Chapter Five

Cold steel and bright monitors filled the dark room, each with flashing lights and dials, each designed for a specific purpose, and at each of them someone sat, staring at the dials and lights. In a room full of sounds of machinery and technology it was hard to believe the level of silence. Not a word could be heard from the silhouettes watching the screens so intently, their focus was fixed, which they had learnt to not let slip from their tasks. Discipline had been drilled into them since they first set foot into the world, the weak fell and the strong continued on.

Only the best survived in this world, and here they were, in a small room staring at monitors, such a menial task for warriors of great skill. After years of brutal training they had reached great heights of physical and mental ability, and yet here they were sitting in front of a data screen, their faces showing just the slightest hints of excitement as they completed the procedures.

“All systems check,” the Commander called out.

“Core at one hundred per cent,” one of the clerks called back.

“Full synchronisation, check,” said another.

“Number Two is ready to go.”

“Engine ignition,” one of them called to the Commander. “Clear disengagement.”

A few minutes of silence ensued as all the clerks and the Commander studied their monitors in anticipation.

“Entry a success,” one of them called, breaking the silence.

“Successful landing,” another called from the side

“All systems at full capacity.”

“End simulation,” the Commander called out causing the clerks to relax with victorious smiles upon their faces. “Good work everyone, when the second launch comes, we will be ready.”

She sighed as she turned back to the monitor, with the trial launch over it was back to the boredom of monitoring the systems. How she wished for some excitement to break the monotonous regularity of her existence. If only she could be part of the launching party, she thought with another sigh, looking around she could see that the others felt the same.

“What is the latest news?” asked one of the clerks beside her.

“Same as before,” she whispered back. “A vague confirmation from Number One that the High Commission has indeed betrayed us.”

“But we were to deceive them,” her colleague remarked quietly.

She nodded. “That is still the plan as far as I know.”

“Is Number One still showing abnormalities?” asked another clerk who had been listening.

“Yes,” she replied. “But it fluctuates, sometimes they are there and other times not at all. It is still functioning as required, but for how long, who can say.”

“I wonder what caused the anomalies?” the first clerk pondered.

“That is enough chatter,” called the Commander before she could reply. “You will all have time to gossip after the working day has finished.”

“Yes sir,” the three of them muttered.

She went back to work, but her colleague’s question continued to play on her mind. She had worked closely with the creation of the Vessels, but still she had no idea what could cause such variations in internal scans of Number One.

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A roar of thunder brought Lieut from his thoughts and he could see that the storm was very close now. It was flying down from Gaiagus at an incredible speed as its dark hands stretched across the pale morning sky, blocking out the light from Inüer.

Lieut had always enjoyed storms; the sheer power he felt from the thunder and the speed of the lightning was inspiring. Many times he had stood atop a mountain as a storm surged around him revelling in the awesomeness of such tempests. He would stand like a statue as the rain and wind pelted him and lightning cracked into the stones beside him. Being able to feel the power of the storm whirl around him made him feel alive and seemed to give him strength.

Feeling the first spots of rain on his head Lieut turned back towards the mansion; now was not the time to bathe in the raw power of the storm. Lieut glanced towards Fairris, who was still in the same position from when he had last looked. He hesitated briefly before walking back to the shelter of the house. Lieut walked under the cover of the verandah just as the rain started to pour down, bringing small hailstones with it. More lightning flashed and the thunder boomed as he pushed his way into the mansion.

Barely seconds after he found a seat in the main hall Fairris burst through the doors, completely drenched from head to toe. Lieut forced himself to look away from the droplets of water trickling down her face and beading on her skin where her uniform was torn. A welcome distraction came as Vythe arrogantly swaggered down the stairs and sat down in what was Zairole’s throne, tossing one leg over the arm as he leaned back against the cushions.

“The riot will begin in a matter of hours,” Vythe said triumphantly. “I have to say it is true what they say about the Yineth. They do indeed have a female’s anatomy.”

Surprisingly, Fairris let out small laugh, but Lieut just shook his head.

“We should leave then,” Lieut said as he got to his feet. “It will take a while to get to the South Quarter, especially with the two of you.”

“I am so sorry to be a burden to you Lieut,” Vythe replied sarcastically, but he stood up and moved to join him anyway.

Lieut ignored the jape and headed for the door, thankful to be on his way. Outside, the storm had increased in ferocity, and the sleeping prisoners were being roused by Aurora’s associates in preparation for the riot. Lieut strode hastily out into the rain and powered along the road that headed down the mountain. Between the flashes of lightning it was nearly as dark as the night and the haze of the rain obscured his vision. For anyone who had not seen the brief dawn they would likely swear it was still night. But the dim light did not deter Lieut, he knew where he was going and the brief flashes of light aided him in seeing his objective in the distance.

The thunder cracked overhead and the dusty path down from the Northern Hill turned to mud with dozens of rivulets pouring down and making streams through the muck. Vythe and Fairris were close behind him, both of them nearly at a jog to keep up with his swift pace. But Lieut did not care for them, the sooner he was out of the prison the better, and if they could not keep up then he would leave them behind despite Vythe’s promise of aid once they were out.

As he passed The Convict’s Crucible, Lieut saw dozens of torches stream out from the East Quarter and take the path to the West. Glancing over his shoulder he could just make out the torches of prisoners already at the gates to the guard’s barracks.

“Aurora kept her word,” Lieut remarked, virtually yelling to be heard over the noise of the storm.

“O’ye of little faith,” Vythe shouted back with a smile. “I said I would persuade her to cause a riot, did I not?”

Lieut did not reply and he continued into the South Quarter. Even here many prisoners had heard of the riot and were racing off to join the fray, which left the Quarter practically empty. And with such a stormy day, none of the prisoners were foolish enough to risk heading out onto the Southern Lake to fish, as was typical in the Southern Quarter.

A sudden flash of lightning angled down and struck one of the prison towers, causing veins of electrical energy to cascade throughout the glassy structure of the prison walls without doing any damage.

As they came to the boardwalk and docks that framed the Southern Lake Lieut realised that the exit might be more difficult than he first imagined. In such a short time, the ferocious storm had turned the pleasant Southern River into a turbulent maelstrom filled with debris.

“Is this the only way?” Fairris asked as she looked hesitantly at Vythe who was looking behind them and seemingly distracted.

“Stay behind then,” Lieut replied seriously, grabbing Vythe’s attention.

With nothing more to be said Lieut walked to the end of the jetty and jumped into the raging waters. The torrent pulled him out into the middle of the lake and towards the mouth of the river. Lieut drew forth his sword just as the rapids took him and sucked him under the surface. Bouncing off a rock Lieut was thrown about and he was pulled under the surface and into a spiral. Being dragged along the bottom of the river he bounced off several more rocks, which threatened to dislodge his hold on his sword. Somehow he managed to keep a hold of the weapon and he pushed off another rock to bring his head above the surface to suck in a deep breath. He did not have much time to breathe though, for the wall of the prison rose up to meet him and the river once again sucked him down and under the wall. With a twist Lieut straightened himself up and angled his sword towards the magickal wall that was coming up fast to meet him.

Lieut thundered into the barrier, the impact nearly blasting the air from his lungs, and his sword buried itself up to the hilt. Almost immediately he could see the Fog start to disappear from within the crystal wall. Vythe and Fairris suddenly thundered into the barrier alongside him, causing cracks to appear throughout the clouded surface. Agonisingly long seconds passed by and Lieut was struggling to hold his breath against the crushing force of the river that flowed unhindered through the magickal barrier. Mercifully the wall suddenly shattered, releasing him back into the flow of the water and out from under the prison wall. Lieut desperately pushed off a rock and forced his head above the water to suck in the much needed air.

But the relentless river did not give him much respite as it dragged him back under the waves. Again Lieut pushed himself off a rock back to the surface, holding his sword close to his chest the whole time. Hours seemed to pass and he and the river battled, each time it dragged him under Lieut found a way to push back to the surface to desperately gasp at the air.

Finally the river eased and the turbulence lessened, allowing Lieut to lie on his back and recover his breath. As he lay there, letting the river take him swiftly along, he felt a lot more battered than he would have thought, he also noted two other bodies drifting along the river near him.

The river had one more trick to play and Lieut’s ears picked up the sound of a roaring waterfall. He looked up just in time to see the river drop away before him, sending him falling dozens of feet into a deep pool. Lieut sucked in a deep breath and hugged his sword close just before smacking into the pool’s surface. The impact rang in his ears, temporarily disorientating him, but he quickly gathered his bearings and began to kick hard towards the surface.

It was slow going with his clothes and sword dragging him down, but he made it to the surface and breathed deep.

Sluggishly he headed for the bank where he saw both Vythe and Fairris climbing up from the water. Lieut pulled himself up the bank several metres away from them and tried to walk on away from the water, but he stumbled and collapsed amongst some ferns. Something was not right, his body was not healing itself as quickly as it should. Lieut’s mind struggled to find reason in it, but that too failed him and he fell unconscious.