BLUE GENDER
"Children of the Blue"
13. Revolution
The sun was down and still no Yuji. No sign of Farrow, either.
News traveled fast through the village and to the entire region. Everyone was on pause, waiting to see who would return.
If it were Farrow, then Marlene figured holy Hell would be unleashed upon the villagers.
If it were Yuji, then that might change things.
They sat by their campfire.
"I'm not sure we should do this," Dr. Gamble told the group.
They were all there except for Yuji.
Furthermore, Celine had sent runners to the other villages to warn those who worked in Estes' compound to skip work in the morning.
Gamble explained: "We could just take the shuttle. There might be a fight but the way the Captain describes these thugs we could easily best them."
"No way," Moss spoke up.
He was sitting next to Denise with his arm around her. They were two people who had rarely spoke back at the village—barely knew each other. Yet the adventure had brought them together.
It reminded Marlene, on some level, of her and Yuji.
Moss went on: "I couldn't sleep if we didn't do something. Like you said, these guys are pushovers. We might as well push them over for these people. We do that and these folks will live like we do. They deserve that chance."
Gamble and Moss were about to start arguing but Marlene distracted them all with a simple question: "Why are any of you here?"
They looked at her, dumbfounded.
She made her point, "With every thing that's been going on—it all moved fast. I asked for volunteers and all of you came but I never stopped to think about why. You didn't have to. I also never said thank you. So let me say it now."
Marlene fidgeted. They all knew she was thinking about Takashi and Yuji.
Pistol, his twin guns on shoulder straps over his light armor, spoke first.
"I'm here 'cause of Ted," he referred to the only other Sleeper who had been a part of their return to Earth. Ted had been killed by some horrific creature in the Cavern of the Earth. A creature they all figured was the ultimate evolution of Blue—one without a core.
Yuji had killed it but not until after it had decimated the whole team—except Marlene—that he had taken with him into that cavern.
Pistol completed: "I told him when he asked that I'd have to come because 'you boys from Texas couldn't find your ass with both hands.' So I came. We lost him, but I found a life. I owe that to him and to Yuji and you, Marlene."
"You left a family behind," Denise pointed out.
"Naw," Jones told them. "I got that family right here," he tapped his heart but he also meant the people around the fire. "Besides, how could I ever look my boy in the eye if I didn't help get Takashi back?"
Gerhardt snarled: "Someone messes with Marks, they mess with Gunther. When I get hands on those who take Takashi…" he choked an invisible throat.
Junker threw in his two cents: "Whenever I would tell a story, Takashi always listened to every word—"
Marlene glared at him.
Junker clarified: "Only the nice stories, don't worry, mom. But he'd ask all these questions. He wanted to know every little detail. I don't know if y'all noticed, but Takashi, he's one smart fella.
"But Marlene," he change directions. "Gotta figure that all of us would'a rotted away up in them damn metal boxes if it weren't for you. I don't know if you noticed, but we'd follow you straight to 'hell to kick the Devil's ass if that's what you wanted."
"Here, here," came a chorus and Moss stuck his hand out. One by one the assembled group piled their hands on and squeezed tight.
The unmistakable whirring of a shrike interrupted the group.
They all stood. Marlene took a step forward. She hovered at the rim of the firelight. She saw the metal beast glide in. It stopped by the carrier truck and mechanically kneeled. A driver got out.
Yuji walked forward until he could be seen clearly.
Marlene and Yuji locked eyes. So many thoughts and emotions raged between those eyes that words would've just gotten in the way.
Then the smiles started to creep into their expressions.
It was hanging there. Yuji just had to say it.
"Hi, honey, I'm home and I had a hard day at the office."
Marlene bit her lower lip to keep from smiling too broadly.
She replied: "Don't worry, dear, dinner will be ready in a minute. Should I fetch you your slippers and the newspaper?"
They paused for one more moment then dived into one another's arms.
---
Raul headed to the compound in a surprisingly good mood.
As he approached he noticed the guards appeared a little more alert. They even stopped his car as he came to the main gate. Mr. Estes himself was standing there.
"Good morning to you Mister Estes, Sir," Raul said.
Estes was distracted. He was scanning the morning horizon. Just as Raul was about to drive on his boss asked, "Have you seen Mr. Farrow?"
"No Mister Estes, sir. Your men took the Blue Mr. Farrow had requested and that is the last I have been hearing of him."
Estes looked at Raul and questioned: "What about the next batch?"
Raul answered: "I applied the enzyme yesterday morning, sir. They should have been hatching last night. They will be adult size by this afternoon."
Mr. Estes knew what Raul also knew—Blue developed quickly especially when they fed on the protein blocks in the nursery chambers.
Raul waited. He began to feel nervous. Would they search the car?
No. Estes considered Raul an insignificant weakling. He waved the scientist through and stood there, scanning the horizon.
What Raul didn't know was that Estes had sent men to the nest the night before. They had returned saying that Yuji's shrike was destroyed but there was no sign of Farrow.
That made Estes more on edge than if Farrow had been outright killed.
Raul's vehicle entered the compound with Junker hidden in the rear.
---
Marlene put down the binoculars.
"They're in," she said to Jones who was lying next to her in the rubble of an industrial building.
Jones checked his chronometer.
"Tick tock," he said.
---
Raul did his work in the cavern unmolested. He had spent several years as a whipping boy to Estes and his men—they feared him or expected treachery from him no more than a brute would expect his beaten pet dog to revolt.
Junker considered Yuji's story of how he had dispatched Farrow—overconfidence had been his weak spot. That same over confidence permeated Estes' group of brigands.
That was no more evident in how Estes appeared to use the pre-fab defense base he called home. He apparently had no idea that this was a sophisticated military structure. Instead, he treated it more like a castle—big walls for protection.
No one utilized the interior cameras or exterior sensors—they had long since stopped working from neglect or lack of parts. The main security station had been converted into an oversized linen closet, the explosive materials detectors were off line, and the computer terminals were either covered and used as tabletops or smashed beyond repair.
Junker found one such computer terminal. He had to remove the white cloth and vase with plastic flowers to access its components but it still worked (the complex ran on a maintenance-free depleted uranium power core).
He immediately recognized the operating system and began cycling through sub menus until he found the items he was looking for. He checked his chronometer and began his work.
Like riding a bike.
---
"How many of dem are there?" Gunther asked.
He was in the carrier truck with Darren Moss and Denise Karr.
"Celine says about two dozen," Denise answered.
The group was checking ammunition on their heavy assault rifles, re-stocking rigs, and making sure their side arms were all ready to go.
"I mow 'em down, no problem," Gunther bragged.
"Whoa, boss," Moss reminded him. "Don't worry about mowing 'em down. Just send them running."
Gunther grinned: "Don't worry 'bout dat. I send em' runn'in real good."
---
Dr. Gamble was outside of the carrier truck. It was almost mid morning and he was becoming very impatient and very nervous. He hid it as best he could but he felt as if he had to do something.
At that moment Marlene and Yuji came around the corner of the truck discussing their strategy. Gamble stopped them.
"Yuji, I'm not sure this is a good idea. There is a lot of risk here. What if someone gets killed over this? We should get out of here."
Yuji assured the doctor: "It's okay. Everything will work out."
"I see," Gamble said with the nastiest tone the two of them had ever heard from him. "Is Captain Junker in charge of this mission or are you two? Because it seems to me that this is all his idea. Another story for him to tell at the campfire."
Marlene frowned and answered for them both: "Listen, doctor, this isn't about who's in charge. It's about doing what's right."
"Your son is out there somewhere. Every minute we waste here is another minute he's with whoever took him. Are these people really worth that?"
Yuji: "Hold on a second. Do you really think we've forgotten that? Do you really think our son isn't the first thing we're thinking about? But look around, Doctor, and you'll see this town is full of kids. I can't go on trying to save my son if I don't do something for these people."
"It doesn't matter," Marlene snapped. "It's already begun. If you want to sit this out, go hide in the truck. I know fighting isn't your style."
"No, no it's not," he said. "But it sure is your style."
"Hey," Yuji was shocked. He had never heard Gamble speak like this.
Dr. Charles Gamble realized he had pushed too far. He held his hands up, smiled awkwardly, and told them both: "I—I'm sorry. I'm nervous, that's all. Marlene, I'm sorry."
Marlene walked away saying, "Forget about it," as she moved.
Yuji stared at Gamble for a long moment then he too moved on.
---
Junker met Raul at the rear of the compound behind the waste recycling tanks (they were dormant).
Light was still coming in through the open roof panels but the two men were hidden in the shade.
A few of Estes' hoodlums were wandering about complaining that the maids, the cleaners, or even their bought-and-paid-for female companions hadn't shown up at the compound yet.
Both Junker and Raul had bags slung around their shoulders. Both bags had been full a while ago but now Raul's was empty and Junker was down to his last two of the silver canisters. He had decided to keep them.
"All done?" the Captain asked.
Raul offered a huge grin. It was like Christmas morning to the guy.
Junker smiled back: "You're really enjoying this, aren't you?"
"You bet your boots Mister Captain Junker sir."
Junker chuckled, quietly, and patted the man on his back.
"Nutt'in to do but wait. Won't be long now."
---
Rico Estes went to the front gate yet again. It was now late in the afternoon and he was becoming concerned about his 'ace'.
He reminded himself that Farrow tended to be melodramatic and, to put it bluntly, crazy. The evidence at the nest suggested that Farrow had defeated Yuji Kaido. So where was he now? Estes wondered if he wasn't out desecrating Kaido's body in some warped ceremony.
Still, the rest of Yuji's party was with the townspeople in Kingsville, the place where three of his men had apparently vanished.
Estes decided that, once Farrow returned, he would send a posse there, find out what happened to his guys, and then unleash the next batch of Blue there.
While he really didn't care about the individual men themselves, it was the principle of the matter. Fear had to be maintained. Fear and dependence.
So as Farrow's armored shrike moved into view and approached the compound Estes breathed a sigh of relief followed immediately by a growing anger at the Sleeper's extended disappearance.
Someday, Estes thought, I will have to dispose of my ace.
The vehicle whirled at a slow pace straight past the outer sand bags and along the drive toward the main gate where Estes was standing. The Overlord could see, even from a distance, the form of his enforcer in position in the cockpit of the heavy-duty armor shrike.
Estes held an authoritative hand aloft commanding Farrow to stop.
"Where have you been, Farrow? I should have your head—"
The armor shrike did not stop. It continued on a straight line along the driveway and through the open main gate.
Estes was so angry that he paid no attention to the Jeep that exited the compound a moment after Farrow entered it. That Jeep moved briskly away from the 'roach motel' without any of the guards taking note—they were focused on the Sleeper's ride.
A crash came from inside the compound. The heavy-duty unit had fallen over on its side having clipped the corner of the motor pool building.
Estes and others ran to the vehicle and looked inside.
Farrow was in there, all right. But his upper body was covered in dried blood—his dead eyes stared at nothing.
The treaded wheels of the shrike continued to turn.
Estes mumbled, "What is this?"
Gunshots rang out from the exterior of the compound.
Estes returned to the main gate. He saw the same type of sight that had terrified other brutal monarchs in centuries past. A mob of people—his subjects—advancing through the industrial rubble toward the compound.
Most held planks and bars and bats. A few in the crowd had small arms.
Usually this crowd would be no problem. Alas, they were supported by two armor shrikes and several of Yuji's party on foot armed with heavy weapons.
Grenades and explosive rounds hit the outer perimeter.
What fools, Estes considered. They will not be penetrate my fortress.
"Fall back! All of you men, inside!"
His men on the front lines fired their weapons a few more times then retreated. Estes used the control panel at the main gate to close that door.
He looked skyward at the open roof panels.
"Go up there and fire at them. Drop grenades on them. Kill them!"
Estes and his followers heard something they had never heard before: An alarm ringing through the complex followed by a computerized voice offering an urgent announcement:
"EMERGENCY LOCK DOWN PROCEDURES ACTIVATED."
"What? What is this?"
The roof panels began to slide shut taking all exterior light with them.
A distant explosion rattled the men. The explosion had come from underground. The explosion had come from the underground cavern where they kept their Blue eggs.
"WARNING: LOCK DOWN FAILURE ON SUB-LEVEL ONE BULKHEAD."
---
"Was that it?"
"Yep," Junker looked at his chronometer and answered Yuji.
"How many?" Yuji asked as he stood next to the shrike looking at the sealed compound. Emergency alarms from inside that compound—although muffled by the walls—could be heard on the outside.
The townspeople waited tentatively, wondering if all this would really work.
Raul answered Yuji: "About a half-dozen adults. Another two dozen newborns as of this morning. They'll be adults by tonight."
"And the devices?" Yuji asked.
Junker pulled one from his bag.
"These? Everywhere."
Marlene joined the conversation.
"So everything's encrypted? You don't think he can crack the computer?"
Raul told her: "Miss Marlene Angel, in my years in that place I never saw any of them use the computer. They know not that it even exists, I think."
"They're finding out now," Yuji observed.
Junker said. "'Bout now the computer is kill'in the lights. You have no idea how dark it is in there. They won't see their hands in front of their honkers."
"And the Blue?" Marlene wondered.
"After a long while, with the devices in there, they will kill each other off. That has been what I have seen," Raul suggested.
"Besides," Junker explained. "They ain't never get'in out of there. It was built with the Blue in mind."
"Roaches go in…" Yuji led.
Junker finished, "…but they can't get out."
---
It was morning.
No more gunfire came from the compound but Yuji figured it still wasn't over in there.
He put it out of his mind and met Junker in the launch bay.
"All set?"
Captain told him: "All set. Everything looks good. We can make orbit and the thrusters are in good shape. The medkit is stocked, too, plenty of radiation pills but we still want to limit exposure."
Marlene Angel escorted Celine into the launch bay.
"I wanted to thank you both," she said. "All of you. It's nice to see that someone cared enough to help us."
"If we don't start caring enough to help one another, then none of us are gong to make it. Or deserve to make it," Yuji offered.
"They're learning to use the shrikes," Marlene told him. "A couple of their people have experience. It should be enough to protect them."
Celine wavered and Marlene asked her: "How do you feel?"
The townswoman smiled and said: "Free."
---
The main engines on the shuttle burst to life sending a plume of smoke and fire behind the craft. The fully charged catapult provided additional kinetic energy as the bird raced upwards on the ramp.
The shuttle flew up…up…up…as it slipped the grasp of gravity and headed for orbit.
It headed for Second Earth.
NEXT FACTOR:
14. Second Earth
Yuji: "What was that? I heard something moving. They said this station was deserted, but there's something living up here…something bad…and it isn't the Blue."