Survivor's Guilt

Chapter 22

Survivor's Guilt

“How long was I out for, it’s hard to tell this whole dome situation is throwing me off.”

“You got a good couple hour of sleep, it’s a little after midnight, fifteen minutes or so last time that I checked.”

“And what about you? Have you slept any?”

Keyon looked out over the bay; the lights of the various boats shined like constellations against the pitch-black waves. He repositioned himself, leaning back against the railing, watching as Shima made her approach.

“I closed my eyes for a bit, nothing major. You ready, it’s going to be a long twenty-four hours.”

“I should be asking you that, Kezonto you have been awake the past two days.”

He said nothing, observing the outfit she had put together. A short cut blue denim jacket with a black tank top. The jacket’s shelves were torn off leaving a frayed trim along the armholes. Shima had a matching denim skirt that reached a little above the mid-calf. Her legs, covered by dark nylon stockings, were covered from the knees down in elegant white boots.

“Don’t you think you’re a little over dressed for the occasion.”

The slab of cold stone couldn’t help but crack a grin. She was beautiful, even he could see that.

‘Don’t change the subject.”

She had her hair down, a look he wasn’t accustomed to, but he liked it.

“I’ll sleep once the preparations have been made.”

They made eye contact; he watched as her pupils dilated, and he noticed the tints of red in her cheeks. His eyes remained the same, not giving anything away.

“So where are we going first?”

She strolled closer, leaning her forearms on the railing of the roof. Enjoying the View Keyon had his back to.

“I think its best that we get our hands on the things Seth and Roland need. I’ll take care of that; I need you to focus on getting the details on the Founder and learning the parade route.”

He maintained his position as they went over their course of action. Seth and Roland only needed weaponry and tech; they all did. Having to ditch everything in Lorenzo’s pick-up truck before they approached Busaya.

“Finding a pair of swords in this place could be troublesome. Why don’t you let me handle that.”

She stood up straight

“Till then I plan on scouting out the Aerostation, I imagine it’s too risky for the founder to travel by land. I’ll pour over the records and see if I can find his flight. Of course, it’s not going to be out there in the open. I’ll have to do some digging and learn the lingo.”

Keyon chuckled, standing up straight stuffing his hands into the pockets of his beige linen shorts. He looked like a tourist, wearing nothing more than a white tee shirt and shorts made of light weight fabrics. On his feet he wore comfortable sneakers, not too new, not too worn down, just right.

“You want to get my swords? Do you even know what I look for in a blade?”

“Your acting like you have a choice, you’re more than likely going to have to work with whatever you can get your hands on.”

“Alright then I’ll leave my swords to you, just make sure you take care of business first.”

He pulled on the brim of his hat, adjusting how it sat on his head. Walking toward the roof access, with Shima following close behind him. Keyon opened the door, holding it for Shima as she walked past the clicking of her boots, echoed throughout the stairwell as she descended the staircase. Simple conversations between the two passed the time as they reached the bottom of the staircase. Exiting the building through a side door that led the two of them to an alley that ran alongside the apartment complex.

“New Aurora, is bound to have barracks within the dome, I’ll be scouting them out and see if I can find a weakness in their security.”

The door behind Shima slowly closed, Locking itself in the process. He walked toward the mouth of the alley, Looking left and then right. The streets had little foot traffic, and the number of cars passing were far to none. They didn’t stand there long as they scrolled along the night streets of Busaya. Keyon had his hands stuffed in his pocket, eye forward. He enjoyed the light breeze as it graced his forearms and other patches of exposed skin. Shima, was a different story. He could tell she was a little cold by the way she walked with her hands rubbing her arms to generate heat.

“The sacrifices we make for fashion, right.”

“Shut up.”

Shima snapped back in a playful tone. He laughed, not breaking stride, his smile still on his face. She looked at him a little thrown off. She smiled to herself, fascinated by this change in him.

“What’s up with you, you sure are in a good mood?”

She waited for his answer, quick to take notice of the soothing vibrations of his essence. Something she hadn’t experienced from him in a long time. Such a natural and pure vibration, it overwhelmed her senses at times. Easing her own tension, a tension she didn’t even know she had.

“I don’t know it’s a beautiful night, despite what Lorenzo and the other’s think I’m not all business. I know how to crack a joke or too.”

He looked at Shima as she walked alongside him. His smile still present, he noticed it too, his essence was in tune with everything around him. He was at peace, living in the now. He figured he had time to breathe, so he did. Enjoying one fleeting moment of peace before then inescapable chaos that awaited him tomorrow night.

The two walked up to the local kiosk, each placing their passports against the kiosk’s interface. Keyon set his destination to the Busaya museum and auction house. Shima’s passport was set to direct her to the Aerostation and the next step in their preparations.

“Looks like we’re going separate ways from here, you be careful Shima don’t do anything too reckless to bring attention to yourself and the operation.”

“You too Keyon, if anything goes wrong on your end just send me the signal.”

“You got it, Shima.”

She stood there alone, watching him walk off, seeing if he would look back. But he didn’t, so she turned and walked away. Keyon looked over his shoulder in the direction of the kiosk. Catching a quick glimpse of Shima as she walked away.

“She probably going to get me some shitty ass swords.”

Keyon laughed to himself still feeling the high from his balanced essence.

***

The streets of Northern Busaya Illuminated in the rising sun. The artificial sphere of light rose from behind the waves of the bay. Slowly crawling its way higher into the sky as the minutes went by. A masked New Aurora soldier walked down the street. The barrel of his rifle pointed toward the ground; a duffle bag slung over his shoulder. He ducked into the shade of an alley, throwing his duffle bag over a fence. He effortlessly vaulted over the fence, retrieving his duffle bag in the process. The soldier looked around, making sure the coast was clear before he removed his mask.

It was Keyon underneath the mask; he quickly removed the New Aurora uniform ditching it in the nearby trash can. Keyon replaced the uniform with his old outfit he had stashed in the duffle Bag. Along with his personal clothes, the duffle bag was filled with an assortment of firearms and tech devices for Roland and Seth. He spent the night scouting and infiltrating the various barracks around the city. Coming up with a descent haul in the process. He adjusted his top knot through the opening in his hat. Adjusting how his hat sat on his head.

Keyon tossed his rifle into the duffle bag, zipping it closed once he had it positioned properly. He had to move fast and find a stash spot for the goods. With the sun out it was only a matter of time before the citizens would begin to fill the once empty streets of the city. He exited the alley and turned right, walking at a casual pace as he climbed the hill. His next destination, the train platform, where he could gain higher elevation to gain access to the nearby rooftops.

He kept his composure walking up the stairs to the railway. Keeping his head low, eyes out of sight of the stations prying cameras. He was keen on their location, observing their radius and pinpointing the camera’s blind spots. They eliminated a lot of opportunities for Keyon, but he stayed determined, he had no choice in the matter. His dedication paid off when, at the end of the platform, he found a blind spot that was within jumping range of a nearby rooftop. He was patient as he waited for his moment, and once the coast was clear he made his move. Applying a quick burst of essence, he propelled himself off the railing of the train platform.

Easily clearing the gap between the platform and the rooftop. He dashed across the rooftops, making his way back in the direction of Applegrove and the safehouse. He was caution of passing trains, taking cover behind various objects as one happened to pass by. He continued his path for some time before deciding on a place to stash the duffle bag. He secured the bag on the under carriage of the railway. Being sure to tie the bags strap around the railway’s metal frame so it didn’t move throughout the course of the day. With the goods stashed Keyon was free to walk around the streets. He made his way back down to ground level, walking past the many shops that were starting to open. Keyon noticed an increased number of New Aurora cruisers passing by. He smiled, realizing that they finally figured out they got hit. But he wasn’t worried, having suited up as a Solider, Keyon had them chasing one of their own. He even went as far as to us the soldier’s clearances, tuning his contacts to mimic the soldier’s eyes. But the soldier they were looking for wouldn’t be found for some time. Keyon made sure of that, locking the man away in the truck of a random car in the city’s scrap yard. He stopped on a street corner, observing everything going on around him when his eyes fell to a diner across the street.

“It can’t be there is no way.”

He looked both ways down the street and only crossed when it was safe. Navigating through the growing masses of bodies taking up the sidewalk, Keyon wondered into the diner. It was still empty, but the smells coming from the kitchen filled the establishment reminding Keyon of the place he once called home.

“Welcome, take a seat anywhere you have the place to yourself.”

The jolly man behind the counter hollered at Keyon, as he prepared to make coffee. Keyon closed the door behind him and observed as a young man managed the grill, and a young girl serviced the various tables and booths. Not wanting to get in the way of the young girl Keyon took a seat at the counter. He slid into the stool with ease, leaning his elbows on the counter.

“What can I get you young man?”

“Poppa! You didn’t even give him a menu.”

The young girl dropped what she was doing and grabbed a menu for Keyon. Placing it beside him, giving him a polite smile and apologizing for her father. She didn’t linger long and returned to her cleaning.

“Sorry about that kid, I can forget my manners sometimes.”

“Don’t sweat it pops, best hospitality I’ve seen in a long time.”

“You don’t say, well where you come from if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Outside the dome, Stonewall to be exact. I didn’t know they had a RJ’s outside of New Aurora.”

Keyon was curious and a little surprised. RJs was a famous diner in New Aurora, a family favorite.

“Yeah, ever since Rj passed and his son took over, he has been expanding.

This is the flagship shop outside of New Aurora and I run it with my family. That’s my daughter and the guy on the grill burning the potatoes is my son.”

The son’s ear perked up when he heard burnt potatoes. Quickly focusing on the other end of the grill at the potatoes that were indeed starting to burn.

“You need a little more time to think mister?”

The daughter approached Keyon once again hoping to take his order.

“Actually no, can I get the Ankarak veggie stir fry with white rice.”

“Anything to drink?”

“Water please.”

She scribbled away on her note pad stuffing it into her apron and taking the menu out from in front of Keyon. She made her way toward the back of the kitchen, handing her brother Keyon’s order. The whole time berating him for the burnt potatoes and warning him not to burn the customer’s order. The manager chuckled as he tended to the coffee that was brewing on the other end of the counter. Once he finished his task he returned to Keyon, wanting to chat up the young man.

“So, I take it you been to the one in New Aurora.”

Keyon looked up to face the manager as he spoke.

“Yeah, use to go there all the time with my family when I was younger. It was our favorite thing to do together. Birthday parties, family gatherings or just because.”

His cheeks creased, looking back on the parts of his past that didn’t haunt him, the parts he had buried for so long.

“Me and my older sister use to make up any type of excuse just to go there. We were such fat kids.”

“I always found it amazing how places like theses can create such bounds between people. Maybe that is why I’m so drawn to them.”

The manager admitted, pouring a cup of coffee for himself. His daughter returned from the kitchen with an ice-cold glass of water for Keyon.

“What’s your name kid?”

“Alejandro Starr, and you?”

“Dominic, but you can call me Dom for sort. That’s Junior and that lovely young lady is Rebecca. Junior nodded his head, keeping his attention on the grill as he crafted Keyon’s order. Rebecca waved and smiled when Keyon looked in her direction.

“Got the whole family in business.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Dom smiled, and the two continued to converse passing the time while Keyon waited for his meal. When it was time to eat Dom left Keyon to enjoy his meal in peace. He had to, not only out of respect but because the once empty Diner was beginning to receive some foot traffic.

He basked in nostalgia with every bite that he took. To Keyon the Diner was empty, not a soul just him and his memories.

“You don’t have to do this you know? It not in your nature.”

Keyon stopped mid-bite, turning his head to his left. There sitting, a stool away from him, his sister Avilla stared at him smiling.

She leaned her head on her hand, elbow on the bar top. Her Burgundy eyes, eyes that match his own pierced right through him. Keyon slowly put his spoon down and remained composed. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling. He opened his eyes again and looked to his left. She was still there, still smiling.

“All that sorrow and destruction is only going to make the hole deeper, Kezonto.”

Avilla started to disappear, but her words remained. He picked up his spoon and continued to eat.

He didn’t want to make a scene, so he remained relaxed. Keyon finished up his plate and paid his bill. Leaving a more than generous tip for the family. He didn’t bother to say goodbye to them and walked out of the Diner. He stood at the corner waiting for the signal to turn, lost. He had come too far to turn back now, all his training, dedication and his relentless work ethic was all for this. He crossed the street with a group of citizens, making his way back toward the Busaya Museum. He wanted to see if they had any swords on display, and if they did, how he was going to get his hands on them.

***

“Here is your tea Mrs. Starr, will you be needing anything else?”

“No thank you, this will do”

The waiter politely leaned forward, leaving to tend to other tables while Shima enjoyed her tea. She sat at an outdoor table, legs crossed, observing the hustle and bustle of early morning Busaya. More importantly, she was watching, paying close attention to the platoon of New Aurora soldiers. They were lightly armed, but they were moving in great numbers. She continued drinking her tea, all the while she focused her essence on her eardrums. Increasing the range of her hearing, Shima eavesdrop on the soldiers’ conversation.

“Did you hear? Word is the Northern Barracks, and the Western Barracks got hit last night.”

“No way how is that possible?”

She could hear the conversation, but she couldn’t pinpoint who was talking. Shima continued to listen in on the conversation, watching the platoon. Waiting to hear any piece of information that could be useful.

“They are saying it was an inside job one of our guys.”

“You think it was another defector? Things have really been heating up with the rebels. You hear about lieutenant Augustus’ ship going A.W.O.L.”

“What, you got to be shitting me my brother-in-law was a part of that fleet.”

The platoon was progressing down the street, moving outside of Shima Hearing. She took one last sip of her tea and rose from the table. Following close behind the platoon, keeping it within the range of enhanced hearing. Slowly the small chat of the soldiers was replaced by the type of information that Shima was looking for.

But she couldn’t follow them any further as they moved toward a closed off city block. She didn’t want to miss out on any important info, so she had to move fast and started to follow the platoon from above. Using the rooftops, Shima traversed the city block alongside the platoon. Catching everything they were saying, patrol routes, call signs, even radio frequencies. She stopped near the ledge of the rooftop, a little way back from the railing so as not to be spotted. Her concentration was disrupted when something unexpected triggered her Radar.

“What are you two doing here.”