NEW ORDER of THE WORLD
A SHORT STORY WITHIN THE EVERWAR UNIVERSE.
WRITTEN BY TY’RON W. C. ROBINSON II
17 BoC
17 Years During The Battle of Caelum
A corridor confined with metallic walls. Silent. Streams of white smoke emit from the steel-plated floors and ceiling. Down the hallway, the echoing sounds of tapping. The tapping morphed into beating and through the smoke a young man who is called Timothy. Dressed in all black with a long sleeve shirt and jeans. Wearing boots. Timothy is sweating and is running in the sight of fear. His life at the present moment is depending on his speed. Behind him we see four silhouettes after him. The silhouette later manifest into a guard. They’re known as the Realm Guards. Soldiers of the City and loyal to their leader. Donned in black armored uniforms, carrying high-powered artillery firearms diverse from single ranges to plasma-ranges, weapons similar to the rainshockers of the Viper Realm. Their faces shrouded by their black masks and goggles. Resembling reapers. No emotion can be seen from them. They chase down Timothy through the corridor. Timothy keeps running and stops at a nearby room. He enters the room as quickly as he could run. Timothy took a small moment to catch his breath. Though, he can still hear the footsteps of the guards coming near the room. Timothy looked around and found himself in the presence of a mechroid. The mechroid is modeled after human structure, equipped with the A.I. from the technologies in the land. The name of the mechroid was A14-12.
“You appear to be in a rush.”
“The Realm Guards are after me.” Timothy said, catching his breath. “I need to get rid of them.”
“Now why would I assist you?”
“To keep them from killing me.”
A14-12 examined Timothy and his garments.
“You’re one of them.”
Timothy nodded quickly. A14-12 recognized his intentions.
“Give me a moment.”
Timothy waits for A14-12 to assist him, hearing the footsteps of the guards growing. Inching near him. Sweat drops from Timothy’s forehead.
“They’re coming closer!”
“Have some patience with me. After all, your kind know of patience.”
A14-12 approaches Timothy with a device. The robot hands it to him. Timothy looks at it, unknown to what it is. He looks over at A14-12, questioning.
“What is this?” Timothy waved.
“If you want to evade the guards, hold it above your head.”
Timothy scanned the device. Intrigued by its design.
“Is this some kind of teleporter?”
“No. They don’t place them within this room. What you’re holding will be good enough for your sudden cause.”
The guards are near as their voices can be heard in the distance. Timothy holds the device above his head. A silver-colored mist fell from the device around him. Timothy found himself becoming transparent. His flesh vanishing before his eyes. He knows he’s becoming invisible. The guards burst into the room. Guns in hand. They circle the room, seeing only A14-12 standing. Calm demeanor for a mechroid of any kind. One guard approached. Eyes locked tight.
“Mechroid, have you seen an enashian run past here?”
“I have not. You’re the first I’ve seen this day.”
“If you encounter the enashian, alert the Highguard.”
“I will do that.”
The guards leave the room and move further down the corridor. A14-12 looked around, scanning the room. Through the scanning process, the robot could see the invisible Timothy standing against the wall.
“Ah. There you are.”
The mechroid grabbed a small firearm from the table and fired an electric bolt toward Timothy. The bolt hits Timothy in his left knee. He jolts and becomes visible again with the electric currents revealing himself.
“Why did you do that?!”
“You didn’t make yourself visible, so I had to do it.”
Timothy shook his head with a slight nod.
“Thanks.”
Its not a problem. But, since you’re here and finding your way out of this land. I assume you’re on your way to finding the other renegades.
“The others?“ Timothy jolted, waving his hands in disagreement. “No. No. I’m just trying to get out of this place with what I know.”
“But, you’re an enashian.”
Timothy paused . The mechroid is aware Timothy isn’t understanding the meaning of his words.
It’s better of you to find them. You can lead them here to save the enashians and mechroids from the tyranny we live under.
“Why are you so interested in all of this?”
“I have my own reasons.”
Timothy takes it in. Seeing what appears to be some form of character within the mechroid. A care perhaps? Unsure as to where the renegades may be.
“I’m on my way out of here anyway.” Timothy let out a faint sigh. “I’ll try to find the renegades.”
“Maybe they’ll find you.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
Timothy walks toward the door.
“We’ll see once I get back. If I make it back.”
“You’ll be well.” A14 said with certainty.
Timothy had left the room, running through the corridor and finding the exit. He exited the corridor and continued running.
Timothy runs outside of the base, he looks around, seeing himself surrounded by techno-buildings and flying drones made of beaten down metals. The buildings were as tall as skyscrapers and the air was lukewarm. The sounds of an electrical howling can be heard roaming in the skies above him. The city itself was one with great heaviness and astounding beauty. The structure looked to have been built many years ago. The aging itself had no greater effect than to instill fear. Its scent was of a burning fire mixed with electricity and a strange catch of cinnamon. He could hear the faint, yet squealing sounds of humans screaming coming from within the city. Their screams were of torment. It irked him, making his escape and finding himself entering the wilderness.
Timothy walks through the wilderness, known to those around the area as the Desolate. Nothing can be seen but a vast desert. Sand and rocks sit in places. Trees little to none. Few cactus stood apart form each other. Scattered. Timothy walks through the Desolate as the wind slowly picks up and dust flies through the air. Timothy covers his face with his arm to avoid having sand fly into his eyes, nose, and mouth. He keeps walking as the wind increases in strength. The heat has increased in temperature and it begins to tire Timothy out. Yet, he continues moving through. After walking several more feet from his previous location, Timothy appears to spot a small structure up ahead.
“Is that a base?” Timothy glared.
As he goes to take another step, Timothy is stopped and lassoed from behind. Timothy looks down at the lasso around his torso. Hearing what is someone running toward him from behind, he turns his head, only to see a fist flying towards him. The fist punches Timothy, knocking him unconscious. Timothy awoke with a jolt. Beginning to regain his senses. Now knowing he’s sitting down and his arms tied behind the chair. He’s aware he’s sitting in the middle of a room. The room is dark and the only light source he can see is coming from the sun above him through a circular hole in the ceiling. The room, of what Timothy could see was dirty with the Desolate sand. It smelled of vehicular oil and sweat. Its odor bothered Timothy, but he kept himself focused. Timothy tried looking around the room, seeing no one. He questions the scenario. He’s tied up, so there must be someone within the room with him.
“OK.” Timothy looked around. “This is strange. Anyone in here?”
No sound of a reply returns to him. Timothy quieted himself. Taking in a breath.
“Hello! Is there anyone in here besides me?! I’m pretty sure there is!
Footsteps are heard in front of Timothy. Though, he cannot see who’s walking as they are shrouded in the thick darkness surrounding him. The footsteps come closer and more footsteps are heard. They are surrounding Timothy and he knows it. Shaking around in the chair to set himself free. A voice comes through the darkness facing him.
“No need for you to do such a thing.” A voice echoed.
Timothy stops shaking and stares into the darkness. Looking for the location of the voice. Squinting his eyes.
“Who’s there? Speak again.”
The footsteps are heard once more. Only this time, Timothy can see the boots coming into the light and after several more steps, Timothy can see the one who spoke to him. A middle-aged man. Rugged in appearance, wearing cargo attire with a sleeveless shirt with scruffy facial hair and a almost shaved head. The man was the leader of the Renegades.
“Here I am.”
Timothy looked. Seeing Castle in front of him. From all around Timothy and Castle enter into the light the other renegades. About a dozen of them.
“As you can see, you’re not alone.”
“Why am I tied to this chair?”
“Few of the watch guards caught you roaming through the Desolate, alone. They believed you to be a shell for the realm guards. You’re not one of them are you?”
“I am not one of them.” Timothy replied.
“Your uniform represents the Realm. Therefore, it makes you a loyal subject to the Dictator.”
Timothy gazed down at his uniform. He even looked around, scanning the renegades’ own attire. He knew they could tell the difference between the ones who are aligned with the Dictator and those who are the renegades. The apparel of the renegades were cargo pants and militaristic vests. Both dirty and wet from water.
“I see your reasoning, Mr.?”
“Just call me Castle. I would like to know your intent of running through the Desolate alone.”
“I was told that I could find you out here. Maybe convince you to help free the others trapped in the City.”
“Is that right?”
“It is.” Timothy glared at the Renegades. “I can guess by your questioning that you’re the leader.
“I am. Been leading the renegades ever since the fall of our freedom came to pass.
“I can see they trust you.”
“Damn right they can. Most of them I been with me through the battles. Lost friends and loved ones along the way. Yet, together we stand tall.”
Timothy nodded. Castle searched him, seeing if he could learn Timothy’s motives.
“Tell me why you’re here? Honestly.”
“I escaped the confines of the City and ran into the Desolate. That’s how your watch guards spotted me. I was told to find renegades by a mechroid.”
Castle looked intrigued. Crossing his arms.
“What kind of mechroid?”
“An espionage mechroid. Operated with the technology within the City.”
“Did it have a name?”
“Yeah.”
“Tell me its name.”
“That’s not important. I can attest to that.”
Castle stared at Timothy. His arms steady. No movement and little emotion.
“Why?”
“Try me.”
Timothy nodded.
“A14-12. That was its name.”
Castle looked over at the other renegades. They turned and spoke to each other before Castle focused his attention back to Timothy. Timothy could see the seriousness in Castle’s eyes. Castle bent down toward Timothy, looking him in the eyes. Timothy shook with a certain fear. Castle’s presence was something to fear. Even some of the renegades feared him.
“Where is this mechroid now?”
“Still in the City.”
Castle grinned.
“I’m not certain to take what you’ve told me as fact.”
“It’s all true. That’s the only reason I’m in this chair right now!”
“The only question is how could we enter the City when it is guarded by their snipers?”
“I…” Timothy shook. “I know a way inside the City.”
“No shit.” Castle scoffed.
“What I meant to say is I can take you and your group to the City. Sneak into the city and we can free the others.”
Castle shook his head. Timothy couldn’t tell if he accepted or rejected what he had told him. Castle stood in front of Timothy and cocked his head.
“How can we trust you?
“You can trust me. I’m not a betrayer.
“We’ll know eventually. But, right now, we’ll make our move into the City. And you’ll be leading us in.”
Timothy jerked with haste. Rattling the chair.
“Me? I don’t understand?”
I’m not giving you the opportunity of bringing myself and my soldiers into death.”
Timothy paused himself.
“I see your reasoning.
“That’s a good start.”
Castle reaches on the side of his leg and pulls out a knife. Timothy stops moving as Castle takes the knife and cuts the ropes from Timothy and the chair. Timothy sighs with relief as he stands up slowly from the chair. Castle takes the knife and places it onto Timothy’s throat. Timothy gulped.
“Because if you wrong us in any way. I will personally kill you. Do you understand?”
“I understand.”
Castle smiled, placing the knife back into his pocket.
“Good to know.”
Castle looks to the renegades. He nods with a smirk on his face. The renegades rally up and equip themselves with their weapons, ranging from energy guns, plasma grenades, knives, and energy-coated knives.” Timothy sees them gathering their weapons. Feeling uneasy as he’s just walking through the area.
Outside of the base, the renegades are sitting on dirt bikes, preparing to ride off toward the Realm’s City. Timothy himself gets onto a bike. Castle sees him on the bike and points at him.
“You get in the front!” Castle pointed outward.
“You and your soldiers have the firepower.” Timothy replied. “Why do I have to be in the front?”
“Get your ass in the front!”
Timothy went and sat atop the bike in front of them. Castle gave the renegades the command to follow.
The renegades had reached the city. They paused for a moment and Castle turns over to Timothy. Pointing at the city. Glancing up to the skyscraper structure and moving crafts.
“Lead us in.”
“Of course. Follow along quietly. Hide your bikes over near the walls. The guards rarely do searches on this side of the city.”
“Hide the bikes.” Castle commanded the Renegades.
The renegades leave their bikes next to the wall. The wall is made up of a mixture between bricks and titanium wiring. The wiring glowed various colors with electricity flowing through it. It appears as if it was meant to be a twisted, yet somewhat beautiful sight to outsiders. Timothy guided Castle and the renegades toward the location where he had exited the city during his escape. The surroundings were clear as Timothy opened the door and they entered into the corridor.
Castle walked behind Timothy while the other renegades watched every corner. Prepared to fire.
“I have to ask you, kid. Why are you involved in all of this?”
“It’s all a mistake.” Timothy answered.
“A mistake? Saving others from tyranny is no mistake.”
Timothy stops and faces Castle. Castle reads his eyes. He senses something within him. Hidden behind his outward visage.
“I see. You’re a deserter.”
Timothy took note and continued walking.
“You turned against the Realm and for good reason.”
“I turned against them because of the destruction they plan to bring.”
“They’ve always plotted destruction. It’s nothing new.”
“Be that as it may. It doesn’t spare me from the death I will receive.”
“Death is only a solution of theirs. To trigger fear. What you’ve done, whether it is out of cowardice or bravery, it’s for a greater cause.”
Timothy listened to Castle’s words closely.
“Hope I don’t screw it up.”
“You won’t. You’ve shown me enough to figure that.”
Walking through the corridor slowly, Timothy returned to the room A14-12 was in. Timothy enters the room with a storming haste.
The electric room is the base for the City’s primary grid system. The walls glowing with a bluish hue as the energy flows through the wiring. Timothy looks around the room, but A14-12 is nowhere to be seen. Castle enters the room and looks around. Seeing the amount of tech that sat within its walls.
Castle scanned the room entirely. His eyes keen to the doorways.
“Look at this stuff.”
Timothy looked over toward Castle. Shaking his head. Castle doesn't understand what Timothy’s problem is or what he’s trying to say.
“What is it?”
“The mechroid isn’t here.”
“Maybe it went to help the others find a way out.”
“Maybe.”
Not finding the mechroid, Timothy led them outside of the electric room.
As they step out into the corridor, on the other end are realm guards. Staring down Timothy, Castle, and the renegades. Their energy guns are searing and buzzing. Prepared for fire.
“Well, I’ll be damned. We have company.”
One of the realm guards raised up his plasma-range.
“Renegades! You have one request. Surrender yourselves now and come with us to be questioned and judged.”
Castle stood firm. Determined about his next move as were the Renegades.
“I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“We will now respond in the proper circumstance.”
Castle stood his ground with the renegades. The realm guards begin firing toward the renegades. They run across the corridor. Some enter the electric room. Castle fires back at the guards with the renegades. Flying energy blasts zooming across the corridor back and forth. Timothy ran out of the corridor and into another doorway, which led down into another corridor.
Timothy ran through the second corridor and as he reaches its end, he bumps into A14-12. Standing around the robot are humans, beaten and battered, looking to escape. Timothy smiled.
“Where were you earlier?”
“I was preparing to aid these people for escape.”
“How would you get them out?”
“I knew you were coming back with the renegades.”
“How?” Timothy asked.
“I have my ways.”
Timothy nods and leads them out of the corridor and toward the exit. He opens the door and the people barge out of the corridor.
“Get away from this place as far as you can.”
The people run outside and towards the Desolate. Timothy and A14 return to the first corridor, where they can hear the echoes of firing energy blasts. Nearing the doorway, the blasts slowly cease and turn into silence. Timothy, hesitant to open the door, opens it anyway. Timothy and A14 enter the first corridor and within the corridor are dead renegades and dead guards. They look and see Castle with several other renegades exit the electric room. Castle smiles and laughs as he approaches Timothy and A14.
“Where did you go?”
“I helped A14 set some humans free.” Timothy looked around. “I see that you’ve managed to take them out.”
“As you can see, I lost some of my own. Enough as I can manage at the moment.”
Timothy turned to A14 as did Castle.
“We must leave this place now. She’s coming.”
“Who’s coming?” Timothy wondered.
Castle shakes his head looking at Timothy as they proceed to exit the corridor and return to the outside.
“You mean to tell me that you don’t know who “she” is?”
Timothy stood confused.
“I don’t know who A14 is talking about. Who is this “she”?”
“We must hurry.”
“Who is she?” Timothy asked.
They approach the exit door and open it. Running to the outside of the City.
Running outside, they find themselves chased by drones and several realm guards. Castle sees it and isn’t happy about it. His face twists with anger and haste.
“Damn!” Castle yelled.
“This isn’t good.”
“You don’t say.”
A14 starts to beep as they get on the bikes. The mechroid can sense someone approaching them near the realm guards. A14 knows of that peculiar presence.
“Here she comes.”
“I’m asking, who is she?”
Castle turned to face the guards. It was there he saw her in the distance. The footsteps sounded rough against the dirt. With vigor.
“Look ahead, kid.” Castle pointed.
Timothy looks and see her. A woman dressed in all grey. Her dark hair down to her shoulders. Her eyes glowing of emerald. He lips red as blood. Her countenance as wicked as one could read. She is the Dictator.
They ride off into the Desolate as realm guards approach the Dictator. Bowing before her presence.
“Should we pursue them, my Lady?”
“No need.” The Dictator grinned. “Everything is in proper order.”
The realm guards returned to the City while the Dictator stared, watching the bikes ride out further into the Desolate.