I travel in the sewer for thirty minutes until I come across a large steel wall that blocks off the passage. It is an underground bomb shelter located deep in the dark catacombs, used by the Brotherhood and small number of civilians that know of its existence. The Brotherhood thought it was a good place to set up base especially because it is connected to various different outposts throughout the city through a direct phone line.

“Put your hands up and tell me who you are!” I hear someone say from behind me.

“I am a child of the Aidoshian people; Elvion Nova is my name,” I say with pride.

They aren’t looking for names. An Aidoshian always puts his people before his name. Few outsiders know that. Anyone who is seen here must past this test; otherwise the sewer will be their crypt. Even if you are a known member of the Brotherhood, not saying the people before your name is the same as saying, “I am a spy.”

“Nova, come inside quickly,” his voice less sharp than before. “The meeting is about to start. Where is Kai?” the man asks.

“I left him back at the restaurant. He’ll be here soon though.”

He nods and turns, signaling someone to come out with a flash light. This person I know, Brotherhood General Amùsen (A-mōōz-sen), a strict man who has survived many battles and killed many Gandole troops. He has been called Univer’s right hand because of his precise strategic attacks on the Gandole and his ruthlessness against anyone he perceives as an enemy. Amùsen pushes in one of the bricks and I hear a series of clicks along the walls followed by screeching as the metal wall opens up and a pathway is revealed.

“Go through now, Nova.” Amùsen says.

As I walk through the eerie corridor, a heavy set of footsteps echo closer. We quickly turn our heads to see a shadow behind us.

Amùsen wastes no time in pointing the gun upward and asks, “Who is there?”

We are aching with anxiety as a person steps into the light Amùsen has on his rifle.

“I am a great pillar of Aidon. I am a child of Univer and the creator of the Brotherhood, Timpuji Askion!”

I cannot understand what’s happening, Timpuji is the creator of the Brotherhood?

“Why are you here, Timpuji?” Asks Amùsen forcefully.

“I’m here for my best friend’s son… no, my son,” Timpuji declares.

“It is his choice.” Amùsen says angrily. “Just like you chose to turn your back on the Brotherhood!”

“Nova, come here,” Timpuji demands sternly.

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I turn to look at the dark passage behind me that leads to the Brotherhood, and then back at Timpuji who stands before me angrily. I have a choice to go back with Timpuji and watch Aidon fall to oblivion or stay and fight for Aidon to ensure no more children of the Aidoshian people find an early grave. I imagine some would run back home full of false hope that the day would end well. I am not one of those people. I do not think I’ll be alive another year, not in this hell hole; but if I am, I’ll fight until the Gandole crush the life from my body.

“No,” I yell, “You have no right to order me to leave the Brotherhood. Apparently I’m following in your footsteps!”

“You don’t understand, Nova. This is not the life I want for you,” Timpuji yells.

“What life then? What other life is left for me? I’m scared, Timpuji, out of my mind; but at least here I can be at ease with brothers and sisters in arms! If there was a way to get out of this alive, we would not still be here! The Gandole are going to try and kill us, but when they do, they’ll meet the fire of our guns and the strength of our hearts and I’ll fight on the front lines.”

“Sir,” came a sudden call on Amùsen’s radio, “we have a spy. Sokon (So-kän) has betrayed us! He’s set bombs all over the base and…”

A loud boom shakes the sewer.

“Novaaaa!” I hear Timpuji scream as I fly though the air and the world around me darkens.

The next thing I know Timpuji is carrying me in his arms down the long empty streets, my vision blurred, fading in and out. I can hear him over the loud buzzing in my head.

“You’re not going to die, Nova. I’m not going to let that happen. Fayták (Fay-ták), that damn God of death, will not have your soul! Do you hear me? The Greatest Thief cannot have you either.”

I cannot talk. When I try my voice leaves me and I feel useless. I cannot tell him I’m okay or am I? I can’t feel my lower half and my arms are as heavy as lead. Though I can’t move my head, the smell of blood is everywhere and a sharp pain is coming from my stomach and lower back. When the ringing in my head stops, I hear screams and gunfire echoing through the streets. It’s happening; Gandole troops are attacking the capitol, and here I am dying in Timpuji’s arms. Kind of funny… all that talk of going out with a bang and being a hero in death and here I am, I have not even seen battle. There is no glory in this death! If you really are out there, Univer, now is the time for you to show yourself. Now is the time you stop letting these monsters kill us off like sheep to the slaughter.

“There is one over here carrying someone!” A harsh unfamiliar voice says behind us.

“What are you waitin’ for? Shoot’em and let’s continue on to the next sector. I don’t want to be here when da Myrmidon comes through,” says another.

Timpuji walks faster. He has a definite limp. He must have been hurt in the explosion as well yet he saved me. If he threw me to the ground, he could probably get away. I am sure he knows that. In an ear—splitting bang, Timpuji and I plummet to the sidewalk. The sounds of their footsteps are getting closer as is the ticking of death’s clock.

“I’m sorry, Timpuji… so, so sorry!” I wish I could say to him but my voice is too far gone, and my body won’t move. I can’t turn around to see him.

“Nova, I’m sorry I could not protect you. I’m sorry I could not offer you a better life.”

Why is he apologizing? He has done nothing wrong. I should be the one. He gave me a life worth living. He gave me a new family. What more did I need than Kai, Fantasia, Timpuji and our home, the small run down café on Haven drive? That seems like a lifetime ago. To think that these will be my final moments, shot dead on the streets a nobody! Damn this war! Damn the Gandole and damn this life I have. I curse it! What have we done so wrong that every man, woman and child of Aidon has to suffer and die? When I was finally given the chance to do something for this country it gets snatched away like this? Will I truly not get to see another day?