Eon

Chapter 22

Carson and Joey observed the transfer between the two super-nations as they reconciled their own fleeting mortality. In the distance a storm cried out in fury as tendrils of lightning stretched onto and invaded the surface of the planet. The Insurgents ignored this tension even as the maw of the storm grew wider. The storm was distant and the Insurgent's fate was now being decided, by men far away living in mansions and towers. Destiny was no longer in the Insurgent's control. It made Carson near-insane, but he kept his emotions inward and focused in the rare case that he should be given the opportunity to speak for himself.

The surviving Insurgents and Cheson had made a temporary camp close to where Carson had gone to rest. Only a handful of words had been said after the battle, and now the air was deathly silent, the Insurgents awaiting their judgement and the Cheson hoping that these tidings would lead to the end of things.

When the Chinese loaded into their ship, the Insurgents let out a victorious cry which caused the Cheson to look on at the humans curiously. But while the others laughed in relief, Carson's doubt overpowered him. There were still so many questions, answers left unanswered. Would the government leave their own behind, consider it collateral damage? Only time would tell. Carson shifted on the stump he had been sitting on for the past hour and looked towards the storm which was moving away from them, off into the others parts of Eon, parts that Carson was not even aware of despite his prolonged stay on the planet.

Nothing happened for a while until a vehicle from the American camp began to race towards the Insurgents and the Cheson's position. Carson walked ahead a few steps and watched the cycle approach with a troubled look. Joey stood just behind him. He too seemed perplexed.

"Are they not going to hear us out?" Joey asked. "Don't they owe us at least that much?"

"I'm not sure," Carson admitted.

The cycle eventually reached the camp. A masked soldier approached Carson and Joey. The soldier's eyes were machinery and as they reflected the sun Carson winced in irritation.

"I am private Johnson of the United States Army," the soldier said, his words metallic and wrong. "Is Insurgent Samuel still with you?"

Carson shook his head. "He's dead."

The soldier glanced at Carson's injury and then said, "Can I refer to you?"

"I guess so."

The soldier said nothing as he reached for his belt and unveiled a small, circular disk with an indent in the middle. He handed it to Carson and then went back onto his cycle and drove out onto the plains. Carson gave Joey a puzzled look, who merely shrugged. They were both in the dark. Carson stared at the contraption for a moment longer and then pressed the middle of thing and waited.

From within the disk came a loud pinging sound that made Carson jump. He dropped the device in his shock and before he could bend down to pick it up a blue light burst from the disk. The visage of General Montgomery appeared. He turned to Carson as he clasped his hands behind his back and stood rigid, at attention.

"I told my subordinate to give the emitter to Sam," the General began. "I'm assuming he's unavailable?"

Carson nodded grimly. "Sam's dead." He turned to Joey, sighed, and then said to the General, "I speak on behalf of the Insurgents."

Montgomery seemed unconvinced as he frowned in reaction to the news. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but I am. He always had a knack for suriving. Can I have your name, son?"

"It's Carson."

Montgomery's gaze seemed to shift, beyond Carson and Joey, towards the sky, the horizon of Eon.