Lazarus Rising

1.37 The Battle for New Europa VI

Cheyenne opened her eyes. The resolute face of Charisa looked down on her, calm and unflappable, "Are you Okay?" she said softly. Cheyenne had to think a moment. Her head felt muddled, it was like recalling a bad dream. She remembered the confusion and shouting as she had been pulled to the floor but nothing further. Her connection with the Risers had been broken but she still sensed their presence back in the dark reaches of her mind. She rubbed her forehead and tried to ease the memory away. "What happened?"

"You stopped, just in time." Charisa lessened her grip on Cheyenne's wrists slightly. "It was like you'd become possessed, we couldn't get you to understand us. What happened?"

"I was looking for......" Cheyenne stuttered, "Vengeance. Yes that's what it was. After what they did at Hope Fields? I'm not sure if that was me or the Risers in me. I felt out of control. Was that wrong? I suppose it was." A sudden chill ran through her. "Were many of Urbaine's men killed needlessly?"

Charisa fell silent for a moment, her face an unreadable canvas. It was enough. Cheyenne shut her eyes and whispered, "I'm sorry. So sorry."

Charisa relaxed her grip, "it is done and cannot be undone." She helped Cheyenne unsteadily to her feet. "Do not feel distressed, it serves no purpose. However it was done, you have saved those who are here. Urbaine has surrendered. They are bringing him here now."

The room was packed with Metro men, in their midst Lylacs were milling about talking in hushed tones. Momentarily Roux appeared, hair falling in dusty fountains across a face stained grey with dust. Cheyenne looked through the melee to find Jamek, but could not see him in all the uniformed soldiers present. She couldn't see Haydens but assumed he was still their based on the number of people in the room.

Outside there was a sudden commotion in the corridor, a door banged and a blast of cold air swept through the room. She knew before she saw him. That he was coming, the monster she had met in the Noctus. A mix of fear and dread ran through her like she was standing on the edge of a precipice in the dark waiting to fall, Urbaine's hand on her shoulder controlling her life or death.

Urbaine arrived, escorted through the door by a close packed body of Metro men. She caught a glimpse of his head, siting above a breastplate of ornately carved Marian armour he was, reminiscent of an overfed snapping turtle. Pulled to an abrupt halt by his guards, he stumbled to a halt. Withdrawn, rambling senselessly to himself Urbaine appeared before them a piteous figure.

Haydens, aware of his approach stood to meet him, Ventner at his arm to steady him. For a second they were temporary obscured from Cheyenne's view by the shifting crowd. She splashed her way through the pool of water to get a better view.

Stillness settled over the audience, in anticipation of the meeting of the two men. Only Cheyenne could see the aurora's of both. The thick oily cloud that boiled over Urbaine's sweating head and the radiant golden tear of light that imbibed Haydens whole being. Both were singularly opposite in demeanour. Haydens face, as fragile as a broken eggshell juxtaposed with the thick, neckless head of Urbaine stuck with so many inked crosses and moons that barely an inch of skin was visible.

Haydens spoke first, his voice so thin that close to the back of the room Cheyenne's struggled to hear his words. "Urbaine, you were our friend. You are of the Church. What has bought you to this?"

Abruptly Urbaine's ramblings cut short. He looked about him as if surprised to find himself in the room as if he expected to find himself somewhere else and seemed momentarily put out to find himself pinned between the group of thick set men about him. He eyes assumed the sharpness of ebony pebbles and cast themselves around him as if looking for some relief from the encounter. In a show of boorish impatience he licked his fat lips." Do I have to be held like this?"