Part 51
Their journey was continuingly being hindered by the growing tensions in the streets as the night drew in. Loud bangs and weapon fire were heard from all directions, and each time the group stopped, to ensure they didn't walk straight into a fire fight. They could see buildings in the distance alive with flames, and Dylan was growing more concerned for their safety, as they remained unarmed and likely targets for any abuse if they were spotted.
"How much further?" Dylan asked Junia, as she waited for the coast to be clear.
"We need to reach the next square, there is an entrance to the tunnels there," Junia hurriedly explained.
"How do you know this stuff, how do you know the controls exists where others don't seem to have a clue, believe they are a myth?" Dylan then asked.
Junia turned to him, and frowned. "There are Gilads who made a pact to protect the controls, and there are Gilads who fought to uncover the truth," she explained.
"So you protect them?" Dylan questioned.
"No, I uncovered the truth," Junia stated. "And then realised what true power actually was, so now I protect the truth," she added.
"What do you mean?" Dylan asked, as they began moving in earnest again.
Junia scanned the area, alert to dangers as Dylan did likewise. "In this one room there is technology I couldn't begin to understand or operate, it's unlike anything we have ever seen before," Junia explained. "I'm sure to you, it might seem archaic, but to us, we've never come near as to develop anything even close."
"So you're in awe of these machines that operate your city's defences?" Dylan was intrigued now.
"Not in awe, no, I fear what they represent," Junia hurried replied. "In the wrong hands, there's no telling what could be done with them."
"You can trust Harper," Dylan spoke up.
"You misunderstand again," Junia stressed. "I feared that these machines, through lack of understanding, would be destroyed from frustration of my people, and that destruction would bring the destruction of our city, as the defences fall, so I vowed to protect them until the true power could unlock their secrets, that person is Harper."
"You just decided this?" Dylan asked, seeing the square ahead now.
"Not exactly," Junia offered. "I have my faith, I believe in the power, and I became a Gilad to further my beliefs, and now I am being rewarded."
"Rewarded?" Dylan felt a little uneasy suddenly.
"Harper trusts me, he is the power, and I am leading him to the source," Junia explained with enthusiasm.
"So this belief, this is your religion?" Dylan checked.
"I have been taught from birth to believe the power would return, and bring hope to this city," Junia smiled, looking past Dylan to Harper. "I made it my life's work to seek the source, for when the power might return, and I preyed it might be in my lifetime, and I have been rewarded for my faith."
"Junia," Dylan now spoke with care. "Harper is not a god, despite his claims."
"I know that, he has weaknesses, I have seen this and this makes me respect him even more," Junia grinned. "But I have vowed all my life to assist the power and lead them to the source, and when I heard those voices calling to me, I knew he was coming."
"Voices?" Dylan then frowned.
"It was the strangest thing, the last time I was in that room I heard them, they feared for your friend and asked me to protect him until he was ready to be led to them," Junia offered with bewilderment.
"The control room?" Dylan checked he understood.
"They are expecting him," Junia smiled broadly.
"Who?" Dylan asked.
"The spirits, Edenia is alive surely you feel this, they are all around us, we all believe this, at least those still strong enough to follow their beliefs and not fear the repercussions of those who repress us, it is why the shield has remained despite no one being able to operate the controls," Junia spoke as it if was a well known fact.
Junia then hurried forward and lifted what appeared to be a heavy stone in the paving of Edenia's streets. "Quickly, everybody," Junia insisted, and Dylan hesitated before moving forward, glancing with concern at Harper suddenly afraid about what he had learned from Junia, not knowing how to take it.
The tunnels were partially lit, making walking down them a task in itself. Junia continued to lead the way until she stopped at a room, and gestured for everyone to go on inside.
Harper glanced around the barren room, with little decoration or furniture of note. It was empty bar a few boxes in the corner, and seemed to be a disused space. With a sigh, Harper felt tired and hungry suddenly, but he knew they had very little. He was weak now, and was starting to feel the pains of hunger, a feeling he never thought he would feel again after leaving Earth.
"Harper, sit down," Beka encouraged, as if sensing his unease. "Dylan, do you have any food?" Beka then asked.
Harper wanted to protest but he lacked the energy and Beka forced him to sit down, and moments later she had a small amount of rations in her hand, some dried fruit on some kind. With little encouragement now, Harper took some small bites but all too quickly the food was consumed, as he let his head fall back against the wall.
"How'd you know?" Harper asked quietly, so only Beka could hear.
"I used to look out for you on the Maru, remember?" Beka smiled fondly. "I recognised that look of a guy forgetting to eat, took you ages to get use to the idea of food on demand."
Harper wearily smiled and his eyelids felt heavy. "I just need to rest," Harper now decided.
"So rest, I'll watch out for you, and wake you if anything happens," Beka stated.
"You need to rest to," Harper pointed out.
"I'll rest too, we have plenty of people here to keep an eye on us both," Beka answered, as she settled down beside him, and Harper was having trouble now staying awake as his head settled against Beka's arm.
"Harper," Junia's voice urgently spoke, and he opened his eyes immediately to find the Edenian female crouched in front of him. "We need to go now."
"Go? Where?" Harper asked with confusion, as his body tried to sleep.
"The control room," Junia returned brightly, completely unawares of Harper's need to rest. "We need to go now because all of the guards for the Gilads are busy fighting, the room is clear."
Harper made to move without word, but Beka put an arm to stop him. "Harper, you're exhausted, you need to rest."
"I'll be ok," Harper stated, as he got to his feet. "I need to see this room."
Beka sighed and looked at Junia before glancing around, but found no support from anyone else in the room, and she realised they all wanted Harper to see the room rather than sleep.
"I'll come with you," Rhade then stated. "Just in case things get complicated," Rhade added.
Harper glanced around, seeing Zal and Dylan sat close to Beka, and he knew she would be safe with them. "I'll be back soon, not like I can do anything with this collar in place, but least I'll finally know what we're dealing with."
"Make it good news, Mr Harper, we all need a bit of that," Dylan responded, and Harper mocked saluted him, before leaving with Rhade and Junia.
Junia walked with urgency, as Rhade stayed back with Harper. Already Harper was struggling to remain focused, but he wasn't going to say anything, he knew how much he wanted to see this room.
When Junia moved to a ladder, Rhade was the first to speak up. "We're leaving the tunnels?"
"These tunnels," Junia stated, looking back, already half way up the ladder. "There are other less known tunnels, which is why the controls have been kept so secret for so long."
"But it's dangerous for us out there," Harper reminded her. "That war going on?" he prompted.
"We only have to travel across the square," Junia stated. "The entrance to the other tunnels is in the building across from here, and I have the key."
Harper glanced at Rhade and frowned, before Rhade nodded his head for the Edenian to continue. Junia then proceeded to check the coast was clear, before revealing the exit and gesturing to them to follow.
The night sky was above them, and they could see and hear the flashes and bangs of the ongoing fight. It seemed to be intensifying with each day, and Harper had an uneasy feeling about being outside in the midst of it. Staying close to Rhade, Harper swiftly followed Junia as she darted across the square.
As they approached the building figures appeared from the darkness and at first appeared to be nothing, but the numbers soon began to grow and Harper was unable to ignore it. Junia suddenly stopped, and both Harper and Rhade stopped with her.
"There are too many people," Junia whispered. "We can't risk being seen by so many going into what is seen to be a disused building."
"Are they freaking you out as much as they are freaking me?" Harper asked with a frown, looking around the many people.
"They might be seeking safer places to stay, this war is destroying buildings," Junia suggested. "Many are losing their homes, and are force to find alternative places to hide."
"I guess we can't risk going back into the safe tunnels, where we were?" Harper sighed.
"Not with this many people, we can only hope they move on soon," Junia offered quietly with some hope, and they stayed close together, watching for any sign of the group moving on.
It was becoming eerie and Harper was restless now, he didn't like the waiting around, and the people around him were making him nervous. All he could hear in his head was Beka telling him to rest, and now he wished he had. Harper then felt Junia by his side, and she seemed to sense his uncertainly, as she took his hand into hers.
Without warning there was a sudden explosion nearby, and the people immediately scattered. Junia led Harper towards the building, with Rhade following as the others disappeared to safer places. Another explosion rocked the square, before they could reach the building, and they all dove to the ground.
"Something tells me we're not supposed to reach this damn building," Harper snapped with irritation, as he pressed himself to the ground.
Rhade looked up and saw that there was a burning building across the square, and he could hear the cries of men approaching, and he realised that the war was about to enter the square. "We have to get out of here!" Rhade ordered, and he quickly got to his feet pulling Harper up, who yelped in protest, as Junia joined them.
"Where are we going to go?" Harper asked frantically, as they began to move, and he gingerly rubbed his arm where Rhade had yanked him to his feet.
"Let's just get away from here," Rhade stressed, and they headed down a side street that ran off the square.
Before Harper could protest he felt Rhade push him back against the wall that ran alongside the street they now found themselves in. Harper instantly knew to stay quiet, as Junia and Rhade pressed into the wall beside him. Harper tried to catch his breath; he didn't like this situation one bit and he felt on edge as the war now appeared to be raging around them.
"Freeze!" a voice suddenly barked, and Harper squinted in the dark to find a group of soldiers down the street heading towards them but still some distance away.
"We're not going to are we?" Harper hissed towards Rhade.
"No, we run," Rhade confirmed, and they immediately pushed themselves off the wall and began to run. Rhade insured that both Harper and Junia ran ahead of him, as he heard the men behind begin to give chase, and then he heard the gun fire. "Take cover!" Rhade barked, and they dashed around a corner, and kept running.
"In here," Junia stressed and kicked open a door, making sure Harper followed before Rhade slammed the door shut once they were all inside.
Nothing but heavy breathing was heard as they heard the footsteps run past outside, and after a few more seconds they realised they had lost their pursuers. Harper let his head fall to his chest as he recovered his breath, and already felt better until suddenly the door was kicked in, and the men aimed their weapons.
"Send a massage to Kenan, we've struck lucky," one of the men spoke, staring directly at Harper, who instinctively backed up towards the wall.
Before the men could get any closer to Harper, Rhade suddenly pushed forward and sent the first three men to the ground. Using his bone blades he effectively disarmed the third guy and used the weapon to arm himself, as he moved in front of Harper and Junia.
"Tell your boss, that your luck has run dry," Rhade remarked, and fired a round of shots above the men and they all dived to the floor, allowing Harper and Junia to turn and head towards the back of the building.
No words were said as they instinctively found the back door and charged through it into a small yard, easily navigating the small wall and running into the street. There were shouts nearby, as the small group continued to make their escape.
"Harper!"
Harper turned and saw Buz, surrounded by a handful of Gilad guards gesturing to him.
"We can't trust Buz," Junia immediately warned, as they stopped momentarily.
"We have no other options," Harper panted.
Rhade glanced around and could sense that Kenan's men were close. "We need to make a decision, Harper, what is your gut telling you?"
"To go with Buz," Harper admitted, and frowned at Junia.
"We can keep running, I have a weapon now," Rhade quickly reminded him.
"I need this collar removed," Harper stressed.
Rhade glanced at Junia who made no further comment. "Lead the way," Rhade gestured to Harper, who promptly headed towards Buz and within moments Buz's men surrounded them in a protective manner.
Already Kenan's men had caught them up, and now there was a standoff between the Gilads and them. Rhade stood close to Harper and Junia, aware to any threats but the focus was now on the two groups as they sized each other up.
"Give us the aliens," the Kenan guard spoke up.
"You have no authority here," Buz returned.
"Last I heard, either did you, you are renegade now," the guard responded.
"But I have the aliens," Buz spoke with arrogance.
Rhade looked at Harper, and gestured for him to start walking backwards, seeing that Buz's men had failed to cover the rear, giving them the opportunity to sneak away. Slowly they moved, and no one noticed, Harper breathed slowly unable to believe they might pull this off, and he began to believe it until one of Kenan's guards shouted out, notifying the others of the aliens backing away, and in a sudden flurry of gunfire Harper saw Buz fall.
"No!" Harper screamed out moving forward, as Rhade grabbed him and hurled him to the side to avoid the crossfire. "Buz, they've killed Buz!" Harper stressed.
"That's a good thing so make a note for future reference! Now I don't have to protect you from him, at least," Rhade snapped, concerned for their safety as gun shots rained around them.
Harper took some deep breaths, staring at the lifeless form of Buz who he could now see clearly as having taken a bullet in the head. "He was going to remove this collar," Harper then said dejectedly.
"He's not the only one in Edenia who can," Junia encouraged.
"Without their leader, we can't rely on these men to protect us, so let's go!" Rhade then stressed and they were on the move again.
As they turned the corner they became immediately aware of the fact that they were now surrounded, as Kenan's guards stood their ground having correctly guessed where the aliens would run, and they were too far apart for Rhade to even attempt to take them out again.
"You really have to stop with the running," the guard now spoke with annoyance. "Kenan is expecting you," he stressed, and then looked at Harper. "And to be sure that you don't run again," he raised his arm and two of the guards fired their guns, and both Harper and Rhade collapsed to the ground with screams of pain, as one bullet for each man penetrated their legs. "That's should stop you."
Junia immediately screamed out, and went to Harper's side. "Harper, I can't believe they did that!"
"He freaking shot me!" Harper stressed with panic, his body tense as he clutched his left leg, just below the knee, his hand covered in blood.
In contrast, Rhade calmly held his leg, having taken a bullet just above his right knee, and he just stared at the men who had shot them both.
"Take them both away to be treated so Kenan can see them, and take the girl to the camp," the guard ordered.
Harper caught his words, through the shock, and saw Junia being pulled away from him. "Junia!" he cried out but she was gone, as he was pulled to his feet and he instantly blacked out with the pain and exhaustion.
TBC