2400 AD

The earthquake hit a few hours later.

It was as if someone had turned off the lights of the cosmos. Lightning and thunder rumbled across the sky and thick, ominous clouds developed, swirling across cities and towns, unleashing fuming anger.

An earthquake with its epicenter directly beneath Egoli rattled through Denizen 1 even before the BHB Drone could be released.

Denizen 1 went dark.

Kendall called for calm.

“What’s happening, Tumelo?”

Tumelo didn’t respond and the elevators were out of order. No way could she get to the ops room from her apartment.

Hopefully someone would have the foresight to turn on the back-up generators.

“It’s begun,” Thespian whispered in the darkness.

Kendall had forgotten that Thespian was in her apartment.

“What’s begun?”

“The end of everything.”

“Talk to me, Thespian. What’s happening?”

“Lillian.”

“What about Lillian?”

“She’s dead. I can feel it. Someone killed her.”

“Who killed her?”

“I don’t know. I must go to her.”

“We can’t get out of here until energy is restored.”

“If I can’t get to her in the next few minutes, all will be lost.”

***

All will be lost.

Gideon would never forget those words spoken by his mother on the day she abandoned her family. She called them together into the living room one wet Sunday afternoon after dinner.

She stood before the hearth, two large bags by her side. Hair tied back into a long ponytail as if strained to her neck and back.

The children sat on the three-seater couch before her, huddled together, looking confused when they saw the suitcases. Gideon’s fear had already set in.

“Are you leaving us, mother?” he asked, staring at the luggage.

“That’s why I’ve called you all together to discuss...”

Gideon interrupted her. “Where is Father?”

She fell silent only for a moment. “He won’t be joining us. I’m leaving. Your father will look after you while I’m gone.”

Kendall, his younger sister asked, “Will you be coming back?”

She didn’t answer.

Picking up her luggage she took a quick glance at the children.

Gideon’s tears stained his cheeks. He moved his sleeve up to wipe them away from his nose. Jenny was still too young to understand, she leaped up and grabbed her skirt. “Don’t leave us, Mother. Please.”

Gideon knew his sister’s request would be ignored. He had never seen his mother look as determined as this. She’d always been loving and caring and giving. This time she was precariously unloving, uncaring and selfish.

She said nothing. She lifted her luggage and headed for the door, but stopped when a voice boomed out from the top landing.

“Lillian!”

She turned, looked up at her husband.

“If you go, you must never return. Am I clear?”

“If I don’t go, all will be lost.”

“Don’t you love us, Mother?” Gideon asked, staring at the floor.

“I love you both. Look after your little sister, Gideon. Love her and understand I will always be there for you. You are special. Your mind is special.”

She stepped inside a black passenger drone, and within seconds it sped away. Gideon watched as it disappeared into the distance, out of their lives.

Forever.

He never understood her reasons, not until many years later.

By then, it would be too late.

***

Cleo moved stealthily ahead of them. Their footsteps echoed down the silent tunnel. It struck Gideon that the silence was unbecoming. There should have been more soldiers fighting to the death. But no more soldiers came.

After a while of walking and touching the side panels in search of another door, Gideon stopped.

“There’s something wrong,” he whispered.

“What? What’s wrong?” Callum asked.

“It’s too quiet.”

Cleo agreed.

“This is typical of an ambush,” Callum whispered. “We need to get out of here. Fast.”

“This tunnel can’t go on forever. It must surface somewhere,” Callum said. “I thought you knew every corner of this hell.”

“Christ, Callum, you know how to push all the wrong buttons don’t you? I can also push a few. If you’re so clean-cut and innocent tell me about you and Indranil. You think I haven’t seen the way he looks at you? He’s so hell bent on following you like a shadow I wonder if there’s more to your relationship than meets the eye. If I remember correctly there should be an exit straight ahead.”

Callum spewed out the words. “Indranil is a friend. Nothing more. How come you’re suddenly jealous. How do you live with yourself after telling so many lies? Tell me you can look yourself in the mirror and convince yourself you’ve done no wrong.”

Gideon’s anger exploded. “No! I can’t do that because I’m not perfect. I keep things to myself to keep you safe. To keep Denizen safe. I made a choice and that was to remain silent. Tell me you have no secrets. Tell me you’re an angel without skeletons in your cupboard and I’ll call you a liar. Can you do that? Callum? Are you so squeaky clean that no one can touch you?”

“Stop it! Stop it both of you. You’re acting like kids. We have to get out of here and the more time you two spend arguing means less time to get out. Keep moving. And shut the fuck up. Both of you!”

Suddenly Gideon gripped his head and screamed in agony. The screams came from his gut. And then he dropped.

The last echo of his screams disappeared down the tunnel.

Suddenly lights! Above. Below. To the left. To the right. Every beam concentrated on the three of them.

“Stop!” A voice filled the tunnel.

Cleo and Callum aimed their lasers directly at the source of the voice, his figure clearly silhouetted against the backdrop of lights behind him.

Krakat!

***

“Drop your weapons and surrender.”

Cleo and Callum stood fast.

“Drop your weapons and surrender and you won’t be harmed.”

Callum knew it was a lie. The moment they complied they’d be dead.

“You know that’s not going to happen, Krakat. If you shoot at us, you’ll die too.”

Krakat thought for a moment. Their weapons were trained on him. Both aimed for his eyes.

“I’d say we’re at a stalemate,” Callum said.

“It won’t matter to me. You have 5 seconds to surrender or we will kill you.”

The countdown started immediately.

“Why waste 5 seconds. Just fire away,” Callum turning to see if Gideon was safe behind him on the floor of the tunnel.

He was there.

Standing.

His eyes seemed to have slanted.

His forehead stiffened.

Slowly he brought his hands up and stretched out.

“Your time is up,” Krakat said, squeezing the trigger of the laser.

But his finger wouldn’t budge. It was paralyzed into position. The weapon felt heavy in his grip and eventually it fell.

“Kill them!” He instructed the Androids all around him.

One by one their weapons fell to the tunnel floor. And one by one they all dropped.

Only Krakat remained standing.

Gideon stepped forward.

“It’s my turn now, Krakat,” Gideon said. “Callum, aim for his eyes. Take the shot.”

Callum aimed directly for Krakat’s eyes and squeezed the trigger. Krakat’s wiring had no time to interpret the damage as the laser entered his head between the eyes.

He dropped like a fly.

As they approached the fallen Androids, they heard a loud whisper coming from one of the Androids.

“Please, don’t hurt us. Please.”

“What?” Callum said, heading towards the Android lying on the floor.

“Don’t hurt us.”

Several Androids began to move.

“Hold it! All of you. Best you stay down,” Cleo shouted.

One of the Androids removed his helmet and stared at Gideon.

“What the hell?” Callum exclaimed.

“He’s just a kid,” Cleo rushed to help him.

All of the Androids removed their helmets.

“He’s using children to fight us,” Gideon helped one of the children to his feet.

“Do you know how far this tunnel goes?” Cleo asked.

The child nodded.

Gideon stared into Callum’s eyes and saw confusion.

“Don’t even begin to explain,” Callum reached out to help the child.