Red Rock

Chapter 24: Bridging the Stars from a Lack of Navigation

Chapter 24 Bridging the Stars from a Lack of Navigation

"What the fuck was that!" Daire yelled, losing his cool.

"That was almost getting yourself killed," Luke snapped back, not going to take any of the blame.

"You would've traded my life for gold?! For the death of the cannibals?! We could've easily done both when I was free!"

"And I still plan to do so," Luke stated as if his priorities had not changed.

Daire didn't take Luke's response lightly. Luke's plan could have been executed after Daire was free. The fact that Luke still was bent on killing the cannibals enraged Daire. "You wanted me to die," he started. "You wanted to finish me and the cannibals with one blow so you could take control of my nation yourself!"

"That's foolishness! I made the deal! I'm the only reason you're alive, so watch your tone!" Luke rebuked.

"If Blud didn't have that gun to your head you would've let me die. Don't deny it. But remember, I am the reason you are here in the first place! I can just as easily take you out."

Jacob and Zack ducked their heads in the crossfire, avoiding the verbal death shots soaring over them. "Just try it," Luke warned, giving a death stare.

It was a stalemate. It was too late for Daire to eliminate Luke from the head of the military. He had too much power and too many connections. The men that fought for him would surely die for him as well. Daire's position was set in stone. The military would be split in half if Luke tried to overthrow him. Whomever made the first move would be the most likely to fail as the initiator. It was an unambiguous draw. Daire and Luke backed away simultaneously, not a word was spoken before both of them stormed off in their own direction.

*

Jacob was at a loss for words. He knew the severity of the situation just as well as Daire and saw no use opening his mouth. "Go get Sathu and Nick," Daire told Andy, showing leftover frustration from the previous events.

"You're alive!" Andy exclaimed, purposely avoiding the cannibals and cowering at a safe distance.

"Go get Sathu and Nick!" Daire repeated louder, not wanting to explain what had just happened.

Andy shuttered and ran off without a word to the sambu field, not wanting to test Daire's patience.

Daire turned sharply to Jacob. "Luke should be punished for what he did to me! He would've let me die! He would've let them kill me! He wants me dead so he can lead MY nation!" he stopped, realizing that he was screaming. He sighed. "There's about to be a civil war, and I need you more than ever, Jacob."

Jacob figured as much after the death threats that Daire and Luke had exchanged. "Now's your time to run," Jacob recommended in all seriousness. "If Luke wants you dead, then you have to get out while you can. I'll come with you. We can leave tonight when no one is watching."

Daire shook his head. "No. We're going to fight. We can win this."

"No we can't," Jacob replied as if it were a joke.

"Yes we can. As long as we have everyone who keeps this place running on one side, there is no way he can win. This place would suffer enough if I was gone. If Sathu, Nick, Andy, you, and I are all on the same side, Luke will have has hands tied. If he did decide to make the first move, he would split his own military in half and we would win a war of attrition."