Part 8 – The Silent Secret

Trudy couldn't help but let her eyes glaze over as Bray went on and on. She didn't even bother to look at him. With the Chosen she had learnt how to tune out completely when people were talking to her. Bray was worried about her, that much was obvious, but she just didn't have the energy to care. Not too long ago she would've basked in the attention he was giving to her, but now it didn't seem to matter.

"… want to see you happy again Trude," Bray said earnestly, just as she began to listen to him again.

"I am happy. I'm glad to be back here. Just because I'm quiet doesn't mean there's something wrong with me," she said evenly.

"But it's not like you Trudy," Bray said seriously.

"How would you know?" Trudy asked in a calm voice.

Bray frowned, looking baffled. "What's that supposed to mean? Trude, I've known you longer than anyone here… of course I know this isn't like you," he said in an almost hurt tone.

Trudy sighed and rolled her eyes. She sat back against her headboard. "I don't know how many times or in how many ways I can say this Bray. There is nothing wrong with me. I was kidnapped by an insane cult, I think I have the right to be a little quiet for a while… but I'm fine," she stressed impatiently.

Bray looked exasperated and he leaned away from her, his shoulders drooping. "You don't tell me anything anymore. I just want to know how I can help you through this," he said, throwing his hands up helplessly.

"There's nothing to help me through. Just give me some space. That's all I want. Space, peace, time… and Brady. Nothing else," Trudy said firmly.

"Right… right, well I won't make you talk to me if you don't want to. Just know I'm here to help," Bray said resignedly, standing up. He rubbed his hands together and looked down on her.

Trudy stared back up at him blankly, giving nothing away. Finally, he sighed and walked out. Trudy relaxed her tense body back against the headboard and let out a small, strangled groan. Bray's words echoed through her head.

Just know I'm here to help.

There was no way that he could help her now. She was in the predicament of a lifetime. She could just imagine Bray's reaction if she had told him. She was kidnapped by a mad cult, worshipping the father of her child. It was horrible, traumatising, painful, and yet she returned… pregnant.

Trudy closed her eyes. It was just a little under two years ago that she'd had Brady. She'd been fourteen then and the father had been a maniacal war lord… now she was sixteen and the father was a worshipper of her first child's father. Not much of an improvement. Trudy had known there was something wrong with her. She had put her nausea and lack of appetite down to disorientation and worry, but now she recognised how she was feeling was very familiar. She had experienced it once before.

Trudy looked at the sleeping Brady and then down at her stomach. Two children, two absent fathers.

-O-

"Lord Ram, Java wants to speak with you."

Ram looked up from the conference table which was spread with maps and plans. He had an irritable look on his face, and the subordinate who had made the announcement fought the urge to cringe. Ram had an awful tendency to shoot the messenger when he was stressed out.

"I'm busy officer! Tell her I'll talk to her later!"

"Lord Ram, sir, she insisted you talk to her now. She's outside the door."

"What?" Ram exclaimed, annoyed.

Java knew that she and Siva weren't permitted into the control room anymore. Ever since Ram had found out that their darling little sister was in the city he'd thought it best that his wives didn't know what he was planning. He didn't want their past getting in the way of his plans for the future. Besides, Ram had decided that Java and Siva both needed to seriously reconsider their places in the tribe. He wanted them to prove that they weren't with him just for power and prestige, but because they loved him. And to do that, all he had to do was take away their authority with in the tribe — and see how quickly they cracked.

Ram was expecting spectacular fireworks from Java especially. He really couldn't wait to see how she reacted. In his heart of hearts, he knew he was just playing mind games with them. Maybe he was even punishing them for not loving him like he wanted to be loved— wholly and completely. Whatever his reasons, he was enjoying what he was doing very much, and he wasn't about to stop any time soon.

Ram glared at the officer, and sighed. "Fine. Let her in."

The officer nodded, visibly relieved, and left. A few seconds later Java entered. Ram leaned up against the conference table and folded his arms.

"What's the meaning of this? Jay and I are trying to work."

Java raised her eyebrows. "I don't see Jay," she said innocently. "Doesn't seem like much work is going on."

"He's gathering some files that our recon officer in the country sent us," Ram replied coolly.

"Then it looks like you have time to talk to me after all, don't you?"

"What is it now Java?" Ram asked in a bored voice.

Java set him an intense look that made him wonder just what was going on in that pretty little head of hers. She walked by him slowly and started to gaze lazily at all of the papers, files and other top secret documents that were spread out on the conference table.

"Java, you've got two minutes before I'm going to have to ask you to leave this room. So use them wisely," Ram said in a deceptively polite tone.

Java paused and smiled softly. "You've been telling people that I'm going to have your baby," she said smoothly.

Ram could sense the underlying fury in her words, and it merely amused him. He shrugged at her. "And you are… so what's the problem?"

"I never agreed to have a baby Ram, and you know that. I'm nineteen. I don't want one right now."

"Java… I'm your husband. I asked you for a child, and I expect for you to give me one," Ram said easily.

Java's expression jumped, and he knew she was fighting within herself. She wanted to scream at him, hurl abuse at him – but she knew she couldn't.

"I have a choice in it too Ram."

"Of course you do. So make the right choice Java, and agree to it," Ram replied simply.

Java pressed her lips together silently.

"Are we clear on this Java?"

Java didn't get the chance to reply, because Jay entered the room then with some files in his hands.

"Ram— Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know you were in here Java." Jay looked between Ram and Java expectantly.

"She's just leaving," Ram said decisively, looking away from her and turning around to the conference table.

Jay watched as Ram completely dismissed Java, and acted like she wasn't even there. He started to look over his maps again, and Java stared at his lowered head for a moment, looking half-distraught, half-angry. Then she turned on her heel and stalked out of the room, not even making eye contact with Jay. He walked over to the table and tossed the files to Ram.

"Thank you very much," Ram said succinctly. "And how is our officer doing out in the countryside? Good, I hope."

"Yeah, he's fine," Jay replied distractedly. "Ram, was it really necessary to treat her like that?"

Ram looked up from the files, an amused look on his face. "Please Jay, don't tell me you feel sorry for her."

Jay crossed his arms. "It's hard not to. I don't get why you're like that with her. She's your wife Ram."

All laughter left Ram's face, and his expression became hard all of a sudden. "And as such, she should love and respect me! She does neither, so why should I?"

Jay sighed heavily. "Then end it Ram. What's the point of the marriage if those two things are absent?"

Ram laughed harshly. "This marriage isn't ending until I say so. I'm going to get what I want first."

"An heir?"

"Exactly."

"I thought Java was refusing."

Ram looked at him sharply. "How do you know that?"

"She told me. I was talking to her a few nights ago," Jay said.

"Were you really?" Ram muttered darkly. "Well you're right, she is refusing. We'll just see how long she'll be able to do that though, won't we?"

Jay shifted slightly, and rested his hands on the edge of the conference table, looking Ram in the face. "What are you up to?"

"None of your business Jay!" Ram laughed smoothly. "Now why don't you tell me how our little spy out in the city is getting on?"

Jay frowned at the sudden change of subject, but said nothing more about Java nonetheless. He immediately gestured to a certain file in the folder he had given Ram. "A report, and a picture of the target."

Ram looked at it and smiled. "Nice… very nice."

"You're playing with fire here Ram," Jay advised.

"I'm just ensuring my tribe's success Jay," Ram replied good-naturedly.

"I bet."

-O-

"Raven! Please let me in. I have to speak to you!"

Raven stared at her ceiling, her brows coming together mournfully. Archer had been knocking at her door on and off for hours now, and she had refused to see to him or even speak him. She couldn't do it, she just couldn't. He was her best friend, she didn't want to hurt him, and yet she'd have to. She would have to tell him that she didn't want to marry him. She had been avoiding all his attempts to talk and so far, it had only made the both of them more agitated. She'd gone about this the wrong way and now she didn't know how to make it right.

"Archer… she's obviously sleeping. Go to your cabin and talk to her in the morning." She heard Pride's deep and even voice through the door.

Raven sat up on her bed tensely, listening to the conversation.

"No! She's been avoiding me for too long! I want to know if she's okay!" Archer insisted.

Raven cringed at the sincerity and devotion in his voice. She had never asked for this, she had never asked for his care, his commitment or his love, only his friendship. She couldn't even recall how they had progressed from being friends to being a couple. It had been seamless, simple… now it was just painful.

As Archer continued to argue with Pride, Raven shot off her bed and ran to her door. Pulling back the crude wooden bolt across it, she yanked it open. Immediately the cold night air rushed in and both Pride and Archer stared at her. Suddenly aware of her state of undress, just a thin night gown which fell to her knees, she closed the door a bit more, moving behind it.

"I'll— I'll talk to you Archer," she said huskily, clearing her throat.

Archer's face showed relief and delight and he made to enter her cabin.

Pride pulled on his shoulder. "Archer… five minutes," he said in an authoritative tone, giving him a hard look.

"What?" Archer demanded.

"Remember that she's my wife's cousin. So watch your temper," Pride said, his dark eyes flitting to Raven's petite form and then to Archer's powerful stature.

Archer looked at Pride strangely, as if wondering whether Pride knew more than him, but then he shook his head and entered the hut. Raven looked at Pride as Archer went in.

"It's the right thing to do," he whispered.

"I know," she said helplessly, closing the door.

"Raven," Archer murmured, pulling her against his hard, lean body instantly.

Resisting the urge to relax in his arms, Raven pulled away. "Archer please… we have to talk."

"You've been so distant. I was worried," he said into her hair, ignoring what she had said.

"I know I have. Archer!" she said more loudly, stepping out of his arms.

Archer frowned and put down the bow and quiver of arrows he'd had in his right hand. "Tell me what's wrong," he said softly. His eyes took in her scantily clad form, and they darkened slightly with pleasure.

Raven turned away, wringing her hands. She caught her reflection in her old mirror. Although the glass was cracked around the edges and it was smudged with dirt in places, she still saw herself staring back. She was a girl, just a little girl. She didn't want to be dealing with this. Not now, not yet. Her shock of jet black hair, streaked with red and tangled with feathers framed her pale face, paler than usual. She saw Archer's anxious face, just over her shoulder, staring at her impatiently. She closed her eyes.

"I can't marry you," she blurted out.

"You can't… what? But why? Is it Pride? Is he stopping you? Because he has no right Raven, no right," Archer began, his voice rising.

"No! When I say can't… I mean… I mean it— it wouldn't be right," Raven said, letting the words hang between them.

Archer simply gaped at her, his mismatched eyes wide.

"Archer… I'm too young, much too young. It doesn't mean I won't want to in the future but now… I'm not ready."

"Why don't you say it?" Archer said in a hard and emotionless tone. "Say the real reason. You just don't want to marry me."

Raven stepped forward, holding out a hand to him. She shook her head vehemently. "No that is not the real reason. What I'm saying is the truth. I'm fifteen. Is that any age to be a wife?" she asked, laughing a little, trying to make him see sense.

"Eagle's what… a year, a year and a half older than you? She's married. She's a mother even. She manages to be a tribal leader on top of that. But you can't…" Archer said coldly, narrowing his eyes.

"Eagle and I are different. She's more mature than me, always has been," Raven explained. "The time isn't right Archer…"

"The man isn't right you mean," Archer snapped harshly, beginning to pace the room.

His boots hammered hard against the wooden floor of the hut, almost like a heartbeat. Each footfall echoed in her ears at the same time as she felt her pulse pound.

"No! Archer, please… just listen—" Raven said desperately.

"No. You've kept me hanging for too long. I didn't know what to think. I thought there was something seriously wrong with you, but all along, you were just too— too weak, too scared to tell me the truth!" Archer yelled.

"I know I was. I didn't want to hurt you, you mean so much to me!"

"I 'mean so much' do I?" Archer snorted laughingly. "I 'mean so much to you'… but not enough for you to marry me. You don't love me, do you? Not like I love you."

Raven froze, her eyes wide, her blood screaming in her ears. Her skin tingled, her head spun. She swallowed painfully. Archer glared at her unwaveringly, waiting, waiting for the right answer… the answer that would never come.

"I knew it," Archer hissed. "I knew it."

"Archer, you've been my friend for so long…" Raven said helplessly as he stalked to the door.

"Your friend!" Archer spat. "I was your partner for longer. I love you… but you don't love me, and you never did. You didn't show me your feelings, didn't invite me into your bed, you didn't agree to share the rest of your life with me. I was ready to do all of that. But nothing is enough for you, is it Raven?" he shouted, grabbing his bow and quiver of arrows from the floor.

"What? Archer that's not true, not at all, I'm just too young…" Raven pleaded uselessly.

"Damn right you are," Archer snapped, spinning round. "Viper told me that I was too old for you, too mature. I said two years were nothing, but I was wrong. You're still stuck in the past. You can't bear to be in the here and now. You can't deal with the fact that you have to grow up! We all had to grow up when the adults died, not just you Raven! And I think that's exactly what you need to do now… grow the hell up!" he shouted.

Yanking the bolt away and almost pulling the door off its hinges as he opened it, Archer stormed out, past a startled Pride, who was still standing outside. Raven let out an anguished sob and pressed a hand to her mouth. She had lost him. She had done this to try and protect him, to keep him from being hurt and it hadn't worked, it hadn't worked at all.

Pride's tall and imposing form stood in the doorway, his usual intense stare focused on her. "Raven…" he whispered.

"I didn't mean to hurt him. I just doesn't get it! Why does he have to be like this – so angry all the time? Everything's ruined…"

In two long strides Pride was right in front of her, a sympathetic look on his face. "It's all right," he said, pulling her to his broad chest in a crushing embrace.

"I didn't mean to hurt him like this…" Raven whispered uselessly against him as he rubbed his wide hands up and down her back comfortingly.

"Shh," he said. "You can't do anything about it now Raven. It's done. What happens next is up to Archer."

Raven remained silent, tears falling down her cheeks. She stood there in Pride's arms, barely aware of his comforting words. All she could think about was that she had lost her best friend, her soul mate… for good.

-O-

Ebony stalked the desolate streets, her small gait taking such large steps that the two young men following her had a hard time keeping up. The sun was going down and the vagrants were coming up. The only reason she had taken the two Militia oafs along was for protection against the crazies that tended to come out at night. Not that she couldn't take care of herself, but against a few dozen insane kids, she doubted her chances.

"Ebony, where are you going?" one of them, Jax, asked.

"Yeah, it might help if we had some idea," the other, Milton, said sarcastically.

"Just shut up and keep your eyes open. People out at this time aren't the friendliest," Ebony snapped at them, narrowing her eyes. "C'mon guys, pick up the pace."

"We're heading into Sector 13," Milton pointed out.

"I'm aware of that," Ebony replied.

"There isn't anything in that sector," Jax added.

"I know that," Ebony answered, laughing to herself.

"Are you losing it?" Jax snorted.

Ebony simply smiled and kept on walking. True, there was nothing in Sector 13. It was a suburban area of the City, halfway out into the country nearly… which was the point. Ebony wasn't stupid. These last few years of chaos had taught her a thing or two. Living with Zoot had taught her even more. She had learned much from that boy, ravaged though his mind had been. She had become more assertive, more thoughtful, more calculating and more cunning than she had ever been.

And she knew when she was being watched.

She had realised it over a week ago, that night after seeing Bray out on the Mall roof. She had walked back to the Horton Bailey and found that she was being followed. Once inside the hotel, she'd slipped out the back entrance and seen a young man, in dark, form fitting attire slipping away, a walkie-talkie clutched in his hand. Following him for almost an hour to the other side of town, Ebony had trailed him out of the City boundaries through Sector 13. She had then become cautious, without the protection of buildings and in unfamiliar territory. Slowly, Ebony had followed the man through the bush. He'd jogged up over a hill and out of sight. Waiting a few long minutes, she'd crawled up the hill and peaked over. She had been astounded at the sight before her.

The old army base was a hive of activity. Although it was pitch dark by then, there were lights on all over the base. There were girls and young men in the same suits as her stalker all over the base. Trucks and other vehicles were being repaired in one area, some of them were even running. Most of the people had headsets on and some seemed to be communicating with them. This was a tribe… some kind of militaristic tribe… but a tribe no less.

Wary of being caught Ebony had run back into the City. So tired from her trek, she'd ended up sleeping in an abandoned apartment for the night. On rising that morning, she'd vowed to go back and see who this tribe was and why one of its members was stalking her. Today was that day. She hadn't liked what she saw. This new tribe, they were using technology from the old world. They had somehow managed to harness oil and electricity when others hadn't. Ebony recognised the threat of this tribe. People would jump at the chance to have lights back and be able to go long distances in vehicles. This tribe could give them that. Moreover, because of that, this tribe had power, power to bargain for these things. Ebony did not have these things – which meant she did not have the power. And she didn't like that.

With the two boys groaning and complaining behind her, Ebony trekked out into the country, heading up a tarmac road which led into the mountains, similar to the one the Mallrats once used to get to Eagle Mountain. As soon as she realised they were moving up a slope, she stopped and rounded on Milton and Jax.

"I want you two to stay here. If you even think about moving either back down the hill or up over it, I will personally slit your throats," Ebony intoned, her eyes narrowed. "Don't. Move. Got that?"

She didn't want these two numbskulls seeing the new tribe at the army base and blabbing to Spike. He was already up in arms over her 'lax' approach to running the City. If he found that a powerful tribe were sitting right on the outskirts he would blow a gasket.

Jax and Milton looked at each and nodded silently.

Ebony arched an eyebrow. "I said, got that?"

"Yes Ebony."

"Got it."

She nodded. "Good. Wait for me to come back."

"What if you don't?" Jax asked tentatively.

"I will," Ebony smirked.

She tossed her braids over her shoulders and stalked up the hill. As it became steeper and steeper, and she had to climb rather than walk, she glanced around. The now far off figures of Jax and Milton were sitting on the grass way down at the bottom of the slope. Both were facing the City. Ebony nodded to herself with satisfaction and pushed herself to make it to the top of the hill. As she did so, she crouched low, rushing down the other side to come to a sudden halt against a tree trunk. She leaned against it for a moment, getting her breath back.

A few trees and wild bushes gave her meagre cover and she carefully peered through the foliage. The sky was darkening, but she could clearly see the base. It was less animated than the other night, probably because there was still some daylight left and they were being cautious. The trucks had been moved inside probably, other large vehicles or objects outside had been covered over with black tarpaulins and all gates and visible doors were closed.

Ebony strained her eyes to see people, and noticed some inside the grounds of the base. They were standing at certain points in twos. The tight suits she had seen on them the other night were covered with black jackets. She searched for a weakness in the protection of the base. The wire fence surrounding the base had a few gates punctuating it here and there. One a few hundred feet away from her was unmanned. It looked like it had a simple bolt on it that could easily be moved aside. Ebony slowly inched out from behind the trees and with sharp and alert eyes, she headed down the slope to the base.

She decided that if she managed to get in she'd take out a tribe member, steal their clothes and try to infiltrate the tribe – for a short while at least – just to try and learn some basic things about these newcomers. What was their name? Where had they come from? Who was their leader? What were their plans? How had they gotten gas for all of these vehicles or electricity to power the base?

Ebony finally reached the bottom of the hill and crouched low at the edge of the wire fence. The unguarded gate was a few hundred feet down the perimeter. She began to edge toward it, keeping low. Her shins ached but she ignored the pain. She was almost at the gate. In her eagerness to reach it, she began to move more quickly and her knee slipped from under her. Her foot scuffed some pebbles and twigs against the fence. Immediately, she heard a static crackling. Ebony froze and picked up some more twigs and tossed them against the fence. Again, she heard the same noise. The fence was electrified. Ebony swore violently under her breath. That meant the gate was too – her only way in had been taken away.

She crouched there for a moment, mulling over just what to do now. Suddenly, behind her, she heard a shuffle.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Ebony stood up and spun around, her fists flying. Before she even had time to see who it was, her right hand came in contact with the side of his jaw. She heard a shocked, self-righteous grunt as the person stumbled.

She now saw that it was a young boy of fourteen or fifteen with white blond hair. He was dressed like all of the people in the base. Damn it, Ebony hadn't even considered that someone would be patrolling the outside of the base.

The boy shook off the blow and raised his wrist. Ebony shot forward to kick him, but he darted backwards, his wrist still raised. Ebony, poised to knock him unconscious and make her escape, was confused by this. What was he doing?

She watched him as he fiddled with something like a watch. The boy looked at her triumphantly with a smug grin on his face. He pointed his wrist at her and suddenly she felt a sharp and painful pulse go through her. She stumbled to the ground, still feeling shockwaves over her body.

Still pointing his wrist at her, he spoke into his headset. "This is Ved reporting an intruder on the south side, entry gate three, repeat, intruder on the south side. She has been rendered unconscious, requesting back up."

Unconscious? This kid was getting ahead of himself. Ebony struggled to her knees despite the pain. She could see the boy towering over her. He used the wrist weapon again and this time an even more shocking and throbbing pain went through her. Ebony fought angrily to move but found she simply couldn't. The pain was unbearable. The boy used the weapon one last time, his smile widening.

"Goodnight," he said in a taunting tone.

Once more an excruciating pain shot through Ebony, and everything faded to black.

-O-