My voice hitched as I spoke. “Oh, my little man. It’s good to see you.” I hugged him as tight as I could. “What are they doing with you over here?” I took a gulp of air and exhaled into more happy sobs.

  “They let us walk but only inside. They say it’s safer.”

  I laughed. It felt more like home, this cold capital, for the first time ever. Even with Nelson and my other friends still away and under attack, I felt a calmness I’d been missing. I quickly regretted that I had to leave. It was mandatory. We had to get back to the front. There was no way I could let those people be out there.

  I had no idea what Charista thought of the Valkyrie or that knife that I had. She never asked for it, but I wondered if someday she’d have aimed it at my back.

  The sight of Charista so broken up over what happened to her friend, Petra, made me wonder how much war had messed her up too. War made even the hardest one of us crumble, even just a little.

  I smiled at the thought of the light now back in my present, with Varrick at my side. And my future had a glimmer now. If I pressed on and finished my deal with Charista, I had a shot at making a real home with my brother.

  Chapter 14 (Ana)

  I worked to process everything Charista had said. It was weird how little I’d known about her before. Even more how sad she was about what she said. Maybe we’d underestimated her all this time. I knew I was ready for this all to be over, and now I knew that maybe she was too. Charista always was the figurehead we saw for updates on the Security of Lebabolis, and to have her not only know the Valkyrie but to have grown up with her was strange.

  Charista’s story reminded me of how much I never had. A family she knew, choices she wanted, and recognition. It seemed so distant, like one of those stories we heard over and over again about the Valkyrie. It felt like she talked about another race of people or country. I never knew anyone who had it even close like that where I grew up.

  I’d never heard anything about her and the Valkyrie. The stories I was told were more about inspiration, not on who was whose best friend.

  And now she wanted me to lead the charge. I wanted more than anything to get back at the Omegans, but what to do about Cataclysm worried me. Was Duncan right? Was I crazy, giving it to her? I was too tired at that point for any more strategy plans like Baudricort.

  I wished Nelson was here, but I had to think he was safer with Kaitlinn or one of the Guard tribes for then. I’d figure out a way to get him back to his time. Kado had to have something.

  The sweeping ceilings and ramps of the Capital’s interior led lower below the surface into the mountain. The lighting cast a faded glow everywhere. Charista wanted me to meet with Harkson, and for once I was happier to meet with him after her mood changed so much. I needed a father figure, and as much as I hadn’t wanted it to be Harkson, he was the closest thing I had to that here.

  While people were locked in at the Capital, they were allowed time for meals and light exercise, as long as shifts were kept. A group always had to be ready for exterior defense and monitoring of the proximity alarms too.

  The Capital facility was large over ground and it had a network beneath for quarters. They took their time and built a pretty solid fortress, or at least they had their Products do it for them. The sight of the detailed structures, reinforced walls, quarters, food ration supplies, just got me angrier than I’d ever thought it would make me. I thought about Products I knew, grew up around, and lived with. They suffered and in some cases died so places like this were built. It made that deal I had with Charista as tough to take as the first day we made it.

  Some people brushed past me as I walked toward one of the great dining halls. The room was filled with the low roar of people stuffing their faces. I watched the loyal Products, those who either couldn’t or wouldn’t break and go with the Action, feeding themselves. Their faces filled with contentment of their reward received. I shook my head at the thought that after this was over, they’d just go back to their lives of slavery, doing whatever their master wanted of them. Then I wondered, what if this didn’t end for them, if this was where it ended for all of us among the living?

  I was about to leave the room when I heard a younger man’s voice call out, “Ana!”

  A group of products at a nearby table watched me. One man stood, a grin from ear to ear. I stepped toward him. The gentle roar of the crowd eating enveloped us. “Is that really you?”

  I searched his face, but nothing in it was familiar. Why hadn’t I recognized this guy when he knew me? I’d eaten, but still hadn’t gotten any sleep; that must’ve been it.

  He let out a small chuckle. “Haven’t seen you since Instruction!”

  Then I remembered.

  Watson.

  Watson was a fellow Worker Product from the same housing unit. He knew me, Treg, Norg and the rest of the Circle well. He’d helped my adopted parents with Varrick on occasion in our housing unit, and if I’d have stayed we would have been fellow facility workers for sure.

  “I’ll be damned. I wondered what happened to you since I took off.” I laughed.

  “We heard about that break. Saw you a few times on the MODOSNet updates, until that crash anyway. We thought you died.”

  “Nah, it was close but we made it.”

  “You seen Varrick?”

  I nodded and brushed a hand quick past one eye. “Yeah, he looks great.”

  “They’ve been running people through this contraption since we got here. Say they cured a good thousand people of Pox already.”

  “Good, that was part of our deal with ‘em.”

  “Treg still with you?”

  “Yeah, he’s here too. They’re sending us on a mission.”

  “Mission? What’s with the outfit?”

  “Well, the Action and Lebabolis formed the Coalition—”

  “Oh, that’s right. How could I forget? You’re a big bad Warrior Product now. How’d you even get over on them?”

  “Guess they liked how I took care of myself in a fight. So who else is here with you?”

  “Oh, a few folks from our Sector, but they kinda mixed us together now. We’re grouped by Product.”

  “What do they have you doing here?”

  “Oh, food and exercise mostly. Gets boring a lot these past few months. But some of us are loading up a stash of Valentium. It’s slow, and that job has been the same for a while. Don’t matter much; I’d rather have something to do.”

  “Loading Valentium? What for?”

  “I suspect it’s for resupplying regiments. They gotta be running on empty, much as we see them fighting on MODOSNet.”

  “I didn’t realize they still sent out MODOSNet updates here.”

  “Oh, hell yeah. Too many of us to jabber to all at once. They give us the latest. We saw that fight in the Crater. They have us hooked in when we aren’t on extra duties.”

  “What kind of extra duties?”

  “Oh, like running maintenance, monitoring the perimeter. Kolb over there’s the one who caught y’all on your entry beacon in fact. Whatever they got, it’s way more boring than facility work. But you don’t know about that, now, do you? Kolb heard a few officers talking the other day about some big move that was going down. Something about a Range.”

  My gut froze up tight at the word, and I thought of our people still out there. They never felt more like mine at that point, and I was terrified they were walking into a place they’d be stuck in.

  “Well, just keep your head down, Wats. I may not see you again before they send us.”

  “Look at you. You know we heard what happened on your Exodus breakout.” His eyes beamed. “That was damned brave.”

  “Aww, well, things get blown up more after they’re passed around through a few people.”

  “Don’t sound blown up to me. In fact, Treg told me about it.”

  My throat clenched at the memory and the sight of myself through Wats’ eyes, and I had to leave at that. “Nice seeing you again, Wats. Just take care of yourself, and I’ll pass back any word I can.”

  “Sounds good. Look, we’ve been thinking. If you’re going to make the Range, we want to come. Can you take a few of us with you?”

  “How the hell can we do that? I’m pretty sure you’ll be noticed, and they won’t take too kindly to something like that.”

  “Anything, just... I’m getting real bad feelings about this.”

  “I know. I can tell you, if I have anything to say about it, this war is gonna come to an end pretty damned soon.”

  “I’m holding you to that.”

  “Well, good then.” I smirked. “Take care of yourself, Wats!”

  I needed more time for my thoughts, so I walked further into the halls of the Capital until I ended up in the hangar and watched the sleek transport ships Dawn had gone on about. There they were, five of them. They looked nothing like the Hell Hawks. These were long and slender, and there were very few guns on the outside. They’d better be pretty damned fast, because about all they’d be good for in a fight is a battering ram, or just a target for Omegan gunners. One of the ships was being loaded with Valentium, like Wats had said. Were they supplying troops? Or was it for a run separate from the Cataclysm one?

  It had to be. Why the hell would we carry that kinda load with us that far?

  I ran my hand over the smooth metal of one of the craft wings when the voice returned to me.

  *She’s lying, you know.*

  +What do you mean?+

  *The Valkyrie. She’s right about the Valkyrie, but she knows just what happened to her. And she’s not dead. Not yet, anyway.*

  +What makes you so sure?+

  *Because I’m her.*

  I exhaled in a gasp. A painful chill arrowed through me, and I clutched my sides in a deep shiver. The techs working on the craft glanced my way, but I just waved them off. The whole time I’d been talking with her, the killer of my mother?

  I spun around and plodded back out of the hangar.

  +You’re Petra?+

  *Yes.*

  My whole body jerked upright as if I were a piece of rope pulled taut. I’d been talking with her... her.

  +Is she wrong about you killing my mother, then?+

  She paused for a long while. *I don’t know.*

  +Oh, well, you have no idea what I’ve been through, what I’m going through now, what I’ll always go through over this. I don’t know who to believe, but I’m thinking I’d be a lot more peaceful without you, so let me know where you are and I’ll make sure I end your body wherever it is and whatever state it’s in.+

  *Ana, please, hear me out.*

  +Why the hell should I even listen to you at all? I need answers; I want to know why this happened!+

  *What I do know, as dangerous as you think I am, Charista is a thousand times worse.*

  +I don’t care. Why don’t you leave me the hell alone?+

  *I want to help you.*

  +Help me do what?+

  *Save your people, your brother, Nelson.*

  +How?+

  *Ana, I’m talking about what Charista said, her plan for you to get Cataclysm. Let me help you.*

  +Why should I?+

  *Because I once swore to protect Lebabolis and I failed. I want to do what I always set out to do but wasn’t strong enough to accomplish because of my pride. I know I don’t deserve your attention or help, and I certainly don’t deserve your forgiveness. I’ve tortured myself far longer than you ever could, trust me.*

  +At least tell me how you’re communicating with me all this time. Are you using the Link?+

  *I am.*

  +How?+

  *They set it up so well, they didn’t realize someone with enough ability could use it to send their own messages out.*

  +If you’re here at the Capital, or anywhere to know where I’m at, why haven’t you just come to me?+

  *I can’t; they took that from me.*

  +What do you mean, took that from you?+

  *They took my physical freedom when they made me into a Radomet.*

  +You’re a—how did that happen?+

  *It was the only way. I was scheduled for Realignment—*

  +Charista said it wasn’t invented at the time.+

  *Oh, it was. Baudricort was ingenious and quick. We had it around the time we had Cataclysm. They took my troops away and told me they were gassed. They didn’t want to take any chances of making them Radomet; they were afraid they would overpower the system and break the coding. They could’ve busted out of the holding and made a break for it. They wanted them taken care of fast and clean. For me they wanted to experiment and clone me, using their tech to make an army of mindless drones. I was to be the template, kept locked away and duplicated to keep their supply of warriors filled. But I was saved at the last moment by a friend. Instead, I was sent for Radomet conversion. They completed everything except the neural break, which allowed me to communicate like this.*

  +Why can’t you just get out of there; what are you doing around?+

  *I’m only one person, and I’m trapped. I can’t leave the Capital. If my troops were around, I’d have a shot. But instead I’ve been biding my time. Lebabolis is too powerful. Now with the Omegans at their door it might be easier for me to make a stand.*

  My head ached with this. Charista was only interested in keeping things to herself. She never stopped her schemes, even toward those who were supposed to be her allies. She wanted control. But the Valkyrie would’ve known about the Omegans and how to defeat ‘em. Charista wasn’t afraid of the Valkyrie destroying the Omegans. She was just afraid she wouldn’t be able to control the Valkyrie ever.

  *You must be very careful and think again about her. She’s got no interest in defeating the Omegans. I haven’t been able to prove it and the Coursons wouldn’t accept it, but I know she’s worked out some kind of deal. We fought them to a near standstill and Cataclysm turned them back for years, but I knew just as she did that they’d come back one day. She needed a bargaining chip so they’d agree to give Lebabolis their own land and exist side by side. Two enemies in a truce, however unstable.*

  +How long have you been like this?+

  *I stopped counting at around five years, so it’s anybody’s guess now.*

  +I’ve got news for you about the Guard; they aren’t gone. At least, not Duncan and his group.+

  *Wha- how do you know that name?*

  +Because he’s alive, along with your troops. I’ve seen them.+

  *What?*

  +The Guard? I’ve seen ‘em, well some of ‘em.+

  *Really, where?*

  +When we came through a Sector, they attacked a group of Omegans testing a Disruptor. They were poorly armed, and they turned the Omegans back.+

  *Where?*

  +In the wilderness, about a day’s walk from the capital. They overpowered an Omegan patrol.+

  The voice shuddered. *Unbelievable. They live. So they’ve joined you.*

  +No, not at all.+

  *Why not?*

  +I tried, but you wouldn’t recognize them. They aren’t what you remember. They were more interested in surviving than a fight.+

  *No, that cannot be. They swore to fight and die with me.*

  +And now they think you’re dead, and their own country turned them away to let them scrap like rodents. Why should they still care about anything?+

  *They pledged to stand with me and a country, and were cast aside. You can convince them to return.*

  +I tried but it was a clear no.+

  *Did you show them the knife?*

  +Yes, but they think it was stolen.+

  *What about the beacon?*

  +What beacon?+

  *The knife. Built into the handle is a beacon. Only the Valkyrie would know how to activate it.*

  +Yeah, so what do I do then?+ I pulled out the knife and flipped it around. The raised sigil pressed into my palm.

  *Rotate the handle to the left until you hear a click. Then push the emblem on the handle. That does it.*

  I followed her instructions. The handle took a little work but it finally budged, and when I pressed the sigil I heard two high pitch beeps, then nothing.”

  +So that’s it?+

  *Yes.*

  +But wouldn’t Charista have known about that?+

  *No, that was never shown to her. Your friend Baudricort—*

  +You mean my father.+

  *Yes, of course, your father Baudricort set that beacon up.*

  +But how do you even know they’re monitoring it? They had no real weapons or tech I saw and smelled like they’d been living outdoors for the past ten years.+

  *When you’re short on options your number one has to be hope.*

  +Now you’re sounding like me.+ I clutched the handle in my hand again. I felt it warm up beneath my fingers. +So is this thing sending now?+

  *Yes, it will continue to unless you shut it off.*

  +How do I do that, anyway? In case someone we don’t like is listening too.+

  *Repeat the process, but don’t do it until you’re in their presence. That’s your proof that you know me.*

  +It’s a long shot.+

  *You have to try again, Ana. You can do it.*

  +I don’t even know where to find them.+

  *Start by looking due west from Sector Two in the Outlands. There once was a settlement there, thirteen miles from the Lebabolis border.*

  +It’s been more than twenty years. What makes you sure they’re so intact? That group I saw coulda been all of ‘em. The Outlands aren’t the best place to rough it on your own.+

  *You must try, Ana. Remember, I saw you when you made the Verge jump all those centuries back.*

  +You’re the one who called out to me?+

  *I was. And I saw you do something amazing for someone who was only supposed to be a Worker Product. With no direction, you grabbed control of the situation you were thrust into and made that leap. Even Warrior Products get hesitant at times, but not you. You’re a soldier, and whoever trained you did their job well. You completed the mission and helped many people. But now people need you again. Your friends need you. You can’t let Charista get her hands on Cataclysm. It’s too dangerous for anyone to have. So search, use the beacons, figure it out. It’s what you’ve done, what you’ve always done.*

 

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