Chapter Eight: Rescue Me
T'than and Zo'or portalled to the Moonbase the same way Da'an, Renee and Link had. They found themselves in the hallway to the fields.
"Do you sense that?" Zo'or asked T'than.
"I do. We are not alone here."
"The priests are behind this hallway," Zo'or said. "We must find a way to pass them without detection."
"Do not fear the wrath of the priests. There will come a time when we will be compelled to face them, but this is not that time. They know this, Zo'or. Their focus is on Da'an at this moment. They will not shield us from the truth."
"Very well. After you," Zo'or said skeptically.
T'than rolled his eyes and continued forward.
Liam and Sandoval were inside a shaft of the Moonbase designed for technicians. It was too small for them to stand, so they found themselves crawling to the cleansing room.
"I don't get you sometimes, Sandoval," Liam said. "Whose side are you on exactly?"
"Whose side are you on, Major?" Sandoval asked back.
"Humanity's side," Liam said, "and whenever there comes a time when I have to put humanity's interests before the Taelons' I will. What about you?"
"I don't trust the Taelons as far as I can throw them, but I know just as well as anyone that humanity will never have me, not after the cardinal rules I have violated. Therefore, in answer to your question, I am on the side of myself. I do what I have to in order to survive, and if that comes into conflict with your petty ideals, so be it. If the opposite occurs, good for you."
"That has got to be the most selfish thing I've ever heard."
"I'm a selfish man in case you haven't noticed." He stopped Liam from continuing. "This should be directly over the alleged cleansing room." He placed a charge underneath him. "Count to twenty."
They both crawled as fast as they could from the charge counting to twenty in their heads. The charge detonated blowing a small hole that led to the cleansing chamber. The two had managed to dodge the bulk of the explosion, but when Liam rose to assess himself, he found his jacket charred on the back and had to take it off. Sandoval had to do the same with his suit jacket.
"How do you do all of this and still manage to wear a suit and tie at the same time?" Liam asked. "Isn't it uncomfortable?"
"If Kevin Costner can pretend to do it in 'The Bodyguard,' then I sure as hell can do it for real," Sandoval said.
Liam scoffed and pushed Sandoval in the direction of the hole. Sandoval removed a wound cable he had been hiding in his jacket pocket and stuck the hook above the hole. The cable wound down from its casing as he slid into the room. Liam followed his lead.
"Besides," Sandoval added, "just because you have no class in the case of your chosen wardrobe for work doesn't mean that I can't either."
"Hey! I'll have you know this jacket cost me five hundred dollars," Liam said firmly.
"Amateurs wear civilian clothes. Professionals wear suits and ties. Boone did it. Why can't you?"
"You have got to be the most hypocritical elitist since Mattress Mac. Let's just keep moving."
As they moved forward, they came to a large circle with blue lights shining over it. The bodies in the dome were coming here in groups of sixteen. The high priest was at the center of the circle. Four priests stood on four sides of the high priest, overseeing four of the sixteen Taelons each. They would chant a spell in a tongue of Taelon Liam couldn't decipher and a white light would shine over the sixteen Taelons. The high priest would then stand and place his hands in the air, releasing his own power and turning the light blue. Several minutes later, the sixteen Taelons would blush and rise. After departing from their beds, they all bowed to the priests, chanting a prayer in that same indiscernible tongue. The priests would bless them, one by one, by marking them on their hands. Then, they would be asked to leave. They walked to a portal on the far side of them room and portalled back to the Mothership or wherever else they belonged.
"I feel like I'm watching a mass baptism," Sandoval whispered.
"Because that's exactly what you're watching," Liam said. "The Taelons aren't infected with any virus. That was a ploy the priests used to get the Taelons to come here and submit to their mind control."
"Oh no, Major. There is a virus. It's us," Sandoval said. "Humanity's the virus, and the priests are using their powers to make the Taelons sick and come here for 'curing.'"
"We have to get these Taelons out of here."
"You can't stand against the fury of the priests. Now that we've seen the priests' plan for ourselves, we have to prepare humanity."
"What self-respecting human would believe all of this? What self-respecting human would care? They don't think the priests are going to do this to them. As long as it's not happening to them, they won't do a damn thing about it."
"Then, to hell with them. I came for satisfaction, and that's what I have. You do what you have to do, but I'm at least going to save myself."
"Fine," Liam said bitterly. "Go ahead and walk. I guess it's what you're best at."
"I'm not here to answer to your conscience, Major. I answer to my own," Sandoval said. He rushed back to the hole and used the cable to climb out. However, he did not leave quickly. He removed his global and remained to record what he had seen. Then, he left.
Liam rushed to the wall and began searching for a way out by feeling against the bioslurry.
Neither was aware that the high priest had been watching their treachery the whole time.
Mi'en forced Da'an to the cleansing room where the high priest was waiting.
"Tell me that there is some part of the old you that lingers, Mi'en," Da'an said.
"That is none of your concern," Mi'en said tonelessly. "Your thought has become infected. You must be cleansed."
"You do not believe that, Mi'en," Da'an said. "You are my friend."
"I am a servant of the priests. The priests decide who my friends are," Mi'en said. "The priests know what is best for me, and they know what is best for you. Do not fear, Da'an. The cleansing is short and painless. In mere minutes, your soul will be renewed."
"My soul is already renewed," Da'an said. She jerked around and attempted to grab the pistol before Mi'en could stop her, but Mi'en was too quick. She grabbed Da'an's arm and used it to force her to her knees. "Mi'en, what I do, I do because I care for you." An unseen force threw Mi'en to the floor and pried the pistol from her hands.
"That is a traitorous act," Mi'en said firmly. She crawled as fast as she could to the discarded pistol, but Da'an was too quick. Da'an stepped on the gun and crushed it before Mi'en could get to it. "What will you do to me now?"
"I want to help you, Mi'en," Da'an said.
"The priests are my help now," Mi'en growled. A burst of blue energy left Mi'en and threw Da'an on her back. She rose and dashed towards Da'an in an effort to tackle her, but Da'an used her legs to prop Mi'en up and over her.
They both rose as fast as they could and faced each other.
"You are not this person, Mi'en," Da'an said. "You are a sweet and loving person. You pledged your loyalty to me."
"I cowered for you. I cowered for all your kind. Be honest with yourself. You do not care about me. All I am is a servant to you."
"No, Mi'en. I am not your master anymore than you are my servant. You know me better than that."
"But you don't know anything about me!" Mi'en said. She used her hand to make a brilliant flash of light that blinded Da'an long enough for Mi'en to wrestle her to the ground and pull her hands behind her back.
Da'an used all her strength to rise with Mi'en still clinging to her back and forced herself on her back in order to pin Mi'en. It worked. She had stunned Mi'en enough to break free and pin her down by holding her arm against Mi'en's neck. An orb of energy formed in her hand, and instinctively, Da'an held it over Mi'en's head.
"Kill me. Do it now," Mi'en said. "Isn't that what you want?"
"You cannot believe that," Da'an said sympathetically.
"Why not? No one cares for me. People have been giving me dirty looks ever since I was a child. My own brother does not even think of me as a person. He believes I am nothing more than a thing, a mistake of nature. They all do," Mi'en whimpered. "No one admires me for my skills. I was just kidding myself. They can all tell me that my skills surpass my illness, but that's not what they think. I will always be judged by who I am, never by what I do! All they ever do is watch me, wait for me to screw up, and hurl insults and judgments. I am a shell, a hole, a hollowed fruit! Nobody will ever care for me but the priests."
"You are wrong, Mi'en. You could not be more wrong," Da'an said, releasing her. "I care for you. I came all this way for you, Mi'en, and only you."
Mi'en sat up to face her and looked into her eyes. For a moment, those empty, dark blue eyes became light again, and Mi'en took Da'an's hand. Suddenly, Mi'en threw her against the floor and wrapped her hands around her neck. "You cannot know the pain that I have felt," she said as she strangled Da'an. "You barely even know me! You never came here for me. You came here for yourself, in your own crusade to destroy the only people who care for me. You sit there and play with us Taelons like we're toys!"
"No Mi'en," Da'an wheezed. "I do not know your pain, and I never will. I do not know you…and I am sorry I never…made an attempt. But…I do care for you. I want to be your friend, and all I want…is for you to be happy. I want to know you…Mi'en…because-because you came to me."
Mi'en's arms began to tremble, and Da'an could feel her grip loosening, but it was not loose enough.
"I…I want you to be happy," Da'an said feeling herself weakening. "If no one else wants that of you, I do. And…if this is what will make you happy, then do it."
Mi'en began to whimper, and her form began to blush painfully. "I…I…"
"Fight it, Mi'en. I know you can."
"I…" Mi'en's eyes found their original sky blue color again. Tears began to stream down her cheeks. "I…can't," she strained. She released Da'an from her grip.
Da'an turned over and coughed until the pain in her throat was gone. When she gained her composure, she rose and turned to find Mi'en hunched on her knees weeping.
"I'm sorry," she whimpered. "I'm so sorry. I just…wanted to be accepted by someone. I didn't want to be alone anymore."
"You're never alone," Da'an said softly. "You have me."
"You're never going to forgive me for this," Mi'en panted.
"Of course not, because there is nothing to forgive," Da'an said. "Now, come with me. We have one more thing to rectify before we can leave this place."
Liam managed to find an exit and dashed down the corridor. Suddenly, he ran into Da'an and Mi'en.
"Da'an!" he cried and embraced her. "Mi'en, you're okay!"
"Yes, I suppose," Mi'en said uneasily.
"We have to get out of here," Liam said. "The priests are converting all the Taelons, turning them into mindless slaves."
"I know, Liam," Da'an said. "I knew it after I learned of Mi'en's capture."
"Can we stop it, then?" Mi'en asked. "No Taelon should have to be put through this."
"We cannot save them unless they want to be saved," Da'an said. "Liam, have Renee and Link reached Command Central?"
"They haven't called me if they have," Liam said.
"Send a message to them anyway, and tell them to deactivate the power in sector six," Da'an said. "When the power goes off, you take Mi'en to the nearest portal you can find. Auxiliary power will take over, and you will then be able to leave."
"What about you?" Liam asked. "Where are you going?"
"I need to know something," Da'an said.
"Whatever it is, it's not worth your life," Liam said. "Those priests killed Reyes and then captured Mi'en to trap you. If you go that way, you'll fall right into their hands. You're giving them what they want."
"Is it what they want, or is it what the high priest wants?" Da'an asked.
"It isn't the question of which one of them wants it. They're all the same."
"I am not entirely certain of that. That is why I have to go."
Mi'en grabbed Da'an's arm.
"I am coming back, Mi'en. I promise you."
Liam and Mi'en reluctantly nodded. "Do what you have to do," Liam told her. Then, he removed his global and followed Mi'en out. "Renee, Link, whenever you get this, cut the power in sector six. Repeat. Cut the power in sector six."
Da'an walked quickly into the cleansing chamber, where sixteen more Taelons were being prepped for cleansing. Da'an removed a small radio from her arm sleeve and contacted Link.
"Are you in Central Command?" Da'an whispered.
"It wasn't easy, but yeah," Link said. "Liam just told us to cut the power."
"And I want you to, but before you do, I want you to take control of the audio system."
"You heard the lady, Renee."
"Give me a second," Renee's voice said. "I gotta figure out which one of these does that. No. No. No. There! Okay. I got it. What do you want, Da'an?"
"I am going to keep my radio on, and I want you to hold your end to the PA," Da'an said. "Keep it there until I tell you to cut the power." She then placed the radio under her sleeve and continued forward.
The high priest felt Da'an's presence and stopped the cleansing. "Ah, Da'an, the fallen one. I see that you have freed Mi'en, and yet you still came to me. Perhaps you finally have seen the error of your ways."
"Nothing could be further from the truth, High Priest of Light," Da'an said. "I knew that you used Reyes's death to lure me here, and when that did not work, you captured and converted my friend. What I want to know is who did you send to kill poor Reyes and why?"
The high priest chuckled. "If only it were that simple. Seize her."
Four Taelons came and surrounded Da'an with energy weapons.
"You intend to convert me," Da'an said unaffected by the guards, "even though you know that you will kill me in doing so."
"No one leaves the Commonality, Da'an," the high priest said. "Your life is meaningless without the Commonality."
"My life belongs to me now, and it is my duty to create meaning for it, not yours. Be honest. This is not about what is best for the Taelons. This is about what is best for yourself."
"Do not poison the minds of these innocent Taelons with your lies, whelp. The Taelons have been infected with a virus, a virus that has unpurified their minds and clouded their judgment with useless emotions and desires."
"That does not sound like a virus to me. That sounds like an evolution," Da'an said.
"It is a revolution. And that is the virus, child, one that threatens to bring the Commonality on itself creating catastrophe. Without the Commonality, these Taelons will become mindless beasts with no reason and no logic."
"Oh really? Then, why have I managed to successfully break away without devolution? Why are those Taelons you expelled from the Commonality just because they refused to come to Earth still alive and well today?"
"The Espelons?"
"Yes. I have seen them, and that is why I know that our species no longer needs the Commonality. We are ready to be individuals. We are ready to evolve to the next level, and instead of embracing this change, you resist it by turning us into slaves. Our species is dying because of this religion you have wrought upon us expelling anything that is not enjoyable or unique. And what is worse is that you do not do this for our protection. You do it for yourselves. All you want is to force us to serve the Commonality because you know that the more Taelons there are, the more power the Commonality has. The Commonality is what fuels your powers. Without it, you would have to simply accept your own mortality and be doomed like the rest of us."
"Lies! What you speak of is blasphemy!"
"Is that what your fellows think?" Da'an stared at the four priests next to the high priest. She held up her scarred hand for them to see. "Tell me what you remember about my ritual."
"Fellows!" the high priest yelled. "Do not let this blasphemer corrupt your mission. Leave her to me. I will make certain that she sees the error of her ways. Go to the meditation chamber and isolate yourselves from this witchery."
Three of the four priests took the hands of the fourth priest and teleported. The four Taelons who had surrounded Da'an were also asked to leave. Now it was just Da'an and the high priest once again.
"Those Espelons are abominations. They can no longer be considered Taelon. The Taelons are the only pure energy species. You once understood this."
"That was before I realized your selfishness. You used me like a puppet to further your own purposes as you would these innocent Taelons. Your egotism is what keeps our species from prospering."
"We will purify the Taelons with our gifts as is our duty. The Taelons will be able to reproduce through humanity. We will defeat the Jaridians through humanity, and our species will prosper."
"By using another species as a surrogate? How can you possibly consider that righteous?"
"Humanity is of no importance to the Taelons nor to us. Humanity brings nothing to the Commonality. All we care for is the survival of the Taelons."
"What of those Taelons who decide that they do not want to be a part of the Commonality anymore?"
"Those are the Taelons that have become infected with the virus, and they are who will be cleansed."
"What virus?"
"Humanity! Humanity's primitive ways have infected us all. The Commonality is so weakened that corrupt forces from the Synod threaten its integrity. We will purify all of these wrongdoers and make them strong. The Commonality cannot become a subject of descent. We will all suffer and perish for that reason. It is resistors like you who create discord in the Commonality. Soon, you will see the error of your ways, and you shall be restored to your former glory. A holy war is starting, Da'an, and you can either join the side of the purists and survive, or you can continue your sinful ways and be cast into the bowels of hell."
"I answer to my own conscience now, and soon, the rest of the Taelons will as well."
The high priest fired a beam of energy at Da'an. A strange instinct flashed a white light in front of Da'an. When the light was gone, she was well away from the beam and completely unscathed.
"Your newfound psychic abilities cannot compare to the power of the Commonality!" the high priest said.
"Is this why you killed Reyes? Because he knew about your plans and was trying to warn the Taelons? Who did you send? Some poor mind slave you manipulated?"
"We purified the Taelon before we sent him to kill Reyes," the priest said, "and freed him of all blame. He has been forgiven of his sins for his act of bravery and loyalty. As for Reyes, he meant nothing to us. It could have just as well been some other human. We just wanted to entice you to us so that we could save you. You are the one who has made Reyes's death in vain by shying away from us. Reyes has no one to blame but you. His death would have meant something if you have come to us sooner, but you did not. Instead you resisted, and we had to use a dear friend to entice you. You would sacrifice your own friends for yourself."
"If I chose to sacrifice Mi'en for myself, I would not have come here, you monster."
"Did you honestly think you could catch me so unaware, Da'an? I have been aware of your frivolous plan to draw out my admission that I do not care for the Taelons since you walked in. You will never be able to manipulate me towards such blasphemy. I am a holy man, and you are a traitor. We tried to save you. We gave you numerous opportunities to be saved, but your corruption is too severe. It is clear to me now that the only way for you to understand the ill of your ways is to die. May I be forgiven for what I must do for the good of our kind!"
The high priest used telekinesis to hold Da'an in midair. Da'an tried to break free by using her own telekinesis, but the priest was too powerful. He approached Da'an and thrust his free hand out. Da'an felt her strength begin to wane as the priest drained her of her life force.
"No one humiliates me and gets away with it," the high priest whispered.
It took all of Da'an's strength to bring the hidden radio up to her lips. "Link! Cut the power!"
What little light was in the room went dark. The high priest was confused for a moment, but he continued to hold firmly to Da'an. Nothing was going to keep him from killing her this time.
Suddenly, a wave of fire burst in front of the high priest and forced him to let her go in order to shield himself. He heard the sound of her body hit the floor and retreating footsteps. Several minutes later, auxiliary power finally came on, but Da'an was gone. The high priest looked around to assess the damage and saw two angry blue eyes staring at him. Before he could get a closer look at the owners of those eyes, they were gone, but the high priest did not need to see their faces. He already knew who they were.
Da'an had found the hole in the ceiling that Liam and Sandoval had created and used it to get out of the room. She crawled and crawled until she came to an opening that led to a portal.
"Link, Renee, are you two all right?" Da'an asked.
"We're on our way out," Link said. "Where are you?"
"I am on my way to a portal. Do not portal to the Mothership. I will meet you at St. Michael's Church."
"Don't need to tell us twice," Renee said. "Good luck."
Da'an switched off the radio and picked up her pace, but something stopped her before she could get to the portal.
A large group of Taelons was standing in front of her way out just staring at her. A few she recognized, but most she didn't.
Liam slowly maneuvered through the crowd and walked up to Da'an. "They heard what the high priest said on the PA," he whispered uneasily, "and they believe you. They want to be free like you. I told them to let you decide."
Da'an gazed at all those eyes pleading for an answer. "How many?"
"Forty-seven," Liam replied.
Da'an was surprised. "I had expected less." She stepped at the center of the crowd so that they could all hear her. "You are making a decision that will affect you for the rest of your life. From now on, you will be outcasts just like me."
There was complete silence. All the group did was stare at her.
"You do this because you want freedom, but it will take a long time to free yourselves, and it is not easy. It nearly killed me."
"What's worse is that as long as you are not free, the priests will be watching you," Mi'en said. "They may retaliate via the Commonality."
The silence continued. Da'an decided that they had already contemplated every ill outcome of which she had just warned. All they wanted now was a response, a confirmation that they could join. They had made their decision and they were willing to die for it.
"They're just as stubborn as you, Liam," Da'an whispered.
"Which is probably why they chose to resist in the first place," Liam added.
"True," Da'an said. "You are going to require a bigger facility."
"One thing at a time, Da'an," Liam chuckled. He faced the crowd. "Welcome to the resistance, everyone. Let's move!"