The Experimentals: Choose your own adventure

Free Azan

Sariya knelt down and cut the ties free, her heart beating faster and faster every minute.

Azan stood up. "You can still come with me."

Sariya shook her head and looked away. "No, I'm staying. Take this." She slipped off her ring and handed it to him and watched him leave and thought about what he just told her. She trusted Luke, but somehow, she also couldn't discount Azan's words. They had a ring of truth to them and she felt as if he couldn't really lie to save his life. Perhaps there was inaccuracies on both sides and people just chose to believe what they wanted. The truth was some gray area that no one could quite agree on. It didn't matter what they told her, but it was up to her to decide what she wanted to do. She wished she could have done more for Azan, but her place was here and now, and of that she was sure.

The door opened and Luke looked at her, upset. "Where is he?"

Sariya looked down. "I let him go."

Luke shut the door behind him. "What do you mean you let him go?"

She stared directly into his eyes. "Because we all deserve a chance and he wasn't here to hurt me."

Luke ran his hands through his hair. "Maybe not, but he knows where you are now and you've been compromised. We have to leave immediately. I was going to meet my contact tomorrow morning, but we're going now. We'll have to sleep in the pod. Grab your things."

She grabbed her bag and they ran under the darkening sky to the pod. They got in and she could feel Luke's anger. "I'm sorry."

He started and flew out. "No, you're not. That's what you wanted."

"Yes, but I didn't intend for you to be upset."

They landed in a clearing of tall weeds and Luke handed her a blanket as he laid back in his seat. She covered herself and tried to fall asleep even though she wanted tell Luke more. She finally fell asleep after a while, but awoke to someone pulling her out of the pod. As she frantically looked about her, she realized that Luke was standing with his hands above his head in front of a hulking beast that resembled a bear, but with gray, wrinkled skin. Two of the creatures, but slimmer, restrained her and put a collar on her. Immediately, she could feel her throat tighten. "What are you doing?" she screamed out.

One of the creatures smiled crookedly at her. "Don't try anything, or we'll shock you until you die." He looked toward the hulking beast. "Is she the target? We're going to get big money, aren't we?"

The hulking beast snorted. "Give her to me, Six. We're not going to lose her." He gestured to Luke. "Bilker, you take care of this one and then meet up with us." Six marched her over to him and she followed him out of the woods. As they reached their ship, something came flying out of the forest. The beast took a hold of her and ran towards the ship. "Hurry!"

"What about Bilker?" Six asked. Another shot came whizzing over their head and the beast fell to the ground, dragging Sariya with him.

"Let her go!" Luke said.

The beast stood up and shoved Sariya in front of him. "Don't be stupid, Earther. I can kill her right now if you don't put down your blazer."

Luke aimed the weapon at them. "You'll need her alive to collect the bounty. You made a mistake in taking her. The People will come after you if you take her."

The beast laughed. "The Aceiavay and The People want her? She must be something, then. All the reason more to make sure I get what I want. Six, give her a charge." Six pressed a button on his wrist and Sariya convulsed in pain. "I don't have to kill her, but I can make her life very miserable for the next 20 minutes, unless you drop that blazer."

Luke put the weapon on the ground and his arms in the air. "Fine, but I propose a trade."

The beast smiled. "What kind of trade?"

"I'm the son of Lur-el. The Aceiavay will pay you a lot more for me. Just let the girl go."

The beast laughed. "Even if that were true, I don't care. Six, shoot him."

"NO!" Sariya yelled and forced out what little strength she had. She concentrated her rage and brought it forth, causing a tidal wave of energy to rush into her. The beast and Six fell to the ground and the collar on her neck stopped working. She tore it off and threw it to the ground, rushing to Luke.

He grabbed her in her arms and held her. He whispered in her ear. "We have to get going."

As they left, she could hear the beast shout after them. "Who are you?"

Luke took them farther away and had her get out on a completely flat piece of land. She could see a lone figure clad in black standing in the distance. He was human. She had no time to process what had just happened as adrenaline continued to pump through her. All she knew was that she felt invincible in that moment when she could feel the energy around her flow into her. It felt like nothing she had ever experienced before and it was exhilarating and scary all at the same time. Still, she had no idea how it happened or if she could replicate it. They reached the man and Sariya stood warily behind Luke.

Luke nodded at him. "John, this is Sariya. We need another place to hide. We've been compromised by someone. I believe he is an agent of the Aceiavay and led bounty hunters to our location. Can you help us?"

He nodded. "Of course, I am at your service. I bring bad tidings. Momont has passed and your mother has taken his place as leader of The People. She is requesting that you return to her with the girl so that she may begin the next phase."

Luke shook his head. "I don't know if that is safe. Everyone is looking for her."

John nodded again. "We can guarantee you safe passage within one day if you want to come with me. We will arrange travel and you will make it. Your mother stresses that it is of the utmost importance that you return to her so that you are there at the beginning."

Luke sighed. "I know what my mother wants. She wants to wage war with Sariya as her weapon. I can't do that."

John paused. "If you don't, you'll always be on the run. I can only help you for so long."

"She's not just something for us to use!" Luke shouted. "She's a person and we're acting as if she's not standing right here. Like she can't make the decision herself."

John turned towards Sariya. "Do you want to meet with The People? I will provide safe passage. If you do not, I can also provide a safe place for you to go, but I can't guarantee too much after that."

Sariya looked at Luke, who cast his eyes down ashamed of himself, so she looked at John.

Meet The People (1) Don't meet The People (1)