“The Navigator always runs. That is tradition,” said Malikus.

“Why?” I asked.

“Why do you pine for my acceptance?” Malikus smiled and leaned back in his chair.

I looked around his office. Malikus draped the finest works of art over his walls like a hunter showing off his kills. He never created or painted anything though. Nobody did. It was all just here. I tried to create, but I always failed, there wasn’t a lech in this place that could teach me. I was a pupil without a teacher. “Why can’t the High Priest just fetch her then?”

Malikus shook his head mournfully as he poured himself a glass of red wine. He brought the bottle over another empty glass but thought better of it and instead set the bottle back down. “Mother has enjoyed the splendour of man’s flesh for an eternity of ages.”

I walked before a large painting of a woman, she was bare-skinned, fair-faced and sprawled before a forest that seemed to draw me in. I half wanted to climb into the picture, not to enjoy the pleasures of the woman, but to instead discover what lay in that unpainted void behind her. To explore a thought that is brought to life in a world that doesn’t exist. Now there’s an adventure.

Malikus continued, I half-listened as he tutored me between healthy quaffs of claret.

“She has more than a taste for our blood, but now our desires.”

“Does she wish to create?” I turned to Malikus and caught his eyes as he finished his glass.

He set his glass down and wiped his mouth. “Mother creates our desires through us.”

“You didn’t answer my question,” I said.

“The High Priest could catch and reel the Navigator in.” He poured himself another glass, watching me. “But her child must rebel. And he must be hunted by those who seek redemption.”

“Tradition is it?” I asked.

“Tradition it is…” Malikus waved his hand. “Off you go now, you have a job to do.”

Argyle II was a bleak planet. It was built by Simeone; he was to go through the choosing and become the Pilot or Navigator. How he managed such mediocrity was beyond me. Perhaps a greater challenge to forge a masterpiece.

I walked the streets with a swagger, compared to the Below it was embarrassing. The people that walked through its streets were vermin. They just survived.

My duty was simple: collect technology. It was for their own good. A lot of the technology was too dangerous for these people. They could threaten Mother with it, I couldn’t have that. My master, my adoptive father, Malikus… was ambitious. He wanted to become a high priest, but that was only done by being offered as a gift each cycle. To be sent to another planet and continue services meant we showed promise.

I was joined by three Royalist enforcers. We scaled an apartment block. The steps were on the outside, like an unfinished scaffolding. I ran my hand across the handrail and shook my head. No vision. I knocked on the door of my target and waited.

“Yeah?” The outside radio speaker buzzed.

I tried to look through the spy hole but it was only one way. Simeone's designs lacked thought, why give them the ability to speak to me and see me with no need for them to open the bloody door? “Inspection,” I spoke back into the speaker.

“No thank you.”

“It’s not an option, Kyle…is it?”

“I have nothing to inspect.”

“Open the door, Kyle, don’t make us.”

Half a minute passed before the door unlocked and creaked open. I glanced back at my team and the city. It was a sea of rust. The deep mauve paint that dashed the sprawling planet city peeled away in blooded clouds, dancing dustily in the mango skyline.

We barged in quickly, a guard pinning Kyle to the wall.

“What the fuck! You can’t just do this!”

“Yes, we can.” My voice was flat as I walked through the apartment. I restrained a yawn, this had all become so repetitive. Malikus wanted results. He was working hard to be moved along, and he’d take me and his other lackeys with him. I was surgical. I knew all the hiding places, Simeone was predictable, and that made the citizens predictable.

“Please, no!”

I had found them; behind the wall panel in the dining room. Communicators. Dangerous things, they allowed citizens to talk at great distances, closing the gap between their relations. They could plan and coordinate so much with these. “Illegal tech.” I sighed and held them in front of his face.

He was held fast against the wall. His sweat-covered face looked between me and the Royalist. “Wake up!” he said.

I tilted my head.

“Wake up! They are trying to control us.”

“Who are?” I asked.

“Them…the Royals.”

I laughed and raised a small blade to his throat. “I’ll wake up if you go to sleep.” I pushed the blade into his throat and watched him gag. His blood gushed over my hand. He tried to struggle. I stared into his eyes as they dilated. He couldn’t believe it. I always enjoyed that, watching them die and know it.

My casket shook and my vision filled with the enraged Vizer. “Where is she?!”

My mouth guard had been removed. “I don’t know,” I said. My voice was a salty croak. I tried to take in my surroundings. I’d been wheeled out into a hallway. The red globular lights hummed. I hadn’t noticed their sound before.

“Tell me.” Vizer was almost frantic in his panic for answers. Pacing left and right only to stop before me each time and try to intimidate me into giving him what he sought. Malikus must be furious, he hadn’t won yet.

“I can find her,” I said.

Vizer shoved the dolly backwards. My world tipped and then shook with a metallic rattle. My head bounced in the contraption as I looked up at Vizer’s face.

“Festering liar!” He stepped over me like he was my better. I could hear him talking but I couldn’t make the words out. He was using a comms device.

My fingers twitched anxiously. “Mother wants you to free me doesn’t she?”

That slow, calculated response was designed to make me cave in. “You won’t last long,” Vizer said.

“I’d much like to try.” I tried to straighten my back to lift it free from the cruel spikes digging into me.

“It’s embarrassing really, the Glory Seekers will make short work of you. If you have hurt Leena…then Mother will show you no mercy,” said Vizer.

My restraints were retired and Vizer heaved me up by my collar. My mattress hadn’t been kind. I stumbled drunkenly forwards and pressed my face to the wall. Agony danced over my spine. My back must look like a butcher's block.

Vizer dragged me through the corridor and after a trip on the bullet cart, I was where it began. The basin at the bottom of the sewer tunnel that had led me down here. Vizer gritted his teeth at me.

“You think you’re smart.” His desperation was showing, his eyes twitched downwards. “Up then!—don’t dally either.” Vizer pushed my comms device into my chest. “Yours,” he said.

Vizer left the round basin and slammed the door behind him. The turning of steel groaned out from the door soon after. Malikus must have bruised him for not fetching Leena.

The I.D snap!

I shoved my hands into both pockets furiously. Fingers probing at the folds of the fabric within. I felt it. I took it out and kissed it. How ridiculous I was. Prolonging my inevitable downfall. I leaned back against the wall and closed my eyes. Perhaps I was being ridiculous, why not just let them win? Why should I give Mother what she wants?

I looked up at the blackened tunnel then down at the snap in my hand. Can’t win if you don’t roll the dice. If I wanted to have any chance of escaping this planet I’d need to switch the snaps. Let’s see how smart I am.

I pushed and pulled at the door meekly. Locked. I couldn’t hope to be that lucky—I didn’t believe in luck anyway. That mechanical groan returned with a gurgle. The sound of rushing water hissed at me from above. A cascade of icy water struck my face while I stared upwards.

This rain wouldn’t stop until it filled the hole. I contemplated for a moment, perhaps I could let this tube fill up and be done with it. Within thirty seconds, I was waist-deep. Upwards I'd go. Upwards to the surface, then upwards to Yunar.

I pulled myself onto the rungs. I heard the pool below me following. Water from the spouts above crashed down. My hands slipped and I frantically clawed at the wall for purchase. I howled as my fingernail attempted to save my slipping hand, peeling it upwards. I bit it down and continued.

I reached inside the first drainage hole; however, the closing plate had come down from a slot. I felt the groove of a handle and squeezed it. The ice-cold water scratched and flecked at my ankles-creeping up my leg holes. My bicep burned fiercely until the plate finally gave way. I pushed it up and heard a satisfying mechanical click call back from the darkness.

The water held my waist as I threw myself into the tight passage. This had to lead out and down into the reservoirs in the Below. I began to crawl through the rocky birth canal. If I moved my head an inch in any direction I would be greeted with a corner of a stone. Blackness led the way and I frantically searched for its end. Agonisingly, I wrenched my broken body through the tightening passage.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

I couldn’t stop now but in the back of my mind I knew this would be a horrific way to go. The water had followed me inside now. It pooled about my stomach and tickled my chin mockingly. My chin dipped in and out of the chilled death, it pulled at my lower lip as I gasped for breath.

The water sloshed and slapped my face. I couldn’t angle my head up due to the tightness of the passage. I sucked before I sealed my mouth. The sound of the cavern muted when my ears were submerged.

Bubbles tickled my nose as they escaped. A parting gesture from my depleting oxygen. My body wrenched as it begged for air. I kept my mouth tightly shut. My fingers found the lip of a stone. I heaved my body forward and plunged into a body of water. I swam to the top of the pocket and pierced the water's surface and gasped for air. The space filled and severed my air supply once more.

I swam downwards and felt around for any sign. My chest lurched as I became more panicked. Exploration turned to thrashes. I twisted in the water, all sense of direction gone. I felt myself sink downwards. My eyes fluttered, trying to remain open.

There she was. The most beautiful creature I’ve seen. It clicked at me. Nuzzled my neck. The whale swam about my body and caressed me. She was taking me home. I felt a pull on my legs. Something was swallowing me.

Then I fell. Sucked into the abyss and spat out like a rotten tooth. The air hit my lips and I gasped. I twisted frantically as I crashed into another body of water. My fingers clasped the steel rim of the cistern tank. I heaved myself halfway over the edge and coughed my guts up.

The draining flap had opened and swallowed me. I climbed free of the tank and fell to my knees. Hacking violently as I enjoyed the pleasures of life once more.

My body felt like wet cardboard that had been folded up and straightened out several times. Every crease I made gnawed at my nerves. I had to find the Beluga and swap the I.D. snap. I knew where they kept it, I knew where they kept everything.

My shoes squelched and overalls pulled at my aching frame as they left a trail of blood and water behind me. I headed to the door and reached to pull it aside, however, it quickly reminded me how archaic I had become, it slid open automatically.

“Hello!” said the man on the other side of the door. He was plain, human in appearance. He was lobotomised.

“Hello,” I said calmly.

“What are you doing in this wing's reservoir?”

I pulled him and closed the door behind us. “Take off your clothes.”

“I require these…”

“Take them off.” I said. “I am the Navigator and you will obey.”

“Of course.” He smiled and stripped.

I changed into the overalls, making sure not to forget the I.D snap. “Ok, now get in the storage unit over there, and never move again.”

“Gladly.” He bowed a little and proceeded to do as he was asked.

“Good boy,” I said.

I washed the blood from my forehead and slid into the main hallway. The low buzz of the underworld was sharp. My senses were heightened. I could smell their rotten flesh. I walked at a deliberate pace. Two acolytes approached from the opposite direction and I just looked down as I walked. “Hello!” I said as brightly as I could as they got into ear range. They glided past me.

I took a seat at the back of the bullet cart. I had recalled the name of the platform: Mergunt. I retraced my steps to the bay door where the Beluga was stored.

I pressed my hand to the door. It didn’t respond to me. I cursed, I thrashed and I banged my fist on the door, something I instantly regretted. I backed away and looked down the hallway and back to the door. It jerked, hissed and then drew itself apart. Waiting on the other side was a particularly ghoulish changed one.

“What do you want, you simpleton?” Her voice was soft, it was attractive...especially coupled with that accent which I was sure I knew. Her face was sunken and skeletal, her eyes had a dim yellow hue and those large black pupils gave her a nocturnal predatory gaze.

“Corvas?” She knew me and now I was going to be thrown back into that spiked trolley. I clenched my fist in my pocket, ready to strike her. However, her gifts would leave me at her mercy.

“It’s been so long, what are you doing here?” Her voice was touched with a kindness that put me at ease...

I licked my lower lip and thought fast. “Eh, ah…here to inspect the Beluga, Malikus’ orders.” I hadn’t a clue who she was. I’d seemingly disappointed her. She placed her hand on the frame of the door.

“You don’t recognise me, do you?” Her mouth crooked into a dry smirk.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

She dragged her claw under my chin and winked at me. “All that time in my dorm and you forget me so easily?”

My old squeeze. “Gina?” I said.

She shook her head. “Not anymore, I have been given the gift—my chosen name is Zarintha.” She looked like the back end of a dead rat. I had forgotten everything about this woman. Mother made them look different to me when I was a resident of the Below. Although she was a putrid sight, I felt more horrified that I once looked upon these creatures as handsome and beautiful.

“Right, hardly recognised you—didn’t think you could get any more beautiful…” Hardest white lie I had ever told, but I was getting good at lying, years of practise.

Zarintha tugged me into the docking bay and the doors closed behind us. “Missed you,” she said emphatically.

“I missed you too,” I said, quietly.

Zarintha pressed her greasy lips to mine, instinctively I took her by the shoulders and feebly pushed. Her physicality was frightening, her feet were nailed to the floor. I kept my lips sealed and grunted.

“Zarintha…” I managed to eke out her name around that thrashing tongue. She pulled off me so I could see her face once more. I wish I had drowned.

“What? Don’t you want to fuck me?”

Her uncouth offering was risible given her fiendish appearance. I was no catch, but I had standards.

“No, it’s not that, I need to get back to Malikus quickly.”

“Oh like he’d notice a few minutes.” I watched her step back, a bashful look smeared on her barbaric hawk face. She danced playfully and encouraged her red robe to drop and pool by her feet. “Don’t you want to have some fun before you, you know?” she said.

I had to look if not for my morbid interest. Her body was a pale violet. Thin skin draped around a wireframe. Her pulse rippled up her arms and through her chest. I knew I had to be careful here, I didn’t want to offend lest she lashed out at me and banished me from the docking bay. “I’ll return right after, you look…incredible.”

She backpedalled and slammed herself against the Beluga. “Take me!” I looked over the ship I most desperately desired to enter. It was a deep grey, flattened at the top with a bulbous cockpit, it was the only thing in this bay I wanted to enter.

“I’ll come back I promise, I just need to get inside the ship and do these checks. Once I report back to Malikus I am free.”

She sneered at me and pulled her robes back up over her. “It would have been exciting you fucking prude!”

I closed my eyes and took in a laboured breath.

“Well? What are you checking?” She pulled her arms around herself to comfort herself from the rejection.

I looked over the ship. “Just a few startup things in the cockpit...the I.D Snap…” I held Omerdertha’s snap in my pocket. “I need to make sure it’s correct when inserted.”

Zarintha narrowed her eyes at me. “Do you think I am stupid?” She looked ready to pounce.

I held my hands out in front of me, palms upward... “No? W-why?” I closed my eyes.

“You do. Malikus wants to check on my work, doesn’t he? He doesn’t trust me!”

I opened an eye and peered at her, those chicken wings flapping against her sides as she held her hips indignantly.

“You’re too smart, yeah, Malikus doesn’t trust anyone though…”

Zarintha opened the ship's hatch and marched inside. I followed her into the cockpit and sat down on the large white chair. Everything was brand new in here, it even smelt nice. Zarintha sat on the chair beside mine and took out Beluga's snap. I salivated at the thought of just snatching it and running.

Zarintha pushed the I.D snap into the Beluga and waved her hand in front of the small boot-up screen. “Happy?” She fanned her hands out in front of the screen to present the authentication details. Sarcasm meant she was mad. At this point I should avoid women outright, I seemed to be doing everything right to offend them.

I looked over the screen, I didn’t know what I was looking at. “Yes...all good.” I reached for the snap quickly and pulled it out, dropping it to the floor. “Ah sorry!” I said moving down to my knees.

“I got a job for you while you’re down there.” Zarintha placed her talons over my skull. If she wanted she could pull my head off like a doll's head. I fumbled theatrically, pretending to be enticed by such an offer while I switched the snaps around.

I strained my neck to force myself upright against her pressing palm. “I’ll be back soon…” I handed her the Omerdetha’s snap. Sorry sweetheart, you were always a cheap lay to pass the time, even when you were half decent looking.

I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed. I regretted it when I got a nose full of her sour milk scent. “I will see you soon, Gina.” She squeezed me back when I used her old name. I detached myself from her and offered a final farewell.

I had returned unhindered back to the original cavern I had descended from. I swerved around the bending tube of the undercity’s guts and came before the door that held my exit.

The acolyte standing by the door approached me. “What are you doing here, simple head?”

“What did you call me?” I sneered at him.

He raised his chin, clearly caught off guard by my response.

“I am the Navigator, I was sent out of this hatch but some dick didn’t unlock the centre hatch and I had to crawl through a drainage spout!” The acolyte went to speak again, I held up my hand defiantly. “Don’t say a word, if Malikus finds out he’ll butcher everyone on this ring for nearly killing his Navigator, now drain the tube and let me out.”

His nose crinkled and he looked past me for a moment. “Alright, let me go turn the valve, I’ll call you when you can go.” I almost collapsed as he went out of sight. I heard the grates on the floor churn open to clear away the water. After he called me I opened the hatch and scurried up and out of that hell hole.

I peeked out of the sewer hatch like a periscope before hauling myself out onto the paving stone of the alley. The sweet smell of the early morning air cleansed my pallet of the rotten grog that had nestled in the back of my throat. I coughed and spat on the floor while on all fours.

Carefully I replaced the hatch and the slab, I looked up at the wall where the man had been pinned. His blood had coagulated and marked the concrete. A drop in the ocean that would be lost forever.

I scrambled to my feet and charged up the steps to our apartment, opening the door and barging into the empty living quarters. I breathed a sigh of relief. I knelt in the centre of our sleeping quarters and pushed my fingers into two unassuming holes to pull back a plate of steel flooring. A secret of this city only I knew. A unique part of my blueprint.

Looking up at me, from the dimly lit space I had created, was Leena. Her face was teary but still dressed in that forgiving, ever-loving smile. I wiped a tear from my cheek and sniffed, hopping down and wrapping my arms around her tightly.

“I did like you said, big brother.”

I sighed deeply, breathing her in as I nuzzled into her slender shoulder. “Good girl Leena...good girl.”

Ruefully I replaced the lid of Leena's living tomb, leaving her with food, a light, a book and a promise to return shortly. I sat atop Leena’s hiding hole crossed-legged. In my determination to break tradition, I had followed it unwillingly.

This was the sum of my entire life’s work. Everything else was cast aside for a chance to spit in the face of my duty. I still needed a medical officer, that fact made this small victory feel worthless.

I considered suicide. I knew it was no option though, Mother would make me dance for her either way. I considered offing Leena too, Mother would just make her dance too. We were bound to her tightly.

I opted for a shower. It felt like hailstone dashing my back, I leaned my hand against the wall and watched blood whirl-pool around the plug and suck down to the depths below, through those narrow pipes into the abyss.

I sat down in the corner until my daily ration of water came to an end. It didn’t take long. I lay on my side and pressed my cheek to the cooling, stained ceramic basin.

Swirling whispers called to me like a siren on the waves, up from the plug hole. I edged closer to listen.

“I forgive you.” The voice sounded like a thousand people whispering out of sync. It was hypnotic.

“I hate you,” I said.

“You hurt me deeply. But I still love you.”

“Liar.”

“A mother knows when to tell the truth, and when to lie.”

“You’re no mother.”

“You’ll dance for me.”

“I’ll die first.” I closed my eyes as I lay defiant in the cool air.

“I know.” Her chilling voice receded along with my grip on the waking world.