by Drew Avera
Chapter 24
The transport station was enormous and was filled with a collection of transporters parked in a configuration that enabled a multitude of people to board and depart without any bottlenecking problems. I was amazed at the size of the complex. There were hundreds of people inside the compound and even more were outside who protested the Syndicate and the lottery winners. The half moon that hung overhead was barely visible due to the bright lights of the compound. The organization of this venture was almost militaristic in nature.
"Oh my!" White said obviously dumbfounded by what we were walking into. "I was not expecting it to be so busy this time of night!"
Kara gripped my arm and I could feel just how nervous she was. We were about to walk into the lion’s den. We were in the Syndicate's court. Anything could happen, but I was ready to face it.
We walked around outside the entrance gate but we were stopped by a bright light that illuminated around us. It was blinding like the light in the room that I had been taken to after Sorell had me abducted. This situation stank of his involvement and I was soon to find that I was right.
"Well, well, well. I see we have some unwelcome guests." He said in a playful cocky sort of way. He had good reason to be confident because about two dozen policemen emerged and held us up. "I don't suggest any sudden moves. You don't want a hole blown through your body or anything do you?" He laughed a sinister laugh and sneered at us.
One of the policemen walked up to us and looked us over. "The only people allowed to board a transport are those who have a lottery ticket. This is not negotiable." I could hear nervousness in this rookie’s voice. I guess they had a problem recruiting senior policemen to work as security for this kind of event. The rookies were always the most motivated and the easiest to be manipulated.
"We have tickets." White said a bit too willingly. What was he doing? I only had two tickets and there were three of us. The rookie policeman looked up at Sorell for some kind of affirmation.
"By all means, if they can produce a lottery ticket then let them pass." He laughed at the ridiculous assumption that we would have tickets to board. White and Kara produced their tickets and Sorell's laughter ended. It seemed that he had believed that White was bluffing.
"I would like to have Serus come with me as my bodyguard." White said. I could see what he was doing. He was trying to find a loop hole to get us on the transport.
"I'm sorry, sir. One ticket per person is the policy." The rookie said. This caused Sorell to laugh again. “No bodyguards or other unauthorized guests.”
"That's ridiculous!" White said. "How many members of the Syndicate boarded with their families on the same ticket?"
"This man is not your family."
"He is my brother." Kara interrupted. The rookie looked up at Sorell again. Instead of laughing he just shook his head no.
"I'm sorry, but I cannot let him pass without a ticket. Policemen do not have families according to the rules of the Agency,” the rookie shot down Kara’s hope of my joining her. Kara looked up at me with concern. I could tell that she was afraid that I would be left here to die.
“Serus?” she said.
“It’s alright, Kara. Just go. Take the opportunity and go to Earth. You may not have the opportunity again,” I said. Kara frowned and looked down at the ground. She was about to cry, but I grabbed her and held her close. She had grown stronger, more resilient in the last few days. I knew she could handle the separation; at least that is what I wanted her to think. Deep down I was terrified of losing her, afraid of not being there for her. “It will be alright, I promise.”
Kara released me and wiped a small tear from her eye. I brushed a strand of hair away from her face and smiled at her. Every part of me wanted to lash out against these policemen and the maniacal man standing above us. I struggled to maintain my self control, losing myself to the hate I felt inside would put Kara in danger. I had to ensure that she boarded the transport safely.
Kara turned and handed the ticket to the rookie who had stopped us. He accepted it and the first rank of policemen stepped aside and allowed Kara permission to board. I was thankful that she was able to leave this dying planet, but I was afraid of what would happen without some kind of protection. She looked at me and smiled for what I thought would be the last time. She was leaving and I would stay here and die.
Kara walked past and followed the route to the transporter that she had been directed to board as the policemen closed the ranks between us. I felt a compulsion to act now that Kara was safe and I followed through with it. I jumped past White and tried to fight my way through the ranks to go and be with my sister. Three policemen grabbed me and threw me to the ground. I was pinned down and had at least a dozen lasers pointed at my head.
White jumped over to assist me but he was held back by some of the other policemen. He too had lasers pointed at his face ready to kill him. Sorell stood above us and clapped his hands with a smile on his face.
"Bravo!" He said. "I love your passion! So ready to kill or be killed." He laughed again. His laughter was becoming very annoying. "Let me put it to you like this, Serus. If you fight us then not only will we kill you because you are outnumbered, but we will kill your sister before she even sets foot on Earth. Do you understand me?"
I shook my head in acknowledgment; I found it hard to speak with hands pressing down on my neck and chest. There was nothing I could do. If I acted out I would be killed and be unable to protect Kara. My only option was to trust White to protect her.
The policemen released White and he straightened out his suit. He was still wearing the gauntlet but I thought that he wasn't even thinking about it anymore. That was until he touched it with his hand. Not in the kind of touch like a man who adjusts his cuff over his wrist. This was a calculated move. It was the kind of move that warranted a reaction if it went any further. What did he think that he was doing? Was he crazy? If he carried on with this then that would put Kara in danger too. Oh my God!