Chapter 6, Part II

As the elevator slowly climbed to the next floor, Gerate handed out weapons to each of the rebels from a small satchel he had concealed in his jacket, also distributing extra ammunition.

"Keep these in your jackets so they are easily accessible when the time comes. Remember, it will only take one shot to bring the entire palace after us, so make the shot count."

Inusha looked with a shudder at his pistol before he tucked it into a jacket pocket. It was horrible to think of the men it would kill, men with wives and children. Men that had ordinary jobs with ordinary friends, doing ordinary things. He shook his head. This was not the enemy he wanted!

The elevator beeped as the door opened, revealing a long hallway crawling with armed guards. Determinedly, Gerate stepped out and strode to the officer in charge, flashing his identification card. "We are here to relieve the second guard shift on the throne room floor."

The officer scrutinized them closely, suspicious at Inusha's lack of identification. "He has no card?"

"No sir – he lost it last week during a convict chase in the downtown area." Ehoti let the officer scan his card. "I can vouch for him, though – he is getting a replacement in a week. These types of things take time, especially when you need a new identification card."

The officer sighed. "I cannot let you go any further without proper identification, sir. You will have to report back to the central station and explain why you cannot-"

"It is urgent, officer. I tried to tell the central station, but they told me to proceed anyway. Besides, my comrades know me and can vouch that I had proper identification."

In the end, Inusha had to surrender his utility belt and knife before they could proceed. The lost card story was a bold-faced lie, to be sure, but at least it had allowed them to pass the checkpoint without problems. They might not be so lucky next time…

Desidu sighed in relief as the elevator door sealed shut and the car slowly climbed to the next level. "That was close, Inusha. If you had been detained, they would have reported to the central station that never sent you up here."

Gerate nodded. "We can use the same argument for the other checkpoints, all the way to the throne room. I am relieved."

But everyone knew that the argument was barely convincing. Certainly it would not get them more than a few more checkpoints toward the throne room.

Then they would have only one option.

*****

Reshnu was having a wonderful dream that he was lying in his own bed in the morning. As he opened his eyes, his mother rushed into the room and smiled, hugging him tightly.

He stirred as the clicking noise grew louder and louder, forcing him to open his eyes and leave the pleasant, blissful trance. Still half asleep, Reshnu tried to place the clicking noise. It seemed so familiar, and so recent too-

The Vehimar. He was up in an instant, looking around carefully for signs of the monsters. To his relief, they were not in sight, but the clicking noise continued on. As quietly as he could, he crawled toward the guard's camping spot, hiding behind the big bush and peering carefully around the leaves.

The guards all lay on the ground, fast asleep. And surrounding the prostrate men were ten smiling Vehimar, bending over the sleeping figures. Reshnu gasped, horrified at what was about to happen.

Suddenly a hand was clapped over his mouth, smothering a cry of fear. But it was not the cold, clawed hand of a Vehimar. It was the warm hand of a human – and it glowed.

"Quickly!" whispered Yive. "Bring him around to the others!" Before Reshnu could say anything, another stranger grabbed his hand and hurried him through the woods, whispering to him as he went.

"Do not be afraid, child. We are the Veti, and we will not harm you. My name is Hasner – I am one of Yive's disciples. Just follow along quickly now, and we can talk more freely."

Reshnu was overjoyed as he rushed along with the glowing figure, his exhausted supply of energy renewed. He had found them, the Veti – and he could tell them of the guard's plans to kill them! But as Hasner stopped and released his hand, Reshnu back from where they had fled.

"Wait!" Hasner reached him in two large strides and grabbed his arm, preventing him from going further. "We will not hurt you, we promise!"

"I know you won't!" Reshnu wriggled free from the Veti's grasp. "But the monsters will kill the guards in their sleep!"

"The Vehimar?" Yive strode through the trees, laughing slightly. "Most undoubtedly they will – darkness killing darkness." He stopped and examined the boy critically.

"You can't let them die!" Reshnu looked from one to the other, confused and discouraged. "They're people too!"

Yive shook his head. "If they were truly men like us, we would not be called to complete separation. Let them die!"

Reshnu shuddered as screams rent the air, mixed with the clicking of Vehimar. A voice called out for help, broken off in the middle with a gasp. The two Veti stood silently, listening to the cries of anguish without a single expression of sorrow. Finally, the cries died out.

Yive sighed, shaking his head. "Thus ends the path of those who plot to do evil. My boy, may you never stray on similar roads." He turned from Reshnu to a path on the right, where four more glowing figures appeared. "What happened?"

"Dead, every single one slaughtered by the Vehimar."

"Good." Yive seemed pleased at the report. "We do not want the darkness of Netopia to spread any further toward our settlement." He turned to Reshnu, who stood silently by a decaying tree.

"Come, little friend, what is your name?"

Reshnu did not know what to say. He had expected brave, heroic men who would defy danger to save a life. He felt deeply disappointed, and for a moment wanted to stubbornly refuse to give his name. But he realized that the refusal would do nothing for the dead men in the wood.

"Reshnu."

Yive smiled and patted his head. "Pleased to meet you! I am the Elder Yive, though most simply call me Yive. You are lucky that we came when we did, otherwise you too might have fallen prey to the Vehimar. What a sad fate that would be for one so young! But it is all over now.

Here, Reshnu, come with me to my house, and have something to eat and drink!"