Star Crossed: On the Line - 4. Tanner's Family Reunion

I’ve snuck out the building and decided to bring more food for the people in the city. I think the cooks knew I had stolen their sandwiches and didn’t really have anything big out in the open. All I have are random fruits. Orange round things that honestly make me gag from the smell and red not so round things. They smell sweeter. I would try one but I don’t want to eat one in case that just happens to be the very last one that doesn’t get to a starving child.

Enyod gave me some money as well for if I wanted to buy anything. I don’t really want anything so I’ll just try and split it to any of the sellers.

As soon as I enter the marketplace, a small crowd of kids come out with great smiles on their places. I can’t really help the warm feeling inside from seeing them smile. They all have a black dust settled on their cheeks and clothes. Must have just gotten off work.

I drop the bag in front of me and start handing them all one fruit. They aren’t greedy and try to steal another. They don’t even snatch it from my hands or the bag. They patiently wait in a small line in front of me.

A few adults stop to watch me. I’m guessing some of the little kids belong to them. They all have big smiles on their faces. One of the kids are a little shy and I have to walk over to offer her the red fruit. She giggles and hides behind what I am guessing is her mother. She does reach her hand out to take the fruit. “Thank you!” She says in a small voice. I nod with a smile and turn back to the bag. I honestly expected to be robbed of it. I wouldn’t really complain. If someone were to take it then that meant that someone was getting fed. Instead a new line has formed. Instead of children, it is a line of adults. They wait for me with eager smiles.

There isn’t much talking. It’s more of a respectful silence. A small understanding that we all share I think. They take their share of food with a nod and smile. It’s nice. The line is gone and there is still food left over. Perhaps enough for all the sellers now. They deserve food just as everyone else.

I pick up the bag. Thankfully it is a lot lighter. It was hurting my shoulders on the way here. My first stop is the jewelry lady. As soon as she sees me she gifts me with the brightest smile. Literally. Their teeth has a pinkish glow.

“Welcome again, Ofrit!” She says.

“Ofrit? What does that mean?” I ask while handing her a smelly orange fruit.

“Friend? I think I do not understand invader language good." She nods her thanks and then points at my chest with two fingers. “You one of us.” She smiles.

“Of course.” I grab the hand on my chest and slip some money for her. “Together we are strong.” She tries to give it back but I already start walking away. "I will not be taking it back so keep it."I say with a grin and a wave. She shakes her head but smiles before waving back.

I stop by six other vendors and give them each a fruit and the rest of my money. I may have snuck a little more for my jewelry friend, but nobody else needs to know that. I have one fruit left that I was hoping to eat but an older homeless man is sitting just outside of the marketplace. How did I not see him on my way in? He is sitting with his legs crossed and just watching everyone walk past. He’s watching me now.

I kneel down in front of him and reach into the bag to offer the red fruit. He looks at me for a second before reaching for it. “You too kind.” He says. He rolls the fruit in between his left hands. “You not like others.”

“I would hope not.” I say before standing to leave. “Farewell." I smile.

~~
~~

We are back on Earth now. Sector 4 is what the city is called. This time we aren’t only trying to capture a director, but we are also supposed to capture a squad. Why we need to do that is beyond me. We aren’t the only ones here at least. A few other teams have already attacked. They even captured the director of this base. They are only struggling with the few squads that are stationed here. That is...if they are still here. Hopefully the one we are after is still somewhere in these homes.

It is very quiet in this neighborhood. I’m pretty sure they have escaped somehow. Of course nobody will listen to me so why bother mentioning it.

“Check all the houses for any hidden enemies or signs of where they could have gone.” Tony says into our headsets. He and Dozer have both gone into a house together. I just roll my eyes. That’s just going to waste time if they are going to check the same house together.

I turn to the next house over and walk through the broken door. I try and listen for any signs of someone possibly about to jump me. I don’t hear anything. I guess that’s good and bad. I frown and walk slowly so that I don’t make a noise. I even took my boots off. I hate them. Too heavy and they make too much noise.

I walk through and find a living room. There is a blanket and pillow on the couch. The other furniture is knocked over. I guess they rushed out as fast as they could. I walk to the kitchen and see that the oven has been left on. Idiots. I quickly turn it off and check to see what they were making. There isn’t anything in here. I guess they were heating it up.

I walk down a hall and find four sets of doors. I bring two blades to float close to me. I press my ear to the door. I don’t hear anything. I press the button on the side and the door slides open. Inside has two sets of beds and a desk holding a giant monitor. The monitor has been bashed in and the box it should be connected to is missing. So much for following up on that I guess. At least I think it’s broken. I’ll tell Tony to look at it when I’m done.

I look around the room and just find guns and other weapons, ripped blueprints, and unmade beds. I shrug to myself and leave.

I press my ear to the next door and hear a animal inside crying. I push the door open and I’m greeting with the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen. The pink animal looks up at me and walks up to rub against my leg. I wrinkle my nose and push it away.

“Go away you ugly thing!” I growl and nudge it with my leg. It just keeps coming back to rub against me. I bait it into the room by standing in the middle. As soon as it’s rubbing on me, I push it behind me and dart out the door. Immediately it starts crying again. What is that thing? It's disgusting.

I shiver and turn to the next room. Inside is just a plain room. It’s the smallest of the ones I’ve seen so far. It’s kind of pathetic to look at. It’s dark but thankfully I can see perfectly fine. There isn’t even a window in here. I walk to what appears to be the restroom. I look around, careful to avoid the mirror, and see something on the floor that looks familiar. I bend down and lift it up. It’s a thin cloth just like the ones in my hair. Interesting. I put it back down and leave. Cloth is normal everywhere. Nothing unusual about that. It’s only a bit weird that it’s cut the same as mine.

I’m back in the hall and stand in front of the final door. I don’t hear anything so I open the door. Inside has more of a story than the last one. It’s by far the biggest of all the rooms. Giant bed that is perfectly made. Pretty sure nobody has slept in it in a long time. I walk slowly around the room. There aren’t many things in this room honestly. There are clothes sitting on the floor in places which is disgusting. They even have dust settled on them. Beer bottles are littered all over the floor. Mostly near the bed. There are old candy wrappers that look as if they are cared for however. They sit on the table next to the bed. It’s next to a folded note. I pick it up and unfold it. I freeze.

Its...its me? I turn a lamp on and sit on the bed. I bring the picture into the light. It’s not just me. It’s me with three others. Next to me a human man with his arm around my shoulders, behind me is a Syren and a giant man with rock-like skin. I instantly think of the dream of a few nights ago on the flight back home from Earth. It was dark in the dream but I can tell this is the same man. The corner is ripped, though I see the bottom half of someone that should be standing there. Everyone is smiling. Even me. I’m doing a weird thing with my hands like the Syren. Everything looks so...happy.

Everyone is looking at the camera except for the giant man. He’s staring down at me with a look that makes my insides feel all warm. I don't really like seeing myself honestly. It's just as bad as mirrors. I quickly fold it up and shove it into a pocket on my suit.

What is all this? Who are these people? Is this some kind of trick? Has Tanner placed these items here so that he can mess with me? I’m...confused. I copy the sign with my hands as in the picture. Weird. I need to tell Enyod about this. I stand and leave the room.

“Hey Mekaias?” Alicia’s voice calls to me.

“I’m here.” I say, standing at the entrance of the house.

“There is a cave located behind the house you are in. Do you think you can check it for us? I doubt the others will bother going.”

“On my way. There is a monitor and a ugly pink animal here that should be looked at by the way.” I say before turning to walk behind the house. I start walking in a straight line into the woods.

It’s pretty nice here at night. It’s beautiful. Moonlight gently lighting up between all the trees. There are giant hills here and there. I get a little distracted however. There aren't any noises at all. Animals aren't calling or anything. Instead there is another strange noise. I swear I hear soft whispers in front of me. I pick up my pace but stay careful with where I put my footing. Don’t want them to know I am here.

The whispering never seems to get closer. It seems to constantly stay ahead of me. I pause when the woods open up to a field. I don’t see anyone at all yet the whispering is still in front of me. I carefully walk out and crouch low to the ground. I keep my eyes up as I start to crawl over a hill. The higher I get, the lower the whisperings become. I frown and press my ear to the ground. I don’t exactly hear anything but I can tell they are coming from down below. I’m guessing the cave is under me. Why am I hearing voices that lead me to the cave? I stand up since I know there isn’t anyone up here and start walking further up the hill. As soon as I reach the top the ground beneath me gives out.

I don’t even get a chance to scream. Well, I did squeak if that counts. I land fast and a slope that rolls me over and over until I land on a patch of grass. Ouch.

“I think I’m here.” I groan and sit up, rubbing my side. I look up and see the giant hole that shows the night sky.

“See anything?” Alicia asks.

I stand up and look around in the cave. There isn’t anything here. It’s not a very large cave. There are little lanterns here and there but it’s pretty much empty.

“No. Nothing here at all.” I say and wince at the pain in my leg.

“Damn. Well, meet up with the other two at the base entrance. I think we are done here.”

Voices whisper behind me. They are a lot louder. I summon four blades and turn behind me. I only see a wall of the cave. I slowly walk closer to it and the voices grow. They get louder and louder until I am right in front of the wall. The voices have lowered. I kneel down and only see large stones on the floor. I reach my hand out to move them and the voices go silent. I freeze and look behind me. Nothing and nobody is here. I turn back to the big stones and push them to the side.

My life stone? What is it doing here? I pick it up and dust off any dirt and smaller pebbles. The stone instantly warms in my hands. I lift it up to my lips and smile at the warmth.

“Pruaq Ma’tiem.” I whisper with a smile and my eyes begin to water.

Why is my stone on Earth? Why are there pictures of myself here? Who were those people? What’s happening? I’m so confused.

I pull the picture out from my suit and open it under the moonlight. That can’t be me. I don’t know these people at all. Yet my stone is here. So I have been here? I reach back into my memories but I only see Aileta hand me my stone and then nothing else. Surely I would remember meeting these people and placing my stone here? Did I give it to someone else and they placed it here? No of course not. I don’t trust anyone enough to do that. The last one I trusted was Lucain. He gave it to Aileta, which I guess was fine. So how the hell did it end up here?

I run my finger on the picture. Was it the rock man? I dreamed about him. Do I know him? I feel like I do. Or should. I stop moving my finger as it hovers over his head. He only has one horn. I reach up and pull the piece of the horn from my necklace. I lift it next to the other horn on his head. It looks to be the same. I-It's his. How do I have this?

“Alentian! Where the hell are you?” Tony yells into my ear. I jump a bit before standing to find a way out. Asshole. I go to leave the area before stopping. I look back at the spot I found the stone before looking down at it. I bite my lip before coming up with a decision. I walk back and place the stone as it was before. I even added more rocks to cover it. I wipe my hands before running to find a way out.

~~
~~

“Excuse me?” I say with one brow raised. “I think I’d rather not.”

“You will be there and that’s final. Or would you like me to tell Tanner about how you disobeyed his orders?” Tony smirks.

I freeze and just nod.

“Good. You should head down now since they should be finished soon.” He turns and walks to his room.I sigh and turn to walk out the door.

Why must I be there again? That’s two in a row now. I only ignored his order one time and apparently he hates me. I thought we were better than this. Were we? I think back about that U.U.P.P. base and picture. Who were those people? Why was I there? Was I actually there?

I almost run into a woman and she shoves past me with her shoulder. I try to apologize but she just glares at me and keeps walking. Ok then.

I reach the balcony and look down at whoever is being tortured. I can’t really tell who he is. His eyes are swollen shut and his face is bleeding and surrounded by bruises. He wears a business suit just like all the other directors. I think his hair has been shaved off but this is the first time I've met him.

“Ahh, Mekaias! Come down now!” Tanner looks up at me with the same evil grin from before. “Quickly.”

I turn and practically run down the hall to the elevator. What does he want with me? He wouldn’t make me torture the poor man would he? I feel my hands shaking and grip my arms to try and stop. The elevator quickly brings me to the bottom floor and I walk as fast as I can to the execution circle. I stand next to Enyod and keep my head held down.

“Anything to say to this?” He says. I peek up and see he isn’t talking to me. I return my gaze to the floor.

I hear the man struggle on the floor in front of me. He hisses from moving with his injuries. Then he speaks. “Mekaias?” I...I know that voice. I look up and look into the man’s eyes in front of me.

“K-Kane?” I frown and move forward. I get a smack to the face and I fall back onto the floor.

“Stay in your place, Alentian.” Tanner snarls before turning to Kane. What is he doing here? Why are we hurting him? This isn’t right. What is going on? I glare up at Tanner but he just ignores me.

“As I said before...anything to say to this?” Tanner reaches for me and grabs me by one of my ears and pulls me until I am down at his feet. I can’t help the scream from that but don’t dare move from the ground.

“You just wait. You’ll regret all of this real soon.” Kane spits blood onto the ground at his side.

Tanner laughs before stepping over me to grab Kane’s chin. “We’ll see about that. Stand up, Mekaias.” He calls.

I push myself off the ground and stand behind him with my head down. “Kill him.” He simply says before stepping out of the way. Kane looks up at me before just lowering his gaze to the ground.

“W-what?” I look at him in shock. “No. Never!” I back away and try to leave. “I-I don’t want to do that. He’s my friend.”

“Enyod.” Tanner says with a stern voice. Enyod looks straight at me with sad eyes before he starts chanting words in Alentian.

I feel the edges of my vision start to grow darker. I try backing away from Enyod but he just keeps chanting standing in place. My vision grows darker and darker and my legs just stop moving. Soon I can’t see anything but a scary darkness. I swear I feel things crawling up my legs and I feel my legs moving forward on their own. The crawling on my skin keeps spreading around me until it has reached my neck. Why does this all feel so familiar? I swear I’ve never gone through something like that. I try ripping the darkness off of me but it nothing happens. I can’t move my arms. I scream in frustration but then something pushes into my mouth. A strange gel like substance feels as if it is pouring into my mouth and then I can’t even control my screaming. I can’t do anything.

“I’m sorry.” A gravelly voice whispers in my head before my body starts moving forward on its own.