Chapter 37
Garden of Minos, The Bear's Den
"Well, that went well." Jinx said with an eye roll as they made their way back on deck. Gaige walked next to her, head hung in defeat.
"I know. And we need their help to get this to work. It's just that, well, I kinda saw myself in him." She paused and looked at the other girl to see if she needed to continue. She saw a fair amount of recognition there and could tell that she had seen it as well. The self-delusion, the false confidence that you were doing the right thing, that you knew better than anyone else how to live your life, even though it was clear to those around you that you were just flailing wildly to try and keep yourself afloat. But most of all, it was the fear behind his eyes, the fear of anyone seeing inside you and calling you out on how pathetic you really were. How you really didn't know what you were doing anymore, but you were still doing it, mostly on momentum at that point, and you were terrified to stop, because if you did, you didn't know if you could ever start again, and not knowing which would be worse.
"Still, the old man's a coward." Alezander said, looking back in disappointment.
"Do not talk of him that way." Alec glared at her brother.
"Why not, you know it's true. You don't want to end your life in this place any more than I do. You remember the way we used to talk? When we were kids, about what we would do if we ever got out of this place?"
"Those were the dreams of a child. And that is where they belong, in dreams. I am responsible for too many lives to go making choices just because I want to."
"Then why not let us make our own choices." A voice said from the side.
They all turned and saw Istivan leaning against the wall. Next to him was Verichenko and Caz, Yerik and Hevlig, and many others, including the scar headed man from the earlier meeting.
"We all need to make our own choice." He said looking at them "Whether it is to stay here, in the safety of our wall. Walls which have protected us since we arrived. Or if we want to risk lives on the hope of something better. You were right, we do need to make a choice. Each must choose, safety or risk. Familiar or new."
"The Commandant will not like this." Verichenko growled "But then, he only has power that we give him."
"Huh?" Jinx said, turning to look at him.
"What?" Istivan answered "He's done us well this far, but a leader is only in that position if he can keep it, either through force or the people's consent. If we decide to leave, he can't exactly make us stay. Not if enough of us wish to go."
"So that's what it comes down to." Alezander said "Who wants to stay, and who go. That didn't sound right."
"Before we decide, we need to know what you know, what we would be facing if we follow you." Alec said, crossing her arms. "You told us you knew what was down there, that it could be defeated, but we have already lost many to what is down there, so we need to know what is different this time, so tell us what is down there and how it can be defeated. Convince us. That is the chance we offer."
"Well, that seems fair enough." Gaige said "As for what's down there, from what we've been able to piece together, this is an Eridian ruin, that's what drew us all in, and what's down there."
There was a low buzzing in the crowd, many of them started turning away, accepting defeat.
"What?" Gaige called out to them "Afraid?"
"Eridians." Alezander said "They're myths, not real."
"They're real boy, but they can't die. They live forever guarding their tombs." Istivan said.
"They is spirits." Verichenko added "Undying, mad at universe for it."
Others called out "They're not real." and "They've touched god."
"Nonsense." Gaige called out "They're real and they can be killed."
There was a general grumbling of disbelief as many called out that she was a liar and how would she know.
Gaige smiled and said "I know, cause I've killed them before."
"Lies, she's trying to get us killed." Came a cry from the crowd.
"No it's not, they die easy enough, all three of us have killed them before. Us on Pandora, her on Tartaris. Why you think they're unkillable is that they're energy beings in crystal bodies or something like that, Tannis could explain easier, though no one would understand her, but the point is, they can be killed. Just think of them as a living shield, electro-weapons tear through them no problem."
"Oh, is that it?" Jinx said from behind her, sounding legitimately shocked "I just took their heads off, seemed to work fine."
"That works too. But as you can see, it can be done."
"And why should we believe you?" Came a cry from the crowd.
Gaige shrugged "Cause we have no reason to lie about this. I mean, think about it, if we were gonna lie to you, we woulda told you it was something else down there, right? So why would we tell you they were Eridians, well actually they aren't Eridians, they're Guardians, Eridian was the culture or something, or these were what they left behind when they vanished, or something like that, point is, that's what's down there and I have no reason to lie about being able to defeat them."
A few in the crowd looked at least a bit convinced.
"We're going." Jinx said "If you want to help, good, if not, keep cowering in your cage."
"That was a bit harsh." Gaige said over her shoulder before turning and calling to the crowd "But true. Whether you go with or not, is up to you. But we're going, we intend to get out of this place, or die trying, either way, we're gonna be free."
"That was a grim way of putting it." Alec said "But you are right, each person here, now knowing what we would face, must make a choice of their own. No matter what you choose, we will not hold it against you moving forward, but as for me, I go. I wish to be free too."
"I'll go." Alezander said, looking past Gaige as he did.
"Beats hanging around here, count me in." Called someone else.
A number of those in the crowd started calling their support, and a few shook their heads, preferring to try and live longer.
"I will not go." Verichenko said, shocking Gaige. After working with him she'd been sure that he would want to get out, but he continued "And neither will Caz. We are not fighters, but you will have your Bears in top shape when you go."
Alec gave him a grateful nod
"Same for me." Istivan said "I'll go with, as far as I can, organize the supply lines and all that, but it's been too long since I've been in a proper fight, I'd just slow you down."
"War is young man's game." The scar headed man said before breaking into a toothy grin "Count me in."
"Really?" Gaige said in surprise "I thought you were against us."
"I was, but you were right, we can't stay here. And for me, this old dog would rather go down fighting."
"Well, hopefully you won't have to, but glad to have you on-board."
"Have to what?" He asked, confused.
"Huh? Go down fighting, hopefully you won't have to go down fighting."
"But I want to fight."
"Yes, but hopefully you won't need to die doing it."
"Ah, this makes more sense."
Gaige shook her head and turned to the rest of them "Is that everyone? Again, before we begin, I can't guarantee that this will work, and even if it does, that you'll be alive when it does, or that we can even get back from down there. This might be a one-way trip, so make sure you're ready for whatever comes, but know that we'll be with you the entire way."
"For as far as we can." Jinx muttered.
No one left, a number of them muttered "We already knew that." or "What else was I going to do?" and "We were going to die anyway, might as well make it worth something." and after a minute of that, Gaige looked around and said "Well, we're not gonna go if we all just stand here, get ready."
"We leave tomorrow, at first bell." Istivan said, taking over. He quickly started directing people around, telling some to go pack food and supplies, directing others to start prepping in case they succeed.
After a minute, he turned back and asked Gaige "If this works, what happens?"
"What do ya mean?"
"I mean, this place can't leave, the Den I mean, so should we relocate to other ships? If so, which ones, cause all the ones right around here have been pretty well stripped."
"Go to the other side of the first wall." Jinx said.
"Yeah, tell you what, I'll go with a few of you and open a couple of ships, then you can get the people here onto them and when we succeed, they can get outta here on them." Gaige added "Sound like a plan?"
He nodded "Sounds good, and if they close the hatch behind them, the bandits shouldn't be able to sniff them out either."
"What about us?" Verichenco asked from the side.
"You're staying behind, aren't you? Sorry I can't help move your machine bay to one of the ships, but you should leave most of it behind anyway."
He waved his hand dismissively "Niet, not that, for Bears, what should being done to them?"
"Ah, uh, let's see, if you can equip them with some kind of electric beam, that'd be awesome, otherwise, any kind of electrical attack would be good. Oh, but also, make sure to keep some kind of hardpoint attack, just in case we run into something else down there."
"What else are you expecting?" Istivan asked.
"Well, often the ruins are guarded by something or are guarding something, something that's not always happy to see you. I mean, I've seen a giant dragon thing in lava, and she fought a floating ball of tentacles for example." She noticed Artemis twitch at the mention of the creature she'd face.
"Very good." Verichenco said turning away and pulling Caz away from where her and Alec were talking softly together.
Alec watched her go for a moment before joining them to inform them "We will have four Bears for the expedition."
"Why only four?" Gaige asked.
"I'm surprised we got four." Jinx said at the same time.
"All the pilots volunteered, but I chose to leave three Bears behind, protect the rest while we are gone. The last one was too damaged to be fixed, so it will be parts. I will be leading the ones going with you. What? Why are you surprised? I told you, I am leader of the Bears when we first meet."
"Guess I just never put it together." Gaige said "Well, good to have you along, so let's go, lots to do before tomorrow."
Alec turned to Jinx, catching the look on her face and asked "What is it?"
"Huh?"
"You obviously have question, so ask."
"I was just wondering if you were gonna be alright tomorrow?"
"You mean with the Commandant? I will manage."
"No, I'm meaning with, well, how should I say this? You know we're going to be going down, right?"
"Of course, I am not idiot."
"So, you said that you weren't, uh, good with heights, right? So, are you gonna be alright?"
Alec paled slightly, like she'd forgotten about that but stated "I will manage, but keep it quiet about that." Seeing the other girls look at her questioningly she added "I do not want weakness known.
"Gotcha." Gaige said, before turning as they headed off to join Alezander and almost the entire expedition group. Only a few of them had decided to stay behind, not cause they were afraid of what was down there, but on the chance that they failed, there would still be some of them left behind to try and keep the base going.
They packed what they could, trying not to take too much, which didn't take them long. They spent the rest of the day trying to avoid the Commandant and helping Verichenco and Caz rework the Bears.
The Next Morning
They planned to leave early the next morning, but when they got up, they were met by the sight of the Commandant standing in front of the gate.
"You think to steal and leave?" He barked at them.
"We aren't stealing anything." Gaige replied "Each of them made their choice."
"To follow you to death. But you not think of us, ones left behind, without protection, they die. You kill them as if you place gun to head yourself."
"Keeping them here is just killing them slowly, at least we're offering a way out."
"Death is your way out."
"Out is my way out."
They glared at each other, and after a moment of deadlock, the doors to where the Bears were kept opened and four of them stomped out only to stop when they saw the old man blocking the door. The hatch on the lead one opened and Alec crawled out to fix her dad with a glare.
"What are you doing?"
"I could ask you same of you, but already know answer, insubordination."
"You may call what you want, but we still go."
"Insurrection, mutiny, treason." The Commandant continued.
"Oh, shut up." Alec finally snapped "You always like this, always must be in control, but you can not stop this, it has already happened."
"I can and I will."
"How? You are one man. Just a man, you are only our leader because we follow you."
"And now what? You follow them? They kill you, do you not see, they lead you to death."
"But that's their choice to make." Came a voice from the side. Turning they saw Istivan standing there "Our time has passed, Nikolai, it's their time to lead. If they want to fight, it's our job to prepare them as best we can, and to see them off. If we can't do that, then we're failures as parents."
"How can you talk? Is your child going? How about yours?" He spun and addressed Verichenko where he stood at the controls for the machine shop door "Or is it only mine that go to die?"
"No, is like you say, she will stay." Verichenko responded "But she would if she could, so instead she spent all night preparing, making sure the Bears carry her hopes with." He replied, patting one of the machines on the leg.
"You don't think that we wanted to tell them to stay?" Istivan added "That we want to see them throw their lives away? But they aren't. They know that staying here isn't any guarantee, and that going isn't it either, but that's their choice to make. They know the risk, that they're gambling their lives for only a chance to live, but who are we to stand in their way?"
"I am their superior officer. I am their father."
"I know, but did your parents stand in your way when you joined the fight? Did they tell you that you'd die if you became a soldier? And did you listen, or did you make your own decision?"
"Is beside point." He growled "I join revolution to free all oppressed."
"So, when did you become the oppressor?" Jinx muttered.
"You are right, that was why we join." The scar headed man said, marching out to the Commandant's side before turning to face him. "But they have made the choice to fight for themselves, who are we to stand in their way. We should rejoice that they have taken up arms for their comrades, to liberate them from their prison and to follow their own path, even when all that they care for stands in their way."
"You too Karivona?"
"I have followed you since we joined together, followed you to this place, and followed you all these years faithfully, do not make this the first time we are at odds old friend."
"Then do not do this."
"I do this for what I believe, and I believe them." He motioned to the girls "And them." He turned to where Alezander and his expedition troops had joined the Bears. "I believe that they know what they are doing. I believe that they deserve chance to make their own future."
The Commandant looked at him in disbelief "You would send them to their deaths, and for what? So, they can make a choice for themselves?"
"You keep saying that we're all goin to our deaths." Gaige said "But how can you be so sure?"
"You who are at cause of this would do well to be quiet!" He spun, spraying spittle as he did "No one who go down, come back. We already try, and what happen? They die. They all die. Now everyone know, only death await down there."
"Not true, it's not death, just Eridian guardians."
That stopped the old man for a second "And that is also death."
"They have fought them and won." Karivona said.
"And how you know? They tell you?"
"They convinced me."
"And me." Came cries from all around them. The Commandant looked around, seeming to shrink as he realized that he couldn't win this, that he was entirely on his own.
Seeing that, Karivona added "Do not worry, I go with them, I not miss good fight. I give my life to protect theirs."
The old man turned to his kids and said "Nothing convince you to stay?"
"No."
"Then go. I not be able to give blessing, but I not stop you."
They nodded sadly and gave him a salute before loading back up and starting out.
As the girls walked past, the Commandant whispered as they went "Bring kids home safe."
"We will." Gaige said and left the Den of Bears.
It didn't take long for the entire entourage to descend down a ways, feeling the gravity increase as they did. Gaige marveled at all the different designs of ships as they went, finding more and more of them that she didn't recognize.
"Man, I wish we could stop and crack some of these open, see what kinda tech was left behind in them."
"You think there'd be anything worth taking?" Jinx asked, looking at them skeptically.
"Maybe, maybe not. I mean, most of the guns would be technological dinosaurs, but then again, I remember getting my hands on an E-tech gun back on Pandora, man that thing was weird. Oh, plus we might find something like that DAHL surveyor's tool you gave me."
"You could always call a stop, dig around a bit."
"No way, you can't kill the momentum on something like this, you have to plow ahead regardless."
"Really?"
"Yeah, strike while the iron's hot and all that."
"I think that's about something different."
"Yeah, I know, but same principle."
They went in silence for a little further before Gaige noticed the other girl giving her sidelong glances.
"What?"
"Huh?"
"Don't huh me, you've got something to say, so say it."
"How'd you know?"
"I know you well enough to know when you want to say something at least, even if I don't know you as well as I had thought, or hoped."
"Fine. I was just wondering if you'd picked one out yet?"
"Picked out what?"
"A ship."
That caused Gaige to stop and turn to her as her stomach turned to ice. "Why would I pick out a ship? You, I mean, did, uh, do you want me to leave? I thought you were gonna see, so did you choose, and you don't want me around anymore?"
"Huh? What're you talking about? I thought you were gonna take a ship and claim the, uh, what'd you call it? Finder's fee? Salvage rights? Something like that?"
"Oh!" Gaige gasped, putting her hand to her chest and letting out a breath "You scared the crap outta me, you know that? I thought you were kicking me out."
"Uh, sorry?"
"It's alright, just don't do that to me."
"So, did you? Choose a ship I mean."
"No, not yet."
"What about the Ranger's Iron? I mean, not only would you have the ship, but all the guns as well."
"Yeah, that would make sense, I'd been leaning towards one of the luxury yachts."
"Those would probably be worth a pile as well. Well, we'll have to see when we finish this."
"Yeah."
They'd continued down as they'd talked and soon found themselves approaching the layer of clouds. The entire party stopped and set us a temporary camp, with the couple of engineers that'd come along getting to work on recharging the Bears as the rest took a rest.
It was then that the girls spotted a flaw in their plan.
"Are you alright?" They asked as they approached the siblings who were sprawled on the ground, along with almost everyone else.
"How can you stand like that?" Alezander asked.
"It all weighs so much." Alec added.
"Huh?" Jinx said looking at them.
"Of course." Gaige said, hitting her fist into her palm "They've either never lived at a different gravity, or it's been so long that their bodies aren't used to it anymore. Damn, why didn't I think of that earlier."
"What is it?" Alec asked, unable to follow.
"The gravity here gets stronger the further down we go and since you're not used to it, it's making you heavier." Gaige explained.
"Why aren't you affected then?" Alezander asked.
"We are, it's just that we're used to this much gravity from outside, our bodies haven't acclimated to the lower gravity of where you live yet. Or more accurately, we've acclimated a bit, but not enough that it would impede us in any significant way."
"How long."
"What?"
"How long will it take to acclimate to this weight?"
"Donno, might be a while, at the very least, longer then we can wait." Gaige looked around, a few of the people still moving were dripping with sweat. "Still, we can give it overnight at least."
The rest of the group looked relieved at that and started setting up camp.