Chapter Text
Chapter 25
An arm, a leg, and everyone else
Samuel munched the pancake. Bliss encapsulated his tastes buds. “Hmm, Izy, this is fantastic!” Grabbing a napkin he wiped his mouth. "You didn’t have to go all out for my sake.”
“For you I’ll give the extra mile.” Taking a slice of bacon, Izha ate. “Sammy?” He looked at her. “You wanted to speak while we ate. What’s on your mind?”
Samuel reached for the syrup bottle. Pouring the sweet substance over the pancakes, he sighed. “I’m going to make a final video for the kids.” Samuel shook his head. Izha noticed he trembled. “A farewell, so to speak.” Izha reached for him. Samuel grabbed her hand as hard as he could. “I want you to there with me.”
She spent most of the scenes behind the camera. Not desiring to disturb her mate’s messages to the kids. “Are you sure? Those videos are all about you. I tried to stay back so as not to ruin them.”
“You haven’t ruined anything, Izha.” Samuel gazed into those amethyst gems. “I have a message I want to give to the kids. I’d say the most important one. It’s vital that that you’re there with me when I deliver it.”
If that’s his desire, then she’ll grant it. “You’ll have me, Sam.”
“Thank you, Azul. I want to leave with the knowledge that I left things right. Make sure things are proper before..." Samuel went silent. Izha squeezed his hand. That snapped him out of his stupor. "I’ll go upstairs and set everything up, we can record there." He poked a pancake with his fork and grinned. "After breakfast, that is. Not letting this go to waste!” Samuel ate another piece of the fluffy pancakes.
***
Placid lounge music entertained the patrons of the Dawn and Dusk café. Sam moved between tables, along with other co-workers, taking orders and serving food for the hungry customers. Time marches on though. He looked at his wristwatch for the time and saw that he clocked out in a few minutes. With that, he bid his customers a pleasant supper and retreated to the back of the bar.
Glasses clinked as his boss mixed in sweet drinks for a Daxy and her petite companion. “My shift is just about over, boss. Need anything before I go?”
The black scale lady handed the pair their beverages before turning towards him. “You got table seven’s order out?”
“Yes, ma’am. They got their food and drinks. I made sure they were satisfied before approaching you.”
She wiped the sweat from her brow. Weekends were always busy for the café and today was no exception. “Okay, I’ll have Harv keep tabs on them.” She winked at Sam. “You’re good to go, sweetie! But before that,” She reached below the counter and retrieved an envelope. “Here you go!”
Sam grabbed it and looked at it curiously. “What is it?”
“You have to open it to find out, silly!”
Doing so revealed the check inside. Samuel was pleasantly surprised. “Whoa! Seriously?” A bonus for doing a good job. She liked gifting her workers with rewards. Sam thought that was reserved for full time employees. Not a part-timer like him.
“You’ve done a fine work as of late, Sam. That deserves to be recognized. Not just with praise but with cold hard money!”
“Thank you! You're the best!”
“I know!" She boasted. "Our hard-working hummingbird deserves all the honey he can drink!” She smirked at Samuel. Having overheard Izha when she visited during one of his shows, she later asked what that strange word meant. Upon learning, the boss decided to share the cute moniker for a favored employee. Sam didn’t mind it, she meant well.
Thunder rumbled outside the café. Both looked to the exit, and they noticed how dark it got outside. “You better go before the weather gets worse. Storm will roll into town soon and you don’t want to get caught in it without an umbrella!”
Again, thunder boomed outside. She urged him to leave. “We’ll see you on Monday, Sam. Have a good weekend!”
“You too!”
Making his way to the exit, he waved goodbye to his co-workers and left the café. Dark clouds gathered; the sun hid behind them. Vehicles honked their horns in the streets while crowds hurried about. Samuel leaned against a light pole and took out his PDA. Yawning, he found Izha's number and sent forth a message.
Just punched out from work. Need anything before I get home?
A few seconds later, Izha replied. We’ve run out of bread and eggs. But we can get groceries tomorrow. A simple “ok” was Sam’s retort. Izha wrote back. I’ll be late tonight.
Sam scratched his chin. What did the Fleet do to her now? Trouble?
Stuck with paperwork, must finish these reports. If I don’t deal with this then Fleet Command will have an aneurysm.
Sam hissed after reading that. He had his share of boring points when he was a soldier. As a captain in the Continental Army, Sam knew the burden that Izha’s going through. Mi Cielo needs a respite. Good thing I’m around to provide it!
I’ll treat you right! What do you think about me massaging those aches away? Kneading those muscles until your aches drift away?
Would you use that nice lavender oil I bought?
Of course. He added a winking emoticon to his message.
My shining knight. Can’t wait to have you on me. I’ll see you later tonight, Colibri. Izha finished the message with a cartoon Daxy blowing a kiss.
With Izha busy, Sam could explore the town a bit. He’s got the credentials for it; the Civil Guard won’t bother him so long as he behaves. At least, they shouldn’t. There were those special officers with a nasty habit of bothering unattended males. Though those were few and far between.
Sam checked his contacts. His co-workers weren’t punching out till later, and by then, Izha would be home. As he flicked the screen, he came upon Jackson’s info. Jackie…Right. You guys are leaving today. Sam looked up to the sky. As his friend said, the storm he needed was coming.
Looking at the time, Sam pondered. Do I still have a chance to see them off? Is it a good idea though? I don’t want to mess their plans up just because I wanted to say good-bye. Shuttles hovered above, streaking between the buildings. Those were civilian ships that moved at blinding speeds. The military had better ones.
Jack and Amelia are smart. They got their bases covered. Sam moved to the edge of the sidewalk and raised his hand. One of the self-driving taxis broke from the pack of moving vehicles. Stopping before him, the door automatically opened. I’ll pop in quick, say bye to both then be on my way.
The door closed as he entered. The on-board computer ran his information, and a synthesized voice spoke. “Good afternoon Mr. Trexe. Please, set your destination.”
“This is where I need to go.” Moving to the nearby console, Sam tapped in the boneyard’s location.
“Please provide the required credits to complete this transaction.” Sam took out his hardware key and swiped it over the display.
A ding happened a few seconds later as the payment was processed. The computer chimed. “For the sake of safety, this unit will remain on stand-by until your return. Failure to do so in three hours will alert the local Guard and a patrol unit will be dispatched to your last known location.”
Even the taxis have curfew for him. “That’s fine, gives me enough time to do my business. I accept these terms.”
The on-board screen turned green, and a happy bell played. “Have a pleasant journey!”
Samuel sat comfortably as the whirring of the motors began. Closing his eyes, he rested for the remainder of the trip. As the systems registered a male with the proper credentials, the Civil Guards stationed at the check points didn’t pay attention to him. For intents, this male was off to visit the quirky shop outside of town.
Meanwhile, at the boneyard: Jack’s people hid among the rusting planes. The Guard didn’t come here as much, but they couldn’t get complacent. Some were armed with “liberated” coil rifles, but most had standard gunpowder weapons for protection. With the day of their Exodus upon them, they watched for signs of trouble.
Inside the co*ckpit of an old B-52, a man in a green hoodie drank from a canteen. He was tasked with monitoring the south road. Something caught his eye. Reaching for his binoculars, he soon spotted the incoming taxi. Radio in hand, he relayed this info. “This is Owlwatch 3. I got movement down the southern road!”
His radio crackled as a voice responded. “What do you see?”
“It’s one of those auto cars. Civilian. Probably a client that Jack’s shop attracts. Didn’t he make sure to close it up? Like, he told everyone that he wasn’t going to open it today, right?”
“He did. But you know people how people are. Tell them no and they’ll insists that you said yes.” The man on the other side grumbled. “I’ll inform Jack about this. Owlwatch 5, link up with him and monitor the situation. We can’t leave anything to chance.”
“What do we do if it’s not a civie? It could be a bounty hunter or something.”
“Don’t get trigger happy! We don’t want to shoot some poor soul right as they exit. Maintain vigilance and keep us informed.”
Back inside the taxi, the vehicle bounced as it stumbled into a pothole. Sam was jolted awake. Looking out the window, Sam whistled. “Haven’t seen any of these in so long.” Old planes, civilian and military, filled the bone yard. A mix of melancholy and nostalgia washed over him.
Such marvels of human engineering. Once they flew the majestic skies of earth. Now here they are, rusting as the seasons passed. Samuel saw the large tarmac cutting the field in half. At the end of it was a C-130. Normally, it’s supposed to be parked with the others, not idling on the runway
The Taxi pulled up towards small building. A garage of sorts. There was a sign above, reading Zhix Steel Artwork. Amelia’s clan name. He’s in the right place. Jack’s shop. I thought it’d be bigger.
Exiting the taxi, the scent of metal and oil irritated Samuel’s nostrils. The wind scraped the rust off the decrepit human relics and carried them off. Samuel sneezed. “Should have brought a mask! Dios, it’s miracle that Jack has no lung troubles!”
The Taxi doors closed behind him, and a light chime came from the vehicle. Samuel’s time limit started. He’ll be back home before it runs out. Approaching Jack’s store, Sam was unaware that eyes were upon him.
Standing at the door, he saw the closed sign taped over the glass. He ignored it and knocked. “Jack? Hello?” Receiving no answer, Sam leaned closer to try and peek into the shop. Should I try calling?
Thunder roared in the distance. Sam looked to the horizon and saw lightning sparking. Maybe they left already? If they did, then he missed his chance. Just then, the door to Jack’s shop squeaked as it opened. Before Sam could act, someone pulled him in.
He grunted loudly as he hit the floor. When he lifted his head, he saw five men in hunting clothes. All were armed with rifles, save for the apparent leader. Samuel stared down the barrel of the humming coil gun. “Who are you? Who sent you?” Tom shouted.
“Whoa! Easy fellas.” Sam raised his hands. “I’m not here to cause you trouble! Just came by here to check on a guy named Jackson. Maybe you know him?”
Good thing they’re keeping their fingers off the triggers because they were jumpy. Tom kept his guard up. “We know him. What do you want with him?”
Sam didn’t wish to startle them. He slowly stood up while keeping his hands up. He looked around and spoke. “I’m his friend. Jack said he’s leaving today so; I came here to say good-bye.” Tom frowned. Samuel put a hand over his heart. “That’s the honest truth!”
“Tom, you buy this guy’s story?” another gentleman asked.
For all they knew, Samuel could be a Daxy informant, seeking to curt favor for his scaly overlords. “We’ll find out if he’s fibbing or not soon enough.”
“It’s alright Tom, I know him!”
Sam heard bootsteps coming from behind. The men looked at the newcomer. It was Jack, shaking his head. “Just came to say good-bye? You got to be kidding me! You came out here just for that?”
Samuel shrugged. “Come on Jackie, you know me. I’ve done crazier things.”
“Keep your craziness in line! Last thing we want is you butting heads with another crime boss!” Jack approached Samuel with open arms and hugged him. “My brother!” Seeing their leader friendly with the stranger the others relaxed. “Happy as I am to see you, I must ask. Were you followed?”
“I don’t think so. I’m not supposed to have hunters on my ass. Far as the Civil Guard thinks, I’m a straightlaced goody boy!”
Tom chimed in to corroborate Sam’s words. “Sentinels say he came alone, Jack. Command isn’t picking up any chatter on Daxy comms so, we’re in the clear for now.” Jack breathed easier. Can’t have trouble knocking on their door, not when they are so close.
Sam observed Jack’s store. Metal sculptures were on display, with little price tags hanging from some. This is what Jack made his living off. “I knew you were handy with scrap, Jack. But these things are great! Is that “the Thinker?”
“Yep!” Jack tapped on the fella’s head, and it made a loud clanking noise. “Made this one and the rest. This business was our cover story when we got investigated. It also helped us purchase supplies for my people. But there’s only so much I can do. We have too many mouths to feed for my business to sustain them. Hence another reason to leave.”
Shame Jack’s giving it all up. But it was for a good cause and Samuel respected that. “Like I said, Jack. I came here to see you guys off.” Sam rubbed the back of his neck. “And I also got curious about you pulling this off.”
“Ha! Curiosity killed the cat, Sam!” Jack patted his back. “Let’s get downstairs. Amelia will want to see you too!” Since their boss trusted Sam, the men relaxed. Jack led Sam to the basem*nt. Tools, scrap metal and many other things filled it. What struck Samuel was the collection of chains dangling in the middle.
Jack grabbed the right one and pulled. The secret way to the workshop opened. Sam saw the lights that led further in and whistled. “Ha! I knew your shop was too small! Got your own secret lair?”
“One of many. Come on, I’ll show you around!” Jack briefly turned towards the other two. “Hey, Tom?”
“Yeah?”
“The plane’s fueled up?” Tom nodded in response. “Good! Then we’re starting the evacuation. We’ll send people topside in small groups. Get them aboard the plane, make sure they are properly seated.”
“Will do.” Jack and Sam were about to go, when Tom snapped his fingers. “Hey! I left Scottie with Andrew. Have the kid help you out if Andrew is passed out drunk.” Jack nodded. Tom and the others remained behind to fulfill their task.
Sam raised an eyebrow at his friend. Jack sighed. “Unfortunately, one of our brothers is struggling with the loss of his sibling. Vozet got him and sold him off before we stopped them.”
“Vozet?” Sam exhaled. If only he knew beforehand. “I’m sorry, Jack.”
“Don't beat yourself up, Sam. You aren't at fault. The people responsible were judged and punished. All we can do now is pray that the victims receive aid and help those that we can.”
Down the hall they went. After a few minutes of walking, they reached the secret base. Humans, not Daxy, filled this place. What truly stunned him what seeing them once again. Women. Real human women. They were some of the lucky ones to avoid capture. There was a brunette gal wiping her face from grease. She slung a backpack and donned a rifle and moved past him. Another woman helped a fellow rebel pack their belongings. One sat on a bench, writing on a notepad while children played in front of her. Jack mentioned he had people to get out. Samuel couldn't recall his friend ever going through the specifics of who they were.
“I haven’t seen one of our ladies in so long.” Samuel chuckled softly.
A young girl and a boy ran together. Sam watched them. She giggled, laughed, smiled and hollered. An innocent soul without a care in the world. They both ran towards a Daxy. Amelia heard them and turned around. The boy clung to her arm as did the girl.
“Amelia, spin us around!” The girl cried.
“Yeah! Make us fly, Amelia!” The boy added.
“Fly, huh? You two hold on tight to me!” They nodded eagerly. She made sure they had a good grip on her arms before taking off. “Ready? Here we go!” She started to spin. Their little feet were lifted off the ground. Their happy laughter and cheers filled Amelia with joy.
“Faster, Amy!” the girl shouted.
“Only a little bit!” Samuel and a few others watched at a distance. The children’s joy reached all who observed them. From the corner of Sam’s mouth, a smile formed. It was like gazing into an alternate universe, one he wished to be part of.
“That’s what I want in the end, Sam. Peace. Understanding. Unity.” Jack’s heart swelled with joy at the sight of his wife with those kids. “There are others like Amy. More Daxy who care for all humanity. They see the great things we can achieve together and work hard to reach a future where all of us are accepted.”
"Do you think we can achieve such a thing?”
“Before the Daxy arrived, humanity steadily moved towards doom. You remember it. War, famine, disease, poverty, crime. These things plagued us, Sam. We were bound by sin, and it was leading our species to the end. Then the Empire arrived and stopped our nihilistic march to oblivion. They shared with us great gifts, technology and advancement the likes we haven't seen!”
Jack continued. “Things went great at first! There were snags and disagreement sure, but nothing we couldn’t resolve. The good outweighed the bad.”
Those pleasant times didn't last. Jack remembered that day, watching the TV. A ball of flame consumed all in its path. It was reported on every computer, television and mobile device. The news of the nuclear incident spread across the globe and across Daxy networks. “The Empire judge us unfit to make our own decisions. They sent forth their greatest officer, their mightiest conqueror and Earth became theirs." Humans called that conflict a war; the Daxy labeled it as foolishness.
"Despite the past, I believe we can fix everything! All of us together!”
Putting a hand over Sam’s shoulder, Jack showed him the people that made his group. “See those guys by the water cooler? Two are engineers from Europe. Over there, that sweet old lady with the backpack? A botanist native to Malaysia. We got electricians, teachers, plumbers and even an acupuncturist. And of course, Amelia. Not even native to Earth. Different skills, different backgrounds. But there are things they have in common. Want to know what's one of those things?"
Jack smiled at him. "Hope! Hope that they'll see their loved ones again, that they'll see a free Earth, that we'll forge unbreakable bonds between us and those beyond our star! Daxy, Humans and everyone else in the universe! That bright future shines like a beacon amidst the darkness! It won't be easy, but when is a good thing ever so simple to get? We can make that future a reality.”
“A golden ending for everyone, hmm." Samuel pictured it in his mind.
Amelia soon stopped. Dizzy, she used her tail to stay balanced. “Mercy me, I’m liable to fall face first!”
“Can we have another go?” The boy asked.
Amelia knelt to their height. “When we get to Zion. For now, we must get ready to leave, alright?” Amelia looked at the girl and squinted. There was a brown smudge on her cheek. “Erica, have you been playing with the adult’s tools again?”
“I was only trying to help! Everyone is working hard, so it’s only fair that I should too!” The girl gazed downward. "I want to make daddy proud." This was Eric's child. Bereft of a mother and now a father. Amelia hugged Erica, the girl hugged her back.
"Your daddy will always be proud of you, Erica. Never forget that." The girl nodded.
Amelia smiled at the girl. “Listen, I appreciate your desire to aid others but do let the adults handle things. I don’t want you to get hurt. Come here, dear. It won't do see you dirty.” Amelia reached for her and gently wiped away the dirt on her face. “There! All clean and pretty!”
“Like I always am!” Erica confidently boasted.
Amelia laughed. “Go find Keila. Make sure to not leave anything you want behind.” She happily ran off to join the others. Amelia sighed. Precious souls as theirs must be safeguarded.
She spotted Samuel and shouted. “Samuel!” Walking to him, Amelia opened her arms wide. She wrapped him in a bear hug. Samuel tried reciprocating the air squeezing embrace but couldn't compete with her. “It’s good to see you! Sammy, you should have told us you were coming! You gave us quite a fright!”
“Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to startle you, guys.”
“No harm, no foul. Right, Jackie?” Her husband nodded. A question immediately pooped into her head. “Does Izha know you’re here?”
Sam shook his head. “No. She’s held up at her work, so I decided to come here and see you all fly off into the distance. Don’t worry, I’ll be back home safely after you guys leave. I can talk to her later.”
If only things were different. Amelia will sorely miss them. “A shame we can’t have you both, Sam. Still, I am glad for the days we were together as neighbors.”
“Likewise, Amy.”
Jack grabbed his shoulder. “You need to see this!” Jack was like an eager kid looking to show his friend the newest toy he got. Amelia followed both men, amused by her husband’s giddiness. Jack led his friend to the heart of the base. There it was. Sam watched the Daxy interceptor, a grin on his face. A few of Zion’s people made last minute inspections, while a Daxy oversaw them.
“All systems green?” A technician gave Calia a thumbs up. “Excellent!” Calia spotted the trio approaching. “Jackie! Are we waiting for the storm to be over our heads or are we riding out earlier?”
“We’re leaving now. Our people are making their way to the plane. Best you get up there too.”
“Got it. Let me fetch my gear, and I’ll see you guys there.” Calia noticed Samuel staring at the ship. He wasn’t from Zion. “Who’s the new guy?”
“This is my friend Samuel.” Jack introduced him. “He was the one I asked to fly the interceptor before you arrived.”
“Oh! This is the fella you gab about!" Jack went red on the cheeks as he rubbed the back of his neck. Sam and Amelia laughed at his reaction. Calia looked at him from head to toe. Grinning, she extended a hand. “Nice to finally meet you, Samuel. I'm Calia. Former pilot of the Fleet.”
“A pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” He grabbed her hand and shook it.
“You’re a hardy fella! I can feel the oomph in that vigorous shake!” Calia put a hand over her hip. Though time urged all to move, Calia had to know how Samuel received training. “So, Samuel, how’d you manage to convince High Command to let you use a Sim?”
“At first, I thought it was my mate that managed to get me there. She's an officer in the Fleet, her words carry a measure of weight. Then it turned out to be Morle's doing."
Even dead, the name of that snake made Amelia’s scales itch. "Morle? How did she get involved?"
"It was some harebrained scheme to get revenge against Izha. She'd try to sell me off to some crazed noble. Thank God none of that happened."
A low threatening rumble rippled from Calia. "Conniving worm, glad we got rid of her." Calia recalled a conversation way back, when she still served the Empire. "In the initial stages of the war, I heard about private companies yearning to set up shop on Earth. Bunch of them have weird ideas and products they want to shill out across Imperial space. They need to test things; a newly colonized world is a perfect place to run experiments.”
Not unlike how certain humans of old used to run tests upon unsuspecting masses. “The bureaucratic regulations of the core worlds are rolling in full force. Companies will think twice before trying out their quirky experiments on clueless folks.”
“Imperial ships and troops arrive daily." Jack pointed out. "As I heard on TV, we’ll soon become another jewel on the Empire's crown.”
There was a loud clanking sound coming above their heads. Gazing upwards, they saw a massive hatch opening. The interceptor has VTOL capabilities, it will lift itself up the shaft then exit the hideout. Thunder boomed in the distance. Things were proceeding on schedule.
Calia cracked the bones in her neck and grinned. “I wish I could have gotten to know you more, Samuel. You seem like a nice fella!” Calia winked at him. “I’ll fetch my stuff. Meet you all onboard in a few.”
“Understood. Amy?” Amelia looked at her husband. “Can you go around and make sure that no one is left behind. Once we’re sure that we have everyone, we’ll head to the surface.”
“Of course, love.” Amelia approached Samuel. Taking his hands into his own, she squeezed them. “Sam, though we may be miles apart, never forget that you have a sister who cares deeply for you.”
“You’ve done so much for me, Amy.” Sam stared into her eyes and saw his reflection in them. “Thank you. For everything.” Sam took the initiative and hugged her. “Take care, sis.”
“You too little brother.” Amelia squeezed him back. “Almighty bless you and Izha.”
Both men left alone, Sam observed the interceptor. The hull had patches of uneven metal welded upon it. Painted in blue and white, these colors weren’t standard for the Fleet. No, this was Zion’s way of claiming this ship as its own.
“You going to tell me how you got this thing here? How you brought down an interceptor in the first place?”
Jack laughed. “Sure, we got a few minutes to spare.” Jack grabbed a nearby bucket and used it for a seat. Sam did the same. “It started as a pipe dream. Couple of hotshot operatives wanted to try something wild, unexpected. A stunt to show the Daxy our fangs! They came up with this plan…”
While Jack regale his friend with the story, people started making their way to the top. The children were first, then the older folks. Exhilaration filled their hearts. This chapter in their life was about to close. The many voices that filled the hideout dwindled until Sam, Jack and a few were left.
Meantime, Calia headed to the radio room to retrieve her gear. Upon opening the door, empty bottles were kicked away. She immediately thought of Andrew. “I told them to keep things tidy!” She noticed a young man seating close to the ham radio set. “Scott?”
He was oddly quiet. “Scott, we’re starting to get people topside.” There was no response. Calia couldn’t believe it. Did he go a drinking binge with Andrew? She walked over to him and reached for his shoulder. “Scott, wake up!” When Calia spun him around, she saw the blood on his face.
“Scott?” Something moved behind Calia. Then, it hit her. Literally.
A heavy blow came to the back of her skull. The edges of her vision darkened; she fell to the floor. A metal pipe clanged loudly as it fell to the floor. She gazed upward to see the man responsible for the attack. “An-drew?”
With a shaky hand, he wiped the sweat off his brow. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! But this is for Eric! I must do this; The Civil Guard, they’ll bring him back, they will!” He ignored the wounded Daxy and moved over to the radio.
Calia was coming in and out. For a small human, Andrew packed a heavy punch. “Hello? Can anyone hear me on this frequency?” Andrew kept waiting for an answer until he finally got it. “Yes! H-hello! My name is-“ Calia briefly blacked out then came back. “-boneyard. They’re planning to-“
She grit her teeth as she pushed herself off the floor. An officer could be heard speaking to Andrew. “-hang on tight, hun! We’ll be there as fast as we can!”
Andrew chuckled like a madman. “Y-yes, thank you. Just-“ Andrew was a nervous wreck. He couldn’t stop trembling. “Promise me you won’t hurt anyone. These people are innocent but-“
“I understand your concerns. Please, urge your friends to cooperate with us. We want the same as you, hun. For everyone to be safe. Okay? It doesn’t matter who they are, we don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
“That’s what I want. I-I want- I want Eric to be safe. I’m the oldest, I’m responsible for his wellbeing.”
“We’ll do everything we can save him, Andrew. Just as we’ll do everything to keep you and the others under protection. Hang on, sweetness. Officers are on the way.”
That was it. They were coming. He sacrificed everyone else to save Eric. A hefty price to pay for the sake of his family.
Andrew held the tablet linked with the interceptor’s controls. In his madness, he smashed it. Calia stood up on weak legs. She took a step forward and Andrew pulled out a revolver from his waistband. “Andrew.” Calia sought to reason with him. “Please, brother. Don’t do this! Don’t stain your hands with blood, don’t-“
A loud bang echoed.
“That’s when they swooped in and-“ Jack and Sam looked towards the direction of the sound. “What was that?” Jack frowned.
“That sounded like a gunshot, Jack.” Eyes widening, Jackson rushed towards the noise. Sam followed. Both men reached the radio room and saw the mess within.
Calia was on the floor, writhing in pain as blood poured from her shoulder. Scottie’s unconscious and Andrew smashed radio equipment. “Andrew!” Jack shouted.
Andrew turned around and pointed the revolver at him. “Stay back, Jack! You and that friend of yours stay the hell back!” The man shivered like the last leaf on a tree.
Both remained as still as possible. “Andrew, this isn’t you. Brother please.”
Andrew growled. “I am not your brother! Eric is! Those f*cking bitches had their way with him, likely turned his brain to mush! Then they sold Eric like a slab of meat to other scum!”
“But things will be right!” Andrew laughed like a madman. “I- I called the Civil Guard. They are coming here!”
“You did what?” Sam shouted Samuel was stunned but not as much as Jack. He went pale, and silent.
“For Eric’s sake! Everything will be made right! They’ll make things right!”
Andrew was far gone. Sam tilted his head slightly and whispered. “Jack, what do we do?” Jack was unresponsive. The shock of Andrew’s betrayal paralyzed him. “Jack!”
“You! Soldier boy!” Andrew aimed at him. Samuel kept cool while under pressure. “You stay right where you are! I don’t know what the Daxy will do when they find you here. But if you keep out of this, I’m sure they’ll cut you some slack.”
Andrew panted. His shirt grew tighter around his neck. A wrong move would set him off. “We should have listened to them from the start! They’d have fed us, clothed us! Protected us from Vozet!”
Sam tried to come up with a way to solve this. Jack’s frozen in place and there were two people incapacitated on the floor. Or were they? The young man moved out of Andrew’s sight. Scott had woken up and saw the whole mess. Sam could distract him, and Scott can tackle Andrew.
“Andrew, was it? Look, I know you don’t want to hurt anyone. You’d have shot me or Jack if you did. Talk to me. How can I help you?”
Andrew stammered. “My brother, Vozet took him. You-you were the guy that Jack went to save. You were up in that damned tower! Did you happen to come upon a man name Eric Morrison? He’s my brother! They sold him off! Please, you can help me get him back!”
Scott’s face was bloodied, but he was conscious. Carefully, he made his way behind Andrew. “I’m sorry, but I didn’t come upon a man with that name.” Andrew sobbed in response. “I understand you are hurting. But this isn’t going to help you get Eric back.”
“The f*ck do you know?” Andrew shouted. “They found some of the men that Vozet sold! They can find him!”
“Okay.” Sam swallowed. “You’re right. They can find him. Hunters tend to find anyone. I know firsthand how capable they are. Say they find Eric. What then?”
Andrew quirked up an eyebrow. Sam continued. “Do you think they won’t put him up to Assignment? They’ll treat him a lot better than any criminal. That’s true. It’s also true that you still won’t get to see him.”
“I-I will!“
“They’ve been separating people for a while and they’re still doing it. Some fellas get shipped off world to meet their new partners. They sure as hell aren’t coming back to Earth.”
Andrew became frustrated. He shook his head as he muttered, but he kept aiming at Samuel. “I can ask them to have us meet up! I can yet see him!” Tears poured from Andrew. “I’ve lost so many friends; and my family is gone. All I had was Eric and my niece. I-I can’t bear the pain of losing either.”
“This will cost you both. Andrew, you aren’t a fool to believe things for you will go back to normal. In their eyes, you are a misguided rebel. Desperately in need of correction. You’ll care more about your mistress than Eric by the time they’re done with you.”
“-I-I-“ Andrew wiped his face. Just when Sam thought he was getting through, the man frowned. “I’ll take that gamble. I’m sorry.” Sam exhaled sharply; his heart stopped for a second. Time slowed to a crawl as Andrew squeezed the trigger.
Scott stepped in and grabbed Andrew’s wrist. Bang! Amelia was leading the last group through the corridor, when they heard the sudden sound. “Did you hear that? Was that a gunshot?” A nervous woman asked. Amelia’s tail twitched. Something was wrong. “Jack?” She shouted. Her husband didn’t answer. “Jack!”
A voice at the back of her head urged her to rush back. She did so along with those few humans. “Jack! Where are you?”
In the radio room, the bullet missed Samuel, striking the ceiling instead. A scuffle followed between Andrew and Scott. Jack and Sam moved in to help. Even with three men on him, they couldn’t pry the revolver off his hand. Such strength that emanated from the desperate man.
“Andrew, stop! For God’s sake just stop, man!” Jack pleaded, hoping to stop this madness.
Samuel smelled the booze oozing off Andrew. This is bad! Damn it, this is really bad!
“Andrew!” Jack continued to plead. Hoping that he’d listen to reason.
“I-I have-We have to get Eric, Jack! We have-“ BANG.
It was clearly a gunshot that Amelia and the others heard. And it rang out loudly once again. It came from the radio room. Amelia ran, the others followed. “Jack, we heard gunfire!" She gasped. Men and women looked in horror at the scene. Amelia’s scales lost their luster. “Jackie!”
Her husband was on the floor, desperately trying to stop Andrew from bleeding. In the scuffle, the gun got turned around and Andrew accidentally shot himself. “Andrew needs help!” She pushed Sam and Scott aside to render aid.
“What happened?” Sam quickly explained it.
Everyone was shocked. “Fetch me a first aid kit! NOW!” Amelia shouted. Scott rushed away to the infirmary. “Sam, come here! You were a soldier so it’s safe to assume you know basic first aid. Help me with him.”
He bled profusely. Scott soon arrived with a medkit and Amelia went to work. Calia was hurt; however, her condition wasn’t as bleak as Andrew’s. “Calia? How bad is it?”
The Daxy groaned. A man and a woman tended to her, checking over her wound. “Got my arm busted up!” She hissed something in her native tongue. “Help Andrew, please.” After what Andrew did, Calia yet cared for his wellbeing.
A human moved to aid the injured Daxy. “I got her, Amelia! Work on Andrew!”
“Aren't you a doctor?” Calia winced.
“Ophthalmologist.” Calia shrugged and went with it.
Amelia ripped off Andrew’s sh*t. She saw the full extent of the wound. The bullet struck the left side of his chest. “I’ve trained as a paramedic, dealt firsthand with all manner of trauma. Its my job to save you, Andrew!”
Andrew wheezed; blood came out from his mouth. A very bad sign. Chances were slim, but Amelia wasn’t giving up. “Hand me the chest seal.” Sam quickly did as instructed.
Amelia grabbed sterile gauze pads and wiped the dirt off the wound. Andrew wheezed. “Amelia, I’m-sorry.”
“It’s okay, Andrew. You’re okay. We’re getting you help so hold on!” Jack was pale, and unmoving. “Jackie! Baby don’t break down on me! Jackson! Snap out of it!” Jack blinked and returned to his senses. “There we go! Keep him talking! Don’t let him close his eyes!”
Jack nodded. Andrew had a hand up in the air. He grabbed it. “I’m here, buddy! I got you. Don’t you close your eyes!”
“Jack-“ Andrew groaned. “I-just wanted him back.”
“I know, brother. I know.” Amelia cleaned the wound. Andrew started to roll his eyes. “Hey! Don’t do that! We’re about to see our labors bear fruit!”
“The plane is working, right?” Andrew groaned.
“Got it fueled up and ready! We go in it, and we take off! We’ll get to see Zion!”
“That-that be too good a thing for me, Jack. I don’t-“ Andrew coughed up a bunch of blood. Jack panicked. Amelia kept working on him. “Sorry. Tell them I’m- sorry.” Andrew shook. “Tell, Erica-“ He kept his eyes locked on Jack, then he stopped moving.
“Andrew? No, no. NO! Andrew!” Amelia put herself over his body and began chest compressions. They watched her pumping against his heart, hoping to get it beating again. Yet it was for naught. After giving her best, Amelia relented. He was gone.
Unwilling to accept it, Jack did chest compressions on the body. “Open your eyes, Andrew! Come on, don’t you die! Not after we’re so close! Not after-“ Tears fell unto the dead man’s face.
“Jackie,” Amelia reached for her husband. Jack buried his face in her chest as he cried. Anger, sadness, fear, despair. There was nothing they could do. Amelia didn’t let go of her husband. She stayed with him through the pain.
Minutes passed until Jack calmed down. Samuel stepped in. He hated the idea of rushing his friends. Yet they must get a move on. “You guys can’t stay here. The Civil Guard is coming. You need to leave.”
“Sam’s right.” Amelia sighed.
Much as Jack wanted time to grieve, time was not on their side. He closed Andrew’s eyes and sighed. “We can’t leave him.”
“How will we tell Erica?” Amelia asked. She worried about the kid. To see her uncle like this would petrify her, mess with her mind. Jack slammed an angry fist onto the floor. The dead can’t be helped. His focus must fall on the living.
Jack put his hand over Andrew's face and closed his eyes. “May God have mercy on you.” Jack swallowed and stood up. Amelia and Jack were ushered out, Sam followed them.
These people were just about to leave for the plane when this mess happened. News broke to those on the surface. Morale dipped among their numbers. What will happen when they find Andrew’s body? Will they beat the women here to an inch of their lives? Will they kill Amelia and Calia? Are the men to be immediately reeducated on the spot? And the kids? What of them?
“Jackie? What do we do?” A man asked.
“Andrew, he-“ Jack has to tell them how it is. “He broke the interceptor’s remote guidance. We lost our drone. Calia could get in and fly it. However, she can’t do so in her current state.” Calia was crestfallen. She felt guilty of letting down her family.
Muttering filled the air. People were terrified, petrified, bereft of hope. A tepid woman stepped forward; her voice quivered. “S-so that’s it? We’re done?” A man tried consoling her. She broke down. “Even if they don’t kill me, they’ll ship me off our world! I’ll never see my family again!”
“I-don’t-“ Jack was at a loss for words. Andrew’s betrayal came so suddenly that it didn’t just hamper their plan of escape, but downright stopped it. Out of everything to account for, never did Jack thought this might happen.
“I’ll fly the interceptor.” Sam stepped forward. All eyes fell on him. “I’ll take to the skies. Escort you into the storm and then you can vanish like smoke.” They’ve lost a man already, Samuel wanted to avoid further casualties.
“You can’t fly that!” exclaimed Amelia.
“I can.” Samuel retorted. “I was trained.”
“Sam, that’s not what I mean!” Surely Samuel understands how this will end. What consequences will follow if he goes through with this.
Sam pushed aside her concerns. “This workshop is huge, filled with a bunch of things. I bet there are flight suits around!”
A scraggly gentleman raised his hand. “I remember seeing dusty gear in the old armory. We can check it out.”
“Show me!” Without delay, they moved towards another part of the workshop. Entering another room, lockers stood in rows, some were open others closed. “I think there are a couple here. Uhh, these things!” He showed Samuel the suits within. “Is this what you need?”
Sam peeked in. There were several to pick from. Sam spotted a few emergency oxygen tanks. Small enough to carry by hand. He checked them. Most were empty, one was half full. It will have to do.
He requires one that fits him. And as Goldilocks would say, he found the one that was just right. “This will do nicely.”
Grabbing one of the sleeves of the G-suit, he smirked. Memories rushed. His training days in the Continental Army, flying the experimental jet during the war, training in the Sims with Izha. All these moments prepared him for this day.
Lacking the mayor components that a regular Daxy flight suit sprouted, this won’t integrate with the vessel’s system. He’ll rely on his skills to get this job done. “Get to the plane! I got you guys covered!”
“Sam.” Jackson stepped forward. “You won’t escape the Fleet. They won’t stop until you are on the ground. Then, you’ll face their wrath.”
Samuel reached for the helmet inside the locker. He saw his reflection on the dark visor. Amelia, Jack, these people, and those kids. Izy, mi amor, they need my help. I won’t stand back and let them suffer!
“I can pull out my charms, have them go easy on me. Trust me, I’ll be fine.” Fear lingered in his mind. Yet, he didn’t humor it. For them, Samuel will face danger. “Go. And don’t look back.”
Jack struggled with the idea of leaving his friend behind. Samuel lightly tapped his shoulder. “Jack.” Sam smiled. “Make that bright future you dream off a reality.”
Jack looked down. Sam extended his hand forward. Jack grabbed it and shook it. “God be with you, Samuel.” Amelia reached for her husband and pulled him away. Samuel waved goodbye for the last time. No time to waste. He suited up.
***
Up above, Tom and others helped their people inside the C-130. The huge propellers kicked up the dust and rust to the side. “Come on, everyone! Let’s hustle!” The final group made it. He spotted Jack and Amelia. They were the last ones to board.
People were in their seats, seatbelts on. Some prayed, some were quiet. A woman comforted the children. The doctor monitored Calia. Bad as it looked, she was sure to survive.
As Amelia and Jack sat in their spots, Tom approached. “Jack!” He looked around the cargo hold. “Where’s your friend? Is he going back to the city?”
Jack shook his head. Amelia stepped in to answer. “He’s flying the interceptor.”
“What? Your friend is flying? That’s not a good idea, Amelia!”
Amelia put on a strong façade. “He insisted. And I trust him with my life.”
A panicked man came from the co*ckpit. “Amelia, Jack! You need to see this! We got trouble!” Both swiftly moved to the front.
Once they reached the front of the plane, Jack moved behind the pilot. “This is bad.” Jack muttered.
Civil Guard shuttles arrived by the dozens, accompanied by armored APC’s down on the ground. An army of officers emerged from their transports. Sporting heavy armor, and high-grade weaponry, they established a perimeter around them.
Amelia’s tail smacked against the floor. Instinctively, she grabbed Jack’s arm. “It’s alright, Amy.” Her teeth were out as she snarled.
“I won’t lose you, Jackie! I won’t lose anyone!” The hunter declared. Tom and a few others were armed. They had spare guns for her to use as well. Everyone hoped that violence would be avoided. Jack knew that if anyone opened fire, the officers would retaliate.
A Daxy in power armor removed her helmet. Grabbing a nearby megaphone, Isiq said. “Attention, rebels! This is Commissioner Isiq Toree! By order of the Empire, you are all under immediate arrest!”
The people on board heard her clearly. The kids cried as they tugged at their caretakers. “It will be okay, honey.” A woman cooed.
“You are surrounded! Power down your engines and come out one at a time with your hands up! Failure to comply will result in force used against you!” In the cargo hold, Tom saw a man shaking.
Isiq continued. “I have been informed that there are females on-board your vessel as well as children.” The officers had their weapons pointed at the plane. With a markswoman in their numbers sighting in on Amelia.
“I see a defector in the co*ckpit, ma’am. Permission to terminate?” All she needs is the go ahead and they would put the traitor down.
Isiq raised a claw up. “Hold fire. I want to avoid a firefight.”
“To the men inside! Put down whatever weapons you so foolishly wield and surrender peacefully. We come here not to hurt you, but to help! We can’t do so if you try to fight. Please, let go of your self-destructive impulse and willingly come to us! As for the females! Accept your rightful roles and guide them to peace! You shall be treated in accordance to how you act!”
“Fight and you shall be eliminated.” People whispered and muttered. “Surrender and mercy will reach you!” Isiq was approached by an officer.
“Ma’am. I got officers searching the boneyard for any humans attempting to hide. Meanwhile, Team four reports that they’ve entered the rebel hideout.”
“Any traps or ambushes?”
“None so far.”
Isiq looked back at the plane. Normally, rebels would shoot on sight. Perhaps Axillis was watching, ensuring that this matter would end in peace. “Ma’am there is a risk of that antiquated human vessel taking flight. Perhaps it would be wise to inform the Fleet and have them on stand-by.”
That was the prudent choice. However, Isiq saw opportunity before her. She can settle this without involving the military. Demonstrating High Command how competent she and her officers were. Praises, promotions, rewards, they’d fall over their heads a plenty!
“That won’t be necessary. We can play the waiting game if it comes to it. That thing will eventually run out of fuel. Hunger and thirst are another factor. Both will whittle down their resistance and these rebels will surrender.”
Isiq smirked. “Leave the Fleet out of this. We are in control of the situation.”
“Are we to terminate the human females?”
Isiq frowned. She wasn’t a callous and monstrous thing as these deluded humans thought. “I promised them mercy, did I not? I’m not a psychopath! We don’t shoot unless forced to do so. Am I clear?”
“Yes, Commissioner!” The officer saluted. “What of the traitor among them?”
Isiq snarled. “Fowl heathen! Betraying the sacred charge that the great mother bestowed over us! Much as I’d love to see them twitching on the ground while they bleed, they won’t cheat the judicial process. They’ll face justice to its fullest extent!”
Isiq moved the megaphone again towards her face. “Please! Surrender! Think of your lives! Of those precious innocent souls onboard! It matters not if they are male or female, do not put them at risk!”
“Jack? What the hell do we do?” The pilot asked nervously.
A few shuttles landed farther away from the plane, blocking the tarmac ahead. “Can we take off?” Jack asked. Amelia looked at her husband.
“We need plenty of runway to take off. But they’re so close. We may end up crashing instead!”
“We’ll have to try.”
“If we don’t get enough lift-.”
“I’m well aware!” Jack shouted. He took a moment and breathed. “Forgive me. I know the risks. But we’ve come too far to back down now. Have faith.”
The radio crackled to life. “Kestrel to Zion transport, do you copy?” It was Sam. The pilot handed a pair of headphones to Jackson. “ Kestrel to Zion transport, do you copy?"
"I hear you, Sam!" Jack replied.
"I’m inside the interceptor, I did a swift check on the systems and am turning on the engines! How are things topside?”
“We got shuttles, APCS and officers’ surroundings us!” In the distance, lights approached. “And a whole bunch more are incoming! I think we got the entire city’s security gunning for us!”
Bad as that sounded, Sam was more concerned about the cruiser parked over town. They get target by that, it’s over. “Listen up! I’ll deal with those that are in the air, give you guys a window.” Samuel went over the ship’s systems.
“Attention. This vessel has a compromised hull. Please dock immediately for repairs.” The patchwork that they did didn’t register with the computer.
“Computer, weapons check! Confirm loadout!”
“Command received. Verifying.” One of the screens showed him that all he had available was an EMP cannon.
Samuel nodded to himself. “That’s all I got, huh? Well, I can make do. And it spares me the act of hurting these officers.” He won’t but gravity may not care. “I mean, those shuttles have life preservation systems, right? They’ll activate them and the crash won’t kill them.”
Sam? He looked to the side. His reflection stared at him. It has been awhile since he last spoke to that man in the mirror. We are committed to this then. Samuel nodded. Do you wish to be a hero?
Samuel adjusted the mask over his face. Ensuring that the oxygen tank was properly secured, he stared upward. It’s a straight shot to the top, from there it’s the open skies of Earth.
“Noah told me that heroes didn’t exist. Only survivors and casualties.” Samuel touched the gorget around his neck. It didn’t compare to the touch of his mate, but it was close enough. “I’m not trying to play one.” Sam chuckled. “I’m just a guy trying to help others.”
Samuel reached into his pocket and retrieved his PDA. The love of his life, his bondmate. She’ll personally come for us.
“That’s what’s crushing my heart the most.” This is certainly to hurt her. He’ll never forgive himself for putting Izha through this grief. Just as he’d never forgive himself for standing idly by and watching others suffer.
Samuel flicked through his contacts and found Izha’s number. Tapping on the screen he called her. It rang and rang for what seemed like an eternity. He started to hope that she’d not answer.
“Colibrí? I’m a bit busy. I’ll call you when I punch out.” She could hear him breathing heavily. “Sammy? What’s wrong?”
“Izha. Mi amor. I-“ The vessel’s engines hummed louder. “Automatic piloting disengaged.” A synthesized voice spoke loudly.
“Samuel? What was that?”
“Izha, I want you to know that no matter what happens, I love you. Never forget that.” Samuel breathed deeply.
“I love you too, Colibrí. But Sammy? What is going on? Even for all the things we’ve seen, you’re scaring me.” His odd behavior was off putting. Izha felt that telltale churning in her stomach. “Sam? Where are you?” Struggling to answer, he remained silent. “Samuel Trexe!” Izha’s voice rocked him to the core. “Tell me where you are this instant!”
“Iz, I’m about to do something very dumb.” His hand moved towards the ship’s controls. Fear, doubt, it was pushed away. He was prepared for this, he trained under the best pilot in the Fleet. She’ll come for him. Sam knew she’d get tasked with stopping him.
“Over here!” The commissioner’s officers reached the heart of the workshop. They spotted the interceptor and moved in. “By Axillis, Commissioner Isiq! The rebels have a captured Fleet vessel! I repeat! They have a Fleet interceptor!”
“They what?!” Isiq shouted through the comms.
Sam yearned to taste Earth's skies yet again. He should enjoy this as much as he can. It won't last forever. His thoughts lingered on Izha. The last time they met in the deep blue, things got messy. Whatever happens, Dios. Please, watch over Izy. It was too late to stop Samuel. Anti-gravity was engaged. The interceptor hovered off the ground. It hummed, then it jolted away. Dust blinded the officers as it left the hangar.
Out in the open, he saw the mess his friends were in. There was a silver lining. No Fleet assets were present. Only Civil Guard. He holds the advantage in firepower for now. “Open channels. I want to hear the Civil Guard’s transmissions.”
“Order acknowledged.” There was a click, a beep and then voices flooded the co*ckpit. Civil Guard officers shouted orders and warnings.
“Clear comms! Clear comms!” Isiq barked. Her voice was the only one heard as she gave her orders. Unknowingly, she played into Samuel’s hands. He’s aware of every move the officers intended to take.
Tapping on a nearby console, the holographic HUD turned on. Blips filled his screen. Radar picked up additional bogeys incoming. Multiple targets detected. Proceed with caution. The computer warned.
Jack and Amelia spotted Samuel. Jack swallowed nervously while Amelia wrapped her arms around her husband. “Zion transport, this is Kestrel. Proceeding to engage targets. Begin your take off!”
The pilot in the C-130 stammered. “R-right! Here goes nothing!” The plane moved forward. The officers panicked, though not as much as Isiq. “Everyone buckle in!” The pilot shouted.
Sam tightened his grips around the controls. Deep breaths. 1...2...3...4... EMP cannons ready, Samuel aimed at his first target.
