did you prepare?” Gideon shouted.
Jonah jetted toward a sleek craft with a glass-triangle domed roof. Guns stuck out the sides. He ran around it, preparing it for take off.
Lena planted her feet. “Where are you going?” Lena screamed. “You can’t leave them to her. Gideon, you know what she’ll do.”
Gideon stood between the ship and Lena. Her eyes pleaded for him to help. He pulled out his com device and started shouting through it.
“Soldier Ruddy, do you hear me. Soldier Ruddy, this is Captain Gideon Merak. Report.”
“Yes Captain, this is Ruddy.” His words sounded muffled and short-winded.
“Rud, what can you tell me.”
“Captain, the Priestess is here.” Lena strained to hear Ruddy’s frantic words through the headset.
“In person?” Gideon yelled.
“Yes. It’s chaos out here. Ground troops are exiting her ship and entering the facility. They’re mad, and they’re searching for the target.”
“Have they located her positi
on?” Gideon asked.
“I’m not sure Captain,” Ruddy answered. “She’s corralling recruits into the courtyard now,” Ruddy reported.
“Gideon,” Lena’s eyes looked frantic at the Captain next to her. “I can’t just leave. You know I can’t. They’ll all be killed. Because of me.”
Gideon looked at her then cursed.
“Jonah, we’ve got to draw the troops away from the facility,” Gideon yelled.
“How do you expect to do that?” Jonah shouted back.
“We use bait,” Gideon said, his voice sounding miserable.
***
Lena watched from atop the center tower of the Defense facility. She saw recruits being crammed into the field below. The Priestess’s airship sat in the center. Three small airships, with weapons attached to the outside, hovered along the edges of the field. The Priestess stood on a ramp leading from the back of her ship. Ground troops lined the perimeter of the field. Guns pointed at the recruits.
“It has come to my attention,” the Priestess’s chilly voice boomed from the intercom around them, “that something has been hidden from me. That something resides here.” Raising her arm, she motioned to Lucius. He walked to stand next to her. Wetsel walked to her other side. She turned to them. “Show me what I search for, and the people responsible for such treachery,” she demanded.
The recruits stood frozen. Lucius walked down the ramp, searching the crowd. He pointed towards Birdee. Two soldiers moved in and grabbed her by the arms. They pulled her to him.
“Where is your friend?” Lucius screamed. Walking forward, he hit Birdee across the jaw. Birdee hung her head. Lucius leaned in until his face was in front of hers. “Where is Lena?” he asked. Birdee raised her head and spat in his face.
“Bring her inside,” the Priestess said, pointing to her ship. “I have ways of getting answers.”
The guards dragged Birdee into the ship. Lena’s stomach tightened. She looked to Gideon, who lay on his stomach behind her. A rifle lay grasped in his hands as he scanned the rooftop. Nothing but wind-blown leaves moved across the top. He looked at her and nodded.
The Angel and the Warrior (The Mir Chronicles Book 1) Page 19