The War Satellite

Chapter Thirty-Two

Miles

The weeks became considerably lighter. Two months of walking, but it was filled with laughter and growing inside jokes. We had gotten used to the walking, sort of. We made quick work of the journey. We were ahead of schedule by a week.

We were all ready to do something. My bones and muscles ached to do something to get back into action. I was ready to free the people around me.

I had to grown to love them. The kids were still smiling oblivious to the guards that loomed above them. They each had hope and joy in their eyes. I wanted to set it free, to see how happy they could be with proper food and a proper court to play in.

The months had been strangely quiet. I could tell everyone was getting a little more relaxed and at ease. That was fine, but if we slipped at all, all the planning and walking would be for nothing.

We had three weeks left in the journey, we couldn't mess up now.

We were somewhere near what used to be called Uzbekistan. There weren't any countries anymore, just a collective people. Hornet's people. I had begun to think of them as that, I wish I didn't. But with the propaganda and the way they all seemed to go along with it, it was hard not to.

I mulled over this as I walked through well visited cities. Trees littered the yards of tarnished stone complexes and ruined houses. It was strangely beautiful.

Ethan was leading today, followed by Ben, who chatted about directions to him constantly. I tended to stay in the back because of it. Washington and Jane were behind Ethan, they both usually walked in silence.

Today Audrey walked next to Skye and Archer was slightly behind them. Daniel and I held up the rear. I gazed at the landscape admiring the abstract beauty, and before I could understand what happened, I had run directly into Archer.

"What's the hold up?" I asked. Archer didn't even register me, he stood stalwartly with his eyes closed. Was he using his ability?

"Archer, are you okay-" He pushed past me heading into an alleyway. I shouted after Archer but my yell fell on deaf ears. I found myself running after him as he pushed past people.

"Archer!" Again, there was no response. As we ran closer towards something I could hear a strange Thrawp sound. A girl's cry rose after each, the crowd became larger and I followed Archer to the front.

There was a crowd circling around three guards and a teenage girl. A guard had taken off his helmet and held his belt like a whip.

The girl was on her knees, raising her hands as she begged. "Please!"

"Stealing is illegal. Especially from an officer of the law! Do you understand that?"

The girl whimpered. "I meant to give the food to my brother. He is ill, please have mercy. I didn't know the food was yours." The guard kneeled and helped the girl up.

"Well in that case you're free to go." He gestured to her to go and she looked at him in confusion.

"GO!" He roared in her face. The girl turned to run, but the guard grabbed her collar, ripping her back. My blood boiled, but I couldn't step forward.

"There is no excuse for breaking Lord Hornets law. No matter how ill your brother is. There is no mercy in the colony."

He spat in her face and raised his belt. I watched in what seemed like slow motion as Archer ran forward. He grabbed the belt, twisting it around so it bound the guards arms. My heart dropped, what was Archer doing?

The two guards ran to face him but Archer was ready. He spun around using his staff and slammed it into the guards helmet. The people gasped and watched enthralled. I wanted to jump into help, but something kept me rooted. A voice I had heard so many times spoke in my head, Choose the safe way, choose Hornet. An undeniable fear rooted me to the spot. Choose the safe way. I shook my head, trying to get rid of the propaganda that had filled my head.