As Allison followed Ezekiel further into the tunnels the boy helped her avoid some rather clever traps the children had set. None would have really hurt her in her armor, but they would give the children plenty of warning. She realized once again that Queen Aryna was right. As royalty Allison was bound by natural law to forgo her own enjoyment in service to the people around her. If she had gone to Mumbai with her mother these children would have been missing and starving for another day. He whistled three times and listened. Two whistles came back. He nodded then opened a secret door.
In the room there were sixteen children and six teenagers. There were only three boys, one of which was a large teenager. The rest were girls.
When the teenage boy saw Allison, he ran towards her with his fist up. Allison wasn’t feeling like taking a punch to the face, as much as she would just heal it, it did hurt. She weaved to the side and used a standard throw, using his speed and superior weight against him. He lunged at her again. They ended up in a wrestling match with Allison using her enhanced strength to counter his brute force attempts to force her to the ground. Finally, they ended up nose to nose.
“Heathen she-demon!”
Allison was amused, under the grime on his face and greasy hair the teenager was extremely cute. He also had a pretty decent build. She had him locked and was far stronger than him. She couldn’t resist quipping.
“You ever heard of bathing?”
He struggled to get out of the predicament he’d put himself in. Finally, she released him and stepped aside and he tripped and slammed into the rocky floor hard. He took another wild swing at her. She caught his arm and twisted. He was on the ground on his knees a few minutes later glaring at her. She pulled one of her pistols out and pointed it at him.
“Stop or I’ll shoot you. As much as I want to shoot you, I don’t want to carry you out of here. So please stop.”
“Never non-believer!”
He spit at her. It fell short, she rolled her eyes and shot him. His whole body glowed turquoise, and he fell down to the ground when she released him. The oldest girl, who was likely near Allison’s actual age and very pregnant, rushed forward to check on him. Allison sighed. Not the best impression and what the hell was going on here that people under legal age were pregnant. She should have known, there were thirty-two adult women to ten men.
“He’ll be fine in a while. If I wanted him dead, there were faster ways to do it.”
Ezekiel was looking betrayed.
“You said you couldn’t fight.”
Allison shrugged.
“No, I said girls can’t fight, you just assumed I meant all girls. Sorry kid.”
Her scanner told her the girl was nineteen and eight months pregnant. That made her the oldest here. Allison addressed her.
“I’m sorry. He was going to keep coming at me. I’m not here to hurt anyone. Robin Holiday found me and told me there were other kids here who needed help. I’m Allison Wanjala. I’m here to help you. It is not safe down here. I’m sure all of the bugs are dead, but if they aren’t you will not be able to fight them off.”
Allison moved to the boy she’d shot. The pregnant girl moved away quickly. Allison rolled him over and bound his hands with a zip tie. She stood up.
“I have food if anyone is hungry.”
That got everyone’s attention. She had a week’s worth of rations in her pack. Less two. That meant there were nineteen meals. She pointed to the pregnant girl.
“You, make sure everyone gets some and shares.”
She quickly stacked the MRE’s up and backed away. She pointed out how to use them as the food and drinks were distributed. She looked around while the children and teenagers were eating. They were inside the walls. There were yellow crystals of a mineral her scanner could not identify. She realized they could be the reason the queen’s signal was disrupted here. She took several samples and stuffed them in her pack. She heard the boy she’d stunned shouting.
She came back into the room, and he glared at her from where she had propped him up against a wall. He was quoting the bible, and some nonsense obviously made up by the leader of the cult. Each of them were about how women were subservient to men and how evil an educated woman was. Honestly it reminded her of Ajay. It wasn’t an attractive look, at least to her.
“You’re cute, but you’re a sexist ass. Shut up before I stun you again.”
She addressed the eldest girl.
“You are out of food and these tunnels are dangerous. I cannot make you come with me but at least let me take the youngest ones out of here. They don’t deserve to starve to death. None of you do, but especially them. They don’t even understand what is happening. I know someplace safe with a lot of food.”
The girl pointed at Allison’s pendant.
“You wear the symbol of the demon-queen.”
Allison sighed.
“It is worse than that, I am the demon-queen’s daughter. Of course, if she were so bad, would Robin have sent me here? My mother doesn’t care what any of you believe. What she does care about is the suffering of children. She says: Let not the children suffer, for they are the future. If a child is in need, give them food, give them clothing, give them shelter and give them love. This is your duty as a fellow sentient. Doesn’t your book say the same thing with different words?”
Allison looked to the younger children that were old enough to understand their predicament.
“I have food, I have clothes, I have shelter, and I have love waiting for all of you. You just have to follow me out of the old places and out of the jungle.”
Tears were forming in her eyes at the thought of these kids starving to death. Or worse being devoured by Sal’nash that might be hiding deeper inside the tunnel network.
“Please, I don’t want any of you to die. My mother is the mother of all children your suffering is breaking her heart.”
Her impassioned pleas seemed to have had an effect on the teenage girls who started gathering up the younger children. The teenage boy who she’d stunned was calling them all betrayers and telling them they were going to hell. The pregnant girl seemed hesitant but seeing everyone else going began to go herself. There were two infants and a few toddlers that the older children gathered up to bring with them. Allison looked at the teenage boy.
“I need your help to get them out of the jungle safely. You are supposed to protect them, aren’t you? That’s why you weren’t in the battle. It was your job to keep them safe. They are starving to death. If you keep them here, you will fail them and God. I’m going to cut your zip ties. If you try to attack me, I will stun you and leave you here to fend for yourself.”
He glared at her. Allison pulled out her vibro knife spun it in her hand before slicing his zip tie. He stood up and looked like he was going to restart the fight, but the pregnant girl put her hand on his shoulder.
“The book says the Lord’s angels have many faces. Could she be one of them? Her eyes are golden, like the book describes Ezekiel’s eyes. If she is an angel, and you attacked her, remember what happened to Sodom. She looks like the picture in the chapel. The angel who warned of the great cold.”
He pushed his shoulder forward and knocked the girl’s hand off of it, but he didn’t take any more aggressive action towards Allison. She pulled him aside and spoke quietly and put on her best damsel in distress look.
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“I know I acted all brave and stuff, but I don’t think I can go through those tunnels back there again. The smell and so many dead. The walls have pictures of spiders, I am deathly afraid of spiders. Is there another way out? I am sure the other girls won’t do well if they see it.”
His chest puffed out slightly. Allison knew she’d pressed the right buttons. He started ordering the boys about and the pregnant girl started organizing the girls. He took the lead, and Allison fell in line behind the boys with the rest of the girls. He led the group down a side tunnel and through another secret passage. This one led into the tunnels Allison had originally explored then out the main entrance. He led everyone to the tree with a cross on it. He pointed at Allison.
“You, girl, come here and show me the way.”
Allison hurried up to his side, as if his order actually had some effect on her. She figured if playing the submissive girl like he expected girls to be, kept him calm and kept the kids following him she’d happily do it to save their lives. She led them to the edge of the Yellowstone military base. Bit started communicating with her as soon as she could.
“Allison, I see a lot of life signs with you. Are you okay.”
Allison smiled.
“It’s so good to hear your voice Bit. Yes, I’m fine, I found some survivors.”
The eldest boy looked at her.
“Who are you talking too?”
Allison pointed at the dot that slowly grew in size as Bit approached with the drone wing and did a slow pass over their heads. Everyone but Allison ducked. Bit banked around and landed. All of the kid seemed very frightened.
“Don’t worry, she was just scared because I’ve been gone for so long. Bit can you link me with the Ark Royal please?”
She heard the Ark Royal comms officer acknowledging the link.
“Hello, Ark Royal, this is Shadow One. I have found some survivors. Is the Captain available?”
The comms officer put her on the line with the captain and she walked closer to Bit so the children couldn’t hear her.
“Shadow One, did I hear that right, you found survivors?”
Allison turned away from the children.
“Aye, ma’am. Twenty-three minors. Six teenagers, seventeen children. One of the girls is pregnant and one of the boys might get hostile. I already had to stun him once. I had to free him so he could escort us out of the tunnels. I discovered a tunnel complex, and I need back up to explore them further. It seems to be where the Sal’nash came from. There was a cult there. I’ll need at least three squads, one to secure the survivors, one to secure the tunnel entrance and another to back me up while we go deeper. There are a lot of dead. It is not pretty. I’ll also need a med team down here to check on the children. They have some pretty strange beliefs, so it would be helpful if the medical team were women, but the squad you’re sending to guard them were all men. Also, we’ll need beacons, comms and long-range scanners are useless in the jungle near those tunnels. I have samples as well. I also need to replace my rations; I used them up feeding the kids. They were out of food and likely had been for a few days. We’ll need food and drink for them as well, hopefully something better than MRE’s.”
“All men? What is this?”
Allison nibbled on her lower lip.
“Ma’am, I’m just trying to make this as painless as possible for everyone involved.”
The captain frowned.
“Well, my orders are to provide you any support you request, and that you’re in charge of the ground mission. I’m sending a Special Operations team to help you clear the deeper tunnels. Please brief everyone when they arrive.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
The captain paused before closing communications.
“Good work Shadow One, I understand you pleaded with Command to try and find those tunnels. It is very lucky that the League demanded your presence on a survey for them.”
Allison nodded.
“Yes, Ma’am, very lucky.”
The captain gave Allison a knowing look.
“Ark Royal out.”
Allison walked back to the children. The boy who’d been leading them looked at her.
“You said we would be safe and there was food. Did you lie?”
Allison shook her head. She addressed everyone.
“I know you aren’t used to starfighters, and sky ships. I have friends that are coming to help us. You’ll see them in the sky soon. First it will be some men to help make sure we’re all safe, then some women who will ensure that no one is hurt or sick. Then food once they know everyone is safe. I will make sure you’re all taken care of but then I have to go back into the tunnels so I can show my friends where the bugs came from so, they can make sure they’re all dead.”
She motioned with her hand.
“Come on, get under Bit, its very hot out here.”
She brought them under Bit’s wing which the AI helpfully expanded and shifted into an umbrella shape to allow for better coverage. The children all looked at it in amazement. She helped the pregnant girl to the makeshift shelter. The only one who refused was the teenage boy. He was staring at Allison. He walked up to her. He was a couple of inches shorter than her.
“You tricked me, you weren’t scared at all.”
Allison shrugged.
“Sorry, I did not want the kids to have to see any of what happened in there. I was trying to protect them.”
He looked up when the first drop ship rapidly plummeted out of orbit and came to a dead stop ten meters away. He ducked as it came down for its landing. Allison could have bounced with joy when she saw Thomas Elk leading a squad of four Goliath power armors. The boy she’d been talking to stumbled backwards. Thomas walked right up to Allison and saluted her.
“Destroys the Darkness. It’s good to see you again. Reporting as ordered. Where do you need us?”
Allison pointed to where they would be entering the jungle.
“Thanks for coming Master Chief, set up the first beacon there. Sorry you’ll have to wait for more until I’ve finished organizing things for the survivors. We have a tunnel network, lots of dead, could be Sal’nash deeper inside. I’ve mapped only a small part of it.”
He saluted and motioned to his team.
“Let’s move out boys and girls. The lt. has some tunnels for us to search.”
The ground shook as the Goliaths followed him in a run across the tarmac. Allison looked at the kids, the girls looked terrified, the younger boys looked intrigued. Allison glanced down at the boy who had fallen onto his butt when the goliath’s got close. She offered him his hand. He glared at the offered hand. She asked him.
“What is your name anyways?”
Finally, he took her hand and pulled himself up.
“Paul. That man, he follows you?”
Allison nodded she addressed him quietly.
“Yes. You can calm down Paul. No one here will hurt you unless you try to hurt them. These kids need you to be strong, take charge and be a man. You need to stop looking like you’re scared of your own shadow. If you volunteer for everything first, they’ll see that it is alright. You promised to keep them safe and take care of them. This is how you do it.”
He released her hand and glanced at her chest. Her armor really did not leave anything to the imagination.
“You aren’t like any girl I’ve ever met.”
Allison glanced at the teenage girls.
“That’s because I grew up somewhere where boys and girls are considered equals. I know its not what you believe but it’s what we believe.”
He looked at the kids then towards the jungle.
“I know the old places. I used to go exploring deeper. I know where the bugs came from.”
Allison glanced at the children; She spoke quietly to Paul.
“I could really use your help then, it would help us make sure the bugs are all dead a lot faster but, I am worried about the kids, this is all very scary to all of you, and I need them to have someone they trust to lead them.”
He pointed at Ezekiel.
“Ezekiel come here now.”
Ezekiel ran over and looked up at them both. Paul pointed at Allison.
“Do what she says, like she’s your mother.”
Allison kneeled down and spoke quietly.
“Ezekiel, my friends are coming soon. Everyone is very scared right now. Paul needs to come with me. You’re the oldest boy after him. We need you to be strong and brave. We need you to be the leader while he is gone. My friends are going to want to make sure you’re all alright and they will need to give you medicine, it doesn’t hurt but it looks scary, but boys aren’t scared right?”
Ezekiel nodded.
“So, we need you to show everyone its safe by going first.”
He did not look brave at all. Allison looked down at her necklace and had an idea. She pulled her Dark Mother pendant off.
“My mother, you call her the demon-queen gave me this and told me that while I wore it nothing can hurt me, nothing ever has. If you promise to give it back, you can borrow it. It will help keep all of your friend safe. When you’re scared touch it, she’ll make you brave, I do it all the time when I’m really scared.”
She offered it to him his eyes were wide as he looked at this all-powerful magical talisman.
“But she’s evil.”
Allison nodded.
“She can be, there is no denying that, but she also believes children need to be protected at all costs. She has turned adults into pillars of ash for even thinking of harming a child. I asked her and she promised me she would keep you safe, if you’re wearing it. It will also warn everyone else that she’s protecting you.”
By this time the two squads of space marines had shown up. Ezekiel looked between Allison and the dark-skinned man who looked down at Allison and saluted her.
“Shadow One, where do you need us?”
Ezekiel pointed at Allison and looked up at him.
“Is she really the daughter of the demon-queen?”
The child’s eyes focused on the pendant. The petty officer nodded.
“She is. We call her the Dark Mother though.”
He looked at Allison and nodded. He took the pendant gingerly and put it over his head.
“I promise I will give it back.”
Allison smiled.
“Good. Now I know you and your friends will be safe.”
She stood up and told the petty officer how to deploy the men. One of the corporals that had accompanied the sergeant offered Allison a ration pack to replace the one she’d used up. She pulled out the crystal samples and replaced them with the rations. She pointed to the crystals.
“They’re inert, safe to handle, please get them back to the ship. Sergeant, I need a stocked backpack for Paul here.”
Ten minutes later Paul had a backpack with a full set of kit, sans weapons. The medical team had arrived by this time. Allison pointed to them and looked at Ezekiel.
“Ezekiel, they will make sure no one is hurt. Please go talk to them and help organize your friends so they can help all of you. Remember, you’re in charge so you need to show them it’s safe. They don’t need to know about the Dark Mother’s amulet though. Go on.”
Allison and Paul hurried over to the waiting special forces team after Allison left the Sergeant in charge of the children.