Kyle followed Hayden back to the smithy, where the place had obviously been cleared out of any belongings, with only the empty anvil and furnace left behind, along with a few obviously ruined rags of cloth and charred tongs that Hayden could not fit into the backpack.
The two kept a clear distance from each other as Hayden tossed the machine gun onto the workbench, disengaging the clutch that held the damaged barrel in before she pulled another one out of her backpack and attached a new one.
It was a bit of a shock to Kyle, not having seen a barrel change after a three hundred bullets fire. I would have only replaced my corvette’s railguns after maybe a year of continuous firing…
”You don’t seem too surprised by the machine gun, but yet I’ve never seen you in the military before.” Hayden remarked, watching Kyle’s reaction as she continued to repair the machine gun, checking the engravings in the machine gun.
“I’m more surprised at the fact that you can handle such a large machine gun without the need for an arcite fuel pack.”
“This one doesn’t require too much energy – there are mechanisms inside to help.” Hayden cocked the machine gun, hefting it up and turning towards Kyle. “So, you got three minutes to talk before I rip you to shreds for telling Drake of all fucking people.”
“I want to overthrow the government and install Minister Dekar as the head of the new government,” Kyle stated clearly, throwing Hayden off guard as to how direct the statement was. “You’ve seen my actions in Tenar and here – even if I am an imposter, I am still against the military and the government.”
“Or you could just be a plant by them, acting like the Ghost of Tenar so they can slowly twist your image. Maybe this whole village was just a show – to be broadcasted at light thrower theatres around Versia to turn opinion towards the Ghost of Tenar.”
“Have you seen any light capturers around? It seems like there isn’t anyone left alive to record this ‘show’ of yours.”
Hayden couldn’t refute Kyle’s words, she herself having scoured the tree line to spot if there were any soldiers lying in wait. She knew very well that all the soldiers that entered the village were dead for sure.
“Now that I have stated my goal, it is time to state yours. Why were you running from the village before the soldiers arrived? Based on the machine gun, there’s no way you made it here in the smithy. You must have stolen it from the Versian military.”
“I….” Hayden hesitated for a moment. “You’re right. I left the military a year ago before coming here to hide. I thought the Keru Forest would be safe – it’s been untouched for years save for a few towns and villages foresting the edges. This village is right smacked in the middle.”
“But now Tenar Logging Incorporated is charging forwards.”
“That fucking bitch Mornero. I knew from the start he was a fucking fox, but Johan ignored all my complaints. Fuck!”
“So you ran away from the military.”
“Because how the fuck was I supposed to change anything inside the government? Before Dekar got framed, I thought he was part of the cronies under Mornero, snaking their way through the system to cripple us from within. I needed to get out before I was killed off like the rest of the original revolutionaries. I knew that they were cutting off every loose end, every person who could know about the origins.”
Kyle recalled how shocked Dekar was when he met Zayin in the catacombs. Mornero had been purging the old guard to establish his own legitimacy – a valid move.
“I had to lie low in the village for a while just to let the heat around me die down. I was chased for nearly two whole weeks before managing to shake them off my trail. But now that they know something’s here…”
“This village is doomed then.”
“And partly because of your arrival.”
“I think the fault can be thoroughly placed on the informant lady. But don’t lie to yourself – you’ve been waiting for someone like me to arrive.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Because your only plan to ‘save the village’ was to run away. Your first reaction to the corruption in the government was to run away too. Yet you were one of the original revolutionaries who fought alongside Dekar and Zayin. Based on how spineless most of you are, I suspect that President Johan might be the only reason why any of you even bothered to rebel against the nobility fifteen years ago.”
Hayden scoffed, hiding the shame and trying to rebut Kyle. “And you’re saying you can do the same.”
“I WILL do the same.” Kyle declared. “And I need your help, Hayden. It’s time to stop running around and make a stand.”
“Save the propaganda speech for the normal folks – I’ve heard enough over the last fifteen years. You’re not going to convince me that easily. Any dumb fuck can declare to overthrow the government – having enough power is something else.”
Intimidation Aura!
Hayden’s heart suddenly palpitated, each beat loud and clear in her ears as a fearsome presence suddenly erupted, filling the room as Kyle slowly walked towards her. She gulped instinctively, her eyes immediately darting for a chance to exit the smithy.
As her eyes landed on the door, the presence suddenly disappeared, with Kyle sighing behind the wooden mask. “So, the first instinct of the great revolutionary Hayden is to run away to save her own life. I’m surprised you even stayed behind to help the village. This is a waste of time.”
Kyle turned to leave the smithy. “Hey, where the fuck do you think you’re going!” Hayden yelled, indignant.
“To my friend. If I can’t convince you to help me by words, there is no reason for me to try anymore.”
Kyle stepped out of the smithy, his left hand held up and curling into a fist.
What the fuck is he doing? Hayden ran outside with the machine gnun aimed at Kyle. “Stop right now, whatever the fuck you’re doing, before I shoot you down myself!”
“Shouldn’t you be running now?” Kyle taunted as the whirring buzzing sound of mineral ants wings could suddenly be heard from beyond the forest.
Before Hayden could even react, a dozen mineral ants burst forth from the tree line, the size far larger than the normal mineral ants she had been fighting in the forest. The group rushed past the two of them, ignoring both Hayden and Kyle and charging straight for the village meeting that was being held in the open now.
“You! You’re controlling them!” Hayden didn’t really believe what she was saying. Still, it was the only explanation for why the usually violent mineral ants had ignored them and were now circling the screaming villagers, trapping them in a ring. At the same time, Drake quickly stood to defend the villagers.
Hayden’s eyes widened as she saw a mineral ant approached Drake, fury taking over her as she immediately fired a hailstorm of pellets at Kyle.
This is My Turf!
The pellets all impacted the invisible barrier, clattering to the ground with bright sparks. Hayden roared as she unleashed everything until the barrel melted, the molten metal drooping and preventing any more pellets from being shot outwards.
Penchant for Violence! Aero Shoes!
Kyle rushed forward, his speed faster than ever now that the debilitating poison had been removed. With one swift motion, he disarmed Hayden and kicked the damaged machine gun away before punching her right in the face, crushing her jawline. She was sent sprawling onto the floor, blood gushing out from her mouth as she groaned on the ground.
“Do I have enough power now?” Kyle left the whimpering Hayden on the ground, slowly walking towards the trapped villagers.
The villagers had never seen the mineral ants act like this before, completely still and only moving to block anyone who tried to sneak out through the entrapment.
Drake spotted Kyle walking towards them, his mind instantly clicking. “Why are you doing this?! Why are you attacking us?”
“This is not an attack – it is an invitation. I am indebted to you for removing the poison from me.”
“If you are, then recall the mineral ants immediately.”
“I will in due time after I have made my offer. To those who are unwilling to simply sit back and be oppressed, I offer a chance at strength. I will give you the power to fight back against those who have wronged you and those who seek to enslave you. You have until dawn to meet me two kilometres south of the village. Bring along everything you need.”
Kyle mounted the mineral ant, flying off into the sky with the other mineral ants. One mineral ant went to grab Feldon from Drake’s house, the unwieldy handling aggravating his wounds even more as his groans could be heard from afar.
The villagers were stunned by the entire sequence of events. First, they were attacked by the military, and now there were two strangers who could control mineral ants.
However, the years of isolation had made them extremely wary of Kyle’s offer, with nearly none of them even seriously contemplating it.
“Who the fuck was that? Is he a shapeshifter from deep in the forest?”
“He might be even worse than the Versian military – at least the Versian military is human!”
“But they will come back to attack us; how are we supposed to justify what happened to their dead soldiers?”
“As recompense, we should turn over the captured sergeant and Hayden! That way, they won’t treat us as badly!” An outspoken mother yelled out, earning many nods and agreement in response.
A young teenager roared back in anger. “Has everyone’s brain turned into mush? The military will attack us regardless! We’re already declared illegal occupiers! If not them, then some private goons from Tenar Logging Incorporated would come to evict us! We should follow the stranger instead.”
“Are you crazy? You don’t even know what the stranger is?!”
“Haven’t you heard about the Ghost of Tenar? He’s a legendary figure who fights for the people!”
“Now I think your brain has turned to mush!”
“We shall not be turning Hayden over to the military!” Drake interrupted the discussion. “The village never betrays one of their own! I am ashamed at any and all of you who even dared to suggest it.”
The villagers fell into a contemplative silence, but the same outspoken lady stood up, wagging her finger at Drake. “You, you’ve been infatuated with Hayden ever since she arrived! I will not have my children sacrificed blindly for harbouring a revolutionary! You don’t deserve to be the leader!”
“What? No, I –“
“Yea, she’s right! You can’t make decisions for the whole village just based on your emotions. Think about what would happen to us if they find out we’re harbouring Hayden. She has to leave now! Or we should capture her and turn her over!” Another man stood up, with a couple of others standing up in solidarity.
“Idiots! The military will wipe us own either way!” The young teenager tried to convince them, but it was far too late. The outspoken lady had said what was on everyone’s mind.
“I forbid you, as leader of the village, from capturing anyone and everyone, including Hayden!”
“Shut it; you’re not the leader anymore! Grab him!”
The villagers broke out into a scuffle, with those on Drake’s side fighting and brawling with those who tried to capture Drake, breaking out into a civil war. The two mobs clashed against one another, though the side that was in favour of capturing Hayden had the advantage in numbers, with Drake’s side only having ten.
“Calm down! This is not the way to have a proper discussion! Stop fighting!” Drake tried to control the people, but the fighting continued unabated.
Soon, blood was spilt as the fighting became even more intense, even though Drake tried desperately to calm the people down while a stone was hurled at his head, knocking him down to the ground. Drake’s supporters
His supporters dragged him out, the mob chasing them down and throwing stones. “Drake, what do we do?” The young teenager squatted next to the groaning Drake.
“We take the offer. Grab Hayden – all of us will go! Now!”
The escape from the village was harrowing as the ten members tried to shake off the angry mob that was now hunting them down through the forest. They suffered injuries as they limped through the foilage, the glare of torches flickering in the distance behind them.
Drake glanced behind them, emotional from having been ousted from the village that he had led for seven years. How did it all come to this? Why is this happening?
As they made it to the two kilometres mark, they saw Kyle and Feldon standing there with the dozen mineral ants, waiting for them.
“Once you join me, you hold no allegiance to anyone else. Not even the village who betrayed you. If you understand this, nod your heads.”
The ten members looked back at the incoming mob, hesitating a little. Drake too, glanced back, knowing what was about to happen. However, he steeled his heart, nodding vigorously towards Kyle.
“Good.” Kyle motioned with his hand, prompting the mineral ants to lift off and swoop towards the village. “No point leaving those who know about me behind.”
