| |
I try to follow the conversation around me, but all I can think about is the fact that the fabled Rebels are real.
“So how do we get to the city from here?’ Akiyra’s question shakes me from my stupor. I missed the whole entire conversation regarding the Xisonian Rebels, so lost in my dreams and my past.
“We brought you the roundabout way. Partially for our safety, but more to make sure the Polzinians weren’t following us. We can take you to the city by hovership. The windows on it are blacked out, so you will not be able to locate us. I’m sorry but it is for everyone’s safety. You cannot be forced to tell that which you do not know.” Sherdra says, waving her arm in the air. A young man appears in one of the openings, using a ladder to climb down. In minutes he arrives next to Sherdra, panting slightly.
“Yes, ma’am.” He says, saluting her.
“Cut it out. You have been watching too many vids,” she swats him gently.
“Yes, mother. What do you need.” The similarity between him and his mother is striking. Yet something about them is pulling at me like a memory forgotten.
“Jonah, please fly Akiyra and her group to the city.” She turns back to us, “Thank you for allowing us to take charge of John. Hopefully, he has some information we can use before we turn him into the Galactic Consociation. Also, if you can give us the location of the ship, I will have one of our pilots pick it up.”
“Wait! We’re just giving them the ship?” I really must have been lost to miss this.
Akiyra turns and rolls her eyes at me. “Yes. It won’t do us any good if you or the others can’t fly it. Maybe it will save someone else from the life you lived.”
I nod, “that makes sense. I guess my mind was elsewhere.” Turning to Sherdra, “Thank you for everything you do. One day I hope to join you.”
“Remember to look to head to the den to find the elixir of life. May the stars guide your path and the sun ever shine in your favor.”
“Wait!” Akiyra yells before Sherdra gets too far, “What about the raven? What does it mean?”
Sherdra turns and shakes her head. “We don’t know. Just whispers and rumors in the shadows. But everyone we fight against wears one of those.” She points to the necklace around Akiyra’s neck. “Be careful of them, they are dangerous, though we do not know what they want or what their goal is.”
We watch as Sherdra and the two women disappear into the crystal cliff.
“It’s a bit of a walk to our hover ship. It isn’t safe to have any technology here, so we store it further away. Is there anything you need before we leave? Food, drink, facilities?” Jonah asks us.
Akiyra looks at us and we shake our heads, “If you have some tubes that we can carry and drink as we walk, that would be great. Otherwise, I think we are good. We have some supplies we need to pick up in town before we head to Zanthia.”
“Oh, you're headed to Zanthia? Would you be able to drop a small shipment of crystals off for us? We would pay your fees,” asks Jonah. “Of course, I should probably check with mother. Let me run and get those drinks.”
“We would love to drop them for you, no charge as it is on our way. Grab them while you're up there.” Akiyra sits down on the ground.
Jonah runs back to the cliffs, as I turn to face my brothers, “Did you know about the Xislonian Rebels?”
They all shake their heads, but it is Sawyr who speaks. “I heard rumors like you, but nothing concrete and anyone who dared look into it tended to disappear. Much as I wanted to escape, to force change, I valued my life. Maybe it was selfish, weak to not try to find them.”
Akiyra jumps to her feet, “NO! None of you should ever think that it was weak or selfish to try to survive and make the best of a life that left you little to no pride.”
Jonah returns, panting. “Mother wanted me to ask before you leave. Did your owner remove the Electrotix from your neck?”
Fear paralyzes me, I had forgotten of the implant that all those sent to auction are forced to have. Any action taken against an owner will end with you being shocked, sometimes to the death. I hate needles and medical procedures.
Akiyra speaks up before any of us, “No. Was I supposed to make sure that was done? I don’t understand the workings of Xistrosie.”
Unless you live on Xistrosie, you wouldn’t know. It is a tightly held secret.” Jonah turns and waves at the crystal cliff with two fingers raised. “Come. Mother will have the doctors remove the devices. That way you are truly free, further, they won’t be able to track you.”
“Wait, track us?” I look to the others, seeing the fear in their eyes. “Does that mean we just lead them here?”
Chuckling he shakes his head, “No, we are not Dungnats. Mother has been at this a long time and had our technicians come up with these.” He pulls a small, thin box out of his pocket. It has a constantly changing frequency nullifier in it. As long as we are within fifty feet of someone with an Electrotix or another tracker, it will negate it.”
“Is it common for freed servants to not have the Electrolux removed?” Sawyr asks. I am still stuck thinking about the fact that I have a small electrical device embedded in my neck, and worse now I have to have it removed.
“It depends. If they have served their time and are released by the legal system, then it is removed by the government. This rarely happens. As you know it is almost impossible to serve your time. Rarely someone will be freed by their owner and have it removed. Usually, it is our doctors who remove it.” He turns to look at us, his expression serious. “The most common thing to happen is that when you leave your employer an accident occurs that triggers the Electrotix, resulting in death. This is what happened to my father. And why my mother makes sure that every former servant has the Electrotix removed.”
A shiver runs through me, how close we have lived our lives to death.
Jonah taps on the crystal cliff in a distinct pattern, too quickly to follow. A small opening forms in the rock, as if the wall disappeared to reveal a gap between two sides of the cliff. Walking single file, our shoulders brushing either wall, we make our way down a narrow tunnel until we reach a large room. Light pours into it from some of the openings we could see from outside. On this side, though the shimmer of a force field can be seen. Jonah leads us down another hallway into what I assume is their medical facility.
“Have a seat and I will tell the doctors you are here.” He smiles, waving us towards a bench that is molded from the crystal cave.
Akiyra paces, instead of sitting, nervous energy apparent in every step. “Are you guys okay with this? We didn’t even talk about if you want the Electrotix removed.”
Fynn stands and pulls Akiyra into his lap, “Let’s see. Remove the device or have Umbri able to trace us or worse kill us. Akiyra, we have no choice.”
I have to agree with him. The idea of whatever the procedure entails is nauseating but risking the lives of others is unconscionable.
“Gentleman, we are ready. Who would like to be first?” A small man in a maroon coat says.
No one moves until Sawyr stands. “I guess since I’m the oldest it is up to me to set an example.”
“Have at it, old man,” Tobis says grinning. Sawyr follows the small man, a one-fingered salute behind his back.