The Promised Land: (Part 28) Little Talks
“My name is Eden,” she said with a
pleasant smile.
“Xidorn,” Caden interrupted with
caution. “Before she continues any further, what do we know of Zeta’s technology?”
The white-haired leader scratched
his chin. “Only that he has more of it than we do.” He briefly gave General
Cyrus a questioning glance. “Why?”
Caden hesitated for a moment
before blurting, “I suspect that he might be trying to develop a method to
travel through time.”
Both Eden and Xidorn gave him
surprised looks.
“Time?” Xidorn questioned in
bewilderment. “For what purpose?”
“I… I don’t know.” The teen looked
uncomfortable, fully aware of how unfounded the claim sounded. While Xidorn
simply looked confused, Eden’s look of surprise was replaced with a huge grin.
“Nothing like a little leap of faith,” Cay thought to himself.
Xidorn rubbed his wrinkled
forehead. “Where would you get such an outlandish idea?”
“From me,” Eden cut in. “I’m from
the past. 2012 to be exact.”
The elderly man stopped to look
her directly in the eye. “How did you get here?”
“I don’t really know,” she
admitted. “One day I’m in my dorm room at school, the next thing I know, I’m in
a burning building in the middle of an apocalypse.” Gesturing to Shiloh and
Caden, she added, “I probably would have been killed by the Atari if these two
hadn’t found me.”
Xidorn looked back at Caden as the
operative tried to explain himself. “Our squad was sent in to obtain the
package and clear the complex. Most of it was destroyed when Atari goons jumped
us. We found Eden with a party after our squad split.”
“Party?” Eden folded her arms. “It
was an unwanted invitation, just so you know.”
“This is troubling news.” The old
man rested his chin on the handle of his cane. “If Zeta has such technology at
his disposal…”
“What of the other members of your
squad, Blitz?” General Cyrus asked. “What happened at the rendezvous points?”
Caden ran a hand through his hair
before speaking. “Our contact in Jericho was killed in a raid before we got
there. The only squad member I saw in Briggance was Hunter. He admitted to murdering
the other members and tried to kill me to get the package. I believe he’s been
working as a spy.”
“For the emperor?” Cyrus asked.
Cay shrugged. “Not sure. He
wouldn’t say, but I have a feeling it wasn’t for Zeta.”
“Very troubling indeed,” Xidorn
leaned back in his chair. “I am sure this is not the only information you have,
but what you’ve provided requires thoughtful review.”
“Xidorn,” Caden said, “Hunter was
just one spy. There are more scattered throughout the resistance. Given the
nature of Hunter’s ability, I’m not so sure I succeeded in elimination…”
The old man nodded thoughtfully. “Very
well. Is there anything else that demands our immediate attention?”
Eden tentatively raised her hand
and asked, “Is there a way you can get me back to my own time period?”
Xidorn frowned apologetically. “I
am afraid not, my dear. The resistance does not have much experience with
respect to time travel.”
“Much?” Eden asked with an ounce
of hope.
“Any. Forgive me, my dear. There
is nothing we can do to help you get home.”
Eden’s shoulders drooped, but
Xidorn continued. “We are simply not properly equipped to handle such a task.
The best I can offer is a home here. I know that is not the answer you want,
but it is the best I can do under such circumstances. I regret to say that you
have arrived at a very difficult time in history.” Gesturing to both Caden and
Shiloh, Xidorn said, “Roaming with these two, I am sure you have seen enough to
grasp the current state of affairs.”
“I got the gist of it, I guess.” Eden’s
arms unfolded to hang in the air for a moment before planting themselves on her
hips. “But what am I supposed to do here? I can’t just hide while the world falls
apart. My timeline or not, I want to help.”
“I understand your point.” The
white-haired man rubbed his chin. “We might be able to give you something to do…
Have you any skills?”
“Um… Not really. That’s kind of
what I was going to college for...”
The elderly man shrugged. “I’m
sure you’ll think of something useful. In the meantime, I’ll let Misty know to
give you a room.” Gesturing to the door, he added, “Now, I suggest you three get
some well-deserved rest. One can only stand being on the field for so long
before it takes a toll.”
With a nod, Caden turned to the
general. “When should we be ready for transport?”
“You don’t have to worry about
that, Blitz,” Cyrus said. “You and Boomer have done enough here. We’ll have
someone else handle it.”
“With all due respect, sir,” Cay
started, determination seeping through his voice. “I took on this
responsibility. I would like to see it to the end.”
The general turned to Shiloh. “I
suppose you stand with him on this?”
Boomer nodded.
“As expected. We will inform the
professor, but you are not authorized to leave this facility until you are
adequately refreshed.”
Caden adjusted the bag on his back
and saluted the general. “Very well, sir.”
As he, Shiloh, and Eden left the
room, Cyrus called out after them, “I expect a written report from both of you
by tomorrow. And don’t forget to check in with Doctor Ross.”
Cay waved to signal his
acknowledgement, but continued to lead the trio back down the wide hall. There
were fewer people traversing the complex. Looking toward the ceiling as they
arrived at the center, she spotted a huge cube hanging in the middle with a
clock on each side. The hands pointed to 8:45. Eden’s stomach growled and she
remembered that it had been at least since early afternoon since she’d eaten
anything.
“Soo…” she started as nonchalantly
as possible. “What’s the plan now?”
Caden slowed down and looked
half-interested in the conversation. He also looked really tired. “Well, I
don’t know where you’re staying, but I need food.” Turning to Shiloh, he asked,
“Do you want to drop our stuff off while I grab dinner?”
After a nod from his brother,
Caden handed off his belongings and asked Eden, “If you want to just stay here,
I’ll bring back something for you too.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Going their separate ways down two
different corridors, the twins left Eden in the center of the hexagonal room.
The bustling center had calmed down significantly. Two or three people walked
by at a time, meandering down one hall or another. Hearing some form of melody
behind her, Eden turned to see the guitar player from earlier. Still sitting on
the lowest stairs, the male’s blond head was focused on the guitar. When Eden
walked closer, she had the strangest feeling that she knew this person. The guy
looked up at her with big blue eyes and smiled. “Hi.”
