Despite the town's worth of refugees, it took only thirty-odd minutes for everyone to collect the remains of their lives and hurry inside the perimeter walls. Most people had lost at least a part of their belongings by now and were running on instinct. They kept only their most precious possessions on them, things like food, family utensils, and basic child-caring needs. Though he saw how the wealthier among them had larger items, which seemed, to him, impracticable to carry across a wartime land; but what did he know? He knew nothing of the world and had nothing from it.
“Jiehong, we should return inside…” he said.
“Yes, lead the way, friend.”
Inside, the structure already looked in a better condition than when they left. The walls, made from a strange and shiny stone, looked sharper as it reflected their images like water on a clear day. Although he didn’t know how, as he walked down the stairs and entered the inner sanctum, the bricks he trode upon gleamed. It was as if the building had taken the outside light and somehow absorbed it for use while inside.
“Have you ever heard of anything like it?” he asked while he stopped for a second just before they entered the sanctum.
“No, I haven’t… I have read of lost civilizations which had a technology level far above what exists today. I guess this stuff must be part of one of ‘em,” Jiehong pontificated.
Nodding, he wondered why a piece of ancient technology would be out in the boondocks of a little backwater like their kingship. The world must have looked mighty different back then, he said to himself.
“We’re back!” he said to the Center’s two caretakers. “Wait, sorry. What are you guys' titles, again? Caretakers?”
“We are called Wardens,” Sigma-Prime replied. “Our job is to tend to this Command Center and awaken more centers as we discover them and as the Ranger-Knight core expands.”
“Okay, I think I got it," he said. "So, problem: there is — evidently — a huge number of enemy soldiers nearby preventing our village from going anywhere. Will they be safe if they huddle against the building? 'Does this place have defenses?' I guess is what I’m asking? I am sorry for placing this burden on you guys… this place isn’t exactly a refugee camp.”
Sigma-Prime walked to him and placed their hand, a weird crab-like pincer, but blunted, on his shoulder. As a sign of support? He didn’t understand gestures well. Especially not with unusual life-forms like the two Wardens before him.
Sigma-Prime said, “Zan, of course your community will be safe here. The Screen Master and I had actually thought you and Jiehong had gone out to do just that! Our sensors picked up the large enemy force you spoke about. The core roadways are impassable. It would be suicide for anyone to attempt passage.”
Now it was Jiehong’s turn to place a hand on Zan’s shoulder. What was it with shoulders and people? But Jiehong said, “See? Told you everything would work out. It was a good idea, Zan. Thank you for keeping on your toes.”
Turning red for a moment, he muttered, “You’re welcome.” Turning his attention to the next matter at hand, he asked the Wardens, “What now?”
“Our task as Wardens is to assist the Ranger-Knights in their daily focus. We do not have an aim of our own. We merely exist to help others — you Rangers — in your fight against evil powers. As long as your fight is just, your power will grow; as your power grows, you will attract allies. So, we must ask you Zan, Jiehong — what is your goal?” the Screen Master said, lofty but simple.
What was their goal? What else other than ending the war?
He turned to Jiehong, “How about you answer for me?”
Jiehong answered and told them, “Our aim is to end this predatory war!”
He liked his answer but had more to share. He said, “Not only end the war, but ensure no other innocent people must suffer at the hands of the New Wooden Expanse! They have been a menace to the peace-loving folk of the world for too long and their leaders are nothing but psychopaths. It is time someone puts an end to their tyranny!”
Although his answer had jived his spirits toward lively heights, and had assumed Jiehong would benefit from embracing the notion of waging endless war against the invaders, Jiehong remained, instead, silent. Only after a few moments of thought did he reply.
“Wouldn’t that mean a lifetime of war?” Jiehong asked.
“What other life would we have, Jiehong?” he answered.
“A peaceful one? Fighting to liberate our country is one thing — I will gladly devote my life to that, but these other nations of the world? Some of them wished us ill-will even before they were taken over by the Expanse. I am not sure I want to risk my life fighting to free them when they are just going to turn their backs on us...”
His brother's words surprised him. He did not ever think his brother as an isolationist. Despite whatever context he may have been missing, it seemed to him a shortsighted response to one's homeland being invaded to stop the opposition at their own borders.
He replied to Jiehong and kept his response simple. “I guess you would know more about that than I, Jie. I never got the chance to learn like you. But let’s stick this topic in the oven for later. For now, you will fight. How about we revisit this topic again, but when we free our country?”
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
Making a show of considering his words, Jiehong said, “Yes. I agree. We will revisit this conversation much later. There is no point in arguing and disagreeing when so much information is missing for us. First, our home. Then, maybe, the world.”
Turning to Sigma-Prime, he said: “Our first goal: free our homeland!”
#
“Zan, Jiehong,” the Screen Master said. “As the newest Ranger-Knights, there are basic educational courses which both of you should take as it will teach you the history of the Ranger-Knights. In our databanks also are educational courses to improve your combat and magical skills. Do access them: this Command Center is yours to Command!”
Jiehong spoke and told the Screen Master, “Thank you, Simulacrum, sir! But I have to tend to my village first and get people settled. Everyone is frightened. Zan, one of us should look over the people. How about we both help for a while, then one of us can get some sleep as the other continues to help the village?”
He had no objections to the plan, though he already felt overtired and overly pained in his joints. His muscles were none better. But he said, “Sure… lots to do.”
The two boys went outside and went amongst the people.
The next several hours were a frenzy of activity and a near constant back and forth between the community and the Wardens. Every and each need of the community had to be answered:
‘Is there a spigot nearby?’ ‘Can we plant a garden?’ ‘That shaded area, is it fine to set up our family space?’ ‘Jiehong, can you gather for us some wood beyond the perimeter so we can have a firepit?’ ‘Zan, can you gather some of that metal so we can rig up some sturdy tents? Speaking of tents, are there any durable materials around to make shelter?’
And the now classic question, ‘Why can’t we go into the building?’
Via a trial-and-error process, Jiehong and he answered all these questions. Though the answer to the last question was more obscure. For that question, he simply replied, “Only people chosen by the gods can enter,” or if he didn’t have time, “Sorry. Rangers only… just a rule. Nothing against you.” Most of the town's youth, a minority, thought it a great disservice to be refused permission to enter the Center. Why they cared about this when they were fleeing for their lives and lucky to be alive, he did not understand. Older adults, meanwhile, avoided even being near the structure, going as far to set up their tents as close to the perimeter as possible… he wondered how such people slept without being rattled awake by the automatic fire from the defensive weaponry which had sprouted from the onetime way stones.
Although initially the boys intended to take turns watching out for the community, so much needed to be done, both of them worked into the evening. As they worked, automatic fire sputtered every so often, jolting awake at anyone who might have dared sleep.
“You’ve boys done enough,” an elder told he and Jiehong. “Thank you for all you’ve done, but we old folks can take it from here. You signed yourselves up for this Ranger-Knight ‘order.’, Go and do that. A man is nothing unless he fulfills his obligations and keeps his word.”
Neither of the boys needed to be told twice. They cleaned their hands, shook the dirt from their tattered footwear, and entered the Center.
“Please tell us you have beds…” he asked in an almost pleading sort of way.
Sigma-Prime was back on the table. They were not lit up with all the eye-popping colors he remembered seeing while they were awake and talking. What was going on?
It was the Screen Master who spoke next. He told them, “Sigma-Prime is charging. Her batteries are old, possibly damaged. Three and a half hours is the most she can go with a full charge.”
“So, after those hours, she has to return to that table? And… charge?” Jiehong asked to clarify what the unusual processes were about.
“Correct, Jiehong. And to answer your question, Zan — yes, we have full barracks on site besides many private rooms. As the first Ranger-Knights of the revival, you have ‘first claim’ on any room you desire.”
He looked to Jiehong and smiled. “Any room? Really?”
“Yes,” the Screen Master confirmed. “Any room.”
The two new Ranger-Knights saw a door unravel from the backend of the room. It was the same door he had noticed earlier, the one whose outlined had faintly been visible. It now fully unlocked itself and swung open. As it opened, dust and gods-know-what-else, scattered from the door, creating a large cloud.
Going through, there was a slight stairwell which descended for several compact tiers before ending in a hallway. The plump hallway had nothing of note except for rooms jutting out at intervals along its duration; four rooms on the left side, four rooms on the right side. Each of the rooms, Zan and Jiehong saw, was large enough to hold a dozen men.
“Wow… just how many Ranger-Knights do we need?” Jiehong asked.
“Enough for a small fighting force, evidently. And this is just on this base. Didn’t one of the Wardens saw there were other bases?” he replied.
“I think so. Hard to say. But we’re in it now, aren’t we, old friend?” Jiehong said, changing the topic suddenly.
Jiehong looked at him warmly, but not for long. Never for a period longer than ‘traditionally close but not too close’ friendship. Jiehong had many admirable qualities to him, but showing his soft side had never been among his talents.
“Yeah, we really are…” he said, as he looked at the eight open rooms plus the mysterious door at the very end of the hallway. Of all of the rooms, none except the door at the end of the hallway had privacy doors.
“Let’s look inside that door,” he said, pointing to the end door.
They went to the end of the hallway. He and Jiehong opened the door to the one room which actually had a door and stepped inside.
Unlike the barrack-styled room, this room had a bed, a bookshelf, and a storage trunk. He took to it right away and was about to claim it when Jiehong shouted, “MINE!”
In their old life, he would have slinked away and let Jiehong have the room. His brother's lifestyle was higher than his own. He had been accustomed to ‘more,’ as their parents clearly favored their blood son over their adopted son. Yet nagging voices in his head told him to turn around and fight. Fight for the room.
“Actually…” he began. “I should have this room. I was the one to discover this base. I was the one who activated the Wardens, and even if you think about it, I was the one who destroyed that huge four-legged war engine. Not to mention I was the first of us to take the dive and plug that… crystal in me. It is only fair.”
Jiehong made a show of consideration. He said, “You’re right. Totally right. Take this room, my man, and I will claim one of the open barracks. Put up a tarp for a door.”
“Okay, sounds good,” he replied, surprised his brother did not fight him on it. “I’m going to sleep now. See you in the morning, bud.”
Both of the brothers went their separate ways for the evening. Once Jiehong left the room and found a barrack suite suited to his disposition, he closed his door and found an immense satisfaction in doing so. He never had a door to close before now!
From the ceiling was a single shining gem which provided light. On the side of the wall, next to the door, was a smooth and flat surface made from some unknown precious gem. Experimentally, he touched it; he saw the gem embedded inside the ceiling flutter. It controls the light, he told himself. And probably other things, but I am too tired to figure those things out…
Collapsing into his mattress — a rare luxury for him — he fell asleep practically the moment his head touched the pillow. When he woke, it was a whole new world.