The Collective (16 page)

Yual Mordal spoke. “It seems a vote is not necessary. There
is a consensus that anyone that is not essential to our Houses must be eliminated
and driven to the outer cities. We must round up all agitators and publicly
execute them. This will be a warning to those who think of coming against us.
Let what is happening at Iossec be a lesson to all of us. We cannot let these
transgressions go unpunished. Are we in agreement?”

The group answered and nodded in affirmation. Kasmine’s
troubles had brought a growing problem to the forefront. The people were no
longer happy with scraping by as they watched the Houses continue to grow in
wealth and excess. They had to be broken if the Collective planned to keep the
status quo. There was no question the men and women assembled had no intention
of relinquishing even a fraction of what they accumulated.

“Then we all know what to do. Starting today and hence
forward anyone thought to be suspicious of treason against a House will be put
to death immediately by the order of the First of each house. We will not allow
these miscreants to defile what we have built.” Mordal asserted. Each person
agreed in silence. “This meeting is concluded. The best to each House;
Saran
,
Janus, Vancrew, Agress, Deira, Iossec, Toessar
& Ultirum. Especially Iossec.” 

“Thank you Mordal. And thank you all for your support.”
Kasmine managed in a low tone.

“You are part of this family, Kasmine.” The First of Firsts
affirmed. “You should expect nothing less. All of you can sign off, except
Xonox. Can I have a word?” 

Xonox perked up from his daze. He knew why Mordal requested
a private conference.  His mouth involuntarily turned up in the right corner in
a half smile. “I’d be honored.” The individual screens went dark until there
was only Yual Mordal left. 

“I’ll make this brief Xonox. Croman was right. Per our
established bylaws you were to let Crispus go once he cleared your city limits.”

“I don’t let murderers go free.” Xonox replied challenging
Mordal and the outdated laws.

“You don’t let innocents go free.” Mordal scowled.

“Neither do you.” The First of the House of Vancrew
recalled.

Mordal retorted with an air of superiority. “You don’t have
to remind me Xonox. We’ve all made sacrifices to get where we are today. It’s
allowed us to be blessed with unlimited resources. But we also follow rules.
And if we don’t, I can assure you we will both see this great empire we’ve
built crumble.”

Xonox was unimpressed by his speech. “I understand how it
works. I’m one of the reasons we’re here today. You, I and Croman.” Stressing
the ‘and’ as he spoke.

“I agree you were a large part of our success and Vancrew
is the third House. Don’t forget where you’ve come from Xonox. And don’t forget
where you’re at.” The First warned.

“Nor you Mordal.” The Third said unflinching from the
perceived threat.

“Oh, I never forget. That’s why I’m ‘The First of Firsts’. 
You can sign off Xonox.”  Mordal signed off abruptly before Xonox could
respond, making sure he had gotten the last word. Xonox stared at the blank
screen. His eyes burned red. This was not the first time Mordal had asked for a
private conference to scold Xonox then ended the communication brazenly. His
elbows rested on the arms of the chair and he brought his hands up to his face.
Fingers crossed, he touched the bottom of his chin with extended index fingers
and whispered to himself. “My time is coming Mordal.”

CHAPTER 14

the RETURN

The black jeep sped across the landscape as the trees and
terrain disappeared. Abel eyed the gas gauge and the needle continued to plunge
below empty. He knew he was running on fumes. The detour to Gravope was more
costly than he thought. He mashed the pedal and the vehicle propelled forward.
The dirt accumulated on his goggles as the dust swirled around the group. The
water had run out on the way to Gravope. They were lucky to trade for a few
bottles from Aaron. He was happy to take the large machine gun off Abel’s
hands. It would fetch the merchant a fair price.

Tommie Gun sat by his side, turning his head as granules
from the road blew in his eyes, talking non-stop since they left Abel’s home
town. He told Abel what was on the plans and his last few years in the House of
Vancrew. He was one of Xonox’s personal bodyguards, therefore he was allowed
access to all levels of the House. Forsum who had been relatively quiet and
slumped down in the back seat sat up when he heard ‘Xonox’s personal guard’. As
many of the people in Gravope, he was at the same time fearful and fascinated
by Xonox. “How is that?” Forsum asked.

Tommie Gun turned back to look at Forsum a little annoyed
by his interruption of his conversation with Abel. Tommie’s eyes scanned him
from head to toe. Where Abel had a lean, muscular build with a look that told
you he was on a mission, Forsum looked frail as he held what appeared to be an
old sniper rifle between his legs. His arms protruded from his shirt, long,
thin and devoid of color. Abel swore he was a sharpshooter, but his face held
no trace of a man who had killed anybody or anything. Tommie doubted he would
be of any use against Xonox’s army. “How’s what?” Tommie responded gruffly.

Forsum followed up a little more enthusiastically. “How do
you get to become one of Xonox’s personal guards? I mean, just being a guard at
the Facility is an honor.”

“An honor?” Are you listening to this Abe?” Tommie turned
his attention to Abel as Forsum sunk back in his seat. “You sure we don’t need
to do a U-turn and drop this guy off.” The rogue contorted his face
disapproving of the naivety expressed by his new companion. “An honor.” 

“I’m curious too. And I’m sure Grise wants to know.” Abel
said without taking his eyes off the road.

Riding next to Forsum, Grise had hardly made a sound since
they started out to Warden’s camp. He sat stoically, broad shouldered looking
straight ahead, dark sunglasses covering his eyes as the wind drifted over his
short dark hair. His arms rested in his lap with his left hand holding the
wrist of his right. He had fallen into some kind of combat position, patiently
waiting to meet the Warden. He heard the stories of the tournament and knew the
reverence Warden enjoyed among the small outlying cities. What Grise did not
share with Abel were the rumors surrounding Warden’s true origins. Was he just
a simple wanderer who saved a town from outlaws, or was there more to his
story? He would find out soon enough. Either way, he was responsible for Abel
now. Grise rotated his head and grunted in response to Abel.

Abel cocked his head in Tommie’s direction. “See. We all
want to know.”

“It’s not for the faint of heart.” The hardened man looked
back at Forsum. “Could give you nightmares.” Tommie smiled and Forsum could see
the dirt seeping into his cracked tooth. He sat back further in his seat. 
“Alright then, if you really want to know.” Tommie said. “The quickest and
easiest way to get into Xonox’s House is to be taken as a prisoner. And that
normally leads to dying in some creative way as I’ve rarely heard of anyone who
left those cells. Well, I ended up picking a fight with some guards outside of
Xonox’s home. I was giving a good beating to the first three or so, then
another five more joined in and stomped me good. The guard I initially attacked
pulled out his gun to shoot me, but luckily one of the Captains knocked it
away.” Tommie recounted the tale.

“No I have a better idea.” The Captain said. “Let’s have
some fun with this one.”  He ordered the other guards to pick Tommie up and
drag him to the holding area on one of the lower floors. The cell he was
escorted to held the dregs of the city and surrounding area. Many of the
prisoners were affiliated through gang ties or necessity. Tommie was tossed in
the cell exhibiting the same vigor that had spawned the fight.

“I beat the crap out of you guys and I’m rewarded with free
room and board. Thanks.  Send Xonox my love.” He grinned from ear to ear as he
spoke to the Captain, unfazed by the blood smeared on his lips.  The Captain
began to step out of the doorway looking around at the men in the room. “Fresh
meat boys.”

The inhabitants grumbled and growled like wild animals some
stood from their seats as they eyed Tommie. “Here’s a little something to make
it interesting.”  Reaching behind his waist the Captain pulled out a small
hunting knife. He held it in front of him and the singular light bulb in the
center of the room reflected off the blade. It dropped to the floor as it made
a ting, clank sound. The Captain closed the door. Tommie counted nine men in
the cramped twenty foot by twenty foot cell. They began to crowd him. For one
of the few times in his life he was without words. He lunged for the knife as
he felt the first blow land on his back.

The next morning the Captain made his way down the long
corridor to the last cell door where Tommie had spent the night in the company
of people who had nothing to lose. It was eerily quiet. Normally he would hear
the prisoners mumbling about breaking free or what they could do to please
Xonox. The door was solid steel with a key code entry. He gestured to the night
watchman to open the cell. He placed his hand over the reader on the wall near
the door. The panel turned a bright blue, then faded as the door clicked
acknowledging the guard. He pulled the door open. The Captain had seen his fair
share of battles, his status in the House assured that. Even as a seasoned
veteran he was unprepared for the scene. Men were strewn about the cell, their
bodies contorted in awkward positions. The light was faint and he could see the
limp feet or arms of some men as their bodies protruded from the dark corners.
The floor was damp and stained red. In the middle of all the mayhem, stretched
out and face down was the man known as Tommie Gun. His left arm was tucked
under his body with his right arm lying flat next to him.  The Captain turned
to the night guard who stood in the doorway. “How did this happen? Who did
this?”

The night guard was speechless, his mouth was agape and he
was visibly shocked by the unexpected carnage. Then his eyes grew large, his
lips trembled as he stared past the Captain.  Before the Captain knew what
happened, Tommie Gun was upon him. His face and clothes blood-stained red. The
knife was under the Captain’s chin. He could feel it nick the skin at his
throat. The Captain froze in place expecting to meet the same fate as the
prisoners. Fortunately for him, Tommie Gun had not gone through all that
trouble just to kill him. Tommie spoke into the Captain’s ear, his hot, foul
breath washing over him. “I just did you a favor Captain. Now you owe me one.”

There are many ways to become a guard to a House. You can
be randomly selected, placed in servitude to pay off a debt or simply given to
the house at a young age to bring prestige to a family. Then there were
extraordinary circumstances where someone had proven their worth in a conflict
and could be nominated by another guard, this was how Tommie Gun found himself
standing in front of Dante, Xonox’s top aide. The Captain recommended Tommie,
noting his prowess as a fighter. To save face, the part about the knife under
his neck was left out.  To be a guard under these terms Tommie had to prove his
loyalty to the House of Vancrew. His test, bring back the head of one of the
Legion gang leaders, Bull. The gang was situated halfway between the House of
Vancrew and the House of Janus. The Legion was a combination of several gangs
coming together for survival. Bull controlled one of the factions and lately
the gang was attacking convoys randomly. Normally Xonox would use one of his
mercenaries or send a portion of his army, but with the uprising and the
tension between him and Croman it was best to send someone else to make an
example.

Tommie was dropped off late at night on the edge of the
Legion’s camp. He was told to get back the best way he could. The truck sped
off into the night leaving Tommie with limited weapons and supplies. He walked
towards the camp trying to figure out how he would determine which man was
Bull. Two days later he rode back into the city on a motor bike clutching a bag
in his hand. He was allowed to meet Dante on a lower level where less important
visitors were entertained. He picked the bag up and shook the contents onto the
floor. Dante looked down at the severed head and realized why they called him
Bull. His head was huge, with bulging jaws. A large gold ring looped from one
nostril to the other. His hair was pulled back in a thick red ponytail. The
only thing he was missing was the horns. From that day forward Tommie was a
guard. Soon, through some planned untimely deaths, he was one of the personal
guards that roamed the building floor by floor allowing him to collect all the
data he needed.  All along his plan had been to sell the information he
gathered.