The Null Protocol

The Search And Chase

As Kael slowly opened his eyes, the rattling of wooden wheels and the soft clinking of horse harnesses filled his senses. He was met with the dim light of a carriage's interior, the curtains partially drawn to reveal flashes of rolling hills and dense forests passing by outside. A throbbing pain pulsed through his head, and his body felt bruised all over. Kael was surprised to find out carriages and normal horses still excited in this upside down world. Before he could process his surroundings, a deep, gruff voice spoke from the driver's seat.

"Ah, you're awake," the voice said. Kael's gaze shifted to the driver, recognizing the rugged features of Benson, a man he had no memory of meeting before this moment. Benson's eyes, set in a weathered face, met his briefly before returning to focus on the horses.

"Where...where am I?" Kael croaked, his throat dry and sore. Benson's response was calm and measured. "You're safe for now, lad. You're in my carriage. I found you lying in a valley, near death's door. You've been out for a while."

Kael struggled to remember how he ended up in the valley, but his memories were hazy. As he tried to sit up, a wave of dizziness washed over him, forcing him to pause. Benson's eyes flicked back to him, ensuring he wasn't going to fall over.

"Easy does it," Benson advised. "You've got some healing to do."

Kael took a deep breath and managed to steady himself. "I'm Benson. Who are you, though?", The Man asked just to start a conversation. With a newfound sense of clarity, he looked down at his hands, then back at Benson. "Kael and...I'm...I'm a Null," he said, his voice a bit stronger now.

Benson's expression didn't change, but a flicker of interest crossed his eyes. "A Null, you say? That's a rare thing. What were you doing out there, alone in the valley?"

Kael's memories began to resurface in fragments—memories of running, fighting, and the overwhelming feeling of being hunted. But before he could respond, Benson continued, "Never mind. We'll talk about that later. For now, rest. You're not out of danger yet."

With that, Kael let his exhaustion wash over him, trusting this stranger who had saved his life, at least for the time being.

Kael's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on Benson as he began to recount his story. "I was a prisoner of the Purity Sector," he said, his voice low and even. "They've been hunting Nulls like me, trying to exploit our immunity to the xenophages. They wanted to send me to the Lumina Sector."

Benson's expression turned grim, his hands tightening on the reins. "The Lumina Sector," he repeated, his tone dripping with disdain. "I've heard rumors about what goes on there. Scientists think they can crack the code of the xenophages by experimenting on Nulls."

Kael's jaw clenched, the memory of his time in captivity still fresh in his mind. "That's exactly what they want to do. They don't care about us, about our lives. We're just test subjects to them. They'd rather cut us open to understand how we're immune than try to find another way to fight the xenophages."

Benson's face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. "You managed to escape, I take it?"

Kael nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I did. I was being transported to the Lumina Sector, and I saw my chance. I fought back, took out a few guards, and made a run for it. I ended up in that valley, trying to put as much distance between myself and the Purity Sector as possible."

Benson's expression softened, and he nodded slowly. "You're a lucky man, Kael. Not many people get out of that prison alive."

Kael's eyes locked onto Benson's, a hint of wariness creeping into his voice. "What about you, Benson? What brings you out here? You're not exactly...standard issue Purity Sector gear."

"Hide yourself in one of the baskets in the carriage, we're approaching the borders of the Purity Sector."  Benson alerts Kael and tells him he'll answer his questions when they're out of danger. "Incase you don't know, news has already spread about you in the Seven sectors. On your first break out and you already have a $250,000.00 bounty on your head. Impressive."

Kael taken aback by Benson's words and quickly hid himself in one of the baskets. Some they reach the border and the guards asked to search the back of the carriage. Kael's begin to race rapidly as he cross his fingers he won't be found.

Benson's eyes narrowed as he gazed at the locket around Kael's neck. A mixture of emotions swirled on his face, and for a moment, Kael thought he saw a flicker of recognition. Benson's voice was low and measured as he asked, "Where did you get that locket?"

Kael's hand instinctively went to the locket, a habit formed over years of keeping it close. "My mother gave it to me," he said, his voice tinged with a mix of sadness and nostalgia. "Before she died, during the Carnifex attack five years ago."

Benson's expression changed, his eyes widening in shock as he took a step closer to Kael. "Your mother...what was her name?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Kael's eyes locked onto Benson's, a hint of wariness creeping into his voice. "Why? What do you know about my mother?"

Benson's face seemed to pale, and he sat down heavily on a nearby chair, his eyes fixed on the locket. "I...I think I might know your mother," he said, his voice filled with a mix of emotions.

Kael opened the locket, revealing a picture of a woman with a warm smile. Benson's eyes widened, and he felt like he'd been punched in the gut. The resemblance to his wife, Elara, was uncanny. He could feel the weight of the revelation bearing down on him, but he forced himself to maintain a neutral expression.

"Do you recognize her?" Kael asked, his eyes searching Benson's face for any sign of recognition.

Benson hesitated, his mind racing with the implications. He wanted to shout, "That's your mother! You're my son!" But something held him back. Maybe it was the fear of altering Kael's perception of himself, or perhaps it was the uncertainty of how Kael would react. Whatever the reason, Benson decided to keep the truth hidden, for now.

"No, I don't recognize her," Benson said, his voice steady. "But she has a kind face. I'm sure she loved you very much."

Kael nodded, a mix of emotions on his face. Benson could see the pain and the longing in his eyes, and it tore at his heart. He knew he had to be careful, to tread this path delicately. For the first time in a long while, Benson felt like he was walking on uncertain ground, unsure of what the future held.

As they sat there in silence, Benson couldn't help but wonder what the future held for him and the son he had just discovered. Would he ever be able to reveal the truth, or would this secret remain hidden forever?

Stay tuned if you want to know what happens next week on *The Nul Protocol*. Don't forget to vote and drop a comment. That'd mean a lot. And follow my account, so that you'll be the one of the first to receive a notification when next week's chapter drops.

Until next week, it's Jay signing out👋