There was panic and discord everywhere. In an unbelievable action, some were even running away, past the military trailer and the two inside. Edgar and Shan stepped out at once, trying to see what was going on. This was the U.P.M. They didn’t run. Period.
Edgar Taft searched out a recognizable face, found a lieutenant he’d seen around and asked what the devil was going on.
“The enemy, sir, they’ve released a new weapon and it’s on its way here!”
Edgar went white as the thought of the H.Y. and its power flashed in his mind. Had they been too complacent? Had their victories of late spurned them too much to be ignored?
“Is it a bomb?”
“No, sir. Worse. Much worse!”
“Well don’t leave me hangin’, son, spit it out!”
“Here, sir. See for yourself.” He handed Edgar the Digital Image Enhancer around his neck. Taft looked into the eyepiece and scanned the horizon. He could see massing of the enemy directly south, but they didn’t seem to be on the move, just clustering around a large aircraft that had arrived.
“What am I looking at, Lieutenant?”
“At the center of the crowd, sir. Near the base of that new plane.”
Edgar enlarged the image, making out the details of the enemy until he could clearly see the place the man had mentioned. There, at the nose of the craft, was a group of non-mechanical people. Fifteen, perhaps twenty, it was hard to say.
“What in the good sweet gods above have they got…” He cut himself short as the image became crystal clear. Human beings, unbelievably enough. Each one of them armed with shields, swords, wooden staffs, canes, any variety of short-range weapons. Why? What did this mean? He was about to ask Shan what he thought when the truth hit him like lightning. A truth so unbelievable he had to steady himself on a crate nearby. The strength that threatened to leave him for so long had finally given up the ghost.
“Shan, call a general retreat, as many of our forces and arms as we can move safely. Do it now and don’t you dare ask me why!”
Shan began to look very worried but did as his friend asked, and he ran back into the trailer. Moments later, Shan popped his head back out and had to shout over the noise of the full-scale retreat. “Sir! Headquarters wants to know what’s going on. It’s got word of your new orders already!”
Bastards are monitoring all the communications, Edgar thought to himself, not entirely surprised.
“What should I tell them?” Shan continued, the look of worry on his skinny face creasing it mercilessly.
“You don’t tell them a damn thing, Shan! You pack your shit and you get the fuck out of here!” He ran past Shan into the trailer, gathered up a few small belongings like data keys and a picture of his family in Bankoor (Gods, please let me see them again, he silently pleaded). Then, he was back out the door with Shan Dio following close behind.
By now the retreat order had spread like wildfire and the masses were falling back, leaving behind tanks and other vehicles that couldn’t carry more than a few people at a speed faster than running. Although scared beyond belief at what he’d seen coming his way, Edgar Taft still held his ground, making sure as many of his troops got away as possible.
“Damn it Shan, I told you to get out. I can see to the rest of it myself!” Shan still followed, almost too scared to leave his friend’s side. Shan gave him a quick look that told him no order in the world would make him leave Edgar’s side.
Edgar looked at him in the face, trying to dig into the core of Shan Dio’s reason. “Shan, this isn’t a bomb, or anything else we’ve faced up to this point. This really is something much worse. Something all the might of the U.P.M. can’t stand against. At least, not right now.”
Shan saw the seriousness, but still refused to move. It seemed Edgar hadn’t dug deep enough. “Shan, there are Embracers of the Power over there, and they’re coming this way.”
Shan said nothing. He only turned a paler shade of white. Still, he didn’t move, though now it was possibly because he couldn’t. “Are… are you sure?”
Edgar nodded. “I’m pretty sure. Can’t think of what else they could be. Now, are you going to go, or do I have to throw you?”
“What about you?”
“I’m right behind you as soon as I’m confident we’re not leaving any fool behind. Besides, you’re my eyes and ears right now. If something happens to me, you’re in charge.”
The truth in the words hit Shan Dio. Edgar Taft, although tough and stout, wasn’t expecting to live through whatever was about to come.
“Sir, they’re on a transport and they’re heading this way very quickly!” a scout shouted at him as he began to fall back. Soon the scout was on a high-speed half-track and gone.
“You’re right behind me?” Shan asked, almost pleading in unspoken words for Edgar to reconsider and just come now. There were still a great number of troops left to ensure safe retreat.
“I am, I give you my word, you stick-thin softy, now get the fuck out of here!”
Shan’s face hardened. He had always hated jabs at his skinny frame. “Fine, but you better not do anything stupid, sir.” At last, an understanding between them. Edgar nodded and smiled. Then, like a man possessed, Shan was bounding onto a passing transport, shouting orders and demanding no one was left behind.
After only a few seconds, he was gone.
Taft looked back through the Digital Image Enhancer, though it wasn’t necessary. By now the hovering transport was almost where he was standing. In a
