UNTITLED: Book One

DAY 131

We have reached the beginning of ‘The End’

With the definite art of cull beginning our destruction

To which our end is subject

The dust has long since settled around the collapsing mountain range after Thema left the deep wound in the land below. It stretches across the entire mountain range, even slicing the forest in half. But not only that. The cut goes deep, very deep.

From the time Thema and her team fought Sollar until now, this weapon has proven that it can enable one to singlehandedly fight and win entire wars, transform the land around them and who knows what else. What was once a beautiful landscape is now a decimated battlefield.

The distraught and devastated Broker grieves silently as he piggybacks on Aiye, holding tight, while Aiye and Solara climb up the deep gash in the land. Currently paralyzed in his state of shock. The cut definitely goes very deep.

Solara and Aiye had managed to catch themselves when falling into the hole Thema created. Only the three of them survived... The Broker had asked the majority of his people to come to the mountain. Now they climb their way out, alone, to wait for the last of his people to pick them up.

He simply continues to piggyback on Aiye while in a state of shock, watching Solara grimace as she climbs with her hand that was damaged after punching Thema’s shield. Solara notices him and meets his expressionless gaze.

Normally, she would mouth off to him, something about how even with just one hand she could kill everyone. Defeat anyone. But he has no one. And despite what anyone might think of her, even she can feel it’s best right now to cool it and simply just back the fuck off. She’ll relentlessly press an enemy, but she no longer know what Broker is to them. So instead, she offers to Aiye to carry him and he eagerly passes the duty on to her. Her own way of offering condolences, and also getting him to stop staring at her.

Something about her embrace with Thema, followed by their clash, had changed her. It woke something up inside of her that was either hidden or newly formed. Maybe she simply wasn’t able to see it, but all that’s done is make her feel more desperate. Their plan HAS to work. And they’re going to need all of The Broker to make it work.

—

They turn towards the transport finally arriving. After finally climbing out of the hole, they had stared at the devastation caused by Thema. The Broker had fallen to his knees and cried, because sprinkled throughout the destruction were some of the bodies of his people who fell with the trio. Others were at the bottom of the hole or still trapped under the fallen rocks.

At least he was no longer catatonic, Solara had thought. Progress. And she truly meant it.

Now, she and Aiye gently guide The Broker into the transport before sitting down themselves. They take off back towards The Broker’s city. All keys to Isi-Iyi in their possession, but at a crippling cost. One they expected to pay only when it came time for them to storm the island. Not before.

Now what’s waiting for them? Aiye wonders to himself as he watches Broker brooding and Solara receiving treatment from one of Broker’s people. She actually thanks him when he finishes. She doesn’t really seemed focused on anyone. Just on whatever is going on in her head.

No one dares to speak throughout the entire ride. He and Solara didn’t even speak while climbing out of the hole. Not a single mention of what had just happened, or Thema’s new…power.

Damn. What’re we gonna do? The city in the sky has both weapons now. Not only that, they’re in possession of the two people who hate him most. Who just so happen to be the two strongest people the city has to offer after Solara and himself. This is a shit show now. He grunts at that thought. Now? Just now it’s become one? He sarcastically chides himself. We’re gonna need a miracle.

He can feel his negativity from the sixth factory run. It’s trying to make its return after this recent loss. Is he really confident, or just strong. So used to being strong that he becomes negative when things don’t go his way. Whenever presented with a challenge. Then to save his ego he tries to present it to Solara as a form of intelligence. In reality, just trying to convince to be like him so he doesn’t feel shame. He smacks his hand to forehead in an effort to shut up the negative voices.

—

They touch down in Broker’s city at his tower where they first formed their alliance. Well, it wasn’t much of one then, but it has become such since.

In the penthouse they all undress quietly then go to shower in their respective rooms. After getting cleaned up and dressed, they sit around the table and eat dinner. Their streak of silence continues there as well. Until Solara finally breaks it, talking with her mouth full and food spilling out.

“Sho we’re juzz nhot gon’a thalk amout it?”

The Broker replies with a blank stare. So she swallows and tries again.

“My bad.” She gulps down her food and takes a swig of water to wash the mess from her teeth. Gargles a bit, then gulps that down as well before speaking up again.

“So we’re just not gonna talk about it? I mean, I get it. Usually I’d prefer that. It keeps things simple.” She shrugs, then continues, “But you guys like that shit don’t you? Talking and whatnot, so like, let’s talk about it at least?” She reaches across the table and gently nudged him on his shoulder. Apparently, a wounded one.

“AGH!” He shouts in pain.

“Oh! Shit! That’s my bad, honestly. I totally forgot you don’t heal like that. Myyy bad. Yeah my hand is still kinda fucked up too. But it’s getting a bit better. I wish you could heal like this Broker. Maybe it’d help you, you know? You know a lot of stuff so maybe you can figure that out in the future? Like it would definitely help you guys, I’m sure. If you’re interested in something like that. I don't know. I don’t mean to insult like surface people—I mean, you all. Er. Here, maybe this will hel-?”

“SHUT UP! SHUT. THE FUCK. UP. Can you?? Because silence is about the only damned thing I need from your kind right now! Must you ALWAYS speak? What more can any of you take from me?? Must you take even the silence!?” The Broker rages at her.

Solara is taken aback by this. She sits there stunned for a moment before her shock and hurt turn to rage. She throws the large, and quite heavy dinner table across the room. It goes so far that it ends up flying out of the floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows on the other side of the room. Right into the city below. Then, she stands up to tower over him. Her fists clenched tight.

The Broker rolls his eyes and remains seated, “Oh please, is this meant to scare me? Do your worst. I have lost everything, so do what you were trained to do, dog of war. Kill. It is all you will ever be good at.”

“Broker. I know you’re hurting, but perhaps you should chill out.” Aiye speaks up.

“OR WHAT? You will join in? What exactly will you do? You’re officially the true No.3 now after all that! And I saw the fear, in both your eyes. So what exactly will either of you do for me, or to me??” He says before he drops his head down into the palm of his hands, “…After all that, our endeavors are useless now.”

Broker slumps back into his chair, and tosses the knife and fork he was holding onto the floor where the table once was. “Nothing remains.”

Solara, clearly hurt, storms out of the room without another word. They can hear a slam in the distance, followed by a few more. But, the doors here are automated, so she most likely broke it and few other things as well.

Aiye continues eating, holding his plate that he saved before the table flew, using the fork in his other hand.

“She was beginning to like you. That’s the first time I’ve seen her open up to anyone other than me. And you kinda just fucked that up.”

“…I know. Yes. I went too far. Far too far. She is, after all, still young. And she acts her age, which the same cannot be said about you half of the time. And I would not be true to my name if I did not know why, Aiye.”

Aiye responds with a silent stare and blank face. The Broker continues, but his voice sounds calm, yet saddened.

“I know your secret, Aiye. I’ve known since I first saw you.”

Aiye continues staring in silence. However, now his eyes narrow onto The Broker. He’s taken it as a threat, so he reacts in kind.

“Careful, Broker, before you get broken. You’re burning these bridges a bit fucking fast, don’t you think?”

They stare each other down for quite some time. Only the noises from the nightlife below can be heard, and the wind—all flooding through the broken window.

Sitting directly across from another, a silent understanding is reached.

“Perhaps you are correct my boy. It is not for me to say. I did not mean to offend. I simply am feeling guilty right now. For so much. My plans are unravelling. But, you cannot run from this much longer. She should know… Speaking of, if you will excuse me now, I will go find Solara.”

With that, The Broker politely stands and leaves Aiye in the room to brood in silence. Sitting on a dining chair, in the penthouse suite, overlooking an entire busy city nightlife below, in front of the broken window.

Until he hears The Broker desperately shout for him, “Aiye!”

He hears the shout coming from the other end on the suite. He sits confused for a moment before it dawns on him. Solara! He springs to life, rushing over to The Broker as fast as he can.

He turns the corner to see the Broker standing in front of a destroyed wall, holding a note in his hand. Broker turns towards Aiye and hands him the note. He looks shaken yet again.

Aiye grabs it and reads it quickly, “…Fuck.”

“Indeed.” The Broker replies. “I am going to assume that I do not need to check whether, or not she took the keys for Isi-Iyi with her.”

I’m more than enough

“She’s gone to fight Thema!” Aiye exclaims as he slaps his hand to his forehead.

“Exactly, so now we must catch her before she reaches the island or all will be lost!” Broker moves to leave but is stopped by Aiye’s next words.

“No- no! She won’t be going to the island. She’ll want to confront her directly.”

“At the-?”

“-yeah. At the city in the sky.”

“WHAT? The island was already suicide. Dammit all! That is a huge problem, for me…” Broker ponders for a moment. “But NOT for you! You can simply turn yourself and break out with her again! I hate to oversimplify the matter, but with the two of you and your abilities, I find it to be more of a statement of fact.”

“I get where you’re coming from, but it’s not gonna go down like that. I’m like, the least welcome person in the city. And if you really know my secret, then you know why. Whereas, Solara is the Warden’s favorite daughter.”

“Yes. His obsession with power is well-documented. Out of all his children, she is the walking, breathing definition of power, and so he is obsessed with her. No offense to you and your abilities, of course. Still, I do not see how this helps our case?”

“No. You misunderstand. Or more like I misspoke. I meant that she is his literal daughter. The only one of us that wasn’t treated and juiced up. She was born that way. She is what we were all designed after.”

The Broker’s face goes blank, then confused as he mumbles to himself for a second, “I do not recall see—…” He stops short of the thought before continuing to speak to Aiye. “That should be impossible?? Ridiculous, even. I cannot even begin to see how that could be true. You both are 18? The eldest of the New Wave are in the mid-twenties—at most, and the youngest of The Old Guards are at least 68 years of age. This does not add up?”

“I know. I know it doesn’t. I said the same shit when I found out. But it’s what we both discovered before leaving that place. And if I’ve learned anything, there’s a lot of shit there that doesn’t add up. Wayyy beyond my understanding.”

“Did you consider that you were told this as a ploy to get you to eventually return to seek answers to this foolishness? Lied to, is what I am saying.”

“Sure, but we never came back, nor had any plans to, so it didn’t work.”

“I mean, did it not?” Broker gestures towards the hole in the wall.

“Touché, but I’m telling you it’s- ugh! Just trust me on this. Trust me, please Broker.”

The Broker sighs as he concedes, “Right. So, the city. Do you know of a way for us to get up there?”

“Yeah we, fly up there in transports. But you’re asking how we get up there without being obliterated before we even take off, and the answer, unfortunately, is yes. I do. And you’re not gonna like it.”

“Dare I ask?…How?”

“The only distraction big enough. War.”

It starts slow, and broken, but soon The Broker breaks out into a hysterical fit of mad laughter. Palming his face and cocking his head back, and all.

“Ohhh kayyy…?” Aiye says, confused and annoyed.

The Broker’s expression turns into one of excitement as his voice booms, “Child! Have you NOT paid attention to any recent events?? Or ANY of the sentiment I have been sharing since the day we have met!? Believe you me, I used to believe war was something selfish that only I wanted! But now, at this point, WAR IS WHAT I NEED!”

The thunderous drum strikes once…