New Zion

Cole looked down at the stretch of cleared forest at the base of the mountain near West City. Arik had joined them and was watching their backs while Scout explained what was going on.

“Each tent houses at around ten people. There are guards all over the place constantly checking and watching the miners. Each tent is controlled by four guards. Two work the day shift while the others take care of the night. The guards are always with their tent groups, who are forced to stick together in everything they do,” Scout explained. Cole nodded.

“Ok. What are they mining?” he asked. Scout pulled a rock from his pocket.

“We don’t know exactly what it is, but we know that it’s different from your basic metals. It’s tough, and won’t break or smelt easily. This is some ore and this…” Scout held out a metal bar, “is an ingot,” he said. Cole held the ingot, rubbing his thumb on the surface.

“I could be wrong, but this feels…” Cole trailed off as he pulled out the hilt and set it to dagger. He rubbed the side of it with his thumb as well. Cole handed the weapon and ingot to Scout, who followed suit. “Your senses are more attuned than mine. Do these feel the same to you as well?” Cole asked. Scouts eyes widened as he nodded.

“Yes! Where did you get this weapon?” he whispered.

“It’s an Avian weapon. This one specifically belonged to the previous captain of the Chimera’s Arena. The metal that they’re pulling out the ground is programmable. If you leave these with me, I’ll see if I can’t program them in my trailer to confirm,” Cole said. Scout nodded quickly, handing the ore and ingot to Cole. Cole pocketed them, and sat down.

“The conditions down there are poor. They’re being fed just enough to be able to keep working, they only shower once a week to keep disease at bay. And there’s that,” Scout said, pointing at a ditch on the outside of the camp. “A mass grave. And what’s worse, they throw the contents of the outhouses into the pit, along with a bunch of foul smelling mineral,” Scout said. Cole’s eyes widened.

“The foul smelling mineral. Does is smell like spoiled eggs?” Cole asked. Scout blinked.

“Yes. How did you…” He began but Cole looked over the hill towards the mass grave.

“Shit. They’re making blasting powder…” Cole said. The ground suddenly shook and a blast echoed off of the mountain. Cole looked over in time to see dust and smoke roiling out of a hole in the mountain.

“They are making thunderous sounds every day,” Scout said. “Always in a new tunnel, though. They don’t use it in the old tunnels,” Arik looked at Cole and nodded.

“They are making blasting powder,” he confirmed. “When I was investigating them, I found out about it after Namhaid had made me a lieutenant. I told your father, but he said that Namhaid was too far away from knowing how to use it properly if they weren’t already using it by the time I had left. He also seemed more interested in the structure of the organization, and how to tear it down,” Arik explained.

“Well, they obviously know how to use it. When did the blasts start?” Cole asked. Scout thought a moment.

“A week after Dunhail left,” Scout said. Cole blinked.

“Yes. Like I said, it didn’t start until sometime after I had left,” Arik said. Cole looked up at Arik and mouthed the name Dunhail. Arik shrugged.

“So, my father was so focused on tearing down Namhaid that he didn’t realize the real threat. He’s normally more cautious than that,” Cole said. Arik shrugged.

“Well, he had other things on his mind. Also, he’s the only one that any of us know of that has managed to create blasting powder until now. Perhaps if I had stayed that week, then we’d be prepared for this,” Arik said.

“Ok, Scout. You said that there was something else that you wanted to show me?” he asked. Scout nodded.

“Yes, but it will be just you and I. Dunhail will be on the outskirts, and will come and retrieve us after fifteen minutes,” Scout said.

“Cole? Wake up, Cole!” Cole blinked open his eyes to see Aria’s face a few centimeters from his own.

“I’m awake,” Cole said. Aria wrapped her arms around him. Arik stood in the corner of the room. “What happened?” he asked. He looked around the room.

“You don’t remember anything?” Arik asked. Cole shook his head. “Well, you and Scout went to the parade,” Cole shrugged.

“I remember us getting to the parade, and then I blacked out,” he said. Arik let out a long breath.

“Well, I’ll fill you in. At the parade, on the Namhaid’s float is a massive set of war drums. They are made with metal instead of wood. This metal is completely unknown, and looks like a dark purple. When they play it, the person chained to the metal is forgotten by the people around them. They had a bunch of people that were being sent off to the mines chained inside of the float, all of whom were chained to the drums. Scout wanted to show that to you, and then bring you to the Mines and point out the newcomers and how many of them there were,” Arik explained. Cole cracked his neck.

“So, if all it’s supposed to do is make people forget, then why did I get knocked out?” Cole asked. Arik shrugged.

“It could have to do with the fact that your body is filled with Rift Particles. If the metal of the drums is made through some kind of fusion process, then the drums may have driven the particles crazy, effectively knocking you out,” Arik said.

Are all of you still here? Cole asked. He felt Alfred shaking. Abra hugged Cole. What happened?

We protected you from the drums, but it did a number on us, Elder said. Cole’s eyes widened.

What happened? Cole asked.

We were almost torn to pieces. I don’t know if we’ll be able to take another hit like that, Dojo said.

Ok. I will avoid it in the future, Cole said. He looked up at Arik.

“I can’t go near those drums again,” Cole said. Arik nodded.

“I believe that would be wise,” Arik said. “So, what’s our first move?”

“First we spread the word about the census records. We’ll start by getting every rebel together and informing them,” Cole said. A smile tugged at the corners of Arik’s mouth.

“And then they gather people and spread the information,” Arik said. Cole nodded.

“Get Scout to gather them,” Cole said. Arik nodded and left the room.

“Cole, you need to be more careful,” Aria said. Cole nodded, running a hand through her hair.

“I know. I won’t let it happen again,” he replied. Cole tried to sit up, but Aria wouldn’t move.

“Just give me a few more minutes,” she said.

Cole looked out at the group of people gathered in front of him. They were in a different warehouse than the one the trailer was parked in. Aria stood next to him, with Peter, Callum, and Simon standing just in front of the platform he was on. Scout walked up to him and put his hand on his shoulder.

“All of the leaders are here, with the exception of the team leaders. They are with their groups around the city, watching to make sure that anyone that followed us wouldn’t make it very far,” he said. Cole nodded.

“So, you are all here today because we all know something that has pit us against Namhaid: the census records,” Cole said. There was confusion amongst the group. Cole looked over at Scout.

“Well, I hadn’t told them about that yet. The only thing that everyone knows is that there’s a slave mine camp outside of town,” he whispered. Cole sighed.

“Ok, we all know about the mines. Now, you’ll know about the census records that a friend has been hiding. These records show everyone that has visited, lived here, left here, and died here during the time of the yearly census. Now, there are quite a number of people that have somehow just vanished into thin air.

“Some of these people’s families have lived here for many generations, but now, nobody can remember them. The reason for this is the parades: anybody that listens to the purple drums forgets everything about the person chained to them,” Cole said. The group was silent, but Cole could see them giving each other looks. Finally, a Berg Leute stood up.

“This sounds like something from a storybook,” he said. “A drum can’t just make people disappear from everyone’s memories,” Cole looked at Scout, who shrugged.

“None of them would believe me, even with Dunhail’s support,” Scout whispered. Cole looked back down at the man.

“And why should we even trust you? We’ve never seen you before!” the man challenged.

“Exactly,” Cole said. The man blinked. “You don’t remember seeing me here before. Why is that? Is it because I’m from out of town, or did I escape from the mines?” Cole said. The people started looking at each other.

“If you were from the mines, you’d have a bunch of scars!” the man said. A few of the group nodded. Cole lifted the bottom of his shirt up to reveal his scars. The group silenced, and the man sat down. Cole lowered his shirt.

“Now, I am not from the mines. I am from out of town, but do you now see how the miners feel? They are slaving away, and if they do escape, nobody believes them, and they are reported to the authorities as if they’re crazy. So, let’s try and shorten their time stuck in the mines. I have copies of the census records, and I want you to start spreading the word amongst the people. We need as many as we can to know about what’s going on,” Cole said.

“That’s it? You just want us to show them a bunch of papers?” the same rebel had stood up. Cole shook his head.

“What’s your name?” Cole asked.

“Brawler,” he said.

“It’s going to take more than just showing them information. These people may not believe the papers without some persuasion. You have to take the emotional approach alongside the truth. I just did it with the miner example. I got you to be silent, and to listen to what I have to say. Now, I don’t expect you to use that exact tactic, but I want you to make the people feel something.

“Get them emotionally invested, and use their arguments to show them that you are correct. It’s an art that will take a while to master, but in this case, it shouldn’t be too difficult to accomplish. And remember that we are the good guys here, so don’t threaten them with force, and anything like that. We need them to see us as the good guys from start to finish. Now, go out and spread the word,” Cole said. Scout walked up to Cole as the group dispersed.

“That was pretty risky,” he said.

“We needed them all at once. We don’t have time to speak to them all individually,” Cole said. Scout shook his head.

“Yes, that was dangerous. But you used the one man’s words against him and made them believe that you were one of the miners in an instant. That was some quick thinking, and could have very quickly backfired,” Scout explained. Cole nodded.

“I know. Which is why I had to do it with a group. One person would voice the concerns of the rest, and I’d be able to stamp out those concerns in one fell swoop. If we did this individually, not everyone would voice their concerns, and I can’t lead people if they doubt me,” he said.

“Ok. I didn’t realize just how much thought you placed into this,” Scout said. Cole smiled.

“Well, I hope that my thoughts weren’t wasted. Now, all we have to do is wait,”

©2017