Legends of Amacia The Caverias Rebellion

Rescue Mission Report

Three days after Hanna’s raid, Enoch and the leaders of the raid minus Hanna sat around the kitchen table in the Red Tower discussing the costs of the raid. Nemesis, Magnus, Xavier, Amelia, Morpheus, Muriel, Kida, Emma, Electra, Elle, Hunter, Andrew, Joshua, Harry, Nathanael, Elias, George, Ben, Marvin...the Captain of the Guards, and Ned sat around the table with Enoch taking the head position on the end. The raid had been a costly exercise. Of the fifty they started out with, they had lost fifteen with twenty being seriously wounded. Of those who joined them at Amacia, they had taken heavy casualties, loosing over half of the two hundred thirty guards and gladiators. The Gladiators were diminished to fifteen and of the friendly guards, they had lost almost seventy with fifty wounded, some seriously. As they sat discussing what to do next, Hanna sleepily wandered into the room. The healer had done its job and her wounds were healed, leaving only scars. She still wore knee-length shorts and a tank-top T-shirt. They hadn’t noticed her come in. She stopped and rubbed her eyes, yawning. “Hey, what does it take to get something to drink around here?” she called out sleepily, plodding toward the table. Everyone looked up, startled by her appearance.

Kida quickly got up, fetched a mug of cool water, and brought it to Hanna. Elias immediately vacated his chair next to Enoch, allowing Hanna to sit down. Handing the mug of water to Hanna, Kida asked, “How are you feeling?” Hanna guzzled the water, draining half the mug in a single draught.

“Better than I was,” Hanna replied in a daze. “How long have I been out?”

“Three days,” Enoch reported. “I’m surprised to see you this quick. You lost allot of blood.”

Hanna sipped her water. “So that’s why I still feel drained,” she murmured.

“Apparently so,” Harry called out as he walked over to Hanna, putting his hand on her shoulder. “How’s Selina?” The question shocked Hanna.

“You know, I don’t know,” Hanna replied with surprise. “I got up and came here without even thinking about checking on her. Now how do you suppose I’d forget to do something like that?”

“You have had a pretty tough time of it here in the last week or so,” Enoch replied. “Maybe you were so out of it when you woke that you didn’t realize that she was lying next to you in the healing chamber.”

“I believe that may be very likely,” Nemesis called out. “You may still be dealing with the battle. Do you realize that you have been the first human since Thoth Caverias to confront the Emperor in one on one combat and live?”

“I did not know that,” Hanna answered plainly. “I know one thing. My hands and arms are still tingling from that blast he tried to get me with. I still don’t know how I managed to block that or do those other things. It’s like what happened in the Arena. I must admit that it troubles me.”

“Block what?” Joshua asked.

Nemesis answered for Hanna, saying, “We got pushed into the throne room on the way to the Harem and Miss Beowulf got her first taste of battle with the Emperor. She literally saved both Enoch and me from the Emperor’s rage. He was about to roast me when Hanna cursed the Emperor and he used his powers on her. She somehow blocked his dark energy bolts with the Caverias sword, reflecting it right back to the Emperor, giving him a taste of his own medicine. It heavily stunned him, giving us time to get to the Harem and free the prisoners there. She also used elemental techniques against the Emperor that I’ve only seen the Cadre perform.”

“You’re kidding,” Hunter said in amazement.

“I wish he were,” Hanna replied, still puzzled by the strange attacks that had saved her friends and herself from the Emperor’s wrath. “It happened just like he said. But I can tell you for certain, I don’t believe I could have handled him without your help. Thanks for standing with me Enoch, Nemesis. I should be thanking the Lord that I’m still alive.”

“Amen to that,” Harry said enthusiastically.

“Well, since I’m here, what were you guys talking about?” Hanna asked plainly after finishing her water. At that, Enoch rendered the report to her. He told Hanna how many casualties they took and how many people they brought out of Black Fortress. All total, there were nearly five hundred people rescued from the dungeon, sex floor, Hell’s Kitchen, the Cadre Labs, and the Tower. Hanna listened quietly to the report and was grieved by the loss of her friends in the attack.

“I’d say that even with the casualties we took, the operation was a resounding success. The Emperor had no idea we were there until it was too late. We had his whole house in chaos,” Enoch reported evenly with a smile right toward the end of his comments. “We did the impossible and achieved every goal of our mission. The Almighty Ancient of Days surely guided our steps in that dark place. I’m sure the Ancient of Days took our comrades into His embrace when they fell.”

Hanna nodded sadly. “Yeah, I’m sure He did,” she agreed. “Without His assistance, all of us would have been captured and killed. I knew we’d lose some in this rescue. It’s the price of such an operation. Still, it doesn’t make it any easier loosing good men like that. I will go and see every one of them. It’s the right thing to do, especially those whom we lost.” Turning to Andrew, she asked, “Where’s Nicodemus?”

“I put him in the morgue where his body could be kept cold,” Andrew answered.

This surprised Hanna. “You have a refrigerated morgue in the Tower?” she asked.

Enoch nodded, saying, “Yes, we do. But we haven’t had need of it until now.”

Hanna slumped back in her chair as she looked at everyone. “What was the condition of those in the dungeons? Were they as bad off as our brothers and sisters we retrieved from the sex floor and the Kitchen?” she asked.

“Not good, but they were in slightly better condition than those we brought out of the torture floors and labs,” Magnus said. “Many were starving. Some were crippled and some were abused severely. Over half of those we brought out need to be carried out. Those who could walk managed to help us carry those out who needed to be carried.” Hanna swore under her breath.

“We had to set up a hospital outside the Tower on the field to care for those who needed it,” Joshua informed Hanna. “Arabella and Dr. Drew are overseeing the effort, treating the worst first. Even some of our wounded teammates are out there because the healer is at capacity. We brought the worst cases in for the healer to deal with them first. The rest are being treated outside.”

“How are the people taking to those we rescued?” Hanna asked.

“To my great surprise, they accepted them with open arms. Everyone is helping,” Enoch answered. “They are being treated like long lost brothers and sisters. The people of Arionath, the Cimmerians, Corso’s people, and Morpheus’ people are working together with great eagerness to help them and each other. I can hardly believe it. It was like there was an explosion of love and charity among the people. They are thinking not of themselves but each other. It is astounding.”

Hanna was pleased to hear it. “It is nothing like a common enemy to bring folks together,” she declared.

“That it is,” Muriel stated as she stared at Hanna’s scarred legs and arms.

Hanna noticed it and asked, “You wonder how I got these scars, don’t you Muriel?”

Muriel blushed slightly, saying, “I’m sorry, milady. I shouldn’t have gawked.”

“Don’t be,” Hanna answered. “I know you are not the only one at this table that wants to know about these scars. I’ll tell you what. I’ll tell you all about it later. It is a story that needs telling. But for now, just know that these scars are a reminder to me of where I came from. I have had a very hard life and these scars are just some visible proof of it.” She yawned a little and added, “All in all, we were very fortunate. The Lord was very merciful to us in the raid. Just don’t underestimate the power of our God.” She pushed herself to her feet and said, “I’m going to clean up, then get some more sleep. I’m still exhausted.”

“Miss Beowulf, what about the Emperor,” Morpheus asked bluntly. “What’s he going to do now that you’ve hit him in his own house? Shouldn’t we be concerned about that?” It was a question they had been debating when Hanna first entered the room.

Hanna turned to them and said, “Yes, we should be aware that the Emperor is now out for all of our heads with a vengeance. But fear not, I already have a plan in mind to deal with that contingency. For now, we can relax. The Tower machinery is hiding us from his view. But know this. It will not last forever. The day of the Rising is coming quickly. As it approaches, our shield will diminish and he will see. That’s why we will move to Srandi. Only at Srandi will we be safe from the Rising and be able to make our stand against the Emperor. But for now, we must tend to the task at hand: taking care of these people. We have a little space to breathe for now. It’ll take the Emperor some time to recover from the hit we gave him. Now if you will excuse me, there is a bath with my name on it.” As she slowly walked away, Hanna abruptly stopped and asked, “Oh, I almost forgot. How’s Josephine?”

“Josephine is doing well,” Enoch reported. “Even though she’s weak physically, she can now move around with some help. Before long, she should be able to move on her own.”

“That’s good,” Hanna replied. “Have you found out whether she’s compatible with the machinery here?”

“We’re working on that,” Enoch stated. “For now, it appears she is compatible with the Red Tower’s machinery. We just need to find the proper port for her to interface.”

“I’d suggest trying the Archive,” Hanna stated. “The Teacher could tell you where the optimal interface is.”

“That’s a good idea, Hanna,” Enoch declared. “We’ll check into that.”

“Good,” Hanna murmured. “While you’re doing that, I’ll go find that bath.” She walked away slowly, showing the fatigue as she left to find her bath. Everyone looked at each other silently for a few moments.

“I’m surprised to see her up and about after those wounds she had,” Nathanael said, breaking the silence. “Hanna was badly cut up when she came back from the raid.”

“That she was,” Enoch stated. “She took several severe hits during the raids, but she bulled through it as if she hadn’t been hit at all. Only when she was out of danger with Selina did Hanna begin to falter. I wonder if that rage she gets had anything to do with that?”

“It may be,” Harry called out. “When the rage hits her, Hanna runs wild and damned if anything will stop her, even her own body.”

“I agree,” Nathanael declared. “She’s unlike any human I’ve ever encountered because of that.”

“I am forced to agree with that too,” Marvin called out. “But I must ask how does she know we have time? What we did won’t go unchallenged. The Emperor will devote all his time and resources to finding and destroying us now that you’ve humiliated him in his own house.”

“There’s something you must understand, Marvin,” Enoch replied. “That woman is the heir to the Caverias throne and more than that, the Almighty Ancient of Days has His hands all over her. Hanna is doing what the Ancient of Days wants, not what she wants. This violence and war was thrust upon her. Whether you believe it or not, she is now both prophetess and Queen...at least until we can reverse her mutation. It has been her destiny. She does the will of the Ancient of Days without hesitation. So when she says we have a little time to breathe easy, I believe her. When we were forced into the throne room, the Emperor came after me and she literally put herself between the Emperor and me. When have you heard of a man or woman standing up to the Emperor and living to tell the tale?”

“Never,” Marvin answered. “I didn’t mean to second guess Miss Beowulf. It’s just that I know what the Emperor is going to do now that you’ve humiliated him in his own house. All I’m saying is that we need to go on and get ready to deal with that eventuality.”

Harry jumped in on the conversation, saying, “You’re right. But what Enoch is saying is Hanna knows what to do and when the time comes for action, we will act. For now, just relax and enjoy the fact that you are free from the Emperor.”

“No one will be truly free until he is destroyed,” Marvin replied bluntly. “I will not let my guard down, not till he is utterly destroyed.”

“No one is asking you to let you guard down,” Amelia chimed. “Just believe.”

Marvin sighed, saying, “I’m trying.”

Nemesis looked across the table at Marvin, saying, “There is no trying, Captain. Either you believe or you don’t. Don’t let your fear of the Emperor get in the way. Miss Beowulf came here to set the captives free. That includes all of us. Now, if you need some kind of structure to help you deal with your new situation, I shall assist you. Just consider Miss Beowulf’s word law. She is in charge here. Consider Enoch and me her advisors. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Marvin finally grasped the chain of command. “Yes,” he answered. “It helps knowing who makes the decisions.”

“Good. Now here’s an order for you. It is very simple and not difficult to obey: relax and don’t worry about the Emperor for now,” Enoch ordered. “If you need something to do to help pass the time, there are more than enough things to do with the people. I’m sure that when Hanna really needs you, she will call for you. All right?”

Marvin had to smile and said, “This is going to take some getting used to.”

“Don’t worry,” Emma said. “You’ll adjust just fine.”

“Yes, you will,” Enoch said pleasantly. “Now, let’s go to work. We have many souls to help today.” Everyone rose and left the room, heading outside. Only Kida and Emma stayed behind, opting instead to go and check on those in the healing chamber.