The room smelt like cigarette smoke and chemicals. Blotches of tar grew from the corners. There wasn't much of value, no clothes, only one empty shelf, and a set of scrubbers. These rooms were only three meters deep by two meters wide. A wheeled tray stood against the wall across from the rusty bed and next to the stainless-steel chemical toilet. The bed, narrow as it was, took up the greater portion of the space.

Lavinia cried as they shared a long and deep kiss with Helen's knee raised next to her hip and braced against the wall. Finally, Helen let go with the slightest of pops from their thin pink lips.

"How did you get here?" Lavinia asked, "This place is horrible, everyone is locked up. They hurt the people who tried to help me and took them away! I want to get out here! I want to leave right now!"

Helen embraced her sister firmly as Lavinia leaned against her and smelt a scent as if she had just stepped out of a meadow on a windswept sunny day. Her sister's hair felt soft. Lavinia pulled her face into her sister's shoulder.

"There now, there now, don't talk such nonsense. Where else would we go, this is the only place around for thousands of miles. I know things seem harsh, but people need discipline in order to survive. You can't just let them do whatever they want; things must be structured or the entire colony will collapse."

The crying stopped; Lavinia's skin turned pale as she pushed away slowly. Her petite hand caressed Helen's smooth cheek as she stared into cold brown eyes.

"They aren't ants. Can't you follow father's teachings anymore? Are you going to take after her? Why...."

A smack echoed through the small room; Lavinia stared wide eyed as her cheek began to burn with the imprint of a slender hand. Tears started to well up in her bright blue eyes. A pale lower lip began to quiver and she shivered slightly. Helen's hands fell to her sides, and she stared until the ice in her eyes melted. She reached an apologetic hand towards her sister's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, but I'll follow father's teaching in my own way. I'm not the coward I was back then. I've learned much. I really want to help you, but I can't do anything about the way this place is except try to make it better for the people who live here. I've done the best I can. The people who rescued you are in trouble, one is already dead. I may be able to help them, but you must help me. I need to extract your MES."

The microscopic enhancement system served as the core for their being. Why would Helen need something so important?

"But that-"

"Now, now, I don't need it all right away, but it's something we must do; it's the only way to stop the rogue MER. I've been using my time here to conduct research on father's technology. I know why Nyx went rogue. We are the key to ending this whole nightmare. It can go back to the way it used to be. There will be green grass again, and trees, and buildings, and parks, all the things you used to cherish so much. Don't you want that for humanity, for your friends?"

The metal walls were so shiny that Helen could see the blurry reflection of her older sister's blonde hair on the wall behind her. A slow smile, somewhat forced, one that Lavinia couldn't see, grew upon Helen's lips as they embraced. Lavinia pushed herself into the embrace, crying.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"I want to believe you, I want so much to believe in you, but I just can't anymore. You always hide, you never say what you want. Why does everything have to be so full of secrets? Did you hurt my friends? Can I trust you to help me? After what you did to father, can I really rely on you?"

Helen slowly unwound herself from the embrace like a python uncoiling from a stump. She stepped towards the only way out of that cramped little room. Light from the hall shone behind her as she reached out to her little sister. The whirl of the scrubbers whispered from against the walls.

"I'm not the one who killed father! I... I tried to save him," Helen said, her voice quivering a bit, "Lavinia, do we have any other options? We need to trust one another."

Lavinia remained still for a long moment before pushing herself off the firm mattress.

-----

Sandy ground interspersed with dirt and rocks formed the floor of the elliptical pit, with the exception of a small stone platform cut into a circle in the center. A black obelisk stood in the center of the platform. Walls of steel hemmed the pit and two closed hatches were sealed on each side. The mire of loose sand threatened to swallow the feet of Larox and Tray.

High above the gladiators were glass panels that separated the audience from the arena. Higher still were bright lights that shone onto the designed terrain. Larox held a spear with a bronze tip, while Horst had chosen a somewhat rusty katana. Both men wore fresh uniforms, they had the lightest of armor. For Larox, it was a purple bicycle helmet and an orange life preserver. Horst had the privilege of fingerless gloves, knee protectors, and a dental vest with a shredded outer layer. Larox spit in the sand before smirking at Horst.

"You know, I'm kind of relieved they didn't try to pit us against each other, I actually.... Well, I'm glad we're on the same team."

Horst beamed, almost laughing, "Now you're going to get sentimental on me? Just before we get torn limb from limb. You're not so bad yourself though, even if it was just for all the hell you put the captain through. I could find a worse way to die. Let's give these folks a show!"

Larox smiled as he idly swung the spear. Above the audience, but just below the lights, there was a podium on the end of a metal catwalk. Footsteps purposely magnified by acoustic technology and well-placed microphones echoed throughout the elliptical coliseum. In the seating halls, where the masses watched through the glass or the giant screens, all conversation halted as the announcer approached the podium.

He wore shiny black leather shoes graced by the hem of gray pinstripe pants. A blue-gray coat and a glistening blue tie with thin white stripes draped his torso. Neatly pressed garments without wrinkles complimented slicked back dark hair layered thick with glimmering grease. The clean-shaven announcer had intense brown eyes, and flawless skin with a slight olive tint against the heavy lights. A commanding baritone pitch filled the arena when he spoke into the microphone.

"Citizens of Manderee, the men you see before you have committed high treason against Clinker Corporation. It has been seen fit by the council, that one Howard Horne and one Larox Desjardins will be given a trial. After which, pending survival, they will be reinstated. For over five decades the Clinker Corporation has ensured that society prospers through the wisdom of equitably redistributed resources, yet these men have sought to challenge that balance and sow the seeds of destruction. Howard Horne, who has committed the crime of unauthorized reproduction of access codes and Larox Desjardins, whose crimes include kidnapping, theft of company property and entering restricting areas. What is to be done about them!?"

The audience roared for their heads. The noise of the crowd was broadcast over the pit. Larox pursed his lips, turned around, and mooned the anouncer. Horst laughed so hard he was almost on his knees. Larox turned and yelled toward Horst, the only one close enough to hear him over the speakers.

"I only did it because he pronounced the X in my name, the X is silent. He reminds me of you guys."

"You're only telling me this now?! You were miserable all the time because everyone pronounced your name wrong?!"

"That's not the reason!"