I listened, shaking with anger, as I heard the crowd start to separate. I assumed it was the soldiers stepping out of the crowd to Leslie’s side. Peering around the side of the supply hull to see if I could see anything, the first thing that caught my attention was Idris being held by a crew member. His hands were tied behind his back, and he looked pissed.
Leslie carried on. “From now on, we have rules. My rules. First rule, this world works in levels, just like a video game. Level three is low man on the totem pole. Level three people include the original hundred that were here before. Level two includes all soldiers. Level one includes people with a moral obligation, like myself, who serve to provide order to all of Circadia.” I could see Idris’ jaw working back and forth. “Level three people will turn in all tools at dark so that they are not used as weapons to harm others and will have minimal food rations. Level two will also hand in their tools at the end of the day and will have moderate rations. Level one may have tools or weapons at their discretion to keep peace and order and will have free range of the food,” he said, satisfied.
“That’s bullshit!” someone from the crowd screamed.
“Don’t worry, you're not stuck in level three forever. If you can provide value to me, or Circadia, you can always move up in rank. We want to encourage innovation,” Leslie said.
He can’t just come here and take over like this. We built this planet from the ground up, without his help. We can’t let this happen. I slowly stepped, crouched down, out from the supply hull to see the rest of the crowd. The ‘crew members’—Leslie’s militia—were standing in an organized wall in front of Leslie. Their numbers far outweighed ours. I looked toward Idris as I took another step and we locked eyes. ‘Go back,’ he mouthed at me. I wanted to attack them all, but quietly stepped back just enough to be out of sight. I could still see what was going on, though. I held my axe firmly in hand.
Leslie continued with his monologue. “Just like Mr. Green, here. Smith Greene has been my hired help this whole time and got me intel on Circadia when I needed it. He even told me when Idris was coming to chide me like a child. I guess Smith is really the whole reason we are having this conversation. I just felt like we needed to be clear on a few things, right?
I watched as Idris’ head dropped in disappointment. My brain and heart felt like they were going to jump out of my body. Idris had told me not to tell anyone, and I had told Smith. I thought Smith was my friend! That son-of-a bitch! Just then, I heard Idris speak.
“The rest of us aren’t like Smith. The rest of Circadia will not allow this to happen. Circadia will stand and fight,” he said, his voice low. “Am I right?” I watched as he looked out at the crowd.
“Not to harsh your vibe, Idris, but I’ve been here with everyone for quite awhile and they’re all a bunch of ignorant cowards,” Smith said. As he walked closer, he approached within an inch of Idris’ face and whispered something. I couldn’t hear what he said, but whatever it was prompted Idris to cry out to everyone around him.
“Who will stand and fight?” he asked. Raising his voice to a battle cry, he asked, “Who’s with me? This is our planet! This is our world! Don’t let them take it!” he howled. I saw Idris look at me, almost daring me to start a revolution, then his eyes went blank.
Smith stood behind him while the other man held him. Smith’s knife from his MACE suit was sunk into Idris’ side. “Run!” Idris spat out with a spray of blood. Gushes of blood ran down his light blue shirt. I saw Smith whisper something else to him and dig the knife in deeper.
The entire crowd dispersed quickly as the originals ran toward the woods. I watched as most of my people got away, but some were captured. I continued watching as Smith withdrew his knife from Idris’ ribs, and the other man let him flop to the ground. Idris’ eyes were wide open and glazed over. He was gone.
Leslie’s voice could be heard ever so slightly over the chaos as he ordered, “Go get them.”
I watched as three hundred of the ‘crew members’ swarmed across the fields toward the woods where everyone had run to hide. The wave of hell moved swiftly and efficiently.
I turned to hide behind the supply hull, grasping my axe firmly in hand. What the hell am I going to do? What are we going to do? Panic overcame me, until it was clear. We had to stop this. This was far from over. I grabbed my axe and stood.
Bring it on.
GOVERN
Chapter One
THE WOODS LOOKED TO be miles away, but I ran as an army of nearly three-hundred chased me. My feet pounded hard on the dirt. Sweat streamed down my face. Breaths came rapid and shallow, as legs powered through the pain. “Stop!” they yelled, but I kept running. The axe in my hand was heavy, but I held on.
The tree line was fast approaching, which would provide me with a chance to get ahead. I knew these woods better than anyone behind me, that was for damn sure.
