The Radix
"Amber!" Jay cried out and rushed to her side. This time neither Dozer or Cipher stopped him. He pulled her limp head into his lap and glared up at Dozer. "What have you done!?"
Dozer didn't even blink. "It's nature's poison. It only kills when we want it to."
Cipher looked down at the couple desperately trying to steady his breathing and get hold of the overwhelming emotions building up inside him. It had been a year since he'd laid eyes on her and somewhere during that time he'd given up all hope of ever seeing her again. Yet here she was, in the arms of one of those that had ripped them apart. His eyes narrowed as Jay caressed Amber's face.
"Wake up." He whispered gently but Amber didn't stir.
Jay looked up, his heart full of rage and met eyes equally filled with contempt. Cipher was glaring down at him with unmistakable hatred. Jay didn't falter as he glared back. Though he had sincerely wanted to help Amber in her search for the lost father of her child, part of him hoped Bray was never found. It was that same part that silently rejoiced when it was believed that Bray was dead. He couldn't help wanting to father Amber's son no more than he could help falling in love with her. This was supposed to be their new beginning as a family and with one word it was crushed.
Cipher was about to speak when they heard Lex stomping through the forest toward them. He'd heard Jay yell and was slightly alarmed that he'd lost sight of he and Amber in the foliage. Dozer, who'd been waiting patiently for the third traveler raised his blowpipe once more.
"Jay? Amber?"
"Wait." Cipher held up a hand to halt Dozer as he recognized the voice.
Jay looked up as Lex crashed through the brush into the strange scene. "What in the...?"
At first his eyes only spotted Dozer who stood looking like an impassable obstacle of darkness. Then he noticed Jay holding Amber on the ground. Lex steadied himself for the inevitable fight he was sure he was about to get into. Though he was never one to back away from any enemy, he slightly cringed at the thought of what Dozer could do to him with those swords. Then his eyes flickered and found Cipher standing off to the side. Lex felt the aggression which had sprung up in him quickly turn to shock as he stared into the face of his long lost comrade.
"Bray?!" He squinted as if that would help his eyesight in the fading light.
"Hi Lex." Cipher gave a slight nod to his old friend. Part of him wanted to reach out and hug the kid he'd grown to see as a brother in their odd family but he smothered the impulse. That part of him that had once belonged to the city and all it's inhabitants was buried long ago. Right now he had a responsibility to uphold.
"What's..." Lex look at the scene before him with confusion in his eyes. "What's going on? What are you doing here?"
"Why is he with you?" Cipher looked at Jay, deliberately ignoring Lex's question.
"Who, Jay?" Lex was slightly flustered at his friend's standoffish nature. He realized that Bray was referring to Jay's Techno garb. "Oh uh... he's not with them anymore. He's with us now." Lex noticed the malicious way Bray glared at Jay and his intimate hold on Amber's unconscious form. He was sure this wasn't how his friend was hoping to be reunited with his girlfriend.
Cipher and Dozer exchanged a short look and the darker boy quietly slid his swords back into their sheaths strapped to his thighs. Cipher then turned his clouded eyes back to Lex.
"What are you doing here?"
"It's a long story..." Lex made a face for he clearly didn't feel like getting into it. Not to mention he was full of questions of his own.
"We know about the virus." Dozer spoke sternly. "You escaped by boat, yes?"
Jay and Lex were both surprised by this and exchanged a questioning look before Lex nodded. "How did you..."
"Just tell us how you got here." Cipher cut in sharply.
Lex stared back at his friend. He couldn't believe how much he'd changed. Gone was the expression of a wounded animal, the stature of the reluctant hero. That bleeding heart of a teenager was long gone and in his place was a cold, unyielding man. Lex sighed as he began his tale. Whatever the Technos had done to him didn't compare with what they must have done to Bray.
"What kind of fever?" Dozer cut in confused.
Lex shrugged. He'd already forgotten the name and Jay offered no help from his position on the ground. "You'll have to ask Jack. Anyway..."
Cipher listened carefully as he swallowed back forgotten emotions. He wanted desperately to ask about the others. Just hearing Jack's name stirred familiar pinnings for a home that was lost to him. Lex was very vague in his hurried description of their journey and Cipher wondered about Trudy, Salene and even Pride. He shared another look with Dozer when Lex finished his story.
"What are you doing here?" Lex asked again this time more pointedly.
Cipher glared at Jay. "Ask him."
Jay glared back. He could now see that the symbol painted on Cipher's cheek was the Mallrat pentacle. "I have nothing to do with your being here." But inside Jay faltered a little. He wondered if it was possible that he might be somewhat responsible. Perhaps he'd done something at the beginning of the invasion that he was unaware of. He had obeyed Ram's commands to a fault and who knew what Ram was really doing with the people being shipped out of the city. Jay narrowed his eyes at he looked down. Ram definitely had some explaining to do.
"Cipher," Dozer cut through the tension. "We should get them back to the village."
Cipher nodded slightly as he took in the gathering darkness around them. The sun had set and the woods would be pitch black soon. He knew he couldn't leave the trio in the forest on their own though part of him wished to turn his back on them. To forget the pain he'd long since left behind. If Jay's holding Amber was anything to go by, it was a pain he would inevitably feel again with their arrival.
"Okay, follow me."
Instinctively Jay stood and lifted Amber up into his arms. "What about the others on the boat?"
"We'll come back for them in the morning." Cipher started away.
Lex fell into step behind him. "We can't just leave them there."
Cipher didn't look back at his friend. "Lex, it'll be dark shortly. Do you know what comes out of these woods at night?"
"The bogeyman?" Lex couldn't resist mocking Cipher's serious tone.
Cipher smirked a little at his friend's familiar sarcasm. "This is a wildlife preserve. Keyword being wildlife. If we stop to unload the boat it'll take at least an hour to get everyone and everything on shore and then we have to scale the cliff side with children and people who are sick. With the walk back to the village, we're talking about a traveling, midnight buffet for the creatures out here. Dozer may be good with his swords but he's not that good."
Lex glimpsed back at Dozer who held the rear behind Jay. Already his dark eyes were peering into the forest around them with caution. They made a stop at the lookout fort in which Cipher warned Kye of their presence with that same bird call Jay had heard before. After a few words they left Kye behind and continued on their way. The group trudged in silence as the night thickened around them. Cipher tried to keep at a pace in which Lex and Jay could follow. He knew they were unfamiliar with this trail and Jay's efforts were hampered with the weight of Amber in his arms. Still, he didn't want to be stuck in the woods at night. While animal attacks were low in this area, he didn't like to press his luck. Lex finally cleared his throat after nearly ten minutes of silence. He'd been thinking hard about Bray being in this mysterious place. If this was where the Technos had sent him, then perhaps the other Mallrats were here as well.
"Bray, is Taisan here? I mean back in the village?"
Cipher recognized the painful hope in his friend's voice. It was the the kind of desperate hope from having chased one empty lead after another in search of the truth. He nodded slightly. "Yes."
"Are you serious?!" Lex gasped in disbelief. He didn't realize that he wasn't expecting to have found her. Was so sure even as he'd asked the question that his hopes would be crushed once more. Couldn't wrap his head around the fact that he was going to finally, finally see his wife again. "She's really here? Is she alright?"
Cipher nodded again. Then he turned to his friend, a concerned look on his face. "Listen Lex. It's been a year since you've seen Taisan and a lot can happen in that period of time."
Lex narrowed his eyes. Cipher's tone was serious but there was an edge of kindness to it. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying," Cipher chose his words carefully. "you may not like what you see."
Before Lex could say another word Jay interrupted them. "Wait, is my brother here? His name's Ved."
Cipher looked back into Jay's imploring eyes and almost felt a sliver of compassion. Then he watched Amber's head loll against Jay's shoulder, his arms around her protectively and all empathy was lost. He narrowed his eyes and looked away.
"There's no one by that name here." He answered coldly.
"Bray," Lex spoke again.
"No more talking." Cipher cut him off sharply.
Jay walked on in defeat. He was worried about Amber. Dozer had brushed off his concern so he wasn't sure how dangerous the dart really was. Surely Bray wouldn't allow anything bad to happen to her. He was also disappointed about his brother. If Ram hadn't sent him here then perhaps he really was dead after all. This thought made Jay want to collapse in shame. He wished he'd done more to protect Ved. He now knew he should have dragged him away from the Technos kicking and screaming. He looked up through the trees. Though the forest around them was dark and foreboding, the sky still held the calming color of dusk. He spotted the first star of the evening and was strangely comforted by the sight. He sighed and continued stumbling along the dark path. He thought of offering the flashlight but didn't believe Bray would accept any help from him.
As though he'd read his mind, Lex spoke up again. "We have a torch ya know." His voice was steeped in sarcasm. "Then again walking in complete darkness has it's benefits."
Cipher smirked to himself. "The animals are attracted to the light. Don't worry, I know the way."
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Slade stared at the dark cliff side with a frown. The sun had set and the boat deck was getting quiet. The passengers sat sprawled about, some silent and others engaged in murmured chatter. He knew it was foolish to believe that Amber, Lex and Jay would return by now. If luck was on their side they might just be reaching the compound. Whether or not they found anything of use, they would have to camp out until daybreak. Slade sighed and looked down at the dark ocean. Food and water were low and the boat was simply too small to accommodate this number of people. Not to mention they were pretty much out of fuel. They couldn't stay at sea. He hoped the others found something of use or else they were all screwed.
"Hey," Slade was surprised as Ebony sidled up next to him, a blanket draped around her shoulders.
"Hey," He wrapped an arm around her and kissed her forehead. "Shouldn't you be lying down?"
She shook her head. "I'm tired of laying down. Besides, I feel better." She didn't mention that the simply act of sharing a room with Ruby made her sick to her stomach for many reasons. "Any sign of them?"
Shaking his head Slade looked away. Ebony followed his gaze as she wondered what a difference it might have made if they'd escaped in a truck or a bus, instead of setting out to sea. Where would the road have taken them? Often she wondered where she might be now if she'd had the guts to leave the city for good. She'd tried on different occasions to leave it behind but one thing always brought her back... love. First Zoot, then Bray and last of all Jay. Her love for them had made her turn back and of course that love had also abandoned her in the end. In some ways the city had been her jailer. It trapped her until she depended on it for her strength. Now she was finally free of it's bonds and safe in the arms of one who loved her. But for how long? Ebony studied Slade's profile as he stared out at the horizon. When he learned what she'd done to keep his love, would he too abandon her? If he did it would be the city's last infliction upon her. A punishment for finally escaping it's grasp.
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The walk to the village was a dark and quiet one. In the unlit forest Jay and Lex were just barely able to keep sight of their guides and each muttered quietly as they stumbled along the way. Both of their minds were racing with thoughts too bitter to voice aloud. Lex was still trying to grasp the concept that Taisan was alive and that she was here. He would be seeing her soon, would be able to hold her, kiss her. The very thought almost made him tremble. But he was also troubled by Bray's cryptic words. What had he meant? Had Taisan been injured? Disfigured? Or worse, had she found another love like he had with Siva? Lex swallowed bitterly as the painful thought shadowed his mind. 'Please not that' he begged silently. 'Don't let me find her and then do that to me'.
Jay was also lost in doubtful pondering. He almost felt guilty for it but all he could think about was what Bray's being alive meant for he and Amber. Jay knew Amber loved him. She'd made that clear time and time again. But now he couldn't help but wonder if her love for him was contingent on the belief that Bray was dead. Bray was the father of her child after all. And it wasn't until she'd given up on finding him that she let her feelings for Jay be known. Now that Bray was alive and well, would she leave Jay and take her son with her? Considering that Jay might be responsible for the splitting of their small family in the first place, he knew that Amber leaving him would be no less than he deserved. And though he said nothing, Jay was certain that Bray was thinking similar things about him.
Jay was right. As he led the way Cipher continually fought the urge to look back at Amber in Jay's arms. Even though nothing had been confirmed, he knew by the way Jay held her that the two of them were lovers. He'd heard it in the way Amber called Jay's name. The look on her face as she passed out had not been one of a young woman searching for her long, lost love. Her expression had been full of shock, disbelief and even fear. This was not the reunion he'd dreamed of having with Amber. Why did it seem that every time they were separated, she was never happy to see him return?
His thoughts also rested on the child he'd long since stopped dreaming about. When he was taken Amber was in premature labor and hemorrhaging. For months he had no way of knowing whether either of them were even alive. After all that time and no word, he forced himself to stop thinking about his faceless child that might not even exist. It hurt too much and caused him to wake from terrible nightmares. When he finally received word that mother and baby were okay, he wasn't as ecstatic as he thought he would be. Though Amber and his child were alive he was still a prisoner and they were still alone. Because there was little hope of ever getting to them, he shut down his emotions to keep from going mad over them both. Now Amber was here, alive and well. Was it possible their child was on the boat? Lex was never one to go into specifics that didn't concern him so Cipher, who was afraid to ask, was left to wonder.
Even Dozer was occupied with thought. In the year since he'd met him, Cipher had fully gained Dozer's respect. And though the young man said little, Dozer was well aware of the pain Cipher kept hidden deep inside. The two had become close confidants and trusted one another to a fault. He could only imagine how his leader was feeling now that his old tribe members washed up onshore. Dozer wondered how he would feel if he were ever to see his old tribe again. After so much time and having to start again he wasn't sure. He did lament his missing younger sister and blinked away a tear at the thought of her smile. Dozer shook the picture from his mind and refocused his attention to any sign of danger around them.
After what seemed like forever Lex caught a glimpse of faint light but then it was gone. He narrowed his eyes in the darkness and saw the flicker again. He realized he wasn't crazy and as the trees cleared he saw many lights. Tall torches blazed from a small village below the hillside. After a few more strides Cipher stepped aside so his companions could get a better view. Though they tried to hide it, Jay and Lex both gazed down with awe.
Before them was a steep drop off which provided a breathtaking view of the compound. Some meters below them was a small waterfall sprung from somewhere deep within the rocky earth of the hillside. The water cascaded down into a lovely natural pond which glistened in the moon and firelight. Just off to the right of the pond was the pump of a well. To the left was a hand dug grill pit still smoldering from cooking an earlier meal perhaps. A considerably large gazebo like structure stood further forward, placed underneath were three long tables and dozens of chairs. From the positioning of torches, Lex guessed it marked the village center.
Spreading out from the center in an ever widening half circle, were wooden shacks. They ranged in size, some small enough for two people while others looked big enough to house several comfortably. They were built with simple planks of aged wood and the style of each was similar. Their roofs looked both thatched and reinforced with beams. Each had it's own decorated look ranging from splashes of random color, to long strips of material that flapped in the cool breeze like flags. Off in the distance stood a two story stone building that looked unused except for faint light flickering from a couple rooms in the lower level. Even farther off lay gardens and small pens with several farm animals settling down for the night.
"Whoa," Jay couldn't stop the word from escaping his lips. All together the compound set up was remarkable. Though it seemed well organized and self contained, Jay couldn't imagine it was the work of any Technos he knew. It was much too rural and earthy to match their sleek, modern style.
Dozer couldn't help but smile with pride as Cipher gestured to the sight before them. "Welcome to the Radix."
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