Dark Sanity
Chapter Thirteen

Hell’s Farewell

One week later, Flint and the remaining army returned to Soalace. They celebrated their greatest victory and started burning away the slim and ooze that still lingered in the undertunnels leading to Allay. Once they finished, they mined the titanium in the abandoned city and brought it over to Soalace using their steamships.

Flint, in the meantime, created a blueprint of a steam-powered starship. Since he’d been able to remember more of his past life, other things came naturally to him—such as designs of dimensional weaponry. And since he’d learned of soal, it was easier for him to help Pardashan and his people build a hybrid state-of-the-art military vessel that combined their soal and steam engine machinery with dimensional technology.

Explaining such concepts to the scientist and engineers of Soalace came so naturally to him that it actually made him feel uneasy. He was a military mastermind in his past life, not an engineer or scientist. How did he understand such intricate technology? Using it was one thing, but knowing how to create it? This greatly disturbed him, but he placed these questions on hold for now and continued teaching the steamwalkers how to build such a technologically advanced craft.

Whenever they made significant progress, Flint would travel to Pardashan’s throne room to inform him. The only thing that worried him each time he went there was Clarienus who lay beside the throne like a pet. Flint had no idea why Pardashan allowed her to live, much less roam around free. He wondered to himself, what if she wasn’t as sentient as Pardashan claimed? What if she’d cry out to the lurkens again and bring them here? Despite his distress, he dared not share his concerns with Pardashan.

When it came to life in Soalace, Flint kept his opinions and thoughts to himself. He was happy enough to know that Pardashan was willing to let him return to his previous life. Since the great ruler of Soalace had finally accepted him and no longer acted like a dictator, he didn’t want to test his patience or munificence. And he especially didn’t want to get involved in Pardashan’s personal affairs, even if he thought keeping Clarienus here was insane. He simply told him about the ship’s progress.

Several months passed. The engineers and scientists of Soalace worked endlessly to build the soal-fueled starship. They were constructing it where the arena once stood. Given that it had been ruined during the lurken incident three years ago, Pardashan allowed them to demolish the arena and use it as an engineering chamber to construct the vessel. The only difference was that they expanded the chamber, making it bigger than the Core, which was perfect for building a starship.

And finally, after another year of endless labor, the vessel was complete. Flint went to Pardashan’s chamber to inform him of the incredible news. As usual, Clarienus lay beside the throne. Flint approached and bowed at Pardashan.

“You’re starting to look your age, Flint,” said Pardashan. “Even with that fancy attire of yours, I can see it in your face.”

“The ship is complete,” said Flint, ignoring the comment about his wrinkles.

“Is it?” he replied skeptically.

“Pardashan, this is the greatest achievement in the history of your people. I stare at it every day in awe, and the time has finally come for us to leave.”

“It’s been about two years since you started constructing it,” said Pardashan, drumming his fingers on the arms of his throne. “Even though I have let you wonder around to make that toy of yours, I’ve changed my mind about leaving.”

“What?”

“You’re old, Flint, but you’re not deaf,” scowled Pardashan. “You heard me. If you want to leave, that is your choice. I’m still keeping my end of the bargain by letting you go. However, if I want to stay here, it is my decision.”

“But why?” asked Flint. “I don’t understand.”

“You don’t understand because this was never your home,” said Pardashan. “You want to leave because your soul cries out every day for freedom—the chance to return to your home and continue your life. Can’t you see? I am already free; I am already home.”

“We put so much effort into the size of the ship,” said Flint frailly. “Even the windows have been strengthened to withstand the heat and glare of the sun.”

“I don’t care,” grumbled Pardashan.

“Oh, I see...”

He strangely felt broken. Just a few seconds ago, he was excited to leave the underground chasm he’d been living in for the past four years. Yet when it was time for him to finally leave, he felt as though someone betrayed him again. But he knew the real reason why he suddenly felt so miserable, and it was because departing would mean leaving behind the only true friends he had. Life was funny, he thought. One moment the steamwalkers were trying to kill him and the next, they were good friends.

“Leave when you want,” said Pardashan.

“You don’t even want to see the ship?”

“My goodness,” sighed Pardashan. “You’re more sentimental than a woman. How do you expect to defeat such a powerful enemy who rules space? With your sappy semantics?”

“I just wanted you to see the ship.”

Pardashan laughed. “Fine,” he said. “Come now, Clarienus. Let us see this steamship that the old offworlder has created.”

Clarienus anxiously hopped up and trotted in a hunched manner behind Pardashan who leisurely stepped down his throne, following Flint. The trio traveled to the other side of the city and entered a platform, descending into the depths of the abyss. When the door opened, Flint exited and guided his company through what was once the dungeon; now a laboratory lay before them. The trio eventually reached a door leading to the engineering chamber, at which point Flint clicked a console to open it.

Pardashan was tapping his feet, waiting for the door to open so he could see the starship and be done with Flint’s sappy behavior. The door finally unsealed, and Pardashan entered with his sister. When he saw what stood before him, however, he no longer felt the need to tap his feet or rush back to his throne. Flint saw his expression and smiled, knowing the sight of the starship impressed him.

Standing before them was a gargantuan spacecraft with the same design as Soalace. It had a glittery hull made of titanium. The windows were thick and tinted black. The weapons along the side of its wings were massive cannons, and at each of its corners stood cylinder-shaped pillars from which steam billowed. The vessel also had interstellar propulsion engines by its aft.

“This isn’t a steamship,” said Pardashan. “It’s a damn city.”

Flint was the one who laughed this time. “And we have a Core that’s just as beautiful as the one here,” he said.

“Did you name it?” asked Pardashan, approaching the ship and touching its frame.

“With your permission, I’d like to name her Soalace II.”

“Just call her Soalace,” said Pardashan. “After all, she was built in my city and is an extension of its soul.”

“Soalace it is,” said Flint.

Pardashan began, “Well then—”

An alarm suddenly went off. It was a deafening sound Flint had never heard before. At first he thought it was coming from his starship, but then he realized that the recessed lights on the ceiling here were flashing.

“What the hell is that sound?” asked Flint, covering his ears.

“Impossible,” said Pardashan. “That siren was only used once a decade ago. It was made to be used whenever a massive invasion of lurkens would swarm into our city.”

“I knew it,” said Flint, glaring at Clarienus.

She screeched, dropped to the metal floor, and cried hysterically while she held her brother’s leg.

“Don’t act out of ignorance, Flint,” said Pardashan. “You didn’t think my sister was the only sentient mutant in the world, did you? There are millions more of them, and most of them like what they’ve become.”

“Millions?” said Flint, his mouth agape. “And you want to stay?”

“How was I supposed to know that they’d invade my city?” said Pardashan. “My sister controlled the ones in this region. It’s possible that when she called off the lurkens they fled to another sentient mutant who seized control of them.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore,” said Flint. “We need to leave—now!”

“We’re not going anywhere without a fight,” said Pardashan. “If you want to wait, you wait. But I don’t run from anyone, especially mindless mutants.”

Just then, Gunthrel entered the chamber. “My Lord!” he called out, running to them.

“I know what’s happening,” replied Pardashan snappily. “Clarienus, be a good sister and stay here.” He left the engineering chamber and went on, “We need to join the others and destroy those wretched fiends once and for all.”

The trio made their way to the kingdom’s armory, stocking up on weapons and bullets. Flint, as usual, holstered his magnums. Shortly after Pardashan was in his suit of armor, they traveled to the docks. When the door opened, they heard numerous guns going off, as well as monstrous hisses and growls. Flint reached the bridge with the others, firing at the fiendish creatures.

The amount of lurkens scuttling into the city was almost unbelievable to Flint. He stood on the bridge, dismayed. He’d never seen so many lurkens together. Whoever was controlling them clearly wanted to take over the undertunnels of Australia. But this wasn’t his war, and he wasn’t ready to die just yet.

“Pardashan!” called out Flint. “You know what’s needed to be done. Don’t let your pride be the death of your brethren.”

“I don’t run from anything!” bellowed Pardashan.

Flint cursed under his breath while he fought alongside his armored friends. He knew that Pardashan wasn’t going to listen to reason. Pardashan was too stubborn and proud to leave at a time like this. And so it was left to him to do what was wise. He left the docks and made his way back down to where the hybrid starship was located. Upon reaching the chamber, he approached his fretful team of scientists and engineers.

“Activate the ship,” he said sternly. “I need all of you to man your posts, and I also want you to alert the citizens of Soalace to evacuate here.”

The scientists and engineers complied, activating the spacecraft. Flint, meanwhile, exited the chamber and ran to the elevator platform, using it to return to the docks so he could continue helping his comrades. He reloaded his magnums, firing the moment the door opened. There were so many lurkens that some of them were prowling along the bridges and passageways.

Advancing to the docks, Flint heard a noisy siren indicating an evacuation. That instant, one of the many scientists spoke through the city’s amplified loudspeakers:

“If you can hear me,” began the scientist, “it is imperative you evacuate to the Soalace spacecraft immediately. I repeat: it is imperative that you evacuate to the Soalace spacecraft immediately!”

Flint rejoined Gunthrel and Pardashan, using his rifle to shoot down as many lurkens as he could before needing to reload. He noticed a great number of armored men on the floor with half their bodies melted due to the lurkens’ acid. Flint grimaced, feeling enraged by this sudden and absurd incursion, killing every creature in his sight. In the meantime, the scientist repeated her message, and the siren continuously rang.

“If we survive this,” began Pardashan, “I’m going to kill you, Flint.”

“Say what you want, and do what you have to do,” said Flint. “But no matter where I go, the vow I made years ago remains the same: to help people.”

“I’ve always admired you, Flint,” said Gunthrel, blasting lurkens with his rifle.

“There’s nothing to admire about a man who’s insane,” said Pardashan. “Mark my words, Flint Cross, your sentimentality will be your downfall.”

“If that’s true, so be it,” replied Flint. He reloaded his rifle and continued to fire. “It’s the one thing that makes me remember that I’m human. As long as I can feel—as long as I can hear the cries of others, I’m still human.”

“Humph,” uttered Pardashan, blowing lurkens away with his shotgun. “I suppose that is important if you want to defy that tribunal of yours. But you won’t be able to succeed alone.”

Flint tilted his head. “Are you insinuating—”

“Insinuating, insinuating, insinuating,” repeated Pardashan. “This promised land of yours better be worth it.”

“Trust me, it is,” said Flint.

“Then what are we waiting for?” said Gunthrel.

Pardashan entered a code into his power suit, alerting his armored comrades fighting beside him to evacuate.

“Let’s go!” he said.

Gunthrel and several other steamwalkers held the line while the majority escaped. Flint ran beside Pardashan, shooting lurkens climbing up the walls. At that exact moment, two fiends leaped onto Pardashan from the ceiling. He grabbed one, blasting its face apart with his shotgun. The other jumped away, spewing acid on his breastplate. Flint shot the mutant off the bridge and then held Pardashan whose armor and chest melted.

“Pardashan!” exclaimed Flint.

“My sister,” rasped Pardashan. “Don’t harm her.” Flint looked as pale as Pardashan who stammered in a croaking tone, “I lied to Gunthrel. You know that, right? The truth is that I have always envied…”

Pardashan stopped speaking, and the twinkle in his eyes waned while his chest continued to melt. Flint shook his head and cried out in rage. Gunthrel and a few others realized what had happened. They became frantic, roaring at the sight of their leader’s demise. It was so chaotic, however, that not many of them saw what had become of Pardashan. Even those who mourned his death had to leave or else they’d be killed too.

Gunthrel stared at Pardashan’s corpse in disbelief; yet he had no choice but to accept his master’s fate and escape. In the meantime, Flint and the steamwalkers continued to clear a path to the platform. Upon reaching it, they sealed the door and descended deep into the abyss. The fiendish hisses and growls faded. Silence fell for a moment, punctured by a lament from the men in armor.

Flint had teary eyes, trying to hold himself together as the platform descended. He simply listened to the armored men who wept. Hearing them cry shook him up. He’d never heard them cry before. Since his time here in Soalace, he wondered whether they were capable of empathy. When he heard the steamwalkers’ lament, it made him realize that even though they’d mutated and evolved living underground for thousands of years, they were still human.

The platform finally reached the bottom, and its door unsealed. Flint, Gunthrel, and the others quickly made their way through the laboratory. Although they felt safe being so far down, they knew that the lurkens could probably find their way here. Making haste, they reached the chamber of the starship. Seeing the gargantuan vessel burst with life and steam made them feel relieved. A door on the front of the ship swayed open, and a ramp lowered as they approached. The moment Flint and his companions boarded the vessel, the spacecraft sealed.

Just then, the thick pipes around the outer chamber sizzled and melted. Countless lurkens crawled out of them, scuttling toward the steam-powered craft. Fortunately for the steamwalkers, the ramp of their ship had already lifted.

Flint, however, didn’t want to risk their acid damaging the hull. He dashed through the spacecraft filled with rotating cogs, pulsing lights, steamy pipes, spooled wires, glittery conduits, and grating that vibrated due to the engines’ hum. Most of the people he passed were terrified. Flint wanted to comfort them yet had no time to do so. Keeping his pace, he promptly reached the control room. Though several scientists and engineers were stationed here, they didn’t know how to fully operate the starship. The only one who was a master of its design was Flint.

“Are you ready to leave this hellhole?” he asked.

Even though calling their home a hellhole was an insult to them, they nonetheless nodded anxiously, ready to go anywhere as long as the lurkens wouldn’t be there. Flint took a seat by the central chair, placing his fingers above a kiosk embedded in the slanted dashboard. A translucent interface in the form of a web appeared before him. Lifting his hands, the web spread, displaying numerous possible actions available to him. He stared at the interface of his vessel for a moment and then pressed multiple semitransparent buttons.

Within seconds the vessel’s force field activated; it pulsed outward, knocking the lurkens on its hull down to the ground. At that precise moment, Flint ignited the propulsions, decimating the lurkens via the surge of fire that blasted out. The scientists and engineers clapped while Flint cautiously ascended the ship. His cannons automatically aimed at the remaining lurkens climbing the walls of the outer chamber, disintegrating them with dimensional beams, which were able to be fired after absorbing tremendous energy from the city of Soalace.

Flint hoped to find a new independent power source if he’d be able to leave Earth, but for the time being he tried to remain focused on the present situation. The city of Soalace flickered as dimensional beams continued to blast the lurkens. While flying the starship up, he manually aimed the cannons at the ceiling, absorbed the remaining energy from the city, and released a surge of beams into the granite. The cavernous ceiling didn’t crumble, it simply disintegrated what with the power of the dimensional beams.

“Activate the polarized shield,” commanded Flint.

One of the engineers listened, clicking a translucent button beside her. Doing so extended the titanium hull, sealing its windows. Once sealed, the hull merged with the windows, allowing the passengers to see as if it were night outside the ship—this allowed minimal light or radiation filtering through the windows, especially since all of them, including Flint, were fatally sensitive to sunlight after living underground for so long.

Taking a deep breath, Flint increased the speed of the starship and slowly ascended it out of the undertunnels. For the first time in four years, Flint could see the surface again. He smiled as he piloted the vessel, feeling relieved. The others rose from their gray enamel seats, staring at the desolate land in awe. The sun beamed hard on them. With the polarized technology activated, however, it didn’t harm them. The steamwalkers stared at the black-spotted sun with expressions of incredulity and hope.

“I can’t believe it,” said Gunthrel, entering the control room.

“Believe it,” replied Flint.

“If only Pardashan could see this,” said Gunthrel despondently.

“Gunthrel,” called out Flint, trying not to sound depressed. “Pardashan’s last wish was to make sure his sister was protected. I need you to ensure her safety. Take her to Pardashan’s room and keep her there.”

“All right,” replied Gunthrel. “But what happens now?”

“I have some unfinished business in Desonas before we leave this godforsaken world,” he said, his brow creasing. “Feel free to join me after you see Clarienus to her quarters.”

“Sounds good,” said Gunthrel, walking away.

Flint, meanwhile, clicked a panel displaying an atlas of the world. An area in Queensland pulsed on the map, showing him his current location.

“I haven’t forgotten about you just yet, Sarah.”

He flew the ship over the desolate landscape of Australia, toward the town of Desonas. It was some distance away, but the starship was capable of incredible speed. Within ten minutes he had flown from Queensland to the Northern Territory in Central Australia. As soon as Uluru was in sight, he slowed the vessel down. His heart pounded. He was feeling anxious to see Sarah and the others again. Though, he wasn’t sure how they’d react seeing a starship.

Flint continued to slow down the vessel as he approached his destination. And at long last, he could see Alice Springs—what had become Desonas. Flint rotated the propulsions and descended the black- and indigo-tinted spacecraft several yards away from the dilapidated town. It was just as dusty and desolate as he’d remembered. He exhaled deeply, lowering the ship’s ramp. Just then, Gunthrel stepped into the control room.

“Clarienus is safe.”

“I’m glad,” said Flint. “I believe she was innocent. The others will adjust to her, but time needs to pass.”

Gunthrel concurred and asked, “Is this the place?”

“Yes, it is,” said Flint. “It’s been four years since I’ve seen this town.” He stood up from his pilot chair and looked at the others while he went on, “I won’t be gone too long. Keep an eye out for anything strange.”

“Strange?” said one of the scientists.

“I don’t know how much has changed since I’ve been gone,” said Flint. “Strange could be a horse, a half-naked aboriginal, or another starship that may try to attack.” Having said that, he left with Gunthrel, leaving the crew shaky. “I’m going to need my power suit.”

“You enjoyed that, didn’t you?” muttered Gunthrel. He then cleared his throat, stopped in the middle of the corridor, and said, “Wait. What did you just say?”

Flint smirked and repeated, “I’m going to need my power suit.”

“Well, it’s about damn time,” said Gunthrel. “You’re lucky I transported here before the incursion.”

“Great,” said Flint. “Where is it?”

“Follow me.”

They went to the ship’s armory, which wasn’t too far from the control room. Once they entered the chamber, Flint spotted the power suit right away and stepped inside it. Upon him activating it, its plating smoothly attached to his wrinkled skin, and he was able to walk around with ease, clomping like a titan.

“Looking good,” said Gunthrel.

“Thanks,” said Flint, his voice sounding heavy through the mask. “Let’s go.”

They walked over to the ramp, stepped down until outside, and jumped off the hovering starship that was slightly shrouded with steam. Flint stared hard at the town square for a while and then approached it with Gunthrel.

“So many memories,” said Flint huskily.

He thought about the townspeople and remembered the life he had in Desonas as though he’d just left yesterday. It had, however, been four long years. He remembered his hunting days with Tom and Joey; he remembered Marshal Salomon persuading him to search for Browder; he remembered his days in the wilds with the aboriginals; he remembered Amanda who had hung herself because she had felt he loved an imaginary woman more than her; and he remembered that most of the townsfolk had betrayed him, playing him for a fool.

“It’s overwhelming, but I’m glad to see Desonas again.”

“Doesn’t look like much,” said Gunthrel.

Flint unexpectedly laughed. He needed that, especially after thinking about all of his dark memories.

“Gunthrel, you’re the best.”

He finally reached the square. Desonas looked derelict, as though it’d been abandoned for years. Nearly all of the buildings were dilapidated. The only structure still intact was the church. Flint abruptly felt distressed, gazing at the church that looked a bit too well preserved. He slowly approached the town’s house of worship, raising his soal-based rifle. Standing before the doors, he opened them and stomped into the dim church that had candles lit. Gunthrel followed, staring at the stained-glass windows that depicted angels coming out of the sun.

“Ah, did the tribunal finally say I can go home?” inquired Steve Harrison, looking at the advanced-looking power suit. “I’ve done everything they asked of me.”

“Even you,” said Flint, enraged.

“I beg your pardon?” said Steve, not recognizing the voice. “Even you? Oh, of course,” he said, chuckling. “You mean even I am allowed to go home, right?”

“Even you were in on this game.”

Steve Harrison tilted his head, confused. Just then, Flint’s power suit kneeled down and unsealed. When the preacher saw Flint’s demented face emerge from the power suit, he gasped and backed away to the altar.

“Fli-Flint!” rasped Steve. “You’re alive!”

“My name isn’t Flint,” he said.

“Th-they forced me,” said Steve. “I didn’t have a choice, Ethan.” He sneakily clicked a button on the altar, opening a secret compartment that had a dimensional gun inside. “I swear to God.”

“You swear to whom?”

“God!” said Steve, sweating and warily gripping his advanced gun. “You believe in God, right?”

“If I choose to be a theist or an atheist, that’s my business,” said Flint. “And the same goes for anything else, especially life. No one…no one under any circumstance has any business taking that precious gift away from people or manipulating their genes and splicing them without their consent. I don’t care if it’s the tribunal.”

“How quaint and honorable of you,” said Steve, cautiously pulling his dimensional gun closer.

Flint squinted viciously and asked, “Where is Sarah?”

“Oh, I’m afraid you missed her and the others a few months ago,” said Steve. He pulled the gun more, trying to be as quiet and discreet as possible. “You see, Joey told the tribunal what had happened; they weren’t very happy. The military had to come and take your daughter away.” He chuckled derisively and added, “But wait, she isn’t your daughter. So I’m sure you don’t care if she, her husband, and the Panzo brutes are slaves for the rest of their lives, right?”

“Wrong.”

At the same moment that Steve lifted his gun, Flint spun out his magnums. Within a split second, Flint aimed them at the preacher and unloaded their chambers, blowing his body apart and sending his corpse through a stained-glass window. Flint’s face burned when the sunlight beamed into the church. He turned away and took cover, entering his power suit.

“I know this is your business,” began Gunthrel, “but shouldn’t you have disarmed him and questioned him more?”

“He wasn’t going to tell me a damn thing,” said Flint.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m old, but I’m not blind yet,” said Flint. “I saw that idiot reaching for a weapon. Trust me, his intention was to either shoot me or die. No one is going to betray the tribunal after what they did to me. Steve had to be stopped, just like Salomon and his goons.”

“I see,” said Gunthrel. “Well, what’s next?”

“Vorilian IV,” replied Flint.

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The duo returned to their vessel. By now the steamwalkers had learned of their leader’s horrible fate. Gunthrel was the only one closest to a leader since he’d always been Pardashan’s right-hand man, so the people in the ship were relieved to see him back on board.

After settling down, Flint returned to the control room with Gunthrel and started to fly the vessel skyward. The passengers fixed their eyes on the windows, staring at the blue sky that soon turned black as they entered space. Flint heard a few people sigh in awe of the breathtaking view. While the starship flew past the moon, they saw a shiny blue interstellar mist ahead. And though beautiful, there were a lot of asteroids floating miles apart, all of which had a redness to them. Knowing the sun’s history of deadly flares and not locating Mercury or Venus on the star map, Flint rationalized why he spotted asteroids instead of planets.

“My goodness,” he whispered to himself.

He had to admit, it was almost unbelievable. Yes, he conceded, almost was the right word because he did believe. He no longer doubted himself. Flint knew the difference between dreams and reality. And this was, without a doubt, reality. The tribunal had tried to turn him into a senile fool who didn’t know what to believe. However, he’d finally found himself again. After all the nightmares he’d experienced in Desonas and Soalace, he got his life back—his identity and his freedom. And now it was time for him to make the tribunal regret their authoritarian scheme of forcing humanity to undergo synthesis.

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