Chapter 5:
Clockwork Chronicles of Zahn: The Orphans
Empress Victoria II proceeded down the lower tunnel system with her entourage with one sentinel keeping pace with her and the other, with its hand clasped firmly on his bicep, bringing Major Gladly along.
Major Gladly was not a small man. He stood six foot two and was very muscular. Strong enough to carry the Empress, who was not a small woman, close to a half a mile to the safe room. Yet, the sentinel led him along like he was a small child in the grip of a much stronger adult.
The Empress had the tunnel network memorized so she decided to return to the surface via a valve room which was just outside the Imperial Avenue district. From there she would make her way back to the palace or at least another safe room.
While she quickly walked, she asked Gladly, “What was your price Major? We trusted you with our life. You have no idea how deep this betrayal cuts.”
Major Gladly said nothing. He just was dragged along refusing to make eye contact with her.
She just shrugged and continued down the dimly lit corridor looking for the appropriate ladder up.
Ouihan was ushered into a larger chamber next to the room he had been brought to by Brother. The light was dim and Ouihan could only make out silhouettes of the other 'children'. The fact they were all children or teenagers he had no doubt by their sizes and manners.
Many were lounging about on pallets and couches made from piles of cloth and other sundry items. Sister stepped out of the shadows and said, “Brother thinks we should shelter this boy who is not, but once was, one of us. I already told yuz what happened. Brother said his piece too.” She turned to Ouihan and said, “Do you have anything to say for yourself before we lot you?”
Ouihan stepped forward. “My name Ouihan. Sister is right I was street but no more. Hassers swept me to state four years ago. But in my heart street is all I ever knew. I don't know why but Shadowmentried to scorch me. All I ask is a place to cool my heels until I can figure out why. If you say no, I will understand. But before you do know I can gadget work to earn my grub if need be. I don't expect a free ride.”
One of the larger shadows, a young man by the sound of his voice, spoke up asking, “Were you the boy who used to stay with Tinker man of Nor Park Ring?”
“Yes.”
“I remember you.” he stepped out of the shadows and turned to the others, “I hear he sold out the old man so he could go to school...”
“I did no such thing, he died and the hassers arrested me two days later! Judge man sold Tinker man's cart and sent me to state!”
“Jus saying what I heard, tha's all.” the young man said.
Brother stepped between the young man and Ouihan and said, “Scrapper you always start trouble. I believe em and I say again we should protect em.”
Scrapper smirked at Brother and stepped up to him with a menacing air.
Sister stepped between them and although Scrapper was head and shoulders taller than her, she pushed him back. It kind of looked like a small Terrier trying to stand between a Mastiff and a Sheep Dog wanting to fight. Scrapper continued to stare Brother down over Sister's head. After a long tense moment, he looked down at Sister, smirked again and said, “Whatever!” turned and when back to where he was lounging in the shadows.
Sister let out a long breath then said, “Okay anybody else have anything to say? Alright let's lot.”
Brother took off his cap and passed it around. Everyone dropped either a white or black stone. After the hat went around the room Brother took the cap and went over to a drum in the middle of the room. He poured the stones out and Sister started to count the white and black stones.
“Seven white and seven black.” Sister said then looked around the room then said, “I recon tha the final lot's mine. Before I lot, I think I'll ask those of you who lot black, how would ya feel if ya need help and we decided to not.” she then turned to Ouihan and said, “Alright Ouihan you can stay. But only until we can figure out why shadowman is after ya. Or, if ya become a threat to rest of us. Ya understand?”
“Yes Sister. I don't want to be a threat to you. Thank you for letting me stay.”
Sister then pointed to the room Ouihan had just come out of and said, “Now go street yourself up.”
Ouihan turned and walked back to the hatch. From what he could tell, the room had only two hatches in it, unless there was another hidden in the shadows, and the other hatch was just over to his right not ten feet from the valve room he woke up in. For some reason this occurred to him and he was wondering why as he heard a crash right behind him and he turned to see a three foot by three foot metal plate on the floor had flipped open and a large black robed figure quickly hurtled up from some passage under the floor.
The kids in the room scattered and most dove for cover behind boxes, drums or some other objects. Sister tried to dart past the robed figure toward the hatch, but its hand jetted out and grabbed her by her hair.
Brother hauled of and punched it but there was just a hollow sounding thud as he hit the head. There was a cracking sound from his hand.
The robed figure's other hand grabbed Brother by the throat and Ouihan could hear Brother making choking sounds. Ouihan yelled, “Stop it now! Let them go!”
The robed figure turned its head toward Ouihan and stopped moving for a couple of seconds then released Brother and Sister.
From the passageway right behind the sentinel, another much shorter robed figure climbed up into the room.
Ouihan recognized her as the woman he ran into on the street during the attack. She looked at the sentinel then turned her head to look at Ouihan, and asked, “Did you just stop our Sentinel?!”
“I dunno. I just told him to stop, and he obeyed.” he said uncertainly.
She kept eye contact with him for a few more moments then looked at the others in the room. She then sighed and said, “We mean you no harm but what are you doing here?”
Sister stood up from where she unceremoniously was dropped to the floor and said, “Says you your highness. Your hassers... I mean enforcers have been meaning us harm for some time now.” she showed no sign of intimidation by the fact she obviously knew she stood in the presence of the Empress.
Empress Victoria II closed her eyes and seemed to deflate some then said, “Yes my child, we...I have just recently become aware of how my orders have been used to make you, all of you to suffer. For which you have our apologies.” she then looked back at Ouihan, “We owe you our thanks for saving our life today. We are delighted you are still alive.”
By this time the other sentinel had hauled Major Gladly into the room from the underground passage. She looked at the Major and said, “This man has betrayed us. Can we beseech you to help us secure him until he can be brought to justice?”
Sister continued to look evenly at her and said, “I think I can rig up something. But what's in it for us?”
Empress Victoria II looked her strait in the eyes and said, “If you help me in this crisis I will grant you anything which is within my power to grant.” she then removed her hood so everyone in the room could see who she really was.
Ouihan finally recognized her and dropped down to his knee as did Brother. Scrapper cautiously stepped out from behind the beam he was hiding behind and paused for a moment, apparently thinking about how he can take advantage. Afterwards, the rest of the children slowly came out of hiding.
Victoria II looked around the room and asked, “Where are your parents, children?”
Sister said defiantly, “We have none. We're all orphans here. We’re children of the street. We help each other hide from your hassers, slavers and other street thugs. I'm Sister and that's Brother...” she proceeded to introduce the rest of the orphans.
“Again, we are grieved as to how our orders have caused you pain. We intended something different, but others had taken advantage of our desires. However, we... I am responsible for your pain so even if you do not help us, we will make whatever amends we can.”
Ouihan said, “So the Shadowmen weren't after me, they wereafter you Your Eminence?”
“Yes, but we believe you are the one we have been looking for. Are you the one who was staying with Edmund Coorie, or as he was known on the street as Tinker Man?”
Ouihan looked at her with a puzzled look on his face and said tentatively, “Yes, I am. How did you know?”
“We will explain later in private.” she then turned to Sister, “It would seem you are their leader are you not?”
“We lot everything important. But yes, they often look to me for important decisions.” Sister said still maintaining steady eye contact. Meanwhile the rest of the children had fallen to a knee.
“How old are you child?”
“Dunno, Brother thinks I'm around 12 and he's around 16. He had taken care of me since I was an infant. Our parents killed byblack flu right after I was born. So, we figure it to be 12 years now.”
Victoria II looked thoughtful and said, “This sounds about right. It could not have been easy for you. Can we...can I count on your help?”
Sister looked thoughtful then said, “Yes you can.” she then started to fall to her knee.
Victoria II stopped her, “You need not bow down to me. Or at least not until this is over. I am thinking we must avoid drawing attention to ourselves...myself until this is over. The rest of you rise as well.”
She looked around the room appraising every one of the children present then said, “Gather round children and we'll plan our next move...”
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