The Overlord: A Post-Apocalyptic Novel (19 page)

After several minutes of fighting the current, we were barely under the falls when Cree started to take it slow, heaving for breath. He was struggling, clearly not a strong swimmer. Mouth open, his stomach was gradually filling with water. Ahead, the Quiet Frown was already at the rocks, trying to find the best path up through the misty streams.

"I'm cramping up!" Cree let out a labored grunt. "I've got to float for a bit!"

"We don't have time!" I hopelessly pleaded.

Cree turned onto his back to float, crying out in pain, but the motion wasn't enough. His body was seizing up so much, he couldn't find the strength to straighten out. The waters overtook him and he disappeared beneath the froth. I instantly jolted back, searching the dark deepness for any sign of him. In the panic, I caught sight of someone shaking their head from the platform above. It was Fossil. He pointed to the top, reasoning with me to keep moving. I looked back for Cree one more time and found him in the distance, bobbing with the current back toward the banks. He'd be alright, but he wouldn't be escaping with me. All chances of saving him from this place had suddenly vanished.

In a burst of anger, I smashed a fist into the water. I couldn't afford to lose any more time and the current was already taking me away too. I shoved on, stroking into the water until I reached the edge of the black rocks. My agile competitor wasn't too far ahead.

His judgment skills in choosing a path up were not matched with his physical superiority. The Quiet Frown was on the left side of the falls while I was on the right, closest to Fossil. I think the old man had chosen to stand there, purposefully, as some kind of hint. The right side proved to be a fortunate gamble. It held good footholds among the ragged ledges.

After a long stretch of getting cut up, bruised, and bashed, I finally neared the top. Veering down, the Quiet Frown was only about half way up his slippery ascent. Swinging my head back forward, I threw one last hand up and my whole body came up with it. Every muscle was burning as I flopped over the brink and rolled onto some rocks at the peak. I had made it.

With no more than a few seconds to rest, I got up and took a look around. The water was calmer up there and the observation platforms didn't come up high enough to supervise my every move. A few feet before me were three batons sticking up out of the water, each of them illuminated by little lights inside the narrow cylinder frames. It was the beacons. Ignoring their glow, I stepped around them and came to the next series of falls. They were smaller than the ones I had just summited and it would be no obstacle to reach the caves that were above them.

Out of the sight of any onlookers, I couldn't wait any longer to call Sentria. I reached for the radio clipped into the waistband of my thermal shorts, but nothing was there. It was gone. Frantically, I combed the shallow water where I had just come from, but found nothing.

Something was rattling about on the rocks nearby. I looked over and there it was, my waterproof radio. It was slowly being swept away toward the brink of the falls. My feet splashed over and I dove for it just as it was about to fly off the edge. Slamming onto the rocks and the water, I grabbed hold of it. The radio was secure, but I wasn't safe. From down below, I could be seen leaning over the falls by every eye of the Thralldom, Zero among them. Fearfully, I crept back out of sight in foolish hope that nobody had noticed the little stunt. For all they knew, it was just a beacon in my hands, nothing more.

Moving on toward the caves above, I replayed the moment in my head when Sentria left me back on Fever Island. It was painful, but I recalled what she had said right before she left me in that control tower. Filled with newfound hope, I could finally make sense of it all.

"Forget the kations," she had instructed.

She was telling me to forget the bad, to disregard what would appear as an outright personal betrayal. My heartache hadn't been allowing me to connect the dots, but the shape of things was just coming in clear. I recalled the third channel that she had taken care to mention. Radios in the Thralldom only ever had two channels. Mine had three. I had initially assumed the extra frequency was merely for the sake of the Fever Island Mission, a way for us to contact each other throughout the operation. It had been meant for something so much more, though. It had been meant for a moment not unlike the one atop those falls. Why had I been so quick to doubt her?

"No matter what," she had told me.

"No matter what," I silently repeated to myself.

I paused to take a deep breath and switched on the radio. As I continued to make my way up to the leftmost cave, I clicked the frequency to the third channel. Static rose, but soon faded as a crystal clear audio chimed in.

A voice spoke through, "Solomon? Solomon, is that you? Can you hear me?"

I was elated! "Sentria, you have no idea how good it is to hear your voice right now!"

"I could tell you the same thing," she agreed.

I quickened my pace as I spoke, "What in the world happened back there on Fever Island? How come you never told me who you really were?"

"Solomon, I just couldn't and that's all there is to it," she regretted. "When this is all over, I'll tell you everything you want to know. I promise."

"I don't want promises," I firmly stated. "I want you."

"I know," she sighed. "I want you too, but you're alive and I'm alive and that's all that can matter right now."

"I'm alive for now, but I'm running out of time," I said, peering behind my shoulder for anyone that might be listening. "I need your help. I'm going to fly your ship out of here. Well, I'm going to try, anyway, and hopefully make it to the United Corps."

"The United Corps is already on its way," she said plainly. "I'm with them now."

"That's great news," I naïvely stated. "There's still quite a few who are still loyal to the Overlord. Mostly the Bottom Bunks, but they don't want a fight on their hands. We've got to get them out of here before it's too late."

"Solomon, I have to tell you something very important," she stated gravely. "We're not coming to rescue anyone. A full invasion is on its way. The Corps is coming to wipe out the Thralldom for good. We're going to take out every last Thrall we can find. No survivors. I didn't agree with the decision, but the Free World made up its mind. They took a rightful vote and the majority want the Thralls gone for good. It's all black and white now. There's no more room for compromise. All I can do is tell you to get out of there. When the Corps shows up to attack, you'd better be out of the way. I'll do everything in my power to find you again when the fighting is over."

I froze up with horror, "You can't let them do this, Sentria. It's like genocide. There's good people here, people like me. Would you let them kill me?"

"Just get out of there," she cried. "Get out for me and forget the kations. The only hope for peace now is the hope that forgiveness finds us quick."

Suddenly, the blaring alarm returned. It meant that the Test was over, but how could that be? Nobody had won yet. When I focused my attention back to the radio, I found only static. The connection had been lost. Had Sentria closed the frequency or was it something else? Or someone? The hairs stood up on my spine as goosebumps made their mark over every inch of me.

A familiar sound was making its way up the fall. It was the hum of a jet pack. I was nearly to the left cave too. Just a few more feet and I would've been hidden, out of sight. The "Tomahawk" was near, yet too far, out of my reach.

Commander Zero rose over the water's edge like some rising evil from the depths below. Spotting me, he flew over to my position and levitated down. The jet pack's hum shut off as his boots hits the cold rocks. His grip was eerily holding onto the hilt of his retractable machete.

His blue eyes pierced into me, "Congratulations, Solomon. You've just won by default."

I asked with a tremble, "The Quiet Frown, what happened to him?"

"He never made it up," Zero specified without any indication of remorse. "The Quiet Frown lost his footing and fell, snapped his neck on the way down. You, on the other hand, have been up here for some time. What were you doing just now?"

I didn't have an answer. To my rescue, though, Fossil trudged up the rocks. He came up to us, huffing and puffing from a side path. Zero studied him, then looked back at me, and then studied the cave ahead.

"I think there's something you should know," saved Fossil.

"Yes," approved Zero. "I truly think there is."

"The 'Tomahawk,' among other assets, was reported missing not too long ago. I believe the traitor Sentria was responsible, hiding the stolen property in one of these caves up here. I asked the boy to see if he could confirm anything while he was up here."

The Commander scoffed, "During the Test of all things? Don't you think the boy has other things to be worrying about right now besides running errands for you?"

Fossil appealed, "He's a smart young man. I knew he'd win regardless of my request."

Zero then let out a terrible grin as he turned to me, "Well? Did you find anything?"

"No," I said as I clipped on the special radio behind me where he wouldn't be able to see it.

After an unnerving silence, Fossil added, "He'll make for a fine Captain among the ranks. Don't you agree, brother?"

"Captain? No, I think we can find something with more potential than that." Zero loomed closer to tussle my hair, trying to put on that father figure I had once known and trusted. "Without the promise of a Space Wizard, the Thralldom is going to crumble. No legends will mean no recruits. The Bottom Bunks looked to the Overlord, but he was merely the carrier of an idea. The prophecies of the Evening Galaxy weren't wrong. They remain intact. All we need is someone to fulfill them."

I figured I had nothing left to lose in speaking my mind, "I'm sorry, sir, but I don't want any part in your false prophecies from whatever galaxy you've dreamed up."

"It's alright," he consoled. "I know these past days have been difficult for you. You don't have to give me an answer right now. Think about it on your way down. Fossil will show you the easy way back. When you're cleaned up, meet me in the Lair. There's some things we need to talk about."

Gently, Fossil took me by the arm and began to lead me away, "We best get a move on."

We were in the clear, for the time being. Zero remained with his back turned toward us, staring forward at the left cave. A shower of water was concealing whatever laid beyond its veil.

Unexpectedly, the Commander knelt into the water. He swung up his Brawler gun, positioning the lower mortar attachment toward the upper fall. Loading a few Demon Eggs into the barrel, he calculated their trajectories for the leftmost cave.

He shouted, "Fire in the hole!"

With several loud whams, three Demon Eggs shot up into the air and made an arc toward the opening. A loud whirring vibrated as they soared in flight, disappearing into the veil of water. The Commander flew off as Fossil and I did our best to take cover. The whole entrance to the left cave then violently collapsed in a fiery explosion of boulders and steam.

I looked over to Fossil for a solution. It was no use. The "Tomahawk" was sealed up with no way of getting it out, leaving my fate locked up along with it. I began hunting for ideas, or anything for that matter. I searched Fossil's eyes for strength, but he was already staring back, searching for the same thing in me.

15

THE LAIR

Beads of sweat stung down into my eyes. My hands shook uncontrollably, losing grip in a growing perspiration. I had no idea if the Commander knew what I had been up to. The tension of that unknown drove me insane as Fossil led me through the grand atrium of the glassy pyramid. Side by side, we were greeted by rows of senior operatives. They were all standing at attention, saluting as we passed by. I couldn't decide if they were welcoming me, or if they were bidding me farewell.

I finally asked, "Where are we going?"

"To the core chamber," whispered Fossil. "Where the source of all the Blood Tech is kept."

Deeper into the glowing pyramid we reached a long hallway where a lift waited at the end. We didn't speak as we approached the emotionless guards that stood in our way. They quickly stepped aside and let us through. The lift doors opened, sealing shut once we were inside. The floor shifted free from its place and up we went.

In the compartment's quiet solitude, I detected something on Fossil that I had never noticed before. He had the usual mark of the Thralldom branded into his arm, a triangle beneath a single flame, but there was another mark as well. It was a fading tattoo, barely visible beneath his rolled up sleeve. The mark was of an eagle standing atop a globe and anchor. On a banner that flowed from the eagle's mouth read the Latin words, "Semper Fidelis."

"Always faithful," I translated out loud. "Why do you have that on your arm?"

"It's from a long time ago," he sighed, covering up the faded mark.

"Are you some kind of Marine?" I collected, "You're working for the United Corps, that's why you've been trying to help me."

"I've been trying to help because I like you, nothing more," he griped. "And yes, I joined forces with the Marines during the Last War, but that's all over now."

"Once a Marine, always a Marine," I corrected. "You clearly have no loyalty to this place, so what are you doing here?"

Fossil sunk his gaze to the transparent floor of the lift, "The Marines were like family, but they weren't blood. During the Last War, a battle brought us to a fallen skyscraper where the Marines and I had tracked a cluster of retreating Thralls. The trail led us to the top floor of the collapsed building. I was the first to step foot onto the sideways battlefield. There, I found my brother, my family. Cut off for years, we'd lost each other in the war. As much as I wanted to find him again, I hoped it'd never be in battle, but there we were. As boys, I made a promise to take care of him. I remembered that promise when I found him covered in his own blood with my gun at his throat. We embraced and I called the assault off. I vowed to get him somewhere safe. He wanted to do the same for me. So I defected to a different side of history. Nobody on either side thought less of me for it. I've never known if it was the right thing to do, but it's what I did."

I contemplated his dilemma, "Did you ever try to convince Zero to leave the Thralldom, together?"

Fossil looked up from the endless drop beneath the clear floor, "At first, yes, but I grew too loyal to the Overlord. I stayed for him. He was a good man. It's a shame what happened to the world when all he did was try to save it. Maybe that's the whole point. We can't save ourselves from destruction by anything we can make with our own hands. We have to look within and remember to never leave anybody behind. You and I both know how that feels and it's now our duty to remind the world to fight for something more."

I wanted to ask what that something might be, but the lift came to a stop. The doors opened and Fossil stepped out. I didn't ask the question, but he gave me the answer all the same.

"Love," he riddled. "It's love, Solomon. Trust in it."

He then motioned me toward the core chamber, but he wouldn't dare follow. I turned around, but Fossil had slipped back into the lift. He was gone, leaving me with only one way to go. I stepped down an illuminated corridor and entered into a haze of light. The inner chamber of the pyramid was more bizarre than I anticipated. It was circular. Every inch of it was made out of tubes, wires, and component panels. The hardware seemed inactive, thick with dust. At the center of the room was a bare pedestal where the light source stood. It was the Wandering Star, hovering in midair like the wisps of violet lava. Behind it, the shadowed face of the Commander rose up to meet mine.

"I'm sorry, Solomon," Zero softly began. "Ever since you first came to the Thralldom, I've always tried to be like a father to you. As of late, I'm failing."

I debated in my attempt to avoid special treatment, "I'm not the only one who thought of you like a father and I know there's more than just me that you saw as a son."

"You more than most, though," he put out with all sensitivity. "You're different. You don’t settle for the turning of the world. You try to evolve against it. It's a dangerous ambition, but one I respect."

Voicing my concerns, I risked, "I want to evolve forward, not backward, but I'm beginning to believe that I'm in the wrong place for that."

Matter-of-factly, Zero returned, "In the place that I was born, the Never Never of the old world, there were these bodies of water called billabongs. These billabongs were once flowing outlets of rivers and streams, but when the earth would change the course of the waters, they got separated, cut off from their source. These isolations, the billabongs, could flourish and sustain life for a short while throughout the year, but they were nothing more than dead ends. Eventually, they'd all dry up. Dr. Deadstock is just another billabong."

"I won't believe that," I negated.

"You know, mate, we're not really that much different from each other," continued Zero with an evil grin. "We're both traitors to those above us."

"Maybe, but I thought you were a man who stood for humanity." I snarled, "I could never stand with a monster who fights against it."

"Then become one who can fight for it in its favor," Zero direly suggested. "There are many kinds of magic out there, but there is only one magic that can save us. It is the magic of the heart, a magic of blood."

The Commander unclipped his retractable machete and gloriously sprung out the blade. Sliding a palm over its sharp edge, he drew his own blood, made a fist, and squeezed. The blood poured out over his clenched knuckles and dropped into the Wandering Star. The violet flame devoured the fuel, glowing brighter as if becoming more energized. The whole dusty room around us then came to life. There was a great whirring as machinery blinked on with echoing beeps coming from everywhere. The core chamber was alive.

Zero then stood back and I thought it best to do the same. Curiously, the Wandering Star was growing. It grew so big that it filled the entirety of the room. The Commander and I were both completely enveloped in the purple wisps of its flaming light.

"Far Stranger," petitioned Zero.

"At your command," resounded the voice of the intelligence.

"Initiate the superconductor sequence," ordered Zero

"Acknowledged," responded the Far Stranger.

The Commander then grinned at me, "You may want to hold fast."

The panels about us retracted into the floor to where the entire dimensions of the outer structure could be seen. The great pyramid then groaned out like the crashing of mountains. Violently, it vibrated. Through the transparent walls, years of overgrown moss and vines were being shaken off of the glass. In a spectacular commencement, the quaking pyramid then took off from its resting place as it slowly rose above the whole expanse of the Lair. Peeking out in all immensity over the forest vista, the distancing tree line appeared as nothing more than grass beneath a hovering giant. It was so magnificent and awe-inspiring, I almost forgot the horrors of the moment.

Zero elated, raising his arms outward, "With just a few drops of blood, all this was possible." Gloomily, he then lowered his arms and turned to me. "Regrettably, though, my blood can only go so far. It's precious to me and I can only spare so much. Which is why I need you."

"For what?" I sneered. "To become your beloved Space Wizard? You were never really a father at all, were you? You've been priming me to be your puppet since the beginning."

"You've got it all wrong, Solomon," he countered. "The Space Wizard is already here. He's real. Even now, he's all around us, one with the Wandering Star."

I wondered, "Who?"

"You've heard his voice countless times," hinted Zero. "You've seen the potential of his power with your own eyes. It's been limited and we must set him free."

"The Far Stranger," I collected with dread.

He went on, "I don't need you to become the Space Wizard, but the Space Wizard will need you. I've brought you here to release the power source that flows through your veins."

Horror overtook me. My ears deafened as my heart beat like a wild drum. I bolted back for the entrance to the lift, but I wasn't quick enough. Zero came tackling from behind, cutting off my escape. With the blade of his machete at my neck, he pulled me back into the chamber. Down the corridor, I saw Fossil waiting through the clear doors of the lift. He had just noticed what was happening and tried to come to my rescue, but he was quickly locked from the chance.

"Far Stranger," Zero yelled. "Seal the lift and take it down."

"At once," complied the ominous voice.

Though I couldn't hear him, I could see Fossil shouting for me as the floor beneath his feet took him away. Soon, he was out of sight. Zero then hauled me back to the pedestal and prepared to spill my blood into the fiery essence of the Wandering Star.

I labored to speak out in the intensity, "Why?"

"No matter what I do, Solomon, evil always seems to remain," he said. "It's come to me that in order to destroy a greater evil, I have to first do a little evil of my own."

"You can't hope to make something good by making a choice for others against their will," I struggled to spit out. "Start with a choice for yourself. Whatever your reasons are, there's got to be a better way than this. They call you the man who's not afraid of anything, but I've seen only fear these past few days. If you're going to kill me, then at least let me die with answers. What are you so afraid of?

"The future," Zero said with grit. "What do you think Dr. Deadstock was doing in space for twenty years? Doesn't that make you wonder about the universe around us? Why has he chosen now to come back? Let's just say I've seen a few things that have led me to believe that we must defend ourselves against whatever revelation is out there. To do that, the world needs a weapon, whatever the cost."

"Then pay for it yourself," I shouted back.

Much to his surprise, I determinedly fought out of his huge arms. I untangled myself away from him and stole his machete from out of his hands in the process. I pressed the cold steel against his white skin and scraped his beefy flesh for a warning, cutting into his exposed neck. He didn't dare move, but I realized he had pulled a pistol out in the scuffle and it was already aimed out at me. Then, out of nowhere, the Far Stranger gave pause to the stalemate.

"United Corps is approaching," he stated. "Aerial forces are inbound."

Disregarding our standoff, Zero angrily pulled away to look out through the transparent walls. Thinking he wasn't going to try anything, I backed away out of the chamber. Silently and with all speed, Zero took the opportunity to fire at me from behind. A painful wallop hit into my back and I felt the breath escape my lungs. I reached around to examine the damage. It was just a dart, but it was poison, all the same. I yanked out the needled projectile and my muscles began to seize up. Toppling down to the floor, I was conscious, yet completely helpless.

Over by the windows of the chamber, I could see Zero's reflection in the glass as he smiled out wickedly. "Well done, Doctor," he whispered into the distance. "Well done."

Beyond the clear walls of the pyramid, morning was just arriving through the clouds. Little black specks were flying in through the seeping light between the dark veils. It was the fleet of the United Corps. In the darkness of that ghostly dawn, they had come like wraiths, ready for battle.