1.28.1

The Opposition

The “Guardian” turned and set his attention again on the soldiers bound to the beams before him.

“Lieutenant Anderson Reeves.”

The newcomer named Anders. He then continued to the others.

“Intelligence Agent Adan Romo. Technical Engineer Rydell Davis. And Gunnery Chief Tenya Thompson.”

“You know who we are?” Fern eyes narrowed.

“We did some vetting upon your arrival. We knew of Captain London and his intended Task Force. We hadn’t realized he mobilized one so quickly. He chose well. You all have near-pristine records, save Agent Romo there. But I suspect his skill more than makes up for it.”

No one answered his presumptions. The man hunched over his knees, as though conversation exhausted him.

“We thought his investigation a mere rumor. Paranoia on our part,” the man forged on. “But then one of our infiltration agents in the Markets turned up with a dead camera a few weeks back. Then our contingent set to rendezvous with Benson never showed at their destination or checked in. Earhart filled us in on what happened there since…

“Then, our agent, Graves, went silent. I suppose it too much to think he’s merely off enjoying an early retirement elsewhere?”

“He killed our commander,” Tenya rebutted, sharply.

The man sighed.

“I’m sorry to hear that. But Kendall was an idealist. He never would have agreed with our campaign.”

“What do you know about it?” Tenya immediately whipped back. “Who the hell are you, anyway?”

Their host leaned back in his seat. His body cracked beneath his armor with the motion.

“Walker. My name is Walker,” he introduced. “I was once a Guardian for Sanctuary Argos. Now, I run this organization with my partner. A woman our people have taken to name ‘Polaris’. The Guiding Star of our purpose. The two of us command the Static Opposition.”

“What happened at Sanctuary Argos?” Astrid pressed from behind him.

The man paused at her intrusion but didn’t turn to her.

“That’s what I’m here to explain. You need to understand. All of you.”

Realizing he bore no intention of including her, Astrid reclined against her beam, irritated.

“Sanctuary Argos fell because we made a mistake,” he began. “Not just the Guardians, but all of us. The Channelers, the Keepers, the politicians. We may not know everything about what Channelers are capable of, but we know they are still human. And we know more than enough about humans.

“As long as they live, they will eventually resist control. And humans are only further empowered when they feel they have nothing to lose. That’s what happened with Argos.

“Our charges realized they could risk everything they had, even their own lives, and under subversion, that was still too little to deter them.

“They cannot be contained. Or controlled. There is only one possible outcome.”

“That’s why you brought us here?” Tenya scoffed. “To indoctrinate us?”

“Or you can share their fate,” Walker replied. “This is not an ultimatum made in the heat of anger. Not blind hate, unlike some here. I have loved a Channeler. But I speak from experience and perspective.

“And it’s because of who you are, in deference to your reputations, that you are alive. I want to believe you can be reasoned with.”

A knock at the door interrupted the lecture, and one of the guards parted the door to poke his head inside.

“She’s ready.”

“Take her, then.” Walker gestured vaguely with a hand over his shoulder, and with widened eyes, Astrid took his meaning.

One of the men came to unhook her. She was hauled her to her feet, hands still bound behind her back. They freed her ankles so she could walk and pushed her to the door.

“Where are you taking her?” Anders demanded to know.

“Relax,” Walker answered. “She’ll be fine.”

Astrid’s eyes slid to her friends, still restrained.

She felt them watch her while her captors steered her away, alone, into the halls.

Once again, Astrid was paraded through the tunnels, but without the comfort of her teammates. This time, when onlookers glared scornfully and muttered curse words, Astrid knew them all to be for her.

“What are they doing?” one man hissed, “We should kill it now!”

“Polaris disagrees. She may be useful.”

“We don’t need any more. Letting it live defeats the point, don’t it?”

Astrid found herself grateful none of the gawkers were in charge. That whoever this “Polaris” was, she seemed to have bought Astrid some time.

And her team. Worried what might be said or done to them gave her enough concern. Again, Astrid tried to memorize the turns taken to find her way back to them, should she need to. But the dozens of denizens she passed in her journey warned that such a move would not go unchallenged.

Brought to a vacant well-lit passage, Astrid’s chaperone knocked upon the access door at its end, and a smooth voice invited them to enter.

The cavern within, brightly decorated, stood in stark contrast to the rest of the base.

A tapestried rug covered unyielding stone in woven plush. Overstuffed furniture and floor lamps illuminated the room in a honeyed ambiance. Tables, desks, and bookcases adorned what looked to be a cozy study.

And at the center, a slender woman of pallid skin and black hair, a fair beauty, gestured kindly to her visitors.

“Please remove her wrist binds too, Samuel,” the woman’s voice cooed like a dove, intended to soothe.

Astrid stared, silent, while the S.O. agent at her side carried out the request wordlessly.

“Thank you, Samuel,” the woman added. “Now please leave us. I’d like to speak to Miss Hale in private.”

The man bowed and left.

Astrid quickly zippered her underarmor, to cover her bare sternum, while she stood confused and mistrustful.

“It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Astrid,” the woman greeted. “I am called Polaris. But my name is Rahna.”

Blue eyes shone in kindness, like two deep-jeweled sapphires. The woman clasped her fingers in front of her. So statuesque and composed, she shone ethereal in poise. Though clad in in a buttoned blouse, pants, and boots, her posture could easily suit an evening gown. Her jet hair only accentuated her fine features. Effortless locks fell in loose waves from a thick ponytail that lay forward over her straightened shoulders.

And between, resting below a sparrow’s throat, a long pendant of quartz caught the warm light from the lamps.

Astrid’s brows knit with her stomach, to replace the knots recently withdrawn from her wrists.

“You’re…” Astrid could hardly believe it. “You’re a Channeler!?”

“I am. Like you.”

“How?!” Astrid sputtered, all but convinced the S.O. yet played another trick on her. “A Channeler leads the Static Opposition?”

“With my partner, Walker, yes. I am prepared to answer any questions you might have, Astrid. Out of respect for an old friend we once shared.”

“How do you know who I am? What old friend?”

“Gi Mae. He spoke of you often. We were good friends before Argos fell.”

“He’s alive?” Astrid couldn’t help the words that plummeted from her lips, unsure as she may be that she trusted the reply.

But the woman’s heart-shaped lips slimmed in a sad frown.

“No.”

It was not the first time Astrid heard such news, but to receive it from a second source only hammered the nail in the metaphoric coffin.

“It is because of him that I am here. And because of him that I invite you to counsel. I owe him that much.”

Long elegant fingers gestured to a nearby loveseat. “Please, sit.”

“I’d rather not.” Astrid looked about the room. “You must understand I don’t feel safe here.”

“I do.”

Still, Astrid swallowed the lump in her throat, and remembering her purpose, she bubbled over with demands.

“How could you do this? Be a part of this? A group that wishes to extinguish our kind? It makes no sense!”

“It does. If you might permit me to explain?” Rahna extended.