Emergence: Chapter 68

“Come on!” Teriva hissed, beckoning Tors and the others to follow her through the Irinian shipyard. It had a name, Teriva had told him it probably a hundred times, but Tors had forgotten it every time; he had other things on his mind. The fear of being caught was high on that list, and his red scales were the darkest they'd ever been, he was certain.

Behind the group, Kivina pointed an empty gun towards them, giving the façade that she and Teriva were simply transporting prisoners. Hopefully, Tors thought, the façade holds; we're not going to be able to fight our way out if we get caught.

The group moved in a strange silence. While Tors would be glad to finally get off this world, he knew that only uncertainty and more depression lay beyond Irin. The Empire was at war with itself. Is there anywhere safe to go? His home was gone, Raan had been attacked, Irin was under Xaosian control. Teriva planned to head to New Orbus, but how could she know what to expect when they arrive?

Teriva raised a hand, and they stopped. “What is it?” Cane asked hurriedly; the news of the attack on Raan had left him panicked over the state and whereabouts of his wife and kid. Understandable.

“There are cameras all over the hangar bay,” Teriva explained. “We've managed to avoid them so far, but getting to that ship,” she pointed at the nearest ship, a small passenger-ship that would easily hold them all, “will get us seen on camera before we reach it.”

“I doubt the Xaosians are watching all of the cameras.” Emola said, his inflection going up at the end as if questioning.

“Same.” Teriva agreed. “But the Xaosians aren't the threat. The threat is the AI controlling them and the Irinians. It is likely monitoring all of the CCTV across Irin City to try and capture us. We'll already alert it when we boot up the ship, but by that point, hopefully we'll have enough of a head-start to escape. Any ideas?”

“Can't you just take the camera out?” Pandora asked Kivina.

Kivina shook her gun. “Empty.”

“Oh, yeah...”

There was silence for a moment, before Emola spoke up. “Could you get back into the network and shut them down?”

Tors looked at Teriva, who shifted uncomfortably. “I might be able to. However, I might also end up being controlled by the AI, or give our location away.” She sighed. “I just don't know what to do.”

“I say we just go for it.” Cane said loudly. “What are the chances that the AI can get anyone here before we take off?”

Teriva glanced at Kivina. “I don't know. You've experienced the AI's pull, Kivina; what do you think?”

Kivina considered it, scratching her cheek with the barrel of her gun. “When I was under its control, I'd say we 'd almost certainly make it. But, it felt like... it was evolving all the time. Maybe it couldn't then get us then, but now... I don't know.”

“I think we should try it,” Tors's voice rang with an air of false confidence, “before something finds us anyway.”

Pandora nodded. “I agree. Just run for it.”

“Fine.” Teriva looked around again, before pointing at the passenger-ship. “Go!”

Tors ran, feet falling heavily on the ground. It wasn't far to run, and Scalimen were naturally faster than humans, but he stayed back, slowing to keep an eye on Pandora, whose bristling and writhing hair was making it difficult for her to run. He put his arm around her, steering her towards the ship, where Teriva was cracking the lock. With a flurry of sparks, the ship's ramp descended and they ran inside. Teriva hurried to the cockpit, while the others strapped themselves in. Tors followed Teriva after sitting Pandora down next to Emola, who put his arm around her and pulled her close.

“Got it?” Tors asked as he entered the cockpit, taking the spare seat next to Teriva.

She glanced briefly towards him. “Getting there I think. This one seems a little complex. If only I was in the Network...”

A screen lit up, followed by an array of red and green buttons, followed by a whining. “You did it!” Tors couldn't hide his relief as his scales flashed brighter.

Teriva smiled. “Let's get out of here!” She input a code into the console in front of her. On the screen, the words VERTICAL TAKEOFF INITIATED appeared and the ship began to slowly rise off the ground.

Then another whine came from the ship. The lights went off, the screens dimmed and the ship lowered itself to the ground. “No!” Teriva exclaimed, frantically pushing buttons and typing code.

“What's happening?” Cane roared, but no-one answered. Pandora took solace in Emola, clinging to him as he looked around, eyes wide and hopeless. He and Tors locked eyes, and they recognised that this was it. With naught but a nod of recognition to each other, they turned away and Tors felt his heart fall as his jaw dropped.

The ship hit the ground, landing gear taking the impact. Squadrons of Xaosian and Irinian Soldiers stormed the hangar bay from all sides.

One screen lit up again, and Teriva glanced at it, hopeful that her code had worked. Then, she slumped back into her seat and exhaled a long, defeated breath as she read the words on the screen.

NO ESCAPE

The ramp hissed open. Heavy footfalls. Guns cocked. Screams. Curses.

With a final bang, everything went black.