Hiding Out

Posted on Tue Sep 15th, 2015 @ 11:24pm by Cadet Senior Grade Eli Ziyad & Cadet Senior Grade Chance Conradi

Mission: Further Challenges
Location: Enara Prime

* Enara Prime *

Irina shivered and wrapped her shawl tighter around her. “I’d forgotten how damp these caverns can be,” she mused. “It’s been a long time since we used to bring the boys here to explore.” She watched as Maran aimed the small phaser at the wood he’d gathered outside and a fire glowed to life.

"That should warm us up soon," Maran said, turning to look through the pack Coroli had packed for them. A blanket was stuffed into the top. "Here, my dear, Cor was thoughtful," he shook the blanket out and draped it around her, pausing to kiss her hair. He then went back to the pack. There was food and water in it; he laughed as he found two packets of something he hadn't expected. Pulling those out, he shook them at Irina and asked, "Hot toddy?"

“Absolutely.” She had to laugh at the inclusion of something so frivolous when they were basically running for their lives. “I hope he isn’t found out for helping us. It’s just unconscionable that in this day and age, something like this could be happening.” She stretched her legs, moving her feet closer to the fire.

"But yet, here we are." He found mugs in the pack and began preparing the totties. "Loran...," he shook his head, saddened, "I find it hard to think that our sons are so... opposite of each other, of us."

“And that one could wish us harm? It’s mind blowing, Maran. At the risk of sounding cliche, where did we go wrong? How could he be so brainwashed as to want to hurt his own family?” She reached for the mug Maran passed to her and had a sip.

"I don't understand, either." He scooted closer to her, using a large rock as a back rest. "Don't think we'll get either of them to tell us where we went wrong."

“I don’t think it was us,” Irina answered quietly. “We raised them to make their own choices and they have. What’s so ironic is that the one we thought had made the wrong choices has turned out for the better and the one we were so sure was right now seems to want us dead.” She said the last with little emotion. The shock of the past few days was wearing on her and all she wanted now was to see Enara Prime in the rear-view mirror, to use Jackson’s term.

“Let’s not dwell on that,” he hugged her with one arm. “We’ll eat in a little bit and I’ll set up the sleeping pads. I wonder what Archadia will be like. Eli told me that the women there are the rulers.”

“Really?” Irina laughed a bit. “I think I like that place already. I could get used to that.” Playfully, she nudged Maran, then wrapped her arms around him. “Soon,” she whispered.

“Yeah,” he held her close and they watched the fire flicker as it devoured the wood.

Irina awoke hours later. She’d slept soundly but the hard floor had left a few kinks she needed to walk out. She turned over on her sleeping pad and realized she could smell coffee. “Maran?”

“Not exactly.” The voice that answered her made her eyelids snap open and she sat up in an instant. Reed sat by the fire on a rock. He lifted the lid on the coffee pot and peeked in. “Almost done. Good morning, Irina.”

She looked immediately over to see Maran still on his pad. “Is he--?”

“Still sleeping,” Reed informed her. “Once he wakes up, we’ll all have a cup, then I’ll tell you how things are going to be.”

Hearing his wife talking with someone woke Maran. He turned over, saw Reed and groaned, “Tell me that’s a monster in my nightmare....”

“Now Maran, I’m insulted. That’s no way to speak to the man who holds your miserable life in his hands is it?” Reed lifted the pot and filled three mugs with coffee. He passed them around and replaced the pot over the fire. “I thought you had better manners than that.”

“Not with the likes of you,” Maran grumped and sat up. He looked at Irina to make sure she was okay. “So, how do you think things will be?”

Reed looked first to Irina. “I hope you are more civil than he is.” He sipped his coffee and turned back to Maran, effectively dismissing her. “I think it’s sweet that your old friend was nice enough to help you hide and give you supplies to tide you over while you wait for the Fleet.”

“What old friend?” Maran frowned. He feared what Reed might have done to Coroli. “We had these supplies at home.”

“Certainly not at your home,” Reed answered. “We’ve had your house watched. I hope these sleeping pads were worth Coroli’s life. If it’s any comfort to you, he held out till the very end. Amazing loyalty to you two, I must say.”

Irina gasped and it turned into a sob. For a moment she debated grabbing the coffee and tossing it in Reed’s face.

“You really don’t want to do that, my dear,” Reed commented.

Maran reached out and put an arm around Irina. Oh, Coroli..., he frowned deeply. “You are the monster in nightmares, Reed. You’re the vile scum on the top of a stagnant pond,” he said.

“Perhaps you should save that glowing praise for your son,” Reed responded. “and I do not mean Loran. He’s doing his best to uphold the ideals we consider sacred here, even when it means the loss of his own parents and brother.”

“The ideals of your little band of zealots you mean,” Irina shot back. “Beware, Reed, they can turn on you as easily as they have on us.”

Reed laughed shortly. “Never happen because I have not failed my mother as Eli has you. How can either of you defend him?”

“Because what he is doing is not wrong and we love him. Unlike you, Eli does not seek to force others to live according to his standards and beliefs. He only wants to love who he loves... and... an end to executions of regressives.” Maran realized the first was a great thing; the second was politically charged and ugly, but at least Eli wasn’t in favor of killing people.

“Eli the crusader. Now that’s funny.” Reed’s laugh was harsh. “It’s also what brought about his downfall. Or will. But no matter. Come on out Loran.”

Loran entered the cavern and only nodded to his parents. “What is it?”

“I need to take a walk,” Reed informed him, then turned to look at Maran and Irina. “You will stay here. If you attempt to leave, he will shoot to kill, so I suggest getting comfortable. We’re all going to be here for a little while.” Reed departed, leaving Loran lounging against the wall, a phaser in hand.

“Loran,” Maran looked at his son. “Why?”

“We’ve been over this, haven’t we?” Loran asked. “But if the Fleet thinks they can rescue you, they will be sorely disappointed. Once they’re here, they won’t be going home and you two will make yourselves useful or suffer the consequences.”

Irina took a good, long look at him, then turned her back on him. He may be her son, but now he was her enemy. Therefore, it was imperative that she block him out. Casually, she began ordering her thoughts to do just that.

Maran wasn't quite able to do as Irina was, not yet. Frowning as he let his sadness radiate out to Loran, he said, "It is never too late, Loran." He then turned with his wife and held her against him.

**********
Maran Ziyad
Irina Ziyad
Reed
Loran Ziyad