prologue

I remember the stories of heros. I remember father reading them to me after dinner-hour. The way his deep voice portrayed good men overcoming evil before a foreign sun sunk into some foreign horizon and the darkness of night gave birth to fresh antagonists. And I always dreamt myself as a hero before growing up into this world. This drowsy place, that stuck me between good and evil. The shallow comfort in this place always left my spirit slack without struggle and mind vacant to change. I've seen heros die here in the same way early-year's flowers wither to useless fragments under mid-year's dusty sun.

Even our Land perished once, or twice before my time, but now as it grows green and strong again it was beginning to seem that it is her inhabitants time to fade away.

So much has changed. And so much will changed for me, for us.

in res media

1

The constant tugging on my arm pulled me out of my day dream. The little girl was dragging behind me vainly trying to keep up. Running for almost thirty minutes straight on muddy ground was exhausting. Even my own energies had drained profusely from out my aching body. We stopped abruptly in the middle of the stream and I listened pulling out my small pocket scanner. Our heavy breathing and the moving water below were the only miscreants that disturbed the holy silence of forest.. The scanner, my favorite accessory, was a dusty colored, oval shaped prototype that was stolen long ago and most likely put illegal money into a few pockets before finally ending up inside my right holster. Activating the thing was like a game of chance for me because the irreplaceable isotopes that powered the ancient device would soon expire. It could've been now or yesterday or tonight depending on my luck. Good thing was my luck didn't matter anymore it was the girl's. And so far she had more luck in the last month than I've had my entire life. The scanner beeped and the red numbers which floated beneath the scuffed crystal screen told me the numerical value for the radius of the circumference scanned. Below the screen was four gray buttons, one below the other, whose worn faces no longer showed their values. I pressed the largest bottom most one which used to say " SCAN ALL" on its surface and waited. Using a compact high freq internal sonar it approximated the distance between itself and large animals or humans that was within that range. Few seconds later "0.4 MILE RADIUS" appeared followed by a single beep and "0 OBJECTS", next 0.6 MILE RADIUS, then "0.8 MILE RADIUS" and "1.0 MILE RADIUS" appeared all followed by the same beep and "0 OBJECTS". What I really liked was that it had the old fashion visual radial arm mode which would displayed these "objects", if they were any, as red dots around the axis of the red sweeping arm, beeping every time the arm moved across a dot. Another unique and useful funtion was that it detected unusually high concentrations of metals. So , say, if a bear and a Gioli soldier were approaching the radial axis from opposite directions as red dots, the Gioli's red dot would be accompanied by a blue one represented his metallic armor and weaponry. So in cases like this one I'll know which way to retreat. For me most likely it would be towards the red and blue dots because a surprised bear can be more harmful than even the best of those plastic soldiers. I smiled at the thought of this remembering how Wheeler and Joe used to refer to them as that before they disappeared into Sonaran territory. I ran the scan again to make sure. The Giolii were not as close as I was thinking. I replaced the device bravely leaving it in auto mode considering the dying batteries. But this luxury was a necessity. At the moment we are real close to Lime, roughly 30 miles which is a day on foot. Well to be more specific 30 miles in a day of running, climbing, splashing, clawing, falling, and spilling blood on foot. Randazzo knew we were almost there and I figured he would soon, if he hadn't already, dispatch his remaining forces as his desparation grew. Once in the jurisdiction of Lime his Giolii and powers were useless unless he was mentally ill enough to upset the "Intrusion" laws of the capital city. Although Lime was not as advanced as Sonara, it was it's mother state and yielded more power over the government there. Randazzo did not need that attention right now. So I expected a parade of Giolii soldiers traveling towards us, rapidly sweeping and scanning the forest behind. I'd bought the girl too far already and prepared her too well for the important things that must follow. I refused to be stopped before Randazzo Gioli face justice for what he done to the girl, to me and to the people of Sonara. I looked down into her big glossy eyes.

"I don't think you are getting rescued today my sweets," I said.

"If we are lucky," I added leading her across the stream to the edge.

This section of the stream's bank was less muddy than the parts we crossed yesterday and covered with larger, dryer rocks. This slight observation reinforced my guess that as we moved down it the stream would probably narrow out into tributaries instead of flowing into the old city. I let her hand removing my pack to sit on one of the bigger rocks around us. We were in a small valley with bushy hills inclining steeply away from the stream bed to either sides. My intentions of a quick water break was soon deviated when I felt the pain along my side beneath my torso armor. As I unwrapped the blood stain bandage around my wound I felt the chaos of nerves in my side scream as if being attacked by invisible red hot nails. The girl watched and through her I could imagine myself sitting there expressing the magnitude of pain in my facial contortions. The burnt ring of flesh inside the charred hole on the side of my metal chest armor framed the dark red mess that remained where a chunk of skin had been ripped off during yesterday's encounter with some Giolii. At least the bleeding had slowed since this morning. I took out a water bottle and poured cold water over the area to relieve the stinging before passing it to the girl to drink. I readjusted the bandage studying my blood stained hands as they worked. I had a few more days of life in me and hopefully this was enough.

I looked up to survey the area some more comparing what I saw with the rustic inscriptions on the map I used. The faded colors on the map gave no justice to the beauty around us. We were in the middle of things. The heads of the ancient redwood trees congregated above conversing in their languages under the wind. Their trunks stood around us straight and uniform like a silent warriors. Below them the forest maintained its emerald womb with lush ferns, berry bushes, thorn plants and a variety of either smaller or younger trees. This was called the Detanobi woodlands. Although it was barely touched by humans and was dense with plants and other good stuff for food there was very little wildlife. This was not a subtle fact. Actually this wouldn't have bothered me much at all, but without the saturated sounds from birds chirping or small animals rustling here and there the forest took on this depressingly erie appeal to it that never quite sat right with me since we penetrated it. Moving through it as fast as possible towards the other side, towards the safe confines of Lime was good enough. A good thing about the Detanobi was that it provided the best way to get to the city from the south east part of the woods that faced Sonara were we kept the girl. It was also the longest route to Lime; not by length but by obstacles. Streams, walls upon walls of thorns, endless bushes and trees left harsh signatures on our bodies over the five days of travel. Ti-era understood this better than any other scared twelve year old on the run from her uncle and his small army who wants to kill her. She understood well. I had promised to her earlier two more mornings in this jungle until we would break through to the north west side of the woods. Actually unlike Sonara, part of Lime is inside the Detanobi but the northern border of the rectangular city state expanded outwards into the grassy hills of the Pacific Country. At least this is how it all looks on the map. But I was beginning to suspect that a lot has changed since. Even the stream which, according to the map, should've flowed north into the city, might have already dried up a few more miles from where we were. I also doubted that the south entrance to Lime in the Detanobi might still be open since the rail system that went eastwards along the circumference of the Detanobi connecting the city with Sonara was shut down then destroyed from the 3024 rebellion. I've been to Lime once, which was less times than Ti-era, who had family in the city, had been there. I barely remember scaling the tall steel gates with my teenage eyes from the inside. Back then I'd never would thought to exit the gates to explore the clutches of the Detanobi even though the forest had a more inviting appeal during those times. (*). Everything changed. And I find when they don't change for better old memories become jewels hidden deep inside waiting to be found, if at all, every now and again.

The coldness of the fresh water which we had to cross several times daily was cruel especially when last night met us with damp feet. Funny though that Ti-era coped well even when at her age I would've cried out. Tough and so reserved for her age she was. And there was something else about this, about her, that I didn't understand. I moved my gaze from the stream to her. Sitting below me on a smaller rock. A slight breeze blew her dark crinkly hair across her tanned face as she looked up at me.

"Don't let your feet get too cold tonight" I said. She quickly gulped down a mouth full of water as if rushing to reply.

"Don't worry, Kayla I got used to it after a few nights." She said before rising and skipping across the rocks. I watched her as she dipped the empty plastic bottle in the stream before purifying it with iodine droplets like I had shown her. An ill feeling suddenly impregnated my head with nausea.

What did I eat? The feeling passed as quickly as it came leaving me little time to worry. It had to be the heat, I rationalized. I had closed my eyes and began turning to allow the breeze a chance to cool my face when the scanner beeped continuously. A one mile breech? A second later I was looking at three red and blue dots moving towards the center of the screen.

"We gotta go!" I screamed grabbing the old shotgun out of a side pocket on my pack. Ti- era scrambled to get her pack on.

"We gotta go now!" I stood up locking my pack. The feeling rushed back dulling my senses before dark numbness overcame me.

I awoke a little later to the sounds of another set of beeps and Rachael trying pulling me up . I attempted to stand but soon doubling over vomiting my insides which descended thickly to splash the pale rocks below with even paler colors of greens and yellows. I coughed, spitting out the bitter residue and wiping my chin. I strapped on my pack. As I did this a new feeling of pain entered my consciousness.

My old aluminum torso armor had protected me from the protruding rocks but my freshly scraped palms had new blood on them. I could see concern in her eyes and I told her not to worry. I checked the scanner to see that dots had now breeched the 0.8 mile circumference. We managed a fast jog alongside the stream. It was only three Giolii which was strange since we they usually traveled in six.

The shotgun I grabbed, heavier and now hot, hung loosely in my right hand and Ti-era took my left hand, dragging me forward. It seemed we were splashing along the muddy embankment for a long time but it was only about 23 minutes later when hopelessness raced up my spine as I heard new sounds from the scanner. I jerked Ti-era back as I stopped abruptly digging out the scanner.

M y eyes followed the radial arm patiently around the oval screen.

Shock rapidly replaced that feeling gripping my heart fiercely when the screen showed me that another three Giolii were directly in front of us. The other three must have already move around us outside detection range and were hoping to close in on us from both sides as the swept towards the stream.

"Surrounded!", was the only word that could escape the gravity of my tightening throat. I shook myself out of my daze and looked at the girl who was gazing intensely at my eyes trying to make sense of what they saw in the scanner's screen. Then it hit me. These guys were using scanners like we were.

"Turn left!" I screamed out under my breath before pulling out two dummy flares out the dark pouch, which hung behind my scanner's holster. I quickly switched them on dropping them among the rocks. If they were using scans these gave us some more time to clear range.

We ran a for few more minutes away from the bank into the bushes before the scanner started beeping again. I knew this was it. They had reach the flares and were heading this way. I turned off my own scanner without looking and prepared for war. I had stopped us on a grassy clearing. I pulled one of my handguns out my armpit holster and pushed it into her small hands.

"Listen!" I ordered pointing through some shrubs on the right.

"I need to go that way and keep moving as fast as you can in the direction the sun is setting and when you come to the old rail tracks, in an hour or so, turn on your right and follow them to the train house," I paused to think, "...hide there and wait for me, there shouldn't be anyone about but stay aware and be as unnoticed like I showed you, and by morning and if I'm not there yet leave and follow the tracks until you reach the city and take this,"

She stared at me in disbelief as I shoved my map, extra ammunition and the rest of our food into the top of her scout pack.

"I don't want you to.....," she trailed off in tears.

"I'm not going to die." I finished.

"I made a mistake and I am glad that you forgave me but it's useless if I can't get you to..." I paused. I already knew the chances and I was never good at lying in situations like this.

"I'll get you out here," I continued trying to maintain a firm tone before tears began rolling down my own cheeks. I hated crying. I knelt down in front of her wanting to explain some more but my instincts stopped me. Time was running out and I needed this plan to work even if it was to be my last.

"Go! Remember to grip the gun firmly and shoot when you need to and that your escape will save us both later." I finished grabbing her shoulders. Small rivers crawled down her tanned cheeks from her bright brown eyes. We hugged as if for a last time and I wept as her frizzy dark hair disappeared inside a leafy wall of bushes.

I had a plan. I removed another flare pellet, lit it and dropped it besides me. I knelt in the grass and began digging through the remains of my pack, palms burning and all, searching madly before pulling out the Kamikaze belt. This device was famous among criminals. Especially kidnappers. I uncovered the tiny code panel which reminded me of the ancient calculators I'd seen in school. I knew that the battery source would be dead, but I also knew the isotope pack from the scanner would supply the energy needed. I moved fluidly suppressing the pains about me as best as I could. Seconds later the screen glowed. I needed to first enter the arming code then a time before unhooking the six dark egg shaped remotes which controlled the force and radius of the blast. I threw them out towards the edge of the clearing, strapped the metallic belt diagonally around my torso and stood up.

It beeped thrice. I looked down at the panel screen. " 4 minutes 56 seconds. Good. Using my still good fingers I pumped the belly of the old shotgun before palming a second handgun in my hand and waited. Two minutes after Ti-era's flight and about half a minute after I stood up from my work the Giolii rushed into the clearing.

2

Three blue metallic armors gleaming below the late afternoon sun appeared swiftly in front of me. I speculated the other three would've been closing in slower towards my rear. This crew was a lot faster than the last, but that didn't matter. The faster the better. I began leveling my armaments towards them when my eyes caught a shape moving rapidly through the heights of the trees on the far north of the clearing.

"Who the..?" My word froze as my antagonists, upon arranging themselves so that they each faced me, spoke.

"Where's the girl? Kidnapper!" The leader who may have been their captain yelled as he gave the outskirts of the clearing a nervous glance, before settling his full attention on me. I heard some more moving in bushes behind me as the other three entered the small field. My flares worked. The fact that they all came here proved that much. This bunch, however, were a lot more expedient than those before. Randazzo was soothing his concerns with qualitative attacks instead of quantitative attacks like I had thought.

The captain studied me with sudden interest; looking me up then down before noticing the dying flare laying at my heels with wide eyes suggestive of sudden astonishment. Obviously upset by this he jerked his rifle upward aiming it at my face. Those at his side followed, copying his tense stance. Behind me remained quiet. The party was on.

"Go ahead, then you will never find her and Randazzo will make sure you all die worst than him before his own head is taken off on the block," I laughed after saying this, imitating a true villain, to let them know I was both crazy and serious. Upon hearing this he relaxed still keeping aim at my head.

"Then I suppose," he paused, sighing, "you must have some kind of arrangement woman," he finished moving closer still maintaining his tense plastic like composure.

"Yes. of course, you idiot. Are you supposed to be the captain?" I smiled. 3 minutes 31 seconds. He remained silent perhaps shocked by my lewd display of nonchalance considering my entrapment.

"Lower your rifles then I will talk." I stated. They flashed unsure glances at each other before lowering their grey metallic rifles in the same mechanical unison in which they raised them

"Okay. Tell us your deal."He replies stiffening his tone while advancing slowly. 3 minutes, 5 seconds.

Giolii were poor negotiators. This I knew. What I didn't understand was how blinded they often became when their pride flared up. My guns were still erected, how could they not see this.

It was then I had began formulating another plan; three quick fatal shots from the handgun before the others in rear even knew it then spinning freeing the remaining shotgun slugs on the back whiles crouching to avoid whatever made it out of their rifles. This could work. My hopes were disrupted no sooner than they formed.

"No! What are you doing?, Don't believe her!" A gruff older voice from behind. This guy was the captain.

"You go that way and you this way, check the bushes! The little girl must be near, use your scans. We will deal with this annoyance." The older man commanded to the two others that were at his side.

I didn't have to turn to feel his eyes on me and to see that two Giolii were leaving his side and disappearing into opposite sides of the clearing.

"Good call captain." I blurted.

" You just saved the lives of your Giolii or shall I say prolonged the lives of your Giolii." I added dropping my smaller gun to grass and raising the Kamikaze high in the air. It hung limp between my thumb and fingers like the sacrificed body of snake.

"Now make another call to save these remaining mens' lives." I slid my foremost finger over the orange detonation button for those in front to see.

"Call them back here! Or else we die, we all die in less than a minute. Shoot me down and It will detonate now clearing all life in a mile radius before I would've fell to the ground from your attack." I hoarsely announced. My voice was suffering from yelling.

The leader in front slowly backed up raising his rifle.

"You crazy..." he had began only to stop as two loud gun shots echoing from the left where Ti-era had entered and the assassin followed filled the clearing. Silence followed for what felt to me like an eternity only briefly pausing to allow the chaotic flapping of startled birds fleeing. 3

56 seconds.

The blue armors all grinned below their glassy visors as all remaining energies drained out my spirits. I was ready to push the button above my head and end it taking at least the old one close behind me when something suddenly occurred to me.

It was my hand gun that fired and not guns that the Giolii carry.

"Don't woman," The old voice behind was closer.

Optimism slowly eased my finger off the button as I pondered Ti-era's unseen getaway. If

she did then it wouldn't be long before the rest found out and went after her. I quickly

understood what had to be done. I needed to end my conversation with these plastic soldiers.

"I give up! don't hurt the girl" I shouted in my best "hopeless woman" voice. I then lowered my gun and the belt, secretly replacing my finger over the detonation.

The center Gioli stared at my eyes, reading what he needed to know for my final plan to work. He moved one hand off his rifle to lift his helmet visor. His tanned face wrinkled to reveal the whitest teeth I've seen in a while. He glanced at his mates and then back at me moving closer. I braced the button hoping that the others would also come closer. They did.

"We don't deal anymore." he said coldly turning two his other two partners.

"lets not even count just shoot her down..."He began to command when all of a sudden three shots rang out rapidly before I even got a chance to detonate the belt. I became

dizzy with the thought that I was dying. My senses became sharp again as I saw my would be

assassins falling dead in front of me.

I closed then opened my eyes. It was not I who got shot.

Who? Did Ti-era return? No!

I looked up from the silent Giolii into the face of a strange man who appeared on the path we came into the clearing from. He was holding my now smoking handgun in one hand. My heart was racing as this new person began moving towards me when I heard the old man whom I forgot was still behind me, shuffling as if to grab me. I realized what was going to happen. He was attempting a hostage situation. Being a professional kidnapper I knew this quicker than he might have had to figure our how to grab me. I dropped the belt and spun around firing. He fell away from me as chunks of his shattered armor scraped my face.

Compared to the other shots the shotgun was tremendously loud in the natural silence of the forest which one grows accustomed to and left my ears ringing.

The damage startled me before I realized how close range the shot was. The bastard must've been on top of me. The thought barely finished when another shot disrupted my nerves. I turned aiming towards where the new man was standing.

I expected him either gone or dead but there he was looking nonchalantly into the bushes. I followed his eyes. The other Giolii, probably on his way back after hearing the gun fire, had fallen out from the bushes on right, his broken helmet rolling silently across the grassy path from his bleeding head.