Between "Deny Thy Father..." and "The Fire..."
He would never admit this, not even to himself, but it was curiosity that gripped and directed him that day. He had a rare day off so rather than going home to his son, he'd decided to explore the place a little more. He'd scarcely been outside Sandover (formerly Haven) in his life, so he'd decided now was a good a day as any.
Climbing into his Zoomer, he turned the ignition and took off instantly, not allowing time for second thoughts or hesitation. Yuhmer Krazak was never one for those kinds of dealings, and he certainly wasn't going to start now. Reaching the garage and choosing the Dune Hopper, he drove that up to the gates, waited as they opened and sped off into the vast, unforgiving expanse. It was late Spring, melting into Summer; not that this made a difference to the unrelenting heat, already intense at ten hours. Sweat trickled down the back of his neck within minutes of the tyres hitting the sandy ground, and he shifted uncomfortably, cursing his inability to look ahead.
He lost track of time as he became preoccupied with Marauders, speeding around the no-man's land throwing grenades at them as they approached his vehicles. Occasionally, one or two got under his wheels, sending him flipping over, but he always managed to get back upright again, the adrenaline in his veins increasing with every burst of speed, every exploding Marauder.
This is the most fun I've had in years, he thought, grinning to himself. Driving on until he found a sheltered spot, he pulled in and checked the time. Fourteen hours. He'd spent four hours in the expanse. His stomach rumbled and he pulled a few provisions from his backpack, devouring them in seconds. Once he had finished, he re-started the car engine and was just looking around in case he hit a rock or something on the way out when he noticed the back of the cave went deeper than he thought.
Frowning, he switched off the engine and climbed out, gun in hand. What is this?, he thought as he ventured deeper into the cave, noticing the way the heat did not relent even once as he dug out his torch, fumbling for the power button.
After a while, right at the back, he found an opening in the rock.
"Yuhmer..."
He stopped dead, stiffening. He wasn't sure whether this was his mind being twisted by the heat or after long years of the life he'd lead. He wasn't sure of anything at all but he swear he –
"Yuhmer, I know your heart...What you desire..."
He narrowed his eyes. The voice seemed to be coming from the opening. Rather than do what any other sensible person would have done and run away from the dark, he pushed on, stepping into the opening.
"That's it..."
His gut said no, but his brain said yes.
"Don't be afraid..."
Another chill ran down his spine. It was if it – whatever it was – could sense the hesitation inside of him. He did not know the workings of the world in full, in all its powers, in all its glory – all built by the Precursors, whose power he longed to harness. Like father, like son, or so he'd found out.
Without another moment's hesitation, he fled down the long, winding rock corridor, once again employing his torch until the corridor stopped into a wide, voluminous room, where a red-and-silver cyborg stood in the middle of the room.
He recognised It immediately, further chills running down his spine.
It smiled at him, Its human eye focussed on him. "Ah, Yuhmer. So you did hear me,"
"It was difficult not to." He chose his words carefully. He knew what It had done; the devastation she had wreaked – and he knew that with her enhancements she would be even more potent.
"Yes. It does seem that I have retained my initial powers despite the Mar child's damage," the cyberised former ruler said, almost reflectively.
The chills were replaced with a burning rage as Yuhmer realised exactly who she was referring to. "Jakuelynn?"
A head snapped round. "Don't say that name in my presence!"
"Sorry." He narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "So, what did you call me for?"
"Well..." The cyborg raised an arm, the limb whirring as it was moved. "You and I share a mutual hatred of the Mar clan, am I correct in saying? A hatred that appears to be passed through blood..."
"Our fathers?" Yuhmer ventured.
Instead of snapping at him to be quiet, she nodded. "Our fathers, who abandoned us and left us to continue the feud..." She seemed to snap out of it, shaking her head. "I go off track. I want revenge against the Mar clan, but Haven City has changed in the nine years since I purportedly "died". I need somebody who knows the inner workings of politics and people – especially of the girl and her family,"
"And you want me to be your mole, given that I am now San– Haven Council Deputy Chairman?" Yuhmer finished.
"I will pay you handsomely, treble what they pay you now. Only..." She scrutinised him with one piercing green eye and another equally piercing red eye. "Are you certain that you will be able to handle the pressures of a double life? You will not develop a conscience as Torn did and sway from allegiance?"
"No, I will not," Yuhmer vowed, voice raising slightly in tone. "I detest the Mar clan, the weak city and everything they collectively stand for; I will be happy to see them all destroyed."
"Then it is done." The familiar smirk crossed her face. "Start with the girl. Catch her away from the city, however that is, and target her weak spot. If it be that clairvoyant boy of hers, then so be it. If that weak spot is damaged or obliterated, she will break down and leave the city, leaving it vulnerable,"
Yuhmer had one query. "And her father?"
"That old fool?" She laughed, the sound simultaneously grating and stroking Yuhmer's ears. "He's too old and weak to defend the city. Rhogan is too foolish to run it. If we can remove her, it will be so easy..."
A smirk crossed his face as he realised how true her words were, excitement rushing up in him at her plan. "It will be done, no matter how long it takes."
She smirked. "Good. I hope it is soon, but I will not put pressure on you. She is destined to venture out to the Wasteland soon."
Yuhmer clicked his fingers as an idea came to him. "I have an idea which could further assist. There are stores of Dark Eco crates embedded in the walls and rocks of the Precursor Monk Temple Ruins way out into the Wasteland. If I could carry out an operation to remove them, then..."
The cyborg listened intently, following the plan clearly. The boy has promise, she noted to herself. He may yet be indisposable.
"Good," she said. "We have the raw materials for the equipment, but not the equipment itself to carry out the operation. Once they are built, then your plan will be put into action, and Haven – and the Mar family – will know my return..."