“Well – not as badly underground.”
“I don’t want to go back up there,” he said, after some consideration.
“We’re so close,” said Alana, looking to Loma. “We have what we need. All we have to do is repair the bike and we’re home free.”
“The locals might have taken the generator, or destroyed it. I don’t have the energy to run. It’s done. I’ll have to figure some other plan… I’m going to Etria”
Alana stood up. “And then what? We’ve got what-? Three holodisks to trade? How are we going to hire more people? You already promised the Cavaliers everything worth a damn. It’s now or never. You and me had a deal. I left my home for you. I abandoned my post because… you promised me you’d take me to Avalon. And now you’re just giving up?”
Loma was too tired and ill to argue, but she did anyway “I’m not giving up. I haven’t broken the deal. We’re outnumbered right now, we need to leave and try again another day-.”
“There won’t be another day, you don’t have any supplies. We need to go back to the surface. Now. You’ve got a fucking laser beam cannon and you’re scared of some inbred morons with bows and arrows?”
Loma sighed. “Yes,” she agreed. “Because I’m not an idiot.”
Alana laughed in amazement. “You’re pathetic. No wonder your whole squad got killed.”
“Alana,” said Kirwyn, shocked.
“Shut up Kirwyn,” Alana spat, she turned back to Loma. “If you’re the best Avalon has to offer, the best of the best, well I can see why you’ve been hiding so long. Your plans are shite. You’re arrogant and you’re weak. Fuck off to Essex and get some other suckers killed, it’s all you’re good for.”
“Alana,” said Kirwyn again, sadly.
Alana rolled her eyes “Oh shut the fuck up you weirdo. I’m sorry you got brainwashed when you were a kid, but you’re out of the cult now. Stop acting like you’re better than everyone else. ‘Alana!’” She was incensed. Kirwyn was stunned. “And why the fuck are you even talking? You don’t have a say in this. You’re only tagging along because you want to fuck me, but you’re too brainwashed to realise it.”
A silence lay in the air. “You saved my life. I was trying to repay the debt—” he said, stammering.
“Yeah, yeah – is that why you were staring at me dancing all night, too chicken-shit to do anything about it? Was that part of your noble quest, you fucking psycho? ‘I don’t use guns, I just beat people to death. I’m so holy and pure” Why’d you get kicked out of that monastery again?”
“Shut up,” said Kirwyn.
“Oh, good one, well said.”
“Fuck you.”
“Nice, you idiot.”
“You think you’re so smart—”
“I am compared to you.”
“SHUT UP” he screamed. “You think you’re so smart. But you’re just cynical. That doesn’t make you better than normal people it makes you worse. You’re not… cool. And it’s just an act. Underneath it you’re just a sad little girl – you take it out on everyone else. You’re not the only one who’s suffered you know? At least your family loved you. Mine left me to die in the woods.
And the people who took me in, they abandoned me because…I – I saved them! If I did that in Retragrad they would have GIVEN ME A FUCKING MEDAL!” he screamed the last words, breathing heavily, he returned. “But you don’t see me being a miserable prick about it. I don’t have to drag people down, and bitch—”
“Oh I’m the miserable prick? At least I have friends.”
“You had friends, you abandoned them to go to Avalon.”
“Oh ok well at least I had friends last week. Unlike you. Your dick’s small by the way.”
“Yeah? Your tits are small by the way.”
“OK kids,” said Loma wearily. She raised two fingers up, motioning for them to stand down. Alana and Kirwyn stood either side of the tracks, staring each other down. “That’s enough of that,” said Loma. “I can see why you’re mad. The mission was a failure. That’s nobody’s fault. We did the best we could with the resources available to us. You’re still young, you’re not used to failure, really. It’s ok. I don’t blame you for taking it out on me, Alana. Genuinely, I don’t.
I don’t know what you want to do, but I’m going to Etria through the tunnels. I’m not going to stop you if you try and make it back to the surface. You won’t be able to fly without me. There’s still a seat available if you want it. I’ll figure something out, I always do. I will make it back to Avalon. Somehow. But I won’t fight anymore today.”
“Kirwyn,” said Alana. “I’m sorry my… tragedies are so… mundane to you. You wouldn’t understand. You’re incapable of it… But understand this: If you ever talk about my family again I’m going to shoot you right in your smug fucking face, you twat.”
Kirwyn stared at her. She slid the bolt of her rifle and aimed it at him.
“DO YOU UNDERSTAND?”
He put his hands up. “Yes. Yes,” he muttered.
Alana picked up the red light and turned, walked back the way they came, disappearing into the darkness.
Loma lit another holographic torch. She put a hand on Kirwyn’s shoulder. He nodded. They made their way to Etria.
28
“Don’t move,” Alana shouted. The footsteps stopped. “I’m armed. How many are you?”
“Just me,” said a man.
Alana advanced, pistol drawn. She turned on her holodisk, held it in her left hand. She walked until the red light reached the man’s features. He was wearing a white mask with dark clothes and silver armour.
“Who are you?” she asked.
“Fred,” said Fiddler.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m looking for someone,” said Fiddler.
“Who?”
“I don’t know her real name. She’s a foreigner. Wears black armour. Goes by Loma. Seen her around?”
Alana paused. “No,” she said. “What do you want with her?”
“I’m a countryman of hers. I was shipwrecked here many years ago. I wish to return home. I thought she might help me.”
“Oh,” said Alana, sceptically. She looked him over, saw the revolver at his hip, the cavalry sword at his side. “How did you uh…” she was about to say ‘find her’, but caught herself. “…find yourself walking through the underground without a light.”
“My torch died on me. What, may I ask, are you doing here?”
“I’m a Ranger… from Retragrad. I’m on a scouting expedition.”
“A Ranger.” Said Fiddler wistfully, leaning on his heels. “’I’ve had many pleasant dealings with Rangers. May I put my arms down sir? They’re starting to ache.”
“No you may not,” she said coldly. “What’s with the mask?”
“Oh well… when my ship went down, I was caught in an explosion. Shrapnel. I was never a vain man before, but after… I do not like to be stared at. I know, I frightened you – I would frighten myself! Would it put you at ease if I handed you my weapons?”
“Yes. Yes it would,” she said warily. “Do it slowly.” She let the holodisk clatter to the floor. Fiddler unclasped his revolver and handed it to her, handle first. She tucked it in her belt. He unbuttoned his sword and handed it to her with both hands. This too she took, sliding it through her belt. He immediately put his hands back on his head. She picked up the holodisk. She looked at him for a moment.
“OK,” she said “You can put your arms down.”