The Colony Ship Eschaton: The entire ten book series, page 139
“Liduma, something strange is happening,” Lindsey said in a whisper. “Levi is angry, and those people died. I think you and I need to take a trip to find out about all this. Shall we go to Gath?”
Liduma licked her face and nuzzled against her. “Come on, we need to help in our own way,” Lindsey said. She then ran away as fast as possible, her long brown braided hair flying behind her. Liduma silently followed.
***
Not too long later, Levi marched onto the third floor above the Center. He bowed his head respectfully as he stepped onto a place where his friends had died. Jamie, Michael, and Veronika were standing right near the landing of the stairway.
“We have not started anything yet. We waited for you,” Jamie said.
“Levi, please forgive me for not telling you right away,” Michael said.
Levi looked at him, “All is forgiven. But also forgive me for my emotional response? You are trusted friends, and I dishonored you with my words and thoughts.”
They all hugged and that was behind them.
“The machine is in this room,” Jamie said as she led them to the corner room.
The door was set diagonally and was still wedged open. The large colored chair was in the middle and facing a nearly blank wall. The chair had numerous buttons along both arm rests. Levi looked it all over carefully.
“This is on the opposite side of this floor from where they died,” Levi observed. “How did you get that door open?”
“Michael, do you have one of the BTRs?” Jamie asked.
“Levi, these are items which the machines recognize. That allowed these doors to be opened without cutting.”
“Like the magic bone you said Sinclair used?” Levi asked.
“Very much like that. Veronika will you please connect in the fusion pack?” Jamie sat down on the seat. Michael handed her the BTR, and Veronika connected the fusion pack into the side of the chair.
“Jamie, is this machine damaged?” Levi asked and pointed to the controls which had been melted.
“Yes, there was a problem when we were here,” Jamie said.
Levi’s face had deep concern, but he said nothing.
Jamie activated the chair’s system. The lights lit up on the chair, the controls became active, and the display was revealed coming down from the ceiling. Flashing across it were the words, “Basic Temporary Recognition accepted. Please report to Replacement Crew Adjustment Center at first available opportunity.”
That flashed for a while, and then faded to what Jamie thought of as the original screen with all its symbols.
“Levi, this is where we found a way to look at Tropical. Here let me show you,” Jamie manipulated the controls until the screen split into the twenty-four sectioned display. Many of these were working, and Jamie expanded open one of the two displays which showed the stockade wall. When it filled the entire display screen, they could all see the sandy area in front of the stockade, and the portal access door as well as the ESRC. The display was labeled “Live feed: Aperture TH 2390071.” There were no people seen in the view this time.
“That is Tropical. That is where Deborah died,” Levi said. “But where are the bandits?”
“Let me try some of the other views,” Jamie said. The screen shifted back to the twenty-four section view. Jamie opened another of the functioning displays. Under it was scrolling, “Live feed: Aperture TH 2391193.” As it expanded to fill the whole display, it showed several cabins which were round and not square shaped like in Antioch. Several people walked by from one cabin to another. “I am trying to get an audio feed as well. Last time Roxanne was here, and connected these much more quickly than I can do manually.”
A man walked through the view. Almost immediately, Levi called out, “That is Brodie! Who is that with him?”
“That looks like one of the men we saw before with that elder. Was he one on the island?” Michael asked.
“It is the same man we saw before, but then he was severely injured. Now he is up walking about. They must have a functioning medical unit. But I am not sure if he was one of those on that island place. I was too busy that day to memorize faces,” Jamie replied as she worked to adjust the controls. “Finally, I have the audio coupled to the visual.”
Brodie was speaking as the audio cut in, “….more in the ring. So that is why you are now my personal servant. I am building up a force to take back to avenge my mother. Numerous times legionnaires have come here trying to kill me. They even sent my mother’s dead body here, with ‘Dome 17’ carved into it. Then they came and mocked me with lies. So Kedar, you and Asa and Seorim will join me. You fools in the Clan of Tobit fear the machines, but we will use them.”
Kedar glared at him.
“Do you want to get back or not? I can just leave you here to work for Adeela. But relax. There are several people here who work machines! Even that one that takes people from world to world. They promise we can go back. There are good weapons here. We will leave a…”
Veronika grabbed Jamie and abruptly pulled her away from the chair throwing her to the floor. “I am so sorry!”
The fusion pack burst into flames and the entire system sputtered and then went dark. The controls which Jamie had been holding were melting under the intense heat that was generated by the draining fusion pack. Sparks were shooting up from the arms of the chair, and the screen cracked and splintered into pieces.
“Sorry. I must have done something wrong. I saw smoke was coming from the power box. Oh, it is all my fault!” Veronika wailed. “I did just what Roxanne and Regina said. But I am just too stupid to help anyone.”
Michael quickly kicked at the smoldering fusion pack, but it was fused into the chair. There was a nauseating smell in the air. The heat in the room was rising.
Levi looked around, and saw a fine mist of some kind seeping out from the ventilation grillwork “Everyone get out of here!” Levi cried and grabbed onto both Veronika and Jamie and shoved them toward the door and placed himself between them and the gas rolling into the room. “Bad air is coming in here!”
A bright orange light was flashing round and round the door frame while a siren was blaring loudly. Seconds later, the lights and siren died. Michael sprinted for the door. It was trying to shut but could not. He tried to free the door by pulling at the stops he had wedged into the doorjamb.
“Michael! Run!” Jamie called.
Levi rushed forward, pushed Michael out of the way and into the hall. He then swung his permalloy sword down onto the wedges in the jamb. They were shattered by the blow. The door shot past and Levi just managed to leap into the hall as the gas in the room exploded.
Most of the blast was caught by the door. It bowed outward from the force of the explosion. But the door was not completely shut; the heat and power of the blast shot out of that crack and scorched the opposite wall. Tongues of flame leaped from the tiny space and for an instant the hallway was brilliantly lit. The concussion knocked everyone down onto the floor. The sound reverberated through the hallway. Then the fire died as quickly as it had started.
Levi’s permalloy armor protected him, but he was closest to the heat and pressure and that threw him down hard. He groaned in pain and rolled away from the detonation. Jamie and Michael lay in the hallway covering their ears and keeping their faces away. Veronika was on her back, her eyes wide, her pupils were just tiny pinpoints, her ears ringing and ringing. “I am so sorry. I did something wrong. It is my fault.”
After the echoes of the eruption faded out, Levi got up. His face was bubbling rage. “Those bandits did this! They knew we were watching.” Then Levi looked around. The afterimages in his eyes were fading, but the ringing in his ears continued.
“Levi, is everyone okay?” Michael said as he pushed himself up from the floor. He looked to Jamie who was rolling onto her back and rubbing her face. She looked back and nodded.
“I am so sorry!” Veronika cried out. “I do not know what I did wrong. I am so sorry!” She was weeping uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face from her blue eyes.
“Veronika?” Jamie said and slid over to where she lay. “Why do you say it is your fault?”
“Because I must have done something wrong. I am just too stupid to do the right thing,” Veronika answered between sobs.
“You did not want this to happen, right?” Jamie said gently.
“Of course not. It is just I am no good…”
Jamie interrupted her. “You saved our lives. We were all busy watching the display. You noticed that something was wrong with the fusion pack. You pulled me to safety, and warned them.” Jamie spread her arms wide. “You are my hero!” She gave Veronika a comforting hug and held her close. “Are you hurt? Michael and I have been trained how to fall, and Levi is expert at it. But did you get hurt in this?”
Veronika moved around a bit. “My ears are hurting, and my shoulder took a jar, but nothing seems broken. It was really not my fault? Honestly?”
“Honestly. It was not your fault,” Jamie stood up and gave a hand down to Veronika. “May I help my hero to her feet?”
Veronika smiled and took the hand and stood up. She was a bit wobbly on her feet, bit otherwise unhurt.
Michael was peering into the room where the chair had been. The door looked to be fused in place, but through the slit of an opening he could tell not much was left intact. The chair was pulverized by the detonation, and the debris was spread out all over the room. The ventilation grilles also looked to be melted shut. He turned away from the ruined technology; his heart sank for he had high hopes for the communication and observation system of the chair.
“Thank you Veronika,” Michael squeezed her arm in affection. “Nothing left in there,” Michael said. “And all but two of those BTRs were inside that room. Jamie has one, and I have one. The rest are gone. It feels like a deliberate attack. The pumping in of the gas, and the power of the explosion. The way it is so much like the other tragedy.”
“It was those bandits in Tropical! I know it was! Brodie was talking about working machines!” Levi was still enraged. “I am going to inform Gideon and get a group together. We will not stand for this.” Levi stormed away and down the stairs.
“Is he right?” Veronika asked. “Was it those bandits? I thought they were all sent away.”
“Yes, the legionnaires and the old Rector did banish many of them to Tropical. Apparently Brodie was their leader. He was Sinclair’s son. So he hates us,” Michael answered.
“Sinclair the witch? She wanted to kill everyone here!” Veronika said.
“She tried to do that. She tried to kill Michael and me. We know she killed some people from Dome 17. We stopped her from doing more,” Jamie said. “It was a very ugly business. So I can understand why Brodie would try to get revenge. However, I do not understand how he can have arranged this? Roxanne said the fusion packs were protected, right?”
“Roxanne also said the energy leech was a hybrid of our technology and the Eschaton’s. This problem is bigger than just the bandits in Tropical, or that elder and his men from Media. Somewhere out there is a very smart enemy.”
16 Planning the payback
“Yes, Adeela, I am going back,” Brodie said as he slid from the bed he shared with her.
“But why Brodie? You have everything you could want here. You are respected. You have plenty to eat. You have time for leisure, and you have my love. Returning will not bring back your mother,” Adeela stated.
“As usual, you are correct. You are indeed smart, beautiful, and strong. All those things are true. When I first was banished here, I thought it was worse than I could endure. And many of my associates did not survive,” Brodie stated. “But somehow I survived.”
“That was because few can fight like you do. You are strong and willing to do what is needed to win. Your successful challenges in the ring are still spoken about often,” Adeela said in glowing admiration. “And Haro even has a liking for you. What will you accomplish by going back to that other world?”
Brodie tried very hard to understand his own motivations. They were a mixed jumble. Under it all was his anger. It kept bubbling up seeking an outlet, seeking revenge. He knew Adeela was not his enemy, not in any way. She was the best supporter he had had, second only to his mother Sinclair. And that was the core of his angst. He feared for Adeela. He did not want to see her killed and butchered. The image of his dead mother’s mangled body on the sands, as the machine dumped it there, was never far from his mind. Even on the beautiful days in Tropical, of which there were many, that pain, that fear, that inner turmoil, was not squelched.
“Adeela, you are a wonderful person to me. I love you immensely. But this is something I must do. Those last three men coming here, yes even the one you bested so expertly, have shown me that the legionnaires are still banishing people and still harshly ruling. That Rector Robert was always out to crush dissent and stomp on people. I must go there and face them, even if it means losing you and all of this.” He spread his arms wide and turned around. The circular cabin they shared was well furnished; soft cushions, food storage pots, cooking fire with oven. It was far better than his life in the tents and ramshackle camps in the woods of home, even better than the cabins around Gath.
“You see Adeela; I was making a home for us all. Now before I depart, let me explain. I know I have not spoken of it to you. But you probably heard the story from the other survivors. In Gath I was making a safe home. I had a vision there. I dreamed one night of a great town where people could be free from rulers. I awoke and knew I would work to make that happen. We did not want the manipulating rule of Rector Robert, nor did we want the crazy ideas of the Clan of Tobit. So we were making our own place. And yes, the outcasts from both Media and Antioch came there. Yes, many were thieves. They called us bandits. But we had to eat. We took what we needed. We did not kill people, if it could be avoided, and if someone was not strong enough to protect their supplies, they did not deserve them. I was trying to give my friends a purpose, a home, a new start. Then the legionnaires came and at the point of a sword, marched us all to the banishment. There were too many to fight. I wonder now, if I had fought then, would my mother still be alive? Had she been there with that weapon we found, would the legionnaires be the ones who died?”
“Brodie, I remember when you all came. It was a strange time for us all. There had been others who came here before. But only in ones and twos. They usually were able to fit into life here. Before you came, there was never a large group,” Adeela said. “Some ran off into the wilds. Some fought and died, or ended up in the ring. But most of those others adjusted to life here. It was different when a group came though. The group was large, and they fought. How many did Haro himself dispatch? But you, Brodie. You are a survivor! You are a winner. Must you really go back? I know your mother is dead. I grieve with you. I held you after we buried her body. I helped you dig the hole. Brodie, I am here for you. If you go, your mother will not come back, and I fear, neither will you.”
“Adeela, you speak the truth. But my mind pulls me to go. My mother, my honor, and the brutality of the legionnaires must be avenged. To do any less is not me,” Brodie was near to tears, but held them in. It was hard to express, even to himself, exactly why he felt the obsessive need to go back. Perhaps it was started by the time the legionnaires, Levi and Gideon had come to taunt him. Even though he had had the stockade built, they still came. The dismembered body was the final tipping point. That abuse of his dead mother, he could never forgive.
“Then I go with you,” Adeela stated flatly. “You have seen me in the ring. You have seen me in your life. I will go with you to make sure you come back. I think even you would fall before me in the ring.” She tried to make a joke of it, but all either could do was exchange a weak smile. “So how do we go there?”
“Jack has watched over the stockade since it was built. He talks often to Vishank the maker. Vishank tells me that just like the machine Hypatia in the healing rooms, all one needs to do is ask the other machine to take us back. Jack says the magic words are ‘Habitat One: Coastal Plains’ and he swears that is how the legionnaires went back. They spoke to the machine and it took them there,” Brodie stated.
“Jack does watch. He is old and yet his eyes and ears are still keen. Vishank is clever and wise in the ways of machines. But why has no one tried this before?” Adeela was always asking the important questions.
“Jack said many have tried before. He told me when some came through from the other world they beat on the closed door and they begged and begged to go home. But nothing happened. Jack says that only since the legionnaires themselves came, when they broke into that cabinet in the wall, only since then has anyone ever been able to get the doors to open and go back. Jack told Vishank of those magic words, ‘Habitat One: Coastal Plains’ and Vishank said it sounded like the healing rooms. If we can get Hypatia to do healing with words, we can get a door to open, if we know the magic words. I believe it will work and will open the door to the other world. My mother used magic words, and a magic bone, to open doors, so I think Jack may be correct. Also, since we put up the stockade, we have let no one near that door from the other world, so no one has tried just speaking to that door.”
