The Music Room

Planatary Go

Alix Montgomery sits before his high tech computer, the screen holds a handsome man in his mid forties, dark blue black hair that is longer than most, broad shoulders and a cunning face. This will be interesting. The man is talking but I can't hear what he's saying because of Alix's headphones. Currently Alix is worried about troop numbers. I'm about to move on when I hear Alix mention me.
"She agreed to help" Alix tells the man, and I slowly enter the room. I sit in the chair next to Alix. I watch as the man's jaw literally drops. Alix grins and introduces us. "Nines this is Lex," he motions from me to him. Next he turns to me and is about to do the same thing but I cut him off.
"This is Nines Harvard. The very man my father and brother died as pawns for, the very man who tipped off the squares about my mom and I being in Cleveland under hiding. The very man who tyrannically took over the western states. The very man who doesn't deserve to be followed." I say loudly as my anger flares again. I turn to Alix "He's a tyrant and I will not work for him. I will not be his rebel. I will not fight for America, the corrupt system where they send little boys and girls to fight their battles. I will fight for freedom but I will not fight for Nines Harvard. The very image of tyranny." I say and let loose the little bird that has been burning for freedom since I first saw that Alix was talking to him. With anger and betrayal I stomp off to my room. Leaving both boys with their jaws hanging open. I'm done. I will not Figh for the man who killed my parents and my brother. I will not be used. If I help the cause it will be on my terms and on my own followers. I will fight for freedom but not for corruption.
Dressing in my own clothes, I snitch a few of Alix's guns from the arsenal and a gps system that I remove the battery from. I also use my sticky fingers to snag a car charger for the Ray Guns. Slipping past the room where Alix is still apologizing for my words. I feel no guilt as I walk into the garage and pick a set of keys from the pegboard at random. Pleased to say that I found a powerful go like crazy cherry red corvette. I toss the backpack into the back seat and the guns into the passenger seat. Turning the key I grin evilly as the engine growls with satisfaction. A full tank of gas I put on my seatbelt and creep over to the tunnel conveniently labeled EXIT.
Patiently waiting for the door to open I prepare my mind for flight. Blocking out all thoughts except for getting out. One thought of that night with Alix last week and my entire resolve will be gone.
The flat desert lies before me for miles upon miles without interruption. I am able to see where the world seems to end. Left and right are the huge Arizona Mountains.
Pedal to the metal I lurch forward, my back pressed against the soft leather seat zero to sixty in a few seconds. With the windows down the wind in my face and the volume of the radio turned up. The glorious energy of freedom is contagious. In the nine months since the invasion I have almost forgotten this feeling and the sweet taste of old America, where you could go anywhere, do anything, and be whoever you wanted to be. That is the America I am fighting for.
Being in control yet out of control is what feeds my soul and makes me wonder why I ever stayed in one place for so long. My heart thunders to the feel of the bass drop as I drive, I also nicked a few of Alix's CD's and I am unashamed for it.
Three hours out from fleeing the deep dark cave that held me down and suffocated my heart I turn on the GPS and plug in the coordinates for the safe house. It's only a three hour drive, at normal slow people speed of 80mph. I'll make it in about one and a quarter. Depending on how many times I stop for gas.
*****SOMEWHERE IN CALIFORNIA******
I stop 30 miles from the safe house for gas and to clear the GPS memory, take out the batteries and make a small purchase of a sledgehammer. For safe measure I take out all my frustration on smashing that little tiny computer into tiny pieces and then for safe keeping I throw the pieces into the mountain pond. Driving the last few familiar miles slowly and take in the sweet scent of memories. Windows down and breathing in the clean forest air, my soul calms and my heart eases into an excited pound. I know Donovan won't be here, nor will the others but we all have memories in this place.