Falling Skies
They rather die than stay behind
The mood was set for a big speech but Poison refused to be all dramatic about it. So the Killjoys simply wished the rebels and the Stargazer good luck and both groups departed in opposite directions.
They had taken one of the smaller vans which they had painted white with the black BLI logo on the side, leaving the Trans Am for the Stargazer. Their plan was to take the route that BLI used for their supply trucks which would get them to Battery City in about two to three days, with one or two overnight breaks which they needed to save their energy.
'So what exactly do you know about your childhood now that you talked to the Stargazer?' Jet asked, about two hours into their journey.
Sky looked at Poison who was driving. The Stargazer had told them a lot but at the same time, nothing at all. They had been closely monitored since their birth and as soon as they had been old enough, a team of experts had trained and tested them.
'Yeah what about those flashbacks you had? Did you ask him about it?' Ghoul wanted to know.
'We did. He explained that they tested us every month to actually see how strong our bond was. Did EEG's to find out how our minds were connected and ECG's to check how our bodies responded. To be honest, I didn't understand half of what he was saying and I'm not sure he did either. All I know is that a team of physicians, psychologists and various coaches worked with us from the moment we were born. That's how we learned how to fight so quickly because we had been trained to do it before.' Sky answered, feeling Chip's curious eyes on her.
The Stargazer had been able to keep them a secret until one day, Korse had found out and that's when he had to let them go. It was too dangerous to keep them together so Sky had been left near the pound at the northern outskirts while Poison had been abandoned near a village in the southern outskirts. All he could do was make sure that someone would find them and keep them safe until they were old enough to go their own ways and hopefully find each other again. It had been risky but their only chance at survival.
'That's crazy dude. And the necklaces were a failsafe way to make sure you would find each other again?' Ghoul asked and Sky nodded. 'So what about that legend he mentioned? Did he tell you about it?'
Sky felt awkward talking about it. It was an odd story and she would have probably just wrote it off as a native fairytale but everything had turned out to be true so far. And it scared her more than anything.
*
'Well...you know the Phoenix Witch is supposedly over a hundred years old? She's the last of her tribe, who lived out here in the desert for thousands of years, going back to way before all the wars. The cave paintings we found were made by her ancestors, who were at war with a neighboring tribe over land and livestock. The legend said that during the night of the same alignment, hundreds of years ago, two children, a boy and a girl, were conceived. And born eight months later, exactly five weeks too early, just like Poison and me, their bodies and minds in perfect sync. What they called soulmates. Their love was so pure that the children were able to end the war by visiting the chief of the warring clan in his dreams, telling him to make peace. The next morning he woke up, walked into the tent of his enemy and offered him a truce. And from that moment on, they lived as neighbors and there was no more bloodshed.'
Poison had listened to Sky telling the story. It was a beautiful story but he couldn't quite grasp the theory that Sky and himself were supposed to be as powerful as these legendary children, created during the same astronomical event that had been the reason for their conception. Although he knew for a fact that they shared the same characteristics, the same powerful bond, the same abilities, it sounded too much like a myth. Still, as much as he didn't want to believe in it, he did.
Everyone in the van had been pretty speechless until Jet spoke again.
'Wow. So, do you also plan to visit BLI's leader in his dreams and convince him to offer us a truce? I think we are past that option. And they don't believe in anything like that.'
'Yeah, obviously. I mean we don't even know if they have a leader and who it is. But there's something we can and will do to stop them. We're just not sure what exactly that is.' Poison said and turned around to look at Sky, glad to see that she remained hopeful nonetheless.
Their first overnight stop was at an abandoned Bed & Breakfast, a place where the guys had found shelter before. It was in a pretty ruinous condition but it was relatively safe, except for the occasional rattlesnakes but a fire would keep them away. They shared a nutrition box between them, trying to save their most important meal for the day they would sneak into Battery City. Poison decided to check in with the Stargazer and was happy to hear that everyone was doing well and they had managed to cover the distance they had planned on traveling today. They had also gotten word that more rebels were teaming up with them on the way. It surprised Poison how many people had come forward yet, simply because the Stargazer told them that him and Sky apparently had the power to destroy BLI. As much as the plan had scared him at first, it had been the right move.
Chip had pretty much kept to himself, clearly anxious about returning to the place he had escaped from. Poison had talked to him, had told him that he wouldn't force him to go back to Battery City, that he knew it would be difficult for him. But the man had shaken his head, eager to help the Killjoys. Now Poison was huddled up with Sky, looking at him from across the fire.
'So you're in your 40s, that means you remember the time before the war, right?' he asked him and everyone looked up, awaiting Chip's answer.
*
'I do. I was a young man when the war began. Before that I had a normal life. Was going to school, lived with my family in the suburbs of Los Angeles. Went surfing on the weekends. Had girlfriends.' he said and Sky looked at Poison, clearly confused.
'Los Angeles? Wasn't that what Battery City used to be called?' she asked and the man sighed.
'Indeed. Downtown LA is now Battery City. The whole area around it has turned into Battery City's garbage dump, where they dispose of everything that isn't of use for them anymore, including dead bodies. You'll see it once we get there. It's a depressing sight.'
The Killjoys were quiet for a while and Sky couldn't help but shiver at the thought of seeing what Chip had just described. It must have been difficult for him to see how the city he had once called his home was now the center of all evil, housing the demons responsible for all this.
'Do you know what's beyond the border?' Kobra asked, making them all hold their breaths.
'I can't say for sure. Freedom. I'm certain there's freedom. The towns and cities that used to be there are probably still there. In Mexico, Central America, South America, BLI is telling everyone that there's nothing out there, that they have a better life here but that's part of their mind-control strategy.'
'Are there beaches?' Poison asked and the man laughed.
'There are! Plenty! Beautiful beaches, islands, you wouldn't even need any of this shit.' he picked up the empty nutrition box. 'You could fish and hunt and eat what's growing on the trees and in the soil. Then there are markets where you can meet and trade with people who also fish, hunt and harvest what's growing on the trees and in the soil. Or you can go and eat at a restaurant or a diner, like yours.' Sky's eyes widened and Poison sat up, grabbing her hand.
'An island? With beaches?' he was clearly excited and it was the most endearing thing to see. Again, Chip laughed.
'Ay. With white sand. And palm trees. Like paradise. You'd think you have to die first to go to a place like that but no, it's all there, across the border. If we succeed, your children could grow up playing with seashells instead of guns. Isn't that something?' he leaned back and lit a cigarette. And when Sky looked at Poison, she could see he had tears in his eyes.
*
The next day took them to Zone 3. Although they were undercover, everyone was getting more and more nervous. They spent the second night sleeping in the van, taking turns with the driving, since they knew that the area was most likely littered with security cameras. Luckily, the Killjoys had installed the original BLI truck's access device into the van, something that would get them through the electronic checkpoints in Zone 2 and 1 without any difficulties. Still, they had to be cautious, draculoids or other agents wouldn't stop for the night, from now on, they had to think and act like BLI.
It was time to put their drac uniforms and masks on and everyone felt more than uncomfortable about it. But they had reached the point of no return, the moment they had dreaded but at the same time anticipated. The mission, the purpose they were prepared to die for, if necessary. They were about 25 miles outside Battery City.
'We go in via the Lobby. It's what they call their slums but don't worry, it's not too dangerous. The people and droids living there are pretty much ignored by the agents and they ignore them. It's the easiest way in without being swiped right away. And if I'm right then their generator is also located there.' Chip explained and gave Jet, who was driving, the exact directions.
Poison and Sky were sitting in the back, away from the others, both of them quiet, just holding each other's hands. Would they succeed? Would they even be able to do anything? It was the ultimate test, their last and only test. He could feel her nervous energy, tingling in his fingertips.
First, they had to find their source of power and destroy it. That would give them an advantage, a headstart they needed to hack into BLI's system and make sure they couldn't just use their back-up generator. Then, they would deactivate all security systems, including the satellites they used to spy on everyone in the city as well as the cameras in the zones. Once that was down, they would launch their actual attack.
A lot could go wrong but everyone seemed to think that Poison and Sky could simply fix any problems by using their powers. No matter how many times they both tried to explain that they didn't know how to control or use them, the rest of the Killjoys and Chip were positive that they could figure it out. And Poison hoped they were right.
'We have to make sure the others are safe. We know we can bring each other back but we can't use it on them.' Sky whispered and Poison nodded. It was what worried him the most.
'I could tell them to stay behind. And we could go in alone.' Poison said, knowing that the idea was ridiculous.
'We could. But they would never let us.' Sky answered as expected.
'I'm their leader. If I give the order they-'
'They will hate you forever. This is their mission too, remember? This is what you've been working for. The reason for the Killjoys' existence. Don't take that away from them, Poison.' she pleaded and it almost broke his heart to hear her say all that.
'I'd rather they hate me than watching them die though.' he put his face in his hands and she hugged him, pulling him closer to her.
'And they rather die than stay behind.'
They had taken one of the smaller vans which they had painted white with the black BLI logo on the side, leaving the Trans Am for the Stargazer. Their plan was to take the route that BLI used for their supply trucks which would get them to Battery City in about two to three days, with one or two overnight breaks which they needed to save their energy.
'So what exactly do you know about your childhood now that you talked to the Stargazer?' Jet asked, about two hours into their journey.
Sky looked at Poison who was driving. The Stargazer had told them a lot but at the same time, nothing at all. They had been closely monitored since their birth and as soon as they had been old enough, a team of experts had trained and tested them.
'Yeah what about those flashbacks you had? Did you ask him about it?' Ghoul wanted to know.
'We did. He explained that they tested us every month to actually see how strong our bond was. Did EEG's to find out how our minds were connected and ECG's to check how our bodies responded. To be honest, I didn't understand half of what he was saying and I'm not sure he did either. All I know is that a team of physicians, psychologists and various coaches worked with us from the moment we were born. That's how we learned how to fight so quickly because we had been trained to do it before.' Sky answered, feeling Chip's curious eyes on her.
The Stargazer had been able to keep them a secret until one day, Korse had found out and that's when he had to let them go. It was too dangerous to keep them together so Sky had been left near the pound at the northern outskirts while Poison had been abandoned near a village in the southern outskirts. All he could do was make sure that someone would find them and keep them safe until they were old enough to go their own ways and hopefully find each other again. It had been risky but their only chance at survival.
'That's crazy dude. And the necklaces were a failsafe way to make sure you would find each other again?' Ghoul asked and Sky nodded. 'So what about that legend he mentioned? Did he tell you about it?'
Sky felt awkward talking about it. It was an odd story and she would have probably just wrote it off as a native fairytale but everything had turned out to be true so far. And it scared her more than anything.
*
'Well...you know the Phoenix Witch is supposedly over a hundred years old? She's the last of her tribe, who lived out here in the desert for thousands of years, going back to way before all the wars. The cave paintings we found were made by her ancestors, who were at war with a neighboring tribe over land and livestock. The legend said that during the night of the same alignment, hundreds of years ago, two children, a boy and a girl, were conceived. And born eight months later, exactly five weeks too early, just like Poison and me, their bodies and minds in perfect sync. What they called soulmates. Their love was so pure that the children were able to end the war by visiting the chief of the warring clan in his dreams, telling him to make peace. The next morning he woke up, walked into the tent of his enemy and offered him a truce. And from that moment on, they lived as neighbors and there was no more bloodshed.'
Poison had listened to Sky telling the story. It was a beautiful story but he couldn't quite grasp the theory that Sky and himself were supposed to be as powerful as these legendary children, created during the same astronomical event that had been the reason for their conception. Although he knew for a fact that they shared the same characteristics, the same powerful bond, the same abilities, it sounded too much like a myth. Still, as much as he didn't want to believe in it, he did.
Everyone in the van had been pretty speechless until Jet spoke again.
'Wow. So, do you also plan to visit BLI's leader in his dreams and convince him to offer us a truce? I think we are past that option. And they don't believe in anything like that.'
'Yeah, obviously. I mean we don't even know if they have a leader and who it is. But there's something we can and will do to stop them. We're just not sure what exactly that is.' Poison said and turned around to look at Sky, glad to see that she remained hopeful nonetheless.
Their first overnight stop was at an abandoned Bed & Breakfast, a place where the guys had found shelter before. It was in a pretty ruinous condition but it was relatively safe, except for the occasional rattlesnakes but a fire would keep them away. They shared a nutrition box between them, trying to save their most important meal for the day they would sneak into Battery City. Poison decided to check in with the Stargazer and was happy to hear that everyone was doing well and they had managed to cover the distance they had planned on traveling today. They had also gotten word that more rebels were teaming up with them on the way. It surprised Poison how many people had come forward yet, simply because the Stargazer told them that him and Sky apparently had the power to destroy BLI. As much as the plan had scared him at first, it had been the right move.
Chip had pretty much kept to himself, clearly anxious about returning to the place he had escaped from. Poison had talked to him, had told him that he wouldn't force him to go back to Battery City, that he knew it would be difficult for him. But the man had shaken his head, eager to help the Killjoys. Now Poison was huddled up with Sky, looking at him from across the fire.
'So you're in your 40s, that means you remember the time before the war, right?' he asked him and everyone looked up, awaiting Chip's answer.
*
'I do. I was a young man when the war began. Before that I had a normal life. Was going to school, lived with my family in the suburbs of Los Angeles. Went surfing on the weekends. Had girlfriends.' he said and Sky looked at Poison, clearly confused.
'Los Angeles? Wasn't that what Battery City used to be called?' she asked and the man sighed.
'Indeed. Downtown LA is now Battery City. The whole area around it has turned into Battery City's garbage dump, where they dispose of everything that isn't of use for them anymore, including dead bodies. You'll see it once we get there. It's a depressing sight.'
The Killjoys were quiet for a while and Sky couldn't help but shiver at the thought of seeing what Chip had just described. It must have been difficult for him to see how the city he had once called his home was now the center of all evil, housing the demons responsible for all this.
'Do you know what's beyond the border?' Kobra asked, making them all hold their breaths.
'I can't say for sure. Freedom. I'm certain there's freedom. The towns and cities that used to be there are probably still there. In Mexico, Central America, South America, BLI is telling everyone that there's nothing out there, that they have a better life here but that's part of their mind-control strategy.'
'Are there beaches?' Poison asked and the man laughed.
'There are! Plenty! Beautiful beaches, islands, you wouldn't even need any of this shit.' he picked up the empty nutrition box. 'You could fish and hunt and eat what's growing on the trees and in the soil. Then there are markets where you can meet and trade with people who also fish, hunt and harvest what's growing on the trees and in the soil. Or you can go and eat at a restaurant or a diner, like yours.' Sky's eyes widened and Poison sat up, grabbing her hand.
'An island? With beaches?' he was clearly excited and it was the most endearing thing to see. Again, Chip laughed.
'Ay. With white sand. And palm trees. Like paradise. You'd think you have to die first to go to a place like that but no, it's all there, across the border. If we succeed, your children could grow up playing with seashells instead of guns. Isn't that something?' he leaned back and lit a cigarette. And when Sky looked at Poison, she could see he had tears in his eyes.
*
The next day took them to Zone 3. Although they were undercover, everyone was getting more and more nervous. They spent the second night sleeping in the van, taking turns with the driving, since they knew that the area was most likely littered with security cameras. Luckily, the Killjoys had installed the original BLI truck's access device into the van, something that would get them through the electronic checkpoints in Zone 2 and 1 without any difficulties. Still, they had to be cautious, draculoids or other agents wouldn't stop for the night, from now on, they had to think and act like BLI.
It was time to put their drac uniforms and masks on and everyone felt more than uncomfortable about it. But they had reached the point of no return, the moment they had dreaded but at the same time anticipated. The mission, the purpose they were prepared to die for, if necessary. They were about 25 miles outside Battery City.
'We go in via the Lobby. It's what they call their slums but don't worry, it's not too dangerous. The people and droids living there are pretty much ignored by the agents and they ignore them. It's the easiest way in without being swiped right away. And if I'm right then their generator is also located there.' Chip explained and gave Jet, who was driving, the exact directions.
Poison and Sky were sitting in the back, away from the others, both of them quiet, just holding each other's hands. Would they succeed? Would they even be able to do anything? It was the ultimate test, their last and only test. He could feel her nervous energy, tingling in his fingertips.
First, they had to find their source of power and destroy it. That would give them an advantage, a headstart they needed to hack into BLI's system and make sure they couldn't just use their back-up generator. Then, they would deactivate all security systems, including the satellites they used to spy on everyone in the city as well as the cameras in the zones. Once that was down, they would launch their actual attack.
A lot could go wrong but everyone seemed to think that Poison and Sky could simply fix any problems by using their powers. No matter how many times they both tried to explain that they didn't know how to control or use them, the rest of the Killjoys and Chip were positive that they could figure it out. And Poison hoped they were right.
'We have to make sure the others are safe. We know we can bring each other back but we can't use it on them.' Sky whispered and Poison nodded. It was what worried him the most.
'I could tell them to stay behind. And we could go in alone.' Poison said, knowing that the idea was ridiculous.
'We could. But they would never let us.' Sky answered as expected.
'I'm their leader. If I give the order they-'
'They will hate you forever. This is their mission too, remember? This is what you've been working for. The reason for the Killjoys' existence. Don't take that away from them, Poison.' she pleaded and it almost broke his heart to hear her say all that.
'I'd rather they hate me than watching them die though.' he put his face in his hands and she hugged him, pulling him closer to her.
'And they rather die than stay behind.'
@carmen_mcr
Aww thank you - I'm glad you enjoyed it so much.
Maybe I will write a sequel. I want to!
9/29/13