The Anarchist of Ophridia (Horsemen Origins Book 4)

Part 10

Back inside the warehouse, Zao looked out the window and saw the gas clouds descending onto the streets. He took off his oxygen mask and looked at Jay.

"Come on, let's go," Zao said as he rose from the floor. He coughed out a heavy glob of bloody saliva, then shouldered his rifle.

"You sure?" Jay asked. "You got hit pretty hard from that gas."

"Oh well I guess. Not like I expect to live past this mission, may as well take some of the soldiers with me," Zao said.

Jay swallowed hard. "Alright. Where to?"

"The gas attack came from here in the warehouse district, that's why there wasn't much of a gas cloud. Come on!" Zao said as the two ran through the alleyways in between the unadorned cube-shaped buildings. Zao moved with a new sense of zealotry, propelled by his conviction to end the monsters who preyed on the miners of Ophridia.

Zao followed the trail of smoke until they came to the water treatment facility.

"Bloody hell! They stopped all the water flow in the sewers and released the chemicals through the water grates!" Jay said.

"Glad you caught on," Zao said. His eyes were watery and red, poisoned from the gas that wafted through the air.

"If we can get the water restarted, that'll negate the effect of the gas," Jay said and paused for a moment. "How did you know?"

"I figured it out," Zao said as he slammed the butt of his rifle against the door handle and kicked it open.

Zao walked in, rifle poised to fire. The two men came upon a heap of discarded chemical canisters. "Here are the canisters the Emperor used," Zao said. "Jay, where did these come from?"

"Buggered if I know. Someone must've brought them off world," Jay said.

"Now is not the time to play ignorant," a voice said from the doorway. It was Quan holding a pistol. Zao aimed his rifle at him, but a squad of Tingchia flooded into the room.

"What're you talking about yanse lang?" Zao asked.

"Your friend here is the one who brought the cargo offworld," Quan said as he gestured to Jay.

"You brought those weapons here?" Zao snapped and pointed his gun at his friend.

"Zao, I can explain," Jay said as he held his hands in the air. "I'm a respectable contractor who knows the planet well. I was told not to ask any questions when I received the shipment."

"Perfect," Quan muttered to himself.

"You brought the weapons that killed thousands of innocent people!" Zao screamed.

"Zao, I swear I had no idea! I coulda just dropped the shipment and left, but I didn't. I stayed here and fought with you. I've bled with you!"

"Not enough," Zao replied as he cocked his rifle.

"Zao! Quan is turning you against me!" Jay pleaded. "He's making you believe I intentionally brought those weapons to Ophridia!"

"Interesting thought isn't it? One in your party starts a terrorism campaign while another brings it to an end," Quan said.

"See Zao? He's using your anger and turning you against me!" Jay said.

"I'm hardly turning him against you. He just has a clearer idea of who is for and who is against this revolution," Quan said. "And I've allowed this insurrection to go on long enough."

"What? Allowed?" Jay asked.

"Yes. You think your friend would've gotten anywhere without my help? I allowed him to spread terror and weaken the Emperor. I allowed him to get inside the Emperor's Palace to show him how weak he is. My time has come to be the new Em-