The flash pellet hit the ground at Talian's feet with a soft thud. A moment later, the cavern once again erupted in an explosion of sight and sound. Creighton's men, Talian's guard, and Talian himself were all engulfed, stunned. Everyone was blinded but Vas, who had pulled a protective mask from his pack.
Screaming in pain, Talian dropped the gauntlet and covered his eyes. Then, the traitor moved. Vas darted forward, adrenaline propelling him straight to Talian, and the Hand of God at his feet. He picked it up in one swoop and headed for the left connecting tunnel. Even as the 19s plan had failed, his plan had worked. He had it.
It was cold in his hand, numbingly cold, but he paid that no mind, gripping it like a child as he darted through the tunnel. On his way, he leapt over corpses, scared to look at any faces.
He made it to the tunnel and continued down. He had stashed a Tri-Wheel further in. Once he got there, he was free, golden, the power of a god his, the trajectory of his life forever changed. No more would he be at the whimsy of the universe.
Legs and lungs pumping with fury he ran, ignoring the screams. In the tunnel, he thought he saw Sharn, still alive, but only barely. He kept running, though it made him sick. There was nothing he could do. The best way he could serve the 19s, and himself, was to get the Hand out of the tunnels, off the planet.
Behind him, he heard yelling- Talian. There was true anger in his voice, the first time Vas had ever heard it. “Get him!” He was yelling it at his guards. They would be after him soon. They would be fast, faster than any human, but not faster than a bike. He just had to get to the bike.
Vas exited the tunnel and headed right down the next. He only had a little bit to go, but they would be behind him now. He swallowed down his fear and found an extra gear. “Just get to the bike. Just get to the bike.”
He had made it through the next tunnel. He was almost there. But, behind him, armored footsteps. They were already getting close. How were they already getting close? A flash pellet would render a normal man inoperable for at least a few minutes.
Nimble feet rounded the next corner. There it was, the bike. Low to the ground and colored dark gray, it was simply made for a simple task, but he'd never been more happy to see one.
He leapt over the seat with ease only years of practice can provide. Listening for footsteps, he shoved the key in and prayed to the Eleven. The Tri-Wheel had never failed him before. He hoped it wouldn't fail him now.
The bike roared to life and Vas roared in triumph. He pushed the handle down and left, whirling the bike around and out, towards salvation.
Sri, and his ship, would be waiting outside. The Peacekeeper would not be able to escape in time to shut down the Skygates, nor could he order them closed from inside the mines. His comm equipment was useless. Vas would be free. No longer would he be powerless, pushed around by a cruel world. He could grab the world by the throat- dictate his life, his rules.
The clunk of armor echoed down the tunnels, but Vas was already flying, wheels leaving a trail of dust and dirt. He glanced around in time to see black armored men turn the corner, but he was able to veer the bike left around the next turn before they could land a clean shot. It was over, he was free.
“Yaaaaaaahhhh.” He exclaimed- victorious. He drifted around the next corner with easy skill, the carnage and memories of the day left to be forgotten in the labyrinth. He'd be on a ship in an hour. Out of the dome and Tella in two. On a new planet, a new home in a week. It was the start of his destiny, one he'd chosen for himself. “Yaaaaaaaaa”. He roared again, overcome by the moment.
And then, in a cruel instant, his joy died. He slammed the brake, drifting the bike to stop. His mouth fell as he saw what was in front of him. The tunnel had collapsed. It was, Vas knew, not an uncommon occurrence, but he had checked this exact route three days ago. What were the odds it would happen in that time? Slim to none.
His mind raced, calculating other exit routes. There were always other ways. Except...
Disbelief, pure disbelief, the other ways out were all past this tunnel. He'd only had maybe thirty yards to go and he would have had three different exit routes. Now, he had... zero, unless you counted the one behind him.
Never the quitter, Vas thought, and thought, and thought. He could hear the echo of combat boots, getting closer. They hadn't quit either, but he kept thinking, planning. There was always something, some contingency. Something he could do. Some way he could save himself.
Then, an idea- the Hand. Maybe just maybe it could work. He put it on, feeling its incredible chill. Desperate, he waved it around, flipped it up and down like Talian had done. Nothing. There was a secret to it, one he'd planned on investigating once he'd escaped Tella. He wouldn't be able to find it now. He removed it, panic setting in again as he tried to think of a way out.
His brain slowed, tired, as plan after plan fell flat. Nothing would work. He had no ideas. And then it just… stopped, succumbing to one horrible thought. No matter how hard he tried to fight it, there was nothing he could do… no escape. All he could do was bargain. It was over. Well and truly over.
He was behind the bike when they found him. Hands in the air, gauntlet visible to see. “Don't shoot!” He yelled. “I have information Talian will want to know.”
--------
It took a while for Talian to reach them. He'd been walking, still tired from both attacks. When he saw the tunnel though, he smiled. “That's pretty unlucky, Vas.”
Vas said nothing, staring into the dirt, the color of the world gone from green eyes. Talian looked him up and down, not so much angry as contemplative. “You know, I never really trusted you? You probably think I'm lying, trying to cover my mistake. I'm not.” Vas didn't look up. He didn't care. Talian continued. “I didn't… until,” He nodded, impressed. “Your masterstroke. Warning me. Brilliant, really. Then, I trusted you. Only then.”
He approached Vas and lightly retrieved the gauntlet from the boy's hands. The guards hadn't dared to touch it. “How did you know I would take it off?”
Vas still hadn't looked up. “Maurius did it.” He whispered. “After one of his attacks.” He remembered that raised black hand, engulfed in fire, and those horrible yellow teeth.
Talian was pacing now, back and forth. “Clever boy. Only one way to catch me with the Hand off.” Vas shrugged, unimpressed with himself. “Took guts too. Real guts.” He continued. There was something in his eyes, almost... admiration. “Kill me, sure. Lots of people try to kill me. Steal the Hand though, one of the holiest... Well, not many try.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
He kneeled in front of Vas. “I told you, kid. You’re too smart for this place. I meant it too. But now...” He frowned that flicker of admiration dying. “You'll never leave.”
The words hit Vas like an anvil. In a way, they hurt more than any threat of death. He would never leave, never become something. Talian was right. He would die here. For the first time, he had given up.
But then something peculiar happened. Those eyes lit up again- hungry. No, he wouldn’t die here, not while there was a chance, however slim. “Wait.” He began. “I know things. Things you want to know.”
Talian shrugged. “So do a few prisoners we collected.”
“They won't talk. They'll lie to you.”
“And you won't?” Talian laughed.
“Not if I want to live. And you know I want to live.”
Talian considered, weighing the options. “Not sure you're worth it kid.”
Vas panicked. “Wait. Wait. Wait. You don't know how to get out of here.”
Talian raised his brows. “No. But the driver....”
A small smile curled Vas' lip. He'd found a lifeline. “Did you really think he'd be alive, or Illura would be waiting, or the transport would be operational?”
“Obviously.” Talian murmured, hand running through well-kept dark hair as the revelation set in. They'd hit the transport as a contingency during the attack to prevent exactly this. He sighed, resigned. “The terrorists came on something. Bikes? Another transport? Something. Where are they?”
“How do I know you won't kill me if I tell you?”
He laughed. “I don't think you have much of a choice, Vas.”
Choice no, but a chance yes. Maybe, just maybe, he could get out of this alive. Free was a whole different problem, but he'd figure that out later.
“Alright.” He nodded. “Follow me.”
------
The vehicles were in a small chamber a few twists and turns down the opposite tunnel from the attack site. There were mostly bikes, but there was one run-down vehicle transport- really nothing more than a square box with wheels they had used to move the heavier weapons.
The Peacekeeper raised his arms to the sky when he saw the transport. “My back survives another day. Praise be!”
Vas watched him. How could he act so calm, after what had happened, was happening, and would happen? He appeared totally unconcerned, bored even. But for a momentary display of true anger half an hour ago, he hardly seemed to register any of it.
As he approached the transport, one of his guards kneeled in the dirt. “Sir, a few of these tracks have been made recently. I think some have escaped.”
Talian shrugged. “They would have left a few runners in case the attack failed.”
“Sir, they'll be expecting us.” The guard explained.
“Which is why Vas will lead us out a tunnel they won't expect. Isn't that right?” He smiled.
The guard swallowed. “Sir... can we...”
“Trust him?” Talian asked. “Of course we can. We die, Vas dies, and he won't let that happen.” Vas bristled, insulted, even if it was true. “C'mon Vas,” He gestured towards the transport. “Lead the way.”
A few minutes later they were moving, one of the guards driving, Vas, Talian, and the other guard in the back. Next to them a few unconscious members of the 19s Talian had taken as prisoners. They'd left Creighton's men behind. Talian had suggested they wait a few hours and then take the bikes out, but he hadn't wanted them in the first place and didn't want them now.
The Peacekeeper leaned back in his seat, getting as comfy as one could in the cramped interior of the transport. “So, Vas, mind telling me what's happening above?”
“Left ahead!” Vas yelled at the driver before turning back to Talian. “I ask again, how do I know you won't kill me?”
Talian's eyes rolled theatrically. “Because... kid... if you must know, I don't kill captives. Once we are out, I will deliver you to the prison, if it still stands, and clean my hands of you. What happens after that? Truthfully, I don't care. If you don’t talk though…” He left it there.
Biting his lip and fiddling with his cuffs, Vas considered the offer. It was a generous one. He knew that. He'd still be killed, if he was lucky. The severity of his crime warranted punishments he couldn't dream of. It did, however, give him something.
“Creighton's dead.” He started. “I mean... probably. That was the plan. They'll be taking out the rest of his top advisors as we speak. Then, they'll seize the city.”
It was seismic news, but Talian merely nodded, like Vas had reported the weather. He turned to the guard sitting next to Vas. “You were right.” The man said nothing. “I didn't think they would dare- not after Maurius.” He rubbed his eyes. “Getting arrogant in my old age.” He sighed. “When did the attack begin?”
Vas deliberated for a second. “They planned it to be roughly simultaneous, but with no ability to communicate, it was probably- I don't know- plus or minus thirty minutes from the attack at the mining rig.” Then, after a half second, he yelled at the driver again. “Right!” The vehicle followed his direction.
“So a three hour head start at maximum.” Talian thought. “Doable. Easily doable” He smiled at the guard. “Creighton's fried, I'm afraid. We didn't do a great job there.” He laughed. “No real shame though.” He pondered for a while longer. “So what's the plan?” He asked Vas again. “After they take the city?”
Vas frowned. “Strike a deal with the Order. Originally, they wanted to use the Hand as a bargaining chip, but they’ll still try. The 19s keep the metal flowing. The Order keeps their prison planet, but Mar's in charge now, so it'll be… different.” He spat the final word out, contempt clear.
There was almost some sympathy in Talian's expression. “Ah... You must not have liked learning that? What was it? Same story...”
“Just different details.” Vas finished.
Talian leaned back further. “Yeah... way of the world I'm afraid. The fate of revolution, really, and all idealists.”
Vas had nothing to say.
------
An hour later they safely exited an unused entrance Vas had known. After 15 minutes of driving, they made it back to outskirts of the city itself. They skidded and slid through the streets, pedestrians dodging out of the way last minute. In record time they arrived at the edge of the city's heart. Talian ordered them to stop at the tower, one of Tella's largest remaining buildings. It was the prison, where he'd promised to bring Vas and the rest.
They rolled up to the gate and the black-clad guard jumped out. A moment later he and a rather panicked looking security guard struck up a brief conversation. A knock on the door followed and Talian opened it. “Prison is secure.” The guard said. “We can drop them off here.”
Talian thanked him and turned to Vas. “Your stop, I'm afraid.”
The guard grabbed him roughly and hauled Vas out of the vehicle. He hit the ground hard, but was quickly yanked up and dragged toward the electric gate. Above him, an imposing mass of gray leered over the city, the Tower.
Vas swallowed. It was better than dying, barely. He turned in time to see Talian leap into the vehicle. The man didn't look back. Vas wondered if this would be the last time he ever saw the Peacekeeper, or the Hand of God he wore.