Planet: Eteran, Kalto Underground
First Insurgency War
RAYAN
He put the plan into motion with the help of Aaron.
Two of his infiltrators 'captured' him and offered him to Seeto for safe passage back into the hands of the First Insurgency — who fell right for the ploy. Without him, Seeto acted with brazen contempt and no thought. Desperation incarnate. Rayan sat in the cell and wrestled with the last shred of his disbelief.
Was I really all that kept the Insurgency together? Me? He set his hands in his lap while the guard stood outside and for Seeto's judgment. What were they doing before I joined? It daunted him to recognize what he was to the Insurgency — more than a naive newcomer, but their last stand of hope right to the end. Seeto acted as the arm to his brains, until the arm crushed its own bones and fell apart.
I suppose the irony shouldn't be lost on me. He stared at his empty palm. How are we any different to the Strike Forces in the end? Or the Elites? All this talk about greater good and sacrifices... I don't think there's that much difference between us.
He just wanted to paint his view of the world.
Mom fought to be the difference against a cruel universe, but she was one voice. One voice against many. Oh, I'm sure she got through to some... but she was drowned out by those who believed themselves above reproach. I guess that's how we get through this. He settled his back against the metal wall and waited for the frozen moment. Fight for our cause... remember what pushes us for change. I wonder if the First Insurgency even remembers what it is they're fighting for... I don't know, it started long before I was born.
He considered all the options ahead of him. One of his defectors gave him a knowing glance as they passed on their patrol, where the guard nodded to the rebel among rebels. Rayan resisted the urge to laugh and break his act. He really thinks nothing will go wrong now that he has me under lock and key. He sniffed and rubbed his brow with the back of his cold hand. He probably guessed I went in to rescue Aelius. I hope Meryn got him into hiding. He's going to try forcing information out of me.
He shuffled his feet against the floor, but stopped when the guard scowled at him. "Don't try anything funny, Falae. Seeto ordered us to kill you if you do."
"You've got my hands cuffed." Rayan raised his locked forearms in show. "I know I'm good, but I'm not that good."
The guard frowned, then scoffed with a twitch of their lips and turned their back on him.
Hm, though they still follow you... they do respect me.
All that hesitation will cost you. He tapped his fingers together and timed the patrols between the defectors and loyal Insurgents. Aaron's plan is working like a charm. Most of them are focused on me.
All he had to do was wait for Aaron's signal. If all goes to plan, Aaron and his team will turn on the other Insurgents when they bring me straight to him.
In a perfect, frozen world, no one had to die.
But what did Mom used to tell me? Nothing is perfect?
He lifted his head when a defector stood in front of the guard. "Seeto's ready to see him."
We're all liars in our own way.
The guard unlocked the door without argument, and with the slow approach of his captor, the defector sent him a tiny nod. Rayan readied himself when the defector body-checked the guard from behind, and he slid to the side to crack the Insurgent's face against the wall. He worked on his restraints while the defector padded the guard down for the keys.
"Anyone ever told you that you're out of your mind?" the defector asked and unlocked his cuffs. "Tyro's waiting down the other corridor — Seeto does want to see you."
"Is Aaron in position?" Rayan rubbed his wrists.
"Yes. His team is waiting for the signal."
Rayan left the cell and closed the door behind him to turn the captor into the prisoner. Tyro waited for them with his edevic blades on his belt. "I'll pass these to you once we're in the clear," Tyro whispered over his shoulder when he stopped in front of the door which led to the ultimatum. "For now, just put your hands behind your back."
Rayan followed Tyro's instruction while the other defector grabbed his wrists in a show of force.
"I just hope this plan works." Tyro tapped the security panel with his thumb.
"You've got to roll with the punches." Rayan nodded.
Most of the Kalto base cleared out with most of the rooms acting as storage for the cornered First Insurgency.
It was the end of the line, one way or another.
Loyalists to Seeto refused to meet him in the eye when he passed, and took inaction instead of fighting. Others couldn't tear themselves away, and he banked on their hesitation. As they came close to the blast doors, two of Aaron's handpicked team waited for them.
Determination rippled through him, and the two guided them inside the room.
Seeto lifted his head from the sprayed colour of the holographic table where disappointment etched on his face, but nothing hurt more than James' tormented fury. Insurgent's hovered against the walls, with Aaron in the corner to assess the situation.
"I should've known your ties with the Sanctum would lead to this," Seeto said with a frown. "I had high hopes for you, Rayan Falae."
"My ties? You think that's what this is about?" Rayan argued and resisted the urge to unleash his rage. "Seeto, you knew Insurgents were in the hospital, not just Strike Force personnel."
"I mentioned that you don't have the guts to do what it takes." Seeto rounded the table, and Rayan checked on Aaron, who pursed his lips and refused to look at his old friend. "You've proved my point with that little stunt of yours. Now, where is Aelius Matthey?"
"I don't know."
He glared at Seeto when he tugged out an edevic pistol and pointed it at his long broken heart.
"I should've known better." Seeto came closer and aimed at his head. "I should've had you killed a long time ago. You would've become a liability, but you have a way with people, Falae."
If I truly had a way with people... James wouldn't have turned into what he has. Rayan bit on his tongue while the defectors stared at him, ready to jump into the fire for him. If I could change anyone's minds... I wouldn't be here.
Tension cracked in the atmosphere, but Seeto pressed on in his ignorance. "You were just a boy playing at war," he said. "You couldn't cut your losses and refused to make personal sacrifices. You had so much potential for more, Rayan."
"I couldn't make personal sacrifices?" Rayan asked. "Seeto, I gave everything for your cause. Everything. I could've easily just left the moment I had the chance, but I didn't." He clenched his fists, and Tyro loosened his grip. "Every dream I had I tossed to the side. Everyone I loved I threw under the bus — and you have the audacity to say I don't know what it's like to make personal sacrifices? Fuck. You."
Seeto's finger rested on the trigger, but Rayan dragged himself forward to send his fist into Seeto's jaw. His Insurgents raced to help, but Aaron's team acted first and forced them with their hands against the walls, guns primed. Seeto leaned against the table, where blood oozed out of his nose and he relished in the fire of his veins. His body acted for justice.
Rayan kicked the blaster out of his hand, and tugged out his own to force Seeto into submission.
"Now what?" Seeto questioned and rubbed his nose. "You think killing me will end this? Let me tell you something, Falae, the moment you pull that trigger, there's no going back." He straightened himself off the table. "You think you're going to convince me to alter my course? You don't have the guts. You never did. You never will. People don't change. You can't pull that trigger. You're just like the rest of them."
"I don't want to kill, Seeto," Rayan pointed out. "I never have. I wanted to believe that your people could make a better world, but I guess that's a lie." He relaxed. "I'm not you. I never will be you, so I'm giving you this chance to back off," he hissed. "Let it go."
"Let it go?" Seeto asked with a sharp laugh. "You think quadrums of this war and I can just let it go? How about you let go of this naive idealism, Falae? You're going to get people around you killed because of it, whether by driving our ideals into ruin or into the arms of the Elites — the Sanctum's monsters. It'll be your fault, Falae."
The universe went silent.
'At least I didn't turn myself into a monster,' he screamed at James, who cried for help, and forced his hand nonetheless.
Mom smiled at him, baked him cookies, encouraged him to pursue his dreams he left in the fire.
James, who he held close and realised the one mistake he could never take back.
Rayan tasted blood.
He pulled the trigger and a flash of crimson color painted across the table. His brush fell out of his hands and cracked underneath his war-stained heel. Seeto fell forward, eyes wide in realization. Rayan loomed over his corpse when blood oozed around his boots. His data collection and code-breaking never taught him what it was like. He stood in the puddle of blood. Shock nor horror shook his hands for art, steady as if he held a brush. Silence rang when he lowered the gun to his side.
His hands created and destroyed in equal measure.
But... I thought that James never could...
Rayan holstered the blaster onto his belt.
I thought there was nothing in this universe that would ruin his ability to capture frozen moments, and I thought... I could still paint.
Rayan lifted his head to the Insurgents, who gaped at their corpse of a leader. "Any of you who don't wish to fight, you're free to leave," he said, no longer recognizing his own voice. "I don't hold any grudge against you, because I was you. You can drop your weapons and walk away from this. Or..." Rayan folded his arms and glared at them. "You can follow me, and we can refine what we fought for." He glanced down at Seeto's body and the ruined ideals. "You cried for innocent blood — and that destroyed everything you stood for. You became no better than those who swore to bring down for justice." He sucked in a breath full of rust. "There's a difference, and if any of you have the guts to say, to my face, that the Elites are the real monsters, I still got bullets in the chamber."
None of the loyalists moved to avenge their leader, hope spent. "This war is over," one man rasped. "We've lost."
"You're right, the First Insurgency can't win anymore," Rayan explained. "Let the Insurgency die here with him." He stepped over Seeto's body and tapped the holotable and considered the mapped area. "I'll start by getting all those who wish to fight out of this area. Sanctum patrols will be scattered for a time. We'll rush for the old Eteran base, grab everything we can and make a break for it. The Sanctum will find Seeto dead, and the war will be over."
Hopelessness agitated the fire he stoked in his soul. "Swallow your damn pride," he snapped, causing the broken Insurgents to jump. "For quadrums, you've fought. For quadrums, you've forgotten the purpose of it. Stand down. It is not the same as giving in." He separated areas of interest around the city. "Aaron, take some supplies and get everyone mobilized and Seeto's body up into the street. I want the Sanctum to see him sooner rather than later."
As the defectors bustled around to follow his orders after disarming the Insurgents, Rayan focused on the layout of Kalto.
Red dots flashed on the edge of the map, and one of the Insurgents whispered, "What's that?"
"I don't know." Rayan fought for information. "It's out of our sensor's range."
He kept a close eye on the haunted dots and a horrible wrench twisted his heart. No... why is this familiar?
"Tyro," he said and turned to the older Insurgent. "Get eyes on the perimeter. I think we're about to have company. Be ready to bolt back into the Underground bunker — there should be an old supply route in this base somewhere.
In a perfect, frozen world — only one had to die.