The scars that bind

Chapter 34

The scars that bind

A gentle night breeze brushed through the trees, slowly cascading downward from the treetops. Sweeping across the cold, hard jungle floor. Ushering fallen petals and their sweet aroma across its predetermined path. The moons hanging high in the sky shined brightly, reflecting off the surface of the stream in a display of brilliance. Keyon stared at his reflection in the stream, as its water lazily flowed past. He didn’t know who, or what he was looking at anymore. He said nothing, kneeling by the water’s edge, he submerged his hands in the ice-cold water. He rubbed away at his hands; he watched the once clear water become saturated with the blood he scrubbed from his hand. He fixated on the stream’s currant; he watched the blood from his hand wash away, but his hands weren’t any cleaner. So lost in thought he barely felt the breeze touching his battered body.

“So, what is it you wanted to tell me, Sebastian?’

Sebastian was gazing into the bits of sky that he could make out through the trees. Staring at the moons above, he lowered his head, watching Keyon stand up and shake the excess water from his hands. He turned to look at Locke, resting by the campfire, admiring the warming blaze and how it danced in the night. Locke was in his own world, this had nothing to do with him. So, he gave the men the space they needed, using the time to rest his own battered body.

“It has to do with your father and everything that transpired fifteen years ago. Let me start by asking, what do you remember about the whole situation?”

Their eyes met, both displaying an emotionless expression. Keyon turned away, fixating on the stream, he ran through his recollection of the events from fifteen years ago. It wasn’t hard, the memories were etched deep into his psyche.

“A uprising lead by my father laid siege on New Aurora. With a group of soldiers loyal to him, he detonated dozens of bombs throughout the city, taking hundreds of lives in the process. He was eventually captured alive and his rebellion quelled. Later, he, along with his co-conspirators, were executed. That rebellion took my family from me, I was taken from the place I called home, forced to live with someone I didn’t even know. Just to learn that I’m being hunted down by New Aurora, that’s what I know Sebastian.”

Sebastian was quiet, he knew the feeling all too well, but he let Keyon vent. He knew he needed it; he turned his attention back to the moons while Keyon let it all out.

“For days I ate trash, fucking trash Sebastian, have you ever eaten trash.”

“What do you see when you look up at the moons?”

He casually pondered out loud to Keyon. He stopped his rambling and looked up at the moons with Sebastian, thrown off by the interruption.

“I just see the moons, Sebastian, what does that have to do with anything?”

“Everything.”

Sebastian raised his hand, pointing to the smaller of the two moons.

“That right there Kezonto, that is our families’ legacy. Orbital space habitat Eden, engineered and constructed by the great Sebastian Solomon and Kezonto Highreaver. Home to the advanced civilization known as the Superiors, or that’s what they have come to call themselves.”

“What the hell are you talking about? You’re telling me there is a bunch of people living on that rock.”

“Not just living but thriving and they tend to keep it that way by any means. You see ninety-nine years ago, the superpowers of the old world knew of the asteroid’s impact and the planet’s impending doom. They came together and had our ancestors construct Eden to save all the people they deemed important. The asteroid’s impending approach, Eden, it was all hidden away from the public. Hidden under the false pretense of world peace and renewed prosperity. Our predecessors couldn’t live with that on their souls, so they stayed behind, gathering what people they could and waited out the storm in bomb shelters.”

Locke tried not to, but he couldn’t help himself. Listening to the conversation he was learning things about the world he could have never imagined could be true. He was curious, he wanted to know more, so he stood up from the campfire and ventured over toward Keyon and Sebastian.

“For decades they gathered tech, people with trade skills and important knowledge, rebuilding society into what it is now. But while life on Aurora started to recover the life on Eden suffered. The gene pool diminished, resources dried up, forcing the superiors to venture back down to the world they once left behind. At first, they harvested resources unaware that humanity had survived the impact all those years ago. But once they did learn of its survival, their simple quest for resources turned into a campaign for control. A campaign, your father learned about while on his pilgrimage around Aurora. But by the time he returned to New Aurora with the news it was already too late. The superiors had already infiltrated our society. Taking up powerful positions in the military and New Aurora’s governing body. They assassinated my father, replacing him with a synthetic human implanted with an artificial recreation of his memories. Using the technology I created.”

Keyon’s heart dropped, his eyes widened, he didn’t take his eyes off the moons as they hung over head. He couldn’t hide it, it was written all over his face, the devastating feeling that everything that he had been through, what Shima had been through, what he put Locke and Ki through. All of it was for nothing.

“So when your father returned home with knowledge of the superiors it fell on deaf ears. Afraid of your father’s influence and knowledge of their existence, they staged the rebellion fifteen years ago. Creating tension between New Aurora and the outside world. A tension your father had spent his whole life trying to dissolve. Now with the world divided the superiors can execute their plans to turn Aurora into a slave planet. Where we will cultivate their crops and prop up their way of life. While they farm our genetics and strip us of our free will. While we fight amongst each other and the world around us, they will slowly start processing all of us until were all slaves to Madre”

“Madre? What is that?”

Locke questioned.

“It’s a A.I. construct that I created years ago, it was ceased and reengineered by the Superiors to be used as mind control. Using Madre, they can reconstruct a person’s life by implanting artificial memories and information.”

“So you wouldn’t even know you were a slave to begin with.”

“exactly, they are pitting us all against each other, keeping our attention on the presumed enemy and off of them.”

“So, what about the rebel factions now, the ones you lead, do they know the truth.”

“Not entirely, bits and pieces, besides the three of us here, there is no one alive that knows the truth about the superiors’ existence. They know that we must free the enslaved minds of New Aurora, once that mission is complete, then and only then can we reveal the truth, and unite the world to face the superiors.”

“How do we even face something so out of reach?”

“I’m still working on that, and that is why I need your help Kezonto. You see there is a place deep inside the outer continent called Genesis. A city size underground bunker where Aurora got its new beginning, and the place where the coding and schematics for Eden are being stored. Only problem is I can’t gain access to the bunker without you. “

Sebastian turned away from the stream to face Keyon. His head hung low concealing his facial features in darkness. He could tell it was a lot for the young man to take. His whole world turned upside down in an instant, everything he fought for over the years and everything he lost within the same time span. He was feeling the gravity of it all.

“Kezonto.”

He placed his hand on Keyon’s shoulder. A gesture of comfort, the only one he could think to give the young man.

“I came back to your grandfather’s village, I seen what New Aurora left behind in their wake. For months, I searched for any leads about you and Viyah. Until I got word of two young bandits causing trouble in the Marblegate colony, and how they were almost caught. Learning that two bandits fled into the Azura mountains, I followed the lead and eventually stumbled upon the little shack you two had up there. crudely constructed, but I guess it gets the job done.”

“We were barely teenagers.”

Keyon argued in his defense, watching Sebastian kneel and pick up a handful of pebbles.

“I’m not judging, Anyway, for days I searched the mountains for you two, eventually I found the village of Rosa. Or more appropriate to say, they found me. After being captured and explaining my situation, I learned that you were found by the village and were in serious condition due to a beast attack and that Viyah wasn’t with you. After some consideration, I felt Rosa was the best place for you to hide out till the time was right.”

He cupped the pebbles in his hand, picking at the pile he whipped a single stone skipping it across the water’s surface.

“Then to my surprise, I find you and Viyah here in Busaya, where has she been anyways? How did you reunite? I am guessing something must have happened back in the Azura mountains with you two. You both have the scars to prove it.”

Keyon looked down at his chest, at the claw marks, then back to Sebastian.

“This is the first time I’ve seen her in ten years; I thought she died that night in the mountain. Where she has been all this time is anybody’s guess.”

“somehow she ended up in the care of the Taima tribe and has been living life amongst them during the time of your separation.”

Locke revealed, divulging what little information he had learned from Autumn and Atif throughout the course of their travels. Sebastian continued to chuck his pebbles, listening to Locke fill in some of the blanks about Autumn’s disappearance.

“She is unaware of her real identity or her connection to Keyon, so one can only assume the events prior to her waking up are still a mystery to her.”

“What is she going by now, Autumn right?”

Keyon finally looked up, turning his attention to Locke. Sebastian did the same, as the three men shared information with one another. Slowly piecing together, the events leading up to now and the steps they would have to take moving forward.

***

The head beams of Lorenzo’s truck cut through the night, speeding down a dirt road Ki did his best to maneuver around the many dips and bumps that littered the route.

“Keep going till you hit a fork in the road, then turn left. It’s a hard left so be prepared to slow down.”

Lorenzo shouted his instructions to Ki over the roar of the engine and the screeching of the truck’s suspension. One hand held his cellphone to his ear, the other held on to frame of the truck, helping Lorenzo remain stable while the truck bounced around.

“WATCH THE BUMPS GODDAMN KI, SHE CAN” T MOVE AROUND TOO MUCH IN HER CURRENT CONDITION!”

Haiden barked from the bed of the truck, doing her best to keep Shima body stable while they navigated the secluded dirt road. Autumn assisted Haiden as best she could, holding down Shima’s legs and keeping her from moving. She turned her attention to Atif who had fallen back to sleep her back resting against the cabin of the truck. She watched as she bounced around peacefully in her sleep. She managed to crack a slight smile; despite the situation she found herself in. Her attention turned to a set of katanas that bounced around the bed of the truck. She felt her body jolt up; she applied more weight on to Shima’s legs doing her best to absorb the impact of Ki hitting another bump.

“KI !!”

“SORRY, SORRY, I COULDN” T AVOID THAT ONE IN TIME.”

Ki profusely apologized, regaining control of the truck and tightening his grip on the stirring wheel. Lorenzo rubbed the back of his head, still listening to the phone ring, waiting for an answer.

“Bruno! It’s about time you picked up the phone, look I don’t have time to explain what’s the situations in Coastal Garden?”

“Good, listen I’m coming in hot, should be there within the next three hours, go fetch Dr. Numic and bring him to the orphanage. Have Axel and the others waiting for me by the eastern entrance, I’ll explain everything once I arrive at the orphanage. No, no, don’t worry Bruno, I’m alright thanks for asking. Just sit tight, I’ll be there soon.”

Lorenzo said his goodbyes but didn’t hang up the phone. Instead, with a firm grasp around its screen he bent it back. Snapping the phone in two and tossing the destroyed device out the window. He looked over his shoulder through the window of the cabin. Checking on the ladies in the back as they did their best to keep Shima comfortable. He turned forward, reaching into his suit jacket, he took out a cigarette and lighter. With a quick flick of the flint the cigarette was lit, and Lorenzo was inhaling its smoke.

The smell of burning tobacco tickled Autumn’s nose. She looked in the direction of the strong aroma, a cloud of smoke blinding her as it passed. She grabbed a firm grip on the side of the truck as it took a sharp left. Pinning Shima to the truck bed using the weight of her body to keep her from moving. She felt something hit her leg, but she remained focused on Shima, doing her best to keep her moving. Once the truck stabilized and straightened up, she looked down at what hit her. For a moment she was lost, staring at the two katanas, admiring their craftsmanship. But there was something else about the two swords. The material was crafted from the bones of a beast. She knew that much, what kind of beast they were made from remained a mystery to her.

She needed to investigate further if she wanted to figure that out. Her curiosity got the better of her; she couldn’t control herself and reached toward the two blades. She touched them, slowly running her fingers across the scabbards. Her hand touched the hilt, and a vision of a giant beast flashed before her eyes. She jerked her hand back, alarmed by the sudden image presenting itself. She started experiencing a throbbing pain in her scars and her head started to pound. She endured the throbbing, touching the swords again. Another piecing of the vision flashed in her mind’s eye. A boy, being attacked by the giant beast. She pulled her hand back again, her headache intensified forcing her to lean back against the gate of the flatbed and collect herself.

“Autumn are you alright?”

Haiden turned away from Shima and examined Autumn. She watched Autumn rubbed at her eye and nod her head. She said nothing and watched Autumn in silence, thrown off by her sudden change in temperament. Something was bothering her, lingering injuries, the emotional toll of the whole situation, she didn’t know.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine, just a little headache.”

Haiden wasn’t buying it, she let it be, if Autumn felt she was fine who was she to argue. She turned her attention back to Shima, she was breathing shallow breaths, but she was still breathing, she was still among them. She couldn’t do anything else for now; she only hoped that this Doctor Lorenzo knew had the capabilities to stabilize Shima. She looked back at Autumn one last time, the truck bounced around slightly, and Haiden scolded Ki again as the truck ripped through the night

***

The fire roared with renewed life as Locke tossed in another log. Taking a seat next to Keyon, he watched as he took a sip out of the bottle of spirits. A gift from Sebastian for the two friends to enjoy themselves while he rested up. His face grimaced and his throat burned, but the pain persisted. Keyon passed the bottle to Locke, never once taking his attention off the campfire. His eyes were heavy, his body was depleted, yet he couldn’t sleep.

“She has to ability to use essence corruption, but she can’t control when she triggers it.”

Locke revealed to Keyon taking a sip from the bottle before passing it back to Keyon. He shifted his eyes from the fire and looked at Locke. Taking the bottle, he held it in his grasp for a moment before taking another sip.

“I find it hard to imagine someone like her having the ability to use essence corruption.”

“I agree, even though I haven’t been around her long, I can tell it’s not in her nature. Which makes me think about something that Shima told me back in Busaya.”

Keyon took another sip before passing the bottle back to Locke. He was quiet as he watched the fire allowing Locke to get his words out.

“She told me that the whole time you were in Busaya, that you were your old self. You know, before you started having those nightmares or visions as you call them. She believes there is something up with you and Autumn’s essence. Like they are connected or something, they vibrate at the same frequency as she put it. I don’t know, I can’t wrap my head around it, I don’t have her understanding of essence.”

He said nothing and stared blankly into the night sky. Trying to piece it all together. His connection to Eden, Viyah’s reemergence and the mysterious connection between the two of them. A connection that defied the very laws of nature.