Conspirators

It felt strange. Oddly comfortable, but it couldn’t be true. She knew it shouldn’t be true. How much time had passed? An hour, a day? She was no longer certain. The only thing she knew was that she wasn’t moving and that was a problem.

Opening her eyes, it felt nothing like where she remembered being last. ‘How’d I get here?’ Her memories were hazy, but she tried to retrace her steps. ‘I was on his trail, I know it…’ Rubbing her face, she pushed harder to recall. Most of it still came up empty.

Movement snapped her head in the direction of the door. She had to rely more on her ears recently. It wasn’t something she was used to completely, but missing her sight made every sound seem like someone walked on her grave. Her abilities could only compensate for so much. “Who’s there?” The direction she looked was a little off.

“Oh you’re awake!” a soft voice answered. Footsteps moved through the room, slowly getting nearer. She could get a better sense of the distance than direction. “Are you feeling alright?”

She didn’t have time for such questions. More important things mattered to her. “Where am I? The village, which is it?”

“This is the town of Elati.”

‘Elati, that’s a day’s walk at most,’ she thought, visualizing in her mind her position in Atlantis. It was the right direction mostly, but it was still a detour she couldn’t afford. ‘How long have I’ve been out?’ She pulled back up trying to meet a gaze with the woman. “How long since you found me?”

“We found you in the morning, so I guess half a day.” The woman went quiet for a moment, likely thinking before starting again without any prompting. “It’s not every day you see a soldier passed out in the middle of the field, especially one of you. I did a lot of convincing with the mayor to even get you into the town. I can’t believe they’re so frightened of an unconscious woman.”

None of it made it to her ears. Her mind was elsewhere. ‘I’ve wasted too much time already!’ She lifted herself out of the bed making for the edge, feeling it out with her hands. However, something blocked her. The woman tried to force her back in the bed. “I must leave!” she insisted.

“If you’re worried about the other townspeople, I don’t think they’ll do anything. They’re more afraid than anything.”

Shaking her head, she grabbed the woman’s arm, finding it the first time. “NO! I can’t stop! There’s something I must do!”

The woman paused for a moment, but didn’t give up her position. “You need to rest. You’re in no shape to travel.”

“I’ve rested enough,” she replied. A ripple came out from under the bed. She suddenly met the woman directly. “Nothing will stop me from what I must do.” She pushed the woman aside. The doorway outlined in her sense thanks to her power. The road was long. Before she left, she paused for a moment. “Not you and not him.”

Chapter 217 – Conspirators

The possibility of Ayumi lying to them wasn’t something hard to accept. She regularly made it difficult to trust her. However, she seemed earnest with her desire to save her country. They all looked around at each other with similar thoughts. It was the only reason that they felt she could be trusted. They knew she had her reasons, but she seemed to want to do something good.

“What reason would she have to lie to us?” asked Seiji. It was the obvious question everyone had on their mind. The one question that no one had an answer for.

Chiharu glanced up at him. “I can think of a few, but speculation won’t get us any closer to the truth.”

They were faced with the painful fact that they didn’t know enough. Large pieces to the puzzle remained undiscovered. So many holes still existed that not even the shape of the picture could be guessed.

A nod came from Simonides. He suspected the child had some of the same ideas as him. They already arrived at the same conclusion as well. “There’s only one with the answers.”

Yumi understood what he was getting at, much like the rest. “Ayumi.”

“Right. We need to locate her.” He looked past the teens into the distance. Hidden behind the horizon was the Capital. “We need to reach the Capital before she does.”

“‘We’?” noted Chiharu, her arms crossed staring down Simonides. “You seem eager to ignore past conflicts. We caused significant damage and casualties the last time we crossed paths.” Her eyes narrowed reading into even the slightest twitches in his face.

Seiji stretched out his hand to grab Chiharu, but she batted him away. “The hell’s the matter with you! Are you trying to ruin the peace?”

“I want things to be clear between us. I’m not going into an unknown situation with someone whose motives could easily change at the right opportunity.” The man was cunning. They only won because of him being outsmarted. He must have plans within plans. “I want to know why you’re doing all of this.”

“There’s more important things right now, brat!”

The Atlantean Captain lifted a hand to cease their fighting. It was certainly something he avoided for the moment, but never forgot. They all caused him untold trouble. He preferred them arrested and under his control, but as a backup plan it was a situation he had to accept. “She’s right.”

Simonides straightened himself out. He stared down at all of the children seated on the truck bed. His eyes cast a heavy gaze to them all. “You have caused significant damage to that which I oversee. Furthermore, you have killed my men as well. Even now I can’t forgive you for the chaos you’ve wrought upon my country.” He went silent.

The silence left the air unpleasant. A stifling hot atmosphere built up. Yumi and the others refrained from a reply. They had none to give. Nothing they said could replace what they have done or restore those lost.

Simonides cut his contact with them. “However, there’s something that is worse. The chaos you’ve caused would simply be like a flower smashed under foot to the wastelands of ruin possible.” His eyes drew back down to them. ‘It is also better that I let you move freely and follow, watching your actions than trying to fight. Sadly, I don’t think there would be anything I could do to stop any of you when determined enough even with all of the MPs at my disposal. In fact, you may be the one thing standing between Atlantis and destruction.’

“There’s something you fear more than us,” interpreted Chiharu. It had her intrigued. Something made him willing to give up everything, even revenge. “What is it that you’re afraid of?”

“Before our last battle, I received information that the council is considering the deployment of the Omega Division.”

Nerine immediately turned to her Captain, panic in her eyes. Brief flashes of Cosmas ran through her mind. “Sir?! The council wouldn’t.”

“They would, worse, they have execution orders out on all of you, especially Eudokia. They’ll stop at nothing to complete their orders, including anyone standing in their path. They have little regard for the consequences, only the results.” He could tell his words left the desired weight on them, but some skepticism still filled in their eyes.

“That’s crazy,” piped up Seiji, carrying more disbelief than the others. “They wouldn’t hurt their own just to find us.”

Simonides shook his head. “The loss of a single town would mean nothing.” His mind thought back to the rebellion. “The social climate in Atlantis is nothing like you’re probably used to in the world you come from. There are old scars still healing for everyone. An order and the scars are all some need. A little collateral damage just happens. They are simply overly enthusiastic.” The number of incidences was on the decline, but he knew they were far too common. The normal citizenry had good reason for fear of the appearance of any MP, even the military uniform was enough at times.

Yumi covered her hand over her mouth. “That’s horrible.”

“It explains a lot about why the villagers were so afraid,” commented Yori. He thought back to his capture by the frightened villagers. “However, you’re not the same are you?”

“No, I can’t do anything about the fear, but I can keep my men in check. It’s not a perfect system, but I do what I can.” Time was against them. His mind went back to the council. “So you understand now why we must hurry to find Eudokia. We can’t allow the Omega Division to make their move.”

“It might be too late for that,” Yumi said in a pensive look. “We did ruin your plans to capture us and your men think you’re dead. They’ll know soon.”

“I have someone I can trust with my men. He should buy us sometime.” The human factor was an unpredictable one, especially without the facts. He knew that they would want to act to avenge his death. It was why he left Abeiron with them. He only hoped it was enough time. However, Simonides had to accept pragmatism as well. “Even if it is too late, the sooner we get to Eudokia the faster we can bring this to an end and get them to call off their search.”

Inside a closed meeting hall, old men sat around a large circular table. A rounded wedge cut into the shape broke up the perfect form. The surface polished to a shine reflected the carved stone expression of those gathered.

The council gathered for their deliberations on the matter of the threat to rebellion. Demosthenes sat in on the proceedings as the military voice. Any major actions they wished to take had to go through him. The army in the Capital didn’t move without his orders, even if they could order him. He understood much of it was merely formality, than necessity. They didn’t even acknowledge his presence.

For now, the decision held at a split. They had no interest in full mobilization. The threat Eudokia presented was real, however she and her group remained small. They didn’t feel pressured for any large action. ‘The stalemate should continue for a while. Inevitability will win out in time, but they won’t make any large moves. Not so long as the situation remains the same.’

“We already voted ten minutes ago! It’s just going to be the same again!”

“That’s why I said we need to act! Call for a vote!”

“The Omega Division is excessive. Eudokia may be powerful, but she is only one woman.”

“Correct! We beat the rebellion last time and that woman was as powerful.”

“Has your old age made your memory go? We didn’t win, she just disappeared into the night.”

“It was the Omega Division that put down that rebellion once they lost their leader!”

“That’s why we need them now!”

“Yes, they’ve already broken through the outer rim. How many times has Captain Simonides been defeated already? The longer we sit around here talking the closer she gets to the Capital.”

“I agree we need to keep her away from the Capital, but Captain Simonides is enough. He hasn’t let anyone through. We’ll be safe.”

“I demand we vote again!”

“Voting is—“

A heavy knock came from the marble doors. It interrupted all of the bickering. They should have been left undisturbed while in session. The only reason would be something important they had to know about. Such a reason interested them. One of them motioned to the guard on the inside. Slowly, he opened the door, making no sound in the process.

Waiting in the hall, a young man stood needing permission to enter. Once granted, he hurried along to one of the council members. He was a personal aide. The conversation between them went quick and hushed. No reaction came from the council member leaving the rest in suspense. He waited until the aide left and returned the room to isolation.

The elderly man placed the paper on the marble table firmly held in place under his hands. “I’ve just received a report from one of our Omega agents in the field. Captain Simonides was killed in battle with Eudokia’s conspirators. The South Gate defenses were smashed and they have penetrated into the heart of Atlantis.” The news sent shock and surprise around the table. Whispers went about. “I call for a vote.” He met with no resistance.

The vote went quickly and unanimously. The head of the council stood up with the vote concluded. “We’re all in agreement. We approve full wartime sanctions to the Omega Division in routing Eudokia and her conspirators. All Omega agents are to be deployed. Eudokia’s rebellion will be crushed swiftly.”