Milan begins to walk towards Nero, "Those Gospels I used to hear my family talk about are actually real?" he asks.
"Yes, and if I had to guess, the boy you have in that cave is in it. We can all gain something from getting into the Motherland and saving Jonathan's friend," Nero replies.
Milan pans his gaze over to Jonathan, who still holds onto Maya.
… "If we are to do this, we go in and handle it my way. We go in together and come out together, once we are out of there and everyone has what they want, you can go on your merry way," Milan states.
"I hear you, help us get his friend and we will help you find the Gospel within the Motherland" Nero says, whilst glancing back and forth at Milan then Jonathan.
"Does your guy with the little girl not speak," Milan says in a sarcastic tone whilst pointing at Jonathan.
"Apparently not anymore," Nero responds with a slight giggle.
"Whatever, all of you here listen to me, we have one more mission before we set out to find a new camp for our people. Malik, gather whatever motorbikes we have left that the others might've brought from the camp. Boz, go get Providence – we are going to need his eyes for this type of mission. Estrella, I hope your sister is fine because we need her to find Silas when we get in. You can come along too babe so stop giving me that look. Oldman, stay with the others and keep your eyes on the new ones, especially Vince. That little girl will also stay here as well, take care of her too," Milan addresses all around who are around the area.
As Oldman walks towards Jonathan and reaches out to Maya, she begins to hide her face and sob relentlessly.
"Mimi…Mimi" Nero calls out with an exaggerated soft tone, "Don't cry, we will be back ok… these people will protect you until we are back," he continues to say.
With Nero hugging her tightly, Maya's sob begins to decline; but as Nero picks her up and hands her over to Oldman, her sob intensifies as she reaches out to Nero.
"Meuu," Meumeu sounds out in a distraught tone on Milan's shoulder.
"You can stay with her if you want," Milan says whilst picking Meumeu up off his shoulder and walking towards Oldman. "Hey, hey… this is Meumeu, he's a cute chameleon, isn't he?" he asks in a soft giddy voice whilst looking at Maya.
As Maya reaches out slowly to touch Meumeu's cheek whilst still sobbing, Meumeu expands into a chubby vibrant green ball. Instantly, a smile hijacks Maya's face as she draws her snot back into her nose.
"Alright, now that its sorted, let's head out," Milan shouts out.
Immediately everyone begins to spread out but Nero, Jonathan and Milan.
-
Tap, Tap, Tap.
"What is it?" Providence says groggily whilst laying on his mattress.
"We have something to do, get up," Boz responds in a cold tone.
-
Inside the cave entry, on the left-hand side where multitude of guns and motorbikes lay, Malik walks in, "Justin, how many motorbikes do we have available right now," he asks.
"We only managed to get six out, but only four are working. Why, do you need them?" Justin questions
"Four is all we need, we are going out for a bit, take care of the people while we are gone," Malik responds.
Justin whilst rubbing two knives together blurts out, "Sure, I won't ask any more questions. I don't want to know anyways. Let's get the motorbikes running shall we."
-
Rev! Rev! Rev!
Motorbike revs echo throughout the entire surroundings outside the cave.
"Alright! We all know what we have to do, Providence, stay alert, we need you so that we don't get caught. Nero told me that they left a truck that can fit five of us when they were tailing us. When we reach that truck, four of us will get in there, in the meantime the formation will stay the same, Me and Estrella, Boz and Esmeralda, Malik and Nero, Providence and Jon; whatever his name is. We don't have to get along with each other, but we have a common goal so let's focus on that. Let's ride out!" Milan shouts out in a motivating tone.
-
As the strong crash of the waterfall fades out as they get farther, they are faced with the obstacles of the thick, muddy terrain, and ahead of them lies the green heavy armor truck.
"There it is," Nero points out whilst on the back of Malik's motorbike.
"Estrella get in the truck with your sister. What's your friends name again?" Milan asks whilst looking at Nero.
"Jonathan!" Nero screams out to get his voice heard over the heavy wind.
"Right… Jonathan, get in the truck with them, it looks like it's about to rain, let's get going!" Milan shouts out with the strong wind wheezing past.
-
A few miles into their journey, the red vibrant dust of the wasteland begins to intertwine with the petrichor of soft pouring rain.
"What a beast Milan is," Nero mutters under his breath as they ride past what remains of the previous Skulldem camp.
"Ever since I've known him, his Meraki has always been on another level just on raw strength alone. That's why I never believed that Vince could have stronger Meraki; but now that I've seen him, that kid gives me chills. What are those gospels you were talking about?" Malik asks Nero whilst the soft drizzling rain carried by wind attacks his face and black cornrowed hair.
"It's among one of the most sought-after artifacts of from the ancient period; just having a piece of it can make a man and the generations to come after him extremely rich. That's why militia hunters are always searching for it. I don't know much, but from what I've heard among other militia hunters, the Emperor's Meraki is mentioned many times throughout those Gospels," Nero replies.
"Now that you've told him, Milan won't stop util he finds them all," Malik says.
-
Crackle, Crackle! The clapping of thunder sounds, drowning out the revs of the motorbikes and heavy armor truck.
Milan speeds up on his bike and rides right beside the truck.
"Let's leave the vehicles here, we don't want them to hear us coming," Milan says as thunder continues strike. "How are we going to get in there? We can't just bust in there."
"What the Jonathan guy just walks up to the gate, he is a Core soldier after all," Boz suggests.
Jonathan glances over to Boz, "Are you stupid, curfew is up, I should be in the Tower of Babel right now. If they find out I am not there, I am dead! Furthermore, I am not an Obsidian Calvary Rider, so any mission I go out on should be with my grade members!" he whispers in a strenuous tone.
"He speaks," Boz quickly sneers.
Whilst Nero gets off Malik's motorbike, he begins to address the entire group, "No need for arguments, I know where we can sneak in from. Everyone crouch down and follow Jonathan and I," he says whilst getting into a crouched position.
As they all dip down to blend in with the tall trees and bushes, a piercing bright ray of light on high ground sweeps past their heads.
"Hold up," Milan whispers, "Providence, how many watch men are up there?" he questions.
Instantly, Providence's eyes roll back and leave behind the white milky base. His breath sharpens; his body quivers. "There are 6 watchmen," he replies as rain droplets begin to slide down his face.
Milan turns to Nero, "Alright let's go," he says.
With their crouched stances, they begin to walk towards where the bush is denser. Immediately, Jonthan and Nero begin to rip and push the bushes apart until a floor cover can be seen.
"This is our entry to the Motherland. Welcome - to hell," Nero says with a smile whilst pointing down at the hole.
"It's been a while – you curse of a birth nation," Milan softly mutters as he jumps straight down into the hole.
"So you don't need a ladder like the rest of us?" Nero sarcastically asks.
With a slight giggle, Malik taps on Nero's shoulder, "Don't worry about him, he will be fine," he says.
-
With Estrella and Esmeralda left, they begin to slowly make their way towards the hole. "Are you sure you want to back into this place? I just got you back," Estrella asks, both her hands tightly touching Esmeralda's face.
"Big sis…" Esmeralda mumbles under her breath whilst nervously looking away, "I've grown since we last saw each other, you don't have to worry about me too much like before," she responds.
As the rain begins to get stronger, Estrella hugs and squeezes Esmeralda tightly, "You're allowed to be selfish, you don't have to save anyone, me and you are all we need… remember dad's words," she whispers into Esmeralda's ear.
Whilst hesitant, Nero steps slightly closer to the two, "Sorr…sorry to break up the sisterly bond, but we have to get going," he nervously says.
"It will be fine big sis, I can't let Silas stay in there by himself," Esmeralda states whilst grabbing Estrella's hand and walking towards the hole.
-
Clank. The sliding metal cover of the hole sounds shut.
"What took y'all so long? You had us standing here for so long in this place, it stinks!" Milan says as he squeezes his nose.
"Sewers tend to smell like that," Nero retorts.
Suddenly, a sense of cold air usurps Milan's face.
"It was a joke, relax," Nero says, his voice a tiny bit timid. "I suggest we go get Jonathan's friend first," he remarks whilst walking to the front of the group towards Milan.
"I should crack your bones right here," Milan mumbles under his breath. "I don't care, let's get everything we came for and leave here before someone sees me," he says.
"Alright then, follow me. This sewer should lead to an alley way," Nero replies.
-
Clank, Clank! A sliding metal cover sounds whilst it slides open.
Jonathan jumps out first, followed by the remainder of the group, and as Malik covers the hole, they find themselves in a claustrophobic alleyway littered with full black and white plastic bags.
Squeak, Squeak; the group hears as tiny mice crawl past from one side of the alley to another.
"Alright, where are we headed?" Malik asks.
In the blink of an eye, Milan sprints on the wet puddled floor and cups his hand over Malik's mouth.
"Shut up, there will be patrols out," Milan whispers, as he points towards the exit of the alley; and walking right past are two Core soldiers adorning gold armbands and black helmets with gold visors; in their hands, they hold assault rifles with a holographic number displaying ammunition.
As they walk past, they chatter with the rain continuing to heavily pour down.
Milan walks towards Boz "Me and you, take one each," he whispers.
Immediately as Boz nods his head, they crouch towards the exit of the alley, "Wait till I give you a signal to come out," Milan says as he looks back at the group.
With Boz peeking right, and Milan peeking left; where the Core soldiers are walking, Milan makes a pistol shaped gesture with his hand and points it forward two times. He and Boz step out of the alleyway and begin to slowly crouch behind the two Core soldiers.
Snap! Snap! The neck of the two Core soldiers' swivel as they hit the ground simultaneously.
As they glance at each other, Milan lets out a sharp whistle as he and Boz pick up the assault rifles dropped onto the ground and drag the Core soldiers on the cobblestone ground all the way back into the alley.
"Let's go, let's go!" Milan whispers in a soft yet strained tone.
Crackle, Crackle! The powerful claps of thunder striking, sounding across the entire area.
Jonathan with haste immediately gets in front of the entire group, "Let's head to the Tower of Babel," he says.
With Jonathan leading, they maneuver their way through different patrolled sections of the Motherland. But as they reach the entrance gate to the Tower of Babel, there stands four other Core soldiers adorning gold armbands.
"Aah damn it, what the hell," Jonathan whispers harshly.
Milan walks up to him and taps his shoulders lightly, "Leave this to us," he demands of Jonathan.
"Eyes in the sky, how many of them are securing the Tower," Milan asks whilst looking at Providence.
Immediately, a white milky base overtakes Providence's eyes, "There are four at the front gate – and two more on the inside guarding an elevator," he spouts out.
"Good work," Milan says. "Malik how many pistols do you have in that pouch of yours?" Milan asks.
As he rattles inside his pouch, Malik pulls out two silencers and tosses one to Milan, "I have two," he responds, whilst softly placing one pistol into Milan's hand.
"Are you going to kill them?" Jonathan strains his voice asking.
"No – we are just going to hand the pistols over to them," Milan replies with a tinge of sarcasm in his tone. "All of you, follow me closely," he says whilst peeking at the four Core soldiers at the Tower of Babel gate.
As Milan and Malik screw the silencers onto the pistol, they quickly run behind a wall to get closer to the gate.
Fwip, Fwip, Fwip, Fwip! A low velocity projectile sounds out of Milan and Malik's pistol.
Thud, Thud, Thud, Thud! Slowly, the four Core soldiers begin to fall unconscious onto the ground.
Milan inspects the pistol closely, "What the hell is this?" he asks whilst glancing over at Malik.
"Oops, I think I pulled out the tranquilizer pistol," Malik responds with confused look spreading across his face.
"This kid," Milan sighs.
"You all wait here, I need to tag in, before we can get in" Jonathan says to the entire group,
As he takes off the bronze armband on his right arm, he fiercely lunges into a sprint towards the gate.
"I will go with him," Nero says to Milan, his body angled towards Jonathan.
Whilst getting closer to Jonathan, Nero can hear a certain declining sound and an automated voice.
Buzz, Buzz! Unauthorized to scan at this time!
The automated voice states out.
"What is going on?" Nero questions.
"Damn it, I can't scan because I'm not meant to be out at this time," Jonathan replies.
With a sharp whistle, Nero glances over to the wall Milan and the others are hiding behind and gestures his hand for them to come over.
One by one, as they sprint over to the gate, Boz begins to walk towards Nero, "What is taking so long -"
Right as Boz is about to finish asking his question, Milan interjects.
"Doesn't matter, all of you move a little bit," Milan demands.
Without touching the gate, Milan begins to gesture as if he is pulling the gate apart; and with his hands getting further apart, the iron bars within the gate begin to invisibly spread out, creating a slight gap between them.
"Get in, quickly!" Milan mutters in a tense tone whilst his teeth grind against themselves.
As he struggles to invisibly hold the slight gap open, he quickly steps into the other side after everyone and lets go, and in a quick reset, the iron bars of the gate morph back into its original shape.
"The great Milan struggling to keep a door open," Nero says with a slight grin.
"He doesn't want us to get caught you idiot, he could've left bent, but he didn't – actually sorry, I guess not everyone knows how Gravity Meraki works," Estrella sharply whispers.
"Enough! Let's get going," Milan says.
-
As they all slowly crouch low and make their way towards an automatic sliding door, Providence taps Milan's shoulders and raises two fingers up.
Milan nods his head and glances over to Malik, "You take right, I take left."
-
"Man, I hate being on Elevator watch, nothing ever happens," a Core soldier adorning a bronze armband; but no helmet says to another.
"What are you complaining about, you haven't done elevator watch for a week; and from what Ven Percy told us, there is someone new that they are training to do maintenance, so we have to stand by in case something goes wrong," the other Core soldier adorning the same bronze arm band states.
Swish! The automatic sliding door sounds.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a robbery, but please don't be alarmed," Malik softly whispers
Fwip, Fwip!
"What the hell- "
both core soldiers say incoherently as they unconsciously fall onto the floor.
Sorry Roger and Tom – you are in my way. Jonathan thinks to himself as he presses on a button on the wall.
Ding! The elevator sounds as its doors slowly open.
As the group make their way into the elevator, several buttons can be seen; and with Jonathan about to press on the button labeled 'level 2', Providence and Esmeralda simultaneously shout out, "Press on the green button!"
"Why?" Jonathan asks.
"Just press it bud," Milan says.
Jonathan with hesitation brushes his finger pass all and the other buttons and immediately after he clicks the green button, the bright fluorescent light of the elevator quickly turns green.
"Going…going down – Ascendentary level," a fractured female robotic voice announces.
END OF CHAPTER
THEORIES MERAKI – NERO AND JONATHAN ARE BACK IN HELL, THIS TIME WITH A FEW OF THE SKULLDEM, WHAT AWAITS THEM DOWN AT THE ASCENDENTARY LEVEL?
NEXT CHAPTER – TBD