p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Gregor and the others sprang to their feet. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Boots!" he cried, scooping her onto the nearest bat. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Take her back to Regalia!" ordered Vikus. The cutters were attacking from all sides. The underlanders had drawn swords and were forming a circle around the bats. The poor bats were hunched to the ground trying to make themselves as small as possible. There were too many people pushed against the bats. They didn't have the space to open their wings. So they were trapped. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" The humans began driving the cutters back. It was slow work, but it seemed to be working. The bats had enough space!/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Load on! Quick!" barked Mareth. As quickly as they could, everyone leapt onto the bats while simultaneously trying to cover themselves and their friends. But as he jumped onto the bat, Gregor saw something that made the air freeze in his lungs: Vikus stumbled and fell.../span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" In seconds, his body had been engulfed in cutters. Gregor saw this as if in slow motion. He heard Luxa scream beside him. He darted into the cutters, hacking every which way. He tasted blood in his mouth and felt a stinging sensation in his leg—one of the cutters had broke through his defenses. But too much time had passed! He couldn't make it to Vikus in time! /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" Ripred charged, scattering the cutters like confetti. Gregor followed right behind him, slicing everything in his path. It was all over a few seconds later. The cutters were all dead. Their bodies littered the ground around them. But Gregor had no time for them. He and Luxa raced to Vikus's side. His face was ghostly white. Vikus mouthed something at Gregor but no sound came. Gregor leaned closer in./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "What?" he asked, but he had a feeling he knew what the old man had to say. Luxa had come up beside Vikus and put her hands under his head./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Hope," said Vikus faintly. "Hope..." his voice trailed away and Gregor knew the old man had died. Just like that. A few seconds ago he had been alive and well and now.../span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" Gregor desperately tried to find a heartbeat, some way to revive him, but he was dead, and deep down Gregor already knew it./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" Luxa was crying softly while stroking her grandfather's close-cropped silvery-gray hair. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Vikus looked smaller in death; frailer, more fragile. Gregor remembered the first time he had met Vikus, he had been the first person who was friendly or kind. He had calmly explained everything for him and helped him befriend the other underlanders. Gregor wasn't sure he could manage without Vikus to help him cope. He always went to him when he was desperate or afraid... or anything, really, he always felt comfortable around the old man... /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" Gregor paused, listening hard. Faint, in the distance, there was a clanking sound, like that of a backhoe or dump truck. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "What do you think that is?" asked Gregor. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I don't know," said Ripred./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Should we see?" asked Gregor, desperately wishing for something to distract him from Vikus's death. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I suppose," said the rat, sounding distracted. The two started to trudge toward the noise. They walked in silence. The ground below their feet was dusty and dry. After fifteen minutes of walking, Gregor could see indistinct objects moving on the horizon. They were too far away for him to identify, but Gregor reached for his sword anyway. Whatever they were, they were likely dangerous. Years in the underlander had taught him that anything that moved might, and likely was, dangerous. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Ripred also seemed to tense up—readying himself for a possible fight. But as they drew nearer, Gregor realized it was not an animal, but machinery. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" He broke into a run. No! It couldn't be! How? He was a mere hundred yards from it. He slowed down. He was close enough to confirm his suspicions. He came to a complete stop right as Ripred caught him. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Oil!" burst out Gregor. "Oil!" /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Excuse me?" said Ripred. "What has oil go to do with anything?"/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Everything," said Gregor, who then lapsed into silence, thinking hard. Oil. That's what the machines were here for. Gregor had seen them before. Mostly on TV. But what on earth would a bunch of drilling equipment be doing down here? Right in the middle of the cutters' territory. And how come there weren't any ants to be seen for miles? After all, they were in the middle of the ants' land. It hit him like a wall of bricks./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Oh no!" he said. He turned to face Ripred. "I know why the cutters are attacking," he said. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Oh, could it possibly be something to do with the fact that they hate all warmbloods?" asked the rat sarcastically. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "No, that's not it! Well, I mean probably that too, but no. They're attacking because of those," he said, pointing to the bobbing machines. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "And what are those?" asked Ripred. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Well... I don't know what they're called, but they're here to drill for oil. That's where—" said Gregor./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I know what it is," said the rat. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Ah, yes, sorry," said Gregor. He often forgot how much Ripred knew about the overland./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "See!" said Gregor. "That's why the cutters are attacking." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "No, I don't see—you're making no sense," said Ripred./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "The cutters are attacking because of those. They think they're here because of you guys. And I guess they think if they kill you, these will disappear. Or maybe, they think they can just move into Regalia once you guys are gone. I don't know the specifics." He hadn't worked it all out yet, but he was sure he was right./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "You may have a point, boy," said Ripred. "it would explain why the cutters were willing to negotiate with us—they don't know how to get rid of these, and they must think we do."/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Of course!" said Gregor. "The overlanders! This is why they were down here, There must be oil." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Well, why ever they're here, we must convince them to leave at once," said Ripred./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Yeah," agreed Gregor. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Okay, good luck!" said Ripred. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Wait, what?" said Gregor, shook by this abrupt chain of events. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "You didn't expect to hang around all day, did you?" said Ripred./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Me? You're not coming?" said Gregor. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "No," said Ripred. "My presence will make them uneasy." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Well... that's true," said Gregor. He took a deep breath. This didn't sound like the best plan to him. "Well... here goes nothing, I guess." And with that, he took off toward the machines. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" As he got closer, he saw small cabins that had clearly been constructed recently. He was close now, and no one had noticed him yet. He made a beeline for the nearest cabin. He could hear someone moving around inside. He paused, frozen to the spot, heart hammering in his chest, mouth dry, stomach lurching. He to a steadying breath then knocked. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"His knock was answered immediately. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I already told you, Mike, I want those—" He froze. "Who are you?" he asked suspiciously. Who was he? His brain seemed to have frozen. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Oh, uh, Gregor," he stammered. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Wait, you seem familiar," said the man. Gregor stood there, waiting for it to hit the man, but it never did. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Alright, what do you want?" /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Well... I want you to remove those oil thingys," said Gregor. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Oil thingys? There called pumpjacks. They're also known as Oil Derricks." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Okay, whatever they're called, I need you to get rid of them. There causing massive problems down here." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Sorry, I can't do that," said the man. "It's vital that they remain here," he said. "Don't you get it? I'm trying to prevent World War Three!" /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Oh yeah?" said Gregor skeptically. "How exactly are you planning on doing that?" /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "One word," said the man, "Oil! That's right," he said in response to Gregor's raised eyebrows. "Oil! Oil! Oil will be the source of the next major war. Right now, the US is importing 382,200,000 gallons of oil a year from foreign countries. If my calculations are right, once we are up to full operational power, there is enough oil down here to sustain the US for years. Think about it! The US would be energy independent!" /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Wait, so you think you can make—sorry, drill—you think you can drill enough oil with those things?" he said, pointing at the odd bobbing bits of machinery. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "No! Just those? Good lord no! We'd need thousands more. These are just here to see how much this place yields. Which is a lot, by the way," he said. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Where did you get whatever those things are called?" asked Gregor. "Where did I get the pumpjacks?" he asked. "I own them. I'm the CEO of Hellenic Petroleum. It's been the work of the past six months bringing these babies down here. It's costing me millions," he added. "But soon enough I'll be raking it back in!" he said. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "So that's what this is about? Money?" asked Gregor, outraged. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I've told you, it's about saving lives," he said. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "By killing thousands of innocent people and animals?" said Gregor. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Yes, I know it's not perfect, but it will save millions of lives in the future." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Hmm, you're saving people from a war we don't even know if it is going to happen!" said Gregor. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "We may not know when or where, but we do know it will happen," said the man confidently. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "So.. let me get this right, you're forcing the people to go to war down here, to avoid a war up there?" /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Yes," said the man simply. "I am avoiding a massive, likely nuclear war." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I see, very clever. But even if this is true, what is to prevent people from going to war over some other thing?" said Gregor. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I know! But it is the best I can do," he said. "If you don't want the people down here to die, you need to convince them to return to the surface of the earth!" he said. /spanem style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"My friends? w/span/emspan style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"ondered Gregor. Sure he was friends with some of the people down here, but he didn't know most of them. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I think you're overestimating my authority with them," he said. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "You must convince them—I cannot," he said. "It is either that or the cutters destroy them," he said. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Isn't that what you want?" asked Gregor. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "No!" he said, "I merely wish to possess the land for drilling. I would rather no one dies," he said. "However, if it proves necessary, I am willing to see this war to the end." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "You know, you're really sick, man," said Gregor, suddenly livid. "You kidnap my—my girlfriend, and then you show up and try to act like your the good guy in all of this!" Somewhere beneath his anger at the man, Gregor realized it was the first time he had referred to Luxa as his girlfriend. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Yeah, well, I wasn't going to hurt her. I figured you would come after her. I guess I overestimated you," he said with a sneer. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I /spanem style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"was /span/emspan style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"running after you when one of your crew members shot me!" said Gregor, glaring at him. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Oh, dear, I'm sorry," said the man. But he didn't sound it. "I told them not to shoot unless necessary. I guess I didn't give them my definition of necessary," he said with a shrug and a tilt of his head. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "This is serious!" said Gregor. "I could have died!" He lifted up his shirt to show the man his half-healed scar. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I don't know what to tell you, kid. But we weren't going to do anything until you guys attacked us." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "What? We didn't attack you! You guys had guns pointed at us and started shoving us around!" /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "If you'll recall, we didn't do anything until you made the first move! Not to mention, the people here are violent and dangerous—we have to defend ourselves."/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "That's a bit strong coming from someone who walks around holding knives to people's necks and then kidnaps them." The man's face drained of all color. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "They killed half my crew," he said quietly./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Oh, man, I'm so sorry," said Gregor, and he truly was. "They had to. They can't risk anything like—well—this happening." He nodded in the direction of the pumpjacks./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Oh, so it's okay for my people to die," he said sarcastically. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Look, I'm sorry about what happened, but none of this is my fault," said Gregor. Then he realized something./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "It was you! You killed the cutter queen," said Gregor realizing this. Vikus's death seemed to swim before his eyes. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I had to," said the man. "The ants—cutters as you say—keep attacking us. We have lost several men already. it is only thanks to our trucks that any of our men survive. They fear them greatly," he said. "But they will be back soon, and in numbers greater than I care to imagine."/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "So this is your plan?" asked Gregor. Hope that all the creatures down here die? That's awful," said Gregor. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Maybe, but if you come up with a better plan, let me know," he said and swung the door shut in Gregor's face. He stood there, shook by his abrupt dismissal, then hurried back to where the underlanders were to recount of his discoveries. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" Gregor felt conflicted. Was it wrong to try and stop the man? Would it really lead to a massive nuclear war if he didn't? But he couldn't go tell his friends to go dig their graves. But if he was to stop the man, how could he do it? He knew the man wouldn't hesitate to kill him. Yet he still didn't want to murder the guy. Time was running out. The cutters thought the underlanders were responsible for the drilling equipment. They were going to attack if the underlanders didn't remove it. All that stood in the way of peace, was the man and his crew. But killing him wouldn't accomplish much if anything. If he was dead, he couldn't remove his machines. He was at a loss for what to do. They could try explaining the situation to the cutters. But they would never listen. And, frankly, who could blame them? If only there was a way to convince the man to get rid of his equipment! /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" They pitched camp that night and made some food. Everyone was too upset and scared to eat anything, well, accept Ripred; not much messed with his appetite./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" Gregor was still numb with shock at Vikus's death. Where had the shot come from that had killed the cutter queen? Up until that moment, things had been going well. The cutters must have thought it came from the underlanders and that they were trying to attack them. Gregor saw Luxa, sitting wrapped in Aurora's golden wings. He walked over to her. "Hey, Lux," said gently. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Hi," she said. "Sorry about your grandpa," said Gregor. He knew how weak it sounded but he didn't know what else to say./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Yes," she said, then lapsed into silence. "It's just—" began Luxa./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "What?" prompted Gregor. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "It's just with Vikus and Solvet gone, there is no one left for me," said Luxa with a tear running down her cheek. Gregor began feeling flustered; he never knew what to say when people cried. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "You still have me," said Gregor, "And Hazard and Howard, and Nerrisa."/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "True," said Luxa quietly. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "And your bond," said Gregor, "Yes," agreed Luxa, "I do have Aurora." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I was talking about Ripred," joked Gregor, which made her gives a faint smile that was tinged with sadness. Gregor took a long time falling asleep that night, he stared into the gloom. Luxa hadn't spoken much since Vikus's sudden death; almost no one had—they were still processing his death./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"strongspan style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Alright, there's only a couple more chapters left. Let me know what you what you think so far. All feedback is welcome. /span/strong/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Boots!" he cried, scooping her onto the nearest bat. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Take her back to Regalia!" ordered Vikus. The cutters were attacking from all sides. The underlanders had drawn swords and were forming a circle around the bats. The poor bats were hunched to the ground trying to make themselves as small as possible. There were too many people pushed against the bats. They didn't have the space to open their wings. So they were trapped. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" The humans began driving the cutters back. It was slow work, but it seemed to be working. The bats had enough space!/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Load on! Quick!" barked Mareth. As quickly as they could, everyone leapt onto the bats while simultaneously trying to cover themselves and their friends. But as he jumped onto the bat, Gregor saw something that made the air freeze in his lungs: Vikus stumbled and fell.../span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" In seconds, his body had been engulfed in cutters. Gregor saw this as if in slow motion. He heard Luxa scream beside him. He darted into the cutters, hacking every which way. He tasted blood in his mouth and felt a stinging sensation in his leg—one of the cutters had broke through his defenses. But too much time had passed! He couldn't make it to Vikus in time! /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" Ripred charged, scattering the cutters like confetti. Gregor followed right behind him, slicing everything in his path. It was all over a few seconds later. The cutters were all dead. Their bodies littered the ground around them. But Gregor had no time for them. He and Luxa raced to Vikus's side. His face was ghostly white. Vikus mouthed something at Gregor but no sound came. Gregor leaned closer in./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "What?" he asked, but he had a feeling he knew what the old man had to say. Luxa had come up beside Vikus and put her hands under his head./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Hope," said Vikus faintly. "Hope..." his voice trailed away and Gregor knew the old man had died. Just like that. A few seconds ago he had been alive and well and now.../span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" Gregor desperately tried to find a heartbeat, some way to revive him, but he was dead, and deep down Gregor already knew it./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" Luxa was crying softly while stroking her grandfather's close-cropped silvery-gray hair. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Vikus looked smaller in death; frailer, more fragile. Gregor remembered the first time he had met Vikus, he had been the first person who was friendly or kind. He had calmly explained everything for him and helped him befriend the other underlanders. Gregor wasn't sure he could manage without Vikus to help him cope. He always went to him when he was desperate or afraid... or anything, really, he always felt comfortable around the old man... /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" Gregor paused, listening hard. Faint, in the distance, there was a clanking sound, like that of a backhoe or dump truck. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "What do you think that is?" asked Gregor. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I don't know," said Ripred./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Should we see?" asked Gregor, desperately wishing for something to distract him from Vikus's death. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I suppose," said the rat, sounding distracted. The two started to trudge toward the noise. They walked in silence. The ground below their feet was dusty and dry. After fifteen minutes of walking, Gregor could see indistinct objects moving on the horizon. They were too far away for him to identify, but Gregor reached for his sword anyway. Whatever they were, they were likely dangerous. Years in the underlander had taught him that anything that moved might, and likely was, dangerous. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Ripred also seemed to tense up—readying himself for a possible fight. But as they drew nearer, Gregor realized it was not an animal, but machinery. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" He broke into a run. No! It couldn't be! How? He was a mere hundred yards from it. He slowed down. He was close enough to confirm his suspicions. He came to a complete stop right as Ripred caught him. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Oil!" burst out Gregor. "Oil!" /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Excuse me?" said Ripred. "What has oil go to do with anything?"/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Everything," said Gregor, who then lapsed into silence, thinking hard. Oil. That's what the machines were here for. Gregor had seen them before. Mostly on TV. But what on earth would a bunch of drilling equipment be doing down here? Right in the middle of the cutters' territory. And how come there weren't any ants to be seen for miles? After all, they were in the middle of the ants' land. It hit him like a wall of bricks./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Oh no!" he said. He turned to face Ripred. "I know why the cutters are attacking," he said. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Oh, could it possibly be something to do with the fact that they hate all warmbloods?" asked the rat sarcastically. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "No, that's not it! Well, I mean probably that too, but no. They're attacking because of those," he said, pointing to the bobbing machines. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "And what are those?" asked Ripred. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Well... I don't know what they're called, but they're here to drill for oil. That's where—" said Gregor./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I know what it is," said the rat. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Ah, yes, sorry," said Gregor. He often forgot how much Ripred knew about the overland./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "See!" said Gregor. "That's why the cutters are attacking." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "No, I don't see—you're making no sense," said Ripred./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "The cutters are attacking because of those. They think they're here because of you guys. And I guess they think if they kill you, these will disappear. Or maybe, they think they can just move into Regalia once you guys are gone. I don't know the specifics." He hadn't worked it all out yet, but he was sure he was right./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "You may have a point, boy," said Ripred. "it would explain why the cutters were willing to negotiate with us—they don't know how to get rid of these, and they must think we do."/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Of course!" said Gregor. "The overlanders! This is why they were down here, There must be oil." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Well, why ever they're here, we must convince them to leave at once," said Ripred./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Yeah," agreed Gregor. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Okay, good luck!" said Ripred. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Wait, what?" said Gregor, shook by this abrupt chain of events. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "You didn't expect to hang around all day, did you?" said Ripred./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Me? You're not coming?" said Gregor. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "No," said Ripred. "My presence will make them uneasy." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Well... that's true," said Gregor. He took a deep breath. This didn't sound like the best plan to him. "Well... here goes nothing, I guess." And with that, he took off toward the machines. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" As he got closer, he saw small cabins that had clearly been constructed recently. He was close now, and no one had noticed him yet. He made a beeline for the nearest cabin. He could hear someone moving around inside. He paused, frozen to the spot, heart hammering in his chest, mouth dry, stomach lurching. He to a steadying breath then knocked. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"His knock was answered immediately. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I already told you, Mike, I want those—" He froze. "Who are you?" he asked suspiciously. Who was he? His brain seemed to have frozen. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Oh, uh, Gregor," he stammered. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Wait, you seem familiar," said the man. Gregor stood there, waiting for it to hit the man, but it never did. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Alright, what do you want?" /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Well... I want you to remove those oil thingys," said Gregor. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Oil thingys? There called pumpjacks. They're also known as Oil Derricks." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Okay, whatever they're called, I need you to get rid of them. There causing massive problems down here." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Sorry, I can't do that," said the man. "It's vital that they remain here," he said. "Don't you get it? I'm trying to prevent World War Three!" /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Oh yeah?" said Gregor skeptically. "How exactly are you planning on doing that?" /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "One word," said the man, "Oil! That's right," he said in response to Gregor's raised eyebrows. "Oil! Oil! Oil will be the source of the next major war. Right now, the US is importing 382,200,000 gallons of oil a year from foreign countries. If my calculations are right, once we are up to full operational power, there is enough oil down here to sustain the US for years. Think about it! The US would be energy independent!" /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Wait, so you think you can make—sorry, drill—you think you can drill enough oil with those things?" he said, pointing at the odd bobbing bits of machinery. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "No! Just those? Good lord no! We'd need thousands more. These are just here to see how much this place yields. Which is a lot, by the way," he said. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Where did you get whatever those things are called?" asked Gregor. "Where did I get the pumpjacks?" he asked. "I own them. I'm the CEO of Hellenic Petroleum. It's been the work of the past six months bringing these babies down here. It's costing me millions," he added. "But soon enough I'll be raking it back in!" he said. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "So that's what this is about? Money?" asked Gregor, outraged. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I've told you, it's about saving lives," he said. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "By killing thousands of innocent people and animals?" said Gregor. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Yes, I know it's not perfect, but it will save millions of lives in the future." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Hmm, you're saving people from a war we don't even know if it is going to happen!" said Gregor. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "We may not know when or where, but we do know it will happen," said the man confidently. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "So.. let me get this right, you're forcing the people to go to war down here, to avoid a war up there?" /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Yes," said the man simply. "I am avoiding a massive, likely nuclear war." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I see, very clever. But even if this is true, what is to prevent people from going to war over some other thing?" said Gregor. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I know! But it is the best I can do," he said. "If you don't want the people down here to die, you need to convince them to return to the surface of the earth!" he said. /spanem style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"My friends? w/span/emspan style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"ondered Gregor. Sure he was friends with some of the people down here, but he didn't know most of them. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I think you're overestimating my authority with them," he said. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "You must convince them—I cannot," he said. "It is either that or the cutters destroy them," he said. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Isn't that what you want?" asked Gregor. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "No!" he said, "I merely wish to possess the land for drilling. I would rather no one dies," he said. "However, if it proves necessary, I am willing to see this war to the end." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "You know, you're really sick, man," said Gregor, suddenly livid. "You kidnap my—my girlfriend, and then you show up and try to act like your the good guy in all of this!" Somewhere beneath his anger at the man, Gregor realized it was the first time he had referred to Luxa as his girlfriend. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Yeah, well, I wasn't going to hurt her. I figured you would come after her. I guess I overestimated you," he said with a sneer. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I /spanem style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"was /span/emspan style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"running after you when one of your crew members shot me!" said Gregor, glaring at him. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Oh, dear, I'm sorry," said the man. But he didn't sound it. "I told them not to shoot unless necessary. I guess I didn't give them my definition of necessary," he said with a shrug and a tilt of his head. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "This is serious!" said Gregor. "I could have died!" He lifted up his shirt to show the man his half-healed scar. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I don't know what to tell you, kid. But we weren't going to do anything until you guys attacked us." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "What? We didn't attack you! You guys had guns pointed at us and started shoving us around!" /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "If you'll recall, we didn't do anything until you made the first move! Not to mention, the people here are violent and dangerous—we have to defend ourselves."/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "That's a bit strong coming from someone who walks around holding knives to people's necks and then kidnaps them." The man's face drained of all color. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "They killed half my crew," he said quietly./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Oh, man, I'm so sorry," said Gregor, and he truly was. "They had to. They can't risk anything like—well—this happening." He nodded in the direction of the pumpjacks./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Oh, so it's okay for my people to die," he said sarcastically. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Look, I'm sorry about what happened, but none of this is my fault," said Gregor. Then he realized something./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "It was you! You killed the cutter queen," said Gregor realizing this. Vikus's death seemed to swim before his eyes. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I had to," said the man. "The ants—cutters as you say—keep attacking us. We have lost several men already. it is only thanks to our trucks that any of our men survive. They fear them greatly," he said. "But they will be back soon, and in numbers greater than I care to imagine."/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "So this is your plan?" asked Gregor. Hope that all the creatures down here die? That's awful," said Gregor. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Maybe, but if you come up with a better plan, let me know," he said and swung the door shut in Gregor's face. He stood there, shook by his abrupt dismissal, then hurried back to where the underlanders were to recount of his discoveries. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" Gregor felt conflicted. Was it wrong to try and stop the man? Would it really lead to a massive nuclear war if he didn't? But he couldn't go tell his friends to go dig their graves. But if he was to stop the man, how could he do it? He knew the man wouldn't hesitate to kill him. Yet he still didn't want to murder the guy. Time was running out. The cutters thought the underlanders were responsible for the drilling equipment. They were going to attack if the underlanders didn't remove it. All that stood in the way of peace, was the man and his crew. But killing him wouldn't accomplish much if anything. If he was dead, he couldn't remove his machines. He was at a loss for what to do. They could try explaining the situation to the cutters. But they would never listen. And, frankly, who could blame them? If only there was a way to convince the man to get rid of his equipment! /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" They pitched camp that night and made some food. Everyone was too upset and scared to eat anything, well, accept Ripred; not much messed with his appetite./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" Gregor was still numb with shock at Vikus's death. Where had the shot come from that had killed the cutter queen? Up until that moment, things had been going well. The cutters must have thought it came from the underlanders and that they were trying to attack them. Gregor saw Luxa, sitting wrapped in Aurora's golden wings. He walked over to her. "Hey, Lux," said gently. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "Hi," she said. "Sorry about your grandpa," said Gregor. He knew how weak it sounded but he didn't know what else to say./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Yes," she said, then lapsed into silence. "It's just—" began Luxa./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "What?" prompted Gregor. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "It's just with Vikus and Solvet gone, there is no one left for me," said Luxa with a tear running down her cheek. Gregor began feeling flustered; he never knew what to say when people cried. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "You still have me," said Gregor, "And Hazard and Howard, and Nerrisa."/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "True," said Luxa quietly. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "And your bond," said Gregor, "Yes," agreed Luxa, "I do have Aurora." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" "I was talking about Ripred," joked Gregor, which made her gives a faint smile that was tinged with sadness. Gregor took a long time falling asleep that night, he stared into the gloom. Luxa hadn't spoken much since Vikus's sudden death; almost no one had—they were still processing his death./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"strongspan style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Alright, there's only a couple more chapters left. Let me know what you what you think so far. All feedback is welcome. /span/strong/p