Final Apocalypse: Rise of Tamara

The Missing Piece Of The Puzzle

Stonevas landed at the doorstep and ran inside to the brig. Marriko was watching him through the window. She wasn't smiling. She wasn't laughing. It looked as if she'd been crying. She put her head against the window, forcing Stonevas to make eye contact. "Are you always going to hide behind a mask?"

Stonevas removed his mask. "No one is hiding, Marriko. Your queen is coming here. Rone made a deal with her to release you in exchange for her capture. It'll all be over soon."

"Do you really think she'll go quietly? She's killed all those people. Mom, dad, uncle Colt. Even her own parents. What makes you think there'll be a peaceful surrender?"

Daniel pulled a chair up to the door. "I don't. I just don't want anyone else to get hurt."

Marriko rolled her eyes. "You're all going to die. There's no way around it. She won't stop until she completes her mission."

Daniel sat up in the chair. "Who is she, Marriko? Who is the queen?"

Marriko slammed her fists against the glass. "I will not betray my queen."

"Then at least tell me where she came from. You owe us that much."

Marriko brandished her tendrils. "That would answer your other question. If you want to know, then be patient. After all, she's coming here."

She burst into maniacal laughter and fell back against the wall of the cell. "Just wait. Our king will rise and cleanse the earth of all that oppose him. It will be beautiful. And we will stand by his side."

Daniel shook his head. "Marriko, he's deceiving you. He did the same thing with the last woman he called his queen. Her name was Llana. He promised her the same things he's promised you. And he didn't stick to his word. That woman was his wife, and he treated her like a puppet. Used her to get what he wanted."

Marriko slammed her tendrils against the glass "LIAR!"

Isabelle and Ali walked in. "I'm afraid not, Marriko. He was quite persuasive, but in the end, he never kept his promises." Ali informed her.

Isabelle opened the cuff hatch on the door. "Your hands, Marriko."

Marriko disobeyed. "You're saying that my queen is being deceived as well?"

Daniel nodded. "Yes. Whether she's aware of it or not, she's being duped. Now, please just cooperate. There doesn't have to be any trouble. Just place your hands through that hatch."

Marriko sobbed for a few minutes, then warily placed her hands in the hatch. Isabelle placed the cuffs on her and escorted her out of the cell. "Don't get any ideas. We placed a bomb in these cuffs. One wrong move and you get blown to smithereens, comprende?"

Marriko nodded and wiped her eyes with a tendril. They escorted her to the back exit, where Rone, Charlotte, and a violent rainstorm were waiting. Charlotte hugged her niece. "I'm so sorry that any of this had to happen. Please promise me one thing."

Marriko blew her hair out of her face. "What is it?"

"Don't kill anyone unless you absolutely have to. Can you promise me that?"

Marriko turned away from her aunt. "I'll do my best. But I'm not making any promises."

Rone's comm. line crackled with static. "Are you here?" He asked.

A crackle of static. Then, "Yes. Now release her. I'm not doing anything until I see that she's safe."

Rone turned to the others. "Release the cuffs."

Ali unlocked them and Marriko stumbled across the street, nearly slipping in the rain.

"Alright. You've got what you wanted. It's time to reveal yourself."

"As you wish."

There was a wet slithering sound from above them, then Tamara landed before them, her tendrils holding the weapons she'd stolen from Recon. Daniel and Charlotte stared in shock and horror

"Tamara, it's you?" Daniel asked, stumbling over his words.

Tamara threw the weapons down in the rain. "What are you waiting for? Aren't you going to kill me?"

Daniel shook his head. "No, we're not going to kill you, Tamara. You're under arrest for the murders of Darrius and Coretta Pierce, as well as your other victims."

Tamara turned, watching Marriko across the street.

"Go, Marriko. Get out of here."

Marriko walked back to them. "No. Not until she knows."

Tamara reached out and traced the edge of her face with her thumb. "I already know."

She held her hands out and Rone cuffed her.