Nicholas Smith - The Biomass Revolution

“You know, Spurious, your parents were examples of people who did not fear the State. As a matter of fact, from what I heard, one of the reasons they created the TDU was to help spread hope amongst State workers in a time when fear was becoming common. If it were not for them, we wouldn’t even exist. Well, at least not in the form we do today,” Obi said.

Spurious looked to Ajax and saw his scowl. For some reason, one he couldn’t quite figure out, Ajax did not approve of him. He wasn’t sure if it was due to a bitterness Ajax had for the State, or for him personally, but something had angered Ajax ever since they met a few nights ago.

“Ajax, how long have you been a part of the TDU?” Spurious asked, trying to include him in the conversation.

Ajax snorted and stared ahead.

“You know for someone trying to help you, I think you owe me some respect. I’ve done nothing wrong!” Spurious yelled at him.

Ajax stopped dead in his tracks. He turned slowly and stared at Spurious. “I owe you nothing. You’re just like the rest of the sheep in Lunia. If it were up to me, we wouldn’t be using you in the first place.”

“You know nothing about me!” Spurious exclaimed.

Obi frowned, realizing he would have to intervene. “That’s enough, you two. I already have my hands full enough and don’t need to worry about this shit!” he yelled.

Spurious and Ajax glanced at one another for one last time before they continued on behind the rest of the group.

“That goes for everyone, drop the chit chat,” Obi snapped. “Now, which way do we go?” he said, staring ahead at two different tunnels.

Spurious brought a finger to his lips, trying desperately to remember. “This tunnel isn’t supposed to stick out like this. I don’t remember there being two routes,” he said.

“Damn,” Obi murmured under his breath. He didn’t want the rest of the squad thinking they were lost.

“Ran, Nordica, you take the recruits and head down the left tunnel. Ajax, Nathar, Creo, and Spurious, you’re with me. Keep your radio channels open so we can stay in touch.” Obi paused. “Good luck, men,” he said, before heading in to the darkness of the tunnel.

The abandoned camp made Spurious’ stomach roll. When the small squad of TDU soldiers came upon it they found decaying bodies still being consumed by rats. The poor souls who had lived in the underground camp looked as though they had died recently, perhaps in the last month or so. A stench of rotting flesh still lingered in the cold air.

“Here,” Creo said, handing Spurious a handkerchief to cover his mouth. He brought it to his face instantly, trying to relieve his nostrils of the atrocious smell.

“Move on, men. There isn’t anything we can do for them now,” Obi ordered. He stopped for a second to massage his temples.

A few feet ahead Spurious tried to avoid the torn tents, cooking pot, and heaps of trash covering the concrete ground. He looked back at Ajax, who walked emotionless through the death. The young State worker gagged. “This is the future we face?” he asked, trekking on through the carnage.

Obi’s radio blared to life, interrupting Spurious.

“This is Nordica. Over.”

“Roger, Obi here, over.”

“Commander, we’ve reached a fork where our tunnel separates into four others. Which one do we take? Over.”

The aging commander shined his flashlight in Spurious’ eyes. “You heard her, which one is it?” he demanded.

Spurious mentally went over the piles of maps he studied the past few months. Within a few seconds, he remembered. “Tell them to take the third tunnel that runs east. This tunnel goes directly underneath the CRK headquarters and the Capitol.” Spurious swallowed hard, realizing what he said could seal the fate of hundreds of innocent people.

Obi nodded and relayed the message over the channel. He turned to face his men, who looked on anxiously. “How long will it take for us to get there?” he asked.

The office worker looked worried. He had no way of truly knowing the distance. Trying to conceal his uncertainty, he looked back through the darkness and found his most sincere voice. “Three hours, at least,” he finally said.

“We better get moving then,” Obi ordered without question.

The squad continued down the platform, Spurious holding the small cloth handkerchief to his nose, trying desperately to avoid the stench of death lingering in the air.

Time: 5:09 a.m. February 27, 2071

Location: Capitol Building. Lunia, Tisaia

The citizens of Lunia slept under a blanket of darkness that held the distant gray sunrise at bay. Beneath the cobblestone streets, far under the stone and soil, soldiers moved silently through the tunnels. Slowly, they made their way towards the heart of the Capitol where Governor Felix Steppe sat alone at his desk.

It was rare for Lunia’s leader to be at the Capitol so early, but something had driven Felix to make the short journey to his office. He wasn’t sure if it was the sleep evading him or the feeling of uneasiness lingering inside him since the legislature passed Bill 12b.

He knew the stress was also affecting his staff. The past few days, he watched Sonii leave work paler than he had ever seen him. His Chief of Staff was his most trusted confidante, and he knew the man was suffering in silence.

To make matters worse the Governor was served his morning coffee with a note from Commander Augustus, a note revealing his own fears—the TDU were still alive and operating in Tisaia.

The sun was still hiding along the gray horizon and Felix was on his third read of the memo. His strained face hovered over the yellow piece of paper under the orange glow of lamp light. He stroked his mustache and read the third paragraph again.

Several nights ago the TDU ambushed a squad of Knights in Rohania and captured an SGS worker who is allegedly the son of the founders of the TDU. We have yet to locate the perpetrators or the traitor.

Footsteps from the hallway distracted the Governor. He placed the memo back down on his desk and removed his thick glasses, rubbing his tired eyes gently. Sonii never ceases to be on time, he thought, rising from his desk to greet his loyal Chief of Staff.

Sonii entered the private quarters with his head tucked into his collar. He had no idea the Governor had already arrived, and it wasn’t until the politician cleared his throat the pale Sonii looked up.

“Governor…” he paused. “Uh, I did not realize you were here already.”

“I had some work to do,” he lied, concealing the fact he could not sleep.

“I see. Anything I can assist with?” Sonii asked, scratching the small beard lining his narrow jaw.

The Governor handed him the memo, pleased to see Sonii was beginning to regain color in his face. “I’d like your opinion about this report by the time the sun comes up. And find out why I’m just hearing about this now.”

Sonii grabbed the memo from his boss and slowly walked over to the mahogany conference table. His eyes scanned the document slowly, mindful not to miss a single word.

The letter confirmed his fears. He was well aware Tisaia was still not completely safe from threats. In fact, he realized the threats Lunia faced were more real than ever before. Supreme Knight Augustus had tried to ensure him on many occasions the TDU was no more, destroyed and “eradicated” from Tisaian soil, but Sonii was no fool. He hadn’t risen to the second most powerful position in Tisaia by being stupid.

Perhaps it’s time for the Council to choose a new commander.

Sonii turned back to the Governor, who sat studying another document at his desk. “I’ll call a council meeting immediately,” he said, his words cutting through the silence as he rushed out of the office.