Age of Redemption, page 9
part #2 of Titan Code Series
Evos in H.I.V.E propaganda were represented as bloodthirsty savages who were enemies and considered a danger to humanity. Since becoming an Evo, Tessa learned that wasn’t true. Some Evos followed a dark path and used their gifts for personal gain and to terrorize humans. But Tessa also met plenty of peaceful Evos who only wanted to live their lives. Tessa had to convince the people of Stillwater Evos could be allies and not enemies.
Tessa rode in the farm truck with her brother Andy and learning Tessa was an Evo didn’t seem to faze him. Andy still gave Tessa a hard time. As her older brother, she expected nothing less from him. She threatened an Evo retaliation, but he knew she was all talk.
Tessa helped Andy set up the stand and sensed all the eyes watching her. News travels fast in a small town, and everyone knew about Evie’s death and Tessa’s abduction. Tessa also presumed that by now, everyone learned why H.I.V.E took her. Everyone figured she was an Evo. The sidelong wary glances she received from people she had known her whole life offered all the affirmation she needed. They were aware of what she was and feared her.
Tessa didn’t need to wait long for her first confrontation with frightened folks. She watched as an armed group of men led by her old bully Brock Turner marched down the farmers’ market headed straight for her. Tessa walked out into the street and put her hands up in submission. Brock was always hostile toward her, and she wanted to diffuse any tension right away and showcase a peaceful presence. It would be a challenge to defuse Brock, but she figured herself smart enough to outwit the meathead.
Brock pointed his shotgun at Tessa, and the others did the same, “We don’t want your kind here.”
“I’m not here to start trouble.” Tessa tried to remain cool and calm.
“Your kind don’t know nothing but trouble. Pack it up and leave town.” Brock puffed his chest attempting to establish his dominance; an archaic show of male peacocking. His display to assert authority didn’t surprise her, but she wondered if it even crossed his mind how powerful she might be. It just showed his ignorance to run into conflict with no plan when he was clearly outmatched.
“I’m here to save your life. Even if I don’t think you deserve it.”
He smirked, “You think I need saving? Does it look like I need saving?”
Tessa shrugged, “Maybe, I remember beating you with no Evo powers. So what would happen now?”
Brock cocked the shotgun and raised his voice, “Is that a threat? We got snipers set up all around here.”
Tessa sighed. She would never convince Brock to trust her, but she needed to set an example and prove she didn’t intend to harm anyone. “I’m here to talk, and that’s all.” With a twist of her wrist, Tessa pulled the guns from their hands. The firearms floated toward her illuminated in the pinkish-purple light of her power. She also disarmed the nearby snipers. There were only a few of them positioned on rooftops. Tessa let the guns drop at her feet. “So, let’s talk. I can’t concentrate on what’s important with guns pointed in my face.”
Brock backed away, “You’re a monster.”
“I’m not a monster. I’m here to share the truth.”
Brock shook his finger toward her, “I heard your speech. Why should we believe you?”
Tessa held out her hands like an open gesture of peace, “What reason would I have to lie? I could build my own arc and let you all waste away here on Earth, but I’m here to save as many as I can both Evo and human.”
By this time, most of the farmers’ market vendor had their eyes on her and Brock. Tessa seized her opportunity to captivate the audience, so she climbed up in the back of Andy’s pickup. “Most of you are curious about why I’ve returned. The answer is simple; to see my family and help my community. I grew up here, and I serviced most of your equipment in my time here. I care about Stillwater, and it holds a special place in my heart. Let’s clear the air of rumors. Yes, I am an Evo. I’m an Alpha.” Gasps echoed through the crowd and the number of spectators grew. “I could dominate both humans and Evos, but I made a choice to serve humanity, and I need your help to do it. You’ve all heard the broadcast and know H.I.V.E has betrayed you. They are using your hard work and labor to fulfill their selfish ambitions. After they succeed, you’ll be left to die. I’m asking you to join me and send supplies. In exchange, you will be potential candidates for a random drawing to survive Earth and venture to the stars.”
There was a long silence and Tessa wondered if she failed, but Minnie stepped forward with her chicken Peck roosted on her shoulder. “Tessa’s always been good to me. She helped me more than anyone when I lost my family. She made sure I was protected. Tessa has always had a gentle heart, and I don’t expect that’s changed. If she wanted to destroy us, she would have done so already.”
After Minnie broke the ice, several simultaneous conversations erupted within the group. Some in Tessa’s favor, and others in opposition. She did her best to convince those in opposition, but fear was a difficult hurdle to overcome. Rebelling against H.I.V.E was terrifying, and they had a right to be scared. H.I.V.E held great power, and when they brought a fist down, they brought it down hard. H.I.V.E liked to make examples out of the people to keep the masses frightened and in line. It was how they maintained control.
Tessa persuaded a few, but the ones who refused kept their distance. At least she convinced the ones who didn’t want to take part in keeping their mouths shut. It was in their best interests not to bring the wrath of H.I.V.E down on the whole community. The presence of H.I.V.E in town didn’t bode well for anyone, no matter what side you were on.
Tessa was pleased with the number of families that agreed to help. Many volunteered to smuggle supplies to the rebel cause. Tessa promised she would take care of all the details of transportation, but she would like to bring a small initial haul home. Tessa knew their supplies at the base were dismal and wanted to bring some spoils back to share.
By the end of the day, the number of folks willing to help impressed Tessa. They were ready to assist the resistance. H.I.V.E had ruled for so long with an iron fist that people grew tired of their tyranny. The people prepared for a new tomorrow and wanted a world where everyone got an equal chance at survival.
Tessa took a few minutes to thank Minnie, who vouched for her. “You’re a good friend Minnie. Thank you for your kind words.”
Minnie smiled, “It was the truth that everyone thought, but no one was brave enough to say. Tessa, you’ve helped every single person in this town when they were in a tough spot. We should step up and lend a hand. You’ve never asked for anything in return. I wanted people to realize there’s a debt to be paid here that they should proudly pay.”
“It’s a risk everyone is taking.” Tessa wanted to make sure everyone understood that if H.I.V.E ever found out, there would be dire consequences.
“I think everyone knows the risks involved. I’ve weighed my risk, and I consider it’s riskier to do nothing. If we continue to stick our heads in the sand, nothing will ever get better. The writing is on the wall, and everyone can read it. Earth is dying, and we have no idea how much time we have left. Our future isn’t here on Earth, and so we need another plan.”
Tessa pulled Minnie in for a hug, “I hope that you get the chance to leave this place. Humanity needs a person like you. Our future needs your sage advice.”
Minnie hugged her back, and when she released and looked in Tessa’s eyes, “And you need to be a part of that. Evos and humans have been fighting for so long I don’t even think we know why anymore. You bridge that gap. You need to escape this place too to maintain peace and balance.”
“I’ll do what I can, but fair is fair, and my name goes into the draft the same as everyone else.”
“And that is what has always defined you, Tessa. You have integrity, and you were born to be a leader.”
13
Tessa considered her trip home a success even though not every family in Stillwater jumped at the opportunity to join her cause. She respected their decisions if that they weren’t comfortable defying H.I.V.E. She didn’t need to know their reasons. Only each individual family could decide what was best for them.
Tessa looked forward to returning to base with the good news. She would need to work on the logistics and send trucks to acquire supplies. The sooner, the better. If she secured a steady stream of supplies, then Tessa could grow her base and support all those that joined.
Sam picked Tessa up in a chopper and they loaded some supplies on board. She managed to score some fresh food and grain to bring back to Chicago and share. Sam seemed pleased to visit his family. They were proud of their son and agreed to help their cause.
Sam didn’t say much about the base on their return flight, but he mentioned that the base would surprise her, and he was right. Tessa arrived at headquarters to find the population more than doubled. The terminals filled up with makeshift homes divided and organized. The airport’s restaurants and shops now replaced with supply stations and trade brokers. Sam later explained that with the influx of people and the gangs’ assistance, they could complete more and more raids, and the supply levels increased daily. There was still a ways away before they were stable with no worries, but it was a step in the right direction.
Sam also briefed Tessa on base security. With the new recruits, Sam increased his security detail. While Tessa was away, H.I.V.E made no additional attempts to attack the base which means their little decoy worked. Tessa didn’t want to try her luck and leave base too many times. She agreed with Sam’s prediction that it was only a matter of time before they mounted another attack. It wasn’t a matter of if they would attack, but when. Sam guessed they would watch and waiting for the right opportunity, but at least for now, everything was quiet.
It relieved Tessa to see Finn again, and he had new intel for her to review. He revealed the spoils of his latest H.I.V.E hack. Finn accomplished what she asked and pinpointed some vulnerable H.I.V.E supply chains. He identified three potential targets with ideal ambush points. His results were music to her ears, but she wasn’t just interested in the information.
It pleased Tessa to be back with Finn since she was falling for him. She wasn’t sure if it was an infatuation or something more. Tessa had never been in love. The idea of raising a family in this hellhole was nauseating. Finn made Tessa feel at home. He was safe and understood her. It was an exhilarating sensation she wanted to hang onto.
Tessa gave Finn a soft kiss in secret and then called a council meeting which had also grown its members. Tessa met the leader of the Wildling gang whom she welcomed with open arms. More soldiers for their cause boosting their numbers. More people who hated H.I.V.E, and that list seemed to grow by the minute. They made several enemies over the years so rebellious recruits weren’t in short supply.
Finn projected a holographic image of a map on the tabletop for the group to review and detailed each potential target for a raid. The first being a truck convoy from Nebraska to the Cheyenne Mountain Complex, and the secondary target a cargo train from Ohio to Denver Airport. Both options Finn determined were transports carrying food, medicine, and weapons. The third target was a train from Texas to New Mexico, but it carried passengers and cargo.
The council discussed the targets and analyzed the pros and cons of organizing a successful strike. Tessa attempted to steer them from the two train targets. She considered those more advanced missions and wanted to try a more straightforward target for their first attempt. The group agreed with her suggestion. They wanted to play it safe at first so they could develop a reliable raid team and perfect a strategy.
Tessa requested to outfit the ARV with weapons so it might take point on the ground. Sam would pilot the chopper and provide coverage from above. Shadow recommended staging a roadblock to bring the caravan to a stop or deviate to their advantage and use the ARV to take the heavy fire while the team eliminated the agents. If they managed not to damage any convoy vehicles, they could drive the H.I.V.E vehicles away with their haul. It seemed like a solid plan. Now they needed the details of who, where, and when to work out.
After the meeting, the council scattered to prepare for the raid and determine the finer details of the strike, and Tessa retired to her new rooms. Finn found her a lounge on the second floor close to his communications room. A convenient location to foster their budding relationship, proximity to the base eyes and ear, and privacy. Finn understood her better than most and recognized that deep down, she didn’t care much for being surrounded by large groups of people. Tessa was a humble soul and not a hero for the spotlight. He recognized that she required a sanctuary to escape to, and so he provided one for her.
Finn prepared a candlelight dinner of old canned spam and a can of green beans. Not the most romantic meal, but the best the base had to offer for the time being. Tessa appreciated the gesture as sweet and endearing.
They were still in the honeymoon phase of their relationship, and things were still a little awkward. Tessa had little practice in sharing feelings. She was inexperienced. Kids weren’t kids anymore, and there wasn’t time for adolescent crushes. Childhood comprised of learning how to stay alive and not managing emotions or relationships. This budding romance was all new territory for her.
“I missed you,” Finn confessed.
“I missed you too,” Tessa answered. She was surprised to speak her own truth. She did miss him. More than she wanted to admit.
“I think things are shaping up here. It’s good to see people coming together. You realize we have almost as many humans here as Evos.” Finn conversed as he ate.
“That’s the goal. Do you think this will work?”
“I don’t see why not,” Finn shrugged. He leaned back in his chair and sighed. “I found something else while tooling through the H.I.V.E mainframe. I haven’t been able to verify yet, and I don’t think we should tell the council, so I waited until we were alone.”
Tessa stopped eating, “What did you find?”
“When I was tracking all these H.I.V.E supply chains, I noticed several routes to Cheyenne Mountain and Denver. There were some other random ones here or there. But the ones headed to New Mexico were cryptic in terms of final destination. The manifests never disclosed a destination, and I haven’t been able to figure it out.”
“Maybe it’s just nowhere particular. Unimportant.” Tessa wasn’t sure where he was going with this revelation.
“I did some digging, and it seems like New Mexico is a dark spot.” He leaned in to whisper as if someone else might hear them in the quiet room.
Tessa wasn’t following, “What do you mean, dark?”
“I mean it’s a dark zone. No communication frequencies and no satellite images.”
Tessa leaned in, “They’re hiding something.”
Finn nodded his head, “That’s my guess.”
“What do you think they’re hiding?” It was important for Tessa to know everything about H.I.V.E, and unknowns were dangerous.
“My bet?” He paused, “I’m guessing another base. But this base is top secret. My guess is no one, but upper management knows about this one.”
“What would you guess they’re doing there?” A million possibilities ran through Tessa’s mind.
“That’s what I’m trying to find out.”
“Make sure you notify me as soon as you find out.” Tessa was nervous now.
Tessa tried to put her swirling mind to rest and spend time with Finn. Still, too many unanswered questions about his New Mexico base theory. She wanted to relax and snuggle with Finn listening to music or watch an old television show from the archives, but she found her mind wandered. Even though she didn’t want to, she was responsible for many lives right now and pushed herself to learn every detail about the enemy.
Paranoia bothered her through the night, but she hid it from Finn. Tessa figured he sensed her tension but ignored it. Or he knew she was stressed about the New Mexico base and let her stew in peace. He tried to make sure she relaxed, and eventually, she fell asleep in his arms with her head resting on his shoulder. She always slept the best in his arms.
14
Tessa awoke the next morning to start the day with inspection rounds of the entire facility. She needed to be aware of its growth, and any new needs the influx of new arrivals might bring. She wanted to expect any hiccups they might encounter if the base continued growing at its current rate. Tessa had to keep her fingers on the pulse of the base. She was responsible for the people flocking to this location. They expected protection from her, so she needed to educate herself on who and what she was protecting.
After her rounds, Sam called for the hijack team to assemble in the security hangar to look over equipment and make final preparations for their raid. They were planning to leave once the sun set and swoop in on H.I.V.E under cover of darkness. Finn monitored the progress of the caravan to ensure they hit their target at the correct time and location. Sam sent a small team ahead with the ARV to wait in position. Tessa and her team would arrive later by air.
Sam assigned weapons and equipment while Finn came over the hangar PA, “Tessa, you might want to pull up a feed to the main gate. We have a problem.”
Tessa approached the nearest monitor and tuned it to the front gate frequency. Her blood boiled when she discovered Finn’s reason for alerting her. Stonewell and part of his crew were standing at the front gate. Finn instructed the guards to hold them at the front gate and bar entry. Tessa noticed there was a heated argument between Stonewell and the gate guards which she intended to take care of personally.
Tessa raced toward the front gate on her motorcycle, and when she arrived, it was a brisk walk to the guard gate. She had plenty of time to fume over Stonewell’s appearance. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Finn on approach. She was glad he had her back. They both felt the same toward the rebel leader.
