Jaylind woke to the sound of screams. Fear gripped her for a moment, as she didn’t immediately recall where she was. Her hands were cold, her back sore, and the smell of refuse was omnipresent. She crawled forward to a dim light ahead, out of an overturned metal barrel she collapsed in the night before. She hadn’t made it far from the cell, as her grief sapped her strength.
What’s going on?
She crouched down, scanning the landscape before her, seeing flashes of light in the distance. Nearby, the sound of boots resonated in the darkness, the swish of fabric as TELREC marched by. After they had passed, she crept slowly around, moving closer to the outskirts of his cell.
Have they already found out where we are?
Until that moment, she had forgotten what she had done the roa before. But the smell of smoke was a grim reminder, for the heat of the incinerator drew her gaze, and Jay felt the pain grip her very soul once again.
I’m so sorry, Minn.
On her knees, her hands submerged in some dark, thick fluid, she paused for a moment, shivering. Hunger was taking its inevitable toll, as she had not eaten well for the past few roas. She vomited several times through the night, retching in a dark hole nearby, trying to be quiet, wishing her heart would come up to and allow her to die. Her belly was so tight now; it seemed to be a knot that squeezed harder and harder. She could feel the pain in her chest, a cacophony of pain that seemed to focus in her breasts. Her neck was tense, and her body was soaked in a nervous sweat.
Who am I that I am alive? What luck is this, that because I slept in a barrel, because I murdered my sister, she paused, sobbing heavily, because I burned my sister, and was too cowardly to confess to it, that I live?!
Jay crept forward, beating back the tears, trying to focus on what was happening now. She saw some figures up ahead. Three men were on the ground, as another, dressed in brown and gold, stood over them. They stood proud, chests full and strong, their hands resting at their sides. They appeared as strong and permanent as columns, supporting an unknown weight, so proud they were. At their feet, the men on the ground clutched their heads, screaming in pain. They tried to reach the men in brown and gold, tried to stand, but soon they fell, their bodies motionless.
They have found us.
For a moment she wanted to run forward, sacrifice herself to the TELREC, and finally end her misery. Then she thought of her father, and mother.
Where are they!? They can’t be . . .
Jay made her way slowly around the perimeter of the cell, masking her thoughts like her mother taught her. She made her way in and out of the shadows, a terror creeping upon her soul, anxious of the fate of her parents. To the entrance into the basement of her home she crawled, careful not to make a sound, when she felt something in the dark. She looked down and she saw a hand, pale and bloody. Attached to that hand was her father, his body dead, contorted in a final pain.
I can’t . . . I can’t cry out. I must make it inside.
She paused for a moment, against her better judgment, looking at his face, running her hand along his cheek, thinking of his laughter, of his voice. She couldn’t stop herself—she bent down and held him in her arms, sobbing once more into his chest.
He was a man of peace, how could they kill him?
She heard footsteps coming close, and made herself turn away to the nearby entrance. She crawled inside and made her way down, silencing her mind once again, moving with stealth as she heard machines moving through the cell. Screams could be heard, pleadings for life from children too young to have an implant. Jay thought she could recognize some of those voices. She wept hot tears, backed up against a cold metal wall.
“What are you crying for?”
She almost jumped in the air, so shocked was she to hear another voice. Out of the darkness crept Anies, with eyes of steel, clad in a brown and gold uniform, tighter than the rest, without the flowing robes.
“Why are you here?” asked Jay, still petrified with fear.
“I’m one of them. A TELREC.”
For a til the thought flashed in Jay’s head, that she might have been the cause of this. But that would also have meant that she would be responsible. The thought was so black and vile, so hideous that she buried it deep, refusing to acknowledge it. Anger raced through her mind, bitterness of betrayal scorched her soul. Part of her felt safe being in her house, but Jay knew this was only an illusion.
“I thought you didn’t like your people,” spat Anies, with disgust in her voice.
“I don’t.”
“You mean you didn’t. The last of them are dying now.”
Jay turned, clenching her fists, the frustration building inside of her, begging to be released.
“Why are you killing all of them?!”shouted Jay at the top of her lungs, her voice drowned in more screams and heavy machinery. “What did the children do to you? What did my father do to you?!”
“Jay,” said Anies softly, as she crept close, “quiet down. It’s not my decision. You know of the atrocities your people have committed against the innocents of Novan, against the children of the TELREC. Many thousands of people would cry out that we are showing them too much mercy.”
“My father was never involved in those things.” Jay sobbed frantically, swallowing her own salty tears, the grief choking her throat. “He never, never wanted to kill.”
“Did he do anything to stop them?” gently demanded Anies, as she tried to calm Jay. “Did he leave the cell, and take you with him, to protest their ways? Then he was complicit in their actions. Jay, I have strong feelings for you. You need to see beyond this and at the history of your people as a whole. They have caused much destruction, killed many women, men and children, and sabotaged many systems, causing untold amounts of damage. It’s even thought your people caused the AG collapse, and that killed over fifteen million people! Jay, I’m sorry you must feel this pain, but your people brought it upon themselves.”
Jay’s jaw was clenched, her fists beating on her legs, the feeling of isolation sinking into her consciousness. She wanted to rip apart Anies, beat on her and take out every last ounce of pain within and cut her with it, break her with it. But Jay restrained her emotions, held her tongue, realizing that she was at the mercy of this girl.
“Come on,” said Anies, “I need to rejoin the others. You can come with me.”
Jay looked around her dark, empty house, knowing it would mean certain death if she stayed.
“Alright.”
She led Jay out, other TELREC glancing at them, but paying them no attention. They made their way through columns of TELREC marching through the place she had come to know as home. Around the perimeter others were piling dead bodies, throwing them onto great mounds. Meta could be seen moving into the cell, spitting great plumes of fire on those heaps, wiping the Iganinagi from the face of the globes.
I must remember everything my mother taught me, thought Jay. I must become like her, strong and fearless, if I’m to survive this. I must survive this. Anies led her through a maze of equipment, bringing them towards the clearing near the center of the cell. As they traveled, Jay could see more small groups like she saw earlier—the TELREC, standing proud, mentally breaking and killing clusters of her people. As they died, the TELREC casually walked away, thinking little of their once powerful enemy. They don’t even care, don’t think about the lives they are taking. Jay stumbled several times, feeling faint and weak, but managed to press on, shoving aside Anies’ help. Eventually, Kleder’s grill could be seen a short distance ahead, and in front of it knelt Kleder and a few other Iganinagi, two TELREC standing arrogantly before them. Jay cringed inside, as feelings of anger and helplessness battled inside her. With all her strength, she suppressed them, looking on the scene with dispassionate eyes. I must hide my thoughts, if I’m to survive.
“What are they doing?”
“Waiting, Jay. You’ll see.”
Anies was huddled close to Jay, desiring not to be seen. Jay felt her warm body against hers, r
emembered for a brief moment the pleasure they had. She felt her own body betray her for a moment, stirring to faint feelings of arousal. She killed those feelings, cursing at herself, remembering all she knew who died and were dying this sad roa.
Who’s that?
Beside Kleder could be seen the small figure of a girl kneeling, her head held upright, her eyes grim and determined.
It’s . . . that can’t be Sullise, but it is!
“You know her?” Anies could glean her thoughts.
Jay debated lying to her, but knew her mind was too easy to read. “Yes.”
“She’s a sweet little thing,” said Anies with a leering grin. “Do you want her?”
Jay thought back to all the times she looked longingly at her lithe form, all the sweet moments she wanted to have with her. She was so delicate, so pure, something of nature mired in this pit of death and despair.
“Do you, Jay? All I need to do is cast a word, and she is your plaything.”
What would she think of me? Jay thought low, deep down, hidden behind other surface thoughts. My plaything? She would curse me, and hate me, as I hate Anies. And could I go in front of Kleder, that man so sweet, who loved me as his own, and take her away?
“You know what she’s thinking?” demanded Jay as she looked on Anies, disgusted with this power she had to read thoughts, to invade someone else’s privacy, at such a sacred moment.
“She’s thinking of your father. She’s thinking about the bed she shared with—”
“No!”
“Be quiet!” With a sadistic grin Anies slapped Jay’s face hard. “Your voice will be the death of you. You should know, before you take responsibility for her. She slept with your father, took him in her arms, between her legs, felt him come all over her again, and again.”
Jay bit her lip, trying to suppress the tears.
“Do you want her,” pressed Anies, “or should she die with the rest?”
Jay turned away, the anger and hatred building inside her.
She took my father! She would do that to me? She who was so perfect, so sweet, so . . .
Anies grabbed her shoulders, a malice on her face. “Tell me Jay, does she die with the rest?”
Jay broke down and cried in her arms, weeping hushed tears.
“Tell me Jay! Say it, or you die with her.”
Jay glanced over again at Sullise, who was now focusing on Kleder, trying to draw strength from his resolve. He was saying something to her, Jay could imagine him saying, ‘It’ll all be over soon. Don’t worry, and don’t be afraid.’
“Say it!”
“She . . .”
“She dies with the rest?” asked Anies, a lunatic grin on her face.
“She . . . dies with the rest.”
Anies laughed, kissing Jay’s tear soaked lips, smoothing her hair out of her face, savoring this triumph. In an instant her expression changed, growing deadly serious.
“I can sense someone. Be very quiet.”
The other TELREC stood straight, their cesct ending as sets of footsteps could be heard approaching. First two female agents came into view, Gilc and Errece. Then Denged strode forward, stopping just in front of Kleder, his long brown robe covering his massive form. Jay could feel his mental power, so strong it was she swayed under his influence, the control over her mind slipping, her strength and faith evaporating.
“Can you feel that?” asked Anies with awe. “I remember the first time I felt that. He is incredible!”
Jay recovered, moving slightly away, wiping away the tears, gaining some composure.
“Who is he?”
“That is Denged,” pronounced Anies with pride. “He is the leader of the Maenids, the division of the TELREC that I, and others like me, belong to. It was he who spearheaded this assault, who made it his mission to eradicate your people.”
“Why him? What does he have against us?”
Anies shrugged. “I don’t know. I think the TELREC masters wanted the Iganinagi destroyed, of course. But it seems to be something personal to him. I’ve watched as he rallies his troops, and there is a fire in his eyes that one would only believe firsthand. I heard he was drawn away by something special, but he wanted to be here from the start, to watch your people die.”
“Who are those with him?” asked Jay, moving slightly forward for a better view.
“They are Gilc and Errece,” she said, watching as they walked around the prisoners with long, serrated blades drawn. “leaders of his Maenids.”
“Maenids?”
“Denged only trusts women, Jay. All of his force is comprised of women, and those two are his leads. I am a Maenid. You could be, too.”
Seeds of possibility bloomed in her mind, seeds of revenge.
I must hide my thoughts, no matter what happens, for they shall be avenged!
Jay saw Denged slap Kleder, then walk back, his terrible eyes centered still on him. Gilc and Errece stepped forward, their blades drawn. Jay could tell something was being cast between them, and wished she could hear his voice, one last time.
“Do you want to know what they are saying?”
“No,” said Jay, shaking her head.
“You might not want to see this. I can sense he meant a lot to you.”
“What do you care?” she spat at Anies. “He is just another murderer to you, another terrorist. No matter if he was like a father to me, my only friend. No matter if he—”
“Jay, enough. You shouldn’t see this.”
Anies reached over to turn Jay’s head, but she pushed her hand away.
“No. I must.”
Jay looked on, as Kleder looked in the eyes of Gilc and Errece without fear, proudly defiant. As their blades came down he yelled at the top of his lungs—
“Aiella!”
The blades flew back and forth in the air, tearing him apart, the sounds of flesh ripping and bones being broken filling the air alone. As Gilc and Errece worked, others in the cell echoed Kleder’s word, screaming—
“Aiella!”
Denged looked around, a glimmer of respect on his face as he heard those defiant voices, watching Kleder and the others die without screaming, without fear. Sullise was saved for the last, as the bodies of the men lay around her, Gilc put a hand on her head, almost gently, and ran the blade through her chest. She fell noiselessly, not even a scream or whimper, her body falling as if gently laid down, her hair covering her face. Though Jay felt great sadness, the misery weighing on her with a force she couldn’t believe, she also felt her heart fill with pride and respect, watching Kleder die as an honorable man, watching Sullise die without fear, without pleas for mercy. Gilc and Errece hacked into the bodies of the men for mroas afterwards, dancing over their bloody bones, shrieking like vultures over carrion as Denged stood impassively, his arms crossed, watching them work.
“Women, they kill with a single slice,” said Anies, with obvious pride. “Men, they brutalize.”
The ground was a carpet of red and pink in front of them, and Jay needed to finally turn away. They moved off, and Anies took Jay back to Core, past the ranks of TELREC that continued to file into the cell. Along the way Anies told her of the massive operation underway, that all cells of the Iganinagi were being eliminated. She held Jay’s hand, and she let her, though Jay dearly wanted to rip it off and shove it down her throat.
After a while, and a few transports, as well as a stop at a facility where Jay finally got a cast implant she no longer wanted, they arrived at a suite that Anies shared with other Maenids. Jay collapsed on a bed unknown to her, in a room she had never seen before. Anies went in another room, and Jay heard her start a shower. Jay lay still, accessing the cast-net.
Finally I have what I have always wanted, and all it does is make me sick. All on the cast-net were plastered virt-lives and stills of the massive TELREC raid against the Iganinagi. It began with their Coss being captured at Nelljin, being frozen in place, then collapsing to the ground, to the cheers of the TELREC. Brief rem
inders were shown of the atrocities the Iganinagi committed, with images of each Coss at their most brutal, driving long knives into innocent women and children, beheading men. The infamous scene of the murder of the children of TELREC collaborators was also shown, the last image being Ilgin’s son eating the ground remains of the others, screaming and wailing as an Iganinagi with a large hatchet approached him. Then came the actual invasion of the cells, the virt-lives of the Iganinagi dying at TELREC hands. Never was an image shown of a child being murdered—only the adults, and mostly only the men.
How could they all be dead? Everything I have ever known, is gone? They fought so hard to survive, fought so hard for the Novan people. Was there no one to help? Mom always spoke of alliances they made, friends they had, but where were they then? And even though they are all gone, I still feel the death of Minn. Why did I do that? I would rather have died with them all, then to live like this.
Though she had begun to remember all the things her mother said—about one’s thoughts, about battle and fighting—she needed one last moment of weakness. All the torment, all the guilt and shame welled within her, begging for release. In a cathartic motion she collapsed within herself, as the faces and memories of those she held dear surfaced in her mind, melding with the images of their deaths. She curled into a ball, on the bed, and let loose a torrent of tears. She sobbed aloud, not caring where she was, or who heard her.
^Get up.^ Anies stood in front of her, naked and dripping wet, her nipples hard and firm. She wore a lascivious smile, a marriage of lust and disgust.
^No.^
Anies punched her in the back, forcing the very air out of her, bringing pain to her ribs.
^Get up!^
Jay turned slowly, and Anies grabbed her hair, and dragged her off the bed. She fell to the floor.
^Get up, you damn sniveling coward! I don’t have time for this. Get up.^
Jay stood slowly in front of her, with a face wet with tears, her nose leaking thick sticky fluid.
^You disgust me,^ cast Anies, as she slapped Jay hard in a lightning quick motion, some blood spraying the bed.
^Fuck you!^ slammed Jay. ^Go away from me! Leave me alone!^
Anies went to work on her, beating her in the stomach, cutting her in the shoulder with hands trained and honed for battle, kicking her in the thighs. Jay tried to fight back, using all the anger she felt over the past roa, but was no match for Anies. Quickly Anies had her pinned on the ground, one hand holding Jay down, the other one punching her in the mid-section.
^Does that make you feel better, Jay?^ Punch. ^You cry like a little baby, how could you be one of us?^ Punch. ^You’re gonna have to get a whole lot tougher than that—^ punch ^—to make it with us. I won’t carry you, you little piece of shit!^
She punched her repeatedly in her breasts, bringing extreme pain to Jay. Jay remembered something Anies taught her only a little while ago, when she got her implant, and concentrated her mind.
^Get off me!^
Jay hit her hard mentally, and Anies dropped off, clutching her mind. She recovered quickly, and pinned Jay again, laughing, her naked body writhing in pleasure.
^Good, you learn quickly!^ Anies bent down and kissed her, pulling down Jay’s pants, forcing herself on her. ^What, you don’t want me now? Well you’re mine, bitch. You could have had Sullise to beat and boss around, found some joy in raping her after a hard roa. You could have even had your little sister—now she would have been a fun toy to have around, all tight and sweet. But you were too much of a scared fuck to get what you deserved, what you earned.^
What does she mean?
^You know what I mean, Jay. Maybe you’ll never admit it to yourself, but that’s too bad, because now, you’re all mine.^
As Anies ripped off her clothes, and Jay submitted, Jay thought only of her mother and father, and of Kleder.
I will have my revenge! One roa, Kleder. One roa, father. One roa, mother. In a moment she came to a peace about her mother, about what she was protecting them all from, about the sacrifices she made throughout her life for Jay’s safety. She knew in order to avenge her, to avenge them all, she would have to become the person she most hated in life—her mother. One roa, you shall all be avenged! The Maenids may break their bond, and kill me as they would a man, but by all I am, I shall exact vengeance on Denged. He shall die, as payment for the death of my people.
Chapter 12