Skye City: The Darkness of Emmilyn

Complications

We are led into a section of the base where rifles are mounted on the walls, serving as a reminder this place is no sanctuary. The gang sit at a long silver table where Jardine activates a three-dimensional map of what looks like Orbital City. A section of the map flashes red and the words Security Station appear, but Arturo pays no attention. The surrounding faces show fear and confusion as my brother prowls back and forth like a caged tiger-wolf.

'Ar... Arturo, I don't want you to go up there. I can't lose you as well,' I plead, rising from my seat.

'I have to go, Emmi. She's the only reason I came back,' Arturo says.

'B... but what about me?' I feel tears welling in my eyes. 'If I don't have you, I don't have anything.'

'Then you'll know how I feel, right now. I have to do this and if I can't, then I'd rather die,' Arturo says.

Jardine removes contact lens cases from a holdall and places them on the table, then dips a cloth in liquid. He cleans Arturo's fingertips then clamps a device over each of them, one by one. My brother winces as a new identity is burnt into his skin.

'Here's a phaser. It's made of dielectric composites so it's difficult to detect. Take this Citicard. Most security systems only check eyes or prints, however, some recognise faces. Move quickly and keep your head down,' Jardine says.

'I'll go with you,' Smig says in a loud, deep voice.

'No, Dynah's coming. She's the only one powerful enough to be of any use to me,' Arturo says.

'I'll come. I can help. This is the way it's meant to be,' Dynah says.

'Let's get these contacts in and get going,' Arturo says.

Dynah undergoes the fingerprint rewrite as Arturo jabs his eye with a twitchy finger. He fits the other contact lens with a little less clumsiness and squints for a few seconds. Then he snatches the phaser from Jardine's hand, shoving the weapon into his jacket lining as he strides to the door.

'Emmi, come here,' Arturo says and I approach him timidly. A tear rolls down my cheek as he squeezes my wrist and places his wallet into my palm.

'I don't want you to go. Please don't. If I lose you...'

'When you lose someone, all you want is one more chance to bring them back. That's all I wanted with Lel, but I never had the chance. With Myla, I do. This wallet has a lot of money in it. If I don't return, keep it. Get yourself away from here. I don't want you having any part in this war. If other people want to waste their lives, that's their choice, but you're not wasting yours to help them. You're better than this,' Arturo says.

'No, I don't need this because you're coming back. You and Myla are both coming back.' I try to return the wallet, but Arturo closes my trembling hand. He stares deeply into my eyes as I wonder how I would cope without two of my closest friends, without my big brother. And the selfless act Arturo is about to embark upon suddenly feels so selfish.

'Emmi, I can't promise you that I'm coming back... I...'

Arturo's words are interrupted by a siren and flashing lights as the alarm system is triggered and the gang exchange anxious glances. Jardine activates the holoscreen and it displays dozens of San Terian Guards raiding the complex. A gun turret on the ceiling mows one of the bastards down, but his ally throws a grenade which takes it out with a flash of energy. Turbo and Smig grab rifles from the wall and I tremble because I have no idea what I am supposed to do.

'Guys, we have company. Follow me, now!' Jardine says and we hurry out the room and over a grated floor, reaching a junction. Jardine turns and slips to one knee as phaser fire whizzes past his huge body. We retreat to a room containing a growling machine and coloured pipes of varying sizes. Jardine slams the thick steel door.