Guardians of the Dark

The collection pod sped past the usual turn to the cave, and instead rounded Craedor Fortress. It dove into the pool behind the building, right underneath a gold statue of Samuel Craedor, founder of the Metropolis of Light. He looked an old and skinny man, with the nose of a hawk and the curliest head of hair in the world.

Kasen recalled all kinds of stories about him. Like how he and his best friend, Lo Ominoura, found a way to use electric energy to ward off the Dark, and particle refraction to gather it. Like how when Ominoura got corrupted and turned against what was then but a compound, Craedor lost his mind. He founded the Metropolis of Light, and built Craedor Fortress as a hideaway, a laboratory for his inventions: the railway track and its pods, the projection pad, the transmission band, the Citizen Chip, the insolation suit …

All of it from his brilliant – yet unstable – mind.

“Where are we going?” asked Eliza, peering out the left-side window. Darkness surrounded them, and the railway pod created a foam of bubbles as it whizzed deeper down. Several lights blinked ahead of them.

“The depository platform.” Felix’s lips barely moved. His voice was dull, scratchy, dried-up, and his eyes had an emptiness to them. A sadness. He had hardly said anything since the incident. Not during the three-hour wait while the Gatherers filled up the tanks, nor when they loaded them and the pod set off again.

“Oh, okay. Cool.” Eliza turned in her seat. She craned her head to Kasen, who saw her in the corner of his eye, but pretended not to. He didn’t avoid her out of anger or annoyance, but simply out of confusion. What was he supposed to do? Smile at her? Comfort her? How was he supposed to provide comfort to someone else, when he himself hadn’t received any? It was just easier to keep staring out the window into nothingness.

Eliza turned back around.

“Ugh, are we there yet?” groaned Malcolm, shattering the quiet. He sank in his seat, then stretched his arms above his head. His left shoulder clicked and he grabbed at it, panting. “I can’t stand you lot anymore!”

“Oh, don’t worry, we’re not too thrilled with you either …” mumbled Eliza in reply.

The collection pod approached the blinking lights, at last slowing down. Kasen sat up. They were stopping … underwater. He looked around for any cave-like pockets of air, but saw none. Only four blinking lights, and what resembled an underwater elevator. The collection pod eased inside, then bolted to the ground.

“What –” Kasen began, but the lights stopped blinking, the elevator doors slid shut, and the water drained out.

“This is so awesome,” declared Eliza, practically plastered against the window. “The pressure must be enormous! I mean, how does one even drain this much water at such a speed?” She let out a delighted giggle.

“Calm down, Dr. Geek McNerd,” sneered Malcolm. He sat with his feet up against the front window of the pod, his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes shut. “It’s just a glorified elevator, not a time machine.”

“Whatever.”

The elevator came to a stop, and the doors parted. A Guardian stood before them, dressed in a padded red suit and with a tablet in his hand. He stared right at the bottom of Malcolm’s boots in the window. Malcolm choked when he saw him. He lowered his feet, but the limited space rendered it a slow and painful process – painful in the way that his soles squeaked against the glass, and he nearly kicked Felix in the face.

“You could’ve warned me, you know,” he grumbled as the pod door opened, and Felix motioned for him to get out.

“If I did, you wouldn’t have learned your lesson,” replied Felix.

“That’s it? No darling or beauty?” asked Malcolm, frowning. Felix merely slipped past him, so he tossed his hands in the air. “Come on! I know you’re sad and all, but Kasen already fills the harbourer-of-pain position in the group.”

“You’re a real idiot, you know that?” Eliza spat, pushing Malcolm up against the elevator side as she passed.

Kasen rounded the collection pod to the other side. He briefly glanced to his right, at which he locked eyes with Eliza. She didn’t look away like any normal person would, but grinned at him instead. When he didn’t grin back, her eyes flicked down and she pushed her hair behind her ears, then followed after Buff.

“Two tanks?” asked the Guardian in the padded suit.

Felix shook his head.

“Two tanks form the Southern Collection Point …” The Guardian typed it in on his tablet, then bit his lower lip. “Man, I heard about what happened out there. They say he was a Guardian? Someone in your post?”

“We’re here to deposit the Dark, not gossip over tea,” snapped Felix. He turned. “Boys, round the pod to the back, we’re loading off the tanks. Eliza, go fetch us two of those.” He motioned to a line of tank trolleys.

“Right,” said Eliza and set off.

Buff, who expressed the same amount of eagerness as his sister, skipped to the back of the collection pod. Kasen and Malcolm sauntered after him, each on an opposite side. Felix climbed into the pod and unlatched the tanks. A flap in the pod’s rear fell open, creating a sort of ramp for him to roll the tanks down on.

“You got it?” asked Kasen, holding the top end.

“Yep,” grunted Buff in the middle, “Malcolm?”

Malcolm sneered, already out of breath, “Of course I’ve got it! Unlike the two of you, I’m not a complete dimwit …”

They lifted the tank and turned it upright. Buff and Malcolm handed it to Kasen, who rolled it over to Eliza.

“Woah, this really looks heavy,” she said, preparing to hoist the tank. “You think it’s because of the metal, or the Dark?”

“I don’t know. Maybe a combination of both?” Kasen crouched opposite her, then grabbed the tank. He looked up, right at her face, her eyes. They were a hand-width apart. Their foreheads, their noses, their lips.

“Should we – uh – lift it now?” asked Eliza with a breathiness to her voice.

Kasen swallowed. The sound reverberated into his head. “Y – Yes, we should.” And, with that, they lifted the tank onto the first trolley. He latched it tight and returned to Malcolm and Buff, busy with the next tank.

Unloading it went much easier the second time around. Kasen insisted Malcolm rolled it over to Eliza, not because of a weakness in his strength, but because of a weakness in his heart, in his stomach.

It was just better to avoid her.

Less awkward for both of them.

Once the two tanks were loaded, Felix led them down the platform – lined by at least twenty similar elevators – to a series of checkpoints. The first checkpoint looked a simple booth. The woman behind it scanned their Citizen Chips, then handed each of them a padded suit in their size. For protection, apparently. They slipped it on over their clothes, and proceeded to the next checkpoint, where they fell in line.

“What happens here?” asked Eliza, pushing up her sleeves. The suit made her look three times her actual size.

“This is the mentality scan, almost like those three doors by the lockers, only much more centralised on one’s emotions,” Felix explained. The line moved forward a couple of places, and he pushed the trolley after Buff. “These suits may lessen our vulnerability to the Dark, but our minds are ever as unpredictable.”

“Oooh,” cooed Eliza. She tripped over her way-too-long trouser pipes, but Kasen grabbed her before she fell.

“Careful,” he blurted out.

“Yea, thanks, I got it.”

Kasen let go of her. The line began to move again, and he made his escape. He raced forward, slithering in between Malcolm and Buff. Malcolm strutted down the line as though he owned the place, or as though he supervised them all. When they at last reached the checkpoint, he practically danced through the scanner.

“No negativity here!” he sang.

Kasen fought against scoffing. He took a deep breath, then stepped through the scanner. A part of him expected an alarm or something to go off – a series of red lights, perhaps – but, much to his surprise, nothing happened. He exhaled, accidentally too deeply, which caught the attention of one of the scanner attendees.

He quickly got out of the way.

Eliza followed behind him, but didn’t immediately step through. She took a moment to run her hands along the scanner’s edges, and to study it’s mechanics. The attendee snapped her fingers at her, and she jerked.

“Oops, sorry!” she giggled, and leapt to the other side. “How cool is this, am I right? A negativity scanner!”

Buff wheeled his trolley through. “Very cool,” he agreed. “They’re essentially scanning our brain frequencies, which –”

Malcolm groaned. “Great, now there’s two of them.” He rolled his eyes and wrestled the trolley from Buff’s grip. Strange, since he displayed no interest in it earlier. He likely wanted to seem more important, more in charge.

Kasen made to turn and move on, when – much to his horror, this time – the scanner began to screech and buzz. His head snapped around to where Felix had but a single foot through. He retracted it and let go of the trolley. His face remained blank, and his movements smooth. He must’ve expected this to happen …

“I’m sorry” – the attendee scanned his wrist – “Senior Officer Tatum, but I’m afraid we can’t let you through. Your negativity level is too high, presenting not only a risk to yourself, but also to your fellow Guardians.”

“I understand,” was all Felix said.

The attendee snapped her fingers at Buff, who approached to claim the trolley. He wheeled it around and pushed it up to Malcolm, who, quite unexpectedly, charged at Felix. He shouted, “What do think you’re doing, eh?”

“Malcolm!” snapped Eliza.

Kasen tensed. This was not good. Not good at all. If either of them got too angry, they too might be thrown out. “I’ll handle this,” he said to Eliza, pulling her back. Then, he walked up to Malcolm. “Just chill, will you?”

“Chill?” asked Malcolm, still too passionately. “He’s leaving us by ourselves! We’re recruits, we don’t know what to do!” He reached for Felix through the scanner, but immediately withdrew when the alarm went off.

“Now you’ve done it …” mumbled Eliza.

Malcolm stumbled back, right into the attendee.

“Wrist, please,” she ordered, then scanned his wrist. “Recruit Chesterton, you’ll unfortunately have to leave with your superior. Your negativity levels are too high, and clearly very unstable. I’d like you to step out now.”

“What? No! I just came through here a few seconds ago,” Malcolm argued, “you saw what happened!” He fought against it, but the attendee grabbed him by the shoulders and ushered him through the scanner.

“Move along,” she said to Kasen, no longer paying attention to Malcolm, “you’re all holding up the line.”

Kasen took the second trolley and set off. Malcolm shouted after them for several seconds, then suddenly shut up. He looked across his shoulder to see Felix dragging him off, and a smile coiled around his mouth.

“I saw that,” Eliza teased.

Kasen pursed his lips.

“You can try to hide it, but I saw it. You actually smiled, Kasen Traynor.” Eliza skipped ahead of them.

Kasen cleared his throat. “Where do you reckon we take these things? And how do you suppose we deposit it?”

Eliza looked around them. They were on an open platform that encircled the beam of Dark. Its width was that of an aged baobab tree, and its length … well, it shot through an opening in the ceiling at the heavens. A thick layer of glass encased it, sporting several tank-shaped sockets all around. He saw a room on the other side of the beam – the control room in which they had received their orientation on the first day.

A pair of Guardians wheeled their trolleys up to the beam. They hauled their tanks into the sockets and stepped back.

The tanks clicked, released the Dark with a hiss, then vanished down a series of tubes. The Guardians wheeled their empty trolleys to the nearest collection area, strutted to a metal door beside the control room, and scanned their wrists. The door slid open. Kasen couldn’t see what lay beyond it, but it certainly wasn’t the control room. The Guardians stepped inside, and the door closed behind them.

“Seems easy enough, right?” said Eliza, nervously. She took the trolley from Buff and wheeled it to the beam.

“What now?” asked Buff.

“We – uh – put it in, I guess.” Kasen turned to study another pair of Guardians. His eyes wandered beyond them to the control room. Felix and Malcolm sat by the window, watching them. “Look, over there.”

“Yes, Felix!” cheered Eliza, actually applauding.

Felix gestured for them to pick up the tank, align the valve and put it in, while Malcolm kept distracting them by mouthing things. Felix slapped him across the head, then pushed him away from the window.

“Let’s try it,” Eliza suggested.

Buff and Kasen hoisted the tank, groaning as they did. Eliza sighed, but didn’t stop them from doing the deed. She instructed them on how to rotate the tank, and they put it in. It fit perfectly into the socket.

“Good,” said Kasen, stretching his arms, “now for the second one.”

The second tank went somewhat easier, although they struggled to lift it as high. Once in, the tanks clicked, and they all jumped back. They watched in mesmerisation as the valves opened and the Dark emptied out.

“Amazing,” breathed Eliza. “Simply, absolutely, amazing …”

Kasen and Buff gathered the trolleys. “Come on, sis,” said Buff, “let’s leave before we break something.” He pried Eliza away from the beam, then dragged her to the trolley depository, followed by the door.

“You think someone’s in there?” she asked.

“I don’t think it matters.” Kasen swiped his wrist. The door slid open, and he stepped inside without a second thought. He had to get out of there, away from the beam. It wasn’t as bad at the checkpoints, but the Dark was too much now. While the padded suits did lighten the toll, his head still throbbed and his muscles still tensed.

Eliza and Buff entered behind him, and the door slid shut. Beyond it lay a tiny, white, unfurnished room. The floor lit up, and a computerised voice said, “Suits are placed in the laundry shoot. Thank you for your service.”

“No problem,” replied Eliza.

“She can’t hear you,” Buff teased her.

“You don’t know that.”

They removed their suits, and, as instructed, placed them in the laundry shoot by the wall. Eliza, as usual, took a moment to peer inside it, but Buff promptly pulled her away. Kasen swiped his wrist on the exit door’s panel, and it opened to reveal the corridor that led to the control room, Dark room, and recreation room.

“Oh, so this is where we are,” said Eliza, mostly to herself.

Felix and Malcolm waited for them outside. Malcolm stood with crossed arms, and Felix a visibly forced grin.

“So, beauties,” he said, almost in his normal tone, “how was work?”

“What an experience!” exclaimed Eliza. She clapped her hand to her mouth, then spoke on in little more than a whisper, “I never knew this is how depositing works. I mean, I knew it went into the beam and everything –”

“Do these guys do the same thing every day?” Kasen chimed in, making her grumble.

“Pretty much, yep.” Felix led them to the control room. “It’s a rather heavy duty job, although the same Guardians who fetch the Dark don’t typically deposit it as well. You guys only did that for the experience.”

“Some experience …” huffed Malcolm, still with crossed arms.

Eliza ran to the window that looked out at the beam. She pressed her palms against it, followed by her nose. “Felix, do all the Guardians receive combat training? I mean, these guys don’t really seem to need it.”

“Of course.” Felix took a seat behind the control board. He spun in the chair. “Every Guardian must log a total of four hours of training per day. The common training room is on floor fifteen, and the gym on fourteen.”

“What about you?” asked Kasen. “You’re with us all the time.”

“Guardians in the research department, such as” – he paused – “Matt and I, train throughout the day in the Dark room. We needn’t log hours, since it’s our job to train. The other Guardians only enter the Dark room once a month on the obligatory examination day. Everyone gets observed and graded on their performance.”

Eliza released a hollow breath. She sat down on the platform by Felix’s feet, wrapping her arms around her knees and rocking back and forth. “Man, this whole system is much more complex than I thought.”

“What’s the matter, barbie?” teased Malcolm. “You not prepared enough?”

Eliza jumped to her feet, ready to pummel him, when the sound of heels rang off the floor in the corridor.

Felicity rounded the corner into the control room, a fowl expression across her face. She walked up to Felix, who still lounged in the chair. “Felix, I just got a report stating you were denied access to the depository?”

“Yes, it’s true.”

“I see. Alright, due to this morning’s events, I’ll let it slide. But Felix, you’re a Senior Officer now, a Recruitment Officer nonetheless. You have to be able to control your emotions, especially when on duty, and even more so when in public. Mary and Matt are both gone. The AOL cannot afford to lose you as well.”

Felix stood. “You won’t.” He swallowed and pulled himself together. “I apologise for my behaviour this morning.”

“It’s alright,” said Felicity, “just don’t let it happen again.”

“Of course not, Commander Felicity.”

Felicity squeezed Felix’s shoulder, held it for a moment, then let go and turned to face the rest of them. “Despite what you all think, I haven’t come to scold you.” A pause for laughter. Eliza let out a tiny wheeze, but other than that no one made a noise. “I just wanted to inform you that you’ve got the rest of the afternoon off. ”

“The afternoon off? Why?” Malcolm wanted to know, chipper all of a sudden.

“I believe you require time to deal with your loss” – she looked to Felix – “before you return for a nightshift.”

“A nightshift? Why?” Malcolm was no longer chipper.

Felicity pulled at her blazer. “If you must know, Emperor Gorgo Hamman has called an urgent meeting with all Commanders, Senior Officers, and Officers of the AOL. We’re to discuss matters concerning a new General” – she looked at Kasen this time – “as well as the recent suicides of Matt and Mary.”

Kasen flinched when she glanced at him. A new General? His father had been in a comma for less than a week, and they were already thinking of replacing him? The world of politics worked fast indeed.

Fast and ruthless.

“Since this department only consists of Senior Officers and Officers, you’re the only ones available for the nightshift.”

“Great, so we lost by default,” Malcolm snorted.

“Actually, I call this a win,” Eliza chimed in. “I mean, guarding the control room is a big duty. One not taken lightly.”

“That’s the spirit.” Felicity clicked her heels together. “Enjoy your afternoon off, and remember, be back here strictly at seven. Felix will brief you on what to do before he heads up to the meeting.” She briefly gazed at him again, then spun around, tilted her chin, and strutted out of the control room into the corridor.

Malcolm scoffed at Eliza. “Oooh, what a big duty…”

“Shut up, Malcolm!” she hissed.

Felix banged his fist on the control panel, and they silenced. “It wasn’t a suicide. Matt wouldn’t kill himself …”

“Felix –” Eliza began.

“Just shut up, Liz. For once. Nothing you can say will change things. He’s gone. Matt’s gone.” He banged his fist again, then leaned forward with his head against the buttons. Several buzzed – “Access denied. Present the panel with an authorised Citizen Chip.” – so he got up, sniffed aloud, and marched to the door.

They watched him in silence.

“If any of you come late, I’ll post you with the depository,” he added before he turned the corner and walked off.

A stillness passed among them. Even Malcolm and Eliza had nothing to say, nothing to argue about, for once.

Kasen was the first of them to move.

“Hey, where are you going?” asked Eliza.

“I have to see him.” Kasen thought about stopping there, but his thoughts wouldn’t progress without it actually having passed his lips. He couldn’t just let them erase his title like this. He couldn’t just watch as his work – forty years of it – went to waste. He and the General might have many differences, but an appreciation for success wasn’t one of them. “I’m going to see my dad in the hospital,” he said.