Asunder Chapter 35

Chapter 7.4 (35)

The Disruptor

Pursuit

Volcanic Harvester- a machine that stimulates particle dispersion and high-frequency eruption of rhyolite, andesite, and basalt into molten igneous rock via gravitomagnetic wave production in the earth’s surface.

- Present Day -

- The Year 2296 -

Ace wiped the grimy sweat from his brow as the machine tumbled next to him, removing layers of rock with each pass of its laser. He pressed his metal drill into the rock face and felt the rumble of its gears vibrate through his knuckles to his very core. His joints ached with the motion. After a moment, the drill stopped, denoting it had met its proper depth. The light on the drill shifted from red to green, indicating he could now trigger the placement of the sensor. Though he had placed thousands of sensors, he still held his breath as he pressed the ignition. He had not only heard the stories but had seen with his eyes the effects of an improperly placed or malfunctioning sensor—the sudden shift of the adjacent laser vaporizing straight through an arm or, worse, the head or torso.

Bracing himself, Ace felt the mechanisms within the drill load the sensor, and then, with a quick pulse, the drill injected the sensor deep into the rock. Ace counted down, whispering, “Three, two, one.” There was no sign of the laser shifting its course. Carefully removing the nose of the drill from the wall, he sighed and looked to the next segment the machines had marked for him to investigate and prep. As he stared at the wall to his left, something in his periphery caught his attention. Something in the distance emerged from the shadows.

To Ace’s astonishment, as he peered into the pressing darkness of the shaft, a young girl stood in the dim glowing light staring back at him. Ace quickly looked around. Had no one else noticed a child in the mine shaft? Careful not to bring unwanted attention to himself or the child, for he hadn’t known what the machines would do to her if they knew a child had snuck into this restricted area, Ace lifted his hand and waved. The young girl smiled and waved back. The girl appeared peculiar in the setting. Rather than being enveloped by the darkness all about them, she seemed to glow. The soft edges of her cheeks and wisps of her black frizzy hair appeared to take on the dim lights of the mine, absorbing the energy and recirculating it around her. Was this a ghost?

Glancing back at the other miners and machines, it appeared no one else had taken notice of her. Returning his gaze to the girl, she suddenly stood just inches from him. Startled at the sudden approach of the girl, Ace nearly fell backward. She had somehow traversed fifty feet in a matter of milliseconds. Reaching out, she rested her hand on his, and an immediate tranquility flowed through Ace. His nerves instantly calmed, and a sudden knowing entered his mind. He fixated on the young girl’s eyes, and the green within her irises flashed a glimpse of generations. He knew those eyes. They were the same eyes his sister Jane carried, passed to her by his father and his father’s mother. Beyond this, he could see thousands of others bearing those same eyes. This girl was Jane’s unborn daughter. The knowledge of this settled within him, bringing an unusual sense of comfort.

Suddenly, a delicate voice entered his mind. “Hello, Uncle.”

Ace opened his mouth to speak, but the young girl quickly raised her finger to her lips, indicating he should not, and then she nodded toward the other miners and machines, who still had not noticed them. Lifting her finger to her temple, she spoke again in his mind. “Let’s keep our words within our minds.”

Ace nodded. “You are…”

“Saharifem,” she finished his sentence.

“Incredible,” Ace responded, acknowledging the supernatural conditions of the experience.

Then, as though the weight of the mountain crashed down upon his consciousness, multiple realizations struck him simultaneously. This girl was his sister’s unborn child? Jane was with child. He needed to find Jane. But why? Why was he here back in the mines? His recollection placed him not there in the mines, but instead, he remembered being at the dunes with Korin. He suddenly remembered the mission, Agro defecting, dreaming with his sister, meeting Tkin, riding through the desert on a speeder, and holding Korin’s hand as he fell asleep.

Then, returning to the moment, he looked down at the girl and spoke in his mind, “This is a dream.”

“Correct,” the sweet voice rang in his head.

“Is this like the dream I had with Jane? Is this real?”

“In a sense.” She responded. “In that, I’m real, and you are real, but our surroundings are a setting your mind has created. Even with this creation, the world around us can quickly change if allowed to, so let us not disturb our environment.”

The young girl wrapped her fingers around Ace’s and began pulling him away from the machines, guiding him deep into the dark shafts of the mines.

“Where are we going?” Ace spoke into his mind.

“There are people in this world who are blessed with gifts, Ace. Gifts, which, if harnessed properly, open pathways to an unseen world—gifts that open the tongues of the speechless. Gifts, which can heal the broken hearted.” The young girl spoke as if she were an older, wisened woman.

“You sound like my father… well, I suppose, like your grandfather.” Ace laughed at the realization.

Saharifem continued speaking as they rounded the corner, traveling deeper into the darkness. “You must remember your gifts, Ace.”

“My gifts?”

As they proceeded forward, familiar lights appeared on the cavern’s walls, and the ground began shifting from hardened stone to soft sand.

“Yes, your gifts.” She continued, “You are a guide—a keeper. Your ability to see the Aeon binds you to it. You do not know yet, but the Aeon calls to you. As much as you seek it, it seeks you.”

Ace had no idea what this girl meant. “What is Aeon?”

“The ore you seek in the mines.” She smiled, squeezing his hand as they continued walking.

“The Caerulum?”

“Yes, the Caerulum.”

“But all it does is power the machines.”

“Oh, it is much more than a conduit for machine life, Ace. It is the key to unlocking the treasures beyond your understanding.”

They suddenly rounded a corner, and a scene of familiarity opened before him, causing Ace to gasp. They stepped into a large cave with a pool at its far end. Sand stretched to the water’s edge. An opening in the rocks above allowed light to spill through like a beam shining down. It was the sacred cave of washings from the mining facility where he met Diego. His eyes followed the light as it came down to rest on the personage of a young woman. As his eyes focused, he could make out the black curly hair and peach-colored vest. The multitude of bracelets still bound her wrists, and she stood, her arms folded, as though waiting for him.

Ace’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of the woman, and his knees suddenly felt weak. He looked back down at the girl and spoke in his mind, trembling.

“Is that… is that Alayha?”

With this, Saharifem nodded. “It is.” She smiled.

Without thinking, Ace broke into a sprint. Emotions flowed through him as his feet dug into the sand with each step. Memories of their time together flashed before his mind: sitting at the water’s edge laughing, talking into the night, and singing together in the ceremonies. She was his friend, one of his closest friends, until the machines found her—found the cave of washings. His stomach lurched at the thought. Upon reaching her in his sprint, Ace readied himself to pick her up for an embrace, but as he approached the young woman, she quickly raised her hand. An incredible invisible force emanated from her palm, and Ace felt every muscle in his body instantaneously stop moving, causing him to stand frozen in place.

“Alayha” was the only word he could muster through clenched teeth.

The woman gently eased her hand away, and he felt the grip on his muscles ease away as well. It was the same feeling as when Tkin stopped him from approaching Korin. Suddenly, the invisible bands vanished, and he slumped, nearly falling to the ground.

“Alayha… I thought you were dead.” He exclaimed as he scrambled to gain composure and raise himself from his knees.

Ace collected himself and slowly rose to his feet again, coming eye level with the woman. Her once innocent eyes bore a fierceness and an understanding one only sustains from years of tribulation. Ace understood the look more than he would have dared wanted. Suddenly, the woman reached up, causing Ace to flinch as he assumed he would be frozen again by her unseen power. Then, gently resting the back of her hand against his cheek, she caressed the tattoos across his face. A warmth emanated from her now, and her eyes softened. She pressed her thumb against his cheekbone and rested two fingers between his eyes. As though a floodgate of understanding suddenly opened, he could hear her breathing now.

“Oh, how I’ve missed ya, old friend,” Alayha said, her voice longing and sorrowful, echoing through his mind.

“You’re alive?” Ace reiterated, leaning into her hand. Understanding this was her way to communicate with him:

“Yes. But that is neither here nor dere. The machines are growing eager. Dey are attempting to use me more than ever.”

“So they have you? Where? I’ll find you! I’ll set you free!”

“Always da hero,” she smiled. “Dere is no saving me. Ya would only harm yaself and the others under ya care.”

“But Alayha… I tried…” He choked up, even in his mind. “The day they found you, the day they found the cave, I tried to rescue you, but…”

“But the machines are too powerful for a single man. I don’t blame ya, Ace. And neither should ya blame yaself. Ya must hold fast to your mission now.”

“But what about you? Where are you? Once we get Commander Sylas and the others, we can rescue you!”

Tears began to trickle down the woman’s cheeks. “Dere is no rescuing me, Ace. Even dis, me speaking with ya now, is only made possible through Saharifem. She is da answer. Ya must find yer sister and help dem escape.”

“But I don’t understand. Tkin said we need to go back to the base.”

“And ya must. Do as Tkin commanded, and den return to dese Dunes.”

“But then what? When I find Jane, what do I do?”

“From dere, it is not up to ya, Ace. Again, ya cannot always be da hero. Be da instrument. Be who ya are destined to become, my friend.”

“But… but… I miss you. I miss Diego. What do I do about Diego?”

“Dere is no need to worry about Diego.” She smiled. “He is at peace.”

With this, she raised her other hand in a swirling motion. The sand beside her began to stir and tremble. In an instant, the pebbles crawled upward until they formed a man’s visage. Then, with the snap of her fingers, the sand fell away, revealing a wide-eyed and widely-grinning Diego.

Ace lunged at the man in sheer excitement, nearly knocking him over. Diego returned the embrace with equal force.

“Oh, Diego! I thought you were dead! My sister told me the machines got you!” Tears streamed down Ace’s cheeks.

Diego squeezed back, and Ace could feel the man’s tears against his cheeks. “I’m so glad you are okay!” Ace spoke again.

Pulling away, Ace grasped his shoulders, “Tell me where you are, and I’ll come get you. I have a speeder bike. I’m sure Korin won’t mind if we take a quick detour.” Ace spoke a million miles an hour.

Ace looked at Diego, expectantly—waiting for a response. But Diego only stood in silence, smiling. Alayha then reached over and rested her hands on each of their shoulders. As though a connection suddenly opened up between the two, Ace could now hear Diego.

“I’m good, Brova. Carry on wit ya mission. I be in a betta place now.” Diego nodded.

“A better place? Where? What are you talking about? Tkin said these dreams are real. So you are real. You’re alive.”

“Aaah,” his old friend sighed, “But they are two very different tings. I’m as real as da ink across ya face, but alive in the world of the heart beatin’? I’m afraid not, I be moved on.”

“I don’t understand…” Ace trailed off.

“Da machines got me, Ace. Shot me down. Killed me.”

Tears whelmed in Ace’s eyes.

“I don’t get it. You are here talking to me. You can’t be dead. Maybe you’re confused.” Ace shook his head.

“Nah, my boy. It be true. Saharifem brought me here to see you one last time. To give ya a proper goodbye.” Diego grinned warmly.

The tears gushed now. Ace attempted to wipe them away. Diego reached forward and pulled Ace in, hugging him tightly. “I’ll always be here even when ya don’t see me, brova. I be guidin’ ya along da way.”

Ace nodded. Diego pulled away, still holding Ace tightly by the shoulders. His voice flowed through Alayha. “Trust dat map of yers, and ya won’t go wrong.”

Ace nodded again, finding it difficult to respond.

“And one more ting. Take care of dat Korin girly. She seems like a keepa. Now dat ol’ Agro be outta da picture,” Diego winked.

Ace glanced at Alayha, who smiled and nodded.

“But what about Alayha…” Ace remarked as though Alayha weren’t standing there, gripping both of their shoulders. “She’s alive!”

“Who? Dis girly? Ha! She be da strongest of us all!”

Ace glanced at her again. “But you’re alive!” He reiterated. “I can’t leave you all alone, just waiting for the machines to…”

Diego interrupted, “What? Ya tink ya just gonna barge into da Boson Prison Center and shake da place up until dey give her up? Come on, Ace, ya need to focus on yer sista. Alayha can fend for herself. She be knowin’ what da real plan be. She be strong, brova.” Diego looked at Ace sternly.

Ace glanced at Alayha, who nodded in agreement. A serene countenance overtook her, and she imbued Ace with an understanding.

“I don’t like it—not one bit. But if it’s what has to be done, then I will. But I swear to you, Alayha, when this is all over, I will find you. I will set you free.”

Suddenly, as he stared into the eyes of his friends and his family, the world around him began crumbling into billions of dust flakes. In a last effort to say goodbye, Ace yelled out, but the words could not escape his mouth. Feeling the last vestige of Alayha’s hand gripped onto his shoulder, the ethereal voice of Saharifem returned to his mind. “Don’t worry, uncle. They will be with you every step of the way.”

With this, the blurry images faded to stark black, followed by a rushing of wind, and suddenly, Ace’s eyes shot open, taking in the sunset all around him—the desert sand soft beneath his head.

§

Korin woke before Ace, prepping the vehicle for the long journey ahead. The dream lingered in Ace’s mind. Since he supposed the dream was one of the real dreams, he couldn’t shake the feeling of leaving Alayha alone. He wanted to help her if she was alive, but if Diego’s and Alayha’s words were true, then he needed to continue his mission with Korin.

In the last of the evening light, Ace referenced his old map. The mine they left from was far away now, and even if he were to change course and try to save Alayha, he had no idea where the location of this Boson Prison Center Diego mentioned was. Returning his thoughts to the mission at hand, he remapped the course they were to take. If they followed Tkin’s route, they could likely reach the base by morning. Luckily, a dense forest would provide cover for most of the trip as long as they made it safely across the open expanse between the dunes and the forest without being spotted. If this were the case, then they would likely be able to make the estimated arrival time. Time was of the essence, and Ace could feel Korin’s anxieties growing with each passing minute.

Just as the first star emerged in the dark sky, they set forth into the wide-open sagebrush plains. The moon cast its blue light across the world, and the night seemed less like the darkened space of shadows and more like a dull midday storm. The muted colors appeared soft yet tangible. Ace looked at the Dunes and marked them in his mind. Even though they had stayed there just a single day, he felt it had healed them somehow. For Korin, the pain of betrayal by a loved one, and for Ace, the loss of his best friend. Ace was grateful for the opportunity to see Diego one last time, and though Alayha was still out there somewhere, Ace felt a sense of comfort knowing she was alive as well.

They sped across the region at breakneck speed. Ace kept a tight grip on Korin’s waist as she maneuvered over sagebrush, rocks, and ravines. To their dismay, a wide river forced them to enter a small ghost town to use its bridge. They had planned to avoid all cities and villages to remain unseen by machine scouts, but the river proved too wide for them to cross on the speeder. Wildlife spotted the streets, seeming to take refuge in the forgotten farming community. Once they reached the bridge, a herd of antelope blocked their way. Korin tried with all her might to scare the creatures away, but without making too much noise and thus drawing unwanted attention to themselves, she was unsuccessful and quickly gave up, moving on. Finding another bridge on the map, they rerouted further northeast along the river. The landscape bore numerous rivers and streams traversing its flowing hills. Ace recalled the terrain from their flyover to the mining facility. It differed drastically from seeing it in a bird’s-eye-view compared to their current ground view.

They passed through another small ghost town, attempting to use its bridge, but found it had collapsed. The homes and buildings appeared as grown-over gravestones within a silent, unkempt cemetery. As they made their way out of the ancient community, they passed a pack of wolves playing in the front yard of one of the homes. Immediately, three or four of the creatures began chasing their speeder. The ravenous hunters eventually gave up after they realized they were no match for the bike's speed. But for a brief moment, Ace could hear their panting as they padded behind them.

Ace reviewed the map and found no evidence of additional bridges along their path. They would have to find another way to cross. After traveling over the hills of overgrown farmland for some time, the terrain flattened out. In the distance, Ace could see the northern edge of the plains form into a thickened dark tree line. They had almost made it to the tree cover. Many of their anxieties could settle once they crossed the river and entered the treeline.

Just as the thought of success entered Ace’s mind, a loud siren suddenly broke the night air. His ears could barely tolerate the sound. Though they could not feel the ground, they could see the effects of the rumbling earth created by the giant machine in the distance. The plants shook about, and dust kicked into the air. Pressing northward with even more eagerness, Korin attempted multiple times to cross the river, but it remained too wide. Ace knew they should’ve avoided the ghost towns. A scout likely witnessed them and reported it to a nearby Watcher.

Speeding along the river’s southern bank, Korin continued looking for a more shallow area to cross. Suddenly, the rumbling grew more intense, and an immense city-sized machine burrowed through the southwestern treeline, its massive legs crushing the ground with each step. It was headed straight for them. Ace looked at the behemoth. The magnetic volcanic array began to glow red within its underside, indicating it was ready for mass destruction.

“How come Tkin didn’t tell us this would happen!?” Ace yelled to Korin.

“He sort of did. He showed me in those visions!” She hollered back over the deafening sound of the siren.

Surprised by her comment, Ace responded, “He did what? He showed you this would happen? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t want to frighten you!”

“Frighten me? Geeze Korin!”

He shook his head and looked back at the giant Watcher. Due to the distance from them, it looked as though a series of tiny wasps exited its body in a frenzy.

Takers. 

The flying demons’ jet propulsion wings rocketed the Takers toward them. Ace yelled in Korin’s ears again.

“Takers! A whole swarm of them!”

She nodded in acknowledgment of the statement and, with this, throttled the bike, speeding them along even faster. Up ahead, Ace could see a series of broken-down vehicles lined against a shattered bridge. His heart pounded as they were headed straight for the heap.

“Look out!” Ace yelled into Korin’s ear, struggling to hold on and point to the heap.

“I know! Hold on tight!” Korin yelled back with a glint in her eye.

They rocketed toward the heap of metal, and with a sudden deceleration and kick of her heels on the stall generators, the nose of the speeder bike rose just above the hood of one of the vehicles, leaning her body to the left and throttling the bike they sailed into the air. The broken-down vehicle acted as a launching platform. Ace, scared witless, could now see, from the point of no return, what she had been planning. They flew through the air over the rushing water below and landed with a jerk and thud on the opposite side of the river. Without missing a beat, Korin continued jetting northeastward toward the tree line.

At this point, the Takers had gained on them. One was no more than twenty feet behind them. Ace pulled his rifle to the side, steadied it on his other arm, aimed, and started letting off rounds in the machine’s direction. The machine easily dodged the incoming bullets and retaliated with its weapon. With palm stretched wide, it emitted bursts of red glowing energy skimming by Ace’s head. Korin had been listening for the pulses and maneuvered the bike away from the blast with each ignition of energy from the Taker.

Carefully turning himself around on the bike, Ace now faced the machines. He interlocked his boots with the bags alongside the vehicle to ensure his stabilization. Lifting his rifle, he squared the site to his right eye. The world went quiet around him. He no longer heard the blaring siren. Everything felt as though it were moving in slow motion. His breaths calmed, and his muscles relaxed. He centered the crosshairs of his rifle on the head of the nearest machine. He could see the other Taker trailing behind its partner in his scope’s periphery. Aiming just to the right of the first Taker’s head, Ace anticipated its stratagem. Then, taking one last deep breath and slowly releasing it, he pulled back on the trigger. Within an instant, the bullet spiraled toward the Taker. The machine moved, adjusting itself to avoid the shot, but not being able to anticipate Ace’s tactic, the bullet ripped through its head straight into its core.

The Taker erupted in flames and veered directly into the Taker behind it, sending them both crashing into the ground, exploding into a maelstrom of smoke and metal scraps. Ace could hear his father’s voice and almost felt the man’s hand on his shoulder, “Good shootin’ Ace.”

Korin looked back at the mass of flames flaring in the distance. Her eyes widened.

“Wow, you did that?” She yelled back.

Three more Takers still pursued them. Attempting to shake their pursuers, Korin sped between a threadbare frame of an old barn and a decaying farmhouse. One of the Takers was thrown off course with the maneuver and barreled through the house, still intact as it busted out the other side. Tumbling to the earth, it quickly recovered and rocketed back into the air.

Ace steadied his aim again, but the three Takers were now jostling about in dives and ducks, like a school of fish swimming haphazardly upstream. They were attempting to throw him off. After a few seconds of analysis, Ace calculated the pattern and aimed at a section of the rhythm that retained most of their bodies. Firing three rapid-fire shots, the last struck one of the Takers in the shoulder, sending it plummeting into the old highway and erupting in a blaze of orange.

This hit to their squadron did nothing to slow the pace of the other two and, in fact, only increased their determination. The lead Taker spun into a vortex, ripping forward in propulsion. Korin approached another dilapidated farmhouse interspersed with ancient vehicles. She swerved around a fossilized tractor. The Taker met the challenge and changed his trajectory around the tractor as well. But in so doing, it didn’t realize it had led its counterpart directly into the tractor. The impact of the second Taker with the large hunk of metal replaced the rusted red Goliath with an inferno. This reduction in its pack size did not slow the final Taker. Its eyes glowed red as they locked onto the gravbike.

With this, Ace could see the Taker’s palm ignite with more red energy. Suddenly, Ace’s vision obscured, and he could no longer see the Taker. Korin had entered the tree line, impeding the Taker’s aim, but also Ace’s, while they dodged trees. Aspen and pine trunks whipped past Ace’s line of sight. They had slowed significantly as Korin skillfully handled the speeder through the thicket of trees. But “slow” was a relative term at the moment, as their speed remained fast enough for Ace to feel uncomfortable at the thought of falling from the bike. He aimed his rifle again at the Taker, who appeared severely agitated but just as determined as it zipped through the trees. Every shot Ace thought he could take suddenly disappeared with the obscurement of the trees or the shift of the Taker as it progressed ever closer to the bike.

The placement of trees became thicker the further they descended into the forest as the Taker moved ever closer. The rumbling of the Watcher had also reached them, following them like a wolf on a scent. As Ace looked back, trying to get a good shot on the Taker, a giant skyscraper-sized wall of flowing magma emitted from the underbelly of the Watcher as it towered over the trees. Its height now consumed them, drowning out the light of the sun. The stream of volcanic energy approached them almost quicker than the Taker, who also nearly became consumed by his team’s weapon. The heat emanating from the magma tower scorched the trees within a few yards of the ray.

“We’ve got another problem! The watcher is going to torch us!” Ace yelled to Korin. She looked back briefly. The magma ray seemed to ignite something primal within her, and she revved the throttle. Trees whipped by them as they moved even quicker now. With the hot magma stream following them, they struggled to stay hidden from the Watcher. It could somehow keep track of them. Ace looked at the Taker, who, though traveling behind them a distance, never took its eyes from them.

Then it clicked. The Taker was acting as the eyes for the Watcher. It was acting as a range finder for the Watcher’s weapon. Ace raised his rifle and struggled to aim the gun directly at the head of the Taker. The thickness of the trees made it difficult to get a direct line of sight.

“We gotta break them!” Korin yelled back.

“I’m tryin’ the best I can!” Ace responded.

“We’ll try harder!”

And with the last word spoken by Korin, they entered a moment of weightlessness. This change in their trajectory transitioned to a sudden lurching of Ace’s stomach as the trees speeding past him suddenly changed course, and he was now seeing them from below. Quickly looking around him, He and Korin apparently rocketed down a massive ravine. The cliff face shot upward as they soared forward, and Ace gripped the seat with all his might. The presence of the ravine and the absence of trees opened Ace’s view of the sky, and he could now see the top of the massive Watcher gaining on them. Its glow of red heat set fire to the world below it.

Saying a silent prayer in his heart, Ace prepared himself for an abrupt ending to his life. Treetops suddenly appeared around them, and branches fiercely whipped their arms and faces as they descended. With one last moment of holding his breath, they collided with the ground, but no explosion followed. There was no tumbling into oblivion. Instead, the impact sent a jolt through Ace, almost propelling him off the speeder. Luckily, he had strapped his feet into the buckles of the saddlebag, so instead of flying off, he kinked his hip, sending a sharp pain up his side.

This leap of faith did not stop Korin as she continued barreling forward through the trees. The ravine had slowed the Watcher but not the Taker. It had traveled over the ravine with them and was hot on their tail again. Even with the searing pain up Ace’s side, he lifted the rifle, aiming directly at the center of the Taker’s forehead. He took a deep breath and slowly released through pursed lips. A sudden CRACK echoed through the air, and the Taker's head exploded into a myriad of sparks. This instant loss of its head sent it straight into a tree—ending it for good.

Ace stared in disbelief. He never fired the shot. Ace turned his head to look at Korin, but she had both hands gripped tight to the throttles and no evidence of a weapon in her hand. Then, turning his head back to the rear, he suddenly saw the source of the shot. In the distance, a man rode horseback, racing through the trees parallel to them. The man carried a long rifle as he galloped through the trees at an alarming speed. His long black hair, tied into two colorful braids, whipped about in the wind. Animal fur covered his shoulders and trailed down his back, flapping behind him. His deep brown skin contrasted his stark white horse, and the man raised his rifle in greetings. Ace raised his rifle as well.

“We have a new friend,” Ace called over his shoulder to Korin. She looked to the side and nodded, displaying a confused look. The man waved to them to follow him. Ace carefully turned around on the speeder and, grabbing Korin’s waist, leaned forward and spoke into her ear.

“Follow that guy. He just saved our hides.”

Korin shrugged and then turned the vehicle toward the man. The Watcher pounded toward them, spewing its molten energy in every direction, desperately searching for its prey, but without the Taker guiding it, it was lost, instead searching for a needle in a haystack. They followed the man as he rode down a ravine where a river flowed. Speeding along the water's edge, the man disappeared beneath a ledge of rocks. Korin followed the man and slowed the speeder, easing them into the rocky crevice. The cave was small but provided shelter from their pursuer.

The man quickly dismounted from his horse. Through the mouth of the hidden cavern, they could see the sky through tree breaks. Another squadron of Takers soared in all directions in desperate pursuit of them.

“That was close,” the man spoke in an accented tone, holstering his rifle into the saddlebag.

“Thanks for your help,” Korin responded as she powered down the bike.

“It was my duty,” the man replied matter-of-factly.

Ace and Korin looked at each other. Ace slid off the bike, still feeling the pain in his hip. He hobbled over to the man and stuck out his hand.

“My name is Ace, and this is Korin,” he said, gesturing to the woman as she adjusted the speeder’s settings. She nodded and waved.

“My name is Cheéte.” The man nodded at Ace’s hand. (1)

“Well, thanks for your help back there, Cheéte.”

“Like I say, it is my duty.” The man responded indifferently. He did not look at either of them in the eyes as he spoke. He stared out the cave into the trees.

“Why is it your duty?” Korin asked as she walked over, dusting off her hands.

“I must protect these lands from the awákooxe and its akihchilakkaashé.” (2)

“Is that what you call the Watchers and the Takers?” Ace asked.

The man stood coldly, still not looking them in the eyes.

“Are you alone out here?” Korin prodded.

The siren emitted by the Watcher in the distance became quieter with every second.

“No,” the man responded callously.

“There are others?” Ace now asked.

“My people, the Apsáalooke, have ruled this land for thousands of years.” (3)

Ace racked his brain. He had heard this word before, Apsáalooke.

“So you’re the people Tkin spoke about?” Korin piped up.

With the name Tkin, the man perked up.

“Did you say Tkin?”

“Yes!” Ace interjected, “Do you know him?”

“Yes. Tkin told me to look for you. He told me that he he sent you this way.” The man spoke with more energy now.

Korin and Ace looked at each other.

“How did he tell you this?” Ace questioned.

“The birds,” he said without compunction.

“Aaah, the birds,” Ace looked at Korin, “Like my sister, he told the birds, and they must’ve flown here and relayed the message.”

Korin looked at him blankly.

“Yes, yes! You can speak as well?” Cheéte questioned excitedly.

“Well, not me, but my sister can.”

The man nodded, satisfied with the answer. He turned back to his horse and tightened a strap in the saddle.

“You cannot stay here,” the man quickly changed the subject. “My people will not allow it. They would be upset if they knew I helped you. But I promised Tkin I would help you, so I will let you go now.”

“We understand…” Ace responded. “Thanks again for your help. We may have been done for if it wasn’t for you. May I ask you a question before we leave?”

The man stood without expression.

Ace continued, “We are making our way to Mystic Lake… I mean, Tkin said you know it as Nirumbee Lake. Do you know any shorter way to get there besides this route?” Ace pulled open his old map and pointed along the route Tkin had shown them for Cheéte to see.

The man’s eyes grew wide. “This is beautiful.” He responded as he stared intently at the map.

“Thanks…” Ace waited in anticipation.

“You are looking for the ammíleeluua?” The man asked. (4)

“Yes,” Ace looked at the man with hopefulness.

Cheéte turned away. “It is sacred ground… you should not go there.”

“But it’s already inhabited!” Korin jumped in. “There is a whole base of people there!”

“This is why I cannot show you. The rebels have already desecrated the holy ground. My brother Diché gave its location to the foreigners.” (5)

“Well, those foreigners are in grave danger if we don’t get to them soon.” Korin continued.

“Then that is their fate.” The man spoke coldly.

“Come on, Ace, we can get there without him.” She grabbed Ace’s arm to turn him away.

Ace felt sorrow for Cheéte and his people. He understood the feeling of having all you believed in suddenly destroyed, taken away, and defiled. The machines ravaged Ace’s home, family, and all he believed in. Ace looked back, and Cheéte stood staring out into the woods.

“Cheéte?” Ace called out. The man looked toward Ace, the first time they had made eye contact since raising their rifles. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry about your land and your people. I’m sorry they desecrated the ammíleeluua. We will make this right. Believe me. We will make this right.”

The man nodded.

“Thank you for saving us.” Ace continued earnestly.

The man nodded again and then mounted onto his horse’s back.

Ace and Korin did the same, mounting the magnograv bike. Korin ignited the engine.

“Wait!” Cheéte’s voice echoed through the cave. He trotted over to them on his horse.

“You will need this.” He reached behind his saddle and pulled a rifle from its holster. Crow feathers hung from the gun's heel, and intricate carvings blazoned the stock. He handed it to Ace. “It is blessed with the luck of the Raven.”

“Are you sure?” Ace asked as he took the weapon. And with this, the man turned, galloping into the woods without any form of a farewell or an answer to Ace’s last question.

1. Cheéte- “wolf” in Apsáalooke

2. Awákooxe- “Spider” in the Apsáalooke language; Akihchilakkaashé- “Wasp” or “Bee” in the Apsáalooke language.

3. Apsáalooke- the Crow tribe

4. Ammíleeluua- “Gate” in the Apsáalooke language.

5. Diché- “Bird” in the Apsáalooke language.