Clone Wars

By Will Decker

Book 2 in the Healf Saga. Capt. 'Rod' Rodick discovers there is an evil in the catacombs of Healf that transcends even his worst nighmares; Clones. Beings grown in the image of their sadistic, power hungry donor, but lacking a soul or moral compass. Rod must stop them before their terrible ambitions come to fruition and destroy the fragile hierarchy that he is struggling so hard to build; a hierarchy that instills justice and equality for all the habitants of Healf, both above and below the surface.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Will Decker
• Release date: Feb 27, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458135056

Will Decker

Hello,There have been some dramatic changes going on in my life and because of them I am finding that I now have more available time. Yeah, that's a laugh. Now it seems like my days are even more hectic than they were before. Hence, I have decided instead of using the narrow sighted approach to marketing my books, I am going to use a much simpler approach. No longer will my books be available through Amazon markets, but instead, my plan is to make them all available through the Smashwords site as well as their affiliated markets for FREE. However, this will take time so if you have read any of my books and are looking to read more of them, bear with me, I promise you they are coming. I hope this works for my dedicated (few) readers. On a different topic, as you can see, most of my writing efforts have been serials.With that said, you will never find a Cliff Hanger amongst my works. All of the stories have beginnings and endings and can stand on their own. Their common thread might be the characters and in some cases, the planet, but all are Stand-Alone novels! I really despise Cliff Hangers with a passion. Can you tell?Thanks for taking the time to get to know me a little better, WillHope you have a great day.Sincerely, Will Decker

Book preview

HEALF

CLONE WARS

Will Decker

Book 2 in the HEALF SCI-FI Series

Copyright 1999 by WILL DECKER

Smashwords Edition

WILL DECKER has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or otherwise, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased, or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law, or in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

CLONE WARS is a work of fiction. The resemblance of any characters to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental. Names, characters, places, brands, media, situations, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

This eBook may not be re-sold or given away except with written permission from the author or as otherwise permitted through special promotions and programs.

A special thank you to everyone that has made this story possible. My beta reader, my proof reader, and to you the readers. I sincerely hope you enjoy this work of fiction.

Will

More by WILL DECKER:

DRIVEN

UNREQUITED LOVE

FIRE BABY

HYBRID KILLERS

The ‘HEÄLF’ Collection:

MORTALITY REVISITED

CLONE WARS

DAY OF NIGHT

REGENERATIONS

HORSPAW

The ‘Mac" Collection:

THE WITNESS

TOXIC RAIN

BETRAYAL

RECORD KEEPER

DEATH IN THE DUNES

WIT-SEC FAIL

SIMPLY PERFECT BINDING 2ND Ed.

If you enjoyed this book, please take a moment to leave a review.

Authors starve or eat based on reviews. Thanking you from the pit of my stomach, Will

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Discover More Exciting Stories by Will Decker

**1**

The morning following our much-celebrated reunion, I awoke to the discomfort of severe cramping and pain in my lower intestinal tract. Without a doubt, the cause of my discomfort was stemming from my over indulgence of ‘cake’, a new delicacy that our gracious host Keazar had just recently discovered. Thanks to my over abundance of pride, Jontue, Keazar’s longtime friend and cohort, easily suckered me into a foolish contest that involved proving who could eat the most of the sweet treat. That alone wouldn’t have been too bad. But once I lost to the portly man that was also our esteemed savior, I made a much more dire error in judgment.

In an ill-fated attempt to redeem my self-esteem and silly pride, I accepted still yet another challenge made by my good friend and comrade, Wary. Our shared history went back to the time when we were both revived after being recycled for the first time. In a strange sort of way, we started life together, at least this life. He was the first person that I came to trust after finding myself beneath the planet’s surface, and we quickly came to be fast and loyal friends.

From the first time that we met in the resuscitation room, we suspected that we had died, but were unfamiliar with recycling. Only later, would we discover that recycling was a method of restoring the dead to a former state of life, usually the prime of one’s life. Along with discovering recycling, and meeting the man responsible for inventing it, came the knowledge that there was an advanced civilization beneath the planet’s surface, a civilization controlled by a few, evil men, whose power and fortunes depended on cheap, disposable laborers.

Since having served in the Heälf Air Services, I as an esteemed pilot and he as a co-pilot, we shared a similar background before losing our crafts, and simultaneously, our wings. Like all former fliers, we lost our wings due to the ever-dwindling supply of aircraft, and the even shorter supply of parts that were necessary to keep them flying. When his rescue craft crashed in the jungle due to equipment fatigue and worn-out parts, his career as a co-pilot was over. When Brae’s tribe found him, he was severely injured and in poor spirits. They nursed him back to health, and with Brae’s constant attention, restored his desire to live. In no time, he fell in love with the beautiful and vivacious woman.

He remained with Brae’s tribe, intending to claim her as his eternal mate and partner, when he discovered a shaft leading into the subsurface. Lured by his own curiosity and hunger for adventure, he took Brae into the underground world beneath the surface. Unwittingly, they had been followed by Cos, Brae’s big brother and self-appointed protector. Her brother Cos, unfortunately, was slain during a failed attempt to save his sister from capture by Lord Balzar’s solders. Nevertheless, that was all a long time ago and in another life. Even though we have no formally established vows, Wary has officially claimed Brae as his life-mate, and she, in turn, has promised to reside with him for all eternity.

Loté, the lithe, extremely capable, and ever more beautiful woman who pulled me from the wreckage after my fatal crash in the jungle, and I, are also planning our future together as one. My own co-pilot and dear friend was killed in that fateful crash; a misfortune that I feel wholly responsible for and will carry the burden of guilt with me for all eternity. Loté, although understanding of my feelings on the subject, is sensible enough to realize that had I not followed that dreadful chain of events leading up to my co-pilot’s demise, it would have been her demise, as well as that of her parents.

Even Keazar, the generously proportioned man of eccentric behavior that is responsible for developing recycling to the advanced stated that it enjoys today, found a woman that he could love, and vice-versa. The latter being a well-endowed female named Linit. To everyone’s amazement and delight, he just recently discovered this latent ability to love after nearly three thousand years of celibacy.

Shortly after I lost the cake-eating contest to Jontue, Wary challenged me to a drinking contest. The potent liquid that had lifted my spirits to such dizzying heights the night before had a phenomenal way of bringing me to my knees the morning after. I can normally handle distilled spirits. But when the alcohol combined with the sugar in the cake, it was more than enough to make any man sick. Still, I made a mental note to myself that I would have to sample the delicacy again; it had been a very tasty treat. However, next time, I would try it without the accompaniment of liquid spirits.

As I lay on the soft mattress of the overly large bed, I surveyed the plushly appointed room. Slaves had carved this room, like all the others adjoining the huge ceremonial cavern, out of the solid bedrock of the planet. It took many long, hard years, copious amounts of human agony, and countless deaths to excavate all the hallways, tunnels, and other rooms adjoining these beneath the planet’s surface. In fact, every cubic yard of habitable space within the subsurface of Heälf represented a tremendous cost in the form of both human lives and human suffering. Sadly, every passage and hallway in existence today was made possible by the affordably cheap price placed upon human life. Thanks to the ease with which the human body can be recycled, it was easy for the unscrupulous rulers to ignore the other, less obvious costs.

Replacement laborers were easily obtained through mercenaries that journeyed to the surface for the sole purpose of abducting people, usually killing them in the process to facilitate an easier transport. When cave-ins and other fatal tragedies occurred during routine mining activities, making body recovery almost impossible, or simply too costly to pursue, there was always another to take their place. The mercenaries traded their abducted victims for metal trinkets, or the lesser valued gems that were plentiful beneath the surface. But their most prized commodity was the steel blades that the surface dwellers could fashion their own custom handles to; these items have an extraordinary value on the surface where metals are rare and highly prized.

Their victims, on the other hand, were required to pay their new lords in exchange for having been recycled. This payment, or rather indenture, was a bogus and inflated fee for having been recycled, something that very few actually required before the mercenaries kidnapped them. The indenture period was stated in terms of years, but usually lasted an unspecified period of time, none of which ever outlived it.

Enslaved, bound in chains with all hope of freedom taken from them, they were treated with less respect than that afforded to a lowly animal. Most were forced to work in scalding temperatures far away from the air-conditioned hallways. Because they received less food and water than was absolutely necessary for their survival, many died horrible, agonizing deaths, only to be recycled and returned to the mines and tunnels; the length of their indenture naturally increased to cover the added expense of needing to be recycled again. It was a vicious cycle that had been going on for centuries, and only now was being brought to an end.

This was the original reason that they had captured Wary, among many others, and brought them here; for the sole purpose of being sold into slavery. Unlike the more humane custom of paying slaves for their services, which is a standard practice on the planet’s surface, in the subsurface, slave trading is not considered a black market proprietary. Instead, in the subsurface, it was quite the contrary. Even the slaves had grown to accept the fact that they were a traded commodity like any other accepted business practice. They learned to accept their dismal futures and the fact that the future held little for them in the way of prospects. Only by proving themselves many times over, were the chains removed, and privileges granted.

As Keazar’s mercenaries were anxious to sell their captured people for mere trinkets, so too, were his customers eager to receive them. His two main customers had been Lord’s Thar and Balzar, each with their own personal reasons for needing slaves.

Lord Thar had been mainly into mining precious metals from the planet’s core, and thus had a greater need for strong young males. He had built a domain that had become well known among traders for the fine steel weapons that they manufactured. The blades were of such fine steel, they resisted the corroding effects of the high humidity encountered both above and below the planet’s hard basaltic crust. Hence, it never ceased to cause me wonder, that I had never seen a long-knife before entering the subsurface. Such an extravagance of steel would have drawn much attention to its owner on the surface.

A by-product of Thar’s extensive mining operations was many catacombs and countless tunnels. These catacombs later came to be inhabited by escaped slaves, and the tunnels eventually forgotten by all but those same escaped slaves that learned them to memory. Large numbers of escaped slaves eventually banded together, forming the basis of what are the rebel tribes. King Sheesa’s small band of warriors, with his women and children, are an exception to this theory. Somehow, Sheesa’s people originated on the surface, and have never experienced the recycling apparatus, because one of the few drawbacks of being recycled is the inescapable sterility that results. Sheesa’s many children are blaring proof of his tribe’s fertile origins.

Even today, I am sure that many survivors are still living in the farthest reaches of the tunnels and hallways that riddle the interior of this planet. Despite the recent catastrophe that nearly wiped out the entire human race beneath the planet’s surface, I still believe this.

Unlike Lord Thar, Lord Balzar had been more interested in personal gratification on a much more immoral level. He was in control of the nuclear reactors that supply the power to keep the planet’s interior air-conditioning units running. Without the constant cooling effect, brought on by the extensive use of refrigerant being pumped through the walls of the hallways, life could not survive in the subsurface. How he had come to this position of power was a much-debated issue. But because of his self-absorbed nature and neglect of his basic duties, a catastrophe of unequalled parallel brought down the subsurface hierarchy.

However, until his demise, or suspected demise, he traded this life sustaining power for the most beautiful women that came out of Keazar’s recycling labs.

Mostly, these women had been living on the planet’s surface until either being lured down here or outright kidnapped by Keazar’s mercenaries. The most devious of methods were employed to garner the chintzy bounties placed upon human flesh. And when their first efforts failed, they literally tore their victims away from families and loved ones. Kidnapping them alive if they could easily do so, killing them and carting their lifeless bodies off if they couldn’t. Resistance of any kind was not tolerated, and ruthlessly brought to an abrupt end. It was easier to transport a lifeless body, than one that continued to struggle. And they were paid the same, irregardless of the victim’s physical condition.

With the mercenaries, all hope of ever seeing a loved one or family again was brought to an abrupt end, taken away and never returned. These tragedies and more, Keazar had unknowingly sanctioned. Simply so he could afford to purchase power from Lord Balzar; power that was necessary to keep his many recycling labs running at full capacity.

After coming to realize the tremendous amount of pain and suffering that he’d been the initial cause of, he came to regret his earlier actions. In fact, his remorse grew so great that he made it his primary mission to aid in the restoration of a just hierarchy for the remaining inhabitants of the planet. He has committed himself to the establishment of peace and fairness for all humans, as have the rest of us that were fortunate enough to escape the catastrophe.

With the fog lifting from my thick head and my eyes beginning to distinguish the various objects in the room more clearly, I suddenly realized that I didn’t see Loté anywhere. Just as suddenly, I assumed that she must have risen earlier, and went out to arrange for our trip to the surface. Brae and her were ecstatic at the prospect of returning to the dense green jungles of the surface that so clearly represent home to us.

If the truth were known, I was more than a little anxious myself. Loté and I had lost a great deal of time away from the search for her parents; time that we could never make up, when we once again resumed the search. Yet, during the festivities of the night before, Keazar and I had plenty of time to talk, and I couldn’t help but think about what he’d said. Although it felt as if I were betraying Loté’s trust, I had to give credence to his words, words that would take me even farther away from the time when I could fulfill my commitment to Loté and her parents.

Keazar had lived here beneath the planet’s surface for more than three thousand Earth-years. In his judgment, especially where it concerned matters of the subsurface, I had come to trust in him without reservation. Yet, I still found it hard to believe that he considered me the planet’s salvation. Something had convinced him that I was the man to bring peace and prosperity to the entire world, with a little help and guidance from him, of course. Together, he assured me, we could build a new hierarchy. With the help of our friends, we could open this planet up so that surface dwellers and ground dwellers alike would have the same rights and responsibilities. It was an overwhelming challenge, one that held many prospects and possibilities for me.

Meanwhile, I couldn’t shake the notion that the entire planet and all of its inhabitants were in my hands. The thought of being responsible for so many people was stirring unease in the pit of my stomach. The more I thought about it, the more convinced I became that he might be right. If I leave now, not only will I be letting down mankind, but ultimately, myself. There is currently too much at stake, too many loose ends that need my attention.

It suddenly seemed inconceivable that I could even consider going off on a hopeless search with Loté when so much uncertainty still needed to be addressed. And yet, neither could I imagine the thought of letting her go searching for her parents by herself. Though the jungle was fraught with hidden danger and unknown peril, I knew the reason that I felt this way wasn’t because I doubted in her ability to take care of herself; on that point alone, I couldn’t argue. However, I knew the time that I spent worrying about her, should she decide to go it alone, would distract me to the point where I could not satisfactorily perform my chosen duties here. The quandary of indecision was maddening!

Briefly, I considered explaining to her that the chance of her parents being discovered by a rescue party and being brought here, compared with the chance of us stumbling upon them in the jungle, was tremendously greater. If she would just listen to me with an open mind, there was a chance she might understand.

But then, as quickly as the idea came to me, I just as quickly discarded it. Though it did hold a small grain of truth, even I could see that it was a weak argument at best.

With my mind still in a quandary, I finally decided that my only choice was to be open with her and tell her of the decision that I had come to. With full honesty, I would explain my reasoning to her and hope for the best. Loté was a very practical woman, and I felt sure that she would understand. With my mind made up, I decided to get it over with; putting it off any longer than necessary wouldn’t make it any easier on either of us.

But first, I would have to find the fecal hole and expel some of this gas building up inside my stomach before I explode. Stumbling from the bed, my head started spinning. Quickly, I dropped back into a sitting position on the edge of the bedding and hung my head for a moment, letting the blood drain down to it. Within a matter of seconds the dizziness passed. Then, moving slowly, I pulled back the rugs that covered the floor, searching beneath them for a lid. It stood to reason that the fecal hole would be hidden in the floor beneath the rugs; royalty wouldn’t be expected to venture out of such lavish accommodations or share waste facilities with the common folk; it had to be in here somewhere.

After a moment of unease in my roiling stomach, I found the fecal hole and was in the process of cleaning myself when Loté returned. The smile that was covering her face quickly dissipated as the stench in the air assaulted her keen senses. Quickly, grabbing her by the arm, I led her back out through the door, while at the same time asking if she had eaten breakfast yet.

No, I haven’t. In fact, I was just coming to see if you wanted to join me. But now, I’m not so sure that I still have an appetite, she answered a bit sarcastically. And then, in the same tone of voice, added, Maybe we should have Jontue check that room out for dead bodies. Of course, judging from that stench, it would probably be too decomposed to be recycled anyway!

Quickly putting her hand over her mouth in an exaggerated attempt to stifle her laughter, she watched me blush out of the corner of her eye. Despite my discomfort with her joke and the bright red flush of my cheeks, I continued walking stoically forward, feigning oblivion to her cutting remark. When she gave no sign of letting up, I finally responded in my defense.

Sure, go ahead. Have a little fun at my expense. I seem to remember someone that smelled very similar to that at one time. Of course, I won’t be so crude as to mention any names, I added haughtily.

This quickly brought her laughter under control as forgotten memories of a past lifetime briefly flitted across her mind, sobering her immediately. Although she hadn’t been in any condition to remember, the others had since told her about my determination to carry her corpse single-handedly to the recycling labs.

In subdued silence, she led me through the main cavern and down a well-lighted hallway. Allowing her to lead the way, since I wasn’t familiar with this area, except for the location of Keazar’s private rooms and the recycling labs, I followed close on her heels. It was also probably better that I stayed behind her where she couldn’t see the smug look on my face.

She didn’t have any problem finding her way. Within minutes, we were entering a large banquet room. The rest of our friends had already arrived and were sitting on either side of a long stone table. Wary and Brae were on the left side of the table while Keazar and Linit were sitting on the right. Lute and Elsa were sitting farther down on the right, near the door leading into the food preparation room. Jontue had taken a seat between Elsa and Linit.

At the sight of Lute and Elsa sitting together, I had to quickly disguise my surprise. I had obviously been mistaken when I assumed that they had been stuck with each other the night before for lack of anyone else. It would appear by their actions toward each other now that they had experienced something more than just the release of pent-up sexual tension. Secretly, I wished them the best of luck. They were two special people and I had taken an instant liking to them. That they would do right by each other, I harbored no doubts.

Following Loté down the left side of the table past Wary and Brae, I nodded my greetings to each. As we sat down, a young woman came out of the food preparation area carrying two bowls of something that resembled mush. She set one in front of Loté and then me respectively. Thanking her, I cleared my throat and adjusted myself in my seat. Having reached the decision that I had, I knew that I was going to create controversy and unrest among those gathered here. Until I announced it and got it out in the open, I wasn’t going to feel much like eating, if then. I was thankful that everyone was still sitting around the table, since it was quite apparent by the lack of eating utensils that everyone had long since finished with their own breakfasts. At the least, it wasn’t necessary to call a meeting to make my announcement.

Standing, I looked at each of their faces as they turned questioningly toward me. Loté, who had already started eating, slowly stopped and silently set her knife down on the table beside her plate. Looking up at me, I could clearly see the puzzlement on her face as she wondered why I had gotten to my feet. As I stood looking down at her, I felt sharp pangs of guilt stabbing into my heart. I suddenly wondered why I hadn’t taken her into my confidence, and discussed my decision with her before breaking it to the others?

Deep down inside me, I knew why I hadn’t; I was hoping that Keazar and Jontue would exert peer pressure on her. In fact, I was counting on it. I knew they were in agreement with my decision. But I didn’t know if they could convince her to remain here in the subsurface with me?

It was common knowledge that Wary and Brae had plans of their own. Brae had talked about nothing else except that she intended for her and Wary to find her tribe and reunite with her family. Because of her strong tribal beliefs, she was adamant that they should exchange their vows of dedication to each other in the presence of her tribe’s elders. Until such time that they partook of this ritual, she felt like she was nothing more than Wary’s whore. Not believing in any such diatribe myself, I respected her feelings regarding them, just the same.

Although Loté’s own personal beliefs had undergone a major transformation during her time spent in the deep passages of the subsurface, she still possessed enough of her old values to want the same thing of me; she valued the commitment that a man made to a woman and vice-versa. Loté was growing frantic to get back to the surface, just as Wary and Brae were. But unlike Wary and Brae, Loté felt that time was stacked against her. With each passing minute and day, the trail leading to her parents grew colder, with less chance of finding them alive. While Wary and Brae had all of eternity to find Brae’s tribe and perform their vows, time was running out for Loté’s parents, if it hadn’t already.

You have something to say, my good man? asked Keazar, when all the chatter around the table grew quiet, and everyone’s attention was focused on me.

Nervously, I glanced around at my friends, returning their questioning stares. With everyone’s attention now centered on me, I was committed to the path that I had chosen and couldn’t turn back. When I’d met each of their gazes independently, I slowly turned back, meeting their subsequent stares again as a group. I was extremely nervous and only buying time through my hesitation. When I had surveyed the entirety of the table for a second time, my gaze returned to Loté; she looked up at me with those big beautiful eyes. There was a perplexed, troubled look on her face, causing me to feel even guiltier than I had just a moment earlier.

Looking up, I cleared my throat again before acknowledging Keazar’s question in the affirmative.

What I have to say will assuredly delight some of you, I began hesitantly. Nevertheless, I’m afraid it will not delight all.

Momentarily, I paused to collect and organize my thoughts more clearly before continuing, I have been doing some serious thinking about what Keazar told us last night, concerning me in particular. If you will recall, I glanced over at Keazar while continuing, he made a strong point about the relative instability of the current hierarchy, both on and within this planet since the nuclear reactor tragedy. What I am about to tell you, I tell you only because of the deep love that I have for Heälf. I feel a kinship that encompasses each and every one of its inhabitants, both above and below the surface. This is the only reason that I can give you for doing what I have decided that I must do.

Looking nervously about the room, I let my eyes touch briefly on the expectant, upturned faces that were waiting quietly and patiently for me to continue. Again, I did this until I had surveyed the whole room and everyone in it; making eye contact with each individual until my eyes met and locked once again with Loté’s deep, limpid pools. Trying to force my thoughts into her thoughts, I silently begged her to understand the meaning of what I was about to say.

This doesn’t mean that I love any of you any less, I said softly into her eyes.

Quickly, I had to look away, the guilt suddenly surging up nakedly before my eyes. In that instant before I broke eye contact with her, I knew she had at least sensed the depth of my pain. Yet, more importantly, I sensed that she was feeling her own imminent pain. After almost choking on the next words, they suddenly came blurting out. Echoing off the solid stone of the walls, they landed on stunned ears.

Finishing, I solemnly added, And thus, I have decided that I must stay here in the catacombs below the planet’s surface, where I can do the most good for the planet and its people while it strives desperately to find itself.

There was a simultaneous inhalation of breath as everyone gasped at my remark. Loté jumped from her chair and ran through the exit without as much as a backwards glance. Inside, I cringed at the painful blow that I had just dealt her. She felt betrayed, and rightly so. Yet, I could do nothing to assuage her hurt. With remorseful hindsight, I wondered at my cruel indifference toward her feelings, and why I had not confided to her in private beforehand. Surely though, she would still have felt the same way. But it would have been much kinder on my part, if I had not dropped the news on her so unexpectedly in the presence of everyone else. At the least, I should have saved her the embarrassment of finding out at the same time as the others. I owed her that much and more.

Brae and Wary were looking from one to the other as if they couldn’t believe their own ears. Keazar looked briefly at Linit, as she quickly rose from her chair beside him. Without a word, she hurriedly chased after Loté. The look on Keazar’s face told me that he was being torn between his feelings for Loté’s well-being, and jubilation for my decision. Jontue, not knowing Loté and the rest of us as intimately as Keazar, made no bones about his elation over my decision.

That is wonderful! he cried out, raising his iron cup above his head. Let’s all drink a toast! To new-found wisdom and the men to implement it!

Jontue quickly lowered his cup as he looked from one confused face to the next. A look of puzzlement crept over his face as he suddenly realized that no one else was sharing his enthusiasm. After an awkward moment of silence, in which no one seemed eager to explain the situation to him, he turned to face Keazar.

In a conciliatory tone of voice, he said, I must have missed something, my good man. Why is it that no one seems to appreciate the good fortune of Rod’s decision but me?

I fully appreciate our good fortune, Jontue, answered Keazar softly, speaking for Jontue’s benefit, yet never taking his eyes from mine. But tragically, our hearts are heavy for Loté and the decision that she now faces. Her decision, no matter which way she decides, will rend her between staying with Rod, her love, and renewing her quest to find her parents.

Standing in silence, I had been oblivious to everything that was happening around me. Everything, that is, except the sight of Loté’s back as she ran through the opening leading away from me. Only as the sound of her bare feet on the stone floor began to fade in the distance, did I hear the ending of Keazar’s explanation to Jontue.

I will need your help in this matter, I said solemnly, not looking at anyone in particular. Please. The decision for me to stay and personally oversee the rebuilding of the planet’s hierarchy was not one that I came to lightly. A lot of serious thought and soul searching went into it. Almost hypnotically, I turned to face Jontue before continuing. If it isn’t asking too much of my good friend Jontue, I was hoping that maybe you would be willing to explain to Loté the advantages of my remaining here during this critical time.

Pausing for just a moment as I turned my gaze to face Keazar, I continued in the same solemn tone, I would also hope that my dear friend Keazar might find it in himself not only to console her, but also to explain how my remaining here actually increases the chances of her finding her parents. With each recycling center that we can get back online, we dramatically increase the odds that her parents will turn up at one. Also, with more gateways open to the surface, we can increase the number of search parties scouring the Eastern fringe of the jungle. After a momentary pause for effect, I softly, beseechingly, continued. I doubt that she will be willing to listen to me, and that is why it’s so important that you, her close and dear friends, reach out to her. She will listen to you, and trust in your judgment.

With tears rolling out of the corners of my eyes, I turned my attention to everyone still seated around the table, making my final plea for their help. Please, I beg of you, I cannot do this alone.

We see your point of view, Rod, spoke up Wary. Since we are speaking openly and honestly, he hesitated as he looked at Brae and she nodded affirmatively back to him. We have something we would like to say to you. Brae and I have followed you through Hell. You have never betrayed our trust or faith in you. If it would help, we would like to stay and assist you in any way that we can. We give you this pledge of our commitment and loyalty until such time as we are no longer needed here.

Their declaration of loyalty and sincerity moved me deeply. My eyes watered of their own accord. I can’t ask that of you…

Brae cut me off in mid-sentence, You don’t have to ask, we insist.

Then I can only say that you have my heart-felt thanks. Thank you, especially you, Brae. I know this is not easy for you.

Lute and Elsa started to say how they were looking forward to working together with everyone when their voices suddenly trailed off and then fell silent. In unison, their heads turned toward the entrance to see what the others were looking at.

Loté was stepping through with Linit close behind her. Neither said a word as Loté walked back to stand beside me and Linit returned to her seat beside Keazar. The silence in the room quickly grew stifling.

With apprehension, I looked into her face, instantly recognizing the puffy telltale signs of tears. It tore me up inside to have been the cause of her pain. Looking back at me, she forced a weak smile before turning back to face the anxious expressions on the faces of our friends.

Speaking hesitantly, she said, Before Keazar starts rattling off percentages and chances, I would just like to tell you that I have decided to stay with my man.

Before she could say another word, everyone at the table stood and cheered her decision. Among the many voices, I could hear Jontue promising her as many rescue missions as they could find volunteers to man. He even went so far as to promise her that he would personally escort a mission to the surface if he could be spared from his other duties. Elsa was quick to add that there would never be a shortage of volunteers where Loté’s needs were concerned.

In the excitement that followed, no one was even aware that at some point the servant girls had brought in large stone cauldrons of potable liquids, at Keazar’s encouragement, I had no doubt. Before long, everyone was in high spirits. A general feeling of elation hung in the air.

That is, all except for Loté and myself. Without being obvious about it, we were nonchalantly passing on the refills while the others began picking up where they had left off the night before. As we nursed our original cups of the potent liquid, it was with some dread that I looked forward to our first opportunity to speak to each other alone. I knew that no matter how understanding Loté could be, I was still going to be in need of all my wits once the conversation between us got going in earnest. Explaining why I hadn’t given her the consideration of taking her into my confidence earlier was not going to be an easy task. Now that the damage had been done, I wasn’t even sure why I hadn’t told her of my decision in private before announcing it publicly. The only plausible excuse that I could come up with, and it wasn’t one that I relished sharing with her, was that I felt so insecure of our relationship that I had needed the comradery of the others to bolster me. At best, it was a pathetically weak argument. She should have had some forewarning of what her man was up to, or so I will be told at some point in the very near future.

**2**

After several hours, which seemed to drag on for eternity, the group at the table finally drank enough alcohol so that Loté and I were able to slip out of the room without being noticed. The small amount of the fervent liquid that I’d consumed was just the right amount to take the edge off my hangover. I was grateful for that little fact, even if it made me acutely aware of a swelling hunger.

In the hallway, we came upon a young woman heading back toward the room from which we had just come. Stopping her, I asked if she would be kind enough to bring some food to our sleeping quarters. Suddenly remembering the terrible stench that I’d left there, I quickly changed my request, and asked instead if she could bring it out to the pool. She seemed more than willing to oblige us as she turned and headed down another hallway that would take her directly to the food prepping room. With a tinge of humor, I noticed that it also bypassed the room containing our drunken friends.

Upon entering the gaily-decorated cavern, where we had celebrated the night before, we were immediately aware of an eerie silence. It hung in the air of the cavern, causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end. I had mistakenly assumed that servants would be working to clean up our mess. We had disallowed slavery and indenturing, but many of Keazar’s entrusted slaves had remained out of a debt of gratitude and the promise of a small wage. Now the cavern was empty except for the woven banners and finely crafted pieces of art that adorned it.

Where is everyone? I asked of Loté.

Whom do you mean? she innocently asked, also looking nervously around the cavern.

The people, I beseechingly uttered. When she only turned a questioning glance toward me, I emphasized my perplexity. You know who I mean, the people that clean and arrange everything to look fresh again. The maids, the servants, everyone, the people! I demanded, unable to hide my bewilderment.

I hadn’t noticed. But you’re right, though, now that you mention it. It is unlike Keazar to leave this place in such a mess. There should be people here.

We’ll ask the young woman when she brings us our food, I said, trying to push the disquieting feeling out of my mind. Right now we have other things to discuss.

Yes, we do, she said sternly as we drew near the seat by the edge of the pool.

She stopped suddenly and turned to face me. I couldn’t stand to see the hurt in her eyes. Although she was also angry with me, she would get over it. It was the hurt that I caused her that I was more concerned with at the moment; I was worried that she might not understand my reasons for treating her as shabbily as I had.

I’m sorry, I lamely blurted, searching unsuccessfully for the right words.

You’re sorry? she heatedly fired back, leaping angrily on my words.

With the vast expanse of the cavern at my back, I stood solemnly facing her, readying myself to accept her wrath, when suddenly something distracted her attention away from me. Her eyes flitted past my shoulder for just the fleetest of moments before coming back to focus on mine. My instinctive reaction would have been to turn and see what had grabbed her attention, but my mind was momentarily preoccupied with trying to find the right words to say to her.

Instead, I wrongly assumed it to be the young woman who had just left us, possibly having forgotten something and was returning for it.

Before I knew what was happening, she had thrown her arms around my neck and locked her fingers together at the back of my head. In one smooth movement, she rolled backwards, pulling me with her. Before I could cry out in protest, my feet had left the warmth of the stone floor behind, and I was sailing through the air, passing gracefully over her prostrate form. Like a gymnast, I performed a complete somersault through the air, before landing flat on my back in the pool. My fall was broken only by the shallow water, as it splashed over the bench and onto the cavern floor. As quickly as I landed, I spun around in the water and planted my feet beneath me. Pushing off against the slippery bottom of the pool, I lithely sprang upright.

Coughing and spitting water, I felt anger and humiliation boiling up inside me. Although I realized that I had treated her shabbily by not warning her in advance of the decision that I had come to, she didn’t have the right to back-flip me into the pool. I didn’t blame her for being angry with me, but we needed to sit down and discuss our feelings like adults.

Angrily, I started yelling at her for what she had done. But she was already too preoccupied to pay me any mind. After letting me fly, she had bounced back to her own feet, while simultaneously drawing her weapon. Before I could clear the water from my eyes, she had taken up a defensive stance with her knife and was slashing and jabbing from one side to the other, effectively keeping two soldiers armed with long-knives at bay. As I drew my own weapon and prepared to join in the fight, my attention was drawn toward the bright sheen of polished iron, and the fact that both soldiers were wearing breast-plated armor. Yet, even more alarming than the fact that they were wearing armor was the all too familiar insignia of Lord Balzar’s army emblazoned across the front of it. The all too familiar, thick steel long-knives they were wielding, were issued only to Lords Thar and Balzar’s soldiers.

Yet, in the heat of the moment, none of that mattered, as the added length of their weapons was proving to be quite a test to Loté’s prowess with a knife. Only after taking care of them, would we worry about where they’d come from.

In spite of feeling a moment of confusion regarding the soldiers, I didn’t need to be told why Loté had done what she had. Looking past my shoulder, she had seen either a spear or a knife being thrown at my exposed back. In a split second decision, she had decided that to throw me out of harm’s way would be both quicker and easier than taking the time to explain her actions.

The sound of running feet approaching from my left quickly drew my attention in that direction. Turning on my heel, I was just in time to confront two more soldiers that were charging our flank at a dead run. Ducking a thrust from the first soldier’s long-knife, I lowered my shoulder and took the impact of his momentum against my coiled body. Heaving upward, I added to his forward momentum with an upward thrust of my knife, driving it deep into his groin. He let out a whoosh of hot air as he somersaulted lifelessly into the pool behind me, his life coming to an end with a big splash.

There was neither the time nor the need to look at the results of my efforts, as my attention was quickly drawn back in Loté’s direction.

Hearing a deep guttural grunt, I involuntarily glanced away from my second assailant, a sudden fear for her safety immediately surging up inside me. Turning just in time to see her plant her foot against the breastplate of one of her assailants, I watched with pride as she pulled a bloodied knife from his chest.

Unfortunately, the reflexive glance that I had given Loté was a distraction that I couldn’t afford. Before I knew what had happened, I felt a warm flush running down my left side, and the searing pain of hot steel slicing through my flesh.

Always, I had prided myself on my abilities to do battle with a knife. Like most warriors, it had been my weapon of choice since I was a young child. Also, I had spent many hours training in the finer art of hand-to-hand combat while serving in the Heälf Air Services. It was the result of this intense training and conditioning that my body reacted without waiting for my brain to think. From an ingrained reflex, I spun with the blow, preventing the hot steel blade from being driven deeper into my flesh. It was a twofold move that couldn’t be taught; it came naturally, or you died. While twisting with his thrust, subconsciously following his weapon’s momentum, the assailant was involuntarily being drawn in closer; too close for his long-knife to be effective.

When I couldn’t turn any farther without risk of losing my footing, I slashed out with my knife in a backhanded sweep, bringing the sharply honed steel of my weapon across the front of his throat. The spray of his sweet-tasting blood blinded me as it spurted from the severed veins lying just below the surface of his flayed flesh. The now dead soldier’s momentum came to a halt almost as fast as his heart.

Slipping dangerously on the slick surface of the blood-covered stones beneath my feet, I barely caught myself on the edge of the pool before falling to the floor; an irrational fear that I might fall and never get up suddenly prevailed on my mind.

Glancing down, I realized the source of my agony, as my eyes grasped the seriousness of the situation. There was a long-knife protruding from my flesh just beneath my left arm.

Dropping my knife, I grabbed the long-knife protruding from me by the blade. Using both hands, I tried vainly to pull it free. Slowly, steadily, I could feel the sharpened edge slicing into the tender flesh of my fingers and palms; the blood-covered blade was too slick to grasp securely. Already, there was a dark red pool forming under my feet, as my life’s force seeped heavily from around the blade where it had entered my body.

Immuring myself to the pain, I tightened my grip on the blade, squeezing it dangerously tight, and then push-pulled it away from my body. Ever so slowly, I could feel it giving ground and, sliding from within my flesh. With my eyes clamped shut against the pain, concentrating solely on