Age of redemption, p.17
Age of Redemption, page 17
part #2 of Titan Code Series
Their group parked at an empty table, and Tessa sensed eyes on them. They were new, and people would test them soon to see if they were weak. Criminals would strive to take advantage of the vulnerable. Tessa realized she would have to secure a reputation here so that they might all be safe.
Tessa and Finn explored the facility searching for open bunks. They weaved in and out of the common area around groups of people huddled around tables. She heard hushed whispers and noticed sideways glances, but most people kept their distance.
Just when Tessa thought they would navigate the crowd of convicts without incident, they came to a table on the fringes before reaching the surrounding bunk area. A group of haggard-looking men appearing like they had been in this facility for a long time. There were five of them, and they all looked older but to be in peak physical shape. As Tessa neared their area, she noticed their body language and the glare in their hardened eyes. They were trouble.
Their leader stepped forward and moved toward the newcomers. He was much older than his companions, with long gray hair knotted into dreadlocks and a long beard with wrinkled olive-colored skin and an eye patch over his left eye. Tessa figured from his rough appearance that he had been here a while. He was also the long-term convict that knew everything about this place. She might find his knowledge useful in planning an escape.
He hollered at her and Finn in a gruff scratchy voice, “Hey, newbie, we keep your kind on the other side.”
Tessa played his game. She looked behind her and then back to him. “Were you talking to me? I didn’t see any signs telling me where I can and can’t go.”
He puffed his chest, “There ain’t no signs, but it’s the way it is here, and you’d be best to learn the rules here fast if you plan on living past a few days.”
“Who makes the rules here?” Tessa was pushing buttons.
“I do.” His four buddies stood up to make his presence more menacing. It didn’t work on her, but she noticed Finn got nervous.
“And who are you?” She needed to learn the key players here. The sooner, the better.
“They call me King because I run this place. Your kind don’t have no power here.”
“What is my kind?” Tessa baited him. She knew what he referred to. She wore a collar, so he knew she was an Evo.
“You Evos think you run this world with all your fancy powers. You’re nothing but a bunch of bullies hiding behind those powers. Without the powers, ya’ll are sniveling cowards. I’ve seen hundreds of you come through here, and you all bend and eventually break.”
Tessa shrugged him off, “We’ll I’m not intimidated by your scare tactics, and I don’t need my powers to inflict pain. I can do that with my own two hands. But I’m not here to fight.”
“Sounds like fighting words.”
Tessa prepared to turn the tables on them and make them think for a moment. “I’m looking for common ground, a truce between Evos and humans. That’s why I’m here. My rebellion comprised of both working together. When you boil it down, we’re all flesh and blood cut from the same cloth. If we continue to fight each other, we can’t combine and take it to the real enemy.”
King paused for a moment, unsure of how to proceed. “You’re Joule, aren’t you?”
It amazed Tessa he knew who she was. If he had been here long, he wouldn’t be privy to current news. “I am. How is it you know of me?”
“I have my ways, and word travels fast.”
“Then you know what H.I.V.E did to my people. They slaughtered unarmed men, women, and children, both Evo and human.”
“And you destroyed the Cheyenne Mountain single handedly.”
Tessa stepped toe to toe with him and made sure not to break eye contact. “I did. I’m an Alpha, and I will break these bonds. H.I.V.E can’t contain me. I’ll break free. And when I do, I will lay waste to H.I.V.E. So; you need to decide if standing in my way is a wise choice. Or would you rather be an ally that might also escape this hell in my wake?”
He rubbed his chin for a moment as the wheels churned in his head. “Give me a few moments.” He turned to address his colleagues. They conversed for a few moments, and he returned, “What is it you want from us?”
“My family is human, and I want to guarantee their safety. I would have them seek shelter on this side, and I need access to stay nearby. I suspect you have valuable information on how this place works and want every detail. For this, I will include you in my plans to escape, and I will make sure that when I break lose you benefit. I know things about what H.I.V.E is working on, and I can help you secure a future. I can also promise you revenge.”
The human prisoners liked the sound of revenge, and they looked at Tessa differently than other Evos. She sheltered both Evos and humans, and her efforts protected all. They recognized and respected her platform. Smart humans understood if they hoped to survive H.I.V.E, they needed people with powers on their side. Tessa was the most powerful of all Evos, and that made her an invaluable ally.
Once Tessa stuck her deal with the humans, the rest came together easy. They found her family adequate accommodations and introduced her to a few key security figures. This prison was a free for all. Every man for himself, so it was difficult to keep people safe. There were protocols for riots and a loose set of rules for the facility, but nothing enforced.
With human allies secured, Tessa turned to the Evos. They didn’t have an organized leadership as the humans did, but that stemmed from their differing natures. On the outside, Evos existed on their own. With their powers, they protected themselves or took what they wanted. Here the humans were right; the Evos had no clue how to band together to defend themselves. On the flip side, human communities banded together for generations to protect themselves from Evos. They formed leadership because it was already their current societal structure.
Tessa slipped into the Evo leadership role unchallenged. They had no direction and were eager to follow anyone willing to step forward to take charge. Some of them heard stories of her, which helped solidify a leadership role with no opposition.
Tessa needed both sides to work together if they were to get out of this hell hole. She didn’t intend to stay long. Once they settled in for the night, she would start planning with Finn. She would sleep on her plans, but tomorrow was a new day, and every second mattered. Every minute she wasted away in this prison was a day closer to H.I.V.E launching their arc.
27
Once Tessa was topside, she used comms to send an alert out to her team. She had to sell the story, so she mustered up some tears and made sure the panic in her voice sounded real. She revealed to the team that the mission was a bust and to abort. She reported Finn’s capture and the need to reach safety before H.I.V.E collected the rest of them.
The group scrambled to the rendezvous area near the motor pool. From there, Tessa met up with her teammates. One by one, they believed her short explanation and offered quick condolences on Finn’s capture. There was so much going on; there was little time for them to question her story.
Stonewell and Sam took control of the extraction and commandeered an SUV. They only had a short amount of time before the alarms sounded. Tessa hoped the Director would give her ample time to escape with her new friends, but not so much time to arouse suspicions. It was a delicate balance to keep up appearances.
Sam hot-wired the vehicle, and they all piled inside. Within a matter of minutes, they headed out of the complex. Stonewell flashed some papers Finn provided as a backup in case of emergency, and they exited the base. Shortly after they exited, Tessa heard the sirens blaring in the distance. Stonewell stomped on the gas to get them as far from danger as possible.
Tessa leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes. So far, everything was going according to plan. No one suspected anything for now. She remained quiet and reserved; in mourning for her lost lover.
After they were on the road for a while and confident that H.I.V.E wasn’t coming after them, Arica asked about Finn. “Did they hurt him?”
Tessa sniffled before responding, “They hit him before they cuffed him and drug him away, but I don’t think they killed him, but I really don’t know. There was so much blood…” She added some sobbing for dramatic effect.
“They’ll likely interrogate him for information,” Sam responded.
Melody scolded him, “Too soon, Sam. Tessa doesn’t need to hear that right now.”
“It’s okay. I know it's true. That’s reality.” Tessa pretended to swallow that hard pill. “We have to unite in the hopes of saving him.”
Stonewell looked at her in the rearview mirror, “What do you have in mind? Your base is deserted.”
“We go back to Chicago and rally the gangs. This time I want blood.”
Arica seemed excited to restart their group, “Should we plan to gather the humans again too?”
Tessa shook her head, “No. Only Evos this time. We need to get as much power together as we can.” She stared out the window, watching the desolate countryside pass by. “We need an army. All hope of peace is gone; we are at war.”
Stonewell seemed on board with building an Evo army, but Sam and Arica seemed apprehensive. Being human, they hesitated to agree with waging war. They feared that the military would turn on humans who weren’t in line with H.I.V.E. They feared innocent collateral damage.
Tessa didn’t care. If the humans got in the way, she would remove them. They were meaningless pawns in this war with no power. This fight was between Evos and H.I.V.E, and Tessa’s job was to set them up. She needed to gather as many Evos into one spot so that H.I.V.E could wipe them out. Or at least deplete their number significantly to diminish the threat.
The team took turns driving on their way back to Chicago. They took a different route using more rural roads. If H.I.V.E discovered they escaped with the SUV they might search the major roadways for them. Better to cling to the shadows. Along the way, they passed through several small towns, and Tessa learned more about how society lived outside the H.I.V.E base.
The human life out in this world was bleak. Most performed menial labor tasks for H.I.V.E growing and harvesting food or building and scavenging. This existence wasn’t much of a life, but humans lacked the increased abilities that Evos possessed. They were less evolved and doomed to fail. H.I.V.E human elite scientists were geniuses to see the failures of humanity.
The one thing that could stop them from escaping earth and reaching their utopia on another planet were Evos. Out in the world, Evos viewed themselves as gods. They held power out here but squandered it on frivolous things. They were genetically advanced but focused on the wrong issues and their own selfish desires.
The Evos would die here on Earth along with the non-essential humans. H.I.V.E would grant only those chosen to populate the new world the chance to leave this hell hole. Tessa thought there might be a possibility that they might include her. Although H.I.V.E wanted to eliminate Evos, she was different. H.I.V.E made her, and she did their bidding. Her service might earn her a spot on the arc; if it didn’t, then she would stay here and prevent Evos from following to the stars.
Please check out other books by Rey Clark:
The Path of Ascension Trilogy
Flames of Valor
Fire Forged
Inferno Rising
Titan Code Series
Dawn of Genesis
Age of Redemption
Final Legacy (May 2021)
Legends Chronicles
Legends of the Vale
Legends of the Weirded Ways (October 2020)
Legends of the Phoenix Flame (January 2022)
Runemaster Saga (TBD)
Dusk, Fate & Glory
The Realm of Thraul (TBD)
The Dragon Dynasty
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Rey Clark, Age of Redemption
