Clouds of Tyranny (24 page)

After the dishes were picked up from the
various tables, the majority of the occupants ran to their beds to
retrieve their rosaries, books, and various religious peripherals
and returned to the dining area. After a short time the Rev and
eight young girls in white robes holding candles entered the dining
area and settled in the center of the room. Locke felt this was the
time to leave the room. He stood and began walking to his room.
“You’re not staying?” asked Alex. “It’s not for me?” said Locke
walking to his room. “Let’s pray,” said the Rev bowing his head, as
did the rest of the room along with folding their hands on the
table, “Lord Jehovah, we pray for your guidance and your mercy.
Protect these young men and women in their attempts to deliver us
from the evil that hangs over our land. Place a shield around them
as they fight to deliver us from the evil malice of Lucifer
instilled in the imperial force that threatens our lives. I the
lord’s name we pray. Amen.” “Amen!” repeated the entire room.
“Now,” continued the Rev, “I hand the floor to the ‘Canary Choir’
for a hymn.” The Rev walked to a table and sat facing the
choirgirls as they began to sing:

“Why are the nations in uproar,

and the people devising a vain thing?

The kings of the earth take their stand,

And the rulers take counsel together

Against the Lord and against His
anointed:

“Let us tear fetters apart,

and cast away their cords from us!”

He who sits in the heavens laughs,

The Lord scoffs at them.

Then he will speak to them in His anger

And terrify them in His fury-“

Locke listened from his room at the hymn
taken straight from the third Psalm of the bible; it’s a good
message for what they soon face. He sat there thinking about the
day he stopped speaking to God when Alisa became nothing,
Why
should I praise someone that took her from me?
He heard a
gentle knocking on his opened door; he looked up and saw Bridget.
“Hey,” she said smiling. “Hey,” responded Locke. She let herself in
and sat behind him, “You still can’t let her go can you?” Locke
shook his head from side to side in confirmation. “Locke, you need
to let Alisa go. She’s gone.” “I can’t,” said Locke holding back
his tears. She put her arm around him, “God can help.” Locke picked
his head up from staring at the floor, “Why are you here?” “Just
because we’re no longer involved doesn’t mean I don’t value your
life or care about your well being,” said Bridget as she kissed him
on the forehead, then stood up to leave, “Please be safe.” Locke
sat in his room for several minutes till he saw Pearl enter. “It’s
over,” said Pearl standing in the doorway, referring to the
religious service. Locke stood up and went with her into the dining
area where Lars and Terra were hugging.

“Please be careful,” said Terra as she held
Lars tight who stood next to a wheeled box with metal rods, gears,
and tools protruding out of it sloppily. “I’ll see you in less than
a day and a half,” he promised. She released him and they kissed
gently. He walked over to Locke dragging the cart of metal parts,
“See you soon. The civilians will be underground prior to your
arrival. I will see you at the west entrance at dawn.” Locke
extended his hand and Lars shook it after a short hesitation, so
the others would think he is a team player, though he never really
cared for Locke as a person. “Don’t go jumping at shadows; that’s
just Retriever,” said Locke. Lars nodded annoyingly and headed
through the tunnel where a horse awaited for him outside. “You
gonna be alright?” asked Locke to Terra. “I’m just worried, that’s
all,” she said looking at the tunnel Lars disappeared into.

Alex went into the training room with Pearl
where Ray, Terra, Ruthie, Eve, and Clyde were doing various
activities. Clyde was stretching his muscles, as he was feeling
stiff from his injuries (like a statue brought to life), Ray was
shooting arrows at targets as he adjusted it for a more precise
aim, Ruthie and Eve practicing their martial arts and various flips
together as a team. Alex unsheathed her dragon blade and began a
series of thrusts, swipes, and parries to warm up for the next
day’s events that were most assuredly going to test her abilities
against her former employers. Pearl pulled out her weapon of
choice, a twelve foot long cord consisting of a series of tiny
metal plates that made it bend much like a vinyl rope, only more
durable; at one end a serrated spearhead and the other end had a
looped noose-like end that acted as a handle. They practiced for
several hours; Terra did not show herself this time. “Interesting
choice, Pearl,” said Alex admiring Pearl’s weapon, “What’s it
called?” “I made this when I saw a similar weapon in a book. But,
in the book it consisted of human hair rather than this metal cord
I made. I call it ‘The Stinger’. Ya know, kind of like that of a
scorpion’s. Ruthie told me that you made yours as well.” Alex
beamed at Pearl’s attempt to take an interest in her, “I didn’t
actually invent it like you. When I was a child, I learned how to
smith arms so it was quite simple. But, I did do the painting of
the pearl dragon myself.” Pearl smiled, “That’s ironic.” Alex
looked at her cockeyed, “What is?” “I carry a stinger and you’re a
swift warrior, like a scorpion. And you carry the PEARL dragon.”
Alex giggled at Pearl’s pathetic joke.

As Eve and Ruthie practiced together, it
appeared as if Ruthie were practicing in front of a mirror that
showed her as an older version of herself; they were equally
matched both in speed and ability. Eve flipped over Ruthie’s head
and when her feet hit the padded training room floor, they were met
with leg sweep from Ruthie, dropping her on her behind on the
floor. Ruthie saluted herself and sat down next to Eve. Eve ruffled
Ruthie’s hair with her left hand in congratulatory playfulness.
“Did you sneak into Ray’s room last night after lights out?” asked
Ruthie winking at Eve implying sexual activity. Eve’s smile faded
away, “No. I wanted to…more than anything. But, Ray isn’t a man I
can just ‘be’ with and not ‘BE’ with, you know what I mean, mouse?”
Ruthie frowned for two reasons; one being that she knew exactly
what she meant and the other being that she hated that nickname.
“No mouse, I’m an adult now,” urged Ruthie. “Fifteen is adult now?
I don’t think so, Ruthie.” “Hey! Fifteen years and three hundred
and fifty days, thank you very much,” confirmed Ruthie. Ruthie
definitely wasn’t an adult in a measure of years or maturity, but
if you go by her experience and the events in her life; she was
well into adulthood. “Anyway,” said Ruthie straightening her gaze
on Eve, “You think that you’ll fall for him again if you sleep with
him?” “Absolutely. I’ve never gotten over him. I still love him
with all my heart. He’s the only thing I think about all day and
everyday I live,” said Eve chokingly as she looked at Ray on the
other end of the training room sitting in a chair, adjusting his
armbow with a flathead screwdriver. “Are you serious?” said Ruthie,
not knowing of this until now, “I thought you guys had a clean
break up.” “We did, but I only pretended not to let it bother me.
When he left to join HQ, I cried for a week. I wouldn’t get out of
bed or eat. Even sex with another didn’t help.” Ruthie put her arm
around Eve, “I’m so sorry Evelyn. I didn’t know. You could just
stay here.” “Right,” scoffed Eve.

Smith wanted some alone time with Terra so
he led her through the entrance tunnel and out to the plains
surrounding the wayfarer’s wall. Terra had reservations about
stepping foot outside; her dream felt like a futuristic reality.
“Terra, let’s go,” ordered Smith waving her out to where he was.
She looked up into the sky for cloaked figures, but only saw fluffy
white clouds and blue blanket of oxygen. She walked out to Smith as
he looked up at the clouds. “What are we doing out here? Shouldn’t
I be training?” asked Terra still scanning the area for threats. “I
wanted to give you more room to test your true abilities…what are
you looking for?” asked Smith bewildered by her behavior. Her head
snapped to his direction, “N-n-nothin’” He gave her a confused
look, “Okay, you see those clouds up there?” “Yeah?” said Terra
questionably as she looked at the white clouds. “I want you to
channel all your energy through your hands like I taught you and
imagine those clouds black with dirty rainwater,” said Smith
mimicking the hand motions he wished her to use. She placed her
right hand in the air and squinted her eyes in order to distort the
clouds so they’d appear darker. Her hand strained with intensity
and her knuckles vibrated as she concentrated. The clouds began to
shift slightly settling above them. Smith could see it in her body
language; she wasn’t confident she could pull this off.
“Concentrate!” yelled Smith trying to rev her up. She may have been
moving the clouds but they weren’t changing hue or consistency.
Smith sighed and took a step back so Terra would be unable to see
him out of his peripheral vision and motioned with his hands the
same she way she was. Terra concentrated harder and harder until
she felt her forehead begin to get rained on. Terra opened her eyes
and say that it was raining around her and she threw up her hands
in confidence of what she had accomplished; or so she thought.
Smith quickly dropped his hands to his sides as the rain began to
fall. “Good work, Terra,” said Smith half-heartedly as he put a
hand on her back as he pushed her towards the entrance.

Ray and Locke were in the dining room, Locke
had all his knives on the table in front of him and Ray had a few
wrenches and screwdrivers using them to adjusting his armbow. When
Smith and Terra walked in they looked up as they did whenever
anyone entered HQ; out of instinct. Ray was confused, “Why are you
wet? Is it raining? This time of year?” “It is now,” smiled Smith
patting Terra on the back. Locke looked at Smith and gave him a
disagreeing nod knowing what he had done. Terra sat down and began
regaling them with her newfound ability to alter weather patterns
as Smith retired to his room. “It’s amazing that if I will it,
plants will never die,” said Terra gleefully. “I’ll be back,” said
Locke getting up from his seat. Locke did a jog for the ‘Returners’
door and slammed it open and chased after Smith. “What’s with him?”
asked Terra. “He’s Locke,” shrugged Ray, “So, I heard you flew in
Sandria.”

“Hold on, YOU!” yelled Locke down the hall
at Smith. Smith stopped dead in his tracks knowing what was to
come, “What is it Locke?” Locke ran past him and turned around to
face him, “Where do you get off using your powers and trying to
pass them off as hers?” “She needs the confidence. She has the
ability, but lacks the esteem. If she believes, she achieves,” said
Smith like he was giving a sermon. Locke began clapping
sarcastically at Smith’s words, “Nice one. You know who you sound
like? Luther! Words with no meaning from a mouth of lies! Your
giving her a false ego.” Locke stormed back down the hall as Smith
went into is room, he cringed at the realization that this wasn’t
the end of this conversation or the end of their war with each
other; good thing they’re on the same side.

When Locke walked into the dining area, his
face was red with anger as he seethed over the words with Smith.
Terra was examining one of his knives when he walked back over to
his seat and sat down, she was mimicking a throwing motion,
wondering how Locke did what he does. Locke looked into Terra’s
eyes and couldn’t bear to tell her the truth about the rain, “So,
the skills are improving?” “Yeah, but…” “But what?” inquired Locke.
“How am I going to fight if I have to concentrate so hard?” asked
Terra seeming a bit flustered at the idea of being killed while she
focused on a fire spell. “He’s trying to turn you into a sorceress
when you should be concentrating on the small stuff,” said Locke
trying to calm himself. “Like what?” asked Terra listening
intently. “How about the ‘pull’ trick?” suggested Ray tightening a
screw on his armbow. ”‘Pull’?” asked Terra. “Yeah,” said Locke
taking the knife from her hand and standing up, “Take it.” Locke
placed the dagger on his open palm with it’s handle pointing
towards Terra “I’m sorry,” said Terra raising an eyebrow. Locke
took five steps back, “Use your power to disarm me. Open your hand
and ‘pull’ the blade from my hand with your mind.” Terra looked at
Ray who had stopped what he was doing, then looked back at Locke.
She exhaled and pointed her open hand in his direction like she was
about to catch a ball. The knife flew from Locke’s grasp and
twirled through the air towards her hand. “OWW!” screamed Terra as
the blade fell on the tabletop. She closed her hand as blood ran
from her palm out through her fingers, she then realized she was
only concentrating on ‘pulling’ the dagger and not ‘pulling it
straight’. Terra’s teeth and lips pressed together hard out of
pain. “Maybe I should start with something soft,” said Terra
looking at her bloody hand. “Good idea,” said Locke feeling bad,
“Go see the Doc for some ointment.” Terra nodded and walked toward
the infirmary not picking her head up from her bloody hand. Locke
watched Terra walk into the infirmary door and felt bad, but it
needed to be taught. “Nice work Locke,” chuckled Ray, “Don’t give
me any advice okay?” “Not like you’d take it,” said Locke as his
eyes shifted to Ruthie, Eve, and Alex walking into the dining area
from the women’s dorm.

“Ah!” screamed Terra at the sting of the
aqua colored paste as the Doc rubbed it on her cut. “Just be glad
you don’t need stitches,” said the Doc holding her hand with his
left palm. He extended his right hand to Bridget who was handing
him a roll of white gauze. Bridget was of the same body type as
Terra with short cropped blonde hair, narrow eyes, and full lips.
“Do stitches hurt?” asked Terra. “Only going in. Unless they get
yanked out by accident,” answered the Doc as he pulled the gauze
around her palm very tight. “I had stitches once,” said Helena from
the back, “ I was so paranoid, I didn’t open my hand till it was
time to have them removed.” Helena was a short husky girl with
auburn hair and chubby cheeks. The Doc pinned the gauze in place
and stood up, “Helena, bring the pills. We’ll go distribute them
among the soldiers now. Bridget, get the supplies together.” Helena
and the Doc left the room with two large bottles of oval pills.
“Nervous?” asked Bridget at Terra. “A little. Are you going?” “I
have to, Doc needs me and Helena.” “Is it true you used to date
Locke?” “Yes, but it didn’t work out like I had hoped. But, we’re
still friends.” “He’s with that new girl now.” “What girl?” “Alex,
the horse trainer from Pan’dier.” “Oh, the redhead. Not exactly his
type, but whatever.” “What do you mean? What’s his type?” “You
know, like us. Not fat, but not all skin and bones either. You
know…healthy.” “Oh,” said Terra blushing at the fact that she could
have had Locke or WILL.